Best Nathan Merkel Podcasts (2025)

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Introduction to SportStories - The Podcast 1:56

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3h ago1:56

1:56

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

9d 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

2M 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 …

1
Professional Fandom for Semi-Professional Sports - Life of an avid semi-pro sports fan 57:24

2M 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

3M 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

3M 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

4M 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

5M 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…