Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Pros In the Arena brings you a first-hand experience into the lives and careers of Professionals in Sports: their challenges, motivations, and journeys.
Peel back the curtain of the Sports Arena through intimate interviews of sports-lovers of diverse backgrounds and roles to gain insight into how sports pros get to where they are today, what it's really like to work in the industry, and what motivates them to keep going
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this Episode is Dale Frith, a Pitch Consultant who has managed surfaces for the Paris Olympics, English Premier League, Wimbledon, and FIFA World Cups.
In this conversation, Dale shares with us some of the core techniques and practices used to maintain a pitch ready for a 3:00 PM kick, no matter the weather.
Tune in to go behind the scenes into one of the most unique aspects of football, as Dale's diverse experiences in tournaments and competitions all over the world + his admirable orientation towards leaving meaningful impact at youth tournaments and at the grassroots level really highlight the power of Sports!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
10 Dec 2025
Joao Santos - Sports Broadcasting Director
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this Episode is Joao Santos, a multi-sport broadcasting director who thrives in the high-stakes world of live global sports broadcasting
In this conversation, Joao shares with us his very colorful and eventful career journey, which has taken him to work in 50+ countries all over the globe, spanning many different sports!
His orientation towards independent learning and his appreciation for the power of storytelling directly impact his experiences and success in bringing to us some of the unforgettable moments that occur in our favorite sports
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
25 Nov 2025
Ola Eriksrud - Founder of Athletic 1080, Head of Sports Science at 1080 Motion
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this Episode is Dr. Ola Eriksrud, Founder of Athletic 1080 and Head of Sports Science at 1080 Motion
In this insightful conversation, Ola shares with us his unique journey of which spans multiple domains: physical therapy, academia (PhD), and co-founding the sports tech company Athletic 1080 (an industry leading technology that impacts sports performance, training, and rehabilitation).
The key to his great impact is his truly robust mentality focused on curiosity, learning, and the "human touch" to create effective impact and evermore innovative techniques in the Sports Tech space!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
11 Nov 2025
Sander Kruis - Head of Partnership Acquisitions for Audi at Formula 1
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this Episode is Sander Kruis, the Head of Partnership Acquisitions for Audi Formula 1
In this riveting conversation, Sander shares with us what it is like to tackle a unique and extreme challenge: Orienting a new F1 team to be World Champions by 2030!
His secret ingredient? Culture. Before Joining Audi at F1, Sander was deeply involved in the sport of cycling, starting as an intern for the struggling Team Visma Lease a Bike and leaving as their Chief Commercial Officer after delivering a historic tour treble of winning the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and la Vuelta de España.
We receive a true Masterclass in how to build a winning culture and achieve historic success in elite sport!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
28 Oct 2025
Rachel Hoover - Global Football Product Manager, adidas
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this Episode is Rachel Hoover, a Global Product Manager for Football Accessories at adidas
In this conversation, shares with us her contribution in bringing a product from idea to the final whistle - describing the massive amount of collaboration involved as "product creation is a team sport". She details her experience in the product creation process with two of her proudest projects: the introduction of balaclava training gear for cold protection and the development football maternity training wear
Tune in to learn more about how your favorite sportwear choice is made and what it is like to work at the brand with the 3 stripes.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
16 Oct 2025
Maksims Raspopovs - Venue Director, UEFA
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this Episode is Maksims Raspopovs, a Venue Director for UEFA
Maks is a seasoned football professional: he has over 15+ years’ experience in the Latvian Football Federation, he is an entrepreneur as a co-founder of a football matchday fans experience company, and a Match Director for the highest profile competitions, including in the UEFA Champions League for Bayer Leverkusen at the Bayarena.
Maks shares with us the crucial skills needed for high-pressure matches, his entrepreneurial endeavor of MatchDay Pass, and his passion for building a legacy for football in his home country as a Project Lead for the upcoming 2026 UEFA Futsal Euros in Latvia.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
30 Sept 2025
Patrick Mai - Biomechanics Lab Manager, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this Episode is Patrick Mai, the Biomechanics Lab Manager at the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences
In this conversation, Patrick shares with us the balancing act between managing a high-tech university lab and instructing students who are interacting with such tech for the first time, his engaging research with industrial partners, and the experience of working and living in Norway.
Patrick also shares with us how his career in the space has unfolded, always following the idea of taking the next step - however small!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
16 Sept 2025
Jesse Easdon - Football Technology Manager, FIFA World Cup 2026
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this Episode is Jesse Easdon, the Football Technology Manager for the FIFA World Cup 2026
In this conversation, we talk about some of the most exciting and impactful innovations to come for the next World Cup and Jesse shares his unique philosophy of integrating core elements from traditional theater to impact audience engagement at live sporting events.
Tune in for an awesome journey into the intersection between Innovation, Football, and Competition!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this Episode is Esther Huijsmans, a Sports & Events Expert + Leadership Coach with 20+ years of experience on the world's biggest stages (FIFA World Cups, UEFA Euros, Tomorrowland, and more!).
In this conversation, we dive into the journey of a true leader in the Sporting Events space. Esther is a very inspiring person - through her awesome and colorful anecdotes she gives us wisdom into building your own personal brand, leveraging the power of networking, and developing a growth mindset.
Whether you're an aspiring leader or a seasoned professional, Esther's insights will give you a fresh perspective on what it means to lead with empathy, intuition, and confidence.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
24 Sept 2024
John Bailey (JB) - Producer / Director in Sporting Events and Competitions
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this episode is John Bailey (or JB), a Director / Producer in Sporting Events and Competitions. He has worked in a variety of sports - including Cricket, Football, Gymnastics, and “his baby” Aquatics. JB has an impressive track record of 10+ years directing and producing for some of the highest profile sporting competitions on the planet: Premier League Football, several World Gymnastics Championships, and the London 2012 and Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
In this conversation, we go behind the scenes of JB’s journey, hearing some awesome anecdotes about the high stakes and many hats involved in producing and directing live sporting events, his experience in revolutionizing the broadcasting of gymnastics competitions at the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships, and his current focus of impacting his beloved sport of Swimming at the global level with his work for the World Aquatics Federation.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
20 Aug 2024
Henry Hanson - Senior Manager of Engineering and Innovation at adidas
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this episode is Henry Hanson, a Senior Manager in Mechanical Engineering in the Innovation Team at adidas. Henry is a brilliant engineer and has worked on very unique projects at the exciting intersection of Sports and Technology, including the "Made to be Remade" shoe and the design and manufacturing of FIFA World Cup official match balls
In this conversation, we go behind the scenes of sports engineering - how do these two disciplines go together? What kind of interesting challenges arise from bringing innovation to some of the most popular sports products in the world? What is it like to work at the brand with the three stripes?
Additionally, we learn about Henry's twisting journey in becoming a sports engineer and his deep fascination with all things engineering related - including having designed and created 2 cubic musical instruments!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
30 Jul 2024
Dr. Sina David - Assistant Professor in Biomechanics (Vrije University of Amsterdam)
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this episode is Dr. Sina David, an Associate Professor in biomechanics at the Vrije University of Amsterdam. Sina is a motivated researcher with a very diverse and interesting scope of sports science research (including in running, tennis, and even swimming) and a truly dedicated Professor.
In this conversation, we go behind the scenes of sports science, hearing about Sina's implementation of Artificial Intelligence in human locomotion research, her highly collaborative minded approach to combining academia and sports science, and her focus on impacting students' lives as a professor.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
16 Jul 2024
Jon Ferrara - Costing Manager for Football Footwear and Accessories (adidas)
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this episode is Jon Ferrara, a Costing Manager in Football footwear and accessories working at adidas. In this conversation, we go behind the scenes of footwear manufacturing, learning about the process involved in taking your favorite football boots from design and ideas to your local store shelf.
We learn about Jon's role balancing financial and cost-related considerations in the manufacturing of some of the world's most iconic football gear, what it is like to work at the brand with the three stripes, and how his full focus on developing a career in sports has brought some unbelievable serendipity to his professional journey.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
25 Jun 2024
In-Conversation with - Chiem Kock
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this episode is Chiem Kock, a Football Replay Operator for Hawk-Eye Innovation, the world's leading service provider of video technology in sports. In this conversation, we discuss Chiem's very unique role as a Replay Operator, in charge of providing the key images in real-time to the VARs for effective refereeing, what it is like to work at the intersection of technological innovation in the highest levels of the beautiful game, and his deep passion for the most popular sport in the world.
Just in time for the Euro 2024 and the Copa America, we gain insight into Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, how the referees implement this technology, and the high-pressure nature of being involved in the key moments and controversial decisions of a football match.
#Euro2024 #CopaAmerica
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
11 Jun 2024
In-Conversation with - Igor Komnik
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this episode is Igor Komnik, a Research Associate at the German Sports University in Cologne. In this conversation, we go behind the scenes of sports science, learning about Igor's innovative (and challenging) research in boxing, what it is like to be a scientist in sports + academia, and his profound personal motivations for combining sports and science in his profession.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
28 May 2024
In-Conversation with - Dzuljeta Tamsone
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this episode is Dzjueta Tamsone, Player Agent in women's football working at AS Sports Management. We go behind the scenes of women's football and dive into Dzjuleta's journey in becoming a very influential pioneer Player Agent for women footballers in the Baltics - among her career highlights: First ever Latvian player to sign for the Frauen Bundesliga, First ever Polish in La Liga, and first ever Lithuanian to sign for a top European club, AC Milan.
In this conversation, we discuss the role of a Football Player Agent in detail, the challenges she has faced as a woman in the football industry, and her own deep passion and involvement in football.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
14 May 2024
In-Conversation with - Phil Jevtovic
Passion, Drama, Pride, Perseverance, Community: Sports is the Universal Language.
But what really goes on behind the scenes of competition? Who makes it all come together?
Our Pro in this episode is Phil Jevtovic, Senior Manager of Analytics and Strategy for Canada Basketball Men's High Performance Program. We go behind the scenes of the Basketball industry and dive into Phil's journey in Analytics for Team Canada Basketball - quantifying athlete performances and dealing with limitations of the data, his experience contributing to the performance of the team - in a FIBA world cup and several continental basketball tournaments, and the excitement competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Go Team Canada Go!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
10 May 2024
Introducing: Pros In the Arena
The "Pros In the Arena" Podcast launches on May 14, 2024.
Come for a peek behind the sports arena.
Stay for insightful and meaningful conversations with Pros in Sports.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
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