The Post Game Podcast

• #82: James Grugan - Helping Athletes Turn Athletic Experience Into Career Success

  James Grugan is the founder of Five Star Hiring, a recruiting firm specializing in helping student-athletes and former athletes transition into successful careers.After spending most of his career at JG Wentworth, James identified a gap in the recruitment space, specifically working with student-athletes and helping them translate skills learned from the field to the workforce.What You'll Hear About:Why James left corporate life to focus on recruiting student-athletesBuilding a professional network that opens doors and how to leverage itLinkedIn strategies that get recruiters' attentionHow to identify and articulate transferable skills from sportsPositioning athletic experience as equivalent to internshipsWhy sales roles can be great careers for athletes Resume essentials that separate you from 95% of applicantsThe one-minute follow-up email only 3-5% of candidates sendInterview preparation tactics borrowed from elite athletic preparationCreative outreach methods in the application processTimestamps:(0:00) - Introduction to James Grugan(3:10) - Background at JG Wentworth and career transition(4:30) - Discovering the student-athlete recruiting niche(6:20) - Starting Five Star Hiring and early business strategies(7:20) - "People want to help people" (9:00) - LinkedIn strategy (11:30) - Authentic follow-up techniques(13:15) - The "Going Pro" presentation overview(16:00) - Making skills transferable from sports(18:30) - Performing under pressure and real-world application(20:30) - Why sales is ideal for student-athletes(23:00) - Resume essentials and common mistakes(24:15) - Networking as the #1 strategy(28:30) - Small actions that can lead to big advantages(30:15) - Interview prep strategies(36:50) -Universal job search principles(38:15) - Current job market conditions and opportunities(41:30) - Company partnerships and placement approach(43:00) - Future plans for Five Star Hiring(45:30)- Specialized approach vs general career services(46:15) - Contact information and where to find James Links:Email: [email protected]://www.linkedin.com/in/james-grugan-713246169/https://www.fivestarhiring.net/Social Media: @fivestarhiring (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, X)The Post Game Podcast:⁠https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thepostgame_podcast/⁠https://x.com/JoePod24⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-post-game-podcast/Email me: [email protected]

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• #81: Matt Hochberg - Building Hochberg Sports Marketing: From Sponsorship to Soccer Agent

  Matt Hochberg is the founder of Hochberg Sports Marketing, a sports marketing agency specializing in women's soccer. Since launcing in 2019, he has built HSM into a boutique agency representing 20+ NWSL players both on and off the field. As a FIFA-certified agent registered with the NWSL Players Association, Matt handles everything from contract negotiations to brand partnerships for some of the top names in women's soccer.What You'll Hear About:Identifying gap in the market with women’s sportsHow he got started without official plan Deciding to focus just on women’s soccer Behind the scenes of NWSL contract Time as professional athletes just a short time of their livesOff the field storytelling by Ali Riley NIL outlook in women’s soccer Future opportunities in the business Timestamps:(0:00) - Intro to Matt Hochberg(2:05) - My First Million podcast connection(3:10) - The founding story of Hochberg Sports Media(4:30) - Launching without an official business plan(6:30) - Pitching his vision and sharing the story(7:50) - Running a primarily one-man operation(9:20) - The strategic shift from all women's sports to soccer focus(12:10) - "Doing the work" and positioning for opportunities(13:30) - The reality of NWSL player contracts and salaries(16:00) - NWSL expansion and valuation growth(18:50) - How athletes are focusing on personal brand building(21:30) - Ali Riley partnership (25:50) - Structuring brand deal durations and terms(28:15) - The positive impact of NIL on women's soccer(31:00) - Biggest day-to-day business challenges(32:45) - Growing through referrals and playing the long game(34:30) - Thoughts on the WNBA boom and FOMO(35:10) - Where to find Matt and HSMLinks:Matt Hochberg (@Hochberg) / XHSM | Women's Sports Representation & Advocacy (@hochbergsm) / XHochberg Sports Marketing - Sports Marketing, AthletesHSM | Women’s Sports Representation & Advocacy (@hochbergsm) • Instagram photos and videosThe Post Game Podcast:https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/https://www.instagram.com/thepostgame_podcast/https://x.com/JoePod24Email me: [email protected]

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• #80: David Fales - From NFL QB to Tech Sales - Visualization, Identity & Starting Over

  David Fales is a former NFL Quarterback who played seven seasons with the Bears, Lions, Dolphins, and Jets. He was a sixth-round pick out of San Jose State in the 2014 NFL Draft and played behind NFL veterans like Jay Cutler and Matthew Stafford.Since retiring from the NFL, he has worked in tech sales with Zoom and Docker and is actively involved with Pro Athlete Community, an organization that helps professional athletes navigate life after sports.What You'll Hear About:The unlikely path to quarterback: From backup right guard to NFL signal-callerThe power of visualization and mental preparation using techniques from "Mind Gym"Constant transitions: Navigating college transfers and NFL team changesWhat separates NFL players who last: Intelligence, communication, and natural giftsThe reality of NFL contracts: Living with weekly uncertainty about your jobThe decision to retireHis hardest year: Identity crisis and finding motivation without footballBuilding a career in tech salesPro Athlete Community: Resources for players transitioning out of sportsApplying football lessons to life after sports: Controlling what you can controlTimestamps:(0:00) - Introduction to David Fales(2:10) - Becoming a quarterback in 8th grade - nobody else wanted the position(7:00) - Nevada experience with Colin Kaepernick on the roster(7:50) - Transfer to junior college and the rock-bottom moment that changed everything(11:25) - Discovering "Mind Gym" and the foundation of mental training(14:40) - Visualization techniques: seeing plays before they happen(16:55) - High anxiety during the week vs. flow state on game day(21:35) - Never feeling settled in the NFL - living contract to contract(24:10) - What qualities help NFL players stick around (intelligence, communication, natural ability)(26:50) - Carson Wentz - how character shows in tough times(30:40) - The retirement decision and saying no to other leagues(33:10) - The hardest year of his life: losing football identity(36:10) - Why tech sales appeals to former athletes(38:00) - Pro Athlete Community and filling the resource gap for transitioning players(42:40) - Applying football mental tools to daily life - controlling what you can control(44:25) - Finding flow state again through golf(46:30) - Where to connect with DavidLinks:https://www.instagram.com/fales10/https://x.com/davidfalesThe Post Game Podcast:https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/https://www.instagram.com/thepostgame_podcast/https://x.com/JoePod24Email me: [email protected]

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• #79: Parul Khosla, Co-founder of Arena Talent - Inside Sports Recruiting & AI Job Matching

  Parul Khosla is the co-founder of Arena Talent, an AI-powered recruiting platform for sports and entertainment. She has previously worked in talent acquisition at the NFL, NHL, Disney, and Madison Square Garden, specializing in diversity initiatives and connecting underrepresented groups with career opportunities. Parul holds an MBA from Rutgers and is a LinkedIn Top Voice. She helped launched Arena in November 2024 to solve the access problem in sports hiring, where qualified candidates often get lost in overwhelming application volumes.What You'll Hear About:Why Parul is passionate about connecting people to careers and her journey from NFL recruiting to entrepreneurshipWhat is an ATS system in hiring? The hidden filtering process that determines who gets seenReal challenges job seekers experience . Why 300+ applications per job creates an impossible systemBehind the scenes recruiting. How hiring actually works vs. what candidates think happensBest places to build relationships / In-person networking vs. LinkedIn realityHow Arena's AI works and the Revolutionary matching technology for sports careersTimestamps:(0:00) - Intro to Parul(2:30) - Parul's upbringing & early career in sports(9:30) - How does hiring happen behind the scenes?(11:10) - What is an ATS system and why it matters?(15:40) - How do candidates break through the noise?(18:05) - Networking & warm introductions that work(19:10) - LinkedIn Top Voice program explained(21:05) - In-person events for networking success(22:50) - LinkedIn's 8% response rate problem(25:00) - What is Arena and its mission?(27:25) - How they incorporate AI matching technology(28:40) - Is LinkedIn TOO available? The spam problem(32:40) - Building real relationships on Arena's platform(34:50) - How do you maintain community quality?(36:25) - Not a social media platform - focused networking(37:25) - Biggest entrepreneurship challenges faced(39:40) - Bootstrapping reality and raising money(43:40) - Where to find Parul and ArenaLinks:https://www.linkedin.com/in/parul-khosla/https://www.linkedin.com/company/arenatalent/https://arenatalent.com/The Post Game Podcast:https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/https://www.instagram.com/thepostgame_podcast/https://x.com/JoePod24Email me: [email protected]

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• #78 Rob Thompson: Building Opportunities in Sports Business, Entrepreneurship, and Serving the Cookies

  Rob Thompson has had a unique career journey after playing college football at New Haven and a professionally overseas. He built and sold a high school recruiting business, helped launch the NFL Flag program, was an Arena Football League GM, and started GamePlanU which has since rolled into Walter Camp Properties. Not to mention, he is also a published author. Rob has lived at the intersection of sports, business, and innovation his entire career.We discussed:How dyslexia shaped his early years and helped him build resilienceDiscovering new purpose after transitioning from sportsThe inside story of launching NFL Flag and scaling a national programWhat it's really like being a GM in the Arena Football LeagueWhy college athletes should take more risks while they canThe two sides of NIL that most people completely missWhy solopreneurship is the new internship How "Aunt Dot" helped him master the art of networkingWhy you shouldn't be afraid to "serve the cookies" His contrarian take: skip the MBA—get a real estate license insteadTimestamps:(0:00) - Intro to Rob(2:20) - Rob's journey playing football(6:20) - Creative roles in Corporate America(8:10) - Re-discovering purpose after sports transition(11:30) - The entrepreneur dilemma: holding onto a business vs. selling(13:20) - Starting the NFL Flag program from scratch(16:05) - Being the behind-the-scenes guy(16:50) - Becoming an Arena Football League GM(18:20) - Day-to-day reality of running a professional sports team(22:05) - How college football perception affects your career(22:20) - Just get a roster spot(23:50) - The real NIL discussion nobody's having(24:50) - Why college is the perfect time to take massive risks(28:20) - Rob's podcasts over the years and lessons learned(31:50) - Aunt Dot: the ultimate connector (33:20) - Why warm leads beat cold outreach every time(35:50) - "Serve the cookies" philosophy and how it lands major deals(38:20) - Living in the moment while building for the future(41:30) - GamePlanU & Walter Camp: building the next generation(46:20) - Real estate as the path to financial freedom(48:30) - Rob's best advice for college studentsLinks:Connect with Rob on LinkedInGridiron1880.comGridIron1880 InstagramCheck out Rob's BookThe Post Game Podcast:⁠Post Game Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me: [email protected]

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