The Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast

Finding Your Purpose with guest Stephen Seidel

In this episode of the Athlete Brand Advisor podcast, Greg Glynn, founder & CEO of Pliable Marketing talks about athlete branding and finding purpose with Stephen Seidel, founder of the award-winning PR firm The Seidel Agency. 
Stephen Seidel is a TEDx keynote speaker, media expert, and founder of the award-winning PR firm The Seidel Agency, amplifying artists and Fortune 500 changemakers. A best-selling author, and creator of the Top 10 Apple podcast Wolves Among Us, and co-founder of men's mental health community GentsJourney.co, he is driven by a mission to do good, give back, and make an impact by using connection as currency to reclaim your purpose and story. Seidel is originally from Bucks County, PA, and lives in Lexington, KY as a proud #GirlDad. With a BSIE from Penn State, he remains loyal to cheesesteaks, pretzels, and his Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
In this episode, Stephen discussed his background and experience working with athletes, emphasizing the importance of branding, storytelling, and connections in sports. He highlighted the 80/20 rule in building an athlete's brand and shared his work with college athletes, including his involvement with Penn State and Oregon football. Stephen also mentioned his creation of the Gents Journey card deck to help athletes build meaningful relationships and understand their teammates better.
Personal Branding and Connection Strategies
Greg and Stephen discussed the importance of personal branding and connection in professional and personal contexts. Greg introduced Stephen, highlighting his achievements and expertise in PR, podcasting, and men's mental health. Stephen shared his experience as a Philadelphia Eagles fan and how connecting with others over shared interests can lead to meaningful relationships and opportunities. 
Building Strong Personal and Professional Brands
Greg and Stephen discussed the importance of building a strong network and personal brand, emphasizing that connections are crucial for success. They highlighted the need to focus on one's mission, message, and community before pursuing financial gains from NIL deals. Greg shared a story about two college softball players who used their NIL and brand platform to raise awareness for childhood cancer, demonstrating the power of passion-driven athlete branding. The conversation included Stephen's work in men's mental health and his involvement with Gents Journey.
Journey to Empowerment Through Connection
Stephen shared his personal journey, including his childhood dream of becoming a great father after his parents' divorce and his recent losses of both parents. He described how these challenges led him to create the Gents Journey Collective, a support group for entrepreneurs facing personal difficulties, and how the group evolved into a product to help other men. Through his experiences, Stephen emphasized the importance of connection, resilience, and reclaiming personal power in overcoming adversity.
Supporting Expectant Fathers' Emotional Journey
Stephen and Greg discussed the lack of resources for expectant fathers and the importance of men expressing their feelings. They highlighted the 7 Pillars of Manhood and introduced the Gent's Journey card deck, which contains 50 questions designed to foster meaningful connections between people.
Building Meaningful In-Person Connections
Stephen and Greg discussed the importance of fostering meaningful in-person connections and relationships. They emphasized the value of face-to-face interactions over digital communication, noting how technology like Zoom can enhance connections when in-person meetings are not possible. Greg shared his approach to building relationships by surrounding himself with positive and like-minded individuals, while Stephen highlighted the significance of being present and authentic in relationships. They also discussed the concept of going from "good to great" in relationships, emphasizing qualities like gratitude, empathy, accountability, and transformation.
Finding Joy and Resilience Through Sports
Stephen shared his personal journey of finding happiness through sports and meditation, emphasizing the importance of coming from a place of joy and play. He discussed his work as a mentor, particularly with athletes at Penn State and Oregon, focusing on core principles like resilience, grit, and the power of love. Stephen also shared his TEDx talk on the hidden power of grief, highlighting the idea that love is never lost and that letting go can lead to greater creativity and connection.
Brand Building for Athletes
Greg and Stephen discussed the importance of building personal and athlete brands, with Stephen offering insights and resources for brand development. Stephen shared his website and social media details, including a free giveaway of four PR platforms for building a brand. They also discussed the value of sharing personal reflections and experiences, with Stephen encouraging listeners to reflect on childhood aspirations and share them with others.
Show Resources:
WebsitesPliableMarketing.com
TheSeidelAgency.com
StephenSeidel.com
Men’s Group: GentsJourney.co/join
Get Deck on Amazon: https://rebrand.ly/journeydeck
TEDx Talk + Speaking Reel: https://rebrand.ly/seidelspeaking
4 Steps to Secure Your Own Media Coverage:
https://theseidelagency.com/services/media-platforms/
Social Media
@PliableMktg
@StephenSeidel
@TheSeidelAgency
@GentsJourneyco

From Athlete to Entrepreneur

James Oliver, the founder of Atlas protein bars joined host Greg Glynn for a podcast discussion to share his entrepreneurial journey and business and his development of Atlas Bars.
Clean-Label Food Entrepreneur's Journey
James shared his journey of starting Atlas, a company focused on clean-label food products, inspired by his interest in nutrition and athletic performance. He explained how his curiosity about nutrition, particularly the conflicting information available, led him to dive deeper into understanding food science. James also discussed his athletic background, which included football, lacrosse, and endurance sports, emphasizing the importance of proper nutrition for performance and recovery.
Athlete-Focused Nutrition Journey
James discussed his journey of creating Atlas, a nutrition company focused on providing protein bars with balanced nutrition for athletes and active individuals. He explained that while sugar is not inherently bad, it is often overconsumed by sedentary individuals, but is necessary for athletes during high-intensity activities. James shared his personal motivation for starting Atlas, highlighting his extensive experience as a consumer of protein bars and his willingness to take a risk after graduating from Tufts University.
Entrepreneurial Growth and Adaptation
James shared his entrepreneurial journey, starting with selling bars from his parents' dining room and later funding his company through driving for Uber while training for ultramarathons in Boston. He described how he balanced Uber driving with business development, visiting gyms to sample his bars. James revealed that his company has been in business for 7 years and has gone through significant growth phases, reaching over a million dollars in sales when he was 23. He emphasized the importance of continuous evolution and improvement in business, comparing it to the mindset of athletes who must constantly adapt and progress to stay ahead.
Adapting Products to Market Trends
James and Greg discussed the importance of positioning products in response to market trends, similar to how athletes adapt to their competition. James emphasized the significance of authenticity in partnerships, particularly in the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) market, and suggested focusing on genuine product users who can genuinely endorse the product. They also touched on the potential for college athletes to promote products, highlighting the new opportunities presented by NIL.
Atlas Bars Online Sales Strategy
James explained that Atlas Bars are primarily sold online through their website and Amazon, with plans to expand retail presence once the company reaches a larger size. He noted that getting products onto store shelves is relatively easy, but removing them once there is much more challenging due to the overwhelming number of products consumers face. Greg encouraged listeners to check out Atlas Bars as a low-sugar, high-protein option, particularly athletes seeking such products.
Show Links
Connect with Atlas Bars on Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/atlasbars/https://www.instagram.com/atlasbarshttp://tiktok.com/@atlasbars
Email Atlas
hey@atlasbars.com 
Learn more about Pliable Marketing
https://pliablemarketing.com/

Life After Sport with John Coyle

In this podcast episode, Greg Glynn, founder & CEO of Pliable and John Coyle, founder & CEO of the Art of Really Living discussed John's extensive background in sports, academia, and media. John shared his journey from Olympic athlete to motivational speaker and author, discussing his experiences in cycling, speed skating, and his work in innovation and design thinking. The conversation concluded with discussions about John's upcoming role as an Olympic analyst, his approach to handling stress and performance.
 
Olympic Athlete's Career Transition Journey
John shared his journey from a young athlete to an Olympic silver medalist and his subsequent career transition. He discussed his early love for cycling and speed skating, his struggles and eventual success in the Olympics, and how he reinvented himself after retiring from competitive sports. John emphasized the importance of focusing on one's strengths and highlighted a pivotal moment when he realized his impact on a young skater, which led to a significant shift in his identity and career path. He now works as an analyst for NBC during the Olympics and is a motivational speaker, sharing his story to inspire others.
From Athlete to Inspirational Speaker
John shared his journey from being an Olympic athlete to becoming a successful public speaker and author. He discussed how a colleague encouraged him to give a TED Talk, which led to numerous speaking opportunities and the development of his personal brand. John emphasized the importance of storytelling and the impact of his talks, highlighting that he never knew who he would reach or inspire with his words.
Design Thinking and Innovation Insights
John discussed his career in innovation and design thinking, highlighting his experience studying under David Kelly at Stanford and his work with IDEO. He emphasized the importance of design thinking, a creative problem-solving methodology, and shared that his talks focus on reframing problems to achieve better outcomes. John explained his approach of designing for strengths rather than fixing weaknesses and helping athletes manage stress to perform better.
Stress Management Through Athlete's Mindset
John discussed his approach to handling stress by adopting an athlete's mindset, emphasizing the importance of gamifying challenges to alter neurochemical balance and improve performance. He also explored the concept of slowing down the perception of time, drawing from his upcoming book "Counterclockwise," and shared his previous works, including "The Time Manifesto" and "Design for Strengths." Greg appreciated John's positive approach and suggested ways to share this information with a broader audience.
Embracing Challenges for Growth
John shared his journey of pursuing adventures and writing about them for the past decade, emphasizing the importance of investing time in high-risk, high-reward opportunities. Greg discussed his plans to launch an online course to help athletes and parents understand NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities, acknowledging the rapidly changing landscape of sports and the need to leverage his strengths as a broadcaster. Both agreed on the value of using one's unique skills and embracing challenges to achieve personal and professional growth.
Remote Olympics Analyst Role Discussion
John and Greg discussed John's upcoming role as an analyst for the Olympics, which will be held remotely from Stanford, Connecticut, due to budget constraints. John expressed his disappointment at not being on-site, as he values the in-person experience and real-time communication with coaches and team members. Greg shared his own experience of remote broadcasting during COVID-19 and acknowledged the challenges of not being physically present at the event. They agreed to stay in touch and potentially collaborate in the future, with John offering his services as a keynote speaker for Greg's athletes transitioning out of sports.
 
Links:
johnkcoyle.com
PliableMarketing.com
How to connect with John:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkcoyle1/
https://www.instagram.com/coylejohnk/
https://www.facebook.com/johnkcoyle/
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnKCoyle1
Email: info@johnkcoyle.com

Choosing the Right College with Shellee Howard

In this episode of the Athlete Brand Advisor podcast, Greg Glynn, founder & CEO of Pliable Marketing talks about helping athletes find the right college and how to get scholarships and reduce debt with Shellee Howard, the Founder and CEO of College Ready.
Shellee Howard is the Founder and CEO of College Ready and a Certified Independent College Strategist who helps families navigate the college admissions process with a proven, personalized approach. A best-selling author and global speaker, Shellee specializes in helping students gain admission to top-tier schools and graduate debt free. With real-world experience as a mother of four college graduates, she empowers students to build standout strategies for academic, financial, and personal success.
In the podcast, Shellee shared her background in college preparation and detailed her approach to helping students develop unique strategies for college applications, including identifying core values and pursuing authentic community service opportunities. 
Shellee shared her journey into the college preparation business, inspired by her son's successful college application process. She emphasized the importance of viewing college as a business and highlighted her son's strategy, which included leadership activities and a focused approach, leading to full-ride offers from USC and Harvard. Shellee now helps families create similar standout strategies for their children, aiming to provide clarity and support in the college application process.
Shellee shared her experience of touring 25 colleges and emphasized the importance of starting the college planning process early, ideally when children express career interests. She highlighted that students in their program start as young as seventh grade and explained the benefits of a long planning runway. 
Discovering Student Core Values
Shellee discussed a strategy for helping students identify their core values, passions, and gifts, emphasizing the importance of individuality and authentic self-expression. She encouraged parents to engage in one-on-one conversations with their children to understand their true interests and aspirations, rather than imposing their own expectations. Greg inquired about exercises to uncover core values, and Shellee suggested focusing on proven achievements and encouraging students to articulate their motivations beyond external influences.
Authentic Community Service
Greg and Shellee discussed the importance of community service in college applications. Shellee emphasized that while community service is crucial, it must be authentic and driven by passion rather than just fulfilling requirements. She advised against common activities like tutoring, which are often seen as easy and expected by colleges. Instead, she suggested pursuing unique and meaningful service opportunities that showcase a student's true character and dedication. Greg agreed with this approach, noting that it aligns with the concept of branding in college applications.
College Admissions and Leadership Insights
Shellee discussed her "vault" tool, which provides real data on college admissions criteria and requirements, helping students understand what each school values. She emphasized the importance of demonstrating leadership and community impact in college applications, highlighting her students' work with EmpowerEducation.World, which supports education projects in Uganda and Mexico. Greg and Shellee also discussed the realities of athletic scholarships, noting that while major revenue-generating sports like football and basketball offer significant funding, students in other sports should focus on combining academic excellence with athletic achievement to enhance their college applications.
Student-Athlete Academic Success Strategies
Shellee discussed the importance of balancing academic and athletic achievements for student-athletes, emphasizing that maintaining a high GPA can significantly increase their chances of college admission and success. She clarified that her organization does not engage in college outreach or NIL deal negotiations but focuses on academic support and intramural sports. Shellee advised parents to prioritize written contracts over verbal promises and encouraged realistic goal-setting for student-athletes.
College Preparation for Student-Athletes
Shellee discussed her approach to preparing students for college and life beyond sports, emphasizing the importance of developing a comprehensive plan. She shared her resources, including free materials, best-selling books, and a complimentary discovery call, as well as her pricing structure for various services. Greg appreciated Shellee's insights, particularly her emphasis on helping athletes focus on their core values and gifts rather than relying solely on sports opportunities. They agreed on the importance of preparing athletes for life after sports and discussed the potential for athletes to pursue NIL deals and community service opportunities.
Show Links:
WebsitesPliableMarketing.com
www.collegereadyplan.com
www.instagram.com/collegereadyplan
https://www.facebook.com/CollegeReadyPlan
https://www.youtube.com/@collegereadyplan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleehoward/
 
Social media
@pliablemktg on Instagram, X and Tiktokwww.instagram.com/collegereadyplan
https://www.facebook.com/CollegeReadyPlan
https://www.youtube.com/@collegereadyplan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleehoward/