In this episode, I am joined by Michael D’Auria, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Second Spectrum. The company is centered around doing real-time tracking for the NBA, Premier League, and other major leagues. Michael shares how his experience in playing college basketball at MIT and engineering led him into sports tech. We also discuss how real-time optical tracking has changed coaching strategy, player performance management, and the fan viewing experience. Michael explains the effort to make the technology more affordable by moving from industrial systems to iPhones, with the vision of one day giving every player instant highlights and stats. He also reflects on the risks the company faced early on, how the industry has changed the way he now watches games, and offers advice for young people who want to enter the field of sports technology.

In this episode, I talk with Ethan about how he first got into sports and what kept him coming back year after year. We go over the lessons he picked up about grit, showing up when it’s hard, and staying focused. He shares how that mindset has shaped the way he tackles schoolwork and changed his outlook on life.