On today’s episode, Rich and Andy are joined by Tim Foster MBE, an Olympic champion who has successfully transitioned into leadership and education coaching within the business of sports.

Now Head of Performance for the League Managers Association (LMA), Foster provides mentoring, advice, learning, development programmes, workshops, webinars, and all areas of support relevant to football managers, their wellbeing, career, professional and personal development.

The discussion explores Foster’s journey of high performance, from his early days as an elite athlete to his gold medal win at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Tim delves into the mental and physical challenges of competing at the highest level, the importance of teamwork, and how those experiences have shaped his approach to coaching and leadership in the business of sports.

Timestamps

• 03:00 – Tim’s Early Rowing Career and Olympic Journey

• 7:00 - Talent Identification and Evolution in Rowing

• 17:00 Setting Goals and Maintaining Drive

• 23:00 Reflecting on Transitioning from Athlete to Coach

• 32:00 Working with Elite Football Managers

• 36:00 - Cross Sport Learning and Leadership

Additional Links

On today’s episode, we kick off the inaugural edition of the Sports Pundit Media Podcast with YouTuber and content creator Manny Brown.

Over the past 13 years, Manny has built one of the most recognisable voices in digital football media, growing from gaming roots into a multi-platform creator with millions of followers. His work spans YouTube stardom, brand collaborations, and founding his own Sunday League football team, Under the Radar FC - a project that blends storytelling, authenticity, and community in a way traditional broadcasters are still trying to replicate.

In this conversation, Manny reflects on his journey from gamer to football creator, the evolution of sports content in the digital era, and the role of gaming and virtual clubs in building fandom. He opens up on the highs and challenges of life as a creator, why community is central to everything he does, and how sports media can better connect with audiences who crave relatable, engaging content.

Timestamps
03:00 – The Birth of Under the Radar FC
07:00 – Engaging the Audience: Lessons for Broadcasters
10:00 – Building and Managing a Community
15:00 – Balancing Personal Brand and Family
22:00 – Innovative Formats in Sports Media
30:00 – Collaborations and Future Aspirations

About The Hosts

Jo Redfern is a digital and youth media specialist who has spent the last five years at the forefront of platforms such as YouTube, Roblox, and TikTok. With a background in traditional broadcast and kids media, Jo is known for turning generational media behaviours into commercial opportunities. Through her consultancy firm, Futrhood, she helps IP owners and rights holders scale engagement and monetisation by leveraging content, platforms, community, and emerging tech. Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Cohen has spent the last decade building at the intersection of sport, media, and the creator economy. As former CEO of Whistle, he scaled the company into a $100M multi-platform media business, driving organic growth and strategic M&A before leading its exit to Eleven Sports and later DAZN. Today, through his new venture Disruptive Play, Michael partners with companies and creators to shape the next wave of sports and media IP, challenging the status quo and architecting business models for the next era of sport. Connect on LinkedIn

About Sports Pundit

Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its weekly newsletter, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe.

At the heart of the platform is the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives. The network features six domain-specific podcasts spanning innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch. Together, they deliver insider perspectives that live up to Sports Pundit’s mission to be “The Voice of the Sports Industry.”

Produced by OH SIX

The Sports Pundit Podcast is proudly produced by OH SIX, a content marketing agency specialising in producing digital and social-first content that connects. Trusted by Premier League clubs, F1 teams, and top brands, OH SIX deliver premium content end-to-end, from ideation, working with talent during production and platform specific content to reach audiences on screen.

In the inaugural episode of The Pitch Podcast, Andy and Drew discuss the concept of creating this new show which is centered around ideas and innovations across the sports industry, as well as introducing the Sports Pundit Podcast Network.

The conversation explores the idea of extending programming around sports events to create additional value, such as hosting conferences or tourism experiences.

The discussion also delves into various opportunities for enhancing sports tourism and maximising the physical experience of attending sports events.

Timestamps

03:00 - The Evolution of the Sports Pundit Network

06:00  - First Pitch: Formula One Business Summit and Expanding Sports Events with Additional Inventory

15:00 - Sports as Tourism: Capturing Economic Value

29:00 - Conclusion and Invitation for Listener Participation

About

Visit our website (sportspundit.co) to find previous episodes, dive into our newsletters, and connect with other execs both online via the WhatsApp Group and IRL via our social events.

This episode was produced by OH SIX, specialists in sports and branded video content. They bring experience working with F1 teams, Premier League clubs, and some of the world’s top creators. 

On today’s episode, we visit one of my favourite conversations with Matthew Jafarian, Executive Vice President of Business Strategy at the Miami HEAT.

Over the past eight years, Matthew has led one of the most ambitious digital transformations in American sports, overseeing the HEAT’s approach to data, technology, and strategy. But what really sets him apart is the fact that he hasn’t just transformed his own organisation, he’s also helping to reshape the entire industry.

Matthew is also the co-founder of 601 Analytics, a data and analytics platform born inside the HEAT that’s now used by over 20% of the NBA, the league office, and teams across the NFL, NHL, NWSL, MLB, and (soon) MLS. From fan insights to ticketing to food and beverage optimisation, it’s become the operating system behind some of the smartest front offices in sport.

In this conversation, we dig into how the role of data is evolving in sport, why teams need to start acting like the billion-dollar businesses they are, and what it means to build a company within a world-famous organisation.

Timestamps

01:00 - Matthew's Journey to Joining the HEAT

03:00 - Digital Transformation and the Start of 601 Analytics

08:00 - Expanding to the Milwaukee Bucks

14:00 - Balancing Roles and Responsibilities

19:00 - Solving Industry Challenges

24:00 Leveraging Consumer Profiles and Loyalty

29:00 Expanding into Europe

32:00 - Court Culture and Empowering Entrepreneurial Ventures

35:00 - Approach to Investing and Sports Technology

40:00 - Customer-Centric Growth Strategy

42:00 - Closing Remarks and Future Opportunities

Additional Links

⁠Miami Heat: the basketball team turned tech startup⁠⁠Miami Heat Tech Team Expands Data Services To NBA And Beyond⁠⁠Miami HEAT boosts season ticket sales by 30% and saves approximately $1 million on operations⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

This is the fifth episode in a series of 5 focused on #Performance and hosted by Rich Buchanan, a former Performance Director at Swansea City FC in the Premier League and Human Performance Consultant for DC United in the MLS.

On today’s episode, Rich is joined by Alex Igual, Sport Technology and Partnership Manager at FIBA.

FIBA is the world governing body for basketball that amongst many other things, is responsible for organising international competitions, establishing the rules and regulations of basketball and developing the game globally. Alex is right at the cutting edge where technological innovation impacts on court outcomes and FIBA’s business objectives.

Connect with Rich on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Rich on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠Here⁠⁠

#Ad

This series is kindly supported by  award-winning sports technology and innovation company, Genius Sports.  

Discover the new operating system for sport brought to you by the world leader in AI and sports data by visiting ⁠⁠⁠geniussports.com/perform/⁠⁠⁠

Today, we revisit a conversation with Em Heath, Global Brand Director at Rexona, a key player globally in Unilever’s personal care brand portfolio.

Formerly a sponsor of Williams F1, the brand has taken a serious liking to women’s football - partnering with Man City and Chelsea, doing deals with players like Lauren James and Lucy Bronze, as well as playing a key role in activating around marquee properties like the Women’s World Cup and Women’s Euros, as part of Unilever’s broader partnerships with FIFA and UEFA.

We explore this interest in women’s football and the nuances of activating across almost every area of the women’s game, the role that brands can play within women’s sport, and the intricacies of managing a global brand.

Timestamps

2:00 - Em's Journey

4.30: - How Rexona Fits within Unilever Personal Care Portfolio

8:00 - Activating Partnerships with UEFA and FIFA

15:00 - Balancing Sports Partnerships with Other Areas of Marketing

18:00 - Leveraging Ambassadors at Club Partners - like Lucy Bronze and Lauren James

20:30 - What Attracted Rexona to Partner with Chelsea and Man City

26:00 - Chicken and Egg Problem Surrounding Women's Sport

29:00 - What is Rexona's Breaking Limits Program?

34:00 - Meeting KPIs and Measuring ROI

40:00 - Evaluating New Partners - and why Rexona Stopped Sponsoring in Formula 1

45:00 - Looking Forward

Additional Links

⁠Rexona Partners with England Football Star Lucy Bronze to Inspire Girls to Move More⁠

⁠ICC and Unilever announce groundbreaking partnership on International Women’s Day to strengthen the future of women’s cricket⁠

Connect with Emily on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - ⁠Here

This is the fourth episode in a series of 5 focused on #Performance and hosted by Rich Buchanan, a former Performance Director at Swansea City FC in the Premier League and Human Performance Consultant for DC United in the MLS.

On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Performance Podcast, Andy was joined by Spencer Jones of the Denver Nuggets.

On a two-way contract with the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League, Spencer has continually beat the odds. From being a last minute admission to Stanford to captaining the team for three seasons, and initially going undrafted, only to now find himself in the NBA. 

What is most interesting about Spencer is how he continually applies himself both on and off the court. This includes actively engaging with and investing in startups, particularly in the human performance space, as well as being one of very few NBA players active on LinkedIn.

Filling in on this episode for Rich, Andy does his best to address the conversation from a performance lens, however, I also took an interest in how he thinks about investing and leveraging his position as a professional athlete.

Timestamps

4:00 - Spencer's Journey to the NBA

7:00 - Leveraging Access and Opportunity

14:00 - Angel Investing in Sports and Health Tech

18:00 - Applying Off-Court Investments into On-Court Performance

23:00 - Maximising Sleep and Recovery

27:00 - Future Ambitions

Additional Links

Connect with Spencer on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Rich on LinkedIn - Here

#AdThis series is kindly supported by  award-winning sports technology and innovation company, Genius Sports.  Discover the new operating system for sport brought to you by the world leader in AI and sports data by visiting ⁠⁠⁠geniussports.com/perform/⁠⁠⁠

Today, we revisit a conversation with the CEO of Overtime, Dan Porter. 

Formerly head of Digital at WME, CEO of OMGPOP, and the creator of the mobile game ‘Draw Something,’ Dan founded Overtime in 2016. 

Now a digital sports media company geared towards Gen-Z sports fans and operating a series of professional sports leagues - it began focusing on posting short-form content of high school athletes captured shared to social media.

This social-first identity carries through across all of the companies endeavours to this day, so I’m delighted to have Dan on to discuss the companies evolution from media platform to league operator, their recently announced partnerships with the ATP Tour and NWSL, and how they are navigating the evolving landscape around areas like NIL and social media.

Timestamps:  

2:00 - Dan’s Journey - From Draw Something to Overtime

5:00 - What is Overtime? A brand, a platform, a league?

8:00 - Becoming Sports League Operators 

10:00 - Young athletes aren’t future stars, they’re stars NOW

13:00 - Owning IP and Being Part of Creator Economy 

15:00 - Impact of Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) on Overtime

17:00 - Eli Ellis: A potential future Overtime CEO 

20:00 - Overtime’s Revenue Split 

25:00 – NFL, Olympics & new partnerships: Why other leagues are working with Overtime

30:00 – Future plans and Overtime’s potential bold play in chess

Additional Links:

⁠Different Game: Overtime’s IP Empire Is What Every Sports Brand Wishes It Had 🔥⁠

⁠Overtime and NWSL Team Up For Gen-Z-Focused Content Partnership⁠

⁠ATP Tour & Overtime announce groundbreaking content partnership to bring tennis to new audiences⁠

Connect with Dan on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - ⁠Here

This is the fourth episode in a series of 5 focused on #Innovation and hosted by Leanne Bats, a former All Blacks and FC Barcelona executive now leading innovation for a regional sports trust in New Zealand. 

On this week's episode Leanne was joined by Rowena Samarasinhe, one of the sharpest systems thinkers in global sport to go deep into women's sport (coincidentally, right off the back of the Lionesses' history-breaking Euros success).

From CMS Law, SPORTFIVE, and commercial rights giant, Dentsu, to working intimately with UEFA, World Athletics, and also athletes like Usain Bolt, Rowena has founded GENSport.

In this conversation, Leanne and Rowena imagine what's possible for the future of the women's sports industry at a time when traditional models in the men's game are increasingly coming under pressure. As they discuss, the path for women's sports should not be a copy paste of the men's game, but instead demand new thinking.

Timestamps

02:00 - Celebrating the Lionesses' Victory

05:00 - Rowena's Journey in Sports

09:00 The Changing Landscape of Sports

11:00 - Innovative Approaches in Women's Sports

15:00 - Challenges and Opportunities in Modern Sports

20:00 - Future of Women's Football

26:00 -  US vs. UK Women's Sports Models

31:00 - Challenges in Women's Sports Investment

35:00 - Innovative Broadcast Strategies

41:00 - Athlete-Centric Fandom

43:00 - Commercial Opportunities in Women's Sports

48:00 - Under the Radar Women's Sports Markets

Additional Links

Connect with Rowena on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn - Here

Visit sportspundit.co  to find previous editions of the podcast, access the newsletter, sign up to our WhatsApp community and join us at an upcoming social event in cities all around the world.

This is the third episode in a series of 5 focused on #Performance and hosted by Rich Buchanan, a former Performance Director at Swansea City FC in the Premier League and Human Performance Consultant for DC United in the MLS.

On today’s episode, Rich is joined by Nick Davies, the Head of Academy Performance at Crystal Palace.

Nick brings a wealth of experience and insight into how a structured process and a multidisciplinary approach serves both the sporting objectives and business goals of an elite football organisation.

In this conversation, they explore the people, the philosophies, and the practices that shape player developments in elite academies, diving deep into how high performance systems impact not just player development, but also the long-term sustainability and success of a Premier League football club.

Connect with Rich on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

#Ad

This series is kindly supported by  award-winning sports technology and innovation company, Genius Sports.  

Discover the new operating system for sport brought to you by the world leader in AI and sports data by visiting ⁠⁠geniussports.com/perform/⁠⁠

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Avelino, a rapper known for his sharp lyricism, deep wordplay, and cultural influence far beyond music.

From his early freestyles on YouTube to collaborations with Stormzy, Aitch, Wretch 32 and Skepta, Avelino’s journey has always been about using his voice to represent something bigger.

Now, he’s stepping into a new arena.

Alongside presenter Harry Pinero and football entrepreneur John Loaiza, Avelino has co-founded Nexus Football Group, a next-generation agency built to reshape the future of football representation. 

Beyond managing talent, Nexus aims to unlock overlooked brilliance, bridge culture and sport, and create a new blueprint for how players are seen, supported, and celebrated.

In this conversation, we talk about the lessons that Avelino brings from music into football, why the system needs disrupting, and how Nexus plans to elevate both the game and the people in it.

Timestamps

02:00 - Journey into Music and Football

04:00 - Music Career Highlights

06:00 - Founding Nexus Football Group

12:00 - Mentorship and Player Development

14:00 - Updating the Agency Model

17:00 - Scouting and Talent Pathways

24:00 - Leveraging Technology in Football

28:00 - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

This is the third episode in a series of 5 focused on #Innovation and hosted by Leanne Bats, a former All Blacks and FC Barcelona executive now leading innovation for a regional sports trust in New Zealand. 

On this week's episode Leanne was joined by Jason Steele, a visionary strategist reshaping the way global sports approaches brand and audience growth, engagement, and commercialisation through digital.

Jason is Currently the Head of Marketing Strategy at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), where he has led and executed strategies relating to data and marketing technology, fan engagement and digital experience, including the development of the fan data platform and engagement activations for Paris 2024.

With a career that span creative agencies, media and sports consultancy, Jason blends deep expertise across marketing and commercial disciplines for global brands, agencies, and sports rights holders. He knows how to build the right strategies, technologies, and operating models that connect the dots between data-driven digital fan experiences and unlocking greater commercial value.

In this episode, Leanne unpacks Jason's career journey and his thoughts on how sports rightsholders and potential investors in sport need the correct approaches and levers to drive long-term brand growth. The conversation goes deep into his experience into growing, engaging, and commercialising audiences with innovation at the heart to create long-term value for sports brands.

Timestamps

02:00: Jason’s Career Beginnings at PlayStation and Habbo Hotel

06:00 – Transition to Sports & Brand Activation at JMI

10:00 – Bridging Digital + Sponsorship at CSM

15:00 – Building Fan Data Foundations

21:00 – Long vs Short: Brand vs Performance Marketing

27:00 – Three Pillars: Grow, Engage, Commercialise

32:00 – Segmenting & Valuing Fans

36:00 – AI's Real-World Impact

42:00 – Ownership vs Partnership in Innovation

47:00 – What’s Next? Excitement, Worries, and Recommendations

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Misha Sher, Global Head of Sport, Entertainment and Culture at WPP, and one of the most respected voices in the intersection of sport, creativity, and brand strategy.

Misha has spent the last decade helping some of the world’s biggest brands, from Toyota to eBay, connect with culture through sport. He’s also worked directly with global icons like Pele and Mesut Özil, helping turn talent into brands that last far beyond the pitch.

In this conversation, recorded at the Johan Cryuff ArenA in Amsterdam during Soccerex Europe, we explore what great sponsorship really looks like in 2025, why it's no longer about exposure, but experience, and how WPP works with both talent and brands.

Timestamps

2:00 - Misha's Career Journey

4:00 - The Importance of Networking

06:00 - Working with Pele: Challenges and Insights

10:00 - Building a Personal Brand

15:00 - Athletes Leveraging Media

19:00 - Brand Partnerships and Strategies

23:00 - Working with Alessia Russo

27:00 Case Studies: eBay and Toyota

Connect with Misha on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Rob Pilgrim, Head of Sport & Primetime at YouTube EMEA.

Rob has spent the last eight years leading YouTube’s end-to-end sports business across the region, from commercial deals and product launches to strategy and societal impact. He’s helped build a team that’s landed global rights deals, launched paid products like Primetime Channels, and championed the platform’s role in accelerating the growth of women’s sport.

In this conversation, we explore what that future looks like — through the lens of YouTube CEO Neal Mohan’s four big bets: AI, Creators as Studios, The Living Room, and Protecting the Creator Economy. If you care about how sport is being reshaped by platforms and creators, this one’s a must-listen.

Timestamps

02:00 – Rob’s Career Journey

06:00 – YouTube’s Evolution in Sport

09:00 – What Partnerships Really Mean at YouTube

12:00 – Broadcasters as Partners, Not Competitors

15:30 – Sky Sports Case Study

17:00 – DAZN & Women’s Champions League

20:45 – Redefining “Free to Air and Rise of YouTube on smart TVs

25:30 – Fragmentation, Friction & the Future of Viewing

28:20 – Alternative Feeds & Personalised Viewing

32:15 – The Creator → Broadcaster Evolution

35:00 – Future of Exclusivity in Sports Rights

38:00 – NFL & Creator Access

41:00 – Rethinking the Media Rights Revenue Model

43:00 – The Role of AI at YouTube

45:00 – Final Thoughts

Additional Links

Connect with Rob on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

This is the second episode in a series of 5 focused on #Performance and hosted by Rich Buchanan, a former Performance Director at Swansea City FC in the Premier League and Human Performance Consultant for DC United in the MLS.

On today’s episode, Rich is joined by Dr. Daniel Parnell, CEO of the Association of Sporting Directors, among other roles.

From university corridors to the boardrooms of football clubs, Dan has built a career at the intersection of sport, business and research.

As an academic, CEO, technical expert, and consultant, he's uniquely placed to talk about what drives high performance and what hinders it in the business of football and beyond. And that's exactly what this podcast does.

Through poignant examples and personal experiences, this conversation dives into the impact of meaningful relationships, strategic thinking, effective leadership as well as the importance of, and application of, network theory.

Connect with Dan on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Rich on LinkedIn - Here

#Ad

This series is kindly supported by  award-winning sports technology and innovation company, Genius Sports.  

Discover the new operating system for sport brought to you by the world leader in AI and sports data by visiting ⁠geniussports.com/perform/⁠

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Vansa Chatikavanij, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Present Ventures, a firm investing in emerging leagues, media, and fan-driven technology.

Vansa’s background is as global and multidisciplinary as it gets, from advising on water and climate projects at the World Bank, to building billion-dollar web3 infrastructure in Asia, to now shaping the future of sport through investments in companies like Togethxr, Unrivaled, and Good Good Golf.

In this conversation, we explore the investment thesis behind Present Ventures, why community is increasingly the engine behind commerce, and what the rise of alternative leagues and women’s sports tells us about the next generation of fans.

Timestamps

2:00 Vansa's Unconventional Path to Sports

05:00 Present Ventures' Sports 3.0 Investment Thesis

07:00 Investments in Emerging Leagues like TGL

09:00 Golf's Growing Popularity in Asia

13:00 The Role of Content Creators in Sports and Present Venture's Investment in Good Good Golf

23:00 The Rise of Women's Sports and Creation of Unrivaled

29:00 Togethxr and The Media Space Around Women's Sports

33:00 The Power of Merchandise and Community

42:00 Team Formats in Emerging Sports Leagues

The Women’s Sport Content Landscape

The Rise of Alternative Sports Leagues and Formats

When Community Powers Commerce: A Sports 3.0 Playbook

This is the second episode in a series of 5 focused on #Innovation and hosted by Leanne Bats, a former All Blacks and FC Barcelona executive now leading innovation for a regional sports trust in New Zealand. 

On this week's episode of the Sports Pundit Innovation Podcast, Leanne is joined by Tareq Nazlawy, co-founder and CEO of Trace, a new product focused on recognising the 99% of fans who aren't at the game.

Tareq brings a rare blend of strategic, digital, and creative expertise to the world of sport from his early days at BCG to leading global digital innovation at Adidas, including its groundbreaking entry into Web3.

Now at Trace, he is building a new way for fans to collect and own the moments that matter most, digitally. Whether you're in the stands or halfway across the world, Trace captures the emotional electricity of live sport, transforming into verified digital memorabilia for fans to collect, share, and build identity around.

In this conversation, we'll unpack Tareq's journey, the future of fandom, how the technology can deepen these fan connections, and why sports organisations need to start seeing their global audience as active participants, not just spectators.

Timestamps

02:00 Tarek's Journey from BCG to Adidas and Beyond...

06:00 The Birth of Trace: A New Era for Fans

15:00 The 99%: Recognising Remote Fans

22:00 The True Size of Your Stadium: Engaging All Fans

28:00 Introducing Trace: The Fan Credential System

34:00 Case Studies: Formula One and ATP Tour Success Stories

44:00 Challenges and Misconceptions in Fan Engagement

49:00 Closing Thoughts

Additional Links

Connect with Tareq on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

This is the first episode in a series of 5 focused on #Performance and hosted by Rich Buchanan, a former Performance Director at Swansea City FC in the Premier League and Human Performance Consultant for DC United in the MLS.

On today's episode of the Sports Pundit Performance Podcast, Rich sits down with James Young, someone who has walked both sides of the line, from advising elite sports organizations at Deloitte, to living the daily pressures inside a football club like Sunderland AFC.

Now shaping strategy for rights holders around the world at Genius Sports, James isn't just a leader in the performance technology space, he's someone who understands the nuance of bridging performance insight with business strategy.

This conversation isn't just about tech, it's about why sports organizations sometimes get it wrong. And what the best do differently to get it right. So, whether you're a performance professional, an exec, or someone who's simply trying to understand how the future of sport is being shaped behind the scenes. This one's for you.

Connect with James on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

Connect with Rich on LinkedIn - ⁠Here⁠

#Ad

This series is kindly supported by  award-winning sports technology and innovation company, Genius Sports.  

Discover the new operating system for sport brought to you by the world leader in AI and sports data by visiting geniussports.com/perform/

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Matthew Jafarian, Executive Vice President of Business Strategy at the Miami HEAT. 

Over the past eight years, Matthew has led one of the most ambitious digital transformations in American sports, overseeing the HEAT’s approach to data, technology, and strategy. But what really sets him apart is the fact that he hasn’t just transformed his own organisation, he’s also helping to reshape the entire industry.

Matthew is also the co-founder of 601 Analytics, a data and analytics platform born inside the HEAT that’s now used by over 20% of the NBA, the league office, and teams across the NFL, NHL, NWSL, MLB, and (soon) MLS. From fan insights to ticketing to food and beverage optimisation, it’s become the operating system behind some of the smartest front offices in sport.

In this conversation, we dig into how the role of data is evolving in sport, why teams need to start acting like the billion-dollar businesses they are, and what it means to build a company within a world-famous organisation.

Timestamps

01:00 - Matthew's Journey to Joining the HEAT

03:00 - Digital Transformation and the Start of 601 Analytics

08:00 - Expanding to the Milwaukee Bucks

14:00 - Balancing Roles and Responsibilities

19:00 - Solving Industry Challenges

24:00 Leveraging Consumer Profiles and Loyalty

29:00 Expanding into Europe

32:00 - Court Culture and Empowering Entrepreneurial Ventures

35:00 - Approach to Investing and Sports Technology

40:00 - Customer-Centric Growth Strategy

42:00 - Closing Remarks and Future Opportunities

Additional Links

Miami Heat: the basketball team turned tech startup
Miami Heat Tech Team Expands Data Services To NBA And Beyond
Miami HEAT boosts season ticket sales by 30% and saves approximately $1 million on operations

Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Rich Buchanan, a leading voice in performance strategy and one of the most thoughtful minds working at the intersection of elite sport, data, and leadership.

Rich spent nearly two decades in the trenches of professional football, first as a physio, then as Performance Director for Swansea City during their Premier League run. He’s since held roles with the Premier League, DC United, and Zone7, and now advises sports tech companies and delivers leadership masterclasses on how to embed high-performance cultures that actually work.

Today’s episode is a little different. It’s not just a conversation - it’s an announcement. Rich will be hosting a brand new spin-off of this podcast, The Sports Pundit Performance Podcast, a five-episode mini-series exploring the big themes shaping elite performance today. From workload to wellbeing, technology to team culture, the aim is simple: to bridge the gap between the boardroom and the changing room. 

In this episode, we introduce the series, unpack Rich’s journey through performance, and talk honestly about where the industry is heading next and what needs to change.

2:00 - Rich Buchanan's Journey in Performance Strategy

4:00 - Innovations and Challenges in Sports Technology

8:00 - The Role of Data in Sports Performance

15:00 - Leadership and Communication in Sports

24:00 - Launching the Sports Pundit Performance Podcast

29:00 - Future of Sports Technology and Data

36:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Additional Links

Connect with Rich on LinkedIn - Here

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here