In this episode of The Insider’s Lounge, Johann Farhat takes us on a remarkable journey marked by resilience, obsession, and persistence. Growing up in Lebanon after moving back from France, Johann faced early challenges as his family struggled to afford private education. Feeling like an outsider among wealthier classmates, it wasn’t until he found soccer that everything began to change. The sport became his great equalizer—helping him find acceptance, become team captain, and thrive in a way he never had before.

Just as his passion for the game grew, Johann made the unexpected decision to turn down a professional soccer contract. Instead of chasing a career on the pitch, he ventured into the entrepreneurial world—only to face the sting of two failed startups. But rather than letting those setbacks define him, Johann leaned into the lessons learned, using those failures as fuel for future success.

At one of life’s pivotal crossroads, Johann took a bold leap: applying to Harvard with no plan B. He shares the mindset shift required to take that risk and how unwavering self-belief carried him through. From there, we dive into his approach to goal-setting—breaking down how to set meaningful objectives and, more importantly, actually achieve them.

Johann’s persistence truly shines through as he reveals how sheer determination and polite persistence led him to secure a coveted internship at Chelsea FC. He also opens up about his encounters with some of the world’s most elite figures—Arsène Wenger, John Terry, Toto Wolff, and others—and reflects on what truly sets high performers apart.

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

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
03:50 Finding Belonging Through Soccer
09:52 Turning Down a Pro Soccer Contract
15:44 Lessons from Two Failed Startups
22:24 How to Process Failure
27:29 Betting on Yourself: Applying to Harvard with No Plan B
31:30 Goal Setting: How to Set and Achieve Big Goals
41:32 Polite Persistence: Landing an Internship at Chelsea FC
50:48 What Sets Elite Performers Apart
53:42 Outro

In this episode of The Insider’s Lounge, we sit down with Ethan Reilly, Senior Account Executive at Octagon, one of the world's top sports and entertainment agencies. Beyond his role, Ethan creates sports business content, helping others navigate the process of breaking into the industry and excelling. He has built his career by combining strategic networking, content creation, and hands-on experience, and today, he shares the exact steps to land your DREAM job in sports.

We kick things off with Ethan’s journey into the industry, breaking down how he got his start and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. From there, he drops must-know advice for high school and college students who want to break into sports—whether through internships, volunteer work, or simply making the right connections.

Next, we dive into one of the biggest game-changers in career-building: How to land coffee chats and Zoom calls with industry leaders. Ethan explains how to stand out on LinkedIn, craft the perfect cold message, and make genuine connections that lead to real opportunities.

For students and young professionals, we explore how to maximize college for career success—from choosing the right courses to leveraging campus resources—and answer the big question: Is college even worth it?

Then, we shift to resumes and job hunting, uncovering what actually makes a resume pop and how to navigate career detours when things don’t go as planned. Ethan also reveals what it really takes to succeed in your first six months on the job, including the common mistakes most newcomers make.

Finally, we explore the power of content creation as a tool for networking and personal branding—why it’s more important than ever and how anyone can use it to build credibility, even with no prior experience.

Ethan's Instagram: www.instagram.com/ethan_talks_sport/
Ethan's TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ethan_talks_sport

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

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:30 Ethan’s Journey to Working in the Sports Industry
03:44 Advice for High Schoolers Wanting a Career in Sports
09:06 How to Land Coffee Chats & Zoom Calls with Industry Leaders
13:59 Maximizing College for Career Success
18:22 Networking & Overcoming Social Anxiety
23:55 Is College Even Worth It?
29:43 Building a Standout Resume
33:06 Dream Job Detours: Navigating the Job Hunt & Breakthroughs
38:11 Making an Impact in Your First 6 Months on the Job
44:38 Building Your Brand Through Content Creation
50:41 Quick Fire Round
53:55 Outro

In this episode of The Football Talent Show, hosts Adam Lenges, and Jacek Kulig, are joined by Japanese football expert & data scientist Ryo Nakagawara to talk about all things Japanese football.

They discuss the fascinating youth development being done in the country, the upcoming J1-J3 seasons, & some of the biggest domestic talents to look out for in the year ahead!

Ryo's X: https://x.com/R_by_Ryo

If you enjoyed the episode, feel free to like, comment, and subscribe to stay tuned for future episodes!

🎙 More FTS Content: https://linktr.ee/thefootballtalentshow

The Football Talent Show is brought to you by The Insider's Lounge, a virtual studio that brings you exclusive insights and conversations from the world of sports. Follow our journey as we expand with new shows and content: https://linktr.ee/theinsiderslounge

Intro & Outro Credit: Chop Chops - Alex Productions

Graphics
X: https://x.com/Agbanebbie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unclenebo/

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
03:50 First Japanese Football Memory
10:46 Talent Pipeline & College/High School System
19:25 Unique Characteristics of Japanese Footballers
31:12 J3 League
39:09 J2 League
42:12 Red Bull in Japan
47:49 J1 League
54:06 Japan vs. Other Asian Countries
01:00:24 Shonan Bellmare
01:02:05 FC Tokyo
01:03:23 Foreign Players in Japan
01:11:35 Where Should Japanese Players Start Their European Journey?
01:17:06 Transfer Fees for Japanese Players
01:25:45 Yuto Ozeki
01:34:35 Yotaro Nakajima
01:39:55 Rion Ichihara
01:45:39 Junnosuke Suzuki
01:53:52 Kota Takai
01:56:25 Ryunosuke Sato
02:03:07 Ryotaro Araki
02:12:56 Outro