The Profluence Pod 🌐

Insightful convos with the founders, operators, and investors transforming the future of sports.

The Profluence Pod 🌐 is a sports podcast hosted by Andrew Petcash, with 401 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Andrew Petcash hosts The Profluence Pod 🌐, a sports show with 401 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #337

  #337: Alexandre Dreyfus , Chiliz - How Chiliz Is Tokenizing Equity in Global Sports

  Aug 19, 202628 min

  Alexandre Dreyfus is the CEO and founder of Chiliz. With over 30 years as an internet entrepreneur, Alexandre shares how Chiliz built a global ecosystem connecting over 80 major sports properties, including Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona, Manchester City, and top South American clubs, through fungible fan tokens and blockchain infrastructure.Alexandre unpacks the operational realities of scaling a sports-fintech platform over the last eight years. He addresses the key differences in regulatory landscapes between the US and the rest of the world, detail-sharing Chiliz's strategic $80M investment across major US leagues (NBA, NFL, MLS) and its ultimate pivot toward US collegiate sports. The conversation delves into Chiliz's new "SportsFi" strategy, transitioning from pure utility-based loyalty tokens to fractional ownership and social equity models.Alexandre also discusses how sports assets serve as an emotion-driven asset class resilient to AI disruption, the launch of Chiliz's initial college athletic partnerships that channel token revenue directly into NIL pools, and the company's "2030 Manifesto." Alexandre offers valuable insights for founders on maintaining discipline, remaining self-funded, navigating market shifts, and keeping brand integrity at the forefront when managing billion-dollar sports properties.Podcast Chapters:01:30 Alex Dreyfus's Background and Journey03:11 The Concept of Fan Tokens and Engagement04:20 Challenges in the US Market and Regulation04:58 The 2030 Vision and Evolving Product Suite07:37 Global Adoption vs. US Resistance10:31 Education and Community Engagement12:57 Transitioning to Ownership and Equity15:26 Chili's Chain and Its Unique Position17:56 The Future of Sports Teams as Financial Ecosystems20:42 Opportunities in Youth Sports and College Teams22:51 Market Challenges and Competition24:48 Funding Strategies and Future Growth27:11 Key Takeaways and Future Directions

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  Episode #336

  #336: Scott DeRue, Ironman Group - Scaling Endurance Sports, Travel Tailwinds, and $150M Economic Impact

  Aug 17, 202636 min

  Scott DeRue is the CEO of The Ironman Group, the world's largest organizer of participation sports. Prior to leading Ironman, Scott served as President of Equinox, where he oversaw luxury fitness operations, and spent years as Dean of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. His career spans corporate executive leadership, higher education, and high-altitude mountaineering, including summitting Mount Everest and completing the Seven Summits, bringing a unique perspective on human performance, community-building, and experiential marketing to the global endurance sports landscape.The Ironman Group operates a massive portfolio of mass-participation endurance brands spanning triathlon, road running, trail running, and mountain biking. With over 230 events across more than 50 countries each year, the business reaches hundreds of thousands of athletes annually through flagship properties including Ironman, Ironman 70.3, the UTMB World Series, the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series, and the Epic Series. Under Scott’s leadership, the organization is capitalizing on major macro trends: the shift toward experience-based discretionary spending, surging investment in longevity and health, and the rise of global sports tourism.Scott explores how The Ironman Group manages a complex global supply chain of endurance events while deepening year-round consumer engagement. Scott details the economics behind race registrations, non-endemic corporate sponsorships, and municipal partnerships—highlighting flagship events like the Ironman World Championship, which generates up to $150M in local economic impact. Podcast Chapters:01:54 The Evolution of Fitness and Ironman’s Role07:56 Trends in Health, Wellness, and Experiences09:43 Building Community and Shared Identity15:46 Creating a Pipeline for Participation20:55 Business Model and Future Growth Strategies26:17 Professionalizing Endurance Sports31:17 The Elite Athletes of Ironman

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  Episode #335

  #335: Dean Braccia, Marquee CEO - Soccer AI Operating Systems & $6.5M Seed Scaling

  Aug 12, 202631 min

  Dean Braccia is the CEO and founder of Marquee, an AI-native operating system designed to transform how professional sports clubs handle recruitment, squad planning, and talent analysis. Dean brings a multi-exit entrepreneurial track record to the table, having previously built and exited an ad-tech company operating in the mobile user acquisition space. Beyond his software background, Dean is a diehard sports enthusiast and manager of the Israeli Arsenal fan community, a 7,000-member network where his passion for analyzing transfer window rumors, match tactics, and scouting data first sparked the blueprint for Marquee. Frustrated by the disconnect in professional sports scouting—where clubs drown in three to ten siloed data sources and over 60% of player transfers fail, Dean and his team built Marquee to serve as an intelligent decision layer. Backed by $6.5 million in seed funding, Marquee leverages 12 proprietary AI and machine learning models to automate up to 75% of the recruitment workflow. The platform translates complex data points into contextual, natural-language insights, helping clubs evaluate physical, mental, and financial fit, simulate squad lineups, and streamline internal player development. Podcast Chapters: 01:07 Dean's Journey and Passion for Sports 08:03 Understanding Marquee: The AI Native Operating System 14:11 Data Context and Club Integration 17:44 Governance and Security in Competitive Markets 21:34 Raising Capital: Insights for Founders 25:46 Future Vision and Market Adaptation

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  Episode #334

  #334: Amanda Gunville, ChampEra - Why Smart Women Feel Left Out of Football

  Aug 10, 202632 min

  Amanda Gunville is a football insider turned founder helping women understand American football with confidence, clarity, and connection. Amanda spent over twenty years working in and around professional American football, including collaborating alongside legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg, the real-life inspiration behind Jerry Maguire , whose iconic clients include Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Warren Moon, Ben Roethlisberger, and Patrick Mahomes. After stepping away from the sport during a personal 2.5-year cancer journey, during which she authored a book now distributed across 45 cancer hospitals, Amanda returned to American football with a new perspective. She realized how many smart, capable women feel excluded or overwhelmed by the game, not due to a lack of interest or intelligence, but because football was never taught in an accessible, welcoming way. That insight inspired her to launch Champ Era and its flagship program, the Football Fluency Method, a confidence-driven sports education platform designed to guide women from confusion to clarity and from watching to truly understanding the game. Amanda shares what elite sports environments teach about pressure, identity, and performance. Amanda shares how sports fluency fosters belonging and social connection, breaks down Champ Era's step-by-step educational model and university/high school partnerships, and discusses the rise of flag football, brand opportunities, and her multi-sport vision for the platform. Podcast Chapters: 01:13 Amanda's Journey Through Cancer and Its Impact 05:47 Finding Purpose Through Adversity 11:12 Building Champera: A Platform for Football Fluency 16:09 Creating Confidence Through Consistent Learning 20:56 Engaging Women in Football: Strategies and Partnerships 23:05 Vision for the Future: Expanding Champera's Reach 26:28 The Role of Flag Football in Champera's Mission 28:51 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

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  Episode #333

  #333: Paul Coggiola, LIFT Management - Scaling Sports Creators & Building Digital IP

  Aug 5, 202632 min

  Paul Coggiola is the President of Creator at LIFT Management. Born and raised in Plano, Texas, Paul grew up a passionate sports fan before starting his career in the trenches of sports ticket sales and team partnerships with the Houston Dynamo and the University of Texas at Austin. Moving to Los Angeles, Paul transitioned into entertainment, starting in the mailroom at CAA (Creative Artists Agency) and working with top-tier athletes, including UFC fighters, MLB players, and Shohei Ohtani upon his arrival in the U.S.Seeing the shifting digital landscape, Paul ventured into gaming and live streaming in 2018, joining esports organization Echo Fox and later representing premier Twitch streamers and YouTubers at United Talent Agency (UTA). At UTA, he spearheaded the launch of the agency's dedicated sports creator roster, bridging the gap between digital content creators and traditional sports media. Today, at LIFT Management, Paul leads the creator division to help talent scale their IP, build sustainable long-term brands, and navigate multi-platform opportunities beyond simple transactional brand deals.Paul Coggiola explores how creators and athletes are converging at global tentpole events like the World Cup. Paul breaks down why LIFT focuses on depth of engagement and 30-day value retention over vanity follower counts, how the firm identifies rising talent across platforms like YouTube and Twitch, and why human connection remains the irreplaceable element in an era of AI content tools. He also shares insights on creator-led IP, executive thought leadership, and what it takes to build a modern talent brand. Podcast Chapters: 01:01 - Origin Story: From Texas Sports Fan to Ticket Sales in Houston & Austin 03:32 - Landing at CAA: Working with Shohei Ohtani & Traditional Athletes 04:47 - Crossing into Esports, Gaming & Twitch Live Streaming 05:54 - Building the Sports Creator Roster at UTA & Joining LIFT Management 09:15 - LIFT Creators Mission: Building Creator Brands & IP Beyond Dealmaking 13:34 - World Cup Reflection: Why Creators Stole the Spotlight from Athletes 16:06 - Sourcing Blue Ocean Talent: Moving Beyond Upstream Leaders 17:36 - The Role of AI in Creator Workflows & Preserving Human Connection 21:11 - Evaluating Creator Metrics: Why Video Views & Engagement Beat Followers 23:44 - The Emergence of B2B & LinkedIn Executive Creators

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