Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Introducing Image & Video with Eleven Labs
|
Monday, November 17, 2025
Coaches Don’t Just Win Games. They Build Brands.
From Locker Room to Loyalty Loop: The Sports Marketing Journey of Purpose.
Coaches must handle the technical side, the physical side and all the Xs and Os. But let's Think again about sports marketing. Dr. Olena Timasheva, sports marketing professor in the university presented to the international audience at WAFSU.org and was able to reveal the coaches roles in digital strategy, sponsorship, and fan engagement.
More than motivators, coaches today are key to driving revenue, fan connection, and team brand identity.
Blending the intensity of the game with the science of segmentation is where coaching meets modern sports marketing.
Get all the slides, discussion questions and the full 70-minute seminar in the free course at https://WAFSU.org -- World Aquatic Federation for Schools and Universities.
In episode #61 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, we peek into the playbook for turning a local sports team into a global brand. Learn the proven framework that top clubs like Liverpool and Manchester City use to drive fan loyalty and revenue.
- The three‑pillar framework: market segmentation, research & targeting, and the 80/20 loyalty investment rule.
- How to segment fans by demographics, geography, psychographics and behavior for maximum impact.
- Digital tactics that work: social media two‑way dialogue, user‑generated content, and hyper‑personalized email campaigns.
- Building authentic sponsorships and partnerships that align with your brand’s core values.
- The top three challenges facing sports marketers today: tech & data privacy, shifting fan preferences, and economic/social issues.
This episode is just a short invite to explore the full seminar by Dr. Olena Timasheva of the Ukraine.
How do your Coaches, Players, and Data Drive Loyalty‑Focused Marketing in your Sports Organizations?
We want to hear from you.
Keywords:
sports marketing, coach role, market segmentation, age groups, gender targeting, income levels, geographic segmentation, psychographic segmentation, behavioral segmentation, loyalty tiers, branding, brand identity, brand positioning, brand loyalty, marketing mix, product price place promotion, digital marketing, social media, content marketing, email marketing, fan engagement, loyalty programs, sponsorship partnerships, community outreach, case study Liverpool, case study NBA, case study Manchester City, case study NFL, case study Barcelona, case study Manchester United, case study Red Bull, case study Under Armour, Ukraine sports market, low income audience, high income audience, mid income audience, fan demographics, fan psychology, community-driven fans, status seekers, VIP experiences, family packages, merchandise strategy, interactive technology, virtual events, customized sponsorship, ROI metrics, marketing challenges, trends
Friday, November 14, 2025
Fwd: If you’ve been thinking about packaging what you know…
This week at Thrive Themes
Lately I've had a few familiar questions come in about online courses.
You know, whether they still work, whether the market is too crowded,
whether it's worth building something new.
Since you're already in the Thrive ecosystem, we can skip the beginner
talk and look at what's actually happening.
The market didn't shrink. It matured.
And the data keeps pointing in the same direction:
➡️ Online learning is expected to reach $203.81B in 2025
➡️ Learners retain 25–60% of information online (compared to
8–10% in classrooms)
➡️ Nearly 70% of students now prefer online or hybrid learning
(From DemandSage, Devlin Peck, and EdScoop)
If anything, expectations have risen. People want structured paths,
clear pacing, and helpful touchpoints — not a stack of unconnected
videos.
And if you've built inside Thrive Apprentice before, you already know
how much difference a thoughtful learning journey makes.
If you're mapping out a course this year, these four guides will help
you shape the direction:
• How to Teach Online
https://thrivethemes.com/how-to-teach-online/ [1]
• How to Plan an Online Course
https://thrivethemes.com/how-to-plan-an-online-course/ [2]
• Online Course Launch Checklist
https://thrivethemes.com/online-course-launch-checklist/ [3]
• How to Create an Online Course That Makes Money
https://thrivethemes.com/how-to-create-an-online-course/ [4]
And if you want something more step-by-step (something you can actually
follow to get your first group of students) we have a free, practical
training you'll find incredibly useful:
⭐ From 0 to 20 Students: Your First Course Enrollment Path (Free)
https://thrivethemes.com/lead-magnet-0-20-students/ [5]
If you're working on a course or even just thinking about one, feel
free to reply. I'd love to hear what you're building.
Chipo
P.S If you need a little inspo, I ran a little deep research for you
here. [6]
Lately I've had a few familiar questions come in about online courses.
You know, whether they still work, whether the market is too crowded,
whether it's worth building something new.
Since you're already in the Thrive ecosystem, we can skip the beginner
talk and look at what's actually happening.
The market didn't shrink. It matured.
And the data keeps pointing in the same direction:
➡️ Online learning is expected to reach $203.81B in 2025
➡️ Learners retain 25–60% of information online (compared to
8–10% in classrooms)
➡️ Nearly 70% of students now prefer online or hybrid learning
(From DemandSage, Devlin Peck, and EdScoop)
If anything, expectations have risen. People want structured paths,
clear pacing, and helpful touchpoints — not a stack of unconnected
videos.
And if you've built inside Thrive Apprentice before, you already know
how much difference a thoughtful learning journey makes.
If you're mapping out a course this year, these four guides will help
you shape the direction:
• How to Teach Online
https://thrivethemes.com/how-to-teach-online/ [1]
• How to Plan an Online Course
https://thrivethemes.com/how-to-plan-an-online-course/ [2]
• Online Course Launch Checklist
https://thrivethemes.com/online-course-launch-checklist/ [3]
• How to Create an Online Course That Makes Money
https://thrivethemes.com/how-to-create-an-online-course/ [4]
And if you want something more step-by-step (something you can actually
follow to get your first group of students) we have a free, practical
training you'll find incredibly useful:
⭐ From 0 to 20 Students: Your First Course Enrollment Path (Free)
https://thrivethemes.com/lead-magnet-0-20-students/ [5]
If you're working on a course or even just thinking about one, feel
free to reply. I'd love to hear what you're building.
Chipo
P.S If you need a little inspo, I ran a little deep research for you
here. [6]
The Heavy Or Not podcast appears #1 in platform searches
My name is Andrea De'Marsi and I'm the founder of PodSEO [1].
Our systems track podcast search rankings across platforms daily. "Heavy
Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide" is appearing in Apple Podcasts search
results. I wanted to share the specific keywords and rankings we've
tracked.
Why podcast SEO matters: Research shows that 70% of podcast listeners
use search to discover new shows. Just like Google search, podcast
platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify use algorithms to decide which
podcasts appear when someone searches for topics, keywords, or genres.
Without proper SEO optimization, even great content can remain invisible
to potential listeners who are actively searching for exactly what
you're talking about.
The difference between ranking #3 and #15 for a popular search term can
mean thousands of new listeners per month. That's why understanding and
optimizing your podcast's search presence across platforms isn't just
helpful — it's essential for sustainable growth in today's crowded
podcast landscape.
What we're tracking:
📊 Your Podcast Visibility Metrics:
🔗 Podcast Recommendations (Cross-Platform Discovery):
1 podcasts feature yours in their "Listeners also subscribed to" section
on Apple Podcasts (including "Co-Founder Ai")
These are algorithmic recommendations where the platforms analyze
audience overlap and content similarity to suggest your podcast to
listeners of related shows — indicating strong audience alignment.
⭐ Listener Ratings:
→ This is a preview. Get access to your complete visibility analysis
including detailed platform metrics, the full recommendation network
analysis, and additional search insights by signing up at PodSEO [1].
Your current keyword performance (sample):
APPLE PODCASTS RANKINGS (TOP 3 KEYWORDS)
KEYWORD
RANK
deep sleep strategies
#1
gold medal mel
#2
tech roundtable discussions
#5
SPOTIFY RANKINGS (TOP 3 KEYWORDS)
KEYWORD
RANK
eccentric swimmers
#2
manhattan swimming
#5
extreme swimming feats
#5
What this keyword snapshot reveals about Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim
Guide:
These are actual search terms where your podcast appears when users
search on platforms. The terms might not align with your target audience
or ideal keywords — that's common and actually tells us something
important.
Here's what's factual: when someone searches these specific terms, Heavy
Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide shows up in results. If the terms seem
irrelevant to your content or the rankings are low, this typically
indicates your podcast would benefit from SEO optimization to appear for
more relevant, targeted search terms that your ideal listeners are
actually using.
We track over 300,000 keywords daily across platforms to identify these
patterns — whether the current visibility aligns with your growth
goals depends entirely on your specific objectives and target audience.
The current rankings show you're getting some search visibility. Most
podcasts in this position can improve by targeting 5-10 additional
relevant keywords. The full data shows which terms match your content
best.
To see the complete keyword analysis and optimization opportunities,
sign up at PodSEO [1]. See Opportunities [1]
The full platform data is available when you're ready to review it.
Best,
Andrea
Links:
------
[1]
https://track.podseo.com/ck1/2d6f.1f5c3d912b288a1c/849d5bd0-c1b2-11f0-ac33-86f7e6aa0425/1f83e449b73e4b987ebf218ff2eaae6afc89872b/2?e=4K2QxigLk2lnnnPUqcV%2F7NQunMWXn6qcCF%2FYEEmm%2BDn3fhjmWPoeVjsCZEbl9wwL8yJr6ptbEln1ZP8kCnddzQt22LGXbQQ303m%2BE1XVOn0%3D
Our systems track podcast search rankings across platforms daily. "Heavy
Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide" is appearing in Apple Podcasts search
results. I wanted to share the specific keywords and rankings we've
tracked.
Why podcast SEO matters: Research shows that 70% of podcast listeners
use search to discover new shows. Just like Google search, podcast
platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify use algorithms to decide which
podcasts appear when someone searches for topics, keywords, or genres.
Without proper SEO optimization, even great content can remain invisible
to potential listeners who are actively searching for exactly what
you're talking about.
The difference between ranking #3 and #15 for a popular search term can
mean thousands of new listeners per month. That's why understanding and
optimizing your podcast's search presence across platforms isn't just
helpful — it's essential for sustainable growth in today's crowded
podcast landscape.
What we're tracking:
📊 Your Podcast Visibility Metrics:
🔗 Podcast Recommendations (Cross-Platform Discovery):
1 podcasts feature yours in their "Listeners also subscribed to" section
on Apple Podcasts (including "Co-Founder Ai")
These are algorithmic recommendations where the platforms analyze
audience overlap and content similarity to suggest your podcast to
listeners of related shows — indicating strong audience alignment.
⭐ Listener Ratings:
→ This is a preview. Get access to your complete visibility analysis
including detailed platform metrics, the full recommendation network
analysis, and additional search insights by signing up at PodSEO [1].
Your current keyword performance (sample):
APPLE PODCASTS RANKINGS (TOP 3 KEYWORDS)
KEYWORD
RANK
deep sleep strategies
#1
gold medal mel
#2
tech roundtable discussions
#5
SPOTIFY RANKINGS (TOP 3 KEYWORDS)
KEYWORD
RANK
eccentric swimmers
#2
manhattan swimming
#5
extreme swimming feats
#5
What this keyword snapshot reveals about Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim
Guide:
These are actual search terms where your podcast appears when users
search on platforms. The terms might not align with your target audience
or ideal keywords — that's common and actually tells us something
important.
Here's what's factual: when someone searches these specific terms, Heavy
Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide shows up in results. If the terms seem
irrelevant to your content or the rankings are low, this typically
indicates your podcast would benefit from SEO optimization to appear for
more relevant, targeted search terms that your ideal listeners are
actually using.
We track over 300,000 keywords daily across platforms to identify these
patterns — whether the current visibility aligns with your growth
goals depends entirely on your specific objectives and target audience.
The current rankings show you're getting some search visibility. Most
podcasts in this position can improve by targeting 5-10 additional
relevant keywords. The full data shows which terms match your content
best.
To see the complete keyword analysis and optimization opportunities,
sign up at PodSEO [1]. See Opportunities [1]
The full platform data is available when you're ready to review it.
Best,
Andrea
Links:
------
[1]
https://track.podseo.com/ck1/2d6f.1f5c3d912b288a1c/849d5bd0-c1b2-11f0-ac33-86f7e6aa0425/1f83e449b73e4b987ebf218ff2eaae6afc89872b/2?e=4K2QxigLk2lnnnPUqcV%2F7NQunMWXn6qcCF%2FYEEmm%2BDn3fhjmWPoeVjsCZEbl9wwL8yJr6ptbEln1ZP8kCnddzQt22LGXbQQ303m%2BE1XVOn0%3D
NBC Sports and USA Sports are starting up again
Two sports media brands used for many years by NBC Sports are making comebacks, but in a dramatically changing corporate structure, the pair will have relatively little to do with each other.
The Comcast-owned NBC Sports said this week that it will bring back the NBC Sports Network, the linear network it previously operated from 2012 to 2021, with the move confirming a plan discussed extensively this past summer. The cable channel will debut Nov. 17, initially with YouTube TV following a recent carriage agreement, and shortly on Comcast's own Xfinity.
The network will serve in many respects as a linear counterpart to Peacock, offering much of the same sports programming that the streaming service does, including NBA and WNBA games, Premier League soccer matches, Big Ten and Notre Dame football, college basketball, two golf majors, and content from a soon-to-be-announced rights deal with Major League Baseball.
"The new NBC Sports Network gives pay-TV customers a seamless way to enjoy the wide range of sports in our portfolio," said NBCUniversal president of platform distribution and partnerships Matt Schnaars.
Across the Aisle
The other legacy sports media brand being resurrected, meanwhile, is USA Sports. A brand originally dating to the 1970s, USA Sports will be the sports moniker for Versant, the company being spun off from Comcast. Versant will control most of the cable networks previously held by Comcast, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC (becoming MS Now on Saturday), and Golf Channel. The spin-off originally unveiled a year ago is set for completion early next year.
USA Sports will have more than 10,000 hours of live sports events per year, including content from NASCAR, the PGA Tour, Premier League, WWE, and the WNBA, among others. This week, the network also signed a rights deal with a rebuilt Pac-12 Conference. That content will air on either USA Network, Golf Channel, or CNBC.
The two announcements occurred within a day of each other this week, leading to some marketplace confusion—particularly since some sports content that had aired on the prior NBCSN transferred over to USA Network after the 2021 NBCSN shutdown.
The new NBCSN and USA Sports, however, will be separate entities and exist under separate parent companies. Despite the separation, though, there will be some crossover and collaboration between the two. NBCUniversal will sell advertising for Versant for the next two annual upfront cycles, while there is also a joint rights agreement for NBCUniversal and Versant with the USGA, and some Olympics-related content controlled by NBC Sports will air on USA Network.
Shoulder Rotation Is a Key to Unlocking Swimming Speed
Hidden Biomechanics of Shoulder Medial Rotation That Separate Good Swimmers From Great
Monday, November 10, 2025
Canada’s 2025 National Coach Leadership Awards Night
Date: Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Subject: 🔔Save the Date: 2025 National Coach Leadership Awards Night
To: <mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>
Subject: 🔔Save the Date: 2025 National Coach Leadership Awards Night
To: <mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>
|
| |
Most stressful jobs, swim coach is not in the top 10
- Flight attendants
- Service unit operators, oil and gas
- Hoist and winch operators
- Wind turbine service technicians
- Rotary drill operators, oil and gas
- Firefighters
- Derrick operators, oil and gas
- Helpers for extraction workers
- Tank car, truck and ship loaders
- Millwrights
List published in Readers Digest.
Book tip
2034: How AI Changed Humanity Forever | |
| |
Description: A forward-looking narrative that imagines the pivotal decade when artificial intelligence didn't just transform industries—it re-wired human purpose, work, creativity, and identity. Told from a future vantage point, this book explores how a world shaped by AI could be both more capable and more vulnerable, and how our humanity might adapt—or crumble—in the face of relentless change. | |
"What we build today may redefine who we are tomorrow—and that future is already in motion." |
Saturday, November 08, 2025
Empowering Female Athletes - Course. Plus a Grant and VC pitch for investment
Unlocking Potential with girls, grants and angel investors in Youth Coaching
Discover how to coach girls effectively and learn about a new scalable aquatic platform, all in this episode, #59, of Heavy Or Not. Quick updates on multiple topics.
-
CoachingHer supplies the free digital toolkit, created by Dr. Nicole LaVoi and the Tucker Center, by visiting Read.SwimISCA.org.
-
Core psychological needs for female athletes: competence, choice, and care – presented as a simple cycle.
-
The CoachingHer pyramid: physiological basics → safety → belonging → esteem → self‑actualization.
-
Then, the second application for the $50,000 Moonshot Aquatics Grant. There is still hope for the funding for the AI Coaching Wizard.
-
Lastly, we seek assistance from Angel investors to launch of a media‑first aquatic lifestyle brand that turns swimming into a scalable, inclusive community.
Access the free resources:
1. Introduction to the CoachingHer Program
-
Purpose & Vision – A free video and course designed to help coaches effectively coach girls and women.
-
Why Coaching Matters – Coaches are a key factor in whether girls enter, stay, or drop out of sport.
-
Creator Background – Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi: former tennis coach, scholar‑educator, Director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport.
-
Core Issue Highlighted – Unconscious gender bias & stereotypes that hurt girls’ self‑perceptions.
-
Toolkit Features – Evidence‑based, on‑demand digital resources; bookmarkable, pause‑and‑play, device‑agnostic.
-
Upcoming Modules – Body‑confident coaching, de‑stigmatizing menstruation, mental‑health, body‑image.
-
Community Call‑to‑Action – Join, spread the word, become “her reason” to stay in sport.
2. Accessing the Materials & Learning Management System (LMS)
-
Link Provided –
read.swimisca.org(redirects to the International Swim Coaches Association LMS). -
Free Availability – All CoachingHer resources are offered at no charge.
-
Support & Funding – Program supported by the University of Minnesota, Nike, and other major sponsors.
3. Mark Rauterkus’s Personal Coaching Context
-
Location & Setting – Coach in Pittsburgh, PA; Assistant Coach at an independent girls‑only private school (akin to an international school).
-
Observations on Coaching Girls vs. Boys/Co‑ed – Distinct approaches needed; emphasis on psychological needs.
4. Psychological Needs Framework for Coaching Girls
-
Three Core Needs (Cycle)
-
Competence – Development and improvement of sport‑specific skills.
-
Choice – Empowering athletes with self‑determination (e.g., attendance, skill focus, event selection).
-
Care – Demonstrating genuine value and individualized attention.
-
-
Reverse Ordering Mentioned – Care → Choice → Competence, emphasizing the cyclical nature.
5. Pyramid of Athlete Needs (Adapted from CoachingHer/Tucker Center)
-
Base Layer – Physiological Needs
-
Food, water, warmth, safety, appropriate pool environment, locker‑room logistics, travel considerations, weather conditions.
-
-
Second Layer – Psychological/Safety Needs
-
Sense of belonging, love, relationships, team bonding, camaraderie, inclusion.
-
-
Third Layer – Esteem Needs
-
Self‑pride, prestige, accomplishment, building confidence, avoiding belittlement.
-
-
Top Layer – Self‑Actualization/Fulfillment
-
Achieving full potential, creative expression, personal growth.
-
6. Grant & Funding Opportunities
-
Moonshot Aquatics Grant – Version 2
-
$50,000 Letter‑of‑Intent (LOI) round; previous attempt unsuccessful, now re‑submitted with additional partners.
-
AI assistance used in drafting the application.
-
-
Insights from Barry Healey
-
“If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” – Emphasis on persistence.
-
Grant outcomes often depend on reviewer bias, regional trends, and timing.
-
7. Challenges Facing the Aquatic Industry
-
Current Issues
-
Pool closures, disengaged parents, coach turnover, lack of unified brand, fragmented solutions, weak industry voices.
-
-
Market Gap – No scalable, cohesive platform that ties together content, community, and commerce for swimming.
8. Proposed Solution: A Scalable Aquatic Lifestyle Brand
-
Concept Overview
-
Podcast → Platform → Evergreen training → National TV rollout.
-
-
Leadership & Credentials
-
Mark Rauterkus (50+ years in swimming, 100+ published titles) backed by International Swim Coaches Association.
-
-
Business Model Highlights
-
Media‑first approach targeting youth sport but extending across a lifetime.
-
Early‑bird opportunity: 150,000 USD for early entry; existing content & network already in place.
-
-
Scalability & Execution
-
No prior aquatics experience required for participants.
-
Demonstrated metrics and rapid momentum.
-
-
Positioning
-
“Ted Lasso for the pools” – delivering fun, sticky, inclusive swimming experiences.
-
9. Closing Call‑to‑Action
-
Invitation to Investors & Partners – “Let’s talk… big gusts of wind in our sails.”
-
Final Thanks – Appreciation for the audience’s time and attention.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
