In this episode of The Insider's Lounge, we sit down with Sebastian Avanzini to break down how athletes can start building for life after sports. He shares his professional football journey, the steps he took to monetize his knowledge while still playing, and the balance between formal education and real world experience. Sebastian also reveals his frameworks for turning expertise into real business opportunities, including the founding of Eduvo, an education tech platform that helps high performers turn their knowledge into digital mentorship programs at scale. We also dive into his "5 P’s" approach for getting started and how athletes can build real personal brands that create long term influence.

Sebastian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-avanzini-364882156/
Eduvo's Website: https://eduvo.io/

🎙️ More Insider's Lounge Content: https://linktr.ee/theinsiderslounge

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:16 Childhood & Upbringing
02:20 Footballing Journey So Far
04:18 Seb’s Approach to Life After Football
12:24 Formal Education vs Real-World Experience
15:51 Practical Steps to Monetize Your Knowledge & Experience
29:38 Eduvo's Founding Story & How to Get Involved
33:28 Balancing Pro Sports Career & Business Ventures
38:18 Finding Inspiration & Tying Together Your Passion with a Business
46:51 Sebastian’s Next 5-10 Years Personally & as a Footballer
48:31 Quick Fire Questions
51:22 Outro

In this episode of The Insider’s Lounge, Edson Braafheid sits down for an unfiltered conversation about his journey from Suriname to the highest levels of world football. He shares the early experiences that shaped him, how he broke into the Eredivisie, and how Louis van Gaal swooped in to sign him for Bayern Munich just as Ajax were closing in.

Edson takes us inside the reality of playing for clubs like Bayern Munich, Celtic, Lazio, and Utrecht while navigating constant transitions and the pressures of a professional football career. He reflects on representing the Netherlands in the 2010 FIFA World Cup alongside Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, and more, ultimately leading to a heartbreaking defeat in the final.

Beyond the pitch, Edson opens up about the mental health struggles many players face, his transition out of football, and how he is now focused on helping young athletes prepare for life both in and beyond the game. He also shares his personal connection to another national team that holds a special place in his heart.

Edson's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsonbraafheid/
Edson's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edson-braafheid-4787b321b/

🎙️ More Insider's Lounge Content: https://linktr.ee/theinsiderslounge

Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Childhood Roots That Shaped Edson
09:12 When He Realized He Could Build a Long Career in Football
13:48 Inside the Bayern Munich Move
20:38 Handling Setbacks and Constant Transitions
26:48 "Did Football Fail You?"
34:16 Playing in a World Cup Final
43:29 Life After Football: Identity, Purpose, and Mental Health
50:09 Edson’s Current Projects and Passions
52:41 Quick Fire Questions
55:15 Outro

Brazil’s football ecosystem is shifting fast, and for the first time, it’s truly open for investment. In this episode, Andre Da Costa breaks down what’s changing and why it matters.

The conversation begins with the cultural and economic forces that shape Brazil’s identity, setting the stage for a comparison with football systems in Europe and North America. That leads into the SAF model - a legal transformation that has redefined how clubs are owned and operated.

Andre walks through recent examples including John Textor at Botafogo, Ronaldo (R9) at Cruzeiro, and City Football Group’s investment in Bahia. He explains why many clubs remain undervalued and how the absence of salary caps or financial restrictions could impact long-term growth.

From there, attention turns to Brazil’s domestic league restructuring and the broader implications for the future of the game. Andre also unpacks the significance of the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup and the growing international visibility of Brazil’s Serie A, as high-profile players like Memphis Depay enter the league.

Toward the end of the episode, he lays out a practical investment framework - from $1 million entry points to billion-dollar strategies - and reflects on how clubs are navigating the tension between football ambition and commercial opportunity.

Andre's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/voiceofandre/

🎙️ More Insider's Lounge Content: https://linktr.ee/theinsiderslounge

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
03:01 Brazil’s Identity: Culture, Economy, and Football
04:21 What Makes Brazilian Football Unique
07:02 The SAF Model: A New Era for Investment
11:46 Inside Club Ownership: Textor, R9, and the City Group
20:49 Are Brazilian Clubs Still Undervalued?
23:58 No Spending Limits - But Is It Sustainable?
26:14 Brazil’s League Structure and What It Means
29:33 FIFA Club World Cup: Opportunities for Brazilian Teams
34:06 How to Invest in Brazilian Football: From $1M to $1B
42:49 Understanding the SAF Process
46:02 How Brazilian Media Rights Actually Work
49:32 Can Brazil Build a Global Football Audience?
52:46 Balancing Sporting Ambition and Commercial Goals
54:46 Quick Fire Questions
57:51 Outro