Best ZenSports Podcasts (2024)

1
Superbowl Picks / Props & NBA Best Teams With Jess Udy 1:27:56

2+ y ago1:27:56

1:27:56

Mark is joined by his good pal Jess Udy, and they talk all things Superbowl, including it being so close to Valentine's Day this year, what their picks are straight up and against the spread, and a variety of prop bets. Mark takes credit for his prediction on Tom Brady's retirement. Then they get into a debate about who the best teams in the NBA ar…

1
Lamenting Packers, Rodgers, Bucs, Brady, & Of Course . . . Picks! 1:23:57

2+ y ago1:23:57

1:23:57

Well it was a bad week personally for Mark and Jess, as Mark's Packers lost another Crap-The-Bed Rodgers fest, while Brady was unable to deliver a comeback performance with Jess in attendance at the Bucs game. But the two digress and give their analyses of the remarkable Divisional Round games, and look ahead to the NFC/AFC Championship games. Mark…

1
NFL Divisional Round Preview And NHL Geography With Jess Udy 52:12

2+ y ago52:12

52:12

Betting Matters host Mark Thomas is joined by Jess Udy to recap the NFL Wild Card round weekend and to preview the Divisional Round. Mark gives a prediction for his Packers based on a throwback Niners/Packers game, and Jess talks about his plans to attend the Rams/Buccaneers game. Jess has been crushing it on his NBA bets lately. Lastly, Mark ponde…

1
NFL Week 18 Wrap-Up And Wild Card Round Predictions 1:02:03

2+ y ago1:02:03

1:02:03

Mark Thomas is joined by Jess Udy to discuss the crazy games and endings in Week 18 of the NFL season. Then they do a game-by-game analysis and predictions (both ATS and moneyline) for this upcoming weekend's Wild Card round games. They wrap up with Jess discussing his recent college basketball sports betting endeavors and a preview into the system…

1
Bye Bye Ball And Chain, Hello Betting Matters with Jess Udy 1:00:13

2+ y ago1:00:13

1:00:13

The Ball and Chain podcast is history, and Mark Thomas kicks off the new Betting Matters podcast with his good pal, Jess Udy. Mark and Jess begin with the NFL playoff picture, first chatting about Jess' Buccaneers, then moving on to Mark's Packers, and wrapping up with the rest of the NFC and AFC. Then they get into some picks for this weekend's NF…

1
Regional Sports Broadcasting With Ben Wilson From Quake/VSIN 54:56

3y ago54:56

54:56

Ball and Chain host Mark Thomas is joined by Ben Wilson, a play-by-play and sports betting broadcaster for a variety of TV and radio networks, including ESPN+, SEC Network, Fox Sports Midwest, Pac-12 Network, and Stadium. They kick things off by discussing some Wisconsin sports (Ben is also from WI), then dive into how the landscape for regional sp…

1
Analytical Tools for Sports Bettors with Nicolas Panaritis from TheDailyStakes 37:48

3y ago37:48

37:48

Ball and Chain host Mark Thomas is joined by Nicolas Panaritis, Co-Founder of TheDailyStakes, which provides tools to empower sports bettors with the same analytics used by both the sharps and sportsbooks. Nicolas talks about how he came up with the idea for TheDailyStakes and what sets the product apart from others. He also discusses the strategy …

1
Rating Sports Betting Sharps and Entrepreneurship with Christopher Adams from SharpRank 57:57

3y ago57:57

57:57

Mark is joined by SharpRank Founder & CEO, Christopher Adams. SharpRank is an independent ratings agency and performance rating platform for sports betting experts, algorithms, prognosticators, and the general public. Christopher talks about how both consumers and operators are leveraging SharpRank to bring greater transparency to the sports bettin…

1
Behind the Scenes With a Vegas Bookmaker - Robert Walker from USBookmaking 48:09

3y ago48:09

48:09

Host Mark Thomas is joined by Robert Walker, the Director of Sports Book Operations for USBookmaking (USB). He has over 30 years of experience in managing sports book wagering lines and risk, including at The Mirage, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, and Stardust. Robert gives a behind-the-scenes look into what it's like to be a bookmaker, how he …

1
NASCAR Races, Cup Series, and Its Foray Into Sports Betting 50:22

3y ago50:22

50:22

Mark is joined by Matt Stallknecht, the Senior Manager of Sports Betting at NASCAR. Matt starts off by discussing how NASCAR races, Cup Series, and points system work. Then he dives into the rigors of what it's like to be a race car driver. Finally, Matt walks Mark through the decision-making process that NASCAR went through the past few years to e…

1
From Music Career to Sports Betting With Alex B. Smith 41:58

3y ago41:58

41:58

Ball and Chain host Mark Thomas is joined by Alex B. Smith (not the football player) to chat about how Alex went from playing in a hard rock band to betting on sports and writing about sports betting for publications like Covers and WagerTalk. Alex is a particularly avid NHL bettor and handicapper, and he gives his advice for how to get started and…

1
Educating Sports Bettors and Bringing Awareness to Women's Sports with Garrett Schwartz from Gaming Society 44:13

3y ago44:13

44:13

Mark is joined by Garrett Schwartz, the Head of Strategy & Analytics at Gaming Society. Gaming Society is helping educate sports bettors through unique classes and educational materials, along with bringing more awareness towards women's sports and betting on women's sports. They also discuss how former professional athletes are getting involved wi…

1
Expert Betting Tips & Life As a Las Vegas Sports Bettor with Joe D'Amico 56:14

3y ago56:14

56:14

Mark is joined by Joe D'Amico, who owns and operates All American Sports in Las Vegas, Nevada. Joe is a third generation race and sports personality, and a resident of Las Vegas for 31 years, in which he has been in and around sports on a daily basis by working and managing several Las Vegas Sports books and several Sports Information Services. Joe…

1
Gettin' Legal with Carlos Duque from Bailey & Glasser 49:21

3y ago49:21

49:21

Mark is joined by high-energy Carlos Duque, a Corporate & Litigation attorney within the Esports, Daily Fantasy Sports, and Cannabis industries at the law firm Bailey & Glasser. They kick things off about how to stay happy and productive during uncertain times (hint: it's about where you're living). Next, they talk about all of the legal challenges…

1
Sports Betting Content, Affiliate Marketing, and Wisconsin Sports Golden Age with Robert Kraft from Atlas World Sports. 51:56

3y ago51:56

51:56

Mark is joined by Robert Kraft (not that Robert Kraft) from Atlas World Sports. Robert is also originally from Wisconsin and both he and Mark revel in the current golden age of all Wisconsin sports teams being good at the same time. Next, they dive into more about Robert's recent launch of Atlas World Sports, which gives you access to your favorite…

1
Fantasy Sports 101 and Breaking into Fantasy Sports as a Newbie 44:46

3y ago44:46

44:46

Mark is joined by Britt Sanders, who has done everything and anything related to Fantasy Sports, including hosting multiple podcasts and content resources. Britt starts off with what "Dynasty" Fantasy Sports is and how it compares to Season Fantasy Sports and Daily Fantasy Sports. He then gives tips for how to break into playing Fantasy Sports if i…

1
Content and Influencer Marketing in Sports with David Woodley from Playmaker 1:10:48

3y ago1:10:48

1:10:48

Mark is joined by David Woodley, the Chief Content Officer & Chief Revenue Officer from Playmaker, which is a sports media, events, and merchandise company with over 12 million followers across Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat & Facebook. David is a passionate Minnesota sports fan, so Mark and David kick things off by talking Wisconsin vs Minnesota spor…

1
How To Angel Invest via Syndicates with Steve Walsh from Hands On Angel 51:16

3y ago51:16

51:16

Steve Walsh has angel invested in over 50 startups the past two years, mostly via syndicates (including being a 3x investor in ZenSports). He joins Mark to talk about how angel investing via syndicates work, what he looks for in a startup before investing, and what startup founders do that turn him off. A must listen episode for anyone looking to g…

1
Sports Betting at DraftKings Pre and Post-PASPA, and New Data Tools With Dan Hannigan-Daley 47:41

3y ago47:41

47:41

Mark is joined by Dan Hannigan-Daley, formerly of DraftKings and now the CEO of Sports Info Solutions. Dan talks about how DraftKings prepared for the repeal of PASPA and quickly moved to launch its sports book product in 2018. They discuss the US vs international sports betting market, and Sports Info Solutions' unique take on providing data to sp…

1
Bucks Win The Title! Mark's Journey to Milwaukee to Watch Game 6 and the Parade In-Person 1:19:02

3y ago1:19:02

1:19:02

Ball and Chain podcast host Mark Thomas kicks off the latest episode with Jess Udy by walking through the journey leading up to watching game 6 of the NBA Finals in person, and what this NBA title means to him as a Bucks fan for the past 33 years. Mark and Jess also compare the luck factor in the NBA playoffs to the other pro sports. Mark talks abo…

1
The NBA Title is Within Reach - Analysis of Game 5 of the NBA Finals With Jess Udy 1:07:20

3y ago1:07:20

1:07:20

Mark Thomas is joined by Jess Udy to break down the thrilling game 5 of the NBA Finals. Mark walks through the emotional lows and highs of the game, from falling behind by 16 points in the first quarter to one of the most iconic plays in NBA Finals History with Jrue Holiday's steal and alley-oop pass to Giannis. Mark also breaks down his shrewd tho…

1
Bucks Bounce Back! Analysis of Game 3 of the NBA Finals With Jess Udy 1:04:57

3y ago1:04:57

1:04:57

Jess Udy is back on the pod and he and Mark talk about the Bucks great win in game 3 of the NBA Finals. But first, they talk about the other Bucs (Tampa Bay) and why we're looking at another Green Bay / Tampa Bay NFC Championship game this season if Rodgers comes back. Then Mark gives the case both for and against the Milwaukee Bucks winning the ti…

1
Argh, Bucks Lose Game 1 of the NBA Finals 38:17

3y ago38:17

38:17

ZenSports Marketing Manager, Ally Mielnicki, joins Mark on the latest Ball and Chain podcast episode to discuss game 1 of the NBA Finals. But first, Mark recaps a wild weekend in LA and what it was like for the Bucks to make the Finals for the first time in 47 years. Then Ally and Mark break down what happened in game 1 and what the Bucks need to d…

1
Bucks beat the Nets! And Other NBA Conference Semi's Analysis with Jess Udy 55:28

3y ago55:28

55:28

Bucks do the unthinkable and beat the Nets on the road in Game 7. As a Bucks fan since 1988, this one feels great for host Mark Thomas. But before they dive into how the Bucks did it, Mark gives Jess the floor to lament about his Jazz and what went wrong against the Clippers. Plus why the Sixers got ousted by the Hawks and what to expect in Bucks/H…

1
Fantasy Sports and Raising Awareness on Gaming Industry Issues with Chase Payne from Champions Round 49:23

3y ago49:23

49:23

Chase Payne is the Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer at Champions Round, and sits on the Board of Directors at the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association. Chase joins Mark to discuss how Fantasy Sports can and will become more interactive via content and providing the technology formats that consumers want. They talk about how professional and colleg…

1
The Legal Side of Esports and the Future of Esports Leagues with Justin Jacobson 45:34

3y ago45:34

45:34

Mark is joined by Justin Jacobson, an entertainment and Esports attorney located in New York City. They discuss a wide array of topics within Esports, including athlete intellectual property, the integrity of betting in Esports, and how Esports leagues and tournaments can become more structured and mainstream. They also discuss Justin's latest book…

1
Jess Udy Returns to Discuss Bucks/Jazz, NBA Playoff Predictions, and Drinking Beer in Utah 58:58

3y ago58:58

58:58

Jess Udy returns to the Ball and Chain podcast for his first of many weekly guest appearances moving forward. Jess and Mark talk about how the Jazz and Bucks inflicted total destruction on their opponents in round 1. They give their predictions for the rest of the playoffs (including a Bitcoin bet between the two!) and discuss what's up with tiny c…

1
The Return of Vegas and Effective Casino Marketing Strategies with Josh Swissman from The Strategy Organization 44:46

3y ago44:46

44:46

Ball and Chain host Mark Thomas is joined by Josh Swissman — who is a former senior marketing executive at MGM Resorts International and Station Casinos, and is now the founding partner at The Strategy Organization. Josh talks about how consumer demand for Vegas is back to pre-pandemic levels, and the outlook for business travel coming back to Vega…

1
Aaron Rodgers Gossip and Sports Betting in Canada with Chris Amberley from The Sports Network 59:23

3+ y ago59:23

59:23

Mark is joined by Chris Amberley from TSN Canada to discuss what the sports betting and media market are like north of the border. But first! They hypothesize on the Aaron Rodgers saga and the will he/won't he be back discussion. Mark and Chris also chat about the state of the NHL and the future of decentralized finance.…

1
Fantasy Sports Strategies with Tony Cutillo from Fox Sports and Rize and React Media 43:18

3+ y ago43:18

43:18

Tony Cutillo, Fantasy Sports Contributor to Fox Sports The Gambler and CEO of Rize and React Media, talks with Mark about the difference between season fantasy sports and daily fantasy sports, strategies for winning at both, and how he communicates his research and tips on-air to the audience. They also discuss what it means to find your passion an…

1
Different Approaches to Legalizing Sports Betting in the US and Customer Acquisition Strategies with Max Bichsel from Gambling.com 55:34

3+ y ago55:34

55:34

Max Bichsel, the Vice President of US Business at Gambling.com, joins ZenSports Co-Founder & CEO, Mark Thomas to talk about how each state is approaching the legalization of sports betting differently, why certain approaches are better for consumers and affiliate marketers than others, and why higher customer acquisition costs (and lifetime values!…

1
European Soccer Events, US Soccer's Future, and Marketing Challenges in MLB/NHL with Martino Puccio from The Athletic 1:08:33

3+ y ago1:08:33

1:08:33

ZenSports Co-Founder & CEO, Mark Thomas, is joined by Martino Puccio, a Serie A Soccer and Gambling Contributor for The Athletic. As an avid Serie A and Soccer fan, Martino breaks down for the audience how all of the different European Soccer leagues are currently structured, what went down this week with the European Super League, and what it will…

1
The Business Side of Esports Streaming with Juan Rodriguez from Lodgz Financial 56:47

3+ y ago56:47

56:47

Mark is joined by Juan Rodriguez, the Founder of Lodgz Financial, which focuses on helping video game streamers with tax planning, bookkeeping, and managing revenue. Streamers face unique challenges when it comes to managing donations and channel subscriptions, and Juan walks through how he helps them better manage their finances. Mark and Juan als…

1
Jess Udy Returns! Bucs/Packers, Bills/Chiefs, NBA Regular Season, and Crypto Markets 1:29:53

3+ y ago1:29:53

1:29:53

Jess Udy, who appeared on episodes 1 and 2 from February/March 2020 and hasn't been on since, returns to console Mark on the Packers NFC Championship loss. They also discuss their forecast and betting tips on Chiefs/Bucs, why College Basketball is the best sport to bet on, what the NBA can do to improve the regular season, and their near-term crypt…

1
How Organized Sports Leagues and the Media Began to Embrace Legalized Sports Betting 47:34

3+ y ago47:34

47:34

David Bearman, Deputy Editor of Sports Betting at ESPN, joins Mark Thomas from ZenSports to discuss the historical moments that helped leagues like the NBA and media companies like ESPN finally embrace legalized sports betting. They also make the arguments for how traditional sports betting is just as skill-based as Daily Fantasy Sports. And finall…

1
How to Bet on Daily Fantasy Sports with Zach Brunner from Awesemo 1:07:35

4y ago1:07:35

1:07:35

Zach Brunner is a Daily Fantasy Sports guru, and he chats with Mark about all of the different things to look for when betting on DFS. Zach is also from Wisconsin, so the two do a deep dive into this year's Packers, and discuss whether they think Giannis will sign an extension with the Bucks. Plus, Zach gives his DFS and sports betting picks for th…

1
How Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Technologies are Shaping the Future of Contracts and Payments with Scott Smiley from ICON 51:50

4y ago51:50

51:50

Scott Smiley, head of Strategy at ICON Foundation and co-founder of ICX Station, joins Mark to discuss traditional finance/banking vs cryptocurrencies, the power of smart contracts, and why gaming regulators should embrace these technologies for sports betting.By ZenSports

1
How to Get into Sports Broadcasting, the Future of Golf, and Social Media as an Influencer Platform with Jeff Eisenband 1:05:35

4y ago1:05:35

1:05:35

Jeff Eisenband has accomplished a lot in his young broadcasting and sports media career, from being a broadcaster of NBA2K games to having interviewed some of sports' top athletes. He shares his secrets for how to break into a career in broadcasting, his passion for Golf, and how Twitter is the best platform for growing your sphere of influence.…

1
The Future of Sports Betting Content with Ben Fawkes from VSiN 1:04:15

4y ago1:04:15

1:04:15

Prior to embarking on a cross-country move from Connecticut to Las Vegas, Ben Fawkes, the VP of Digital Content at VSiN and former Editor at ESPN Chalk, joins Mark in the (lucky) 13th episode of the Ball and Chain podcast. They discuss the genesis of VSiN's sports betting content business started by Brent Musburger, the difference in content needs …

1
The Evolution of Sports Betting with David Payne Purdum 1:09:12

4y ago1:09:12

1:09:12

Over the last decade, many major media companies have been hesitant to devote much coverage to sports betting. Mark is joined by ESPN writer David Payne Purdum, one the most well-known and respected journalists in the sports betting world. David talks about his transition from a traditional newspaper writer in various Southeastern states, to a jour…

1
Traditional Sports Bookmaking with Robert Kowalski 1:09:16

4y ago1:09:16

1:09:16

Ever wonder what it's like to be a sports bookie? Mark is joined by Robert Kowalski, the head bookmaker at Baldini's Sports Casino in Sparks, Nevada. Robert talks about his roots making book back on the streets of New York, what it was like operating the sports book at The Barbary Coast in Vegas, and what his current role at Baldini's is. Find out …

1
Black Lives Matter, the NBA Returning, and What Is Wrong with MLB Players 29:25

4y ago29:25

29:25

Episode 10 of the Ball and Chain Podcast is a monologue from Mark. He touches on what Black Lives Matter means to him and what we can do to be better human beings to each other. He also gives his thoughts on news of the NBA season returning in July, and questions what the hell MLB players are thinking by not yet ratifying an agreement to play this …

1
Data and Sports Betting Tech with Bjorn Nilsson 47:58

4+ y ago47:58

47:58

Companies like Triggy are working with sports betting operators to provide data and real-time notifications on sporting event updates to bettors. Mark is joined by Bjorn Nilsson, the Co-Founder of Triggy, to find out which data points sports bettors care about. And how much data is too much data? Check out episode 9 to hear about all of the cool ne…

1
Mobile Gaming and AR in Sports with Trevor Doerksen from ePlay Digital 1:11:33

4+ y ago1:11:33

1:11:33

Mark is joined by Trevor Doerksen from ePlay Digital, and the two discuss the history of mobile video in broadcasting sports, second screen gaming to keep fans engaged while watching sports, and of course, betting and crypto within mobile gaming. Trevor dives into some of the cool gaming titles that he's worked on with the major sports leagues and …

1
America reopening, sports are starting to come back(!), and the future of conferences and crypto in sports. 47:33

4+ y ago47:33

47:33

Mark is joined by Jackson Weinreb of Blockworks Group, which produces events and podcasts to provide education and information about the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. Mark and Jackson kick things off with a fun and lively debate on when/how America should re-open up, followed by sports coming back, and what the future of in-person conference…

1
Analytics & Sports Betting with Dan Rubin from Cleat Street 1:07:44

4+ y ago1:07:44

1:07:44

Dan Rubin has been using analytics and quantitative methods for years to gain an edge in sports betting. He joins Mark to share some of his secrets for successfully finding value in bets, his analytical methodologies for improving expected outcomes, and his approach to bankroll management. Dan holds an MBA from Columbia University, a CFA designatio…

1
Deep Dive Into Esports With Jacob Shrader 1:09:35

4+ y ago1:09:35

1:09:35

Jacob Shrader is an avid Esports player and gamer, and he joins Mark to talk about the ins and outs of the different major Esports titles, game producers, leagues, formats, and of course, betting and crypto in Esports!By ZenSports

1
The World of Esports with Ari Fox from Casino Esport Conference 56:03

4+ y ago56:03

56:03

Ari Fox joins Mark to talk about how Esports organizations and leagues operate, players and influencers that drive Esports, and the future of betting on Esports in a post-COVID19 world.By ZenSports

1
When Will Sports Return, in What Capacity, COVID-19 Business Impacts, and Twitter Vitriol 44:51

4+ y ago44:51

44:51

Mark flies solo with no guest and gives his thoughts on how the sports leagues should treat their seasons when they come back, how COVID-19 is impacting businesses across the sports world, and can't we all just get along? (on Twitter)By ZenSports

1
COVID-19 (and Rudy Gobert) Cancels Sports, Crypto, and Life as We Know It 56:39

4+ y ago56:39

56:39

Host and ZenSports Co-Founder & CEO, Mark Thomas, scrambles to find a guest for an emergency podcast to discuss the cancelling of American sports. Jess Udy to the rescue! Jess lives in Utah and is a Jazz fan, and we discuss what it was like for him to find out that his hometown star, Rudy Gobert, was the catalyst for shutting down the NBA and the r…

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