In this episode of the Athlete Brand Advisor podcast, Greg Glynn, founder & CEO of Pliable Marketing talks about athlete branding and finding purpose with Stephen Seidel, founder of the award-winning PR firm The Seidel Agency.
Stephen Seidel is a TEDx keynote speaker, media expert, and founder of the award-winning PR firm The Seidel Agency, amplifying artists and Fortune 500 changemakers. A best-selling author, and creator of the Top 10 Apple podcast Wolves Among Us, and co-founder of men's mental health community GentsJourney.co, he is driven by a mission to do good, give back, and make an impact by using connection as currency to reclaim your purpose and story. Seidel is originally from Bucks County, PA, and lives in Lexington, KY as a proud #GirlDad. With a BSIE from Penn State, he remains loyal to cheesesteaks, pretzels, and his Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
In this episode, Stephen discussed his background and experience working with athletes, emphasizing the importance of branding, storytelling, and connections in sports. He highlighted the 80/20 rule in building an athlete's brand and shared his work with college athletes, including his involvement with Penn State and Oregon football. Stephen also mentioned his creation of the Gents Journey card deck to help athletes build meaningful relationships and understand their teammates better.
Greg and Stephen discussed the importance of personal branding and connection in professional and personal contexts. Greg introduced Stephen, highlighting his achievements and expertise in PR, podcasting, and men's mental health. Stephen shared his experience as a Philadelphia Eagles fan and how connecting with others over shared interests can lead to meaningful relationships and opportunities.
Greg and Stephen discussed the importance of building a strong network and personal brand, emphasizing that connections are crucial for success. They highlighted the need to focus on one's mission, message, and community before pursuing financial gains from NIL deals. Greg shared a story about two college softball players who used their NIL and brand platform to raise awareness for childhood cancer, demonstrating the power of passion-driven athlete branding. The conversation included Stephen's work in men's mental health and his involvement with Gents Journey.
Stephen shared his personal journey, including his childhood dream of becoming a great father after his parents' divorce and his recent losses of both parents. He described how these challenges led him to create the Gents Journey Collective, a support group for entrepreneurs facing personal difficulties, and how the group evolved into a product to help other men. Through his experiences, Stephen emphasized the importance of connection, resilience, and reclaiming personal power in overcoming adversity.
Stephen and Greg discussed the lack of resources for expectant fathers and the importance of men expressing their feelings. They highlighted the 7 Pillars of Manhood and introduced the Gent's Journey card deck, which contains 50 questions designed to foster meaningful connections between people.
Stephen and Greg discussed the importance of fostering meaningful in-person connections and relationships. They emphasized the value of face-to-face interactions over digital communication, noting how technology like Zoom can enhance connections when in-person meetings are not possible. Greg shared his approach to building relationships by surrounding himself with positive and like-minded individuals, while Stephen highlighted the significance of being present and authentic in relationships. They also discussed the concept of going from "good to great" in relationships, emphasizing qualities like gratitude, empathy, accountability, and transformation.
Finding Joy and Resilience Through Sports
Stephen shared his personal journey of finding happiness through sports and meditation, emphasizing the importance of coming from a place of joy and play. He discussed his work as a mentor, particularly with athletes at Penn State and Oregon, focusing on core principles like resilience, grit, and the power of love. Stephen also shared his TEDx talk on the hidden power of grief, highlighting the idea that love is never lost and that letting go can lead to greater creativity and connection.
Greg and Stephen discussed the importance of building personal and athlete brands, with Stephen offering insights and resources for brand development. Stephen shared his website and social media details, including a free giveaway of four PR platforms for building a brand. They also discussed the value of sharing personal reflections and experiences, with Stephen encouraging listeners to reflect on childhood aspirations and share them with others.
Show Resources:
Websites
PliableMarketing.com
Men’s Group: GentsJourney.co/join
Get Deck on Amazon: https://rebrand.ly/journeydeck
TEDx Talk + Speaking Reel: https://rebrand.ly/seidelspeaking
4 Steps to Secure Your Own Media Coverage:
https://theseidelagency.com/services/media-platforms/
Social Media
@PliableMktg
@StephenSeidel
@TheSeidelAgency
@GentsJourneyco
