In this episode, Bryan sits down with Eric Wynalda, U.S. soccer legend, broadcaster, and entrepreneur, for a candid conversation about building your brand by staying true to who you are. Eric shares his wild journey from playing in three World Cups to unexpectedly stepping into an 18-year broadcasting career and now launching his own media company. He breaks down lessons learned from navigating career pivots, leading high-performing teams, embracing imperfection, and trusting instincts in business. Eric’s stories—from live TV meltdowns to winning championships in coaching—highlight the importance of authenticity, adaptability, and surrounding yourself with the right people when building a brand and leading with impact.
Chapters
00:00 – Best Hiring Advice You'll Ever Hear
00:29 – Welcome Eric Wynalda: From Teammates to Life Lessons
01:40 – Eric’s Soccer Journey: First MLS Goal to 3 World Cups
03:45 – How Injury Launched an Unexpected Broadcasting Career
05:45 – Is It Luck or Being Ready?
07:45 – Why Honesty Is the Heart of Great Broadcasting
09:40 – Starting a Media Company: Breaking Free from Censorship
12:00 – How a Pencil and an Ant Almost Got Him Fired on Live TV
14:30 – The Greatest Broadcasting Advice from Al Michaels
16:00 – Reinventing in Your 50s: Building a Media Empire
17:35 – Building the Right Team: Lessons from Elite Sports
19:50 – Why Knowing Your Strengths Changes Everything
23:45 – Live TV Disaster: When Everything Went Wrong (and Right)
25:45 – Why Imperfection Builds Connection with Audiences
27:45 – Why Passion Projects Matter (Even in Midlife)
30:05 – Stay Close to What You Love
32:50 – From Broadcast to Coaching: Building Teams and Trust
34:00 – How Delegating Empowered a Championship Team
36:30 – Final Lessons: Build Smart, Stay Authentic, Trust the Journey
Connect with Eric:
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-wynalda/
X: https://x.com/ericwynalda?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacLjBRQqz8GyeZpSlgBZeEOVfGDOv5nr16TZptA2-v6OrG54zskc0D-aEN9zQ_aem_3gTESrTuBi69vd8fLDCNWg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericwynalda/
Connect with Bryan:
Check out the website www.whatsnextpodcast.com
Connect with Bryan on Instagram @bryanfinnerty22
Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn @bryanfinnerty
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