Rich Kleiman explains why he wanted Michael Strahan as the 1st guest on his new sports show Taryn RyderSeptember 4, 2025 at 9:00 PM 0 The Network with Rich Kleiman host talks to Yahoo about his new show.
- - Rich Kleiman explains why he wanted Michael Strahan as the 1st guest on his new sports show
Taryn RyderSeptember 4, 2025 at 9:00 PM
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The Network with Rich Kleiman host talks to Yahoo about his new show. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images) (Cindy Ord via Getty Images)
As a sports fan, debate is the centerpiece of the experience. The conversation is always about who's the greatest of all time, who's not living up to expectations or what someone isn't doing but should be. Rich Kleiman wants to shift that energy.
With his new Yahoo Sports conversation series, Network with Rich Kleiman, the Boardroom cofounder and host blends his deep network, behind-the-scenes access and love for the game into something uniquely his own. The show brings together athletes, executives and cultural figures for unfiltered conversations that don't just chase headlines — they ask different questions. From GOAT rankings to brand building to what greatness actually looks like today, Kleiman is creating space for the kind of talk that usually happens off-camera.
I caught up with Kleiman to talk about the launch, why likability is an underrated superpower and how Travis Kelce might be the blueprint for the modern athlete-celebrity hybrid.
You've had Boardroom as a brand and media platform for a while. What feels different or special about launching a show specifically for Yahoo Sports?
There's a real sports fan in me, and I don't always flex that side when I'm interviewing people like Spike Lee or Michael Rubin. I'd like the opportunity to sit with Michael Strahan and talk football. This show lets me do that — talk football, speak directly to the camera and give my own point of view. It's a whole new approach to how I talk to people.
Michael Strahan's career has spanned sports, morning TV and business. What drew you to him as the show's first guest?
Michael's been a big supporter of mine and a real friend. Some people only know him as a TV personality, but as a New Yorker and diehard Giants fan, he's on Mount Rushmore. I really wanted somebody that I would have that comfort level with for the first episode and somebody who is such a great storyteller. It was exciting to talk to him about the Giants again.
We did talk about his business, but really went through his career: the Super Bowl, what happened that year he wasn't gonna come back and then did and it turned out to be magical. Why he didn't come back the next year when all Giants fans were desperate for him to return. It was just fun to kind of take that like trip down memory lane with him.
On the business side of things, Strahan's fascinating too. His transition from NFL star to media powerhouse is pretty unique. What do you think is the secret to his longevity and reinvention?
Likability. It's underrated. He's infectious, curious, honest and incredibly relatable. He shared how, early on, he'd forget what his third talking point was on Fox. Even though he's a "superhero" in how he's built and how successful he was on the field, there's humility in how he talks about the people who helped him. You can't fake likability — he's got it.
What other kinds of guests should we expect, and do you have a dream guest?
You'll get a wide mix — people who are topical and have something to say, like [former NFL player] Ryan Clark on football, or [NBA players] Karl Towns and Donovan Mitchell on basketball. You'll also see people adjacent to sports who impact the industry but aren't on magazine covers, but are instrumental to what goes on every day.
I don't know if I have a "dream guest," but I love talking to people who are the best at what they do. People who have worked so hard on their craft to get as successful as they are — I really never get tired of those stories.
I'm also curious about the intersection of sports and celebrity. I think of someone like Travis Kelce, who feels like the blueprint for a modern athlete these days. He's balancing football, podcasting, headlines as one half of the most famous couple in the world, and major brand deals. What do you see as the biggest opportunities or challenges for athletes who have one foot in the celebrity space in terms of building and protecting their brand?
What's happened over the last few decades — and LeBron was instrumental in creating this blueprint — is the realization that athletes can build businesses while still playing.
There used to be a perception that if an athlete focused on other things, they weren't serious about their performance. That has shifted. Athletes now understand they can be the best at what they do on the field and still manage ventures off the field — if it's something that truly interests them.
The biggest challenge is making sure it's actually what you want to do, not something you feel pressured into because of fame or audience expectations. Some people, like Kevin [Durant], are hugely successful in business but don't want to be public-facing or constantly pitching products. There are other ways to build a successful enterprise without being in front of a camera.
It's about figuring out what brings you joy. That's the one thing you can't compromise. Your main focus, while you're playing, has to be your athletic performance.
Anything off the field needs to add to that, not take away from it. With Travis Kelce, it's clear that being in the spotlight brings him joy. That probably motivates him even more to perform well on the field. There are many ways to succeed in business and make an impact at the intersection of sports and culture — and it doesn't always require a podcast or media presence.
What do you think is the next big wave in sports media: more athlete-owned content, deeper documentaries or something else entirely?
There's a lot of that already, but what we'll probably see more of is athletes realizing they're at the center of the creator economy and that they're the CEO of their brand. Success no longer needs to look like what came before. There are new ways to launch brands, tell stories and build platforms, whether through long-form streaming, social channels or their own owned-and-operated media.
We're seeing more young athletes become entrepreneurs. Look at someone like Coco Gauff — she's done an incredible job building her brand and profile. Athletes are building real infrastructure around themselves. That didn't always happen in the past.
Premium brands across industries are aligning with athletes because they're arguably the most influential individuals in culture right now. It's exciting to watch.
What do you hope viewers take away Network with Rich Kleiman?
You're listening in on a conversation I'd have with someone even if the camera wasn't rolling. That's truly how I communicate — it's how I talk to so many people in my network. I also bring things up not because I believe them 100 percent, but because they're interesting ways to look at a topic.
I like to spark conversation. I do it with my friends too — I'll say something I know will start a debate, just to explore it. And sometimes I change my mind in real time.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
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