The Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast

The Path to Professional Football for Jenna Berens

In this episode, host Greg Glynn catches up with Jenna Berens, a professional football player for the Maine Mayhem. The conversation includes the path that Jenna took to play college basketball at Bates College and how she turned that into an opportunity to play professional football.
Jenna's story is a great example about how she used her career as an athlete to explore new opportunities on and off the basketball court, and football field!
In this episode:
Getting recruited to play college basketball
The appreciation she has for her dad helping her in the recruiting process
Tips for athletes who are getting recruited and how to use your network of teammates and coaches to help with decisions
Why Jenna chose to play basketball at Bates College
Jenna explains what happens on an official college visit 
Jenna reflects on the opportunity to go to the NCAA basketball tournament
How Jenna became a CrossFit instructor
Jenna's path to women's professional football
How the team is funded and why they need sponsors
Links:
Bates College
Maine Mayhem Football Team
Pliable's MissionE50
Connect with Jenna:
Instagram: the_jenna_berens
Email: jmberens2001@gmail.com

Howard Halen talks about health, wellness and NIL partnerships

Today’s guest is Howard Halen, Inventor & CEO Genesis Performance. As one of Los Angeles’ most sought-after personal private trainers and fitness experts, Howard Halen has, over the past 25 years, been driven by a singular passion: helping people reach their individual fitness goals, achieve optimal health and transform their individual needs and desires into positive lifestyle choices and enduring self-commitments.
The HNS System was created out of what Howard saw as a growing necessity for both himself and his many clients. Developed, tested and perfected over the past five years, the system is an inventive response to his increasing frustration with the use of traditional foam rollers without support, which put extreme stress on the body’s core muscles. The system’s head and neck support allows those muscles to relax. The combination of the HNS System, foam roller and body weight enables the cylinder shape of the foam roller to perform penetrating deep massage that promotes self-myofascial release. Howard’s clients have been using the system for everything from physical therapy for lumbar and hip injuries to simple warm ups and cool down periods. The HNS System’s official marketing tagline is “Bringing Head and Neck Support to Foam Rolling” – but Howard adds, “Wherever there’s a foam roller, there needs be an HNS with it.”
Show links:
Genesisperformance.com
Social Media accounts:
Instagram: genesisperformancehns
Contact the guest:
833-436-7373 ext 1
Howardh@genesisperformance.com
Send a DM to @genesisperformancehns Instagram

How to use your name, image and likeness to create a nonprofit

In this episode, host Greg Glynn sits down with Neil Golson, Head of Commercialization at Ribbon about how athletes can build their athlete brand through fundraising.
Neil talks about Ribbon and how the company is transforming fundraising
Neil talks about his branding and marketing experience with major brands, like Coca-Cola and Tesla
Why social media is changing fundraising forever
The importance of engagement related to marketing
The definition of a fiscal sponsorship and how it works
How Ribbon helped Pliable athlete Sadie Armstrong start her nonprofit that benefits young softball players.
Why nonprofits should be part of your athlete brand
Neil talks about why professional athletes are using Ribbon
How Sadie connected with Imprint, which helps entertainers and athletes start a nonprofit
Examples of companies who are using side cart charities
How the process works to get set up with Ribbon
Episode Links
Ribbon website:
https://getribbon.org/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ChooseRibbon
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/getribbon/
Pliable athlete Sadie Armstrong:
https://pliablemarketing.com/news/f/sadie-armstrong-softball-portland-high-school

Athlete Branding Advice from Gordie Gronkowski, Jr.

In this episode, Greg Glynn, founder & CEO of Pliable talks with Gordie Gronkowski, Jr. about advice for high school, college and professional athletes about athlete branding and networking.
Gordie grew up in Buffalo, New York and played several sports, but eventually focused on his baseball career and played professionally. Gornkowski has has built his athlete brand around family, fitness and fun. Gronk Fitness ranks among the top 3 distributors of fitness equipment in the United States.
Topics included in this episode:
Comparing yourself to your competition
Why his brother Rob Gronkowski transferred in college
How Gordie had to walk on to play on his college baseball team
What life lessons he learned growing up with his brothers
What is takes to have a strong athlete brand
Having a business mindset related to name, image and likeness, including networking
How playing minor league sports made him a better person
Why employers are looking at social media before resumes
About the Gronk Fitness brand
How Chris Gronkowski grew the Ice Shaker brand with an appearance on Shark Tank
How Rob Gronkowski has lived on his endorsement deals
The importance for financial literacy for athletes
Why Gordie has invested in growth of Pickleball and Tall Ship in Boston
Why Gordie suggests working out in the morning
How Gronk Fitness has helped set up several gyms and facilities in the northeast including, Maine
Gronk Fitness products: https://www.gronkfitnessproducts.com/
Ice Shaker: https://www.iceshaker.com/
Gronk Beach event: https://gronkbeach.com/
Connect with Gordie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gordiegronk/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GronkFitness/
Gordie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordongronkowski/
Gronk Fitness on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gronk-fitness/