Beyond The Ballfield

Through great tragedy, high school football coach Maurice Freeman discovered his “why”.  

Suffering a life-threatening illness to winning 3 Gold Medals, Army Veteran Justen Smith "Coach Jut" shares the importance of pausing for conversations that will change your family.

ABOVE THE CHATTER OUR WORDS MATTER author Bruce Pulver joins us again as we start 2021 with empowering words that lead to positive actions.

Uncovering what it means to be a Barrow Whaler, America’s most northern high school mascot, has been an ongoing journey for me.  I first learned about the community of Barrow (Utqiagvik), Alaska by watching an ESPN segment explaining the challenges they faced when trying to start a high school football program.  With the support of Bartram Trail High School in Jacksonville, Florida the Barrow Whalers would learn the game of football, receive a new artificial turf football field and become the center of major media coverage.  In return, much would be revealed about these fascinating Native Americans, their Inupiat Values, and customs.  In this 4th and final episode with Susan Hope, she explains more about their Inupiat Values and identity.  

Not just a letter opener.  Crafted using baleen from the bowhead whale, ivory from a walrus tusk, and fur from an arctic fox, this unique letter opening tool stands as a reminder of the resourcefulness and talent of our most Northern American neighbors.  Susan Hope explains in more detail Alaska’s North Slope Inupiat culture, “You don’t value what you don’t understand.” 

In this episode, we continue our series with our friend Susan Hope, as she continues to share with us, the Inupiat Values.

Imagine if the community in which you live agreed on a code of conduct that would define the values of its citizens.  These values would be taught in schools, written on the walls of buildings, and celebrated throughout the community.  It is my privilege in today's episode to introduce you to Susan Hope from the Native American Community of Utqiagvik, Alaska where their Inupiat Values guide their way of life.

Lessons learned at the ballfield can have an impact on our lives. When we learn those lessons from our children, those lessons become unforgettable. My son Kyle shares how what he learned while playing sports transforms his everyday life.  

Carlos Cody, the author of PROVERBIAL SUCCESS, took full advantage of enjoying the journey even when the destination wasn’t what he had dreamed. A former college athlete with hopes of playing in the NFL, Carlos turned his focus to helping others achieve their dreams.

Genie West describes the boldness needed when seeing her son faced with a 65-year prison sentence due to the lawlessness of his drug addiction. Their story of true grit continues to turnaround college athletes across the Nation.