[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect the opinions of any respective organization or institution.]

With the recent rise in popularity of American collegiate football, organizations have taken note on the importance of proper (sport/s) fan engagement and marketing. I spoke with Allison Kelly, the Director of Marketing and Fan Engagement at the University of Kansas.

We spoke about her (hectic) daily schedule, what the people with headsets on the sidelines actually do, and how her perception of sport/s has changed since she works full-time in the industry.

I hope you enjoy the episode!

Connect with Allison on LinkedIn here -(https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonakelly0906/)

Please let me know if you have any questions or inquiries:

contact@nathanmerkel.com

Visit my website to check out my blog:

nathanmerkel.com

[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect opinions of any respective organization or institution.]

Do you think supporting a semi-professional sports team is different than a professional team? Have you ever attended a semi-professional sports game/event? Matt and I talk about the intricacies of semi-professional sporting events and how they are drastically changing the sport fan experience.

I hope you enjoy the episode!

Please reach out if you have any questions:

contact@nathanmerkel.com

[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect opinions of any respective organization or institution.]

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in an athletes' daily schedule? I have been curious about what collegiate and professional athletes are up to when they're not competing. I am grateful to be welcomed alongside Mary Long, a professional in sports within the inclusion and athlete development space.

Mary is the Coordinator for Success Through Well-Being at Columbia University Athletics in New York. Mary is responsible (but not limited to) developing Columbia athletes off the field to enhance their well-being and sense of belonging.

If you are inspired by this episode, please reach out to Mary on her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marylong93/

I hope you enjoy the episode!

Please reach out if you have any questions or inquiries: contact@nathanmerkel.com

[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect opinions of any respective organization or institution.]

Has anyone noticed how the landscape of sports media has changed? It went from a casual newspaper/magazine article to a monthly/yearly contract. I spoke with Tyler Hill, a multi-media reporter at WCIA in Champaign, Illinois about the landscape of sports media and how it has changed.

Hope you enjoy the episode!

Below is Tyler's TikTok and LinkedIn if you'd like to connect with him!

@thehillsports

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerchill941/

Hey everyone! I am gratefully joined by Michael Creek, a goalie for FC Tulsa in the United Soccer League.

We dive into topics about life as a professional athlete, the identity struggle that athletes face, the psychology of being a professional athlete, and the state of soccer in the United States.

I hope you enjoy the episode!

[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect opinions of any respective organization or institution.]

Are you a sport fan and wonder what life behind the scenes is like? I spoke with Brian McQueen, an equipment manager for an ECHL team in Maine about his journey through sport, experience working for a professional hockey club, and the current landscape of hockey in North America.

This episode also discusses the importance of the Sport Management major and if it belongs in society and/or academia.

Please reach out if you have any questions!

I hope you enjoy the episode.

contact@nathanmerkel.com

https://nathanmerkel.com/

Hey everyone! Thank you for joining us for Episode 2, "4th and... Australian?".

I sat down with Hugh Robertson, a recently graduated athlete from the University of Illinois. Hugh competed as the punter for UIUC's football team from 2020-2024. He is originally from Australia and shared his experiences of being an international athlete in the Collegiate Football context.

Here are some key themes of the episode:

1. Culture of Sport in Australia

2. Current state of the punting position in Collegiate Football

3. "Sense of belonging"

4. Student vs Athlete debate

5. Experiences with fan hate

6. Globalization of Sport

Hope you enjoy the episode!!

https://nathanmerkel.com/

This episode will dive into the experiences of my father and I who were season ticket holding St. Louis Rams fans from 1998-2015.

The St. Louis Rams relocated to LA in 2015 and decimated our psychological connection to football, and sport in general.

Are you a fan curious about franchise relocation?

Are you a practitioner wondering what franchise relocation does to your loyal fanbase?

Are you a Sport Management student interested in the impact of Sport in Society?

This podcast episode will (hopefully) answer all those questions!

Thank you for listening.

Please message me with questions or inquiries:

contact@nathanmerkel.com

https://nathanmerkel.com/