The Sports Umbrella

Ed Carpenter and Ryan Staub | Ed Carpenter Racing and EPIC Motorsports Insurance | IndyCar and Indy 500

In this episode of The Sports Umbrella presented by GalwayPlus, host Kelly Okun interviews Ed Carpenter and Ryan Staub. Ed is the only IndyCar racer and team owner (Ed Carpenter Racing) and has three wins and four poles (fastest qualifying times giving you the #1 position going into a race), three of which were for the Indianapolis 500. Ed will be racing in his 23rd Indy 500 this week in his No. 33 Chevrolet. Ryan has a successful background in high-level amateur racing and breathes motorsports, so it was no surprise he stayed in the industry and honed his insurance and risk management skills. After his 20+ years in and around the track, he is the Principal of EPIC Motorsports Insurance, a new partner of Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR). Ed and Ryan open up the conversation explaining the differences between IndyCar, NASCAR and Formula 1. Ed dives deeper into his origin story and racing career and how he decided to become owner of his own team. Similarly, Ryan shares his start in the motorsports world as a driver and how his experience and love of the sport influenced his career choices. They explain all the opportunities you can find to work in the sport you love. They then introduce their partnership and the beginning stages of working with the Heartland Food Products Group, whose portfolio includes Splenda®, Java House® and SlimFast®. After diving into the role of insurance in motorsports, they chat about the industry's growth as a whole and where racing will be in 5-10 years. Ed and Ryan draw many interesting parallels between everyday car consumers like us and the development of racing technologies and distinctly contrast IndyCar and F1. For racing fans and those looking to understand what's happening on May 24, 2026, at the Indy 500, this episode is for you! The Sports Umbrella is a Fairway to Green podcast sponsored by GalwayPlus. Learn more about GalwayPlus at www.galwayplus.com.

Mollie Marcoux Samaan | CEO of US Squash (Former LPGA) | How to Grow Women's Sports

In this episode of The Sports Umbrella presented by GalwayPlus, host Kelly Okun interviews Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who was recently named the CEO of US Squash. You may recognize her as the former LPGA Tour Commissioner. Mollie shares her sports background, from her own college athlete days (ice hockey and soccer) to growing youth sports at Chelsea Piers to becoming Princeton's Athletic Director. Mollie has a love for all sports and the lessons they teach, so it was no surprise she accepted the role as LPGA Tour Commissioner in 2021. She spent over three years there prioritizing the player environment and the tour's commercialization. Not only did she increase the purses by over 90%, but she also improved the players' facilities and offerings, including 100%-free healthcare. That's just the tip of the iceberg for the impact Mollie had on the LPGA Tour and girls playing sports in general. With all her experience, Mollie divulges her strategies for growing women's sports, from building fanbases to leveraging data to finding valuable partnerships. You don't want to miss all these insights! The Sports Umbrella is a Fairway to Green podcast sponsored by GalwayPlus. Learn more about GalwayPlus at www.galwayplus.com.

Kelenna Azubuike | Golden State Warriors | Career Transition Within the NBA

In this episode of The Sports Umbrella presented by GalwayPlus, host Kelly Okun interviews Kelenna Azubuike, an NBA-player-turned-color-commentator for the Golden State Warriors.  Kelenna shares how he felt like he lost his identity when he was injured while playing for the Golden State Warriors and how the NBPA program, Broadcaster U, at Syracuse helped him fall back in love with the game as a TV analyst.  His story is also one rooted in faith, which can be seen in how he gives back off the court with his nonprofit, The Athletes' Corner. His campaign - "Swishes for Dishes" - with the Warriors has raised over half a million meals for Feeding America.  The episode closes with a story about his wife, Rona, and how they experimented with unique cornbread flavor combinations and decided to start “Kelenna’s Famous Cornbread." The Sports Umbrella is a Fairway to Green podcast sponsored by GalwayPlus. Learn more about GalwayPlus at www.galwayplus.com.

Dean Burden | The Nashville Distillery | Purposeful Marketing

In this episode of The Sports Umbrella presented by GalwayPlus, host Kelly Okun speaks with Dean Burden, a former insurance executive turned spirits connoisseur. He co-founded The Nashville Distillery with a keen eye for marketing and a start in celebrity golf tournaments as a white label partner. Dean has found much success with his 4547 whiskey and Big Dog Bourbon, which appeals to golfers. He has found ways to white label his high-quality spirits in a way that charities and corporations use them as a personal touch for fundraising and as unique party favors. Dean and Kelly also discuss marketing constraints in spirits, potential sports licensing opportunities, industry trends, favorite golf courses and a daily “small wins” mindset that's useful for all entrepreneurs. The Sports Umbrella is a Fairway to Green podcast sponsored by GalwayPlus. Learn more about GalwayPlus at www.galwayplus.com.

Jadan Randolph | Vanguard Maven Group | Athlete Branding & Community Building

In this episode of The Sports Umbrella presented by GalwayPlus, host Kelly Okun interviews Jadan Randolph, co-founder of Vanguard Maven Group.  VMG is a marketing and strategy consultancy that helps teams, leagues and athletes build communities through resonant storytelling, new IP, shows and events across the sports, media and entertainment industries.  Jadan discusses differences in women’s sports fandom, Gen Z’s desire for digital-first access and the impact of experiential events. Kelly and Jadan even debate the pros and cons of sports betting They go on to discuss the strategy behind building community and driving fandom for products like the hit TV show, Love Island, and end with Jadan's take on what streaming and online communities will look like in five years. The Sports Umbrella is a Fairway to Green podcast sponsored by GalwayPlus. Learn more about GalwayPlus at www.galwayplus.com.