EP · 011
THE SCIENTIST WHO BET HIS CAREER ON BUGS. 14 YEARS LATER, HE WAS RIGHT.
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My consumption of resources is way outpacing my fair share globally. This opportunity has given me so much.
Nate Sexton
Nate Sexton went pro at disc golf before it was obvious that was possible. He helped build the Sexton Firebird into one of the most recognized discs in the sport and became a fixture on the Jomez Pro broadcast along the way.
Key Takeaways
- →Self-Set Financial Benchmarks: Nate gave himself annual income thresholds — first $30,000, then $40,000 — and only allowed himself to keep pursuing disc golf professionally if he hit them. This iterative bet-on-yourself structure let him extend his career year by year without committing blindly to an uncertain future.
- →Royalty Income as Career Maker: Nate identified signature-product royalties — not tournament prize money — as the income stream that transformed disc golf into a legitimate career for top players. He described it as 'game changing' and credits the Sexton Firebird's commercial success as the financial foundation of his career.
- →Commentary Built His Fan Base: Nate did commentary for free for years before being paid for it, intentionally using it to show his personality to fans in a way on-course performance never could. He believes this visibility is the secret behind the Sexton Firebird outselling discs tied to players with better tournament records.
- →Maximizing Non-Playing Revenue: Running fan clinics with Paul McBeth — the 'McBeast Challenge' and his own 'Sexton Shootout' — drew up to 200 attendees per event and gave Nate more financial control than tournament winnings ever did. He described it as a sea-change moment because, unlike competing, he could deliver value on any given day regardless of how he was throwing.
- →Legacy Without the Trophy Count: Nate said, unprompted, that he may have achieved 'more success with less on-course talent than anyone' and credits his longevity to making himself available for anything — commentary, clinics, sponsorship content, fan interactions — rather than waiting to be called. His mantra to Innova: 'I want my on-course result to be the least important thing about me.'
In This Episode
- What it took to go pro in a sport without a clear roadmap
- How the Sexton Firebird came to be and what it means to him
- What building a legacy looks like in an emerging sport
- How Jomez Pro changed the way disc golf is seen
- What Nate has learned about longevity, brand, and staying relevant
Full Essay
We turned this conversation into a long-form essay. More context, more depth, and the moments that didn't make the edit.
Read on Substack →What We Discuss
How Nate got into disc golf and decided to go all in
What going pro looked like before there was a roadmap for it
The Sexton Firebird: how it was created and what it became
Jomez Pro and how broadcast changed the sport
What legacy means in a sport the world is still figuring out
Q&A
Questions answered in this episode
How do professional disc golfers make money?
According to Nate Sexton, the primary income for a top-20 professional disc golfer is royalty payments from signature products like discs, bags, and apparel. Tournament prize money plays a role early in a career but is inconsistent; running fan clinics and events, teaching lessons, and commentating are other meaningful income streams Nate used throughout his career.
How does a disc golf sponsorship contract work?
Nate described a tiered structure: entry-level sponsorships pay nothing in cash but provide free discs and cover entry fees. As a player's profile grows, sponsors begin covering travel, then add guaranteed monthly payments — often structured as advances against royalties from products sold with the player's name on them. At the top level, players receive substantial guaranteed income plus royalty overages.
Is disc golf a viable full-time career?
Nate said that at 40, he may be among the first disc golfers to retire comfortably from the sport, which he attributes to being in the right era as prize money and royalty opportunities expanded. He noted that the path remains very narrow — hundreds of players still hustle the same way he did 20 years ago — and that the major financial upside only exists for roughly the top 20 players in the world.
How do you balance a professional sports career with family life?
Nate and his wife have been together since high school and built their lives in parallel — she pursued medical school while he chased disc golf. He deliberately avoided full-time touring early in his career because he wasn't willing to be away from his then-girlfriend for months at a time. Now in his 40s, he flies in and out for events rather than living on the road, which keeps him more connected to family but more disconnected from the touring scene.
What makes a disc golf player marketable to sponsors beyond winning?
Nate attributed his sponsorship longevity to being naturally comfortable on camera, a skilled public speaker, and an accessible figure to fans — traits he argued are at least as valuable as on-course results. He made himself available for anything Innova needed: commentary, content shoots, clinics, fan appearances. His advice to players watching from the sidelines who wonder why they aren't getting calls: 'I called them.'
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