Blake Griffin & Ryan Kalil on Sports Entertainment Innovation

Matt Britton, CEO of Suzy and host of The Speed of Culture podcast, speaks with Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil, co-founders of Mortal Media, about the evolving intersection of sports and entertainment. As a retired NBA star and former NFL player, respectively, Griffin and Kalil bring insider perspective to how athletes are becoming entrepreneurs, building personal brands, and creating new media platforms that bypass traditional gatekeepers.

Athletes as Entrepreneurs and Content Creators

The traditional athlete career arc—play, retire, commentate—is changing. Today's athletes are building media companies, investing in startups, launching brands, and creating content directly for fans. Griffin and Kalil founded Mortal Media to support this shift, providing infrastructure and expertise for athletes looking to tell their own stories and build sustainable careers beyond playing.

"We realized that athletes have incredible personal brands and audiences, but often lack the business infrastructure to fully leverage them," Griffin explains. "We wanted to build a platform that empowers athletes to own their narrative and create lasting businesses."

The Convergence of Sports and Entertainment

Sports and entertainment were once distinct industries. Athletes appeared in movies or commercials, but the mediums remained largely separate. Today, that boundary is blurring. Content that blends sports, lifestyle, comedy, and social commentary is increasingly popular with younger audiences who don't distinguish between "sports" and "entertainment."

What Appeals to Modern Fans?

Kalil notes that fans increasingly want access to the person behind the athlete—their personality, humor, interests, and humanity. They want behind-the-scenes content, genuine conversations, and authentic storytelling. This is something that traditional sports media, with its focus on games and statistics, historically failed to provide.

How Are Athletes Building Direct Relationships with Fans?

Through platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and podcasts, athletes can now reach fans directly without going through journalists, studios, or broadcasters. This enables them to be more authentic, experimental, and responsive to what their audience actually wants to see.

Building Media Companies in the Creator Economy

Mortal Media operates in the broader creator economy, where individuals can build substantial businesses around their personal brand and audience. Griffin and Kalil discuss the key success factors: understanding your audience, producing quality content consistently, diversifying revenue streams, and building community.

"The creator economy has leveled the playing field," Griffin observes. "You don't need a big studio or network to reach millions. You need great content and genuine connection with your audience."

Key Takeaways from Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil

• Athletes increasingly view their platform as a business asset to be strategically developed
• Fans demand authenticity and behind-the-scenes access, not just game highlights
• The creator economy enables direct relationships between athletes and fans
• Successful athlete entrepreneurs think beyond their playing career from the start
• Content quality, consistency, and community building are essential for sustainable growth

The Future of Sports Media

Traditional sports media is facing disruption from athlete-created content and independent media companies. Rather than centralizing around broadcast networks and sports journalism, the future will likely feature a more distributed landscape with athlete-created content competing alongside traditional offerings.

For brands and sponsors, this shift means understanding where athletes are directing their audiences and engaging authentically rather than through traditional endorsement deals. For aspiring creators, it demonstrates that personal brand and audience connection can be more valuable than traditional credentials or gatekeepers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can athletes successfully transition to media and entertainment?

Many can, especially when they combine their platform and influence with genuine interest in creating quality content and understanding business fundamentals.

What's more important: being a great athlete or a great entertainer?

For modern success, being a great entertainer increasingly matters more. Audiences want personality and connection over pure athletic skill in most creator content.

How do athlete creators make money?

Through multiple revenue streams: sponsorships and brand partnerships, YouTube and TikTok monetization, merchandise, subscriptions, events, and diversified business ventures.

Listen to more conversations about culture, innovation, and business disruption on The Speed of Culture podcast. For keynote presentations on emerging trends in sports, entertainment, and media, visit Matt Britton's Speaker HQ.

Want to understand how generational shifts are reshaping industries? Read Generation AI: The Book for deeper analysis of culture, technology, and business transformation. Contact Matt Britton for custom presentations on disruptive trends.