Pros In the Arena

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!

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 broadcastingIn 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

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 MotionIn 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!

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 1In 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!

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 UEFAMaks 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.

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 2026In 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!

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.

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.