June 8, 2026
Chad Bronstein: He Built a Sports League in Less Than a Year
Listen to the full episode:
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube
Listen on Transistor
Listen on Spotify
In this episode of Skin in the Game, Saxon Baum sits down with entrepreneur Chad Bronstein to discuss the journey that took him from selling Beanie Babies as a kid to building one of the fastest growing sports leagues in America.
Chad shares how an early obsession with sales and entrepreneurship shaped his career, leading him through the adtech world, multiple successful ventures, and eventually the launch of Real American Beer alongside wrestling icon Hulk Hogan. Along the way, he reflects on the highs and lows of building businesses, raising capital, navigating market downturns, and the lessons that only come from failure.
The conversation also dives into the creation of Real American Freestyle (RAF), the professional wrestling league Chad founded after recognizing a major gap in the sport he loved growing up. What started as an idea fueled by his son's involvement in wrestling has quickly grown into a nationally televised league, selling out arenas and creating new opportunities for athletes beyond college and Olympic competition.
Beyond the business stories, Chad talks about the importance of surrounding yourself with great people, building strong teams, staying resilient through adversity, and why trust and loyalty are often more valuable than any business strategy.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, athlete, or someone pursuing a big vision, this episode is packed with honest lessons on persistence, leadership, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.
