Protecting Your Possibilities

n this episode of Protecting Your Possibilities, Luke speaks with The Ohio State University basketball player Eugene Brown, III about his experiences and perspectives related to NIL. Learn more about the path and the strategy a college athlete employs when it comes to engaging in NIL.   You can follow Eugene Brown, III on social media at: Instagram: eugenebrown3_ Twitter: eugenebrown3_ TikTok: eugenebrown3_ Business email: sybebllc@yahoo.com Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Amazon Music  |  Stitcher  |  Tunein Radio  |  iHeartRadio  |  Castbox

Every March, the NCAA kicks off one of the most exciting championships of the year, the NCAA Basketball Tournament — also known as March Madness®. This is the first basketball tournament in which student-athletes are able to earn compensation from their NIL. As the NCAA is always aggressive in protecting their branding, they will have to ensure student-athletes are not using the NCAA's protected marks without permission. In this episode, Luke discusses how student-athletes should protect themselves by not using NCAA-protected marks in social media influencing.  Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Amazon Music  |  Stitcher  |  Tunein Radio  |  iHeartRadio  |  Castbox

When athletes are presented with deals, do they really need to hire their own attorney if their agency already has one of their own? It's important to think through who the agency lawyer is working for — is it the athlete or the agency? As Luke explains, every lawyer has the ethical obligation to put their client's best interests first. Athletes should make sure they are being served as the client. Listen to this episode to learn why it's important for athletes to have someone advocating and protecting their interests first. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Amazon Music  |  Stitcher  |  Tunein Radio  |  iHeartRadio  |  Castbox  

We've been hearing about non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for a while now – but what exactly are they, and how do they fit into the sports world? One of the best examples is to think about an NFT as a digital trading card. Athletes and others who can benefit from NFTs have multiple considerations to think about – compensation models, anti-money laundering, college students involved in name, image and likeness. Listen to this episode of Protecting Your Possibilities as Luke dives into NFTs and more. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Amazon Music  |  Stitcher  |  Tunein Radio  |  iHeartRadio  |  Castbox

Name, image and likeness opportunities for student athletes continue to expand and push new boundaries. NIL collectives have popped up across the country offering substantial financial deals for athletes. How are these collectives structured, and how do they work? Is there a limit on what student athletes can be paid, or is this the wild, wild west? Luke answers these questions and more in this episode of the Protecting Your Possibilities podcast. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Amazon Music  |  Stitcher  |  Tunein Radio  |  iHeartRadio  |  Castbox

There is currently only one Black head coach in the NFL. One. In a league of 32 teams made up of a majority of Black players, there is currently only one Black head coach. As we head into February's Black History Month, and reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Luke discusses the importance of why it matters to have diverse representation at the head coaching level of the NFL. Luke talks about how we need to have these difficult conversations in a professional, fact-based way so the league can make a positive change forward.  Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Amazon Music  |  Stitcher  |  Tunein Radio  |  iHeartRadio  |  Castbox

The holidays are here, and Luke wishes you all the best. Stay tuned for new episodes and guests in 2022!

Name, image and likeness deals have been signed – and athletes are taking their positions. What happens when their season doesn't go as expected, they don't get as much playing time, or their performance isn't what others expected? Luke talks about how to deal with these situations and how that can affect the money student athletes are making in this episode of Protecting Your Possibilities. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Amazon Music  |  Stitcher  |  Tunein Radio  |  iHeartRadio  |  Castbox

As we kick off the holiday season and spend time giving thanks, Luke thought it was important to reset the conversation and share why he's so thankful for the work he does each and every day. Read the full episode transcript here. Listen to the episode with Courtney Altemus on choosing an advisor, and the episode with Courtney Scott on the College Basketball Parents Association. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Amazon Music  |  Stitcher  |  Tunein Radio  |  iHeartRadio  |  Castbox

Athletes are often approached to invest in a business – by friends, family and others. How do you know what a good investment deal looks like? What documents should you review? How do you get paid? What are you actually buying? Luke and colleague Ryan Steele talk about these deals, what to look for, and how to protect yourself when making a business investment. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Amazon Music  |  Stitcher  |  Tunein Radio  |  iHeartRadio  |  Castbox

Athletes are often asked to put their name behind a brand, or want to commercialize their own brand. When this happens, it is important to consider various legal measures to ensure your name and your brand are protected. Spoiler alert: a quick search on the US Patent and Trademark Office's website isn't all you need to consider! In this episode, Luke talks to colleague Liane Rousseau about the factors athletes need to consider when their name or a logo is trademarked. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  | Spotify  |  Amazon Music  |  Stitcher  |  Tunein Radio  |  iHeartRadio  |  Castbox

For many people, selecting a financial advisor is a challenging task. For athletes, it is even more challenging because the impact of a bad decision could have significant negative long term effects. In this episode, Luke discusses some ideas and shares some tips regarding interviewing and selecting financial advisors. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Amazon Music  |  Stitcher  |  Tunein Radio  | iHeartRadio  | Castbox

In Sept 2021, the National Labor Relations Board general counsel stated in a memo that college athletes at private institutions should be considered employees and should have the right to act collectively to improve their conditions. In this episode, Luke and guest Jyllian Bradshaw, an attorney who focuses in employment issues and labor relations, discuss the impact this memo can have in the college sports industry. The conversation explores this memo, potential federal legislation and the impact of federal law vs. state law. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts including: Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Amazon Music  |  Stitcher  |  Tunein Radio  | iHeartRadio  | Castbox

Real estate is often an easy choice for athletes to get involved in. Understanding the risks associated with owning real estate either for short term or long term growth is important, and knowing how to protect yourself as you purchase properties and get involved in real estate deals can be tricky. In this episode, Luke explains what to understand before getting involved in real estate transactions, and how to set up a business based upon your risk tolerance. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts including: Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Amazon Music  |  Stitcher  |  Tunein Radio  | iHeartRadio  | Castbox

In this week's episode, Luke talks about what is really happening in this new name, image and likeness world. As he is out speaking to athletes across the country, questions like these are popping up: Are athletes really engaging in NIL? Is this really happening? How should I move forward? How do I plan for taxes? How do I decide if I should have someone manage my brand? What if I am an international student - can I still be compensated?  This episode dives into the answers to these questions and more. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts including: Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Amazon Music  |  Stitcher  |  Tunein Radio  | iHeartRadio  | Castbox

Athletes are constantly presented with business deals or business investment opportunities. Having a defined decision-making process can help provide the athlete with the ability to make an informed and educated decision. In this episode, Luke shares a repeatable decision-making process and applies that process to how an athlete might think about business investments that have been presented. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

One month into the new name, image and likeness (NIL) world, one of the common questions from student-athletes is understanding how to get involved in NIL. In this episode, Luke explores ways in which student-athletes can evaluating how to navigate name image and likeness. He also provides some insights around ways to engage in this new NIL environment such as: how do I get into it, what if I don't have a large social media following, what brands should I think about engaging with and what are they looking for and how can I protect myself. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

In this episode, host Luke Fedlam explores where name, image and likeness (NIL) changes are potentially heading in the future. The discussion explores the future of federal legislation related to NIL and the impact of having NIL managed by individual institutions.  Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Athletes and celebrities are often the target of people wanting them to buy into franchises. A common misconception about owning a franchise is that it will operate itself.  Unfortunately, that's not true. In this episode, Luke shares some tips on how to analyze your decision regarding a franchise, prior to buying into one. Understanding the challenges and having some helpful advice will help you navigate the process of getting into the franchise world. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Protecting Your Possibilities Podcast is one year old! In this episode, Luke takes a looks back over the past year's episodes of PYP. Over the past 12 months, college and professional sports have experienced significant change and PYP was there to discuss them. Luke also looks forward to the changes yet to come in the sports world. Bottom line: thank you for your support over the past year! Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Name, image and likeness has now been authorized for student-athletes across the country for a week. In this week's episode, Luke looks at what we've seen over the past week and provides context for what is currently happening in the NIL environment, but also what needs to continue happening to make sure student-athletes are protected. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Name, image and likeness is about to become a reality across the country. In this episode, Luke provides perspective on how student-athletes can protect themselves at the onset of this new name image and likeness era. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

On Monday, June 21, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the NCAA in the NCAA v. Alston case, finding in favor of student-athletes. This case focused on whether it was an antitrust violation for the NCAA to limit the amount of education-related expenses that schools can offer student-athletes. In this special edition of the Protecting Your Possibilities Podcast, Luke and colleague Jay Levine, antitrust attorney and host of the Antitrust Law Source Podcast, explore the ruling of the Supreme Court, the impact on college sports now and into the future, and the impact this ruling could have on name, image and likeness. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Jay Levine's podcast, Antitrust Law Source, here. Luke mentioned a podcast episode that focused on the importance of education. That episode is #28 “Ethics in Athlete Education.” Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.  

Every day we are getting closer and closer to name, image and likeness (NIL) becoming a reality. On July 1, 2021 multiple states will allow student-athletes at schools in those states to begin making money from third parties related to the use of their NIL. This episode explores the current state of the various stakeholders involved with NIL – states, the NCAA, congress and the Supreme Court.  With so much going on, it's important to keep up with where things stand. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

This episode is a little bit different. After receiving numerous questions about how to develop a career in sports, this episode will provide some perspectives on how to get involved in the business of sports. While there are numerous ways to engage in the business of sports, Luke provides perspectives on lessons learned from his journey. If you are mentoring someone who is interested in sports, this is the podcast episode you should share! Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Over the past few years, we have heard the resounding refrain of professional athletes being more than just athletes. When thinking about protecting the possibilities of athletes, it's important to acknowledge their humanity and the fact that athletes are not simply robots. In this episode, Luke explores the decision of Naomi Osaka withdrawing from the French Open due to a desire to protect her mental health.  To listen to Luke's previous podcast about mental health in sports with Dr. Victor Kidd, go to episode 30 or click here. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

With the passage of name, image and likeness (NIL) legislation in numerous states, other states are racing to pass legislation in order to not lose out on the recruiting and retention of student-athletes. This week, Ohio proposed legislation regarding NIL. In this episode, Luke explores some of the unique aspects of Ohio’s legislation relative to other states and discusses what is happening in state legislatures across the country and at the federal level. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

One of the new areas of the crypto world is the explosion of NFTs or non-fungible tokens. These digital collectibles are growing with individual athletes and leagues as well. In this episode, Luke explains the baseline information of what an NFT is and how it intersects with sports. He further dives into the growth of NFTs in sports and what to expect in the NFT world. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

The 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan were postponed to the summer of 2021 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. With less than 100 days until the rescheduled games are supposed to begin, there are a lot of questions that exist regarding whether the games will occur, and if they do, will athletes attend? In this episode, Luke explores some of the impact that these very different Olympic Games will have on the athletes and their fans and families due to COVID-19. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

With March Madness behind us, it’s time to witness the crazy world of Name, Image & Likeness (NIL). Last week, the state of Florida surprised the college sports world with a last minute state legislative amendment that would have pushed the NIL law’s effective date from July 1, 2021 to July 1, 2022. Ultimately, an amendment was passed to restore the effective date to July 1, 2021, but it illustrated how fragile this NIL environment is. In this episode, Luke discusses what happened in Florida, gives an update on where NIL stands from a national perspective and reinforces the importance of student-athlete education when it comes to NIL. Listen to a past episode about different state NIL laws. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Ever thought about being a sports medicine physician for esports? Quadruple board-certified physician Dr. Melita Moore does just that and even more. This episode explores the eSports industry, both the growth and direction of the industry, as well as the importance of mental and physical health for gamers. Dr. Moore also shares information on how she helps both eSports and traditional athletes grow their brands. Forbes article Dr. Melita’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/levelupdoctor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/levelupdoctor   Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Athletes are often referred to as the CEO of the business around them, but what does that really mean? In this episode, Luke explores what it means to be an athlete CEO, how to manage the advisors who support athletes and how to use a corporate organizational structure to ensure they are getting the information they need in order to make strategic decisions about their life outside of sports. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.  

In this episode, Luke resets the stage for name, image and likeness rules and focuses on various state laws and pending legislation. While the common aspect of all state legislation is for student-athletes to earn compensation from the use of their name, image and likeness, there are some unique nuances between the legislation in different states. Some of these differences could lead to significant recruiting advantages. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Now that the college football basketball seasons are over, college student athletes are planning to transition to professional sports. Managing the transition is critically important to establishing a strong foundation as a professional athlete, and a professional businessperson. This episode explores ways in which athletes, and those around the athletes, can manage the transition to the next level. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

On this final day of Women’s History Month, Luke discusses some of the great recent achievements of women in sports, and some of the achievements yet to come. This honest discussion also acknowledges some of the disparities that also still exist between men’s and women’s sports. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Over the past 10 years or so, athlete empowerment has become a more recognized ideal than ever before. At all levels of sports, high school, college and professional, athletes have been able to have more control over their narrative and, through social media, engage with their fans. This episode explores that world of athlete empowerment at all levels of sports.   Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Just as the title suggests, this episode focuses on Anomaly Sports Group and what it is. Based on listener questions, Luke spends time sharing about why he started the educational advisory firm, Anomaly. He also shares the work Anomaly does to educate and protect athletes at all levels, college and professional. You can learn more about Anomaly Sports Group at www.anomalysportsgroup.com. Read the full episode transcript here. Find Luke on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

This episode focuses on understanding various components of a marketing contract or endorsement deal. Whether you are a professional athlete signing deals now, or a college student athlete learning in preparation for the name, image and likeness (NIL) changes expected this year for college athletes, Luke will provides insight into how you protect yourself when considering a marketing contract. While it is important to put money in your pocket, education on the terms of a marketing contract is critical when it comes to protecting yourself. Read a transcript of this episode here. In this episode, Luke mentions a previous podcast on marketing representation agreements. You may find that episode here or look for Episode 24 wherever you listen to your podcasts. Find Luke on Linkedin, Twitter and Instagram.  

When thinking about protecting athletes, one area that often goes overlooked is the importance of mental health and wellness. Dr. Victor Kidd is a Sport Mental Health Consultant and Sport Psychotherapist, who utilizes his clinical training to positively impact systems in sport organizations and individual athletes. In this episode, Luke and Dr. Kidd discuss the overall importance for athletes moving beyond the stigma and focusing and their mental health and wellbeing.  Read a transcript of this episode here. Find Luke on Linkedin, Twitter and Instagram.

When people hear the term “sports lawyer” they usually think it’s just another name for an agent. As a sports lawyer, Luke often adds the phrase “non-agent” to help clarify what he does and doesn’t do for his clients. In this episode, Luke spends time proving insight into the work he does to protect and educate athletes as a non-agent sports attorney. Read a transcript of this episode here.

So many people around athletes (including the athlete), are hyper-focused on the athlete’s performance. This discussion explores the ethics of athlete education beyond athletic performance in their particular sport. In this episode, Luke lays the foundation that it is an ethical imperative that athletes at all levels are educated in a way that prepares them for success outside of their sport. Read a transcript of this episode here.Find Luke on Linkedin, Twitter and Instagram.

Many athletes consider starting their own foundation or chartable nonprofit to raise money for a cause or a community that is important to them. In this episode, Luke explores the options that exist for athletes to get involved or start their own nonprofit, and some issues that may arise.Read a transcript of this episode here.

February marks the beginning of Black History Month and this week’s episode focuses on various achievements of Blacks in sports throughout history.  We’ll discuss some firsts, and look to the future, as well.  Read a transcript of the episode here.

The year 2020 brought many things including a fight for social justice and some athletes took action. In this episode, Luke talks with Justin Morrow, a professional soccer player for Toronto FC and the executive director of Black Players for Change, an organization of nearly 200 Major League Soccer players, coaches and staff. They talk about how the organization has pushed for social justice within their league and the huge impact they’ve had in the league and the country. Read a transcript of the episode here.

Whether student-athletes contemplating name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities, professional athletes transitioning into professional sports, or entertainers considering marketing agents, this discussion is for you! Understanding the various sections of a marketing representation agreement is critical to ensure long-term protection of an athlete or entertainer. In this episode, Luke breaks down some of the important provisions of a marketing representation agreement and provides tips to ensure the athlete is protected when signing these types of agreements.Read the full transcript here.

As the new year kicked off, the D1 Council of the NCAA was scheduled to vote on the new pending regulations around Name Image and Likeness (NIL), as well as the Transfer Portal rule changes on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021.  These votes were postponed, indefinitely, following guidance from NCAA President Mark Emmert regarding a letter he received from the U.S. Department of Justice about potential antitrust violations. From an antitrust perspective, the US Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments in NCAA v. Alston later this spring. In this episode Luke focuses on some of the pending changes coming to college sports.Read a transcript of this episode here.

A popular and regular topic on PYP is understanding the changes coming to college athletics with Name Image & Likeness (NIL). Most discussions related to NIL focus on the brand development and commercialization of student-athletes’ brands. This discussion focuses on the importance of student-athletes understanding entrepreneurship and the need for education and protection around new businesses – whether those businesses are operating companies or loan-out companies. Read the transcript here.

Athletes are the CEO of their brand, but also create their own operating businesses. There are key areas that these business owners must focus on in order to successfully navigate the startup universe. In this episode, Luke continues the discussion around athletes being the CEO. He talks with Kevion Latham of GreenRose Wealth Management and focuses on startup businesses. Find a transcript of the episode here.

Some might say this should have been the first episode of Protecting Your Possibilities, but it seems to make more sense to have it now that people are listening! In this episode, Luke shares the story of where Protecting Your Possibilities came from. He dives into his professional journey as it provides context to the podcast and the various episode topics it covers. The podcast has been fortunate to have many listeners reach out and want to share topics or ask how Luke got to where he is, and he is excited to share this story.Read the full transcript here.

On the Protecting Your Possibilities Podcast, I’m usually talking about the protection and education of athletes. In this episode, I have a conversation with Courtney Scott, Founder of Kontent Incubator regarding the launch of the College Basketball Parents Association (CBPA). The CBPA is a community-building resource that’s focused on the education and protection of parents of college basketball players. Courtney and I partnered together to launch the CBPA and this discussion will go into some of the background and goals of the association.Read a transcript of the episode here.

As discussed previously, the importance of an athlete’s identity is paramount as they progress through high school, college and professional sports. In this episode, Luke speaks with Celia Anderson about her time as a women’s basketball player at the University of Arkansas, playing in the Final Four and playing professionally overseas. Celia discusses not only how she has dealt with her identity as an athlete, but as a mother of an elite basketball player, she also discusses how she helps her daughter work through issues of identity. Read a transcript of this episode here.