In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Bienko, founder of 42U, an organization dedicated to helping student-athletes thrive in the evolving world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Stephen and his team specialize in guiding athletes through branding, marketing, and content creation — not just to build partnerships, but to create purpose and long-term visibility beyond the game.
Stephen shares his incredible athletic journey — from Olympic-level aspirations in track and field, to competing as a decathlete and football player at the Air Force Academy and Villanova. He opens up about his own identity as an athlete, how he navigated the transition to entrepreneurship, and what he’s learned about confidence, clarity, and culture along the way.
We dive deep into how 42U helps athletes find mental strength and self-awareness, how Stephen works with Big Ten programs to build stronger team cultures through individual empowerment, and why understanding that “your sport is not your identity” is the foundation of lasting success — on and off the field.
🎧 Tune in for a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the mindset it takes to succeed when the lights go off.