From a sorority girl at UCLA with no plans to work in sports to one of the most trusted names in athlete partnerships and talent booking, Stacey Garcia’s story is all about bold moves and betting on yourself. As a four-time Emmy-winning producer and the founder of Stacey’s Talent Shop, Stacey has helped shape the careers of some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment—including Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and many more.

🎯 We talk about:

• Turning a random Staples Center encounter into a dream job with Magic Johnson
• Breaking into sports without traditional experience
• Building trust and authenticity with athletes and brands
• Helping athletes control their own narratives (before it was trendy)
• Lessons from working with LeBron, ESPN, NFL Network, and Uninterrupted
• Why it's never too late to start building something for yourself

Whether you’re just starting out or thinking about making a leap, Stacey’s journey is packed with lessons on ownership, perseverance, and staying real in a fast-moving media world.

Show Notes

00:06 – Cold Open: “A closed mouth never gets fed” – the bold moment that changed Stacey’s life
00:34 – Intro to the episode and Stacey’s background
01:11 – Falling into sports: From UCLA basketball games to a career pivot
01:53 – The hallway encounter with Magic Johnson that sparked her career
03:58 – Building a career behind the scenes: ESPN, Turner, CBS, NFL Network, Uninterrupted
04:53 – Why Stacey finally launched her own business
05:30 – The key to longevity: Being real, authentic, and mindful
05:59 – Athletes owning their stories: LeBron’s Uninterrupted, KD’s Boardroom, and more
06:54 – Final advice for entrepreneurs: Always get everything in writing

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📚 Want more Play the Game?
Check out the middle-grade book series by Amar Shah—Play The Game: The Hoop Con and Play The Game: Take the Shot are out now from Scholastic.

Order here:

🔗 Connect with Amar:
• Website: amarshahwrites.com
• Twitter/X: @amarshahism
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amarshahism
• Instagram: @amarshahism

🎙️ Play the Game with Amar Shah — because you can’t win if you don’t play.

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

If today’s episode inspired you, do us a solid:

Follow or subscribe wherever you listen
Leave a review—it helps more creators find the show
Share this with someone chasing big ideas

📚 Want more Play the Game?
Check out the middle-grade book series by Amar Shah—Play The Game: The Hoop Con and Play The Game: Take the Shot are out now from Scholastic.

Order here:

🔗 Connect with Amar:
• Website: amarshahwrites.com
• Twitter/X: @amarshahism
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amarshahism
• Instagram: @amarshahism

🎙️ Play the Game with Amar Shah — because you can’t win if you don’t play.

From launching Kick TV with Major League Soccer to leading global digital strategy at WWE and now at Front Office Sports, Nate Loucks has been at the forefront of digital innovation in sports media. In this episode, Nate shares insights on creating engaging content, adapting strategies for diverse global markets, and the importance of authenticity and audience connection.

🎯 We talk about:

• Breaking into sports media through curiosity and adaptability
• Pivoting Kick TV from a failed SportsCenter model to influencer partnerships
• Leading WWE’s global digital content strategy
• Making sports betting accessible and fun at The Game Day
• Key lessons on adaptability, self-belief, and risk-taking

Whether you’re interested in sports media, entrepreneurship, or digital content creation, this episode is full of practical insights and inspiration.

Show Notes:

(0:06) Intro and career decision-making
(1:33) Early career: MLS and launching Kick TV
(3:04) Pivoting content strategy through influencer collaborations
(4:08) Tailoring WWE’s global digital content for diverse audiences
(6:02) Leading The Game Day and sports betting entertainment
(7:15) Advice for aspiring sports media professionals

If today’s episode inspired you, do us a solid:

Follow or subscribe wherever you listen
Leave a review—it helps more creators find the show
Share this with someone chasing big ideas

📚 Want more Play the Game?
Check out the middle-grade book series by Amar Shah—Play The Game: The Hoop Con and Play The Game: Take the Shot are out now from Scholastic.

Order here:

🔗 Connect with Amar:
• Website: amarshahwrites.com
• Twitter/X: @amarshahism
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amarshahism
• Instagram: @amarshahism

🎙️ Play the Game with Amar Shah — because you can’t win if you don’t play.

From Adidas and Overtime to leading brand at Under Armour, Tyler Rutstein has never played by the old rules—and he’s not about to start now.

In this episode, Tyler breaks down the bold career moves that took him from sports media outsider to SVP of Global Brand & Americas Marketing at Under Armour. From betting on TikTok creators over résumés to helping turn Overtime into a Gen Z juggernaut, Tyler shares the mindset and tactics that helped him stand out in a rapidly changing industry.

🎯 We talk about:

• How emailing a tennis legend helped him land his first job
• Building Adidas Basketball with Dame, Harden, and Wiggins
• Taking the leap from corporate to startup at Overtime
• Why he hires storytellers, not just résumés
• Learning more from beauty TikTok than sports marketing
• The power of being widely read, widely traveled, and endlessly curious

Whether you’re trying to break in, build something bold, or just rethink your next move—this one’s full of fire.

Show Notes:

(0:00) Intro
(1:32) Why Tyler became a journalism major (thanks, Ted Spiker)
(2:17) Breaking into Reebok via LinkedIn persistence
(3:13) Leading Adidas Basketball and signing star athletes
(3:51) Why he left Adidas for a startup (Overtime)
(5:08) Building Gen Z sports content—and clapping back in the DMs
(6:28) Why TikToks > résumés in the new hiring world
(7:48) Curiosity, reading, and how beauty TikTok drives innovation
(9:07) Rewind the Clock: the advice he’d give his younger self

🔗 Links:
• Tyler Rutstein on LinkedIn

If today’s episode inspired you, do us a solid:

Follow or subscribe wherever you listen
Leave a review—it helps more creators find the show
Share this with someone chasing big ideas

📚 Want more Play the Game?
Check out the middle-grade book series by Amar Shah—Play The Game: The Hoop Con and Play The Game: Take the Shot are out now from Scholastic.

Order here:

🔗 Connect with Amar:
• Website: amarshahwrites.com
• Twitter/X: @amarshahism
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amarshahism
• Instagram: @amarshahism

🎙️ Play the Game with Amar Shah — because you can’t win if you don’t play.

From the NFL and Madison Square Garden to co-founding a tech startup, Parul Khosla has done more than climb the ladder—she’s rebuilding it. In this episode, Parul breaks down how she launched Arena, an AI-powered hiring platform tailored to the sports and entertainment industries, and why taking the leap after her MBA was the best (and hardest) decision she ever made.

🎯 We talk about:

• Doing 6 internships before graduating
• Turning burnout into breakthrough
• Building a startup for underrepresented talent in sports
• Why your first job doesn’t define your future
• Letting go of ego—and the fear of not having it all figured out

Whether you’re early in your career or building something bold, this one’s packed with truth and takeaways.

Show Notes:

(0:00) Intro
(1:24) 6 internships and the pressure to be perfect
(2:49) Working at NFL, MSG, and NHL
(3:09) MBA mindset shift → time to start a business
(4:18) What Arena is and how it works
(5:17) Startup roadblocks: delays, stress, and staying grounded
(6:17) Rewind the Clock: advice to her younger self
(8:00) Unemployment after NFL + learning to let go of ego
(9:00) Why you shouldn’t box yourself in (yes, even hockey)

🔗 Links:

• Arena — https://www.arenatalent.com/

• Parul Khosla: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parul-khosla/

If today’s episode inspired you, do us a solid:

Follow or subscribe wherever you listen
Leave a review—it helps more creators find the show
Share this with someone chasing big ideas

📚 Want more Play the Game?
Check out the middle-grade book series by Amar Shah—Play The Game: The Hoop Con and Play The Game: Take the Shot are out now from Scholastic.

Order here:

🔗 Connect with Amar:
• Website: amarshahwrites.com
• Twitter/X: @amarshahism
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amarshahism
• Instagram: @amarshahism

🎙️ Play the Game with Amar Shah — because you can’t win if you don’t play.

From the UCLA bench to Comedy Central to the top of NBA Twitter, Josiah Johnson has built a career on creativity, culture, and consistency. In this episode, Josiah breaks down how a single meme got him noticed by Jordan Peele, how his content reached Oprah and Ava DuVernay, and what it really takes to stand out online—especially when LeBron, KD, and Steph are watching.

We talk about:

• Building a creative lane in a crowded media world
• Turning rejection into opportunity
• Why memes are the new media currency
• How to stay resilient when the dream stalls out

🎧 This one’s for anyone trying to break through with nothing but talent, humor, and hustle.

Show Notes:

(0:00) Cold open: The truth about starting a company
(0:16) Intro to Josiah + what makes his story unique
(1:20) UCLA hoops, bench energy, and a passion for storytelling
(1:49) Balancing the NFL Network and a secret sports blog
(2:41) Pitching Legends of Chamberlain Heights—6 tries, 1 yes
(3:13) Memes that matter: The Get Out moment Jordan Peele saw
(5:19) Doing the work—no shortcuts, no entitlement
(6:10) Brands can’t fake meme culture
(6:33) Connecting with Ava, Oprah, and LeBron through content
(7:21) The post-cancellation low and the bounce back
(8:16) Rewind the Clock: “Don’t stop at the dream. Build the next one.”

Josiah Johnson:

Twitter/X: @KingJosiah54

Instagram: @kingjosiah54

If today’s episode inspired you, do us a solid:

Follow or subscribe wherever you listen
Leave a review—it helps more creators find the show
Share this with someone chasing big ideas

📚 Want more Play the Game?
Check out the middle-grade book series by Amar Shah—Play The Game: The Hoop Con and Play The Game: Take the Shot are out now from Scholastic.

Order here:

🔗 Connect with Amar:
• Website: amarshahwrites.com
• Twitter/X: @amarshahism
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amarshahism
• Instagram: @amarshahism

🎙️ Play the Game with Amar Shah — because you can’t win if you don’t play.

The SlamBall Creator Who Turned a Napkin Sketch Into a Global Sport

Episode 1: Amar Shah talks to Mason Gordon, founder of SlamBall, about creating an entirely new sport, getting it on TV, and building a brand that blends basketball, football, and trampolines. This one’s for the dreamers, builders, and disruptors.

⏱️ Show Notes:

(0:00) Cold open: "You can’t just create a sport…"
(0:32) Intro to Mason + the vision behind SlamBall
(1:33) Basketball meets football: The spark that started it all
(3:29) Meeting Mike Tolan: Coffee runs and crazy pitches
(5:43) Getting SlamBall on Spike TV
(6:54) The challenge of scale: From hype to sustainability
(7:56) Innovation in motion: AI helmets, POV cameras, and The Sphere
(9:46) Viral moments + SlamBall's built-in shareability
(10:09) Startup grind: VC challenges, Vegas, and following UFC’s path
(11:19) Rewind the Clock: The power of inner voice + supportive partners
(12:26) Outro: Why SlamBall proves great ideas can outlast time

Slamball: https://slamballleague.com/

Play the Game with Amar Shah is where sports, business, and bold ideas collide.

Hosted by Emmy-winning writer and producer Amar Shah, this podcast dives into the minds of creators, athletes, founders, and innovators who are reshaping the game—on and off the court. Whether it’s building a billion-dollar brand, creating a new sport, or launching the next big startup, these are real conversations with people who aren’t afraid to bet on themselves.

Every episode is pulled straight from Amar’s sports media entrepreneurship class at the University of Florida—featuring real insights, real risk-takers, and a new way to think about what it means to win.

If today’s episode inspired you, do us a solid:

Follow or subscribe wherever you listen
Leave a review—it helps more creators find the show
Share this with someone chasing big ideas

📚 Want more Play the Game?
Check out the middle-grade book series by Amar Shah—Play The Game: The Hoop Con and Play The Game: Take the Shot are out now from Scholastic.

Order here:

🔗 Connect with Amar:
• Website: amarshahwrites.com
• Twitter/X: @amarshahism
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amarshahism
• Instagram: @amarshahism

🎙️ Play the Game with Amar Shah — because you can’t win if you don’t play.