Erika Ayers Badan on Barstool, Mule Media & Community Building

May 20, 2026

In the fourth episode of JaneWallStreet’s At The Table podcast, host Deirdre Lester sits down with her former colleague, Barstool Sports’ first CEO, and co-founder of Mule Media Erika Ayers Badan.

Badan reflects on her unconventional rise through the internet economy — from early roles at Fidelity, Microsoft, Yahoo, and AOL to leading Barstool Sports through a period of explosive growth that transformed the company into one of the most influential media entities of the 21st century. She shares lessons from scaling Barstool from 12 employees to more than 400, growing revenue over 5,000%, and why building authentic communities mattered more than chasing vanity metrics.

The conversation then dives into Badan’s newest venture, Mule Media, a “community company” combining Work Like a Girl and The Local Moms Network. She explains why trust, connection, and localized communities are becoming the most valuable assets in a world flooded with AI-generated content.

Lester and Badan also explore the growing influence of moms and professional women as decision-makers, why emerging leagues need to focus less on television deals and more on building deeply engaged communities, and why the next generation of internet businesses will be built on “a lot of smalls” instead of mega-celebrities.

Book Erika Ayers Badan for powerful insights on building bold, culture-shaping brands, navigating challenges with resilience, and leveraging storytelling and community to drive lasting impact. Known for her dynamic leadership and no-nonsense approach, Erika has redefined industries and inspired audiences across sectors. Contact WWSG today to bring her unmatched expertise and contagious energy to your next event.

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