Best Nathan Merkel Podcasts (2025)

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Stories of a Life Coach - A Conversation with Elissa Grabow 1:03:13

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6d ago1:03:13

1:03:13

[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect the opinions of any respective organization or institution.] I wonder what athletes go through off the field..? How do they manage their life while also playing at an elite level..? What do they do if they get traded and need to find a new home..? These are questions …

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Introduction to SportStories - The Podcast 1:56

18d ago1:56

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Hi everyone! Welcome to SportStories - The Podcast, my name is Nathan Merkel. Have you ever wondered why people love sports so much? How do people fall in love with teams, brands, and/or athletes so quickly and heavily? What does this do us as humans and how does it change us? All of these questions will be, slightly, addressed throughout this podc…

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Rolling for Gold - A discussion about Collegiate and Professional Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball with Coach Ron Lykins 53:32

26d ago53:32

53:32

[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect the opinions of any respective organization or institution.] The Paris Paralympics, saw an 70% increase in viewership from 2020 to 2024. In total, over 15 million viewers streamed in for the Paralympics in 2024 and saw an average live-coverage viewership of 160,000. I…

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From Bleachers to Brand - Navigating College Sport Marketing and Fan Engagement 1:16:54

3M ago1:16:54

1:16:54

[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect the opinions of any respective organization or institution.] With the recent rise in popularity of American collegiate football, organizations have taken note on the importance of proper (sport/s) fan engagement and marketing. I spoke with Allison Kelly, the Director …

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Professional Fandom for Semi-Professional Sports - Life of an avid semi-pro sports fan 57:24

3M ago57:24

57:24

[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect opinions of any respective organization or institution.] Do you think supporting a semi-professional sports team is different than a professional team? Have you ever attended a semi-professional sports game/event? Matt and I talk about the intricacies of semi-professi…

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More than Muscle - A conversation about developing athletes off the field 1:05:58

4M ago1:05:58

1:05:58

[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect opinions of any respective organization or institution.] Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in an athletes' daily schedule? I have been curious about what collegiate and professional athletes are up to when they're not competing. I am grateful to be…

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You Want a Subscription With That? - A conversation about the current landscape in sports media 1:04:09

4M ago1:04:09

1:04:09

[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect opinions of any respective organization or institution.] Has anyone noticed how the landscape of sports media has changed? It went from a casual newspaper/magazine article to a monthly/yearly contract. I spoke with Tyler Hill, a multi-media reporter at WCIA in Champai…

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So You Want to Be an Athlete? - A Behind the Scenes Conversation about Life as a Professional Athlete 1:03:56

4M ago1:03:56

1:03:56

[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect opinions of any respective organization or institution.] Hey everyone! I am gratefully joined by Michael Creek, a goalie for FC Tulsa in the United Soccer League. We dive into topics about life as a professional athlete, the identity struggle that athletes face, the p…

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To Study or Not to Study, Sport is the Question 1:08:21

5M ago1:08:21

1:08:21

[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect opinions of any respective organization or institution.] Are you a sport fan and wonder what life behind the scenes is like? I spoke with Brian McQueen, an equipment manager for an ECHL team in Maine about his journey through sport, experience working for a profession…

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4th and... Australian?: Experiences of an International College Athlete 1:10:43

5M ago1:10:43

1:10:43

Hey everyone! Thank you for joining us for Episode 2, "4th and... Australian?". I sat down with Hugh Robertson, a recently graduated athlete from the University of Illinois. Hugh competed as the punter for UIUC's football team from 2020-2024. He is originally from Australia and shared his experiences of being an international athlete in the Collegi…

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Franchise Betrayal? The aftermath of Franchise Relocation in St. Louis 59:31

6M ago59:31

59:31

This episode will dive into the experiences of my father and I who were season ticket holding St. Louis Rams fans from 1998-2015. The St. Louis Rams relocated to LA in 2015 and decimated our psychological connection to football, and sport in general. Are you a fan curious about franchise relocation? Are you a practitioner wondering what franchise r…