CORTside

This BONUS episode of The CORTside Podcast details the inspirational journey of the once basketball superstar turned addict turned advocate, Chris Herren. Herren discusses his days growing up in Falls River, Massachusetts, and how drugs and alcohol became a struggle for most of his life. Chris went from a professional basketball star to battling for his life. Now he spends his time as a motivational speaker sharing his story through Herren Talks, with the goal of making a positive difference in the lives of others. Herren also grew his idea of support for others when he founded the nonprofit Herren Project. Through the organization, Herren and his team empower schools and communities to make healthy choices, while also guiding families through recovery. Most recently, he founded Herren Wellness, a residential health and wellness program that helps guests lead healthy, substance-free lives.Chris Herren's contact information:Facebook - Instagram - Twitterwww,ChrisHerren.comLeave us a review and let us know what you thought about this episode. Would love your input and if you have any ideas for future guests or topics!Follow @CORTsidePodcastFacebook - InstagramEmail for Host Mike Cortese: CoachCort@gmail.com

The season finale of The CORTside Podcast, features 12 year NBA veteran, former NBA all-star, and now successful entrepreneur, Jamal Mashburn. Mashburn is commonly referred to these days as “the biggest after-basketball success story”. Mashburn discusses in detail, his path to the NBA, how basketball was always a means to an end, and how he always kept his eye on a long-term goal of being a businessman. We are also joined by marketing and advertising executive, Jonathan Sackett. Jonathan, who is a a long time business partner and friend to Jamal, speaks on the importance of finding the right partnership in business and in life. Interested in learning from the pros and training like a pro? Be sure to check out eCoach Basketball where NBA Coaches teach drills, workouts, plays, tips and more for players and coaches of all levels. eCoach Basketball is accessible on any tablet or smartphone and is perfect for players and coaches of all levels.Sign up for your 1 year subscription of eCoachBasketball hereUse the Promo Code: MASH and pay only $49.99 for one year!Jamal Mashburn on TwitterJonathan Sackett on TwitterLeave us a review and let us know what you thought about this episode. Would love your input and if you have any ideas for future guests or topics!Follow @CORTsidePodcastFacebook - InstagramEmail for Host Mike Cortese: CoachCort@gmail.com

In Episode 11 of the CORTside Podcast, we are so excited to welcome WNBA Champion Seattle Storm’s GM Alisha Valavanis! Alisha and Seattle just stormed their way to a 2nd championship in the past 3 years down with two of the WNBA’s top players of all-time, Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart. Alsiha discusses the importance of teamwork and how to create high functioning organizations destined for success.Alisha Valavanis's Social Media:Instagram - TwitterLeave us a review and let us know what you thought about this episode. Would love your input and if you have any ideas for future guests or topics!Follow @CORTsidePodcastFacebook - InstagramEmail for Host Mike Cortese: CoachCort@gmail.com

In Episode 10 of the CORTside Podcast, we sit down with two of the great player’s in women’s basketball history, and current NBA Global directors, Jennifer Azzi and Blair Hardiek. Azzi played for Stanford University from 87-90’ and was awarded as the Naismith Player of the Year as well as Final Four Most Outstanding Player in Stanford’s 1990 National Championship season. Hardiek is a former 4-year captain and Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll Nominee from the University of Missouri.Both discuss their playing careers and transitions to coaching, founding The Azzi Basketball Academy, balancing home and professional life and the current work they do promoting the game globally for The NBA Academy and developing international prospects.Jennifer Azzi’s Social Media:Instagram - TwitterBlair Hardiek’s Social Media:InstagramLeave us a review and let us know what you thought about this episode. Would love your input and if you have any ideas for future guests or topics!Follow @CORTsidePodcastFacebook - InstagramEmail for Host Mike Cortese: CoachCort@gmail.com

In Episode 9 of the CORTside Podcast, we are joined by CEO and Founder of Pro Shark Sports, Derrick Thomas. Thomas discusses the importance of representation and how his company is pioneering a new networking approach for athletes and sports agents. Derrick Thomas was a four-year basketball standout for Drexel University starting in 90 games and was a top defensive player in the CAA conference. Following his time on the hardwood, Thomas worked as Senior CX specialist with Tesla, and worked with National Settlement Consultant before founding the sports tech startup, Pro Shark Sports.Derrick Thomas’s contact information:Social Media: @DT_32Instagram - TwitterPro Shark Sports contact information:Social Media: @ProSharkSportsInstagram - Twitterwww.ProSharkSports.comLeave us a review and let us know what you thought about this episode. Would love your input and if you have any ideas for future guests or topics!Follow @CORTsidePodcastFacebook - InstagramEmail for Host Mike Cortese: CoachCort@gmail.com

In Episode 8 of The CORTside Podcast, we are joined by the author of Lessons from the Game and Impact Beyond the Game: How Athletes Can Build Influence, Monetize Their Brand, and Create a Legacy, Malcolm Lemmons. Lemmons discusses the transition after basketball and building your own personal brand.Malcolm Lemmons is a basketball player turned entrepreneur, author, and public speaker. After graduating from Niagara University with a degree in business management, he went on to pursue a professional basketball career overseas. Now, he focuses on helping athletes build their personal brands and prepare for life after sports. Malcolm has landed media coverage with outlets such as ABC 7 & TVOne. His articles have been featured in the Huffington Post, AthleteNetwork & other publications.Order Your Copy Of Malcolm's Books Below:Lessons From The Game - Impact Beyond The GameMalcolm Lemmon’s contact information:Social Media: @MalcolmLemmonsInstagram - Twitterwww.MalcolmLemmons.comLeave us a review and let us know what you thought about this episode. Would love your input and if you have any ideas for future guests or topics!Follow @CORTsidePodcastFacebook - InstagramEmail for Host Mike Cortese: CoachCort@gmail.com

In Episode 7 of the CORTside Podcast, we are joined by Co-CEO of Dimensional Fund Advisors, Dave Butler who discusses the philosophies and strategies that guided his success from his playing days at the University of California to his rise in the financial arena. Butler provides details about the correlation between success and being passionate about your craft, not looking for shortcuts, how to work on getting better each day, and the importance of making the most out of small tasks or opportunities.Dave Butler is a former Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and draft pick of the Boston Celtics. In 2011, he was inducted into the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame, and in 2014, he was named to the Pac-12 Basketball Hall of Honor. In the 25 years since Dave joined Dimensional, the firm has grown from roughly $10 billion in assets under management to more than $500 billion.Dimensional Fund AdvisorsLeave us a review and let us know what you thought about this episode. Would love your input and if you have any ideas for future guests or topics!Follow @CORTsidePodcastFacebook - InstagramEmail for Host Mike Cortese: CoachCort@gmail.com

In Episode 6 of the CORTside Podcast, we are honored to have healthcare hero Dr. Niki Williams sit down and discuss attacking game day and the importance of the ability to pivot in life. Dr. Williams has been on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19 working as an Emergency Room Physician for two NY hospitals.Williams is a former Pittsburgh high school basketball star who went on the play for Hofstra University where she also studied medicine. Following a brief professional career in Israel, Niki Williams is now taking the leadership, communication, and teamwork skills she learned from her playing days and applying them to working with staff and patients in the emergency room.Email for Dr. Niki Williams: DrNicoleWilliams@gmail.comShe would love to hear from you with any questions you might have!InstagramLeave us a review and let us know what you thought about this episode. Would love your input and if you have any ideas for future guests or topics!Follow @CORTsidePodcastFacebook - InstagramEmail for Host Mike Cortese: CoachCort@gmail.com

In Episode 5 of the CORTside Podcast, we sit down with a good friend of the show and fellow New Yorker, John Elefertakis. In only ten short years since founding his firm, EEP Law, John has quickly distinguished himself as one of the top personal injury attorneys in the New York and New Jersey area. John Elefertakis has appeared on CNN with Anderson Cooper and has made several appearances for a variety of New York City media outlets. He was recently awarded the Achievement in Law award by the prestigious One Hundred Black Men organization at their annual gala, recognizing his work as an outstanding advocate for social justice. Additionally, John’s firm, EEP, has received many accolades including “Top 100 Verdicts” from the National Law Journal in 2017, “10 Best” for client satisfaction in 2018 awarded by American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, and John was also selected as a “Rising Star” rated by Super Lawyers.EEP LawInstagram: @eeplawEEP SportsInstagram: @eepbasketballInstagram: @eepbanditsLeave us a review and let us know what you thought about this episode. Would love your input and if you have any ideas for future guests or topics!Follow @CORTsidePodcastFacebook - InstagramEmail for Host Mike Cortese: CoachCort@gmail.com

Episode 4 of the CORTside Podcast features guest Niesha Butler as we discuss overcoming adversity, her basketball journey, and her company Ballin’ Technologies which teaches coding, STEM and technology through sports for the youth in her community. Butler talks about her time in NYC where her basketball game resulted in astonishing accolades such as being the first female to play for the infamous Gauchos travel team, becoming the all-time NYC high school leader in total points scored with 3,127, and joining Kareem Abdul Jabar as the only players to be named to the NYC All City Team four years in a row. After being recruited by Coney Island’s own Stephon Marbury, Niesha Butler went on to attend Georgia Tech to continue dropping buckets down in Atlanta. We discuss her time in college, where the game took her after hanging up the Yellow Jacket jersey, and all her current business ventures including founding the non for profit Ballin Technologies. Niesha Butler’s contact information:Social Media: @NieshaButlerFacebook - Instagram - Twitterhttps://nieshabutler.com/ - Scrap Sports - Ballin TechnologyLeave us a review and let us know what you thought about this episode. Would love your input and if you have any ideas for future guests or topics!Follow @CORTsidePodcastFacebook - InstagramEmail for Host Mike Cortese: CoachCort@gmail.com

On Episode 3 of CORTside, we are joined by the incredibly resilient and charismatic Ebong Eka as we discover the power from hearing “NO”.Ebong Eka shares with us his remarkable journey that has seen him travel across the globe. Eka is a certified public accountant, entrepreneur, and former professional basketball player overseas. Eka has used life experiences that he learned through basketball at a young age to develop a lifelong importance on work ethic and leadership that he now brings to the business world. Eka is also a TEDx Speaker, motivational speaker, author, blogger and business expert who regularly shares his expertise with appearances on MSNBC, Fox News, Fox Business Channel, NBC, and CNN. Order your copies of Ebong's Books below:Start Me Up! The No Business Plan, Business PlanThe 10 Minute Motivator 'How to Overcome adversity & achieve monster goals in 10 minutes a day!Ebong Eka's contact information:Email Address: info@ebongeka.comSocial Media: @EbongEkaInstagram - Twitterhttp://ebongeka.com/Leave us a review and let us know what you thought about this episode. Would love your input and if you have any ideas for future guests or topics!Follow @CORTsidePodcastFacebook - InstagramEmail for Host Mike Cortese: CoachCort@gmail.com

On Episode 2 of CORTside, we sit down with Lea B. Olsen and “Rethink the Win”. Olsen is a former Division I athlete, current sports broadcaster and entrepreneur. Olsen has dedicated her life to the benefits and costs to winning. In this episode, Lea discusses the important positive impacts sports can have beyond the court. Following her playing days, Lea has carved out a career in sports journalism including experiences working for ESPN covering the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx as an analyst and as a sideline reporter for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Olsen was inspired to form “Rethink the Win”, a non-profit organization that emphasizes to youth athletes the lessons learned through sports.Lea is the host of The Youth Sports Intervention Podcast, which is an extension of her work on and off the court as she brings in a variety of guests from different areas of the sports world to help educate parents and players on the values that come from youth sports. You can catch the podcast here! Lea B. Olsen's contact information:Email Address: lea@rethinkthewin.comSocial Media: @LeaBOlsenInstagram - Twitterhttps://leabolsen.com/Leave us a review and let us know what you thought about this episode. Would love your input and if you have any ideas for future guests or topics!Follow @CORTsidePodcastFacebook - InstagramEmail for Host Mike Cortese: CoachCort@gmail.com

On the debut episode of CORTside With Mike Cortese, we welcome author, motivational speaker, and performance expert, Alan Stein Jr. Alan knows a thing or two about the secrets of elite level performance. He spent 15+ years working with some of the greatest NBA talents such as Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, and many others. In this episode, Alan shares with us his secrets for high-performance as we go in-depth into some of the key self-improvement strategies and concepts from his book, Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets from The Best of The Best.Order your copy of Raise Your Game here!Alan's contact information:Email Address: alan@alansteinjr.comSocial Media: @AlanSteinJrFacebook - Instagram - Twitterwww.AlanSteinJr.comLeave us a review and let us know what you thought about this episode. Would love your input and if you have any ideas for future guests or topics!Follow @CORTsidePodcastFacebook - InstagramEmail for Host Mike Cortese: CoachCort@gmail.com

We are extremely excited to debut CORTside with myself, your host, Mike Cortese. In season one, I will take you through a journey From The Baseline To The Boardroom. We will discuss the lessons and concepts that are deeply ingrained in the fabulous game of basketball and how these can easily be applied in business and any other industry as well as your own personal life to help achieve what we all strive for...success and productivity. Our panel of guests bring an immense wealth of knowledge in these areas. We will dive deep into their personal stories and experiences and most importantly, how the game of basketball helped prepare, inspire, and launch them to greater heights both personally and professionally. From former Division I and professional athletes to now CEO’s, authors, broadcasters, doctors and much more. These leaders of their field share with us their trials and tribulations, their struggles and accomplishments, and everything else along the way that helped get them to where they are today. So be sure to tune in every Sunday night and check us out. I look forward to seeing you….CORTside.

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