Announcing the Launch of the New Behind the Pro Podcast
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Announcing the Launch of the New Behind the Pro Podcast
Louisville, 5-10-24 -- Drawing on over 100 years of combined experience helping past, present, and future hopeful professional athletes improve their brand development and NIL opportunities, the team responsible for growing Shark Jockey's sports-specific division (Shark Jockey Pro) is proud to announce it's new podcast called Behind the Pro. Fourteen unique episodes in Season 1 will feature compelling interviews with current and former collegiate, Olympic, and professional athletes who discuss their journeys from the playing field to their life as a business pro. Each show provides viewers with about 60 minutes of entertainment and education based on insights from guests regarding the steps they took, or are currently taking, to grow their careers and revenue. Real-world stories, examples, and advice will give an insider perspective on the triumphs and tribulations that face athletes attempting to maximize their NIL opportunities, develop a passion for their future career, or take their next entrepreneurial step forward.
Shark Jockey's founder and CEO, Nick Stover, believes the information in this podcast fills a serious void for athletes similar to the dozens he has helped in just the past year alone. "Updates to the rules and laws regarding NIL [Name, Image, Likeness] suddenly changed millions of families into feeling overwhelmed with questions of how to help themselves, their kids, or significant others to monetize," said Stover. "I found myself repeating the same basic stories and information in meetings every single week while simply trying to help people figure out a basic starting point and some examples of others they could emulate. We've got an incredible network of really successful athletes who simply want others like them to benefit from their experience."
This network is bringing incredible athletes from a variety of backgrounds to the first season of the podcast. Guests include NFL veterans turned entrepreneurs, NASCAR trendsetters, and coaching legends like Jimmy Raye II. Other episodes share stories from Olympic gold and silver medalists who are growing careers as paid speakers and influencers, such as Breeja Larson who earned Gold in swimming at the 2012 London Games. To provide in-depth discussion on topics intended to help athletes with ideas to support their long-term health, business, and financial growth, multiple episodes also include industry experts like Pai Charasika, SE-AWMA™, who was a Division 1 Football Player at Wake Forest before becoming an Accredited Wealth Management Advisor with now 24 years of investment industry experience.
Stover said another crucially important voice on every show is Behind the Pro’s host Kevin Smith, a former Division 1 football standout who also graduated from Wake Forest University in 2000. Smith went on to earn his Master of Public Administration before launching career paths related to alumni development, media and government relations, and comedy. His on-stage performances developed a passion for being in front of audiences and skill in managing interviews with assertive personalities. Most importantly, his recent drive to break into modern media and become a professional podcast host was the primary driving factor for the rapid development of Behind The Pro.
“Kevin’s commitment encouraged us all to invest more in Behind The Pro. I hired 3 new staff members just to help our team keep up with his energy and focus on growing Behind The Pro into a key business venture for the Shark Jockey Pro,” said Stover. “It’s been a goal of our team to launch a podcast for years to feature the advice from athletes and sport-focused clients, but Kevin’s attention to detail took our humble vision to the next level.”
With experience hosting prior podcasts, Smith brings a veteran’s perspective to the show. "I try to immerse myself in the guest's journey, understanding their challenges, and finding the most helpful insights to share with the audience," says Smith. “Nick’s concept for Behind the Pro really drew me in because I resonate with his goal to blend sports entertainment and meaningful storytelling for a younger audience seeking advice on how to navigate new topics about NIL and athlete branding,"
The first 3 episodes of Behind The Pro are now live on the Podcast’s official website and YouTube page. Up to 2 new episodes will be released weekly until all of Season 1 is made public. Stover and Smith are also excited to share that they view Season 1 as the launchpad for something bigger. They are already working on the guest lineup for Season 2 with plans to begin filming later this summer.
Media inquiries, interview requests, or businesses with partnership opportunities for the podcast or guests are asked to reach out through the contact page on behindthepro.com.
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About Behind The Pro.
Behind The Pro is a podcast started in 2024 to feature entertaining advice about brand development and monetization from current and former athletes. Each of the 14 episodes in Season 1 is approximately 60 minutes. Season 1 production is complete and episodes will be released from May through the end of July 2024. The podcast is not intended as financial advice and should be consumed only for entertainment purposes. This genre is often referred to as “edutainment” as it provides unique insights from real-life examples and experiences of others. The host and guests on the podcast were brought together through participation in the network and programs offered by Shark Jockey Pro.
About Shark Jockey Pro.
Shark Jockey Pro is currently a sports-specific division of Shark Jockey Digital LLC. The goal of Shark Jockey Pro is provide a strategic roadmap to current and former athletes who seek assistance with brand development, NIL opportunities, and entrepreneurship. In addition to providing information, Shark Jockey Pro introduces audiences to other preferred partners and/or recommended businesses that offer official services. One specific example of this type of recommendation is Pro Athlete Wealth, a financial services company with certified financial advisors who earned additional certifications to work specifically with athletes and entertainers.
About Pro Athlete Wealth.
Pro Athlete Wealth is a personalized financial coach, specializing in crafting tailored game plans for young athletes, pros, and college players. From financial strategies that grow with an athlete’s career to investment plays that score big, Pro Athlete Wealth is a champion for financial victories beyond the game. Pro Athlete Wealth is operated by Pai Charasika, SE-AWMA™ (an Accredited Wealth Management Advisor with 24 years of investment industry experience) and Larry Gatz, CFP (a Certified Financial Planner™ who has been recognized as one of the "Best Financial Advisors for Doctors" by Medical Economics Magazine).
About Shark Jockey’s Marketing Agency.
Shark Jockey Digital LLC is a full service marketing agency located in Louisville, Kentucky. As the name suggests, the agency specializes in helping clients navigate oceans of marketing questions. The agency’s portfolio includes businesses, start-ups, influencers, athletes, educators, and entrepreneurs spanning over 30 unique industries. The team currently includes a staff of 11 and 4 additional advisors who work on projects daily.
Behind The Pro is the ultimate journey into the untold stories of champions. Join us as athletes share their unfiltered narratives, unveiling the artistry behind victories and the wisdom that propels them beyond the game.