Podcasts about All American

The 2025 NAIA Cross Country National Championships are in the books — and we're breaking it all down with the coaches who lived it.Originally streamed LIVE on YouTube on November 24, 2025, this episode is now available on all Airey Bros Radio podcast platforms as Episode 421.Recorded just days after the championship meet at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida, the Airey Bros are joined by five elite NAIA head coaches to unpack team titles, podium finishes, All-American performances, heartbreak by a single point, and the moments you don't see on the results sheet.

Chad Leistikow and Scott Dochterman give their thoughts on how special Iowa's run of having a consensus All-American is as Logan Jones extends the streak. What are the best Big Ten bowl games? Diego Pavia's Heisman reaction. All this and more presented by GameDay Men's Health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Isaac Keys is a dynamic force whose journey spans from cracking helmets in the NFL to lighting up TV screens as Diamond Sampson on “Power Book IV: Force.” A two-time All-American and Morehouse Hall of Famer, Isaac embodies relentless ambition and personal reinvention. Beyond his achievements as an athlete and actor, he now steps into the role of author with his new book, "The Grind Don't Stop, It Just Changes," sharing powerful lessons in resilience, personal growth, and the importance of evolving your circle as your ambitions rise. A passionate advocate for mental health and men's emotional vulnerability, Isaac's story is as inspiring as it is relatable. Takeaways: Embrace Change and Growth: Isaac's journey is all about pivoting with purpose, showing that real progress happens when you're not afraid to completely change directions, not just adjust your route. The Power of Your Circle: As you evolve, so should your circle—the people around you can either lift you higher or hold you back, making it crucial to surround yourself with those who genuinely support your vision. Vulnerability is Strength: Both Isaac and Mick Hunt stress that celebrating wins and being open about struggles—especially as Black men—isn't weakness but a vital part of well-being and success. Sound Bites: “The grind don't stop—it just changes. You never truly stop working, you just shift what you're hustling for.” — Isaac Keys “Sometimes adjusting isn't enough. There are moments in life when you need to just change, because life is adjusting with you.” — Mick Hunt “When you try to let go of your past, some people want to hold on because your past benefits them—those are the people you can't be around.” — Isaac Keys Connect & Discover Isaac: Instagram: @isaackeys LinkedIn: @isaac-keys X: @isaackeys Facebook: @isaackeys Website: IsaacKeys.com Book: The Grind Don't Stop

Jessica Coody sat down with All-American running back Emmett Johnson to reflect on his record breaking season with Husker Football, to discuss his decision to pursue his dream in the NFL, and why Nebraska has made him feel prepared for the next chapter, Emmett talks about his relationship with Dana Holgorsen, the impact of his position coach EJ Barthel, why he's been so involved in the Lincoln community, his pitch to potential Huskers, his belief in the young running back room, and much more!

Legendary Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron was named the new head coach of the Birmingham Stallions. The 3-time national champion and All-American talks about why he's ready to coach at this stage of his life and career, how to build a winning culture and what he learned from the GOAT, Nick Saban. AJ also shares some advice for Crimson Tide QB Ty Simpson ahead of the College Football Playoff, and he shares his favorite plays and games from his incredible career at Bama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Walker and Eric Frandsen discuss the state the Utah Jazz find themselves in, along with Utah State soccer and their offseason.Is Keyonte George morphing into the star Utah has been looking for? Back-to-back 37+ point games and his season as a whole suggest he might be. And what do the Jazz need to do if George is, in fact, the star of the future?Utah State soccer has announced three transfer signings, including a junior college All-American. Jason and Eric break down those signings.

In this powerful episode, Casey Baugh sits down with long-time friend and All-American wrestler Ben Kjar for an unforgettable conversation about resilience, adversity, and becoming the kind of person who stands out—on purpose. From surviving childhood bullying to becoming Utah Valley University's first All-American, Ben shares what it takes to turn pain into fuel, pressure into performance, and setbacks into legacy.Ben opens up about living with Crouzon Syndrome, calling his shot as a teen, building elite discipline, and the upcoming release of his inspiring feature film Stand Out. This isn't just a story of success—it's a blueprint for how to live bold, focused, and fully committed to your calling.00:00 | Missionary Beginnings & Lifelong Friendship03:58 | Wrestling Origins & Crouzon Syndrome06:39 | Calling the Shot: Becoming a 3X State Champion08:55 | Childhood Trauma That Sparked Transformation12:39 | Choosing Power Over Victimhood18:10 | Lessons from Jesus: Grace vs. Retaliation24:31 | UVU Wrestling & Sacrificing for the Dream26:45 | Be Disobedient to Average29:42 | The Power of Shot-Calling & Deadlines32:57 | Translating Athletic Principles to Life35:07 | Expanding Worldviews Through Experience41:56 | Letting Go to Go All In44:43 | Becoming UVU's First All-American48:01 | Grit, Redemption & Spitting in Fear's Face54:15 | Impact of Focused Commitment57:25 | From Real Estate to Life Purpose01:02:00 | Family, Adoption & Unwavering Support01:06:09 | Speaking with Purpose & Creating Legacy01:09:03 | Trust, Belief & Living with Intention01:15:08 | Behind the Film “Stand Out”01:21:00 | Final Reflections & Lasting Impact Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(S9, E19) This week on The Colorado State Insider, Brian brings you the latest news from Colorado State football, including an All-American honor for linebacker Owen Long. The focus then shifts to the hardwood, as both CSU men's and women's basketball wrap up non-conference play at 9–2 and open Mountain West Conference play this week. Brian previews Saturday's men's matchup against Utah State with a conversation featuring the Voice of the Aggies, Scott Garrard.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of On the Tape, host Danny Moses welcomes back Chris Bevilacqua, a two-time All American and Hall of Fame wrestler. They discuss Chris's impressive career transition into sports media, entertainment, and technology, including his successful ventures such as SimpleBet, which was sold to DraftKings. The conversation covers key topics like the transformation of college athletics through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), the current state of the online gambling sector, the emergence of prediction markets, and the evolution of media rights in the sports industry. Chris also shares insights on the challenges faced by the NCAA and the need for federal legislation to bring order to the current chaotic state of college athletics. The episode concludes with Danny's Week 16 NFL picks.--ABOUT THE SHOWFor decades, Danny has seen it all on Wall Street and has built his reputation on integrity, curiosity and skepticism that he will bring with him each week. Having traded through the Great Financial Crisis and being featured in "The Big Short" is only part of the experiences Danny wants to share with the listener. This weekly podcast cuts through market noise, offering entertaining and informative discussions with expert guests giving their views of the financial world and the human side of it. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just getting started, On The Tape provides something for all listeners.Follow Danny on X: @dmoses34The financial opinions expressed are for information purposes only. The opinions expressed by the hosts and participants are not an attempt to influence specific trading behavior, investments, or strategies. Past performance does not necessarily predict future outcomes. No specific results or profits are assured when relying on this content.Before making any investment or trade, evaluate its suitability for your circumstances and consider consulting your own financial or investment advisor. The financial products discussed in 'On The Tape' carry a high level of risk and may not be appropriate for many investors. If you have uncertainties, it's advisable to seek professional advice. Remember that trading involves a risk to your capital, so only invest money that you can afford to lose.Derivatives are not suitable for all investors and involve the risk of losing more than the amount originally deposited and any profit you might have made. This communication is not a recommendation or offer to buy, sell or retain any specific investment or service. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

-The AP released their All-American teams yesterday---unfortunately, Emmett Johnson was a 2nd team player---but 10 B1G players made first team status, including 4 Ohio State players-Iowa had 2 first team All-Americans (guard Beau Stephens, and center Logan Jones)…it's the 7th STRAIGHT YEAR that Iowa has had at least one first-team All-American and the case in 10 of the last 12 years. That is incredible and needs to be honored.-Also, TREKKING TUESDAY (sponsored by Meindl USA): email us your best outdoors story for a chance at a $50 Meindl gift card! Show Sponsored by NEBCOOur Sponsors:* Check out Hims: https://hims.com/EARLYBREAK* Check out Infinite Epigenetics: https://infiniteepigenetics.com/EARLYBREAK* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Beam and Pat Murphy on a full two-hour Monday night episode! Buckeyes take home All-American honors, and the transfer portal is wide open. Bill Landis drops by the show, and Mick Walker of Letterman Row updates us on recruiting. Plus, a thriller with Buckeye Hoops, and Diego Pavia said naughty words!

Super Bowl Champ, Pro Bowler, Lou Groza Award Winner & All American kicker Martin Gramatica on his career, his sons Nico and Gaston’s kicking careers and how they’re paving their own way. Martin talks about how much family and Tampa Bay means to him. Martin also loves calling games on the Bucs Spanish Radio Network […] The post Super Bowl Champion Kicker Martin Gramatica & Rock’s Stories appeared first on Radio Influence.

Reacting to the first bracketology of the year! A first team All-American draft! Our midseason bold predictions! The Sleepers Podcast is now available daily with new episodes every Monday-Friday! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With a lull between Ohio State games, we look at all the various trophies and awards Buckeye players piled up with their performances throughout the 2025 season. We dive into the various All-Big Ten teams as well. Who was deserving? Who got snubbed? How the hell did Julian Sayin end up fourth on the Heisman list with numbers comparable to or better than the winner (even in the head-to-head meeting)? And furthermore, how did a receiver win the Biletnikoff Award without even winning the award for being the best receiver in his conference? That's another snub for Jeremiah Smith (and an egregious one — I didn't see Makai Lemon's name in the top 10 in Heisman Trophy voting). Following our walk through the postseason awards, we turned our attention to the coaching carousel. Former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles only worked at Penn State for one season and is now headed to Tennessee. It's a bit ironic that his last outing before being hired by Tennessee was to give up 500+ yards to Greg Schiano's Rutgers Scarlet Knights. After all, Schiano was supposed to become the Vols' head coach until the fanbase pushed back hard against the choice.Mike Jacobs, who played for Ohio State on the offensive line in the late 1990s and early 2000s is the new head coach at Toledo. I can honestly say I don't remember him as a Buckeye, but now he's back in the Buckeye State and has a solid job in the MAC.Finally, we discussed the bizarre case of Sherrone Moore and the ongoing issues at Michigan. While Moore's wife and kids never asked to be put in this position, here they are. It may not be fair to them, but it will probably be some time before this matter is put to rest. The University of Michigan is investigating its athletic department's response to previous school scandals, and there doesn't seem to be a way for Warde Manuel to keep his job (nor should there be). We discuss the matter without getting into the salacious details or diving into reports and speculation, and perhaps the best plan forward for Ohio State's rival is to cut all ties with the Jim Harbaugh era and start fresh.We're taking next week off, but we'll be back on Dec. 30 to preview Ohio State's next opponent in the College Football Playoff. We'll be watching the Miami-Texas A&M game with great interest.We would love to hear from you, so please reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or ⁠send us an email⁠ at silverbulletspod@gmail.com. Any questions directed toward us will be answered on our next show.Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, share, and follow the show over on Twitter at ⁠@SilvrBulletsPod⁠.As always, thanks for listening!0:20 - Some Buckeyes won some awards, but some of those Buckeyes didn't win some of the awards that they should have. Also, some Buckeyes may have been honored in ways that didn't quite make sense.20:26 - Knowles moves on to Rocky Top and Mike Jacobs returns home to northwest Ohio.28:05 - The Sherrone Moore saga is odd and fascinating and sad. Michigan needs a reset.

Super Bowl Champ, Pro Bowler, Lou Groza Award Winner & All American kicker Martin Gramatica on his career, his sons Nico and Gaston’s kicking careers and how they’re paving their own way. Martin talks about how much family and Tampa Bay means to him. Martin also loves calling games on the Bucs Spanish Radio Network with his brother Santiago! Rock tells stories about working with Martin on the radio and covering Martin back in the day. Rock also talks about Holiday Parties and what it’s like to cover a losing football team. (It ain’t fun) This episode is brought to you by Lipton Window and Door of New Port Richey. Lipton is Tampa Bay’s Premier Window and Door Contractor. Visit their showroom or Lipton will come to your home or job site! They have a fully trained staff, offer a factor-backed warranty and they can be reached at 727-372-2455. And be sure to tell them that you heard about them on The Rock Stops Here Podcast. Follow Rock Riley on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Make sure to subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or iHeartRadio! The post Super Bowl Champion Kicker Martin Gramatica & Rock’s Stories appeared first on Radio Influence.

The Southeastern 16 crew talks about one of the better bowl matchups in the country: Vanderbilt and Iowa in the ReliaQuest bowl. We preview and predict outcomes on the game, including the following topics: You can prepare for Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia… but can you really prepare for what he brings on any given day given his abilities and a penchant for making plays no one else does? The Heisman runner-up had a fantastic season. Tight end Eli Stowers won the Mackey Award and is Pavia's top target. Running backs Sedrick Alexander and MK Young are also capable threats for the Commodores. Iowa's defense was stout. It allowed just 15.2 points and 271 yards per game and was tough against the run and the pass, and held Oregon to 18 points. Iowa's offense put up 40 points against Nebraska in the finale. The Hawkeyes are led by dual-threat quarterback Mark Gronowski and running back Kamari Moulton (783 rushing yards). Iowa has the Remington Award winner in center Logan Jones, an All-American in guard Beau Stephens and a second-team All-Big 10 tackle in Gennings Dunker. Both teams are great on special teams. Iowa's Kaden Wetjen is one of the country's top return men, while Vanderbilt, led by kicker Brock Taylor and punter Nick Haberer, is excellent in all areas of special teams. Vanderbilt increasingly went up-tempo late in the year with success, making the “over” a sneaky play here. YEARLY CO Use promo code SE16KIT for a free sizing kit! https://yearlyco.com/ ROKFORM Use promo code SEC25 for 25% off! The world's strongest magnetic phone case! https://www.rokform.com/ JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP Join the "It Just Means More" tier for bonus videos and live streams! Join Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv1w_TRbiB0yHCEb7r2IrBg/join FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter: https://twitter.com/16Southeastern ADVERTISE WITH SOUTHEASTERN 16 Reach out to caroline.bellcow@gmail.com to find out how your product or service can be seen by over 200,000 unique viewers each month! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We were going to do this Friday afternoon as a recap of Everything but decided to let things settle a bit first, so: Jessica Smetana joins to talk Jeremiyah Love awards circuit, All-American tracking, Remembering Some Guys via trivia, the USC series, strength of schedule debates, which reports from last week matter and which don't, basketball injury updates and much more. Donate here to the Center for the Homeless: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rakes-report-christmas-giving-2025

Get to know Courtney Blackson of LSU Gymnastics, who entered the transfer portal a year after completing her final year at Boise State in 2024. Now, the two-time All-American out of Elk Grove, California, plans to use her final year of eligibility with the two-time defending SEC Champions at LSU. Watch on LSU Plus.

Cole Stukenholtz & Nate Rohr are back on the air to marvel at Husker volleyball's dominance in the NCAA Tournament. They swept Kansas on Friday 12-11-12. Lincoln Arneal from Volleyball State and HuskerMax joins the show to break down the Sweet 16 match and look ahead to the Elite 8 on Sunday against Texas A&M. Husker men's and women's hoops are still unbeaten, and the men are off to the best start in school history. The women are top 10 in multiple offensive categories. Nebraska football announced their new defensive coordinator, Rob Aurich, and new offensive line coach, Geep Wade. Plus, more All-American accolades for Emmett Johnson. GBR!!

On this episode of the Sports Medicine Primer Series, host Dr. Zainab Shirazi, MD, is joined by Dr. Adam Tenforde, MD, to discuss how to manage a case of hip pain in a 25-year-old recreational weightlifter. The goal of this ongoing series is to provide an audio study aid for anyone pursuing a career as a sports medicine physician and to prepare them for a sports medicine fellowship. Dr. Tenforde is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. He is a sports medicine physician at the Spaulding National Running Center – one of the only centers in the United States exclusively dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of running-related injuries. He has the unique perspective of being both a doctor and a former professional runner who was an All-American at Stanford University, where he contributed to three NCAA National Team Championships and later qualified for the Olympic trials. Dr. Shirazi is an Attending Physician at Women's Health, Sports & Performance (WHSP) Medical in Brighton, MA, and a dual board-certified physician in Sports Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. She has a passion for advancing the health and performance of female athletes and specializes in the non-operative management of musculoskeletal and sports-related injuries, providing comprehensive care for athletes of all ages and abilities.   Resources Mountjoy M, Ackerman KE, Bailey DM, et al. 2023 International Olympic Committee's (IOC) consensus statement on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Br J Sports Med. 2023;57(17):1073-1097. doi:1136/bjsports-2023-106994 Kraus E, Tenforde AS, Nattiv A, et al. Bone stress injuries in male distance runners: higher modified Female Athlete Triad Cumulative Risk Assessment scores predict increased rates of injury. Br J Sports Med. 2019;53(4):237-242. doi:1136/bjsports-2018-099861 Hoenig T, Ackerman KE, Beck BR, et al. Bone stress injuries. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2022;8(1):26. doi:1038/s41572-022-00352-y Nattiv A, Kennedy G, Barrack MT, et al. Correlation of MRI grading of bone stress injuries with clinical risk factors and return to play: a 5-year prospective study in collegiate track and field athletes. Am J Sports Med. 2013;41(8):1930-1941. doi:1177/0363546513490645 Hoenig T, Tenforde AS, Strahl A, Rolvien T, Hollander K. Does Magnetic Resonance Imaging Grading Correlate With Return to Sports After Bone Stress Injuries? A Systematic Review and Meta- analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2022;50(3):834-844. doi:1177/0363546521993807 Barrack MT, Fredericson M, Tenforde AS, Nattiv A. Evidence of a cumulative effect for risk factors predicting low bone mass among male adolescent athletes. Br J Sports Med. 2017;51(3):200-205. doi:1136/bjsports-2016-096698 Robertson GA, Wood AM. Femoral Neck Stress Fractures in Sport: A Current Concepts Review. Sports Med Int Open. 2017;1(2):E58-E68. doi:1055/s-0043-103946 Fredericson M, Roche M, Barrack MT, et al. Healthy Runner Project: a 7-year, multisite nutrition education intervention to reduce bone stress injury incidence in collegiate distance runners. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2023;9(2):e001545. doi:1136/bmjsem-2023-001545 Roche M, Nattiv A, Sainani K, et al. Higher Triad Risk Scores Are Associated With Increased Risk for Trabecular-Rich Bone Stress Injuries in Female Runners. Clin J Sport Med. 2023;33(6):631-637. doi:1097/JSM.0000000000001180 Burke LM, Ackerman KE, Heikura IA, Hackney AC, Stellingwerff T. Mapping the complexities of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs): development of a physiological model by a subgroup of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Consensus on REDs. Br J Sports Med. 2023;57(17):1098-1108. doi:1136/bjsports-2023-107335 Tenforde AS, Barrack MT, Nattiv A, Fredericson M. Parallels with the Female Athlete Triad in Male Athletes. Sports Med. 2016;46(2):171-182. doi:1007/s40279-015-0411-y Hoenig T, Eissele J, Strahl A, et al. Return to sport following low-risk and high-risk bone stress injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2023;57(7):427-432. doi:1136/bjsports-2022-106328 Nattiv A. Stress fractures and bone health in track and field athletes. J Sci Med Sport. 2000;3(3):268-279. doi:1016/s1440-2440(00)80036-5 Nattiv A, Armsey TDJ. Stress injury to bone in the female athlete. Clin Sports Med. 1997;16(2):197-224. doi:1016/s0278-5919(05)70017-x Nattiv A, De Souza MJ, Koltun KJ, et al. The Male Athlete Triad-A Consensus Statement From the Female and Male Athlete Triad Coalition Part 1: Definition and Scientific Basis. Clin J Sport Med. 2021;31(4):335-348. doi:1097/JSM.0000000000000946 Fredericson M, Kussman A, Misra M, et al. The Male Athlete Triad-A Consensus Statement From the Female and Male Athlete Triad Coalition Part II: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Return-To-Play. Clin J Sport Med. 2021;31(4):349-366. doi:1097/JSM.0000000000000948

Today's episode comes in hot with one of the best Canadian hoopers to ever do it, and currently do it, Ms. Bridget Carleton. We get the chance to chop it up with the former All-American, Overseas pro, long time National Team Member and current WNBA star about so many different parts of her journey. From small-town roots but a big heart, Bridget realized basketball was the sport she wanted to pursue in her high school years, but a healthy mental approach helped her understand there would be bumps along the way. That said, it was her first experience with Team Canada that she realized she belonged, and since then, her career has taken off.  Drafted in 2019 by Connecticut and then getting released was the biggest eye opener for Bridget so far, and a time she is now grateful for as it was the parachute to drive her to greatness. Don't skip over this one, Episode 173 is a banger! We thank Bridget for her time and wish her continued success!!! Bridget Carleton  - Guest https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridget_Carleton https://www.instagram.com/bridgecarleton https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3906972/bridget-carleton Aaron Mitchell - Host Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_a_mitch/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahoopsjourney/ Website: https://www.ahoopsjourney.com/

Happy Aloha Friday, beautiful people! Ku opens the day recapping Thursday's exclusive Honolulu Coffee Co. event with Hawaii football kicker Kansei Matsuzawa after unveiling the "Tokyo Toe Blend" coffee mix. We continue tossing praise towards Matsuzawa, along with a few other players from UH, after receiving All-American recognition from multiple media outlets and hear from Hawaii special teams coordinator Thomas Sheffield about the year in review for his unit. The hour closes out chatting about the state of Bowl Games as the final LA Bowl kicks off the postseason football slate on Saturday.

Harrison Bernstein is the founder of Soldiers To Sidelines (STS) and has served as executive director since May 2014. STS evolved from a passion project to a burgeoning nonprofit once Harrison resigned from coaching college and professional football to focus 100% on the STS mission. Harrison was able to attract key advisors and officers to help steward the mission. Since 2018, the board has grown to over 21 leaders in the military, sports, and business, and has built a staff of 9 employees. Harrison led his team to develop key partners and sponsors such as USO, Team RWB, Wounded Warrior Project, Women Veterans Alliance, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, the Randy Walker Legacy Foundation and the NFL NY Jets. In fact, he was awarded the NFL Salute To Service Nomination by the NY Jets for the second time this past year. Most recently Harrison authored and published "The Everyday Coach: Harnessing the Magic of Influence." The book is provided free to every STS Soldier Coach and all profits from sales support Soldiers To Sidelines. Harrison also hosts "Harrison Bernstein's Everyday Coach," an accompanying podcast that highlights leadership lessons learned from military heroes, business executives, and coaches to steward the craft of coaching in everyday life. In the past, Harrison has coached football and sports performance for several teams in the NFL, NCAA DIV I, II, and III, and at the high school level. While coaching, Harrison taught in the Master's Program of Exercise Science at George Washington University for seven years. Harrison graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a BA in Economics, was voted captain of the football team, and earned All American honors for three years and Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1997. Connect at www.SoldierstoSidelines.org BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team come to your school, club or coaching event? We are booking November and December 2025 and Winter/Spring 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call John@ChangingTheGameProject.com PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MCLAREN F1! These are just the most recent championship teams using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting THE CHAMPION SPORTS PARENT so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Click here to visit John's author page on Amazon Click here to visit Jerry's author page on Amazon Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week's podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports.  Sprocket Sports is a new software platform for youth sports clubs.  Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs.  So if you've been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at https://sprocketsports.me/CTG. BECOME A PREMIUM MEMBER OF CHANGING THE GAME PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you or your club/school is looking for all of our best content, from online courses to blog posts to interviews organized for coaches, parents and athletes, then become a premium member of Changing the Game Project today. For over a decade we have been creating materials to help change the game. and it has become a bit overwhelming to find old podcasts, blog posts and more. Now, we have organized it all for you, with areas for coaches, parents and even athletes to find materials to help compete better, and put some more play back in playing ball. Clubs please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com for pricing.  Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions

Think back to everything you did in college. Picture your hectic schedule and all the fun stress you had.Now, add in building a running apparel business. As if Mike Burnstein wasn't busy enough at WashU, he and his teammate, Dave Spandorfer brought Janji to life.By winning a few business competitions, they had the capital to bring their dream to life.Mike brings us through the early days of the company, the highs and lows, and what worked to get them to where they are today.Plus, we hear about his glory days where he was a 5x All-American at Washu.Visit janji.com to check out their gear.How to Support D3 Glory Days:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE NEWSLETTER!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠D3 Glory Days Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We launched a Patreon!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Nebraska running back named an All-American. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today's show Hutt and Chad disucuss why the ACC should have campaigned for the conference and not Notre Dame. Plus, Former Oregon RB, 2x All American, Jonathan Stewart on the business of Notre Dame opting out of a bowl game, the culture of teams now that players are getting paid and does CFB need to have a super league ? And Vanderbilt Head Football Coach, Clark Lea joins the show to discuss why he still believes Vandy should be in the playoff, taking ownership of the season and not hesitating to play in a Bowl Game and what Pavia has meant to the program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Skip and Matt discuss their biggest risers of the 2025 college football season. They select 9 players for their All American team, including Fernando Mendoza and Malachi Toney. Matt also hands out awards to the freshman of the year, 2027 eligible player of the year and his top group of 5 player. Free newsletter + personalized advice and rankings at patreon.com/rookiebigboard Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Author, runner, and New Jersey legend Lyle Smith (@nymblegram) joins Airey Bros Radio to talk about his new book Blood, Sweat & Spikes: The Wetmore Way — a deep dive into Mark Wetmore, Bernards High School, and the NJ running culture that helped shape American distance running.From asthma and allergies to becoming a HS All-American, from small-town heroes and bus-trip mixtapes to Boulder, Niwot, and Colorado running, this episode is pure nostalgia, storytelling, and wisdom for runners, coaches, and parents.We get into:The making of Blood, Sweat & Spikes and why running needs more honest storytellingMark Wetmore's coaching philosophy from Bernardsville to ColoradoNew Jersey's “golden era” of distance running & the tradition that still lives onAsthma, sick buildings & how running literally changed Lyle's lifeFeeder programs, culture, and what really builds a dynastyCollege recruiting: what Lyle wishes he knew before choosing VillanovaRegrets, honesty, and why this book became a personal therapy sessionFatherhood, Niwot XC, and watching the next generation find their own wayMovies, music, Prefontaine takes, and why Breaking Away & The Sting still hitIf you love New Jersey running, Colorado running, Mark Wetmore lore, or just want a beautifully told running story, this one's for you.

Our Hall of Fame interview series continues with 16-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion Keelin Godsey, from the class of 2006. Plus, men's basketball is 7-0 and receiving votes in the D3hoops.com top 25 poll after a road win at Bowdoin. The swimming and diving teams set nine meet records at the Maine Collegiate Invite, and track and field impressed at their season openers. That's this week, on the Bates Bobcast! Interviews this episode: 1:45 -- Jamari Robinson '29, Men's Basketball. 9:28 -- John Weigel '27, Men's Swimming and Diving NESCAC Performer of the Week. (Male Bobcat of the Week) 16:59 -- Hannah Pawlowski '29, Women's Track and Field. (Female Bobcat of the Week) 22:51 -- Nick Walker '29, Men's Track and Field. 30:18 -- Keelin Godsey '06, Bates Athletics Hall of Fame, Track and Field.

In this ep, Hilliard interviews director/producer TREY HALEY the President/Partner at Tri Destined Studios where he is responsible for the implementation of all productions within the company. Toward the end of the ep, Kareem Grimes actor/star on the hit series ALL AMERICAN dropped in to hang with us to give Trey his flowers.Trey, a passionate filmmaker with a diverse breadth and sensibility, has directed and produced a variety of genres. He serves as one of the Executive Producers and the Lead Director for the following TV Shows:-The hit Crime Drama ‘Carl Webers The Family Business' who's cast includes Ernie Hudson, Valarie Pettiford, Darrin DeWitt Henson, Tami Roman and Javicia Leslie, recently wrapped its sixth season on BET+ and is currently streaming. Seasons 1-4 streamed on Netflix where the show climbed as high as #6 on its first two weeks on the platform.Season 6 recently landed #1 on Amazon Primes subscription shows.-The Family Business: New Orleans' which is a spinoff of the 'The Family Business' stars Brandon T. Jackson, Lela Rochon, Yvette Nicole Brown, Orlando Jones, Pooch Hall, Quincy Brown and David Banner. It premiered January 2025.-The Black Hamptons' which stars Lamman Rucker, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Elise Neal, Brian White, Karon Joseph, Mike Merrill, Jennifer Freeman, and Blac Chyna. The show received an NAACP nomination for Best Limited Series in 2023.-Trey also recently Directed , ‘Deb is Boss' starring Lil Mama, which is loosely based on the life of famed music manager Deb Anteny. Foxxhole Productions Datari Turner and Jamie Foxx are EP's w Deb Anteny and Tri Destined Studios ND Brown Jones. It's set to be released top of 2026 by AllBlk/WeTV.Other recent movies include the sexy murder mystery ‘Love Mary Kill' starring Monique Coleman and Skye Blac and the holiday roller-skating movie ‘Rolling Into Christmas' starring Rhyon Nicole Brown.Trey also conducts filmmaking master classes where he integrates hands-on learning to address the creative, technical and business aspects of film and television.

In 2025, South Eugene's Yosuke Shibata quietly put together one of the strongest junior seasons in the nation.He started the fall with a win at the Oregon City XC Invite, dropping 14:53.8 and showing early signs that he was ready for more. Two weeks later, he went 14:38.2 at Nike Portland XC — a race that didn't just give him a PR, it put him on everyone's radar across the region.From there, he kept leveling up. He won his first OSAA 6A state title in 15:01.1, closing hard against some of Oregon's best seniors. At NXR Northwest, he held his ground in one of the most aggressive regional races we've seen in years, finishing fourth in 14:45.0 to earn his spot at NXN.And on the national stage, he delivered again — 23rd at Nike Cross Nationals, just outside All-American, but fully inside the conversation of who belongs up front.What stands out about Yosuke isn't just the times. It's the way he carries himself. Steady. Composed. A kid who built confidence race by race until the belief finally caught up with the ability.As he heads toward track and the rest of his junior year, his trajectory feels less like a breakout and more like the start of someone settling into who he really is as a star on the national scene.Tap into the Yosuke Shibata Special.Please consider leaving a follow and a five-star review!

Recorded October 29, 2025 — just weeks before Tallahassee — this conversation with Indiana Wesleyan Head Cross Country Coach Brody Beiler hits different now that the Wildcats went on to win the 2025 NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship on November 21, 2025, and Coach Beiler was named NAIA Men's XC Coach of the Year.

Jacob Wheeler is the youngest angler ever to win the All American and the Forrest Wood Cup. He also won the first two Elite Series events he fished. But that was just the start. To date he has won 14 tour level events and he has won 4 out of the last 5 Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year titles and he is only 35 years old. But it has not always been easy. At one point in his childhood his family literally lost their home. But through that adversity Wheeler learned his endless motivation and tireless work ethic. This week, he joins the podcast and talks about all that plus the future of pro fishing, confidence, career mistakes, building a brand, rookie scars, real life, raw emotion and turning haters into motivators by literally drinking your haters words for breakfast?

Today on Too Opinionated, actor Richard Wharton stops by for a visit!  Richard is most known for taking over the role of Major Recurring Guest Star Dr. Wilhelm Rolf on Days of Our Lives in 2022 and has appeared in over 60 episodes. He can also be seen as Grayson in The Pitt on HBO Max, and as a Pawnbroker on several episodes of The Young and The Restless. Richard is particularly proud of his part in the "Claires sketch" in I Think You Should Leave, as well as his King's Alchemist role in Dragon Storm - one of two Sci-Fi films he filmed in Bulgaria and directed by the late great Stephen Furst. Richard's first film role was as Punk #2 trying to rob Billie Crystal and Gregory Hines in Running Scared. Richard has also had roles in Thor: The Dark World, Next of Kin starring the Swayze brothers, American Crime Story, Hacks, All American, Mixed-ish, Silicon Valley and The Politician.    Want to watch: YouTube Meisterkhan Pod (Please Subscribe)

Jacob Wheeler is the youngest angler ever to win the All American and the Forrest Wood Cup. He also won the first two Elite Series events he fished. But that was just the start. To date he has won 14 tour level events and he has won 4 out of the last 5 Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year titles and he is only 35 years old. But it has not always been easy. At one point in his childhood his family literally lost their home. But through that adversity Wheeler learned his endless motivation and tireless work ethic. This week, he joins the podcast and talks about all that plus the future of pro fishing, confidence, career mistakes, building a brand, rookie scars, real life, raw emotion and turning haters into motivators by literally drinking your haters words for breakfast?

All American, all-time great shooter for Kentucky joins Larry to forecast the results of UK and UNC contest to take place at Rupp Arena later on in the evening. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Rebecca Gray '94 arrived at her first duty station, she thought she was ready to lead — until a senior master sergeant told her to get a coffee cup and led her away from the safety of her desk. “You've got to know who people are, so that you know how to relate to them,” he told her. That simple moment became the foundation of her entire leadership journey.    SHARE THIS PODCAST LINKEDIN  |  FACEBOOK    REBECCA'S TOP 5 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS 1. Lead With Authentic Connection Genuinely care about your team members as people, not just colleagues—know their stories, show real interest in their lives, and let authenticity drive your leadership style. This builds trust and drives engagement. 2.Adapt and Balance Across Life's Seasons Recognize that leadership and career paths aren't always linear. It's important to intentionally adapt your role and focus to meet the current stage of your life, whether that means prioritizing family, professional growth, or personal health. 3. Translate Core Values Across Environments Military leadership lessons—like accountability, communication, and team cohesion—are just as powerful in civilian life. Carry these values into new environments and roles, and tailor them to fit each unique context. 4. Empower Others Through Example Be a “working leader” by setting the pace and modeling the behaviors you want to see. Encourage your team's growth by giving responsibility, asking for input, and trusting them to rise to new challenges—even if it means letting them make mistakes. 5. Continuous Self-Development Fuels Leadership Commit to lifelong learning and personal development through regular habits—like reading, exercise, and reflection. Maintaining intellectual curiosity and a growth mindset not only strengthens your leadership but also inspires others to do the same.   CHAPTERS 0:00:04 – Introduction to the Podcast and Guest Rebecca Gray 0:00:29 – The Coffee Cup Lesson: Early Leadership and the Influence of Senior Master Sergeant Kennedy 0:01:48 – Authentic Connection: Lessons Carried From the Military to Corporate Leadership 0:03:32 – The Power of Authenticity and Understanding Team Members' Lives 0:04:49 – Translating Military Leadership Lessons to the Corporate World 0:07:58 – Creating Team Connection in Remote and Fast-Paced Environments 0:11:47 – Memorable Military Leadership Influences 0:13:24 – Balancing Military Service, Family, and Career Transitions 0:16:53 – Career as Seasons: Crafting Balance and Intentionality 0:19:19 – Navigating Critical Career Junctures and Embracing Change 0:22:18 – Building Confidence and Trusting Yourself 0:23:46 – Fostering Confidence and a ‘Go Mentality' on the Team 0:25:39 – Leading and Aligning Family and Professional Goals 0:27:28 – Practicing Continuous Learning and Personal Development 0:28:32 – Advice to Emerging Leaders: Value Well-Roundedness and Humility 0:29:43 – Reflections on Alumni, Family Connection, and Leadership Beyond the Academy 0:30:15 – Closing Thoughts on Leadership, Service, and Authentic Paths ABOUT REBECCA BIO Rebecca Gray ‘94, Boingo Wireless senior vice president and general manager, leads a division providing soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines connectivity wherever they go. Alongside her military service, she's held leadership roles at Fortune 200 companies in energy, media and telecommunications — including Southern Company and Comcast NBCUniversal — and has volunteered with multiple nonprofits. Her focus is on innovation that strengthens communities and keeps people connected. A three-time All-American springboard diver, Gray started her Air Force journey as a recruited athlete at the U.S. Air Force Academy. After graduation, she trained as a World Class Athlete and competed for Team USA at the 1995 World Games in Rome. She's served in key leadership roles across the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, including deputy wing commander at the 111th Attack Wing in the Pennsylvania ANG, as well as director of staff for the Georgia ANG. She's also a graduate of the Secretary of Defense Fortune 500 Corporate Fellowship Program and earned her doctorate after studying around the globe in Israel, England, India and China. She and her husband — an Air Force Academy '93 grad — married at the Cadet Chapel in 1994. They have three daughters: Jasmine, a junior at Bates College; Grace, a sophomore at Centenary University; and Kennedy, a freshman at NJIT. Their Yorkie, Cookie, has become a seasoned traveler, having visited all but two states in the continental U.S.   CONNECT WITH REBECCA LINKEDIN BONIGO WIRELESS   CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org   Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org      ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     FULL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS Guest, Rebecca Gray '94  |  Host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99   Naviere Walkewicz  00:04 Welcome to Long Blue Leadership, where we explore the lessons of leadership through the lives and stories of Air Force Academy graduates. I'm your host, Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. When Rebecca Gray walked into her first duty station after graduating from the Academy, she thought she was ready to lead. But it wasn't a general, a colonel or a policy manual that changed her view of leadership. It was a senior master sergeant named Patrick J. Kennedy and a coffee cup.   Rebecca Gray  00:29 He said, “You're doing this all wrong. You need to be out, out, out.” He told me, “Go grab a coffee cup.” I didn't drink coffee at the time, so he goes, “Go get some water. Stop being difficult.” And he walked me around and said, “This is this is what matters. You've got to know who people are, so that you know how to relate to them.” That really shaped me.   Naviere Walkewicz  00:50 That simple moment became the foundation for how Rebecca has led her teams ever since. From the Air Force to corporate boardrooms, from public service to private equity, Rebecca Gray, USAFA, Class of '94, has led across nearly every domain — active duty, Reserve and Guard — and built a remarkable second career spanning nonprofit work, education and now executive leadership. Her path has been shaped by transformational moments, moments that taught her how to connect, to trust herself and to lead with conviction. Rebecca, welcome to Long Blue Leadership.   Rebecca Gray  01:23 Thank you so much for having me. It's just a privilege to be here. Thank you for what you're doing for the grads, for the parents, for alumni, all of that. It's really impressive.   Naviere Walkewicz  01:31 Oh gosh. Really appreciate that. And I think, you know, that clip was so wonderful to hear. And I think we should just jump right in to that moment in time, kind of winding back the clock when you were just really transformed in your leadership style by your senior enlisted leader. Can we talk about that?   Rebecca Gray  01:48 I was just, had just graduated, and, as you said, my first duty assignment, and the only officer in the shop. And so senior master sergeant, which is one rank below chief — so the top, one of the top senior enlisted advisers in my shop, and we went for a walk and he really just taught me how to connect with the troops, to connect with people, walk around, get to really know them. And I'll have to tell you the first time I did it, I did a pass through, I went through the motions, if you will. And, you know, I came back, I was like, “Oh, OK, I did it. I did it. I'm all… I'm good, and have done my leadership duty for the day.” And he asked me, he said, “Who got a new car?” And I mentioned the airman's name of who got a new car. He goes, “What color was the car and what was the type of car?” And I was like, “Oh, OK.” And he goes, “So you didn't really care.” And I thought that's true, that's actually accurate. I needed to really care about what his first car was, and was it a truck? Was it a sedan? What was it? And so that really shaped me into really caring in a way that's already in your heart. But how do you express that in a leadership capacity? And so that changed the course of my 30-plus years in the military and then in corporate.   Naviere Walkewicz  03:07 What a powerful story. I mean, we can actually visualize you walking around. And as you know, graduates, we are kind of like, you know, task-minded. We're going to get this done. And you did it. You check the box. But to go down that next level, how do you see that actually becoming actionable across, you know, all leadership levels, you know, where you're actually walking the walk with your troops, so to speak. Can you talk about that a little bit more?   Rebecca Gray  03:32 Well, I think you have to be authentic, and be your authentic, you know, be authentic in your heart and what you're really doing. And if you don't have that, then people can feel it. People can tell if they don't feel your connection or your care concern for them. I think that really just mirrored an opportunity for me to put the two together. To your point, we're very task-minded, results-driven. When you graduate, very results-driven. It still impacts me every day, to be results, but you were doing it alongside of other people who have lives and who have things going on in their personal and professional lives, and we bring that to the table too, and really connecting with that and how to motivate people, how to encourage, how to walk with people and help them get to the results that they need to do, you know, as part of your team.   Naviere Walkewicz  04:29 Maybe, can you share an example of how you're using this? You said this has impacted you over the past 30 years. You know, it seems very clear — we're in an in middle military setting, and you're, you know, amongst your troops, you're leading beside them, you're understanding. How does that translate now and where you're at in the corporate world, at your level of leadership. What does this look like?   Rebecca Gray  04:49 I think that's a really good question, because when you look at it, you can see it very easily in the military. It plugs and plays very easily. Once you understand and you put it all together and you can develop it. You get a opportunities to develop that every day, if you will, every day you get that opportunity. But I think when you translate it into civilian life — and we all end up having a civilian life after the military — whether it's, you know a first-term enlistment, whether it's your first duty assignment, you fulfill your active-duty commitment from the Academy, whatever those years are. Whether you, you know, finish your 20 or what have you, you do transition out of military life at some point in time.   Naviere Walkewicz  05:37 Let's talk about what you're doing right now. I think it's important for our listeners to understand what that looks like and, you know, how you're leading in that space.      Rebecca Gray  05:44 Oh my gosh. I am so excited about what I do. It's the best job I've ever had. It's a great company that I work for. I work for Boingo Wireless. And what I do — my job at the company is to do anything that relates to the military. So we provide connectivity to over 100 bases around the world. I've got an incredible team that many of them have served, either as a veteran retiree or still serving. You have to understand what they know. What is their background? Where have they been? Where have they served, so to speak? What companies have they worked in? What role, leadership roles? What technology have they been around? What schools have they been to? All those things, and then also some of their things that are going on in their personal life so that you understand what's bringing them to work every day to support their personal and professional goals. And so you have to translate that, take that military experience and put that into the civilian workforce. And I think it's very powerful. It's so natural. I really actually don't think about it as much because you've developed it so such a tried and true part of who your character becomes, that coming back into civilian life and transitioning back into it, it's a great opportunity to bring all of those skill sets and move right into that — in leading teams, in learning that new chain of command, if you will, in corporate. And so that's a really powerful thing, and it feels like it's an enjoyable part of my day is the people I get to work with, the quality of people I get to work with. If I don't have that connection, I feel like I'm missing something at the end of the day.   Naviere Walkewicz  07:36 Can you share an example in which to that level that, you know, that the senior master sergeant said, “Did you know what type of car it was?” Where you've actually got to that level with someone, maybe in your civilian career, and how that has… Have you seen that actually make an impact on either performance or the results, or really just their own worth?   Rebecca Gray  07:58 Well, I think that's an interesting question. I think that can be played in two different areas. If you're in the office, there's an ability to be connected just by having lunch together, by having coffee, you know, you're in and you're around and about, and physically, there's just a different kind of energy when you're around people. So my team, we get together at some regular intervals that we set as a team for the year. We do one big, we call it an all-hands, an annual meeting, we're going to Vegas this year, and we're going in February. And so we're bringing the entire team; everybody's coming out of the field, everybody's coming from around the world, and they're all coming. We're meeting in Vegas, and we're going to spend a couple days together talking about what we accomplished last year, what we're going to do in the future, and then we also do some learnings, and, you know, things like that, some technology growth opportunities and things like that. So that's one thing that shows that you use… You're going to spend some budget dollars to really ensure that people know how you feel and how you value them as being part of this team, and making sure… I spend every other week planning this for a year and we do that every other week, and we talk about the hotel, we talk about the food, we, you know — our team-building exercises, the agenda, the T-shirts, the design of those, every detail, because I want my team to walk away at the end of that — we'll probably have over 100 people in the room — and I want everyone to walk out of that knowing that they are a valuable member of the team. So that's one thing we do, you know, on my team. And then on Monday mornings, we have a staff meeting every Monday morning, a team meeting, and the first question of the day is, “What did you do for the weekend?” And that's where we learn about all kinds of, you know, really fun things about people and what they're doing, what they're doing with their family, or who they're, you know, trying to date, or, you know, buying a new house, or, you know, all kinds of things that you learn. And then also you develop that within the team, because other people hear that question, and otherwise it's very transactional. This is what you do. This is what you can do for me. And in this fast-paced technology world, taking that time at the beginning of the meeting to say, “Let's take a pause, and I want to hear about you.” And so to me, that's another small thing, but a very powerful thing. In a fast-paced technology space, I think it's even more critical to take a pause, to take a stop and take a breath and realize the people that we're working with are… It's a gift to have this opportunity to work with one another, and I want them to feel a part of the team, even though we're in a remote setting, because most of my team is in the field. And so in that remote setting, that is even more critical, I think. So I think there's both, you know… When you're in the office, there's one way to do things, and then when you're in this more remote setting that we are — and then we're in a fast-paced technology setting. It's moving all the time, and sometimes you get into more activity and results and results and activity, and you accomplish one thing, and you're on to the next and, and that's… I don't know if that wheel spinning so fast is always, you know, healthy.   Naviere Walkewicz  11:15 Well, I really appreciate how you actually gave very specific examples of this leadership in action, because you're right: In this pace and in this remote kind of setting that many of us operate in, being able to still find that human touch and that connection to what you were speaking about that went all the way back to, you know, the senior master sergeant. But I'm sure you also had leaders throughout your military career that also exemplified some of this. Can you share any other moments while you're in uniform, where you saw some of these leadership traits that you really wanted to embody and that you've carried through your career to date?   Rebecca Gray  11:47 Gen. Hosmer was the, I think he was the calm when I was at the Academy, and he would walk around with his A-jacket. So you didn't really know if he was a cadet or not, because once you put your hat on, you can't tell. But, and you know, “Oh my gosh, it was a general just walked past me.” But he knew people's names. He remembered my name, and he remembered it for four years, and it was just a powerful moment that I remembered on my graduation, when we walked through the line with your parents, and you're doing that reception, and he said, “Rebecca, congratulations. Well done, and you did great.” And all those kinds of you know things. And I'll never forget that walk, whether he was walking on the Terrazzo and called my name, whether he remembered it going through a line of 1,000 people with all their parents, and you know, all of that. And I think that's always stuck with me, that level of remembering somebody's name, remembering who they are, that really was powerful to me early on in my military career.   Naviere Walkewicz  12:48 Oh, thank you for sharing that, because those are the moments that so many people can connect with that really do imprint on them and how they are as leaders, you know, and I'm curious, because…   Rebecca Gray  12:57 That's a good word, “imprint.” That's a really good word, “imprint.”   Naviere Walkewicz  13:03 Yeah, it feels that way. Thank you. Thank you. You know, I would love to dive into your Air Force career and the decision to transition out, because I just imagine in the way that you have done so many incredible things that your time in the military was very successful. Can you talk about what that was and then the decision to transition, why that came about and why you made it?   Rebecca Gray  13:24 That's a very powerful decision. It's a big decision to come into the military, and it's a big decision when it's time to leave. And those are hard decisions. And sometimes you leave too early, sometimes you stay in too long. You know, different things like that. But for me, it was my husband was a '93 grad. So I'm '94 he was '93 we got married at the Cadet Chapel right after I graduated in September. I share that because my husband and I were dual spouse, joint spouse. We were just talking about it the other day, because we just celebrated — it was our 31st wedding anniversary — and we looked at it and we said, “Gosh, you know, what a ride we've had.” And we got to know each other. We were in the same cadet squadron. We were both in 29 for three years and sophomore through senior year. And we both looked at each other. We were going to get separated. I was going to do a remote to Korea. He was going to Malstrom in Montana, and my follow on was Vegas, at Nellis. And so we realized we were going to be as separated for a few years, and that was a really big decision for us, because we loved the military, we loved our lifestyle, we loved our friends, we loved the camaraderie and all the things that you love, and we realized, where does that fit with our marriage and how do we pull this off? And so I think along the way, we've really tried to drive a commitment to service. We both went off active duty. We decided to go into the Reserve together, and then I eventually went into the Guard. So I ended up serving active duty, Guard and Reserve, which was really wasn't done back in the day.   Naviere Walkewicz  15:04 No, I was going to say…   Rebecca Gray  15:07 No, that was not done. I mean, you stay active duty for 20 years. You stay Reserve. You might do active duty and then Reserve, but to finish up and get to your 20… But I had three little children, and so I was able to do the Reserve. And so I think what's great about the military is, if you are open to looking at your career and seeing it as a different stages and phases of your life and letting it shape and form around that too, there are ways to serve. That was the way I felt called to serve. I think other people, active duty is the way to go, or Reserve or Guard is the way to go, you know, straight through. But for me, it gave me the flexibility, and I found that it was a lot of fun to do it that way. I got to learn different things in each of the different statuses, if you will. And I was able to put a whole career together with three little kids, and, you know, 31 years of marriage.   Naviere Walkewicz  16:04 Well, I think as a leader, those decision points — and it sounds like you were really well grounded in, you know, what do we want to commit to. Commitment to service, a commitment to each other. But I think what is so special about your career, when you look at it in seasons or in stages, is you've had some incredible opportunities to still continue to thrive professionally, even as those stages change. And if you wouldn't mind sharing some of that, because I think there's times when listeners feel like, “If my trajectory is not vertical, like in one path that you know, that everyone kind of recognizes as the path, then it's not successful.” But to your point, if you look at it in stages, and what is this stage, how do I evolve in this stage? In this stage? And maybe it's not always directly vertical, but we're still moving in it at an angle. I think it's powerful for our listeners to hear, if you don't mind sharing what that's been like.   Rebecca Gray  16:53 I made a very intentional decision to serve as a squadron commander in a certain season. So I wanted to build a life that had different components to it, and to do that, that meant you have to be intentional about that if you want to stay on one path. And I think as this world gets more complex, the technology is moving very fast. You want to stay balanced. I think the only way you can stay balanced in life is to really have different components of your life. There's a time to be a squadron commander, there's a time to be a senior leader. There's a time to be an individual contributor and there's a time to say this is, you know, for whatever myriad of reasons, health or family dynamics, or you're going through a degree program. And so you have to kind of make those things to ebb and flow appropriately. And I wanted to put those building blocks and pieces together to make something really interesting and a reason to wake up in the morning and something that got me out of bed. I do Squadron Officer School. I do, you know, ACSC, and then War College. And so you can end up checking these boxes and checking, you know, different assignments and different levels. Just like you graduate from college, you got to meet certain, you know, credit requirements and different kinds of classes and things like that. So I'm not saying it's a negative, but it shouldn't be a mindset. It should be just the way you need to get certain things done.   Naviere Walkewicz  18:17 And by the way, Sgt. Kennedy would come back and be like, “This is not enough, ma'am.” So, but you know what I really loved about what you just described? This might be the first time I've heard the description of balance, because you did it in a way that — you talked about balance being almost having holistic, a holistic view of various pillars. And there's times when you know you're bringing one of the forefront, so you're not ever saying they're in balance, where they're all, you know, equitable or like, everything is just, you know, the scale is exactly the same on both sides. But what you're saying is, there's time when you're bringing stuff to the forefront, but I'm really aware of the all of those pieces, and I think that is such a wonderful way to look at balance. Which brings me to this question of, you know, you have approached your career and, you know, being a mother and a wife was such, you know, a unique view. When did you know it was time to add onto your plate in this nonprofit space? And then you go, you know, going… So it just seems like you've made these decisions at critical points. How do you measure when that next point is supposed to come around and you take that leap?   Rebecca Gray  19:19 Sometimes, life gives you that opportunity to take a step back and say, “OK, I'm now at a critical juncture. What do I want to do?” That can be your, you know, your health, or a family dynamic, or you get accepted into a program and you want to do this. When I got accepted into that secretary of defense corporate fellowship program that's basically Air War College in residence. You can imagine doing Air War College in residence as a Guard member was very prestigious, an incredible opportunity, and then they sucked me into this fellowship opportunity. But that really changed my trajectory, because at the time, I was in nonprofit, and it pulled me out, put me back in uniform for one year. That was a one-year commitment to do War College in that capacity. And then it was after that I decided to move into corporate. And so I think there's certain times when you get those moments, and what I think is, people race through those — I think they race through that moment. And instead to take a stop and a pause and say, “Do I want to make a change at this moment? Do I want to do this?” I really didn't want to make that change. I didn't want to come out of nonprofit at the time. I didn't want to do War College in residence. I didn't want to do some of those things. And instead, I took it and I said, “I don't know where this is heading, but I'm OK with where this is gonna go.” And I don't think sometimes you need to know all those pieces before you make those decisions. And I think — because then if you need that, you're never going to have it. I mean, you just don't. And so for me, it's always a moment where you stop and you say, “This is an opportunity for me to change where I live, to change my career, to change a family dynamic.” Do you add another kid? Do you, you know, stop at three? You know, what do you do? I think what I have tried to really do is stop and really have it like, really, I really take it… Really take that moment and have that moment and say, this is a moment for me to say, is, “What do I need to change? What do I want to change?” Or nothing? Do I want — I keep going, but I have made that decision.   Naviere Walkewicz  21:30 Well, what I'm hearing from that is a level of confidence in yourself that you've probably developed over time. From, you know, the different interactions you've had from… I mean, wearing so many hats has probably actually given you a stronger confidence in what you're able to accomplish, what your capacity is when you don't really know what's all around you, so to speak, you don't have all the answers. Can we talk a little bit about when you knew that, or when you recognize that in yourself? Because when you made those decisions and you said you walked through those doors with your eyes wide open, you're essentially betting on yourself, right? You have built this trust and confidence in your ability. Can you talk about what that looks like? How you came to that? Because I think there's times where our listeners have this doubt, this self-doubt, so let's talk about that.   Rebecca Gray  22:18 If you have good, good people around you, you ask for good advice. You have a, I think, a faith that can ground you. And you know that you've been given these gifts and this skill set, and you've made certain mile markers in life. I think it just builds over time.   Naviere Walkewicz  22:39 Would you say that you recognized, I guess, betting on yourself and confidence in yourself early in the years when you started diving and recognized, “Wow, this is scary, but OK,” right? Or was it more developed later?   Rebecca Gray  22:52 I started diving when I was 10, and you know, I would be up there on the diving board. I was a little 10-year-old, and sometimes you couldn't get walked down the board. You were terrified. My coach would sit there and she would say, “OK, we're gonna go — 1, 2, 3,” and you go, you learn how to walk down that diving board, and you learn how to do things that you you're not really confident on, and you're not really… But once you master it, it's really fun. It's probably from, I think, diving, athletics, I think does that to you. You know, whether you're chasing that soccer ball and you got to go up against somebody bigger, whether you're in football, and you got to go off up against… My husband was a fullback at the Air Force Academy, and so he went up against lineman at Notre Dame and Ohio State and things like that. And he goes, “It was terrifying.” And so… But when the whistle blows and the play calls called you. You go and so you develop that strength some somehow along the way to push through.   Naviere Walkewicz  23:46 How have you developed those that have come under your care as a leader that maybe didn't have that athletic background? How do you teach them that? How do you instill in them that “go” mentality, that, you know, fear is just your body's response, gets your blood, you know, your blood flowing. How do you do that as a leader?   Rebecca Gray  24:03 I think, I think you do it by going out ahead and standing out there, and maybe you're the only one out there, so to speak, ahead of it, ahead of the team, in believing whatever direction you need to go, whatever new business direction you need to go in, or what new product line you need to develop, or what new revenue goals do you need to accomplish? And you have to go out there, and you've got to do it yourself. I'm probably more of a working leader than a leader that manages. I'm not the best manager, if you will, but I can get out in front. But I think, for me, it's just been leading out in the head, going out there and saying, this is the direction, building that conversation across the team leaders to make sure we're aligned, to make sure we're thinking the same thing. Are you reading the market the way I'm reading the market? Are you reading some of these leadership decisions within the industry that we're reading? And are we seeing this the same way — bouncing those ideas off and then developing that and that groundswell to really go for it.   Naviere Walkewicz  25:06 I want to ask you this question that's tied to this idea of understanding your capacity, your capabilities, your talents, your strengths, betting on yourself, and how you've been able to do that while you still successfully have a 31-year marri… right? Like a marriage and a family that has to also buy into those decisions. What does that look like as a leader when you're making those decisions, when you have children and a family or a spouse, you know? How do you navigate that when they also have their goals?   Rebecca Gray  25:39 Oh, it's so deep. It's so deep because…   Naviere Walkewicz  25:43 It's real because this is what they're facing. You know, all of our leaders are facing these questions.   Rebecca Gray  25:47 It is, it is. You're facing these decisions back at home, and what you've got to manage at home. You know, my husband, I really lead, and we lead by example — that we take care of our business and we do our things. And as soon as the girls were able to do a lot of things for themselves, we gave them that responsibility. That really helped. I think your kids are pretty capable, and they're really strong and they're very smart and they're wise, and they can feel the energy in the room. They can feel your commitment to them.   Naviere Walkewicz  26:19 Well, I mean, I think what I heard through all that as well, is having those values aligned like you do, and then really communicating and then just championing the responsibility and the capabilities of your family members. It seems like, you know, you don't only just do that at work, but what I'm hearing is you've done this and the home life as well, and it's continued to just really evolve your family in such a beautiful way. So thank you for sharing that with us. Because I think that's really powerful and sometimes when our listeners feel like, “Gosh, I don't know how to make this decision,” I think if you start from that place of, “Are we aligned? Do we know what our core, you know, piece is,” go from there, it seems like you've been able to navigate that really well. Thank you for sharing that. Well, I want to ask you something that you're doing every day, because as leaders… And I'm not sure what your thoughts are on this, maybe you can share, but a lot of people will talk about how “I'm always learning. I'm continuing to learn, even as a leader, I'm still learning every day.” Can you share if that's how you feel, and if so, what are you doing on a daily basis to just be a better version of yourself as a leader, professional, etc.?   Rebecca Gray  27:28 I think when you work out and you get a really good workout, and whatever that is, walking or, you know, at the gym or lifting, or whatever that is, biking or swimming — I think for me, that exercise and reading — those are probably the two things that I really work a lot on, and making sure that's just part of the day. You know, a lot of times we don't have to think too much about eating because we get hungry. But, you know, once you start exercising a lot, and you read a lot, and you have that quiet time — when you don't have it, you miss it, and so you almost get hungry for it. And so to create that consistency, so you can create that hunger. If you do skip it, or you want to skip it. Even when I travel for work, I do it. The girls know that if we're in a hotel, I'm going to go run down to the gym for a little bit. They'll come with me or not, but that's something I'm going to do regardless. And then the reading is really, really critical.   Naviere Walkewicz  28:20 You know, one of the things we also love to ask, and maybe this is a better way to ask it, is, if you were to give advice to your daughters on what they could do today to be better leaders for tomorrow, what would that be?   Rebecca Gray  28:32 I don't know if it's a goal to be a leader, but I think it's a goal to develop and be really well rounded, really solid, because you will default to being the leader. If you have that strength, you have that intellectual capacity, you have the humility. But I think having that humility is really, really critical, the well-roundedness, having different aspects to your life. You know, it can't all be just school and homework, and it needs to be whatever that is music or athletics or, you know, what have you in your faith community or something, you've got to have a well-rounded… because things come and go in your life.   Naviere Walkewicz  29:12 Well, I love how you really put that together. Because I think the key thing was, you know, I don't know that they're necessarily aspiring to be a leader, but if they aspire to be well rounded and that kind of a wholesome approach, they will be the leader in the room. And I just, I just love that, because it just makes it so clear, right? I thought that was incredible. Well, we're coming up at our time, and I just have loved this conversation. Is there anything we didn't cover that you just like, this is a time, like, we want to make sure we didn't miss anything that you would like to share.   Rebecca Gray  29:43 What you're really focused on is really powerful. And connecting the alumni, connecting the families, so that they understand what their child is going through at the Academy is really important. Realizing there's life out of the Academy, and you still need to serve, and you still need to contribute, and there's a way, there's a lot of lessons that we had at those four critical years of our life that can carry us. And I think you're really highlighting that and giving us the space to share some of that. So really appreciate that.   Naviere Walkewicz  30:15 Well, I appreciate you saying that, and I just have to share with our listeners: You know, what I've really taken away from today's conversation is that leadership begins in small moments, a cup of coffee, a conversation, you know, choosing to listen, but it grows through courage, you know, the courage to step into uncertainty, which you've done, to serve where others maybe wouldn't, and to believe in your path, even if it looks unconventional.   Rebecca Gray  30:38 It has, yeah, even if it looks unconventional, that's OK. It's OK too.   Naviere Walkewicz  30:43 And I love that you talked about how it wasn't about the titles, but it was really about the experiences and kind of having that full picture of you and the confidence to bet on yourself. So this has just been a privilege to be with you on Long Blue Leadership I want to thank everyone for listening to this Long Blue Leadership episode. If you know others that are really growing in their leadership journeys and could benefit from this, please share it with them. We love having all of you listen to these wonderful lessons on leadership from our Air Force Academy graduates. So Rebecca, again, thank you so much. We will see you another time, but for now, I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. Thanks for joining us.   KEYWORDS Rebecca Gray, leadership lessons, authentic leadership, Air Force Academy, military to corporate transition, women leaders, team connection, career development, executive leadership, Boingo Wireless, building confidence, personal growth, leadership podcast, work-life balance, empowering teams, transformational leadership, continuous learning, squadron commander, leadership journey, remote team management, military experience, family and career balance, purpose-driven leadership, leading by example, leadership advice, mentoring, professional development, inspirational stories, alumni connections, values-driven leadership.       The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation    

Today, we welcome Labron Harris Jr, former Oklahoma St. All-American and 1962 US Amateur Champion, to the podcast. While few young golfer know much about Labron, he is a legend of Oklahoma Golf and a childhood hero for Coach McGraw. He had a very successful amateur and professional career, eventually transitioning to an advisory role in the management of the PGA tour including responsibility over the Kemper Open and the 1983 Ryder Cup. Labron's rich history in the game earned him an induction into this years class of the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame, and I hope you listening to the storied career of this legend. Thank you for joining the podcast Labron!Subscribe to the podcast for future episodes. You can follow us on Instagram and Facebook —> @BetterThanIFoundItPodcastAssociated social media accounts:Coach McGraw - @BearCoachMcGrawBaylor Men's Golf - @BaylorMGolfProduced and Edited by Will GreeneMusic: DriftMaster by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com---Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/betterthanifoundit/message

Perfection… it doesn't happen very often in sports. The '72 Dolphins are the only team to ever have a perfect season in the NFL. Mary Lou Retton nailed a perfect vault in the '84 Games to secure her Gold medal. Michael Jordan's Bulls were a perfect 6-0 in their trips to the NBA Finals. And in college basketball, it's been 50 years since a mens team went undefeated and won the National Championship. That team was the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers. Bobby Knight's team was a special group of players that sacrificed individual prowess for the good of the team. And it worked… to perfection. Kent Benson was a 2-time All-American at IU and on the cover of the December 1, 1975 issue of Sports Illustrated as the Hoosiers were the pre-season favorite to win it all. There would be no SI jinx on this team. They were too good. They were ready for the challenge each time they hit the floor thanks to an abundance of talent and a coach that had them prepared and focused like no other. And it was that preparation that separated this team from the others. Coach Knight said, “The key is not the will to win… everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.” Led by Benson and Scott May and Quinn Buckner, the Hoosiers finished 32-0 that season… 33-0 if you ask Benson, who joins us on the Past Our Prime podcast and tells us that beating the defending Gold Medal winning Soviets should count in their final tally. But Benson is still the ultimate team centered center. When asked to come on our show to talk about that great team, he said yes… but he'd like Bobby Wilkerson, the 6'7 defensive specialist who would jump center for the Hoosiers to join him. And the two former #1 draft picks come together again on POP 50 years after they were a part of something that changed their lives for forever. The last team in college hoops to have a perfect season and if you ask Benson, probably the last one to ever do it. Benson and Wilkerson talk about that team and what made them such a close group. How beating UCLA in the season opener was just the beginning of this historic season and how their coach never took anything for granted and had them ready one game at a time. 32 games later… it all paid off. A perfect season.  Bobby Wilkerson and Kent Benson on the Past Our Prime podcast. Listen and download a perfect show wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Old 98: The Golden Boy Who Fell From the Sky (Twice)In the late 1930s, the name Tom Harmon was synonymous with unstoppable American athletic prowess. The University of Michigan's single-wing tailback, number 98, was more than just a college football player; he was a phenomenon, the “Golden Boy” of the gridiron. He shattered records, won the Heisman Trophy in 1940, and famously earned a standing ovation from the rival Ohio State crowd in his final game—a show of respect so rare it remains legendary.In 1941, Harmon was the first overall pick in the NFL draft and even starred in a movie about his own life. The world was his, but as the United States plunged into World War II, Harmon put his celebrity and professional career on hold, trading his football helmet for a pilot's cap in the U.S. Army Air Force. The man who seemed invincible on the field was heading into a war where no one was.Crash 1: The Jungle OrdealTom Harmon's first brush with death didn't come in a dogfight against enemy planes, but against the raw, unyielding power of nature.By April 1943, Lieutenant Harmon was piloting a B-25 Mitchell bomber, fittingly nicknamed Old 98 after his famous jersey number. While flying through a brutal tropical storm over the dense jungles of Dutch Guiana in South America, disaster struck. The storm's violence was so extreme that it tore the right wing clean off the aircraft, sending the bomber into a catastrophic, deadly spin.Harmon desperately screamed for his six crew members to bail out, but with the plane plummeting, he knew he had only seconds to save himself. He fumbled for his parachute cord, leaped out, and blacked out.He awoke to find himself dangling from a tree, just yards from the burning wreckage. He was the sole survivor.For four agonizing days, Harmon, the former All-American, became a castaway. He battled through razor-sharp grasses, dodged crocodiles, and trudged through miles of murky, dark swamps, surviving on swamp water and meager rations. He later credited his legendary “football legs” with carrying him through the nearly impassable terrain. Exhausted and believing he couldn't take another step, he finally collapsed. It was then, at the brink of death, that he was found by local natives who guided him to safety via dugout canoe.He eventually reached an American army base where he made a simple, relieved phone call to his parents: "I'm not hurt." He had survived a fiery crash and five days alone in the jungle. But his war was far from over.Crash 2: Fire, Zeros, and the Chinese UndergroundAfter recovering from his ordeal, Harmon transferred to the 449th Fighter Squadron in the China-Burma-India Theater, where he trained to fly the P-38 Lightning, a fast, twin-tailed fighter. Again, his signature number 98 was painted on the side.On October 30, 1943, while escorting bombers over the Yangtze River in Japanese-occupied China, Harmon's squadron was ambushed by Japanese Zero fighters. Harmon, showing the same aggressive instinct he displayed on the field, managed to shoot down two enemy planes. But in the thick of the dogfight, his own P-38 was critically hit. The cockpit erupted in flames.His famous legs were literally on fire. Frantically beating the flames, he popped the canopy and was violently sucked out of the disintegrating aircraft. He yanked his ripcord and was yanked into the open sky, now a helpless target for the remaining enemy fighters. As they strafed his position, Harmon played dead and plunged into a lake below, hiding beneath the parachute silk until the enemy planes departed.Severely burned, wounded, and deep behind enemy lines, Harmon was reported missing in action for the second time. For 32 terrifying days, the American hero was gone.But once again, a miracle unfolded. Harmon was rescued by Chinese...

Order my new book Habits of High Performers here - www.thehabitbook.com In this episode of Lead On Purpose, I sit down with former All American wrestler and high performance coach Jim Harshaw Jr to unpack what it really takes to go from good to great without burning out.From a blue collar upbringing to the NCAA podium and training as an Olympic hopeful, Jim shares how he rebuilt his entire life through structure, coaching and an environment of excellence.What we cover:Jim's journey from feeling out of his depth at a top university to becoming an All American, double graduate and Olympic hopefulThe four part framework for high performance: radical vision, aligned goals, an environment of excellence and a long term follow through planThe “miracle day,” billion dollar and funeral exercises that unlock what you really want from life and workWhy failure is a necessary ingredient for success and how to run a simple review so you actually learn from it instead of shrinking your goalsThe power of the “productive pause,” coaching and community, plus the daily habits and bookends Jim uses to keep performing at a high levelIf we can reframe failure, choose our environment and protect time to think, high performance stops being a grind and starts becoming the natural result of how we live.Learn more about Jim here - https://jimharshawjr.comListen to Jim's podcast here - https://jimharshawjr.com/podcast/Apply for a free coaching call with Jim - https://jimharshawjr.net/callAction Plans + Success Through Failure Exercise - https://jimharshawjr.net/action-plan-landing-page1729264671370If you're interested in having me deliver a keynote or workshop for your team contact Caroline at caroline@jjlaughlin.comWebsite: https://www.jjlaughlin.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6GETJbxpgulYcYc6QAKLHA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLaughlinOfficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameslaughlinofficial/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/life-on-purpose-with-james-laughlin/id1547874035 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3WBElxcvhCHtJWBac3nOlF?si=hotcGzHVRACeAx4GvybVOQ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslaughlincoaching/James Laughlin is a High Performance Leadership Coach, Former 7-Time World Champion, Host of the Lead On Purpose Podcast and an Executive Coach to high performers and leaders. James is based in Christchurch, New Zealand.Send me a personal text message - If you're interested in booking me for a keynote or workshop, contact Caroline at caroline@jjlaughlin.comSupport the show

UGA Game Day Special Release David Pollack is a celebrated former college and NFL football player, twice named SEC Player of the Year and a multi-time All-American. Renowned for his relentless drive and leadership both on and off the field, David has become an inspiration through his faith, perseverance, and commitment to excellence. Beyond his impressive athletic accomplishments, David is a devoted husband, father, and man of God, dedicated to helping others ignite their potential through speaking, writing, and coaching. His unique “50, 40, 10” philosophy and personal story of overcoming adversity are at the heart of his message, motivating audiences to embrace standards, work ethic, and purpose in every aspect of life. Key Takeaways Perseverance Through Adversity: David's story embodies resilience—whether overcoming a career-ending injury or being fired from ESPN, he consistently demonstrates that setbacks are opportunities for growth and deeper trust in God. Leadership Is Influence: David believes everyone is a leader if they influence even one person, highlighting that leadership starts with caring for others and setting a standard by example. The Importance of Standards Over Feelings: David's “50, 40, 10” concept emphasizes that showing up, having direction, and pushing through discomfort are what separate the truly committed from the rest in sports, business, and life. Sound Bites “You can outdo 50% of the people in this world by showing up more, showing up with a good attitude, showing up ready to rock and roll.” “When we come to faith, we don't automatically know how to share our testimony, but everyone can invite someone in, and the most important witness is how we live our lives.” “Don't worry about how you feel every day, because your feelings change every day...that doesn't change who you are and what you bring to the table every single time.” Connect & Discover David: Instagram: @davidpollack47 X: @davidpollack47 Website: davidpollack.com Podcast: See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Jessy Morgan is the AD for Garrison Forest School and she's back on the Podcast with some great tips for ADs, Coaches, and Leaders. Jessy was an All American in High School and College and she won a NCAA Championship as a Player - now she shares his wisdom with us on The Educational AD Podcast!

In just a few minutes, Theresa Giunta delivers a mindset shift every athlete and high performer should hear: small, consistent improvements compound into greatness. Whether it's in training, recovery, or daily habits, the 1% mentality creates a massive long-term impact.Theresa Giunta is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant and former Division 2 collegiate lacrosse player and All-American, and owner of TG Performance Mindset.Part of our new bite-sized episode series—quick content designed for easy listening and immediate action. Let us know what you think.Connect with a coach in our networkMonkey Mind WebsiteFollow Monkey Mind on Instagram

SPONSORS: Aura Frames -Visit https://www.AuraFrames.com and get $45 off Aura's Carver Mat frame using promo code HONEYDEW Booking.com -Head over to Booking.com and start your listing today. Get Seen. Get Booked on Booking.com. Mood -Get 20% off your first order at https://www.Mood.com with promo code HONEYDEW My HoneyDew this week is comedian Greg Warren! Check out his latest special The Champ, produced by Nate Bargatze and streaming on Nateland's YouTube channel! Greg joins me to Highlight the Lowlights of his time wrestling! From high school state championships where his father coached him, to a year at West Point, and eventually ending up at the University of Missouri where he would earn an All American title. Greg opens up about some of the darker side effects that wrestling has left him with, like an unhealthy relationship with food and eventually what would be diagnosed as scrupulosity OCD. Plus Ryan shares his own stories of getting to practice in school under legendary sports brothers Solomon and Nate Carr. Check out my new standup special “Live and Alive” streaming on my YouTube now! https://youtu.be/PMGWVyM2NJo?si=SrhXjgzR1pe6CyYE SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE and watch full episodes of The Dew every toozdee! https://youtube.com/@rsickler SUBSCRIBE TO MY PATREON - The HoneyDew with Y'all, where I Highlight the Lowlights with Y'all! Get audio and video of The HoneyDew a day early, ad-free at no additional cost! It's only $5/month! AND we just added a second tier. For a total of $8/month, you get everything from the first tier, PLUS The Wayback a day early, ad-free AND censor free AND extra bonus content you won't see anywhere else! http://patreon.com/RyanSickler What's your story?? Submit at honeydewpodcast@gmail.com Get Your HoneyDew Gear Today! https://shop.ryansickler.com/ Ringtones Are Available Now! https://www.apple.com/itunes/ http://ryansickler.com/ https://thehoneydewpodcast.com/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE CRABFEAST PODCAST https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-crabfeast-with-ryan-sickler-and-jay-larson/id1452403187

All-American linebacker and Illini Inquirer football analyst J Leman joins Jeremy Werner to react to Illinois football's 27-10 loss at Wisconsin. Leman breaks down why the game might force Bret Bielema to make a change to his defensive staff and what went so wrong for the Illini offense. Leman then looks ahead to Saturday's regular-season finale against Northwestern and discusses a pivotal offseason ahead for Bret Bielema. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Go to OmahaSteaks.com to get 50% off sitewide plus an extra 20% off select favorites and more limited-time deals during their Cyber Sale. And use Promo Code ILLINI at checkout for an extra $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply. See site for details. A big thanks to our advertiser, Omaha Steaks! Columbia Street Roastery: Get 10% OFF your 1st order with the code GoIllini2025. Visit ⁠⁠⁠CSRcoffee.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Illini Inquirer Podcast on: Apple: https://apple.co/3oMt0NP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Xan2L8  Other: https://bit.ly/36gn7Ct   Go VIP for just 30% OFF: http://bit.ly/3FUGfIj   To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Troy Weatherhead from the class of 2011 was known for his accuracy and leadership at quarterback for the Chargers. The former All-American and GLIAC Player of the Year is one of the newest members of Hillsdale College’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Once a standout on the football field, he now succeeds in the medical sales field as Senior Director of Global Marketing for Stryker Sage. ------ Informative. Inspirational. Uplifting. Those are the goals of the White and Blue podcast. We are here to tell the interesting stories of Hillsdale College alumni, who number more than 15,000 strong. Our guests will share about their time and experiences while on campus, and also the impact they have had on the world since graduating. What makes the Hillsdale College graduate unique? We will explore that question and more, including how alumni have impacted the past, present, and future of the College. Won’t you join us?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All-American linebacker J Leman joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to react to Illinois football's 24-6 win over Maryland, discussing what's behind the improvement for the defense and running game, what this season means for the program and the keys to Illinois keeping its winning streak going at Wisconsin this weekend. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS GameDay Spirit: Get 15% OFF by using code Illini15 at Gamedayspirit.com. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gamedayspirit.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Columbia Street Roastery: Get 10% OFF your 1st order with the code GoIllini2025. Visit CSRcoffee.com Follow the Illini Inquirer Podcast on: Apple: https://apple.co/3oMt0NP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Xan2L8  Other: https://bit.ly/36gn7Ct   Go VIP for just 30% OFF: http://bit.ly/3FUGfIj   To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stop powering through the pain! Surgery is a high-performance sport, yet surgeons often operate with minimal support, leading to chronic pain and potential career-ending injuries. This episode dives into the crucial topic of surgical ergonomics, explaining why your posture, instrument size, and even hydration impact your performance and longevity. Learn essential OR hacks—from adjusting monitor height and using micro-break stretches to strategic pre-case fueling—to mitigate the physical toll. We also share candid stories from surgeons who faced debilitating injuries, providing critical advice on acknowledging pain, seeking help, and treating recovery like a full-time job. It's time to invest in your physical health, because your hands and posture are your most vital instruments. Hosts:  Agnes Premkumar, MD (General Surgery Resident at Creighton University) @agnespremkumar  Steven Thornton, MD (General Surgery Resident at Duke University) @swthorntonjr Guests: Kathryn Coan, MD (Dignity Health, Phoenix) Anathea Powell, MD (Renown Health, Reno) Danielle Tanner, MD (Creighton University, Phoenix) Dr. Kathryn Coan is an endocrine surgeon, and associate professor at the Creighton University School of Medicine in Phoenix. Outside of the OR, she enjoys being active such as playing golf, hockey, and hiking. Dr. Anathea Powell is a colorectal surgeon working at Renown Health in Reno, Nevada and the University of Nevada, Reno. Outside of the OR, she has certifications in personal training as well as coaching for nutrition, sleep and recovery, mobility, and menopause. She is also a former All American in triathlon and aquabike (swim-bike). Dr. Danielle Tanner is a PGY-5 at Creighton University School of Medicine in Phoenix and aspires to be a rural general surgeon. Publications and Applications Discussed: Black Belt Academic Surgical Skills: https://bbass.org/ Epstein S, Sparer EH, Tran BN, Ruan QZ, Dennerlein JT, Singhal D, Lee BT. Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Surgeons and Interventionalists: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Surg. 2018 Feb 21;153(2):e174947. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2017.4947. Epub 2018 Feb 21. PMID: 29282463; PMCID: PMC5838584. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29282463/ Sutton E, Irvin M, Zeigler C, Lee G, Park A. The ergonomics of women in surgery. Surg Endosc. 2014 Apr;28(4):1051-5. doi: 10.1007/s00464-013-3281-0. PMID: 24232047. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24232047/ Patel VR, Stearns SA, Liu M, Tsai TC, Jena AB. Mortality Among Surgeons in the United States. JAMA Surg. 2025 Sep 1;160(9):1032-1034. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2025.2482. PMID: 40737024; PMCID: PMC12311820. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40737024/ Lee MR, Lee GI. Does a robotic surgery approach offer optimal ergonomics to gynecologic surgeons?: a comprehensive ergonomics survey study in gynecologic robotic surgery. J Gynecol Oncol. 2017 Sep;28(5):e70. doi: 10.3802/jgo.2017.28.e70. Epub 2017 Jun 23. PMID: 28657231; PMCID: PMC5540729. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28657231/ Berguer R. The application of ergonomics in the work environment of general surgeons. Rev Environ Health. 1997 Apr-Jun;12(2):99-106. doi: 10.1515/reveh.1997.12.2.99. PMID: 9273926. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9273926/ Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.   If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://behindtheknife.org/listen Behind the Knife Premium: General Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/general-surgery-oral-board-review Trauma Surgery Video Atlas: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/trauma-surgery-video-atlas Dominate Surgery: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Clerkship: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-clerkship Dominate Surgery for APPs: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Rotation: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-for-apps-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-rotation Vascular Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/vascular-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Colorectal Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/colorectal-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Surgical Oncology Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/surgical-oncology-oral-board-audio-review Cardiothoracic Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/cardiothoracic-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Download our App: Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/behind-the-knife/id1672420049 Android/Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.btk.app&hl=en_US

This week, we're celebrating Thanksgiving and looking at the way this American holiday and its food tell our stories. First, we talk with Padma Lakshmi about her new cookbook, Padma's All American, a celebration of the immigrant dishes and regional traditions that make up our country's culinary landscape. Padma talks about what she's learned from years of traveling for Taste the Nation and leaves us with a delicious Thanksgiving alternative for mashed potatoes: Podimas (Potatoes with Turmeric and Fried Lentils). Then, we turn to baker extraordinaire Dorie Greenspan for a sweet addition to the holiday dessert table. Her new book, Dorie's Anytime Cakes, is filled with unfussy, comforting cakes meant to live on your counter — the kind you slice into whenever the craving strikes. Dorie talks about why simple cakes feel right for the season and leaves us with her Cocoa-Swirled Pumpkin Bundt.Head to our YouTube channel and watch our interview with Padma Lakshmi. Subscribe so you don't miss anything!Our annual cookbook giveaway is live!  To enter for free, visit splendidtable.org/cookbookBroadcast dates for this episode: November 14, 2025 (originally aired)Celebrate kitchen companionship with a gift to The Splendid Table today.