TW: Substance abuse & alcoholism 

Today’s guest is Bridgette, who sits down with Fes to talk about her experiences with being a high functioning alcoholic. From growing up with two alcoholic parents, being the college party girl to getting sober and relapsing – listening to Bridgette tell her story so vividly, it will feel like you were there watching it unfold. 

After hitting rock bottom, hiding bottles, being a morning drinker and crashing her car twice in the same night with no recollection, she was able to get and stay sober. 

Bridgette now uses her past experience to help others by being a therapist working with addicts and alcoholics. 

Tune in to find out what questions you should ask yourself to determine if you have a healthy relationship with alcohol.

Follow Bridgette on Instagram.

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Today’s conversation is with Alicia Jay, who takes us on a journey: From being bullied in high school, dealing with racism and finding self acceptance through basketball. With her stunning 6’6 height, infectious energy and endless life lessons to share, Alicia is a true inspiration. 

Festus and Alicia have their love for basketball in common but also their faith in God and tireless drive to continue to grow. Diving into more personal topics both open about previous mental health struggles and finding themselves. Alicia also shares how she dealt with losing her brother in an accident, why she is waiting for mister right and how to stand tall everyday, in every way.

Follow Alicia on Instagram, read her blog or watch her YouTube channel. 

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Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

Today Festus talks to his former Golden State Warrior teammate Mo Speights. This conversation amongst friends takes you into the world of professional basketball. Mo shares what it was like growing up in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his dad being in and out of prison and against all odds making it to the NBA. Both Festus & Mo had to deal with tough injuries and finding new paths but they both persevered and together they won the 2015 NBA championship. 

Follow Mo on Instagram or Twitter

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Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

Trigger warning: Suicidal thoughts

In this emotional episode of Rebuilding the Beast, professional soccer player Lauren Sesselmann shares her story. From competing in the Olympics and the World Cup, to her battle with depression and long-term concussion effects, Lauren has a heart to heart with Festus. 

Highlighting the mental pressures athletes are under, Festus also talks about his own struggles and the feeling of being in a dark hole after his surgery. 

Determined to create equal rights for women in professional sports, Lauren is an advocate for change, creates awareness for mental health and wants to inspire the next generation of athletes. 

Follow Lauren on Instagram or watch her host The Ball Out. For mentorship & advice take a look at Ultrain Pro Soccer Players.

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Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

Today’s episode is incredibly inspiring not just for basketball enthusiasts!

Festus talks with Steve Kerr, his former coach with the Golden State Warriors. The conversation is jam packed with life lessons from dealing with negative thoughts and self-doubt to dealing with the loss of a loved one. 

Steve opens up about his childhood, the terrorist attack that claimed the life of his father in Beirut and his transition from player to coach. 

Sharing personal anecdotes from their “Welcome to the NBA Moment” to Steve’s epic Championship celebration – you can also expect a lot of fun and entertaining moments. 

Steve Kerr is an eight time NBA Champion, having won five titles as a player as well as three with the Warriors as a head coach. 

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Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

On this episode Festus has a conversation with Jenna of the Body Love Society. 

Jenna teaches intuitive eating and opens up about her past struggles with constant dieting, binge eating and body image issues. 

Speaking candidly Festus, on the other hand, talks about how he went from being a chubby kid with a craving for ice cream to a pro-athlete that continues to learn about how to best fuel his body.

It’s all about a healthier relationship with food and your body to embrace that happiness truly comes from inside you. 

Follow Jenna and the Body Love Society on Instagram.
You can also find out more by watching their documentary on Youtube or listening to the “How to Love Your Body” Podcast. 

Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!

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Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

We’ve all heard of diabetes before. But if you’re not diagnosed with it yourself or have someone in your close circle then how much do you actually know about what it’s like living with diabetes? As Festus admits he didn’t know much about all the challenges, the sacrifices and costs linked to diabetes prior to the conversation with Nicole. 

Nicole was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a young age and her journey hasn’t been an easy one. With the condition being incurable she had to make adjustments and sacrifices, going as far as not being able to get officially married. Tune in and find out why!

450 million people have diabetes – so let’s talk about it. 

Follow Nicole & check out her illustrations here.

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Picking up where we left in Episode 1, it’s about to get real: Festus is drafted to the Golden State Warriors. Hear about the second – more personal – encounter with Kobe Bryant, told so vividly you’ll join them on the court in your head. Feel the excitement of winning the 2015 NBA Championship but also the devastation of facing a severe knee injury. Festus gets personal about ending up in a wheelchair and trying to find his way out of a dark place. Finally, learn how Rebuilding the Beast was born, what it means to Festus and what you can expect from this podcast.

Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!

Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirational stories!

Or check out our YouTube & website!

Wanna connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

On the first episode of Rebuilding the Beast our host Festus Ezeli takes you on his own journey. Telling the story of his humble beginnings struggling to learn basketball, facing challenges and overcoming the odds. Filled with personal anecdotes, a fateful encounter with none other than Kobe Bryant and a premonition of his uncle – this is not your average coming of age story. 

Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!

Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirational stories!

Or check out our YouTube & website!

Wanna connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

What does Rebuilding the Beast stand for?

What can you expect from this podcast?

What does it actually mean to be strong?

What if life throws you a curveball or knocks you down?

The intro episode answers these questions and introduces you to our host Festus Ezeli. 

Get a glimpse into the journey that led to creating the podcast and the mindset behind it. 

Tune in every Wednesday for personal stories, great advice and complementary light hearted fun.

What you can expect:

An array of inspiring guests and honest conversations about the ups and downs of life. From injuries, mental health issues, diseases, addiction, too strokes of fate and more, learn about overcoming adversity. 

Rebuilding the Beast gives a platform to others to tell their story in hopes of inspiring, spreading positivity and guiding through challenges. 

Let’s talk about the hard times and let’s be vulnerable, because your story can be someone else’s survival guide!

Let’s Rebuild YOUR Beast!

Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!

Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirational stories!

Or check out our YouTube & website!

Wanna connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram