The Truth About Ticketmaster, StubHub & the Broken Ticket Industry | Scott Friedman

The Truth About Ticketmaster, StubHub & the Broken Ticket Industry | Scott Friedman

In this episode of 4th Quarter Labs, Robert Johnson sits down with Scott Friedman, founder of the Ticket Talk Network, to pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood industries in sports and live entertainment. Scott has built a reputation for challenging the status quo. Whether it's exposing questionable ticketing practices, advocating for fans, or speaking out against major players in the industry, he isn't afraid to have difficult conversations, even when they come with consequences. This conversation goes beyond tickets. It's about challenging broken systems, standing by your convictions, and building trust in an industry that affects millions of fans every year. If you're interested in sports business, entrepreneurship, technology, or the future of live events, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Subscribe to 4th Quarter Labs for conversations where sports, business, and technology collide, and where we explore what it really takes to perform at a high level when nobody's watching.

Betting on Yourself | Josh Barney, CEO of SEAT

What does it take to build one of the sports industry's most respected communities? In this episode of 4th Quarter Labs, host Robert Johnson sits down with Josh Barney, CEO of the SEAT Conference, for a conversation about leadership, entrepreneurship, sports technology, and the people working behind the scenes to create unforgettable fan experiences. Josh shares his journey from leading technology initiatives with the Utah Jazz to acquiring and rebuilding the SEAT Conference after it went dormant during the pandemic. Along the way, he opens up about betting on himself, overcoming uncertainty, balancing family with a demanding career, and why building relationships has become the foundation of his success. This conversation goes beyond conferences and technology. It's about creating opportunities for others, embracing difficult decisions, and understanding that the best moments in sports are made possible by thousands of professionals working long before fans ever walk through the gates. If you enjoy conversations at the intersection of sports, business, technology, and leadership, be sure to subscribe to 4th Quarter Labs.

Building Athlete Brands

In Episode 4 of 4th Quarter Labs, Robert Johnson sits down with Deno Anagnost, CRO of Student Athlete Score, to talk about the rapidly evolving NIL landscape, athlete brand building, and what it takes to create real value for student-athletes beyond the biggest stars in college sports. But this conversation goes well beyond sports tech. Deno opens up about leaving a 14-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, stepping into startup life, and learning how to redefine success when the external scoreboard (title, status, and security) is gone. They also dig into resilience, identity, personal growth, and how experiences like surviving cancer can completely reshape the way you approach work, ambition, and life.

Mapping the World of Sports

What does it take to build a category-defining company over 15 years when nobody is watching? In this episode of 4th Quarter Labs, Robert Johnson sits down with Hongwei Liu, Founder and CEO of Mappedin [https://mappedin.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com], to explore the journey from a university side project to one of the world's leading digital mapping platforms. Hongwei shares the unlikely story of launching Mappedin from a dorm room at the University of Waterloo, landing his first customer, and making the decision to leave school to pursue a vision that many thought was impossible: creating a digital map of every building on earth. The conversation goes far beyond maps. Robert and Hongwei discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, scaling teams, raising capital, AI, sports technology, and the reality behind so-called "overnight success." From powering fan experiences at some of the world's biggest sports venues to helping first responders navigate complex environments, Mappedin is quietly building infrastructure that most people never see, but increasingly rely on every day. Hongwei also opens up about the evolution of his leadership style, why communication matters more than ever, and the lessons he's learned after spending more than a decade building alongside world-class customers, investors, and teammates.

How the CEO of FanReach Is Transforming Sports Venues and Leadership

In this in-depth interview, Gabe Smallman, CEO of FanReach, shares insights into the sports technology industry, fan engagement strategies, and leadership lessons learned from decades of experience in sports and live entertainment. Discover how FanReach is transforming fan experiences and the future of sports venues.