Journey For More

To say that athlete activism is a recent “hype” is a myopic way to look at sports history. Since ancient times, athletes and other people in influential positions have used their voices and platforms to advocate for social justice. The fact that that activism is experiencing resurgence now really just underscores the fact that there is a need for such movements. Josh Martin shares this view with Shea Dawson, Director of Athlete and Community Relations at Overtime. Having spent much of her sports career supporting and advocating for athletes behind the scenes, Shea takes pride in the fact that prominent names in the industry are choosing to take a stand for what is right. In this insightful conversation, we get a powerful message for these interesting times: whenever you’ve got whole teams and leagues against you, it’s got to be hard to say you’re in the right.

You’d be shocked to know that not that many Americans are knowledgeable about or have even read the Constitution. Far from just a mildly-interesting trivia, this is an alarming fact that may explain why we have historically allowed ourselves to be manipulated by whoever happens to occupy the seat in the White House. In this pivotal time in American history, it is important for us to go back to this incredible document and use it as our North Star in initiating movements that aim to make the nation a better place. Coming into the podcast to speak with Josh Martin about this is Pepperdine University associate professor, Alicia Jessop. A sports writer and attorney, Alicia possesses a wealth of information about the intricacies of the constitution and its history. In this episode, they tackle the subjects of executive orders, electoral colleges, the role of athletes in social change, and the continued relevance of the Constitution in these contemporary times.

The power of a conversation is amplified when you have it at the table. Food brings us together and connects us like nothing else, according to our next special guest, Todd Liebler. Todd was the man behind the camera traveling around the world and experiencing different cultures through food with his counterpart, Anthony Bourdain. Todd has raked in a total of eight Emmy nominations and won three Emmys for his cinematography work on Bourdain’s shows, “No Reservations” and “Parts Unknown.” Throughout this episode, Josh Martin and Todd share their love of travel, their love of food, and their love of trying new experiences. Todd talks about his tips as an avid traveler and the immense impact that Bourdain had on not only his life but his worldwide audience.

Two guys cracked the code to understanding politics from all angles and put all of that objective information into one centralized location, onto one app — Politiscope. Walter Powell and Jackson White came together to produce an app dedicated to educating the public on certain aspects of the federal government, so they can be more informed as election day approaches. The information comes in an easy-to-digest format and allows users to scroll through articles, videos, and polls about certain topics like environment or gun control with ease. Today, Walt and Jackson chat with host Josh Martin about the app and how it has revolutionized the way Millennials and the Gen Z population are digesting more and more of their news through independently run media outlets.

What mark can you make on this world when you strip yourself of all limitations and see achievement as infinite? Health expert Anand Sukhadia started answering this question by creating a wellness center complete with sensory deprivation therapy, cryotherapy, infrared saunas, and even CBD massages. Anand founded om.life, a modern recovery spa, after realizing the power of proactive health and creating a healthy environment in which your body can heal. Today, Anand and host Josh Martin talk about how caring for yourself first is how you can best care for others, and how this kind of healthcare is more than just a business, but a lifestyle.

How would you handle entering a competition without any guarantees that you’ll get the same opportunity as the other competitors? The next guest, Summer Macedo, has to battle this every time she enters the water in a surfing competition. Her performance relies on whether or not there are waves, which she isn’t in control of. This uncertainty has prepared nineteen-year-old professional surfer Summer for planning ahead but also taking life as it comes and spreading the Aloha everywhere she goes. In today’s episode, Summer talks about her work ethic carrying over from surfing into school, and how she’s trying to stay her true self through it all. She and host, Josh Martin, also connect on musical theater, financial planning, and athletics.

Finding your identity is hard, but finding your identity as a first-generation immigrant is a whole other battle according to this week’s guest, Michael Rain. Michael is Ghanaian-American. He has over one million views on his TED Talk where he tells a story about his childhood and trying to find his identity. He also started ENODI, a digital gallery highlighting the lives of first-generation people and immigrants of African, Caribbean and Latinx descent. Today, Josh Martin interviews Michael about how to discover your identity in a society so prone to stereotypes and how taking care of your mental health can help lead you to find your identity.

Who are you once the label of professional football player wears off? What can you do off the field to become something more than an athlete? Josh Martin’s guest, Buster Skrine, has formed a company to help athletes, models, and musicians do just that. Versatile NYC is a company focused on helping these individuals broaden their platform by linking them with brands that share the same mission. In addition to Versatile NYC, Skrine founded SkrineWay, an organization dedicated to helping children and single mothers in New York and New Jersey. Josh and Buster discuss life after the NFL and how to focus on the “Now what?”

According to this week’s guest, Jon Levy, your life can be exciting and full of diverse experiences, but only if you are able to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Jon is a behavioral scientist and the author of The 2 AM Principle: Discover the Science of Adventure. In his most recent TED talk, Jon talks about the science behind becoming influential and how we can use this approach to elevate our status and connect with the top industry leaders across our culture. Today, Jon speaks with host, Josh Martin, on diversity and how surrounding yourself with a diverse group of friends can lead you toward a more fulfilling and well-rounded life. He also talks about how finding adventures can lead to growth if you are willing to push and challenge yourself.

Those at the top shouldn’t monopolize wealth. It should be accessible to those income-disadvantaged groups as well. Taking this to the heart of her mission is this episode’s guest, Chloe B. McKenzie—best-selling author, wealth literacy expert, and wealth justice advocate. By founding her company, BlackFem, Chloe is set to provide opportunities for women and girls of color to build and sustain wealth. She expounds on that mission and its growth to us here. With an emphasis on bringing equal education for all, Chloe also discusses intersectional feminism and what it means in the context of BlackFem working with young women of color. Learn more about the increasing wealth gap we are all facing and how noble causes that bring equal financial education might just save us from an impending irreversible problem.