FBA Podcast

Nick Reich, coach and author of Every Player is Bigger than the Program, shares the extraordinary story of leading a brand-new charter school basketball team to a state championship in just three years—without ever owning a home gym. He challenges traditional coaching tropes by arguing that the individual’s potential and dignity are more important than the system itself. Reich breaks down his "People First Playbook," explaining how the same principles used to motivate inner-city youth are the exact tools needed to drive innovation, retention, and revenue in modern business.

Click here to take the People First Leadership Assessment:  https://abundantempowerment.outgrow.us/peoplefirst 

To find out more information about the book and the People-First Framework go to https://www.peoplefirstplaybook.com/ 

TEDx speaker LaShata' Grayson shares her journey from the "grit and swag" of Gary, Indiana, to hitting a "dark space" at 30 that forced her to restart her life. She opens up about the realization that her external physical success was merely a "band-aid" for internal drowning, leading her to a path of spiritual surrender. Grayson discusses how she transformed her pain into a viral message about finding clarity in the midst of life's rejections.

The discussion explores Macy Troyer's unexpected journey into entrepreneurship, starting with creative income methods like doing Elvis impersonations for money at church, and moving through her formal education at the Kelly School of Business. She details the distress felt in her first corporate job, realizing she wasn't using her "God-given gifts" or bringing her authentic self to the table, leading to her pivotal decision to start her own social media marketing agency, Goldie Social Media. Macy recounts the surprising acceleration of her business when it launched just 14 days before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, transforming social media from a business luxury into a necessity overnight. A key theme is the crucial role of mindset and self-awareness in business success, arguing that determination cannot be taught. The host and guest also share a vulnerable conversation about the importance of self-love, self-forgiveness, and drawing boundaries based on strong values, noting that their agency rejects clients who are not "God-honoring or people loving". Macy discusses why she wrote her best-selling book, Ready Mindset Go, emphasizing that mindset is "step zero" for any entrepreneur, focusing on resilience and forming new connections in the brain.

Full stack marketing leader Ragan Dodson discusses her journey of consistently showing up as an "unapologetically a black woman" in corporate environments. She details how her refusal to "code switch" and her stance against microaggressions often led to conflict, but ultimately inspired her to create "Strategy with Soul," a human-led marketing philosophy. She emphasizes the power of trusting her "inner knowing" to guide major life and career transitions.

Creator and community builder Nate Spangle details his entrepreneurial journey of leaving his job, acquiring a failing local podcast, and scaling it into a rapidly growing media company dedicated to amplifying Indiana's overlooked stories. Spangle shares the brutal truth about going viral, revealing that he posted 112 videos before one reached 10,000 views. He discusses how a seemingly outlandish viral stunt—hosting the first “all Indiana tailgate” in the Indy 500 infield—became the defining breakthrough that launched his media empire

This episode features the highly decorated 4X All-American and Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame setter, Ainise Havili, detailing her non-linear journey through elite volleyball. Ainise begins by sharing her roots, forged in the competitive youth volleyball scene of the Fort Worth area of Texas, where her upbringing instilled a culture where "sacrifice and excellence is the standard".

She recounts her phenomenal time at Kansas, highlighted by the school-record winning streak and the unforgettable NCAA Final Four run her sophomore year, including the dramatic Elite Eight comeback from being down 13-9 in the fifth set. Facing limited professional options in the US, Ainise embarked on a global tour, first playing beach volleyball in Arizona to earn a master's degree. She then played professionally overseas in Europe, experiencing high-level volleyball in Germany (a season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic) and enduring profound isolation during a full season in Turkey. Upon returning, her career followed a unique, demanding path: she rekindled her passion for the sport by coaching a club team and later accepted a college coaching role at Abilene Christian (ACU).

While coaching at ACU, she simultaneously jumped back into playing, joining the professional league's inaugural season with the Vegas Thrill. Ainise speaks candidly about the competitive mindset that views the court as the only healthy "outlet to let loose", and how her extensive journey led to the profound conclusion that "you can be everything all at once".

In this episode of the FBA podcast, centered on foundation, business, and athletics, host Byron Jesue Hubbard II sits down with special guest Chad Spann.Spann, a former college football player for the University of Northern Illinois, went on to continue his athletic career in the NFL and the CFL. He currently leverages his experience working at Butler University building strategic partnerships and serving as a coach for the Gridiron Gang.

He has degrees from Stanford and Rose-Holman, yet he ended up sleeping on a buddy's couch for two months after a verbal job offer disappeared. His journey was never what he expected, and that's exactly what made it so successful. I'm speaking with Mark Caswell, a high-growth executive, consultant, professor, and the former CEO of a company he helped grow from 18 people to over 500. In this conversation, Mark reveals the single most important piece of career advice he has learned: never, ever chase title or money. Always chase curiosity. He explains how this mindset will lead to passion and growth, allowing money and titles to follow naturally. He also shares the one interview question he uses that has nothing to do with work but reveals a person's true character and self-awareness—The Skittles Question. This episode is for anyone feeling pressure to have it all figured out, for leaders bearing the weight of responsibility, and for every young professional trying to find their path.

We sat down with local podcaster, MC, and host of The Conversation Piece and The Janchi Show, Patrick Armstrong. In this revealing conversation, Patrick shares his deeply personal journey as a Korean adoptee, recounting how he rejected his Asian identity for 30 years until a "reclamation phase" was sparked by impending fatherhood and significant societal shifts.Patrick delves into his evolution from feeling like a "non-player character" (NPC) to becoming the main character of his own narrative, driven by a profound desire for service and community-building in Indianapolis. We explore the critical importance of identity, the interplay of privilege and struggle, and how to define personal freedom amidst societal pressures. This episode offers powerful insights on self-discovery, familial influence, and the courage to live authentically

This episode of the FBA podcast features Dave Neff, President and CEO of the Boilermaker Alliance, Purdue's exclusive NIL fund. The discussion primarily revolves around the transformative landscape of college athletics, delving into the intricacies of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal. Dave Neff shares his journey in sports and business, including his work with the Pacers and Salesforce, highlighting his current role in navigating the financial shifts in college sports. Beyond the professional sphere, the conversation extends to Neff's personal life, emphasizing his roles as a husband and father of four, and the profound influence of his personal faith on his values and operations.