The Work in Sports Podcast - Insider Advice for Sports Careers

Brian Klapp frames the conversation around how messy sports careers usually are.

Brian Clapp's Workin' Sports Podcast episode lays out 20 job-search tips for new sports-industry graduates, starting with the idea that "your job search is now a job." He gives concrete tactics such as building a weekday workflow, setting application goals, cleaning up LinkedIn, and keeping a spreadsheet of every job and outcome.

The show opens by framing minor league baseball and LinkedIn as two overlooked engines for sports careers.

Brian Klapp starts with his surprise at fantasy sports' older roots, then uses Dylan's PrizePicks story to make the hiring advice feel practical.

Host Brian Clapp addresses a listener's question about preparing for a sports career during college, outlining a four-year plan with specific strategies for each academic year, starting with freshman year goals for finding clarity in the industry.

Host Brian Clapp addresses a listener's time management struggles in sports careers, explaining its importance for productivity, stress reduction, and hiring appeal, with practical advice and insights.

Brian Clapp interviews Chad Jessop, Assistant Equipment Manager for the LA Chargers, about his path from Mission Viejo High School to NFL equipment rooms.

Ricky walks through how a polished plan for introducing a new coach fell apart once the timing changed.

Jenny Taft traces her path from Minnesota sports and Boston University lacrosse to Fox Sports, where her first FS1 assignment was motocross and her first Supercross live report felt like a make-or-break moment.

Maddie Fowler Burkhardt, Nebraska’s Assistant AD for Annual Giving, describes how a five-year college-athlete path, a medical redshirt, and years of leadership shaped her move into athletics fundraising.

Brian Klapp talks with Melissa and sets the conversation around what it feels like to work in a sport while it is taking off.

Brian Clapp interviews SVP Fox Sports Digital Michael Buckland about a career trajectory shaped by walk-on mentality at UGA basketball and serendipitous 2006 ESPN hire.

Brian Clapp opens by framing media relations as the hard work of making people care.

Brian Clapp answers three resume questions from a college student, explaining why resumes remain essential despite technological advances, how to use AI tools effectively, and sharing best practices for optimizing resumes for today's skills-focused hiring environment.

Brian Klapp addresses two listener questions about salary negotiation in the sports industry, providing data-driven advice for both recent graduates and experienced professionals.

Host Brian Clapp discusses how to effectively use AI in a sports job search, warning against total reliance while offering 21 practical ideas.

Host Brian Clapp addresses job search fatigue, especially during seasonal slumps, offering practical tips like freelancing, volunteering, blueprinting career paths, strategic applications, and mental health breaks to help listeners regain momentum.

Host Brian Clapp answers a listener's question about transitioning roles within a sports organization, drawing from his experience at CNN Sports Illustrated to advise on building brand equity, networking, and strategically seeking internal promotions.

Brian Clapp interviews Ryan Sanford, senior manager of partnership sales for the San Francisco 49ers, exploring how childhood baseball dreams transformed into a multi-sport industry career.

Andre and Aaron Eanes detail founding A&A Management Group in 2012 and securing Travis Kelsey as their breakout client.

Brian Clapp shares practical networking advice for sports careers, inspired by a student's question at Ohio State.

Host Brian Clapp addresses a listener's career anxiety by offering a step-by-step framework to find the right sports career path, emphasizing self-assessment of passions and personality traits over external pressures like salary or AI threats.

Networking is the thread running through it.

Host Brian Clapp answers a listener's question about essential traits for sports careers, identifying competitiveness, curiosity, and coachability as key attributes.

Brian Klapp provides a seven-step framework for professionals wanting to transition into the sports industry, addressing common concerns about lacking sports experience, salary expectations, and how to stand out in applications.

Host Brian Clapp explores whether college degrees are overrated in sports careers, explaining skills-based hiring trends and how job seekers can leverage them.

Host Brian Clapp explores using a scientific method to discover a fulfilling career in the sports industry, emphasizing the importance of personal fit over intellectual skills.

Brian Clapp frames this conversation around why sports jobs require more than a general love of sports, then uses examples from Los Angeles, Charlotte, the NHL, and MLB-style audience differences to make that case.

Brian Clapp frames leadership through Troy Polamalu, saying true leaders do not need to be the loudest voice and that “leaders show up” and “leaders solve problems.” Casey Katowski says his goal is to be “a transcendent leader” in athletics, and he describes running teams with a personalized, authenticity-first style that includes treating “the CEO of Apple” and “the janitor of McDonald’s” the same way.