Win-Win-Win

We have reached the end of Season One of Win-Win-Win, and we are so grateful for all of our listeners, guests, and partners. Eric and I learned a ton throughout this season, but it’s time for us to hit the pause button. We are going to be back and better than ever in some form or fashion in the future! To close out Season One, we thought we’d pull together some of our biggest highlights and takeaways from the past eleven episodes. We hope you enjoyed listening in as much as we enjoyed creating the show. * Why We Believe in the Impact Revolution (3:50 – 6:29) * Impact Models in Sports & Entertainment (6:30 – 10:38) * Growth & Development of Women’s Sports (10:39 – 13:37) * Influence of Athlete Activism (13:38 – 17:12) * Breaking Down the Stigma on Mental Health (17:13 – 24:20) * Guest Highlight Reel (26:50 – 29:41) Thank you to our impact partners at Sports Biz Cares for the great work you’re doing to increase social mobility for students through education, while expanding diversity within the sports industry. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit winwinwin.substack.com

Welcome back to a very special edition of Win-Win-Win! This week our guest is the incredible indie pop trio, SHAED. We interview Max, Spencer, and Chelsea from SHAED and cover all kinds of topics including the story behind their brand new single, Part Time Psycho. We also discuss the band’s work to break down the stigma around mental health and mental illness, including details on their partnership with Teen Line. To open up the show, John and Eric dive right in and Huddle Up about mental health and the power of sports and entertainment figures using their platform to talk about their personal mental health challenges. John shares a personal testimony about his own battle with mental illness, and we also discuss how stars like Kevin Love, Damian Lillard, Imani McGee-Stafford, and Demi Lovato opened up about mental health and how that can make an impact on society. This is our most vulnerable, powerful episode to date. Please enjoy! Reminder to go to sportsbizcamps.com to learn about and support our impact partner, Sports Biz Cares. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit winwinwin.substack.com

Welcome back to the show! We’re so excited about this week’s episode. As usual, John and Eric dish out some Big Ws to kick off the episode. Our Wins go to the new women’s sports media company, TOGETHXR, Renee Montgomery and the new ownership group at the Atlanta Dream, and the Oakland Athletics, who are developing a new, sustainable stadium in the coming years. In X’s and O’s, we breakdown the concept of what it means to build an impact franchise or impact league in sports. We discuss some examples we see in the industry of organizations that are focusing their efforts on impact on people and the planet, including the Oakland Roots, the NBA, and the WNBA. Our guest this week is Courtney Ksiazek from Angel City Football Club, an expansion franchise in the NWSL. We had a great conversation about how ACFC is redefining what a sports club means to a community, and putting impact at the core of all aspects of their business. If you work for a sports franchise, you will not want to this interview! Reminder to go to sportsbizcamps.com to learn about and support our impact partner, Sports Biz Cares. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit winwinwin.substack.com

Two words - Women’s Sports. That’s a big topic of discussion this week as John and Eric highlight our Big Ws from the past week, including new deals for Angel City FC and the Portland Timbers & Thorns. We also talk a little bit about the new Anti-Racist Project from Common Goal.Huddle Up with us this week to learn about the “Impact Revolution.” This concept from a new book by impact investing pioneer, Sir Ronald Cohen, will blow your mind and inspire you to dream about a more fair, just, and equitable world in which our economic and governmental systems focus on impact, not just profit and growth.And our guest this week is Megan Perry! Megan is the Executive Director of Women’s Initiatives at Sports Innovation Lab. We talk all about The Fan Project, a new initiative that aims to use fans’ social media data to increase investment in Women’s Sports. We also discuss Megan’s journey from playing on an Ivy League champion basketball team at Cornell to working for the NBA, WNBA, and CBS Sports before landing in her current role. Plus, Megan helps us understand where we are right now in the history of Women’s Sports (hint, it’s SO early) and why the growth trajectory is so promising. Reminder to go to sportsbizcamps.com to learn about and support our impact partner, Sports Biz Cares. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit winwinwin.substack.com

In this week’s episode, John and Eric continue their conversation from past weeks on athlete activism. They hand out some Big Ws to some impactful athletes locally in Maryland and give shout-outs to New Balance, and Colin Kaepernick for their recent initiatives. Our guest this week is Adrian Tracy. Adrian has played football professionally for over a decade. He was drafted by the New York Giants in 2010 out of William & Mary and became a Super Bowl champion as a member of the 2011-2012 Giants team. After going through some brutal injuries and not getting a fair shot to display his talent in New York and Arizona, Adrian transitioned to the Canadian Football League (CFL) where he’s performed at a high level for the past 5-6 years. You will learn a lot from our conversation with Adrian. We talk about the power of faith, how experience is the best teacher, and why sometimes you need to “separate to elevate.” We also discuss the link between the rise of social media and an increase in athlete activism, plus so much more. Please enjoy this conversation with Adrian Tracy! Reminder to go to sportsbizcamps.com to learn about and support our impact partner, Sports Biz Cares. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit winwinwin.substack.com

We’ve got an NFL-heavy episode for you in the aftermath of the Super Bowl. John and Eric kick off the episode talking about what a let down the actual game was, but share some of the Big Ws that the NFL Community Relations team and its partners were able to pull off for the Tampa community. During our X’s and O’s segment, the guys break down several purpose-driven Super Bowl ads, giving brands like DoorDash and Oatly grades for their big game advertising efforts. Our guest this week is the one and only, Whitney Holtzman. Whitney is an entrepreneur and author, and the founder of Social Victories, where she serves as the Chief Marketing Officer for several pro athletes. You will not want to miss our conversation - Whitney dropped so many great nuggets about life and work. Reminder to go to sportsbizcamps.com to learn about and support our impact partner, Sports Biz Cares. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit winwinwin.substack.com

Welcome back! It’s Super Bowl Week, and we are just as psyched for the commercials as we are for the game. John and Eric’s Big W for the week goes to the NWHL and Discover for their new partnership. Unfortunately, the NWHL had to cancel their season due to COVID-19 after the recording! :( On Huddle Up this week, we discuss the Past, Present, and Future of Athlete Activism. We reflect on the incredible legacy of individuals such as the late Hank Aaron and discuss what we expect in the future out of activist athletes. Our guest this week is Jeremy Casebeer! Jeremy is a top player on the AVP Tour and a champion for sustainability in sports. We talk about the fleeting nature of winning, his passion for sustainability, and much more. Reminder to go to sportsbizcamps.com to learn about and support our impact partner, Sports Biz Cares. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit winwinwin.substack.com

We are back at it again. John and Eric start out reveling in the upcoming Super Bowl matchup between Brady and Mahomes. The Big Ws handed out this week go to Naomi Osaka and Workday, as well as Citi and Justin Thomas. In a new segment, the guys dive into some X’s and O’s, breaking down a massive deal from July 2020 between Procter & Gamble and the International Olympic Committee. Our guest this week is Matt Hill. Matt is a Consultant at Next Up Partners, and has vast experience in the sports industry including stops with the NFL, MLS, adidas, and GMR Marketing. Reminder to go to sportsbizcamps.com to learn about and support our impact partner, Sports Biz Cares. Notes Naomi Osaka & Workday Citi & Justin Thomas P&G & the IOC - The Measure of Greatness This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit winwinwin.substack.com

This week on Win-Win-Win, John and Eric hand out Big Ws to the #BillsMafia for their charitable efforts, and to the Indianapolis Colts for their new mental health initiative. Then they Huddle Up to discuss the concept that “marketing is all about humanity.” Our guest is Roger Jones, Director of Corporate Partnerships for the Cleveland Browns. Roger and John discuss Roger becoming internet famous, his career arc in sports, and his partnerships style. So many great nuggets in this interview. Reminder to go to sportsbizcamps.com to learn about and support our impact partner, Sports Biz Cares. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit winwinwin.substack.com

John and Eric open the show reveling in the Baltimore Ravens playoff victory last weekend. Then they hand out some Big Ws from the past week, including an incredible new program launched by the Utah Jazz. The guys then Huddle Up for a meaningful conversation about the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th.Our very first guest on the show is the one and only Patrick Stack. Patrick is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sports Biz Cares, a 501c3 based in Charlotte, NC. John and Patrick talk about the purpose of Sports Biz Cares (and its program, Sports Biz Camps). Plus, they open up about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the sports and entertainment industry, and how Patrick and his organization can help further that mission. Win-Win-Win and Sports Biz Cares are partnering up this season to increase social mobility for high school students through education while expanding diversity within the sports industry. Sports Biz Cares’ programs provide students with access to fulfilling careers through education and interaction with industry professionals. With every new episode of Win-Win-Win, we’ll make a small contribution to Sports Biz Cares’ to support their mission, and we encourage all of our listeners to do the same! Just go to sportsbizcamps.com to learn more and join us in growing the diversity of our industry and access to fulfilling careers for young people from all backgrounds. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit winwinwin.substack.com

We are back at it with Episode 2! In this episode, John puts Eric on the hot seat for another round of Q&A so you can get to know your co-host! Learn about Eric’s passion and love for his hometown of Baltimore, what his experience as a collegiate soccer player taught him, how a capstone project at Georgetown turned into a real business, and what the Win-Win-Win mindset means to him. To learn more about our Impact Partner, go to sportsbizcamps.comTo learn more about Baltimore United, go to baltimoreunited.orgConnect with Eric on LinkedIn and TwitterThank you for listening! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit winwinwin.substack.com

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Win-Win-Win! In this episode, we introduce ourselves and Eric puts John on the hot seat for some Q&A. Get to know John’s background, why he wrote 3-Win Sponsorship, the challenges he faced in the aftermath of publication, why he started TWG, and why he decided to start this podcast. To learn more about our Impact Partner, go to sportsbizcamps.comTo learn more about TWG, go to thirdwin.comConnect with John on LinkedIn and TwitterThank you for listening! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit winwinwin.substack.com

Welcome to Win-Win-Win with John Balkam! A new podcast hosted by me, John Balkam, and my co-host, Eric Dorsey. The purpose of this show is to inspire you to apply a win-win-win mindset to your career in the sports & entertainment industry. We felt that a podcast would be a perfect supplement to the written content that you’ve come to expect from us over the past year. If you’re an existing subscriber to our newsletter, you don’t need to do anything! We’ll be publishing once a week for the next several months until the completion of Season One. You’ll receive the podcast delivered straight into your inbox. If you’re new to our community or were forwarded this email, welcome! Make sure to subscribe here on Substack, and/or on your favorite podcast streaming platform. About Our Partner: Sports Biz Cares Win-Win-Win is a proud supporter of Sports Biz Cares, a 501c3 whose mission is to increase social mobility for high school students through education, while expanding diversity within the sports industry. Sports Biz Cares’ programs provide students with access to fulfilling careers through education and interaction with industry professionals. With every new episode of Win-Win-Win, we’ll make a small contribution to Sports Biz Cares’ to support their mission, and we encourage all of our listeners to do the same! Just go to sportsbizcamps.com to learn more and join us in growing the diversity of our industry and access to fulfilling careers for young people from all backgrounds. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit winwinwin.substack.com