Welcome to a new episode of Office Hours: a podcast with Front Office Sports CEO Adam White and figures from the sports industry. This season is focused on athletes, both current and retired, who have found success in business endeavors off the field.

On today’s episode, we’re joined by New England Free Jacks co-founder and CEO, Alex Magleby. In October of 2018, Magleby left USA Rugby to help launch the New England Free Jacks as part of the inaugural season of Major League Rugby.

Building a sports organization from the ground up is never easy, doing so in a global pandemic is borderline impossible. Despite the obstacles, Magleby is bullish on rugby's future in the U.S., MLR's ability to innovate, and the opportunity that lies ahead for the U.S. on the biggest stages of global rugby competition.

Highlighted conversation points are below:

2:35 – The postponement of the Olympics and its impact on Rugby

6:00 – Planning his post-Rugby playing moves

11:11 – Getting into entrepreneurship

24:26 – Launching the Free Jacks

31:43 – Rugby post-pandemic

35:48 – MLR expansion

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Cincinnati Red pitcher Trevor Bauer. In August, Bauer set a Reds record with 41 strikeouts in just four starts. Dominating on the field, Bauer hopes to do the same off of it.

As someone who has "done things differently" his entire life, Bauer is bullish on the future of Momentum, the athlete-centric media company he started in 2019, the positive steps Major League Baseball and players have made on social media, and a new model he believes to be the future of how agents do business.

Highlighted conversation points are below:

2:40 – Using COVID-19 delay to bolster Momentum

5:33 – Why Momentum and why a content business

14:32 – On a potential MLB x Momentum collaboration

19:09 – His thoughts on NIL and how it will impact college athletes

23:32 – On a better agency model for agents

32:20 – Balancing baseball and business

On today's episode, we're joined by two time Olympic gold medalist. Bart Conner. Conner is the only American male gymnast to win gold medal at every level of national and international competition. When he's not working at his gym or working on his other gymnastics related businesses, he's an ESPN color commentator, a public speaker, and is deeply invested and involved with Special Olympics.

4:15 - COVID-19's impact on his gym business

5:32 - Implications of a postponed Olympics

10:53 - Transitioning to the business world

15:30 - Getting involved with Special Olympics

32:24 - How gymnastics recovers from the Larry Nassar Scandal

41:26 - What's next for his career

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Devon Kennard, Arizona Cardinals Outside Linebacker and real estate investor.

A product of USC, Kennard has found success on and off the field with a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio that includes 14 different properties across multiple states.

On how his senior year of high school changed his outlook on life after football (4:17)

On building a network while in college (11:08)

On his Mount Rushmore of business leaders (19:55)

On dealing with current events and acts of racial injustice (25:20)

On the legacy he wants to leave behind (27:25)

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Isaac Rochell, Los Angeles Chargers defensive end and founder of apparel company Local Human.

A product of Notre Dame, Rochell has used his time during quarantine to start Local Human, a one-to-one apparel company that he hopes becomes the next Toms.

On life during quarantine (2:41)

On his career off the field (6:13)

Future of Local Human (14:20)

On the NFL taking a more visible stand against racial injustice (19:32)

On the legacy he wants to leave behind (25:22)

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Brent Celek, former NFL tight end turned real estate investor and Owner of Pando Mortgage.

After 11 seasons in the NFL, Celek retired after winning a super bowl with the Eagles in 2017. Now focused entirely on his real estate business, Celek has big ambitions for that, his ability to help other former players, and the children's book he is currently working on.

On learning from his family (2:25)

On players and their business interests (11:22)

On the origin of his company name (16:17)

On his business idols (22:00)

On his best advice (24:36)

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Justin Forsett, former NFL running back turned CEO & Co-Founder of Hustle Clean.

Forsett entered into the league in 2008 after being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. 

Despite being "fired six times" Forsett played nine seasons in the NFL, racking up 3,890 rushing yards, 1,351 receiving yards and 20 total touchdowns.

Today, Forsett heads up Hustle Clean, a performance hygiene company he founded earlier this year after the success of his ShowerPill product, which is now in over 1,000 stores.

Forsett sat down to discuss everything from why starting a business is harder than making an NFL team to his experience on Shark Tank and why not getting a deal was likely the best thing to happen to him.

On the successful transition off the field (2:29)

On building a business versus making the NFL (4:57)

On life lessons on the field (6:14)

On advice from coaches (9:58)

On the legacy he wants to leave (24:36)

On this week's episode, we're joined by Rich Antoniello CEO and founder of Complex Networks.

Antoniello founded Complex in 2002 after several years in print and digital media at National Geographic and Men's Journal following his start as a media planner at Saatchi & Saatchi in 1993.

Antoniello sat down to discuss the value of organic growth, what teams and leagues can learn from media companies, the importance of good brands and good businesses, and what it takes to be a good entrepreneur.

4:04-4:39: The value of organic growth. 

9:01-9:58: On creating content vs. reporting

14:44-15:50: Monetization in college athletics

28:33-30:06: What teams and leagues can learn from media companies

41:12- 41:47: The importance of good brands and good business

43:53-45:25: The sacrifices necessary to be an entrepreneur

On today's episode, we are joined by Gary and AJ Vaynerchuk, founders of VaynerMedia, a social-media focused digital agency, and VaynerSports, a full-service athletic representation agency.

The Vaynerchuks have their sights set on the sports industry as the next target for disruption, and they sat down with FOS CEO Adam White to discuss the sports industry, the business of being an agent, what things leagues are doing well, and the future of men's makeup.

5:29- 6:30 - AJ on the easy and hard parts of being an NFL agent

9:05- 9:21- Gary on why he enjoys working in sports.

13:14- 14:07- Interplay of Vayner Media and Vayner sports

20:39- 21:54 - The business of being an agent

23:43- 25:33 - Gary on how he got into tech

37:23 - 38:22 - Extremely bullish on men's makeup

On today's episode, we are joined by Geoff Reiss, General Manager of Yahoo Sports.

Reiss' extensive resume in the sports media space includes time with Newsweek, ESPN, the Professional Bowlers Association, Twitter, and more. With that background, Reiss brings an interesting perspective in a time when several upstart professional leagues are forming, sports betting is approaching full legalization, and the media landscape is constantly changing.

2:09-4:33 On constants in the sports industry

4:34-5:59 On pro leagues that can gain an audience outside of traditionally successful periods for tv ratings

6:01-7:58 Economic problems for upstart pro leagues

38:45-39:45 On NFL Media rights situation

39:45-40:38 On doubling NFL revenue in 2019

40:39-41:18 What Yahoo Sports invest in for 2020

41:19-42:41 What a successful 2020 looks like for Yahoo Sports

42:42-43:41 Exciting things about the sports industry to look forward to

On today's episode, we are joined by Donn Davis, chairman and co-founder of the Professional Fighters League.

A lifelong entrepreneur and operator, Davis decided to do something most 50-year-olds wouldn't - start a professional sports league. Heading into its third year, Davis has high hopes and ambitions for the PFL that include global expansion and betting integration. Having raised $100 million, Davis is bullish on the PFL becoming the next billion-dollar league.

3:25-3:52 - How PFL fits in the broader MMA landscape 

4:15-4:57 - Fundraising journey 

5:22-5:39 - The next billion-dollar brand

5:58-6:19 - The PFL's road to success 

8:07-8:35 - PFL x ESPN

16:38-16:55 - Sports betting integration

35:28-36:16 - International expansion 

40:46-41:52 - 2020 success 

43:07- 43:54 - Path to profitability