The Average Not Average Podcast

In this episode of The Average Not Average Podcast, CK Yew sits down with Professor Eric Collet - a physicist and head of the Department of Materials and Light at the University of Rennes, known for his incredible super slow-motion footage of badminton shuttlecocks in flight. We get nerdy and break down the real physics behind the sport: why left-handers have a better slice shot, the Magnus effect, the insane forces of a shuttlecock, and much more!

Learn more about Professor Eric Collet below:
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ericcollet1240
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eric.collet.bad/

Chapter Timestamps:
00:40 Introduction To Professor Eric Collet
03:00 How Badminton & Science Came Together
09:18 The Science Of Badminton Shuttlecock Spin
12:31 Why Left-Handers Have A Better Slice
18:50 How Science Of How A Shuttle Slows Down
21:06 What Players & Coaches Can Learn
25:13 The Science Of The Badminton Smash
30:31 How Smash Position Affects Reaction Time
32:53 The Force Of A Shuttlecock
37:09 Plastic & Synthetic Shuttles
41:53 Photography & Slow-Motion Videography
43:42 Racket Speed, Shuttle Speed & Energy Transfer
49:04 How Players Stay In The Air When Jump Smashing
52:08 The Magnus Effect In Badminton
56:04 Measuring Smash Speed Accurately
01:02:36 Making Badminton Science Accessible
01:08:09 Defining Badminton In One Sentence
01:10:00 The Future Of Badminton Research

Follow us on social media for more content!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaveragenotaverage/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theaveragenotaverage

Keep in touch with CK & Viktor here:
- CK's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkmY5ThPy3GLINI0m06ffaQ
- Viktor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkuVto4oGsgdEisvXlUaHvg
- CK's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ckyew_official/
- Viktor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viktoraxelsen/

You can also find our conversations on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BwlJdllHEuttY24Jbcrz8?si=d5-BYAQkSoG7pMhKdskf4Q
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-average-not-average-podcast/id1797766159
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxuJfUZRhZn4s5SDKoS_Vw

In this episode of The Average Not Average Podcast, CK Yew and Viktor Axelsen sit down with Ramakrishnan R (Ram) and Rakesh Haridas from Baseline Ventures - the agency behind some of the biggest deals in Indian badminton, representing athletes across 13 sports including PV Sindhu, Chirag Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and HS Prannoy. We dig into their journey to the top of athlete representation and sports commercialisation in India, plus what athletes should look for in an agent and what a real sponsorship deal looks like.

We also get into Baseline's ownership of the Prime Volleyball League, the challenges of running a league and team, and how brand partnerships fit into the bigger picture. If you've ever wondered how athletes get signed, sponsored, and built into brands, this one's for you!

Chapter Timestamps:
00:37 Introduction To Ram, Rakesh & Baseline Ventures
03:38 What Sports Agents Do
05:50 Commercial Deals As A Young Athlete
07:33 Adapting Commercial Strategies Throughout A Career
10:43 What Athlete Managers Do At Sporting Events
12:58 How Badminton Compares To Other Sports In India
15:55 How Sponsorship Deals Are Structured
20:24 Sponsorship Challenges During Covid
21:48 Importance Of Social Media & Digital Content
25:29 Evolution Of P. V. Sindhu’s Commercial Partnerships
28:48 Global Value Of Digital Athlete Partnerships
32:29 Opportunities To Professionalise Badminton
34:25 Building India’s Next Generation
38:34 Most Important Tournaments For Athlete Brand Value
41:18 Baseline Ventures’ Business Model & Owning The Prime Volleyball League
45:27 How Prime Volleyball League Partnered With YouTube
48:05 Managing A Professional Volleyball Team
53:51 Lessons From Building A Professional Sports League
55:52 How Baseline Ventures Was Founded
58:59 Baseline Studios & Producing Athlete Content
01:03:17 Favourite Baseline Ventures Moments
01:07:22 Advice For Aspiring Sports Agents

Follow us on social media for more content!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaveragenotaverage/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theaveragenotaverage

Keep in touch with CK & Viktor here:
- CK's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkmY5ThPy3GLINI0m06ffaQ
- Viktor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkuVto4oGsgdEisvXlUaHvg
- CK's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ckyew_official/
- Viktor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viktoraxelsen/

You can also find our conversations on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BwlJdllHEuttY24Jbcrz8?si=d5-BYAQkSoG7pMhKdskf4Q
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-average-not-average-podcast/id1797766159
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxuJfUZRhZn4s5SDKoS_Vw

*Please note: Linus' video often freezes throughout the episode due to connection issues. We apologise for the technical difficulties and appreciate your understanding!

In this episode of The Average Not Average Podcast, CK Yew and Viktor Axelsen sit down with Linus Sebastian — founder of Linus Tech Tips and Linus Media Group — to talk badminton and business.

Linus and his wife Yvonne opened Smash Champs, a high-end badminton centre in Surrey, BC, Canada. We explore why he entered the badminton industry, what it takes to build and run a large-scale sports facility, and how it compares to running one of the internet's biggest media operations.

Chapter Timestamps:
00:47 Introduction to Linus Sebastian
04:06 How Linus Discovered Badminton
07:04 Why Badminton Is A Complete Sport
10:18 Badminton’s Potential In North America
13:26 Creating Smash Champs Badminton Club
15:43 Designing The Badminton Facility
19:38 The Challenge Of Drift In Badminton
24:22 Costs Of Building A High-Tech Badminton Club
25:46 Choosing The Right Flooring
27:51 Designing The Right Lighting
31:50 The War Between Contractors
34:46 The True Return On Investment
36:05 Badminton Clubs In Denmark
39:28 The GOAT 2026 Tournament & 15-Point Scoring
41:19 Running A Media Company Vs Smash Champs
42:55 Making Custom Broom Stands
44:58 Why Clubs Should Offer Rental Rackets & Shoes
51:39 Revenue Streams At Smash Champs
53:57 Impact Of The Right Badminton Community
56:47 Business Lessons
01:00:58 From Professional Sport To Entrepreneurship
01:02:40 The Story of Linus Playing Against Viktor Axelsen
01:08:40 Badminton’s Unwritten Rules

Follow us on social media for more content!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaveragenotaverage/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theaveragenotaverage

Keep in touch with CK & Viktor here:
- CK's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkmY5ThPy3GLINI0m06ffaQ
- Viktor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkuVto4oGsgdEisvXlUaHvg
- CK's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ckyew_official/
- Viktor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viktoraxelsen/

You can also find our conversations on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BwlJdllHEuttY24Jbcrz8?si=d5-BYAQkSoG7pMhKdskf4Q
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-average-not-average-podcast/id1797766159- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxuJfUZRhZn4s5SDKoS_Vw

*A quick heads up! Alex and Kestutis’s connection occasionally breaks up throughout the episode, so you may see them come in and out of the frame at certain times. We apologise for the technical issue and appreciate your understanding!

In this exclusive episode of The Average Not Average Podcast, we’re joined by recent 2026 BWF World Champion of men’s singles, Alex Lanier, and his coach Kestutis Navickas. We delve into the victory and preparations leading up to it, the rise of French badminton, and insights behind their success. Tune in to hear all about training, the coach-athlete relationship, mental resilience, equipment, federation support, future goals and more.

Chapter Timestamps:
00:40 Intro & Post-Victory Check-In
03:13 Processing Becoming World Champions
12:10 How The World Title Was Built (Season Plan)
22:51 Staying Ahead Of Opponents
25:48 Support From The French Federation
33:12 World Championships Reflection
49:59 Reflecting On Alex’s Season
57:34 Alex’s Equipment Of Choice
1:04:22 Post-Championships Attention
1:06:13 Mindset Of Continuous Improvement

Follow us on social media for more content!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaveragenotaverage/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theaveragenotaverage

Keep in touch with CK & Viktor here:
- CK's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkmY5ThPy3GLINI0m06ffaQ
- Viktor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkuVto4oGsgdEisvXlUaHvg
- CK's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ckyew_official/
- Viktor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viktoraxelsen/

You can also find our conversations on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BwlJdllHEuttY24Jbcrz8?si=d5-BYAQkSoG7pMhKdskf4Q
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-average-not-average-podcast/id1797766159
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxuJfUZRhZn4s5SDKoS_Vw

In this episode of The Average Not Average Podcast, CK Yew and Viktor Axelsen sit down with Ben Lee - former Olympian, 9-time US National Champion, founder of Synergy Badminton Academy, and one of the most influential figures in American badminton.

Together, they explore Ben's journey through more than four decades in the sport, from competing at the Olympic Games to building one of North America's leading badminton academies. They discuss the realities of running a successful sports business, growing badminton in the US, sponsorships, facility management, and the lessons Ben has learned from developing players, scaling a business, and helping shape the future of the sport.

Chapter Timestamps:
00:42 Introduction To Ben Lee
03:30 Barcelona 1992 (First Olympic Badminton Appearance)
08:27 London 2012 & How Olympics Has Evolved
11:08 How Synergy Badminton Began & Grew
18:58 Biggest Costs Of Running A Badminton Academy
24:19 Why Passion Matters In Business
25:43 Long-Term Sustainability
30:29 The Team Behind Synergy Badminton
34:02 Scaling Synergy Badminton
39:40 Badminton Clubs In Europe
45:53 How Badminton Clubs Make Profit
47:16 Misconceptions Of Running An Academy
48:25 How To Balance Family, Life & Business Together
53:54 Costs & Considerations Of Setting Up A Badminton Facility
57:12 Quality Control & Maintaining Playing Surfaces
1:03:27 How Badminton Synergy Evolved
1:07:52 CK’s Path To Badminton Media
1:11:56 When Ben Started Synergy
1:12:40 Sponsorships & Player Support

Follow us on social media for more content!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaveragenotaverage/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theaveragenotaverage

Keep in touch with CK & Viktor here:
- CK's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkmY5ThPy3GLINI0m06ffaQ
- Viktor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkuVto4oGsgdEisvXlUaHvg
- CK's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ckyew_official/
- Viktor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viktoraxelsen/

You can also find our conversations on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BwlJdllHEuttY24Jbcrz8?si=d5-BYAQkSoG7pMhKdskf4Q
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-average-not-average-podcast/id1797766159
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxuJfUZRhZn4s5SDKoS_Vw