Face First Podcast with Ryan Clark

RC on Carrol, Lebron, and Russ

RC heads to his hometown of New Orleans to meet with local graffiti artist Brandan "Bmike" Odums to discuss art, culture, and life experiences from the art world.

Dan Orlosvky on family, faith, football, & life as ESPN's QB1.

“RC picks the brain of sports agent, David Mulugheta— a name you hear but not necessarily always a face you see. They discuss the obvious, the important and even the less thought of. Tune in to get an inside look at the NFL's Secret Super Agent. “

Let's be real...How many times have you been told to have hope? You always hear that you should hold onto it because "without hope there is nothing."   But- how about we talk about the other things hope can bring. Ryan Clark points out that just hoping can do a lot.. Like expectations that won't be fulfilled. 

Culture Wednesday is officially here. But is it here to stay? The ESPN analyst crew; Ryan Clark, Marcus Spears, and Domonique Foxworth finally get together again for their own show. This may be the start of what has been highly anticipated by culture Wednesday fans. On this episode you can expect a raw and uncut round table discussion about sports, career, lifestyle, and many hilarious outtakes from these three. Tune in.

Ryan Clark is off the road and back in the studio for another episode of Face First.

Ryan Clark sits down with former Pittsburgh Steelers teammate James Harrison to talk about how their NFL experiences impacts their on and off the field lifestyle. Special guest Ian Danney appears to talk about what it is like training with two of his favorite athletes.

Ryan Clark sits down with former Pittsburgh Steelers teammates Ike Taylor & 2020 NFL Hall of famer Troy Polamalu to talk about how their NFL experiences shaped them into the men they are today. Prepare to laugh. Cry. Laugh some more and to be entertained. This is bigger than the Hall of fame.

Ryan Clark sits down with Landon Collins, Deshazor Everett, Justin Reid, Jalen Thompson, and Deionte Thompson to discuss the life inside and outside the lines of football.

Another vacation for RC.  Another near disaster!  Enjoy as RC shares the story of how he nearly ended up in a Mexican jail.

Fighters. YouTubers. Mainstream Athletes. They're all getting theirs in the age of athlete empowerment.

With an alarming uptick in the number of fan incidents this past week, Ryan Clark sends a dose of reality and a warning to people who continue to misbehave at sporting events.

Whether you come for the funny stories about Ryan's youngest daughter graduating from high school, Troy Polamalu impressions or Dick LeBeau reciting "The Night Before Christmas," this episode is perfectly woven in relatability to life events we can all apprciate.

The 2021 NFL Draft has come and gone and Ryan still hates the Draft.  But that doesn't mean you have to hate it too.  Ryan explains his feelings, which are rooted in his own Draft day experience and the opportunity ahead for all players whether they heard their name called or not.

It was an eventful day for Ryan and he details his Saturday which saw some of the relatable challenges of being a parent and the things you do for your children, all while watching one of the more eventful UFC cards in recent memory.

Ryan and Marcus Spears have an uncut conversation where they chop it up about a plethora of different topics.

In a rare behind-the-scenes look, today's episode is a speech Ryan gave at the House of Athlete Life Skills Session in Florida.  He shares his story and advice to young players as they embark on the next phase of their career.

Brady and Jordan.  Kobe and Mahomes.  King James and Serena. The unsettled debate of defining greatness across different sports won't be settled here, but Ryan Clark provides a thesis for the conversation amid a year that has seen the conversation around them change. The genesis of this conversation has a lot to do with his own professional experience as Ryan details his new contract with ESPN.

In what was the most unusual season in the century-plus of professional football, we learned many lessons and many legacies were defined.  Ryan Clark discusses the legacies of QBs like Brady, Mahomes and Brees.  Also, who Bruce Arians created a different kind of lasting legacy.  And RC closes with a very moving tribute to his late uncle.

While much of the sports world has hit the pause button amid the Coronavirus outbreak, the NFL has begun its League year.  Ryan Clark reacts to the new CBA which includes a 17 game season and an expanded playoff as well as deals involving players like Tom Brady, Kirk Cousins, David Johnson and many more.  Ryan wraps the episode with a call for responsible behavior during these times, especially given his own compromised immunity as a result of his Sickle Cell crisis in 2007.

As the next crop of NFL superstars prepares for the Scouting Combine, Ryan went to Florida to visit with Mo Wells, the Strength & Conditioning Coach at IMG Academy.

Ryan Clark, still reveling in LSU's National Championship season, welcomed aboard his former Redskins teammate Clinton Portis to debate which team in the greatest in college football history.  Talent.  Ranked wins.  Draft Picks.  The guys chop it up to see how the two stack up.  And Ryan also welcomed Matt Moscona into the conversation.

It was a perfect storm of events in Chicago Sunday, but the NBA All Star Game proved that change can be a good thing. And as Ryan points out, change is something NFL franchises in New England, New York, San Diego/LA and New Orleans have not had to deal with for a while, but something they need to embrace.

Ryan describes his experience at Super Bowl LIV as the "best week ever."  Yet, it had nothing to do with the 60 minutes of football that was played between the Chiefs and 49ers.  Instead, it was about sharing life changing moments with amazing people.  Ryan recounts his time spent with Troy Polamalu on the weekend he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, chatting with Steelers legends and celebrating a crowning achievement with Tyrann Mathieu.

Kobe Bryant has died at the age of 41.  Ryan explains why he mourned a man he never met, but considered a friend.

As Black Monday came and went and a handful of NFL head coaching jobs have been filled, Ryan examines the hires made in Dallas, Carolina, New York and whatever is happening in Cleveland.  He also takes an honest look at the Rooney Rule and where thing have gone awry.  Former NFL running back and Memphis Passing Game Coordinator John Simon joins the show to give a candid look at the challenges for minority coaches through the hiring process.

With Saints QB Drew Brees setting a new NFL career touchdowns mark, Ryan Clark discusses whether or not records alone are enough to consider Drew Brees at the top of the "Greatest QB" debate.  Since Ryan isn't a Saints fan, he is joined by one -- Matt Moscona, who hosts afternoon drive on ESPN Radio stations throughout Louisiana.  Somehow, this convo included supermodels, the guys singing "Be Like Mike" and yes, their QB Rankings.

On this special episode of Face First, Ryan is joined by his brother, Chaz.  The two reminisce about growing up in New Orleans swapping stories about Chicken Pox, learning to play football and getting hit by a car (Spoiler: everyone was OK).  Mostly, they talk about how football united them and continues to unite their family.  The guys preview the College Football Playoff and make their Super Bowl picks.

Twelve years ago today--November 27, 2007--Sean Taylor died after being shot in his home.  Ryan Clark pays tribute not only to the football player, but the man many never knew that was taken too soon.  Taylor's former University of Miami and Washington Redskins teammate Santana Moss joins the show to share his memories of Sean and how his legacy lives on today.

With Colin Kaepernick holding a workout for NFL teams this past weekend, Ryan Clark reacts to the converation about Kaep and his intentions.  RC also gives his take on the riff between Eric Reid and Stephen A. Smith.  This isn't a conversation about football.  This is about life.

As Ryan Clark discussed in Episode 01, this is the year of the Player in the NFL.  In this episode, Ryan discusses decisions of load management facing NFL players now and if the NBA's model might make its way into the NFL.  Ten-year NBA veteran Ryan Hollins joins the show to give his two cents as well.  RC wraps the show with a jarring story about his own battle that nearly cost him his career and his life.

Two days before The Game of the Century II, Ryan Clark explains why LSU fans are in a great head space with Ed Orgeron at the helm and what a win Saturday would mean.  Also, Matt Moscona from ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge joins the show for a deep dive into the rebirth of LSU as a national power and what this season has meant.  Matt also discusses his feelings when Coach O was hired and how they have changed.  Ryan wraps up the episode with what could be another "We comin'!" hype video.

In his debut episode, former NFL safety Ryan Clark discusses the Year of Player Control and how it played out during the NFL trade deadline including situations involving Jamal Adams, AJ Green and Jalen Ramsey among others.  Also, Marcus Spears stops by to share his thoughts on moves that should have been made and why Baker Mayfield is getting a pass from the national media.