At 51, David Williams weighed 284 pounds.

He had type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and was sleeping with a CPAP machine.

At first, David started making small changes. Then came the moment when enough was enough.

He changed the way he ate. He started walking. Then running.

A first 5K turned into more miles. Eventually, David ran a marathon. Then he decided to become a triathlete.

Five years after making that commitment, David told us:

“I was definitely not the same person I used to be.”

Then something started happening with his right leg.

It wasn't working the way it should in the water. It started twitching. David knew something wasn't right.

On April 16, 2025, he finally got an answer: tremor-dominant Parkinson's.

David sat in the parking lot and cried.

For the next month, he wondered what his life was going to look like and what would happen to the person he'd worked so hard to become.

Then he made another decision.

This is the first part of our conversation with David Williams.

It's a short episode. Stay through the end.

Sports are the backdrop. Life is the conversation.

What happens when sports stop being something you do and start becoming part of how you measure your own value?

In Episode 23 of He Said, Son Said, Matt sits down with KJ Hill at ReCity in Durham, North Carolina, for a conversation about sports, identity, youth athletics, fatherhood, coaching, leadership, trust, and what it really means to win.

KJ grew up immersed in sports: soccer, basketball, baseball, and track. Eventually he played college soccer, professional soccer, and later became a college coach. But as his athletic career evolved, so did the way he thought about competition, success, and self-worth.

KJ reflects on how deeply performance became tied to identity, and how difficult it can be when winning, losing, and comparison start to feel like measures of personal value.

The conversation then shifts into parenting.

KJ is the father of four daughters, each with a different story in sports. One became a Division I pole vaulter. Another pursued soccer before choosing academics. Another played high school tennis. Another found field hockey.

Those different paths opened up a bigger question:

How much should parents push young athletes and when should they step back?

KJ talks candidly about trying to protect his daughters from some of the unhealthy patterns he experienced growing up, while also hearing from them later that maybe they wished he had pushed them harder.

That tension leads to one of the most powerful lines in the episode:

“I wanted to guard my relationship with them more than see them succeed in sports.”

From there, the conversation moves into leadership and professional life.

KJ explains how the lessons he learned as an athlete and coach now show up in his work as a community leader at ReCity in Durham. He talks about team culture, trust, accountability, humility, motivation, and why healthy teams in sports, business, nonprofit work, or family life are built on relationships.

They also dig into one of the biggest themes of the episode:

How does your definition of winning change as you get older?

For a younger KJ, winning and losing were closely tied to value, success, and identity.

Today, he sees winning very differently.

And when Matt asks what one word KJ hopes people associate with him, his answer is simple:

Congruent.

The same inside and out.

This episode is about sports, but it is also about much more...athlete identity, sports parenting, coaching philosophy, leadership development, youth sports culture, team building, self-worth, community impact, and learning that the scoreboard can tell you who won without telling you what someone is worth.

Sports are the backdrop. Life is the conversation.

Topics include: sports and identity, athlete mental health, youth sports parenting, parenting athletes, college sports, professional soccer, coaching, fatherhood, leadership, team culture, trust, ReCity Durham, community leadership, self-worth, motivation, redefining success, and life after sports.

What happens when the sport you grew up in, the place your parents built, and the thing you once considered walking away from becomes the thing you choose for yourself?

For Episode 22, Matt and Nash go On Their Turf at Triangle’s Best Karate with Stephen Robinson and his son, JJ.

Karate has been part of the Robinson family for decades. Stephen and his wife, Cyndy, met as competitors, built the dojo together, and raised a family immersed in the sport. JJ started training when he was three or four, became an elite competitor, and eventually faced the question of whether karate was something he truly wanted — or simply something that had always been chosen for him.

The conversation gets into competition and losing, what it was like for JJ to grow up with his dad as both father and sensei, and the work it took to become one of the best. Stephen shares what he learned about coaching his son, while JJ talks about the silent rides home, the pressure that came with competing, and eventually realizing that those experiences helped make him who he is.

They also dig into JJ’s torn ACL — the anger, fear and uncertainty that followed, the worry that people might forget how good he was, and the mental challenge of learning to trust his body again. That opens a conversation with Matt and Nash about their own experiences with injury and recovery.

But the story changes when JJ moves from competitor to coach and leader. He talks about discovering that every athlete needs something different, coaching people he once competed against, putting ego aside at the World Championships, and learning to see the whole picture instead of only the fight in front of him.

And then there's the handoff.

Stephen talks about giving JJ the dojo, watching his son struggle to earn the respect of students who had known him since he was in diapers, and eventually realizing:

“I gotta stay away for him to grow.”

That hits close to home for Matt and Nash, who have had their own version of that conversation from the sidelines of a basketball court.

There’s plenty of family in this one, too — including JJ’s sister Asia, Cyndy’s five straight national championships, the story of Stephen and Cyndy’s first sparring match, some father-son trash talk, and the question of who in the Robinson family nobody wants to face.

And before they leave, JJ gets one more student: Nash.

It’s a conversation about karate, competition, injury, coaching, fatherhood, identity, letting go — and the difference between inheriting something and choosing it.

He Said, Son Said
Sports are the backdrop. Life is the conversation.

James Davis lost his sight later in life. A few years ago, he found golf.

It started with one good shot. Then another. Before long, once a month wasn’t enough.

But James doesn’t play alone. His coach, Kevin, helps line him up, reads the course and gives James information he can’t see for himself.

And that raises a bigger question:

How can you accept help and still own the outcome?

It’s a question that follows us throughout this episode — from James and Kevin on the golf course to Matt and Nash talking about free throws, school, growing up and putting in the work.

When is helping actually helping? When do you need to get out of the way? What does independence really mean? And how do you let someone you love make the mistakes — and own the good shots — for themselves?

James has his own answer. When Kevin tries to take responsibility for one of his bad shots, James pushes back:

“Not necessarily… He didn’t pull me up. I did that.”

But James’s story doesn’t end with what golf gave him.

After playing with other blind golfers and realizing there was nothing like it back home in Durham, the idea of creating something started “keeping him awake at night.” That idea became the Triangle Blind Golfers Association — and golf became a vehicle for friendship, belonging, therapy, confidence and community.

Along the way, another question emerges:

What happens when something gives you so much that you feel compelled to create that opportunity for someone else?

By the end of our morning at Hillandale, James describes what golf has given him:

Pride. Confidence. Independence.

Kevin can line him up.

But James still has to swing.

The shot is still his.

And maybe that's true for a lot more than golf.

Sports are the backdrop. Life is the conversation.

In Part One of our conversation with Hassan Pinto, we talked about where sports took him.

In Part Two, the conversation shifts.

This time, we talk about family, parenting, sacrifice, and what happens when the kids you’ve spent years raising start becoming adults.

Hassan shares how soccer became a meeting point for his family, why he tried to be intentional about the environment his kids grew up in, and what he learned as each of them chased their own path.

But one answer became the heart of the episode:

“My oldest son taught me perseverance. My daughter taught me love, and my youngest son taught me patience.”

We also talk about how parenting changes when your kids get older, the importance of becoming a safe space where they can “just exhale,” and why Hassan believes being a father is harder than being a sports executive.

His wife, Meleata, gave him another lesson he’s carried for years:

“You can have everything… but you may not be able to have it all at the same time.”

And by the end of the conversation, Hassan sums up both parts of his story in just a few words:

Sports gave me my life.

Family taught me life.

In this episode:

• What each of Hassan’s three children taught him
• How soccer became a connection point for the entire family
• The pressure and responsibility of parenting
• Why “you only get one shot” matters
• Learning when to advise, when to listen, and when to let your adult kids find their own way
• The balance between family, career, ambition, and timing

Episode 20 of He Said, Son Said — Raising Adults.

Sports are the backdrop. Life is the conversation.

Former NFL offensive lineman Mike McGlynn and former collegiate volleyball player and coach Sam Amaral sit down with Matt for a conversation that starts with sports — and quickly becomes about everything sports can teach us about life.

Mike takes us from growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, through setbacks in high school, college football and the NFL, before sharing what happened when the game he had played since age seven suddenly ended. His experience with identity, mental health and finding a new purpose ultimately became part of the inspiration behind the work he and Sam are now building.

Sam shares her own path through volleyball, coaching, leadership and motherhood — including why she believes parents need to let young athletes fail, communicate with their coaches and learn to advocate for themselves.

Together, they are building the 77ninenine Foundation, with a mission to surround athletes and their families with the education, resources and support they need beyond the field — from financial literacy and mental health to leadership, nutrition and long-term personal development.

We also talk about losing, resilience, NIL, parenting young athletes, legacy — and why sports should be part of who you are without becoming all of who you are.

And yes... Matt tries very hard not to fanboy over a former Philadelphia Eagle.

Sports are the backdrop. Life is the conversation.

What if one small moment could change the direction of your entire life?

For Hassan Pinto, it started in a backyard.

He and his older brother were kicking around a basketball because they didn't own a soccer ball. Their dad came home, saw what they were doing, tossed a soccer ball over the fence and said:

“Kick that.”

Neither of them could have known where that ball would eventually take him.

In Part One of our conversation with Hassan, Matt and Nash explore how soccer became a thread running through nearly every chapter of his life — from growing up on Long Island to playing at UNC, building a career in sports, meeting his wife, Meleata, and eventually creating a life and family shaped by the game.

Hassan's parents saw something in him before he saw it himself. When he wondered why they kept steering him toward soccer, his father told him:

“This game is probably gonna take you wherever you wanted to go.”

Turns out, Dad was right.

• How Hassan's brother introduced him to soccer before they even owned a soccer ball
• Why his parents encouraged him to stay focused on the game
• Why he chose UNC — and the moment Carolina immediately felt different
• Meeting Meleata and beginning to build their life together
• Turning a playing career into a career in sports
• An internship with the Los Angeles Lakers that changed his life
• Marriage, partnership and learning to lean into each other's strengths
• And the hilarious way Hassan discovered Meleata had some serious bowling talent

Sometimes our parents see something before we do. Hassan didn't understand why his parents kept steering him toward soccer. Years later, the reason is pretty clear.

Small moments can become turning points. A soccer ball tossed over a fence didn't look life-changing at the time. In hindsight, it was the beginning of almost everything that followed.

Sports can take us places that have nothing to do with the scoreboard. For Hassan, the game led to schools, relationships, career opportunities and family.

We thought we were sitting down with Hassan for one episode. But somewhere along the way, the conversation changed.

Part One became the story of where sports took Hassan.

In Episode 20, we'll return to talk about the family he and Meleata built, how parenting changes as kids become adults, and what Hassan's children ultimately taught him.

That's Episode 20: Raising Adults.

But first, we go back to where it all started.

A backyard. Two brothers. A soccer ball over a fence.

“Kick that.”

Sports are the backdrop. Life is the conversation.

What happens when the child you've spent years teaching becomes someone you begin learning from?

For Tim and Marisa Ridgeway, sports became the language that shaped a lifetime of conversations.

What started with a father coaching his daughter grew into golf rounds, long car rides, spirited football debates, and eventually Marisa launching her own sports podcast. But somewhere along the way, something changed.

The coach became the listener.

The teacher became the student.

This conversation isn't really about football.

Or golf.

Or podcasting.

It's about parenting.

It's about raising children who become confident enough to think for themselves.

It's about trusting that the values you've spent years teaching will eventually show up in ways you never expected.

And it's about one of the greatest compliments a parent can ever give:

"I'm learning from my child."

In this episode, Tim and Marisa reflect on what it was like growing up together through sports, the challenges of coaching your own daughter, learning to appreciate difficult lessons years later, and how parenting naturally evolves from directing... to coaching.

Whether you're raising young children, navigating the teenage years, coaching youth sports, mentoring young people, or simply trying to build stronger family relationships, this conversation is filled with practical wisdom about parenting, communication, leadership, and letting go.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL HEAR:

• Why sports became the foundation of Tim and Marisa's father-daughter relationship

• What it's really like being coached by your dad

• Why Marisa says she had to work three times harder because her coach was also her father

• The parenting lesson Tim believes every parent eventually learns: "At some point in time, you pivot from being a director... to a coach."

• Why letting go may be one of the hardest—and most rewarding—parts of parenting

• The story behind Marisa's podcast, Sports Uncorked

• The moment Tim realized his daughter had become someone he was learning from

• How sports can become the language that strengthens families for a lifetime

EPISODE LESSONS

• Parenting Through Sports

• Father-Daughter Relationships

• Coaching Your Own Child

• Raising Teenagers

• Youth Sports

• Family Communication

• Leadership

• Mentorship

• Letting Go

• Personal Growth

• Family Relationships

• Sports Parenting

One of my favorite moments comes when Tim reflects on parenting and says:

"At some point in time, you pivot from being a director... to a coach."

That one sentence captures the heart of this entire episode.

Because parenting isn't about holding on forever.

It's about preparing your children to stand on their own... and being grateful when they still invite you into the conversation.

If you're a parent, a coach, a mentor, or someone who believes sports can strengthen families, I hope you'll see a little of your own story in this conversation.

Because at the end of the day...

Sports are the backdrop.

Life is the conversation.

When does helping become holding on too tightly?

In this episode of He Said, Son Said, Matt and Nash sit down with Rex and Sadie Miller for a conversation that begins with tennis but quickly becomes something much bigger.

Together, they explore what it means to parent, coach, and support someone you love without trying to control their journey. It's an honest discussion about trust, communication, learning from one another, and knowing when to step back so someone else can grow.

One line from Rex captures the heart of the conversation:

"This is your kid's tennis journey, not yours."

Whether you're raising an athlete, coaching a team, leading others, or simply navigating relationships with the people you care about, this episode is a reminder that sometimes the greatest act of support is giving someone the space to find their own path.

• Why youth sports are about more than competition
• The evolving relationship between parents and their children
• What coaches can learn from listening
• Building trust instead of control
• Lessons that extend far beyond the tennis court

Sports are the backdrop. Life is the conversation.

What does it really mean to build confidence?

In the premiere episode of On Their Turf, a new documentary-style series from He Said, Son Said, Matt and Nash step into the gym with coach and trainer Ashanti Robinson, expecting to talk about fitness.

Instead, they discover a powerful conversation about confidence, coaching, fatherhood, leadership, and the legacy we leave through the lives we influence.

Ashanti shares the lessons that have shaped him—as an athlete, a coach, a father, and a mentor—and explains why building confidence is about far more than physical strength. It's about helping people believe in themselves, overcoming doubt, and becoming the person they're capable of being.

Whether you're a parent, coach, athlete, leader, or someone looking to grow personally and professionally, this conversation offers practical wisdom and meaningful perspective on the power of influence, resilience, and purpose.

This episode also marks the launch of On Their Turf, a documentary-style series that takes conversations out of the studio and into the places where people have become who they are.

Because sometimes the most meaningful conversations don't happen behind a microphone.

They happen on someone's turf.

Topics Covered:

• Building confidence
• Coaching and leadership
• Fatherhood
• Mentorship
• Personal growth
• Mental resilience
• Youth sports
• Developing confidence in others
• Creating lasting impact
• Legacy

Sports are the backdrop. Life is the conversation.