From sneaking into a Fox Sports Radio studio to launching viral campaigns for Caitlin Clark and the NFL, David Brickley has built one of the top social-first agencies in sports and entertainment. As the founder and CEO of STN Digital, David has helped shape the digital presence of some of the biggest names in sports. But his path to success? It started with rejection, side hustles, and a bold pitch to his childhood hero—Kobe Bryant.

🎯 We talk about:

• Breaking into the industry after being told he wasn’t ready
• Sneaking into studios to launch a YouTube show
• Pitching and landing Kobe Bryant as his first big client
• Growing STN from a two-man hustle to a full-scale agency
• Creating the viral Caitlin Clark campaign with the Indiana Fever
• Why most brands are still leaving money on the table with digital content
• The mindset needed to survive the first year (and beyond)

Whether you’re building a brand, chasing a dream, or figuring out how to turn your passion into a business, this episode is full of hard-won lessons and practical inspiration.

00:06 – Cold Open: Sleep deprivation, hustle, and 8 cups of coffee a day
00:37 – Intro to the episode: From Fox Sports Radio to founding STN Digital
01:32 – Starting out: Rejected from hosting, so he launched a YouTube show in 2011
02:28 – The Kobe breakthrough: How free work and hustle landed his dream client
03:06 – Scaling up: Wearing every hat until STN could afford to hire and grow
03:55 – Year one struggles: The grind behind the polished brand
05:13 – What makes great content: Entertain, educate, provide value
06:05 – Caitlin Clark & the Fever: A viral content strategy that made history
07:01 – Growth through relationships, not cold calls
07:50 – Matt Barnes, favors, and how reps led to Kobe
09:40 – The monetization mindset: Creating sustainable content businesses
10:16 – Final advice: Patience, passion, and the power of consistency
11:32 – Closing thoughts: Build your own platform, brick by brick

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