NIL Edge

NIL Edge is a new interview series from NILNewsstand and Digital Sport by Hot Paper Lantern that spotlights the professionals shaping the future of college sports. From NIL directors to athletic directors, brand executives, and policy shapers, these conversations provide exclusive insights into how the industry is evolving in the NIL and revenue-sharing era.

NIL Edge is a news podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 25 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts NIL Edge, a news show with 25 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  NIL Edge

  NIL Edge - 026 - Ryan Eckel - Diadora

  Oct 1, 202638 min

  What makes an NIL partnership work for both the athlete andthe brand? Diadora’s U.S. chief marketing officer, Ryan Eckel, joinsSterling Randle to share how the company selects and supports its athletes. From Marco Langon’s initial pitch to the brand’s relationship with Simeon Birnbaum, Ryan explains why shared values, access to company resources and planning beyond college matter. The conversation also covers how athletes can build aconnection with fans alongside their school’s apparel agreement, what Diadora looks at when evaluating partnerships and how Ryan’s experience as a parentshapes its social media expectations. NIL Edge is produced by HPL Digital Sport in partnershipwith NIL Newsstand. Follow the show for more conversations about the businessof NIL.

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  NIL Edge

  NIL Edge - 025 - Brenden Hill - San Diego State

  Sep 18, 202644 min

  Brenden Hill, assistant athletic director of student-athlete development and NIL at San Diego State, joins Sterling Randle to discuss how the Aztecs are creating opportunities for athletes in an increasingly complex college sports landscape. Hill explains why San Diego State treats NIL as its own sport, how storytelling has generated new business opportunities and why athletes must be patient when building their brands. He also breaks down the difference between “true NIL” and revenue sharing, the challenges facing international student-athletes, San Diego State’s move to the Pac-12 and his concerns about the escalating cost of college athletics. NIL Edge is produced by Digital Sport by Hot Paper Lantern in partnership with NILNewsstand.

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  NIL Edge

  NIL Edge - 024 - Allison Iverson - Postgame

  Sep 3, 202630 min

  The biggest NIL deals may dominate the headlines, but they do not reflect the experience of most college athletes. Allison Iverson, campaign manager at Postgame, joins Sterling Randle to discuss what brands still misunderstand about NIL and how companies can build more effective athlete marketing campaigns. Drawing on her experience working at Utah State, Boise State, the University of South Florida and Postgame, Allison explains how brands should establish their goals, select the right athletes and create content that feels natural. She also discusses the realities of athlete compensation, the impact of revenue sharing, common communication breakdowns and the importance of understanding the demands on a student-athlete’s schedule. NIL Edge is produced by Digital Sport by Hot Paper Lantern in partnership with NILNewsstand.

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  NIL Edge

  NIL Edge - 023 - Matthew Sterne - University of Pittsburgh and John Longo - Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services

  Aug 21, 202635 min

  Some of the most natural NIL opportunities may already exist on campus. Matthew Stern, Vice Chancellor for Business Services at the University of Pittsburgh, and John Longo, Vice President of Operations for Pitt Eats, powered by Chartwells Higher Education, join Sterling Randle to explain how Pitt integrated student-athletes into its campus dining program. They discuss how athletes helped create meals and content, the departments involved in bringing the idea to life, how Pitt and Chartwells evaluate its performance and what other schools and campus vendors can learn from the partnership.

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  NIL Edge

  NIL Edge - 022 - Lauren Campbell - FireFly Recovery

  Aug 7, 202629 min

  What does it take for a growing brand to turn athlete partnerships into content that actually performs? On this episode of NIL Edge, Sterling Randle sits down with Lauren Campbell, chief marketing officer and partner at Firefly Recovery, to discuss how the company built its NIL strategy around useful products, creative content and genuine athlete relationships. Lauren shares why Firefly evaluates engagement and storytelling before follower count, what immediately stands out when an athlete approaches the company and why the best branded content begins with a real experience rather than a staged product post. The conversation also explores: • Why niche-sport athletes can provide brands with more relevant audiences • What authenticity actually looks like in athlete content • How an AthleteCon video reached 100,000 views within hours • Why athletes should approach brands they already use and love • How smaller partnerships can prepare athletes for major opportunities • Where Lauren believes NIL could evolve next NIL Edge is presented by HPL Digital Sport in partnership with NILNewsstand . Subscribe for more conversations with the athletes, brands and college athletics leaders shaping the future of NIL.

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