Sports and entertainment luminaries share the stories behind their greatest victories.
This week Vik speaks with Dev Sethi, the head of Instagram Sports. He shares his incredible journey, one that's led him to one of the most sought-after positions in the world of sports or sports media. He shares his point of view on taking time for yourself, including details about the year he stepped away from a flourishing career to reframe his mind on what's truly important.
Today we speak with the Founder and CEO of ZuCasa, Gregory Butler, who has helped introduce the first platform to allows friends to enjoy live events together in a virtual space. This revolutionary concept is already making ways, and Butler explains how his background in the music industry prepared him for the uncomfortable situations and general unknowns of the entrepreneurial world.
This week Vik talks with Brendan Kaminsky, founder of bknown, a social media and branding agency within the world of sports and entertainment. Kaminsky previously served as a long-time ESPN social media expert, before moving on to start his own business. He explains the risks and rewards of taking such a leap of faith, and how waiting for the right time made all the difference.
This week Vik speaks with old pal Vinay Mullick, the former Athletic Director at the Chicago high school Anthony Davis called home as a prep star. Now the managing director of UpMetrics, Mullick shares his fascinating journey from engineer to teacher to A.D. to director at an organization utilizing data to make the world a better place.
This week Vik is joined by WNBA star Betnijah Laney, who outlines her winding path to basketball stardom. From a college career at Rutgers to a devastating injury as a professional, Laney talks about relentlessly moving forward to achieve your goals.
This week Vik is joined by NFL agent Sam Leaf Ireifej of Entourage Management Group. Sam shares his journey from college to pro football player all the way to representing NFL talent today. He credits those who helped get him there and provides a number of tips for anyone looking to break into the industry.
This week Vik welcomes Don Povia, the Founder and President of Transition Sports & Entertainment. Besides leading an influential agency, Don is also a media trailblazer. He founded the influential Blogs With Balls, and has been a leader in the digital sports media space for over a decade. He shares his unique journey and the risks he took to get there, along with some of his biggest victories along the way.
This week Vik welcomes Cleveland State Deputy Athletics Director Tyler Jones, who shares his insights into how things like representation, opportunity and valuing diversity helped him flourish quickly in collegiate athletics. The former Eastern Michigan student-athlete also discusses the role his father played in his early fascination with sports, as well as the servant-leader mentality college athletics demands from ADs.
This week Vik welcomes Rahul Patel, who outlines a journey that started with a rigorous (and anti-sports) upbringing at the hands of immigrant parents all the way to founding FSM Sports Agency. As the agency's President he's overseen tremendous growth for his business and his clients, and he shares some of the lessons he's learned along the way. And later, he provides a valuable lesson to anyone looking to make it in the business of sports.
Today's guest is no stranger to taking risks. Joe Fortenbaugh is a new ESPN personality but a veteran in the worlds of sports media and betting. He discusses the huge leaps of faith he's made in his career, as well as the long-view and grinder mentalities that have helped him reach his goals.
This week Vik sits down with Alex Onaindia, the co-founder and CEO of Distinction Agency. He describes his journey from Florida State undergrad to becoming the head of a marketing agency on the cutting edge of social media and influencer-forward brand marketing. He also outlines the obstacles he tackle every day working with brands and athletes that may not recognize their full marketing potential.
Renowned journalist and best-selling author Steve Delsohn joins Vik to discuss his greatest victories as a writer, as well as recreating his career after his departure from ESPN and Outside The Lines. Now the head of his own public relations firm, Delsohn shares incredible stories about his books, his career and the many lessons he's learned along the way.
Today host Vik Chokshi sits down with fellow entrepreneur Randall Thompson, creator of Dugout Mugs. The former minor league baseball player reflects on the long path he took to lead such a unique and thriving business, and the lessons he's learned along the way.
Reigning WNBA All-Star Game MVP Erica Wheeler has been through a lot. After a successful career at Rutgers she took the long road to WNBA success, and details the hardships she's overcome to secure her spot among the league's best players.
Fox Sports' Jason McIntyre was the original founder of the popular website The Big Lead, and shares his incredible journey from scrappy staff writer in New York to well-known national media personality. He details the ups and downs of his early internet success, and outlines the greatest victory he's experienced along the way.
Today's guest preaches living an action-oriented lifestyle, and takes his own advice. Darren Heitner rose from a grinding law student with dreams of becoming a big-time sports agent to establishing himself as one of the preeminent legal voices in sports law. He's helped blaze a trail to the intersection of the sports universe and the legal trademark space, and his influence among professional athletes is well-publicized. Vik sits down with Darren to discuss his journey and the biggest victories that got him there.
Craig Hodges had the best three-point percentage in the NBA three times, and won the NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest three times. But the Chicago native wasn't invited to the Windy City's All-Star Weekend this past season. He was a key member of the early Chicago Bulls dynasty, but was not featured in The Last Dance, nor contacted about participating. Hodges has every reason to believe he has been blackballed by the NBA for his activism, which included giving a letter to then-president George H.W. Bush during this championship White House visit in the early 1990s. He tells Vik his story, and it is a story that's become more relevant than ever.
Utah Jazz superstar Donovan Mitchell discusses his efforts at growing the game of basketball, his soft spot for young fans, and his appreciation for Kobe Bryant. Later, former NBA 2K star Rachel DeMita talks to Vik about her career path from D1 player at Old Dominion to NBA 2K, and her experience playing in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
In his fascinating career in basketball media, Michael Tolajian has directed such celebrated documentaries as the 30 for 30 film "Once Brothers," and the engrossing San Quentin hoops film "Q-Ball." He speaks with host Vik Chokshi about the Dream Team, film etiquette in prison, and his ascent from an "Inside Stuff" underling to one of the most respected basketball filmmakers today.
Bleacher Report staff writer Mirin Fader joins host Vik Chokshi to share her greatest victory on a path to a rewarding career in basketball journalism. Fader made a splash with the release of her national feature story on LaMelo Ball's hoops sojourn to Lithuania, but her own journey from basketball player to basketball writer has been just as colorful.