TPM Episode 267: Michael Spencer, Sports Agent
The Powell Movement
Mike Powell
4.9 • 860 Ratings
🗓️ 28 February 2022
⏱️ 87 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Michael Spencer is a powerhouse of an agent who represents some of the top athletes in ski and snowboard. I'm talking about Shaun White, Gus Kenworthy, Simon Dumont, Torin Yater-Wallace and more. On the podcast, we talk about deep connections to his athletes, starting brands with them, all things agent and of course, Michael's backstory. It's a peek into the life and times of a super-agent. Jossi Wells asks the inappropriate Questions.
Michael Spencer Show Notes:
3:30: Shaun White, his new brands, his image in the world of snowboarding and beyond
14:30: Mormon, his brother coming out, and coming up in the freestyle world
20:30: Stanley: Get 30% off site wide with the code drinkfast
Peter Glenn Ski and Sports: Over 60 years of getting you out there
10 Barrel Brewery: Buy their beers, they support action sports more than anyone
23:30: Competition, college, quitting competition, Law School in California, his girlfriend's gold and the injury that made his career
35:00: Grasping for anything, Nike pro models, medals stolen, money, and personal expense
28:00: Working for the Salt Lake Olympic Committee, starting his agency, the first Olympics, and cutting his teeth early on
32:00: Depression, overdose, getting help, another intense bout with depression, another overdose, and time in the psych ward, getting out and figuring out how to manage her depression
41:00: Alpine Vans: Upgrade your adventure, Upgrade your life
Elan Skis: Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better
43:00: The courtship of Simon Dumont, the progression of athletes, Sarah Burke, and creating the AFP
51:30: FIS doesn't get it, babysitting, explaining things to sponsors, and dealing with athletes when they don't want to show up at sponsor related contracted events
60:00: Contract negotiations, creating brands with athletes, and all things Gus Kenworthy
77:00: Inappropriate Questions with Jossi Wells
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Have a seat on your porcelain throne. |
| 0:02.3 | It's time to talk some shit on the Powell Movement. |
| 0:13.5 | Welcome to the Powell Movement. |
| 0:16.9 | I'm your host Mike Powell, |
| 0:18.3 | and I've just returned from three glorious days at White Pass. |
| 0:22.0 | And from what I found lately, I have the most fun at ski areas compared to the mega resorts, |
| 0:27.1 | and White Pass is one that always delivers. |
| 0:29.4 | I stayed directly across the street from the mountain for $200 bucks a night at the only hotel in town, |
| 0:35.1 | and it's awesome. |
| 0:36.2 | You walk to the lift from your room, ski until four, |
| 0:39.1 | and when you get back, the hot tub pool is open for a few hours. And there's nothing like looking |
| 0:44.1 | up at the mountain while in the hot tub pool with my son. On top of that, a few 10 barrels only |
| 0:49.3 | enhance the experience. And when you're done with the hot tub, you cook your dinner in the condo as there is |
| 0:54.7 | nothing else to do, and that's what's so great about White Pass. It's all about the skiing or |
| 0:59.2 | snowboarding. One thing I should mention was how cold it was. Day one, it was like five degrees up |
| 1:04.9 | top and more like negative 10 with the wind chill. And if there's one thing to know about me, |
| 1:09.6 | while I do have a high tolerance |
| 1:11.0 | for pain, I'm so weak when it comes to the cold. I wear boots with heated liners, and this |
| 1:16.5 | week, a friend of mine, Pete Iverson, who works for thermic, sent me heated socks and gloves. |
| 1:22.4 | Holy shit, it was so game-changing. My feet were so warm the entire time, and one of my hands felt that same warmth. |
| 1:29.7 | The other hand was in a cast that only one particular glove of mine would fit over, so |
| 1:34.2 | I used hand warmers and that hand froze. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Mike Powell, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Mike Powell and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.