07/22/2025 – 10:45 AM

Sublingual nano technology delivers 50mg of caffeine rapidly to the body, bringing its unique benefits to the pre-workout market

ESTERO, FL / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Aspire Biopharma Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASBP) (“Aspire” or the “Company”), developer of a multi-faceted patent-pending supplement delivery technology, today announced it plans to launch its newsublingual pre-workout supplement, BUZZ BOMB™, at FitCon and FitExpo, two of the largest fitness conventions held annually in Salt Lake City, Utah (August 1-2) and Anaheim, CA, (August 2-3), respectively.

Featuring 50mg of caffeine and designed to support sustained energy and mental focus, BUZZ BOMB™ is bringing its unique delivery technology benefits to the multi-billion-dollar pre-workout market to help athletes and fitness enthusiasts maximize their performance potential. Buzz BOMB™, offered in four flavors, provides nearly instant energy, in easy-to-use small sublingual packets, which can be taken right before and during work out as needed. Unlike pre-workout products that are mixed with water and taken well before a workout, BUZZ BOMB™ is sprinkled under the tongue for immediate effect.

FitCon: Mountain America ExpoCenter, Salt Lake City, UT on August 1-2, 2025, Located in Sponsor Alley

FitCon is an event that brings together fitness enthusiasts, professionals, brands, and influencers in the health and wellness industry with approximately 20,000 attendees and hundreds of exhibitors. BUZZ BOMB™ is one of seven “Gold Sponsors” at FitCon, which provides benefits including samples provided to every attendee, a large booth located along “Sponsor Alley” where all attendees pass through, as well as FitCon website marketing, advertising and communications to attendees, and a liberal exhibiting of Buzz Bomb’s distinctive trademark throughout the exhibition.

To learn more about FitCon, please visit https://fitcon.com/

The FitExpo: Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA, August 2-3, 2025, Booth #401

FitExpo brings together a diverse range of fitness brands, competitions, and demonstrations to inspire and guide individuals on their fitness journey and is one of the largest fitness conventions in the world with over 33,000 people expected to attend. As a convention sponsor, BUZZ BOMB™ will be provided numerous benefits and support, including:

Certain statements made in this communication are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “projects,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “future,” “propose,” “potential,” “target,” “goal,” “objective,” “outlook” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this communication, and on the current expectations of Aspire’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the control of the parties, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Aspire Biopharma Holdings, Inc.

Contact

PCG Advisory
Kevin McGrath
+1-646-418-7002
kevin@pcgadvisory.com

SOURCE: Aspire Biopharma Holdings, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

The betting industry has come a long way from its humble beginnings, evolving rapidly alongside technological breakthroughs. Recently, cutting-edge innovations have been ruling the sports staking sector, altering how people engage with athletics, bets, and tournaments. 

Looking ahead, it’s clear that these advancements will keep crafting the coming years of virtual platforms like UK horse race betting sites. In this article, we’ll explore the key technological drifts that are metamorphosing betting prospects and discuss what lies ahead for agents and players in this ever-evolving digital era.

Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics have contributed decisively to the kingdom of bets. For instance, bookmakers are steadily applying AI-based algorithms to more accurately predict outcomes and set odds that reflect likely scenarios. This not only benefits oddsmakers in terms of more efficacious risk management but also ameliorates the betting experience for clients through tailored suggestions and real-time statistics.

In addition, AI-based chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming omnipresent within customer support, providing instant answers to queries and guaranteeing individualized assistance to bettors. Shortly, these intelligent systems are expected to deliver concurrent support, promptly responding to customer queries and potentially reducing waiting times by up to 90%.

It is essential to note that a full-fledged AI hub for sports betting does not yet exist. In cyberspace, one can come across numerous myths about magic software that claims to skyrocket sports prediction accuracy within seconds. Nevertheless, a comprehensive cognitive computing system for sports betting is rather an anticipated implication than a present-day reality. 

Virtual and Augmented Reality

Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) is rapidly gaining momentum in the betting market. The reason for this maturation is that virtual sports wagering allows players to see the whole iceberg without ending up underwater. As VR and AR technologies allow for a broader picture, we can expect bookmakers to utilize them to provide a more hands-on experience while blurring the lines between real and virtual betting.

The mesmerizing involvement that virtual reality provides promises to convey an unprecedented level of purpose-led engagement in betting. Imagine not just binge-watching your favorite team play on a screen, but feeling the atmosphere of the stadium, absorbing the fans’ screams, and even sensing the tension of the players. Such a versatile experience will undoubtedly deepen emotional connections with the game, making every action on the field more meaningful and memorable.

VR also opens up fresh avenues for reciprocity. Betting platforms could evolve from mere places to place bets into social zones where users can disseminate information and get valuable support. Cyberspace meetings, strategy discussions, sharing opinions and experiences – all this reigns supreme when it comes to simplicity and trustworthiness of betting process. 

Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies

Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies have disrupted various industries, and sports betting is one of them. The decentralized nature of blockchain is called to ensure transparency, security, and immutability of betting transactions. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin have gained acceptance as a viable payment method across several betting platforms due to their efficacy and low-rate transaction costs.

Over the years, blockchain technology is likely to play a more prominent role in ensuring fair and transparent betting practices, while cryptocurrencies may become even more integrated into mainstream betting platforms. 

One significant benefit of a blockchain-based platform is the ability to tokenize sports bets. Essentially, each bet turns into a token that guarantees its owner that the terms of the bet will be fulfilled. In the long term, this will lead to the emergence of decentralized sports betting markets. For example, just ten minutes before the end of the match, it might get possible to sell a bet that was made before the start to another player. This shift will contribute to the development of an additional ecosystem around betting software, creating more opportunities for players to generate profit. 

Mobile Betting and Hyperconnectivity

The ubiquitous presence of smartphones has made mobile betting the preferred choice for many users. With the deployment of 5G connectivity, mobile wagering is set to become swifter, more genuine, and more alluring. 5G’s low latency and towering data rates will enable high-quality live streaming of events and facilitate quicker in-play betting.

Over time, mobile bookmakers must showcase this mobile-centric demand by honing their platforms for mobile use and providing a seamless customer experience to remain competitive in the market of the future. 

Mobile betting is a new trend in the realm of betting. Now, a player can place bets anywhere, whether they are outside, at work, or in the comfort of their homes. The only requirement is possessing a smartphone with the appropriate functions and capabilities. Ultimately, mobile-based and 5G possibilities take up an ever-increasing share of bookmaker bets every year, thanks to their convenience and intuitiveness.

Social Betting and Collaboration in Action

Digital communication has shifted the ways people interact and share experiences online, and is also impacting the betting sector. Social betting platforms allow users to create communities, share tips, and compete with friends, adding a social element down the line.

It is worth noting that the majority of bookmakers are keen on effectively integrating social features into their platforms to foster a sense of community and loyalty among users, ultimately boosting engagement and retention.

All in all, sports gambling is a great way to connect with companions and like-minded people. Watching the game together, discussing bets, and analyzing the results strengthen friendships and make leisure time more engaging.

Final Thoughts 

The future of placing bets is undoubtedly technology-driven. Advances in artificial intelligence, virtual/augmented reality, blockchain, mobile, and social media will subsidize the ways how bookmakers operate and how users interact with betting platforms. 

As technology gets more worldly-wise, the betting experience will become more gripping, customized, and protected from frauds. By staying ahead of the curve and leveraging these innovations, bookmakers can pose themselves as pioneers in the future of gambling.

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Patrick Talty knew that having an event-hosting résumé dating back more than a century wasn’t enough to propel Indianapolis into the next generation of business.

He had started his career in the early 2000s as an executive at the Indiana Convention Center and RCA Dome, before holding leadership positions, at various periods from 2006 to 2019, at State Farm Stadium, Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi, U.S. Bank Stadium and WWE. He returned to Indianapolis in 2019 when he was named COO of the Indianapolis Sports Corp.

When he was interviewing for the president’s role in 2022, he knew it was time to look ahead. Talty was elected president of the ISC three years ago this week.

“I had seen the way Indianapolis did things,” he said. “Then I saw how others did things. They were not the ‘Indy’ way. I believed that we needed to think differently about our sports ecosystem and look ahead 10 years.”

The ISC, the country’s oldest sports commission (founded in 1979), hired business consultants Next Practice Partners to come up with a strategy.

“Their strategy right off the bat was, ‘Why 10 years? Why not 25 years?’” he said.

The group spent nearly two years talking to and surveying more than 100 of its partners and stakeholders, Indiana residents and even properties that had not held their events in Indianapolis to get their feedback on sports’ impact in the state.

From this research came the 2050 Vision, its guiding principles and five pillars of focus.

Additionally, Talty said, the entire city and state changed their mentality from viewing sports as an economic segment that generates an economic impact to an investment that generates long-term economic development.

Everyone in the region is considered a stakeholder, from high-level executives at the hotels, restaurants, airport, pro and college teams and sports national governing bodies, as well as those at public works and government, sports venues, destination marketers and other sectors who meet on a monthly basis to share calendars, best practices and to strategize on how each specific event can generate future economic growth for the region.

The collaboration is loosely called “Team Indy,” and industry veterans say that there is nothing like it in the sports business world.

“The ecosystem is multigenerational,” said Sarah Myer, Indiana Sports Corp chief of staff and strategy. “It feels less like a job and more like a responsibility to the century of people before us.”

Hoosier Hospitality

One of Team Indy’s top objectives is to make one of the country’s busiest sports calendars even busier.

The city rolled out the red carpet this past weekend for its first WNBA All-Star Game, extending an 18-month stretch that included winning the bids to host the 2024 NBA All-Star Game; the most lucrative WWE Royal Rumble ever; the historic U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium; landing eight major Big Ten championships through 2028, which will generate a projected 125,128 hotel room nights (including an extension of the league’s football championship game through 2028, where it has been played since the 2011 inaugural game); the NFHS/NCAA/SFIA Team Sports Conference and many other events.

The region’s event-hosting skills generated a record $17 million in operating revenue and $24 million in revenue last year from various taxes on lodging, car rental, event tickets and other sources, according to the annual comprehensive financial report completed last month by the region’s Capital Improvement Board (CIB).

The CIB, a public body that was created by the Indiana General Assembly in 1965 to “finance, construct, operate, and maintain capital facilities or improvements,” uses that revenue to help fund the marketing, bidding and hosting efforts of Visit Indy, Indiana Sports Corp and the Indianapolis Convention Center. The organization owns Lucas Oil Stadium, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Victory Field and the Indiana Convention Center. The Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis Colts practice facilities are also located on land owned by the CIB, and there are similar agreements in place for the Indiana Fever’s under-construction training center and the proposed new MLS stadium.

To complement the earmarked tax revenue, the CIB in 2015 established a bid fund to assist with those efforts, where $4.88 million had been disbursed through the end of 2024 and there was $6.5 million in reserve. Additionally, the state’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation last month approved a two-year extension to the 2-year-old Statewide Sports and Tourism Bid Fund, meaning that $20 million will have been pledged by the state to bring in new events over four years. At least 30% of those must occur outside Marion County.

“We have a bright red state house and a bright blue city,” said Kevin Lennon, NCAA senior vice president of policy and governance, the organization’s longest-tenured employee, who began his career in April 1986 before the NCAA moved to town from the Kansas City area. “But this state and city are partisan when it comes to sports business.”

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett is a Democrat, and the state’s governor, Mike Braun, is a Republican whose party has maintained a supermajority in the state Senate since 2010 and in the House since 2012. All pull for sports.

Approximately two dozen states have a fund or grant to help destination marketing organizations attract and/or operate sporting events, according to data provided to Sports Business Journal by Stoll Strategies.

The region’s event-hosting chassis was built, of course, by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500. The sports industry knows that the 500 is the most-attended single-event weekend in the world, but natives are even quicker to point out that the spectacle is twice as old as the Super Bowl and draws far more out-of-towners. The inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911 drew an estimated crowd of 80,000 to 85,000 spectators (in a county of 263,000). This year’s race day drew nearly 350,000 fans, more than five times the 65,719 that attended February’s Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome.

Additionally, the Class AAA Indianapolis Indians are the second-oldest minor league team in the country, having played continuously since 1902.

“We’ve been moving traffic for more than 100 years,” exclaimed Visit Indy’s executive vice president and CMO, Chris Gahl, who oversees the non-private, nonprofit’s budget of more than $12 million to market the region as an event destination.

Looking ahead, a record 251,523 hotel room nights were booked in 2024 that were directly related to future sporting events, according to Visit Indy, as the region is preparing to host (among other things) the NCAA 2026 and 2029 men’s and 2028 women’s basketball Final Fours; a WrestleMania and a two-night SummerSlam, as part of a first-of-its-kind partnership struck between WWE and Indiana Sports Corp earlier this year; and TEDSports Indianapolis, which will explore the intersection of technology, creativity and the human potential in sports.

Additionally, through a 30-year agreement formalized in 2009, Indianapolis hosts at least one major NCAA event every year to 2039, including 90% of its committee meetings.

Everything, Everyone is Connected

To accommodate growing numbers of visiting fans, the city continues to build on the physical infrastructure that boasts all the major sports venues within walking distance of each other and one of the most extensive networks of skywalks on the continent. When the Signia by Hilton opens next fall, for example, there will be 12 hotels connected via skywalk to the convention center, for a total of more than 5,100 rooms (see map above), plus an underground connector that extends to Lucas Oil Stadium. Another skywalk will connect Gainbridge Fieldhouse to the Pacers Sports & Entertainment’s under-construction site that will include a 170-room Shinola Hotel and a 4,000-capacity music venue operated by Live Nation, scheduled to open in 2027.

And, of course, in a city that was purposely designed to keep residents and visitors connected, the historical influence of the world’s most-attended single-day sporting event seeps into every facet of the economy.

“We all understand what came first,” said the Capital Improvement Board’s Andy Mallon, who has been the organization’s executive director since 2019, and holds a law degree at IU. “The sports teams all lean on each other, but the whole city leans into the 500.”

Building a Tech Hub

Since launching the nonprofit Sports Tech HQ in 2021, Jeff Hintz and Brian Alkire have assembled a collective of more than 50 companies, evenly spilt between what head of marketing Alkire said “were homegrown companies that joined the collective because they already had a significant presence here,” and the other half were lured by the accelerated growth of tech companies in the region.

mayflower box here

Sports Tech HQ is helping develop the Research & Development HUB at Grand Park, the training home of the Colts, Pacers and USL Championship Indy Eleven.

“Our goal is to future-proof the state by stopping the brain drain of innovators and connecting everyone to everyone,” said Hintz, vice president of innovation at ISC and executive director of Sports Tech HQ.

The latest addition to the collective is Edge Sound Research, which this summer signed a tech partnership with Indiana University, installed its multisensorial sound technology at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and IMS, and earlier this month raised $2.75 million in another round of funding, which included participation by USTA Ventures and the DeVos family (the majority owners of the Orlando Magic).

The Women’s Sports Capital

“Caitlin [Clark] is the accelerator, but Indianapolis has supported women’s sports for a long time,” said ISC’s Myer, noting that the city just hosted its 26th Big Ten women’s basketball tournament, and that Mel Raines (president and CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment), Allison Melangton (senior vice president of Penske Entertainment) and Allison Barber (executive leader and chair of the Marvella Foundation, the organization behind the under-development Marvella Sports Complex) are among the many executive-level women running local sports properties.

“Herb Simon is the unsung hero of the Fever,” said Raines of the longtime Pacers and Fever owner. “He invested in women’s sports 26 years ago, and he never once stopped believing.”

The Fever were the first WNBA team to have their own dedicated space within an NBA arena, and PS&E is now building the club a stand-alone $78 million practice and training facility on the Gainbridge Fieldhouse site.

The $98 million Marvella Sports Complex, overseen by Barber, who is also the former president of the Fever, is the country’s first leadership and sports complex specifically for young female athletes. It is located in Fair Oaks Farms, Ind., about two hours from Indianapolis. The 300,000-square-foot facility will feature 16 courts and fields, has a formal partnership with Sports Tech HQ and this summer received a financial grant from the WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee.

Additionally, the Portland, Ore.-based Sports Bra, a bar that is dedicated to showing only women’s athletics on its TVs, announced last month that it will open an Indianapolis location.

And Room to Grow

The city has long marketed itself as the Amateur Sports Capital of the World, thanks to the presence of the NCAA, the National Federation of State High School Associations, USA Track & Field, USA Gymnastics and USA Football. But the goal is to be home to “the largest cluster of sports organizations and governing bodies in the world,” according to Talty.

“How do we attract businesses to our state?” asked Talty. “For example, we are home to the second-most sports NGBs in the country. How do we get more? By completely surrounding them with leaders who are here now.”

The initiative also focuses on building sports business academic and research opportunities. For example, Purdue’s motorsports engineering program (which includes a five-year dual degree in motorsports and mechanical engineering) will be housed inside the U.S. headquarters of Dallara, the largest multinational Italian race car manufacturer, beginning later next month.

Located one mile from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, students will get hands-on training and diagnostic testing alongside working designers and engineers. Dallara’s portfolio includes being the exclusive chassis supplier of the NTT IndyCar Series since 2012; the designer of the Next Gen car (Gen-7) for the NASCAR Cup Series; and the manufacturer of the Cadillac and BMW Le Mans Daytona Hypercar prototype for IMSA (International Motor Sports Association).

“Indy doesn’t have casinos or palm trees or beaches,” said Lennon. “But we sure can host an event.”

Forward Progress

• The Indiana Convention Center is undergoing its sixth expansion, adding 143,500 square feet including a 50,000-square-foot ballroom connected to the new 800-room Signia by Hilton. And a massive expansion of Grand Park, one of the country’s busiest youth sports facilities, will begin this fall that will include the construction of a 10,000-seat stadium, an ice skating facility that will be the largest in the state, numerous hotels and business space.
• MLS Commissioner Don Garber visited Indianapolis again this spring, and the city has earmarked about 16 acres for construction of a new MLS stadium at the site of the Indianapolis Downtown Heliport for a proposed expansion team, and is working with Populous on the design. “It would help us attract international residents and companies, it would help the companies here attract talent, fill a void in our facilities offering,” said Talty.
• The Caitlin Effect: Average attendance in the Fever’s 33 home games since Clark joined the team was 16,952 as of press time, up 129% over the average of the 375 regular-season home games the club played since its debut in 2000-01. She has marketing deals with Indy-based Gainbridge and Lilly, and the city sees a spike in hotel room revenue for every Fever home game.
• The region’s swimming business is booming. Last month, USA Swimming awarded Indianapolis its 2028 Olympic Team Trials leading into the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The 2024 trials at Lucas Oil Stadium broke the sport’s records for attendance (more than 285,000 fans across all sessions) and generated significant exposure for the city. Additionally, the Toyota National Championships returned to the IU Natatorium last month, and a $55 million expansion and renovation of the Carmel High School natatorium 30 minutes north of downtown Indianapolis was completed in December. The facility meets or exceeds FINA and USA Swimming standards, and was recently selected to host the first leg of the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in October.
• TWG Motorsports, a racing portfolio that includes Indianapolis-based Andretti Global (IndyCar) and Wayne Taylor Racing (IMSA), is the owner of the Cadillac Formula 1 team scheduled to join the grid next year as the only U.S.-based team. The team’s 400,000-square-foot headquarters is under construction, and Keanu Reeves is producing and narrating a documentary on the team’s birth. TVG’s CEO is Dan Towriss and longtime motorsports executive Jill Gregory is COO, as well as president of Andretti Global — because, once again, everything in Indy is connected.
• IU broke ground in February on the $110 million James T. Morris Arena. The 4,500 seats will give the city a smaller marketable venue not currently provided in the downtown area, and will serve as the headquarters for USA Track & Field.
• Indianapolis has hosted every NFL Combine since 1987 and is locked in for next year. But even though the city has won every bid since 2021, the league began soliciting bids from other cities to host the annual pre-draft event, so nothing is guaranteed beyond 2026. “Every time we host an event, we treat it like we are auditioning for the next one,” Myer said.

Better call Mayflower!

Indianapolis Colts (in Indy since 1984) — Baltimore (1953)

Note: If you have to ask …

NCAA (1999) — Overland Park, Kan. (1952)

Note: In 1997, Indy was chosen over Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Kansas City, Orlando and San Antonio to be the NCAA’snew headquarters.

National Federation of State High School Associations (2000) — Kansas City (1979)

Note: The 105-year-old organization leads 8 million athletes at nearly 20,000 schools across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Corteva (2022) — Wilmington, Del. (2018)

Note: The agricultural chemical and seed company last fall signed a 10-year, $4 million deal for naming rights to the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center, home to the IU Indianapolis men’s and women’s basketball teams.

Lucas Oil (2024) — Corona, Calif. (1989)

Note: CEO Morgan Lucas is a former pro drag racer and the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is about 10 miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis.

ai.io (2025) — London (2017)

Note: The AI-powered sports analytics company, with more than 50 professional club, collegiate and NGBs on its roster, announced this spring that Indy would be its U.S. home.

Sportable (2025) — London (2015)

Note: The company known for its ball and player tracking technologies recently selected Indy as the location for its North American Innovation Center.

Last year, I became a parent and recently completed what is commonly called the newborn stage. It was filled with rich emotions, a lack of sleep and a total realignment of priorities.

What made it easier was the kindness and generosity of friends and family, who sent us positive messages and occasional gifts. I’ve written gift guides for years, and as a semi-new parent, I am freshly aware of certain gifts that were exceedingly helpful to me and my family in those first few months. I’ve collected personal favorites, NBC Select staff picks, and other bestsellers below.

Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.

Best gifts for new parents in 2025

Newborns grow fast — this clay hand and footprint keepsake can remind them how small their baby was once upon a time. It comes with air-drying clay, letter stamps and a wooden frame with glass cover that leaves room for a few pictures.

Many new parents could use some help catching up on sleep. The Hatch Restore 3 provides several sounds and features to help your giftee unwind. They can select and adjust the audio via the Hatch app and can schedule it to turn on and emit a light anytime in the morning or before bed. NBC Select commerce editor Cory Fernandez has a Hatch alarm clock and wakes up to it everyday. “I love that I can program it to play a gentle harp sound in the morning to help me wake up, rather than a blaring alarm on my phone,” he says. “I also listen to podcasts on the app or rain sounds before bed.”

Sleeping like a baby really means waking up throughout the night, especially in those first few weeks. These Grace & Stella Eye Masks are our favorite eye patches, made with amino acids, hyaluronic acid and sea moss to help brighten and moisturize skin. While they probably won’t help them get more sleep, they may help with inevitable dark under-eye circles.

Everyone wants photos of their new baby, but sharing them can be tricky, especially when you have to start explaining the concept of a shared digital album to grandma. Sharing physical photos can be easier, especially with this portable photo printer. It prints small 2×3-inch photos with peel-and-stick backs straight from your phone — no cords or finicky networking required.

This hand cream is a favorite among NBC Select staff, mainly because it has a pleasant scent and it dries incredibly fast. It isn’t greasy at all and doesn’t leave stains on clothing, according to Fernandez, who bought it after it got a lot of hype on social media. “This lotion keeps my hands moisturized and prevents me from developing calluses, especially after lifting weights at the gym,” he says. “I also love that it doesn’t leave my hands looking shiny.”

One of the hardest parts of the newborn season for me was finding time (and energy) to get groceries and cook. Anyone who sent us a food delivery credit (or better yet, just sent meals straight to our door) was a hero. Not having to worry about food made taking care of baby that much easier. Grubhub was our food delivery app of choice — it has a huge selection of restaurants in New York City.

Getting as much rest and relaxation as possible is the name of the game for new parents, and this cozy bathrobe helped us do just that. The soft, slightly plush, slightly waffle-textured cotton fabric was soothing and relaxing, whether I was post-shower or holding baby in the middle of the night.

Pre-baby, I was content with moving one reusable water bottle around the house as needed. One month into the newborn stage, I realized having a water bottle by the rocking chair, the couch and the bed was not just a matter of convenience but necessary for staying hydrated and not waking the baby to go refill my one water bottle. This 32-ounce Hydro Flask is my bottle of choice—it keeps drinks temperature controlled for hours and holds enough to be convenient but not too heavy.

All that rocking, swaying, bouncing and pacing to get baby to sleep can do a number on your feet, in my experience. Slippers like these have plush memory foam soles that add a layer of cushion and comfort to the mix. They are machine washable and available in men’s and women’s sizes.

Contact naps (holding your baby as they sleep) were pretty much mandatory for our baby to have a good nap during the daytime. To not disturb the baby but keep myself from drifting off to sleep, I wore headphones and listened to a lot of audiobooks. Audible is one of the best places to listen to audiobooks, and its selection of fiction and non-fiction titles kept me awake and entertained while I was otherwise occupied holding and rocking a napping baby.

Our newborn was a light sleeper: little noises around the house were enough to end any nap. Listening to music, audiobooks or podcasts became a headphones-only affair. If they have an iPhone, these AirPods Pro 2 are some of the best wireless earbuds you can give them. They sound clear and detailed, have impressive noise-cancellation and hear-through modes and are great for non-baby activities like work, exercise and travel.

I always needed another bag or tote during the newborn stage, and this one from L.L. Bean is one of our staff favorites. “I’m always surprised by how much it can hold,” says NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider, who uses the zip-top options as a weekender bag. You can also personalize the tote with a monogram or name up to ten characters long, just plan for extra shipping time.

Fernandez tested out this sleep mask from Ostrichpillow for our Wellness Awards earlier this year, and he said it was his absolute favorite of all the ones he tested. The mask isn’t just a sheet over your eyes — they fit almost like sunglasses so they don’t press on your eyelids in an uncomfortable way, according to Fernandez. “This mask helped me fall asleep fast and didn’t give me a headache,” he says. “I love that it has an adjustable strap and that it’s raised on the eyes. Plus, it completely blocks out all light.”

After becoming a parent, I developed all sorts of new, specific aches and pains, and a massage gun helped me ease them away. This one from Theragun has a triangle-shaped handle that makes it easier to pinpoint hard-to-reach spots like the middle of the back, in my experience using similar models from the brand. It’s also simple to use, with one button to turn it on, off, and control the speed.

Compression socks can help with comfort and blood circulation if the parents do a lot of sitting at home (read: are nap trapped). These socks are from an NBC Select staff-favorite brand and are a Wellness Awards winner. They are made from nylon and spandex, with left and right-foot specific fit.

I thought I had everything needed for the newborn phase, but after the first month, I realized how many little things I needed from Amazon, both for me and the baby. Anytime gift fund balance in my account during checkout made me thankful to the person who sent that Amazon gift card. The gift card is available as a physical card or a digital code.

Coffee can be necessary for a new parent to get less sleep than they are used to. With a subscription like Atlas Coffee Club, they’ll get a new blend sent to their door every month. NBC Select Commerce Editor Jordan Bowman reviewed it and could easily sample international blends from India, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador. You can gift a three- to 12-month subscription of whole, ground or pod-compatible coffee, with surprise beans or emails ahead of time where he can choose his preferences.

A new parent can’t always get to their coffee the moment it’s ready. With the Ember Mug, they can keep their drink warm and return to it later in case of sudden interruptions. The mug can keep beverages between 120 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit and is controlled through the Ember app. It has about 1.5 hours of battery life and charges wirelessly through the included coaster.

A weighted blanket can be a relaxing sleep companion, a comfy couch buddy or fun house decor. This is one of our favorites — it has an open-knit design that lets in air and prevents overheating, says NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin. It is made of a polyester jersey fabric and comes in 10 and 15-pound options.

Baby-wearing a newborn for a long walk in the neighborhood immediately makes you reconsider your choice of footwear. For me, running shoes became a go-to for almost every walk. The Brooks Ghost 16 are excellent walking (and running) shoes that have a comfortable, stable fit, with a shock-absorbing sole and just enough arch support to be helpful and not obtrusive. The shoes come in many colors, and are available in men’s and women’s sizes.

Fitness may be a far-off thought for some new parents, but exercise doesn’t have to mean finding time to get outside or buying an entire home gym machine. Malin has used Bala Bangles as part of her fitness routine for over four years. They act as wrist or ankle weights and come in one, two and three-pound options that add resistance to any type of workout: pilates, barre, yoga, cardio, you name it.

One of our favorite bath mats and an NBC Select Bed & Bath Award winner, this bath mat is great for new parents because it dries fast and is easy to clean. It’s made from diatomaceous stone and recycled paper, and starts drying literally seconds after I step off of it. It’s also easy to clean: just wipe it down or use the included sandpaper circle — no bulky laundry to add to the pile.

Why trust NBC Select?

I’m a reporter and new parent who covers technology and fitness including guides to fitness trackers, wireless earbuds, TV brands and more. For this article, I curated gifts using my first-hand experience with products, NBC Select staff recommendations, previous coverage and top-rated items from major storefronts like Amazon

So who’s putting this on the fast track? It’s unclear who, but it will need get through House and Senate leadership. A spokesperson for House Speaker Ron Mariano, who championed the legalization of sports betting, said in a statement that the “Speaker is not familiar with the details of the bill and has not yet taken a position on it.”

For those already in the gambling business, the stakes are high, and the politics of it all have made for strange bedfellows.

On one side is homegrown sports betting behemoth DraftKings and arch rival FanDuel, which support the bills and stand to benefit by providing the digital platforms that power these games. Joining their camp: MGM Resorts International, which operates a casino in Springfield and online gaming platform BetMGM.

On the other side is Encore Boston Harbor, the Everett casino operated by Wynn Resorts, and UNITE HERE Local 26, the politically influential hospitality union with many members who work at Encore; they oppose the bills, saying online gaming would cannibalize the brick-and-mortar casino business and reduce jobs in the industry. And then there are those who are wary for fear it will create more problem gamblers by making it even easier to bet on your phone.

Supporters and opponents of online casinos squared off during a hearing last month that was a little more than an hour long, tucked in between a debate about allowing more horse racing. If you stepped out for a cup of coffee, you might have missed most of it.

DraftKings and FanDuel argued that online casinos should be legalized because there’s already a robust illegal market, so why not regulate and tax it? According to the American Gaming Association, about $338 billion is wagered annually on online slots and table games — mostly on websites based outside the United States.

It’s the same argument that’s been made to legalize sports betting in many states, including Massachusetts, ever since the Supreme Court struck down a federal ban in 2018. Since sports betting began in Massachusetts in early 2023, it has flourished here with billions of dollars wagered, generating more than $300 million in taxes and assessments, according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Type “online casino in Massachusetts,” and you quickly realize how we’re all one Google search away from trying our luck. McLuck.com topped my search results, and it took me a minute to set up an account.

Seven states, including Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Jersey, have legalized internet casino gaming, and proponents estimate that if Massachusetts levied a 20 percent tax, the state could generate $230 million to $275 million a year in new revenue. (That’s the same tax rate as online-only sports betting, while land-based resort casinos are assessed at 25 percent.)

And with state lawmakers facing tough budget decisions this year, David Prestwood, a government affairs manager at DraftKings, knew exactly what to tell the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

“This money may be especially critical for Massachusetts in the face of anticipated federal funding cuts and reductions in state and local aid,” he said at last month’s hearing.

Online casinos may seem no different than sports betting, but their appeal runs broader and deeper than placing a bet on a baseball game. And internet gambling is far different than going to a brick-and-mortar casino, which requires getting there and interacting with staff. Online, you can gamble in your pajamas.

“There’s all these friction points where the player has the chance to think twice with about placing the next bet,” said Mark Stewart, a board member of the National Association Against iGaming, a coalition of casinos and unions that formed in January to fight online casino bills. “That doesn’t exist with iGaming. It’s just nonstop, constant action and 24/7 access.”

Stewart, who is general counsel of The Cordish Companies, a Baltimore real estate and casino developer, testified virtually at the hearing, while Encore Boston Harbor president Jenny Holaday provided written testimony opposing online gaming and warned how it could result in a “dramatic reduction in the associated taxes that Encore pays to the Commonwealth,” a sum that has totaled nearly $1 billion since the casino opened in 2019.

Encore employs about 3,300 workers, about a third of whom are part of Local 26. A union representative also testified against the bills, citing an independent research analysis funded by the National Association Against iGaming that indicated that Massachusetts casinos could lose about 862 gaming jobs and additional 2,786 supporting jobs if online gaming were legalized. (A pro-iGaming trade group, of course, has its own study, which found online casinos actually boost revenue at their land-based cousins.)

It’s shaping up as a test of who has more clout on Beacon Hill — Encore and its coalition of boots-on-the-ground supporters in the unions and Everett, or tech companies that have deep pockets.

Brick-and-mortar casinos could get in on the game, too. The legislation sets aside licenses for the state’s existing casino operators, along with four licenses for internet gaming platforms. Along with slots, they’d allow poker, blackjack, craps, and even games with a live dealer.

But what about the Massachusetts State Lottery, which only last year, after years of debate, won the Legislature’s blessing to launch its games online?

I can’t imagine state Treasurer and Lottery chair, Deb Goldberg, being happy about online casinos, which could eat into lottery profits. The lottery in fiscal 2024 netted nearly $1.2 billion — money that’s distributed as unrestricted aid to municipalities.

“If online gaming expands, we must ensure the Lottery is supported and stays competitive,” Goldberg said in a statement. “Every dollar spent on private platforms could mean less for our cities and towns and early childhood education.”

Then there are concerns about addiction, with calls to the state’s problem gambling helpline surging since sports betting was legalized.

Lia Nower, director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University said what drives up the risk of problem gambling is giving people more options.

“There’s a cumulative effect,” she said. “The more things that you gamble on, the more often you gamble and the more venues in which you gamble, the higher your risk.”

In this digital era, online casinos may feel inevitable, yet internet gambling is so new we don’t really know how addictive it could be, especially among young bettors. Remember how we initially thought social media was just fun and games?

Yet the pressure will be intense from a gaming industry that’s keen to keep expanding online. Boston-based DraftKings is playing for keeps, hiring former House Ways and Means chair Brian Dempsey as its local lobbyist.

Why? Just follow the money, explains Nower.

“It’s the cash cow for the industry,” she said.

State Senator Paul Feeney — who is sponsoring the online casino legislation with state Representative Daniel Cahill — said lawmakers are well aware the need to carefully weigh all the costs and benefits, in particular the investments made by land-based casinos which he described as “sacrosanct.”

Yet there’s also an urgency with the state facing budget pressures.

“I wouldn’t say that anything is on a fast track,” said Feeney. “There’s a renewed interest in looking at how we can maximize tax revenue without broad-based tax increases on residents.”

We tend to give the Legislature a hard time for moving too slowly, but this time we shouldn’t. At the very least, the state should conduct its own independent analysis, rather than relying on industry-funded studies to weigh the impact on existing land-based casinos and the lottery, and whether it would create a new class of problem gamblers.

Online gaming is too big of a gamble to not get this right.

Shirley Leung is a Business columnist. She can be reached at shirley.leung@globe.com.

At the ATN Innovation Summit, industry leaders explored how gyms, clubs and studios can not only stay relevant in the GLP-1 era, but also become trusted weight-loss companions for their members

Americans’ waistlines may be shrinking in the age of weight-loss medications, but the opportunity for the fitness industry is only growing.

Still, many fitness operators, coaches and wellness platforms are at a critical crossroads. Can they remain essential? And more importantly, are they approaching the business of losing weight the right way, or are they already too far down the wrong path to turn back?

Those questions and more took center stage during “Monetizing Muscle in the Age of GLP-1s,” a panel at the ATN Innovation Summit 2025 moderated by ATN founder and CEO Edward Hertzman.

The discussion brought together Edward Zouroudis, co-founder and CEO of Evolt; Mitchell Keyes, vice president of operations at Anytime Fitness – Purpose Brands; Jeff Zwiefel, strategist and advisor to Life Time. Life Time; and Cyrus Massoumi, founder and CEO of Dr. B, to explore how gyms can merge science with sweat and coaching with care in the age of GLP-1s.

Not a Quick Fix

One key theme was accountability, as Massoumi argued that GLP-1s shouldn’t be handed out without commitment to lifestyle changes. It’s a stance that may be a hard pill to swallow for some consumers.

“We only actually prescribe to people who commit to working out,” Massoumi said of the Dr. B platform. “We won’t let them move forward unless they’re committing to that up front.”

That commitment appears to make a difference. “Whereas the average weight loss that’s lean muscle mass is about 30% (for the general population taking GLP-1s), for people on our program, it’s generally sub 5%,” he said.

Zwiefel echoed Massoumi’s point, noting the importance of dosing, nutrient support and biomarker tracking to mitigate negative side effects and lean mass loss. “We’ve learned a ton,” he said.

While public perception often views GLP-1s as a shortcut, Massoumi stressed that responsible prescribing demands more discipline than many realize. Instead, he said, the industry has witnessed a troubling surge in misuse in the last two years. He believes that both telehealth and fitness operators must align around accountability, not access.

“What telehealth brands like Dr. B and what fitness brands can do is really to collaborate and to make sure that they’re holding the patient accountable, that they’re only giving them these treatments if they’re going and showing up to the gym, they’re only giving them these treatments if they’ve committed to the lifestyle change,” Massoumi said.

When that happens, he added, GLP-1s become a temporary tool, where people can take weight-loss medication for three to six months and have long-term benefits.

“I think so much of the medical community is talking to patients like this is something you’re going to take for the rest of your life,” he said. “And what we’ve seen is in our patient population, that’s not true.”

The Business of Body Composition

 When accountability becomes the standard, tracking progress becomes even more essential. That’s where body composition data plays a pivotal role.

For Evolt’s Zouroudis, the ability to measure and track progress is non-negotiable. The company has seen a surge in demand for its body composition scanners in the era of weight-loss medications.

“Previously, 67% of that population was telling us (their goal was) fat loss,” he said. “The last few years have shifted… probably 54% now is muscle and better health.”

Anytime Fitness, which uses Evolt’s body composition scanners across its clubs, is putting that data to work, Keyes said.

“The reassessment tells you, are you making progress? Are you doing the right things? How can we manipulate the programming and training, nutrition and recovery to ensure that you’re getting the best results?” he said. “And if you are… high five, handshake, and you drive referrals through that process.”

Care & Coaching as the Next Revenue Frontier

For Zwiefel, the rise of GLP-1s signals a strategic opening for operators to package meaningful offerings that support members and strengthen the bottom line.

“We have an amazing opportunity, unlike ever before, to be the leaders of ensuring that the consumers are being supported the right way,” he said.

That opportunity, he said, lies in delivering holistic solutions that blend fitness, healthcare and accountability.

“Personal training, assessments, reassessment, nutrition, protein…” Zwiefel said. “There’s no question that there’s incremental revenue generation opportunities and amazing stickiness, because once that customer creates that connection to a doctor that’s trusted and a fit pro that’s trusted…it’s powerful.”

See Also

Even so, he finds many members are hesitant to disclose their medication use, despite growing demand.

“This drug, like testosterone, has (been) somewhat taboo,” Zwiefel noted, adding that 35% of Americans say they want to be on GLP-1s. “Our members don’t like to come in and admit they’re on it…but it’s coming.”

Operators, he said, must prepare to manage that reality with care.

“We’ve got to think about things like bone density and avoid the misuse,” he said. “This is a $111 billion (market). It’s been 4% of the population. It’s going to be 9% or double digits by 2030. It’s a megatrend that’s here to stay.”

Monetizing Responsibly

For gyms looking to tap into this market, panelists stressed the importance of doing so legally and ethically.

“There are three industries in this country that are heavily regulated: alcohol, tobacco and health care,” Massoumi said. “It is against the law in about 30 states to actually pay for a doctor referral. What that means is, if you send a lead to a telehealth company, they’re paying you for that lead. It’s a criminal offense. Someone can go to jail for that.”

Many in the fitness space may not fully grasp the implications, he warned, encouraging operators to educate themselves and structure partnerships carefully. “You have to be very sensitive to health care laws,” he added.

Long-Term Empowerment

As GLP-1 medications become more mainstream, the fitness industry is being called to evolve. With new clients entering gyms in pursuit of long-term health, often for the first time, panelists agreed that education is more than a value-add. It’s a necessity.

“The average consumer… just doesn’t know where to start,” said Keyes. “As you educate the consumer, you empower the consumer… that’s where you really (evolve) from being a trainer to a coach.”

That shift, from transactional instruction to long-term guidance, may be the industry’s biggest opportunity, panelists agreed. Empowered members are more likely to stay engaged, ask better questions and commit to sustainable change.

This article is based on a live discussion held during the ATN Innovation Summit 2025, a two-day event dedicated to the future of fitness and wellness. See here for more Innovation Summit coverage.