Drew Rauso [#36]: Developing an Athlete Podcast Network Full of NBA, NFL, and WNBA Stars

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Drew Rauso, who leads Strategy
and Operations at Playmaker HQ, a top-tier sports podcast network
owned by Bettor Collective.


Playmaker’s lineup features some of the biggest names in sports,
including Shaquille O'Neal, Angel Reese, and Marshawn Lynch.


Drew's role focuses on driving growth, fan engagement, and
uncovering commercial opportunities, from merchandise to live
events.


With a background that includes working at The Players' Tribune,
Drew and I dive into the rise of athlete-driven media and the key
areas involved in building a successful podcast network.





Timeline


3:00 - Drew Journey


4:00 - Athlete Driven Media


7:00 - Playmaker HQ's Distribution Network


10:00 - Landing and Navigating Commercial Deals


12:00 - Balancing Politics and Priorities


14:00 - Leveraging Bettor Collective's Relationships


17:00 - Podcast Monetisation


19:00 - Launching Physical Events


27:00 - Could Teams Launch Their Own Podcasts?


34:00 - Why Streaming Killed the Group Chat


37:00 - Expanding into International Sports





Additional Links


Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart host block party for Roommates
Show in Central Park


Angel Reese Launches 'Unapologetically Angel' Podcast amid
Breakout WNBA Season


'Streaming has killed the mainstream': the decade that broke
popular culture





Connect with Drew on LinkedIn - Here


Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here