CNBC Sport

Susie Wolff (Managing Director, F1 Academy) sits down with Alex Sherman for a candid conversation about what F1 Academy is building—and why its mission goes far beyond a single “first woman in F1” headline. Wolff breaks down the structural and financial barriers that have kept women from advancing in motorsport, how F1 Academy is designed to grow a real talent pipeline, and why visibility matters for the next generation of drivers.

 

Key topics and takeaways:

The real end goal of F1 Academy: developing talent, challenging perceptions, and expanding opportunity—not creating permanent segregation in racing

Why funding matters: reducing the pay-to-race burden so drivers can prove performance without the usual financial gatekeeping

Whether an all-women series could evolve in the future—and why the current priority is building depth in the talent pool

Momentum in fandom: Wolff points to the rapid growth of younger female fans and what that means for the sport’s future

Brand and team alignment: how F1 Academy secured buy-in from all F1 teams to run shared car identity and liveries, and why that matters for legitimacy and reach

The media flywheel: why Formula One’s storytelling boom (Drive to Survive and beyond) changed the sport’s reach—and what that template unlocks for new audiences

Wolff’s personal journey: early racing roots in Scotland, learning to compete in a male-dominated environment, and the mindset shift that comes with confidence and leadership

How the NFL Draft became a traveling mega-event—and why it delivers huge value for the league and host cities

“Monetizing hope”: why the draft functions like a Super Bowl moment for every fan base, even the worst teams

The mock draft / draft grades media machine—and why the “report cards” are largely unknowable in real time

Why investor demand is pushing up valuations in MLB, NHL, and the NWSL as NFL/NBA prices soar

NWSL expansion fees as a proxy for broader second-tier sports growth and scarcity dynamics

Conversation timeline (mm:ss):

02:10 Why F1 Academy exists and what success really looks like

03:31 Should there be a separate women’s racing league?

05:12 How F1 Academy got every F1 team to back the series

07:48 Wolff’s memoir Driven and lessons from racing’s toughest moments

09:45 How she got started in racing—and when F1 became the goal

12:30 Leadership ambitions, focus, and building F1 Academy for the long term

13:21 Why docuseries changed F1’s global audience

15:18 New storytelling partnerships and reaching new fans

16:49 What needs to change next: education, access, and expanding opportunity

 

Links & resources:

F1 Academy (official): https://www.f1academy.com/

F1: The Academy on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81722244

Hello Sunshine (Reese Witherspoon’s production company): https://hello-sunshine.com/

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Fernando Mendoza joins Alex Sherman to discuss an unconventional draft run-up, the mindset needed to lead at the next level, and how he’s approaching brand-building and money management before ever taking an NFL snap.

They start with Mendoza’s pre-draft interactions—combine meetings with multiple teams and a single Top 30 visit—plus what it means to focus on finding the one franchise that truly believes in you. From there, Mendoza reflects on meeting Tom Brady during his Raiders visit, why Brady’s mental and emotional approach stands out to him, and how he plans to learn from great coaches and teammates if that becomes his landing spot.

Mendoza also opens up about the role sports psychology plays in his development: visualization, breathing habits, sleep, and a daily commitment to improving physically, mentally, and emotionally. Even as a projected top pick, he explains why he still sees himself as “at the bottom of the totem pole” among NFL quarterbacks—and why earning leadership matters more than being handed it.

On the business side, Mendoza discusses his education path (including business programs at Cal and Indiana), the importance his family places on being informed, and how NIL has changed the timeline for athletes to form major brand partnerships. He highlights his partnership with Boss (alongside Adidas), and how presenting well off the field is part of the identity he’s intentionally building.

 

Key topics covered:

Draft process realities: combine meetings vs. Top 30 visits, and why “you only need one team”

Meeting Tom Brady through the Raiders and what Mendoza hopes to learn from him

Sports psychology habits: visualization, breathing, sleep, and mental performance training

Competing vs. starting right away: Mendoza’s “whatever the coach decides” approach

NIL partnerships, personal brand building, and why Boss fits the “class act” standard he’s aiming for

Investing priorities: saving, living frugally, giving back, and his family-first motivation tied to his mother’s MS

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CNBC's Lillian Rizzo joins Alex Sherman on what may really be behind the Justice Department's antitrust investigation into the NFL. Then, Alex speaks with Shelly Cayette-Weston, President of Business Operations for the Charlotte Hornets, about how the organization is strengthening its business foundation while building a winning culture on and off the court.

She details what the president of business operations role looks like for an NBA franchise, from overseeing ticket sales, sponsorships, operations, and community engagement to leading fan experience strategy across more than 150 events at Spectrum Center each year. She also explains how the Hornets are measuring progress through attendance growth, business performance, and deeper community connection.

Alex and Shelly also explore why the Hornets’ recent gains are about more than improved on-court play. Shelly points to long-term ownership vision, fan re-engagement, market growth in Charlotte, and major investments like the $245 million Spectrum Center renovation as key drivers of momentum. She also discusses the changing regional sports media landscape, and how the organization is thinking about future revenue growth across ticketing, premium experiences, partnerships, and media rights.

Topics discussed:

 01:57 Hornets attendance growth, franchise momentum, and building a winning culture

 03:08 Lessons Shelly Cayette-Weston brought from the Cleveland Cavaliers to Charlotte

 05:18 Why business performance is not solely dependent on wins and losses

 06:53 How fan engagement, legacy fans, and the Spectrum Center renovation boosted attendance

 07:39 The Hornets’ revenue strategy across ticket sales, sponsorships, premium, and media

 10:08 The collapse of the regional sports network model and what it means for local NBA rights

 11:29 What is next for the Hornets, including the Novant Health practice facility and long-term fan experience plans

 12:47 Why the franchise believes its young core and draft capital position it for sustainable growth

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Dom Chu joins Alex Sherman to break down the latest storylines heading into the Masters. Then, Lindsey Vonn joins Alex to share how she’s recovering physically and mentally after a major crash—and what it could mean for the final chapter of her ski racing career. They also dig into longevity in elite sports, why Olympic athletes struggle financially, and how storytelling and women’s sports investing are changing the game.

Lindsey Vonn sits down with Alex Sherman for a candid conversation about recovery, resilience, and what it really takes to build a lasting career in an Olympic sport. Lindsey opens up about where she is in rehab—moving from a wheelchair to crutches—and how she’s balancing patience, progress, and the uncertainty of what comes next.

They discuss the realities of returning from a severe injury, including the impact of multiple surgeries, cartilage damage, and the steps still ahead (including hardware removal and an ACL replacement). Lindsey also shares her mindset around risk and crashing in downhill skiing—and why she focuses on progress rather than fear.

The conversation expands into the bigger picture of longevity in sports, with reflections on athletes competing at older ages and what motivation, physical readiness, and personal drive look like later in a career. They touch on Tiger Woods’ comeback efforts, as well as examples like Tom Brady and Lewis Hamilton, and what inspiration (and caution) can come from watching other elite competitors push the timeline.

In the second half, Lindsey gets into the business side of skiing and Olympic sports: how few athletes can truly make a sustainable living, what she learned early from her father about building a career beyond results, and what she believes could help the sport grow. Her take is clear: sports are entertainment, and athletes who can tell their story—especially through social media—can build deeper fan connection, visibility, and long-term earning power.

Lindsey also shares why she’s passionate about investing in women’s sports, why she believed the category was undervalued, and how cultural momentum is finally “moving the needle” across leagues and athletes. She talks about taking a personal, values-driven approach to partnerships and mentions a campaign with InVivid focused on educating people about antibodies and immune health.

 

Timestamps (select moments)

01:56 Why she doesn’t want her crash to be the final chapter—and what’s still ahead medically

03:03 Recovery outlook, fasciotomy concerns, and regaining function

04:26 Risk, crashing, and why she doesn’t dwell on fear

06:07 Longevity in sports: Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, and competing later in life

08:03 The economics of ski racing and why most athletes can’t earn a strong living

09:57 How athletes can grow their sport through storytelling and social media

11:07 Values-driven partnerships, sponsorship longevity, and the InVivid antibodies campaign

12:56 Investing in women’s sports and why the category has been undervalued

Links & Resources

Otter.ai transcription: https://otter.ai

 

 

 

 

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Landon Donovan sits down with Alex Sherman for a wide-ranging conversation on the 2026 World Cup, the business and visibility challenges facing Major League Soccer, and the personal realities behind elite performance—including depression, therapy, and the pressure to be “on” at all times.

Key topics covered

Why the 2026 World Cup could be a true “before and after” moment for American soccer (and why it could also be overhyped)

What a “successful” World Cup looks like for the USMNT: a deep run plus iconic moments that change public perception

How MLS stacks up against top European leagues—and what billionaire ownership could mean if spending and ambition rise

The MLS–Apple TV model: what worked, what limited reach, and why broader promotion still matters for a growing league

Donovan’s book motivations: moving beyond highlight-reel memoirs to talk honestly about depression, family, and identity

A candid look at depressive episodes, including a drug-induced crisis and how meditation helped him survive it

Youth soccer in the U.S.: “pay-to-play,” win-first culture, broken incentives—and Donovan’s stated mission to change it

Timestamps

10:26 — Why 2026 could reshape U.S. soccer, and a 1994 World Cup flashback

10:28 — What “success” looks like for the USMNT (deep run + iconic moments)

10:30 — MLS ownership, spending power, and what exposure to the World Cup can unlock

10:31 — MLS vs. Europe: where the league stands today

10:36 — The MLS–Apple TV deal and the challenge of reach vs. revenue

10:37 — Why Donovan wrote a book—and why mental health is central to it

10:43 — Depression, suicidal thoughts, and the role of therapy and meditation

10:47 — Retirement, ownership interest, and why youth soccer reform is his “next frontier”

 

Resources mentioned

Stream Major League Soccer on Apple TV

MLS viewing FAQ and details on watching matches

Lincoln City FC (club Donovan mentions investing in)

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