Quarter Four Podcast with Michael Elkins - Episode 22: Walter Powell - NFL Wide Receiver Turned Tech Entrepreneur, Founder of the app. Politiscope, Forbes 30 Under 30 2020

Episode 22: Walter Powell - NFL Wide Receiver Turned Tech Entrepreneur, Founder of the app. Politiscope, Forbes 30 Under 30 2020

05/18/20 • 30 min

Quarter Four Podcast with Michael Elkins

Welcome to a new episode of Game 7: The Sports, Business and Lifestyle Podcast. I’m Michael Elkins, labor and employment attorney, founder of the law firm MLE Law, and your host.

My guest this month is 4-year NFL Veteran, turned tech entrepreneur Walter Powell. During his NFL career, Walter was a real estate entrepreneur, restoring damaged properties and opening them up for retired US Veterans. Walter actively works with other athletes and entrepreneurs to promote entrepreneurship, leadership and financial security to underprivileged communities.
In June of 2018, Walter turned down several NFL offers to pursue his tech start up, “Politiscope”. Politiscope is a news and information aggregator mobile app that allows users to register to vote, stay up to date with polls, learn recent legislation and donate to candidates.
With the 2020 Presidential election less than a year away, Politiscope is gearing up. In June, influencers Gary & AJ Vaynerchuk (a prior guest on this show) signed on as advisors and have provided services from their social and digital agency, VaynerMedia.
Walter is the first NFL player in history to become the founder of a tech startup then named to Forbes 30 under 30 for 2020 in a year.
In this episode we talk about Walter’s life as an entrepreneur, his advice for tech start-ups, his journey from the grid iron to the world of start-up fundraising and about having an intentional mindset.
This is the last of my series from podcast row at Super Bowl 54, and it’s definitely one of my favorites. So, sit back and enjoy my conversation with tech entrepreneur, Walter Powell.
Enjoy the show!
You can follow the show on:
Instagram @melkins1, @mle_law
Twitter: @melkins31175
https://mlelawfirm.com
Thank you for listening!

Welcome to a new episode of Game 7: The Sports, Business and Lifestyle Podcast. I’m Michael Elkins, labor and employment attorney, founder of the law firm MLE Law, and your host.

Previous Episode

Episode 21: Casey Schwab - NFLPA Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs

Welcome to a new episode of Game 7: The Sports, Business and Lifestyle Podcast. I’m Michael Elkins, labor and employment attorney, founder of the law firm MLE Law, and your host.

My guest this month is NFLPA Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs, Casey Schwab.
Casey is a leading up-and-coming executive in the sports media business, known as an innovative corporate and operational strategist skilled in aligning and executing successful strategy with anticipated changes in the sports, entertainment, media and technology landscape.

In his role with the NFLPA, Casey leads negotiations on complex commercial transactions with partners in licensing, sponsorship, media, strategic investments and joint ventures in venture capital and private equity. He is also the union’s lead to the NFL on the commercial front, overseeing the development of the business side of professional football with the League.

A zealous advocate of athletes’ rights, Schwab represents NFL players on issues of national importance. He is a founding board member of REP Worldwide, a group licensing agency owned by the athlete unions from the NFL, US Women’s National Team and WNBA. Internationally, Casey represents US-based athletes on the Commercial Sub-Committee of the World Players Association, the leading voice of organized players in the governance of world sport which represents +85,000 players in +100 countries.

Prior to joining the NFLPA, Casey began his career at NFL Media, representing the League’s media business. Between his time at the NFL and the NFLPA, he served as Director of Business and Legal Affairs for FOX Sports. He is a sought-after public speaker and has keynoted topics including the impact of legalized sports wagering on athletes and integration of blockchain technology in sport.

Casey currently teaches at Howard Law School in Washington, D.C. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Juris Doctor degree from the USC Gould School of Law.

In this episode, Casey and I discuss the evolution of the modern athlete and the role the NFLPA is playing in helping athletes beyond the playing filed including assisting athletes in business, branding and much more.

This is a great episode for anyone interested in a behind the scenes look at what's happening with athletes off the field. So sit back and listen to my conversation with NFLPA Executive, Casey Schwab.

Enjoy the episode!
You can follow the show on:
Instagram @melkins1, @mle_law
Twitter: @melkins31175
https://mlelawfirm.com
Thank you for listening!

Next Episode

Episode 23: Noah Ohlsen - Second Fittest Man on Earth, Six-Time CrossFit Games Competitor

Welcome to a new episode of Game 7: The Sports, Business and Lifestyle Podcast. I’m Michael Elkins, labor and employment attorney, founder of the law firm MLE Law, and your host.
My guest this month is Noah Ohlsen, the second fittest man on earth and a six-time competitor at the CrossFit Games, finishing second in 2019. In 2016, he finished number one in the world during the CrossFit Games qualifier known as The Open ... that’s number one out of approximately 324,000 competitors!
In addition to his competitive accomplishments, Noah’s a leader in the CrossFit and fitness community at large, lending his voice to issues beyond just the sport of fitness and athletics.
In this episode, Noah and I talk about the social and practical issues facing not only his sport, but this country at large. We also talk about life, empathy, vulnerability, stoicism, business and much more.
Noah is candid, forthright, articulate and has an emotional EQ that is off the charts. What comes through most in this conversation is that Noah is so much more than an athlete. He is truly a good human being, and we need more public figures like him in the world today!
Whether you're a fan of sports, business or social issues there is something in this conversation for everyone. So sit back, and listen to my conversation with Noah Ohlsen.
For those wondering, yes, we talk about Maximus as well! 🐶
You can follow Noah and Maximus on:
Instagram @nohlsen; @maximusohlsen
YouTube
You can follow the show on:
Instagram @melkins1, @mle_law
Twitter: @melkins31175
https://mlelawfirm.com
Thank you for listening and enjoy the show!