📌 Key Takeaways
- Greg Olsen expanded his 2022 Youth Inc. podcast into a digital content and commerce platform
- Platform secured $4.5 million in seed funding with co-founders Ryan Baise and Tim Murphy
- Youth Inc’s new e-commerce marketplace allows high schools and travel clubs to sell custom merchandise, creating new team revenue streams
- Tom Brady’s debut interview on August 12 addresses their Fox Broadcasting relationship directly
- Platform offers educational content, merchandise marketplace, and business services for youth sports families
- Upcoming guests include Malcolm Gladwell, Ryan Day, CJ Stroud, and Clayton Kershaw
Youth Inc. Evolution from Podcast to Comprehensive Platform
Greg Olsen launched Youth Inc. as a digital content and commerce platform on August 12, expanding beyond his 2022 podcast series. The 40-year-old former NFL tight end partnered with Ryan Baise, who leads the organization’s e-commerce initiative, and Tim Murphy, who has worked at Audacy and The New York Times.
The platform secured $4.5 million in seed funding, though specific investor details were not disclosed in available materials. Olsen continues his broadcasting duties with Fox while coaching middle school football, balancing multiple roles in sports media and youth athletics.
“I spend a lot of time coaching and parenting and in the world of youth sports, running practices and games and managing teams and all that, and I still get a lot of the things wrong,” Olsen stated. “I still do things where I look back at the end of the day, of the week and I say I probably should have done that better or different.”
Platform Content Strategy Centers on Three Core Areas
Youth Inc. operates on what co-founder Baise describes as three content pillars: information, inspiration, and entertainment. The platform differentiates itself from traditional coaching-focused resources by addressing broader family experiences in youth sports.
“The focus for us has not really been X’s and O’s content or coaching drills or things like that. We felt like there’s good resources out there if you’re going to look for that type of content,” Baise explained. The platform allows users to search by sport and topic, including training and nutrition, mental health, parenting, coaching, and tryouts.
Content formats include written, audio, and visual materials. The platform features contributors like Coach RAC from the Savannah Bananas, who creates baseball instruction content for young players.
“I’ve been the first to say this podcast is not for us to tell everybody else how much we know and you need to do things the way we do it,” Olsen noted. “Listen, I’m along this journey and this learning process right alongside our listeners. I don’t pretend to have all the answers.”
E-Commerce Component Targets High Schools and Travel Teams
The platform includes a merchandise marketplace primarily serving high schools and travel clubs. Baise, who previously worked for Fanatics, developed this component to provide teams with additional revenue opportunities.
The fanwear space allows teams to sell custom merchandise, though specific brand partnerships were not detailed in available materials. “Bringing some level of professional wisdom into this space can really be a good thing for the families, and that’s ultimately the most important thing,” Baise said.
Youth Inc. has secured sponsorships from native brands RCX Sports, Unrivaled Sports, and Players Health, with plans to add more partners to their roster.
Brady Interview Addresses Fox Broadcasting Relationship
Tom Brady’s appearance on the August 12 platform launch directly addressed speculation about his relationship with Olsen. Brady signed a 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox, replacing Olsen as the network’s top analyst for the 2024 season.
“I’ll be here for you for anything. Anything from now to the rest of my life,” Brady told Olsen during the interview. “There’s a part with our jobs that people want to write about… I don’t give a sh— about any of that. I just care about my relationship with you because I know if I’m cool with you that’s all that matters.”
Olsen responded with his perspective on professional competition: “We can compete against people, but in order to prop myself up I don’t have to pull you down. We can both be great and it doesn’t mean I want either of us to be bad.”
The conversation revealed their friendship development over the past year, with both men sharing experiences as fathers of teenage children. “Tom and I have had a really good both professional and now a personal relationship,” Olsen explained.
Upcoming Content Features High-Profile Guest Lineup
The new season of the Youth Inc. podcast includes confirmed appearances from notable figures across sports and other fields. Scheduled guests include Ohio State football coach Ryan Day, Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud, author Malcolm Gladwell, and former Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin.
Additional confirmed guests are Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, former MLB player Mo Vaughn, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, and University of North Carolina lacrosse coach Jenny Levy. The lineup also includes Bryce Young, author James Clear, and Big Cat from Barstool Sports.
Brady’s appearance launches the season, with the interview featuring discussions of his football journey from high school backup quarterback to seven-time Super Bowl champion. “I didn’t play Pop Warner. It wasn’t available where I was. I started playing on the freshman team in high school, but I didn’t even start. I was the backup quarterback and we were 0-7 to start my freshman career,” Brady recalled.
Team Expansion Supports Platform Growth
Youth Inc. has expanded its team over recent months, according to Olsen, though specific hiring details were not provided. “We’ve added to our team over the last couple of months and a lot of people pulling in the same direction that are very talented [and] have a lot of expertise in their given field,” he stated.
The platform aims to streamline processes for youth sports families while maintaining focus on young athletes. “We’re trying to streamline a lot of processes that are going on and just consolidate that through our platform to make it a little easier… but also understand we have to keep the kids at the forefront of all of this,” Olsen explained.
Murphy’s background at major media organizations and Baise’s e-commerce experience provide complementary expertise for the platform’s dual content-commerce model.
Current Market Position and Operational Focus
Youth Inc. positions itself as a comprehensive resource for youth sports families rather than competing directly with coaching instruction platforms. The approach acknowledges that parents need guidance beyond tactical sports knowledge.
“Something that we’ve preached to the kids… we can compete against people, but in order to prop myself up I don’t have to pull you down,” Olsen shared, reflecting the platform’s philosophy on healthy competition.
The platform’s hybrid model creates multiple touchpoints with families throughout their youth sports experience, from content consumption to merchandise purchases and community engagement.
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via: Youth Inc. / SBJ / USA Today
