What do real estate investing and the media have in common? At first glance, not much, but M Group Companies‘ Patrick Marino might see the parallels better than most. Ever since he co-founded Action Park Media with actor and filmmaker Kevin Connolly, best known for his role as Eric Murphy in HBO’s Entourage, Marino has brought his knowledge of finance, strategic negotiations, and seeing value to his new media enterprise.

Business-savvy readers who have followed Marino’s career might be familiar with the story of how he made his fortune in real estate investment. As a “value-add” and distressed debt investor, Marino sought value in places where no one else could see it. In both the residential and industrial real estate markets, he applied his knowledge, instincts, and expertise to adding properties such as parking lots, multifamily apartment housing, and shopping centers to his portfolio. To Patrick Marino, the media was yet another “value-add” opportunity where his eye for untapped potential could help him grow a small project into a large, thriving enterprise.

Marino and Connolly recognized the rising prominence of the podcast market as podcasts began to eclipse radio talk shows in popularity and accessibility. Using their combination of industry connections, unique talents, and passion for the field, they founded Action Park Media as a media hub focusing primarily on podcast content and digital media. The company has since produced hit podcasts in genres ranging from sports to lifestyle media. Popular Action Park Media podcasts include No Gruffs Given, starring former NHL star Sean Avery, and The Victory Podcast. Marino’s Action park also recently completed the feature film Lice, which is described as a “gruesome throwback to ’80s high school classics.”  

Action Park Media has gone on to secure a multi-year exclusivity deal with LA-based podcast platform PodcastOne, as well as media partnerships with organizations such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As the company has scaled, elements of Patrick Marino’s background in real estate investment have proved valuable in areas such as long-term planning, negotiations, and structuring deals. Patrick Marino’s financial experience, coupled with Connolly’s creative direction, have made them an ideal pair for navigating the hypercompetitive podcast space. While they have found their niche in sports-related content, Marino and Connolly also have plans to explore different avenues for expression, such as film and television. Action Park Media’s talks with Steve James, director of Hoop Dreams, about producing a documentary series is a noteworthy illustration of the company’s ambitious plans for the future.

Despite success with multiple business endeavors, including the aforementioned M Group and the real estate investment firm RentylCore, Patrick Marino has shown that he is all-in on entertainment as the next frontier for value-add investment. By starting small in the podcast space, then making plans to expand into other mediums, his leadership will guide Action Park Media to long-term success in an increasingly competitive media landscape.