Former NFL Pro Bowler and No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick Ronnie Brown joins Same Game Different Turf to discuss what happens after achieving the dream you've worked toward your entire life.

From growing up in a small Georgia town to starring at Auburn and spending 10 seasons in the NFL, Ronnie shares what it was like navigating success, identity, and the transition into a completely different career as a financial advisor. We discuss purpose after sports, imposter syndrome, financial literacy, relationships, mentorship, and why the skills that make someone successful on the field can translate into success anywhere.

This conversation isn't just for athletes. It's for anyone navigating change, pursuing a second chapter, or wondering whether they can become great more than once.

In this episode:

* Why becoming great doesn't have to happen only once

* The identity shift after leaving professional sports

* $187 to a $19.5 Million Signing Bonus

* Transitioning from the NFL to financial advising

* Why purpose matters more than titles

* Building wealth and changing financial habits

* The power of mentors, teammates, and relationships

* Why mastering the fundamentals creates long-term success

* How athletes can prepare for life after sports

* Raising kids through sports without losing the joy

* Nobody Prepares You for the End

* Don't Fear of Your Own Greatness

#RonnieBrown #LifeAfterTheNFL #AuburnFootball #FinancialLiteracy ##CareerTransition #AthleteTransition #WealthBuilding #SelfDevelopment

This episode features Frank Brown, CEO of Communities In Schools of Atlanta, one of the nation's leading organizations focused on helping students overcome the barriers that prevent them from succeeding in school and in life.

Frank's story is one of education, relationships, and purpose. Growing up in a single-parent household in Charleston, South Carolina, Frank’s brother was sentenced to 15 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter after killing his stepfather. Same house. Same parents. Similar upbringing. Yet their lives took very different paths.

Frank discusses how he experienced firsthand how one opportunity completely changed the trajectory of his life. That opportunity led him to college, law school, Capitol Hill, and ultimately to leading one of Atlanta's most impactful nonprofit organizations. 

We discuss why relationships often matter more than talent, how education can alter the course of an entire family, what it takes to lead through complexity, and why solving generational problems requires long-term commitment instead of quick fixes.

Themes from this episode:

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This episode features Justin Anthony, founder of Yebo Beach Haus, Lion's Head Private Club, and several of Atlanta's most recognized hospitality concepts.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, Justin's life revolved around soccer. From the age of six, he knew he wanted to become a professional player and spent years pursuing that dream. But after a serious knee injury changed the trajectory of his career, he was forced to confront one of the hardest realities athletes face: what happens when the identity you've built your life around begins to disappear?

What followed was a journey of reinvention. Justin went from professional athlete to waiting tables, learning the hospitality business from the ground up before opening the first South African restaurant in America. Over the next three decades, he built a hospitality empire rooted in authenticity, service, resilience, and a willingness to evolve.

This conversation explores transitions, humility, entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience, and what it takes to build a meaningful second chapter when life doesn't go according to plan.

Themes from this episode:

Watch and listen: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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From the 1996 Olympics to OutKast, TLC, Usher, Pink, Babyface, T.I., Nike, and Adidas, DL Warfield has spent decades helping shape culture through art and creativity.

In this episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with fine artist and creative director DL Warfield to discuss creativity, resilience, authenticity, relationships, and what it takes to build a career that stands the test of time.

DL shares stories from designing the Olympic album cover, working with some of the biggest names in music, staying culturally relevant across multiple decades, and why approaching creativity like an athlete helped him sustain success.

This conversation is a reminder that success is rarely about one moment. It's about continuing to evolve, staying true to who you are, and doing the work long enough for your gifts to compound.

In this episode:

DL's story is a masterclass in staying authentic while continuing to grow.

Hosted by Mohamed Massaquoi 

This episode features Brian McGowan, President of Centennial Yards Company, the largest sports adjacent entertainment district underdevelopment in the world. Brian’s career is a masterclass in navigating transitions. His work has spanned the Obama Administration, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office, leading Invest Atlanta, and serving as CEO of the Atlanta BeltLine.

We discuss career reinvention, leading through uncertainty, identifying opportunity, and why meaningful work often requires vision, resilience, and the ability to create belief before results show up.

We also talk about what it takes to lead transformational projects when people doubt the vision, why transferable skills often matter more than perfect credentials, and how great teams create confidence in high-pressure environments.

Themes from this episode:

This episode features Herm from Roadshow, one of the most trusted names in the high-end automotive world. From selling cars out of Cincinnati to building a globally recognized brand that works with athletes, entertainers, and top executives, Herm’s journey is built on persistence, relationships, and doing business the right way.

We get into how Roadshow was built from the ground up, what it actually takes to earn trust at the highest level, and why most people misunderstand success. This is not a story about overnight wins. It’s about years of consistency, learning on the fly, and staying in the game when most people quit.

We also break down the mindset behind building a brand that people trust, navigating NIL and young athletes with money for the first time, and why focusing on people over transactions is what creates real longevity.

Themes from this episode:

Watch and listen: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

This episode features Tiffany Willis, former SVP of Investor Relations at Starbucks, whose journey redefines what success actually looks like. From becoming a mother at 14 and facing homelessness to rising through PwC, EY, and leading investor relations at a $130B company, Tiffany’s story is a masterclass in resilience, ownership, and purpose-driven leadership.

We unpack what it really means to own your narrative, how your struggles can become your greatest competitive advantage, and why success is not about a perfect path but about persistence, adaptability, and belief. Tiffany also shares the mindset shifts that helped her navigate corporate leadership, make difficult family decisions, and step into her next chapter with intention.

This is a conversation about identity, leadership, and building a life on your terms, regardless of where you start.

Themes from this episode:

 Watch and listen: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

In this episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with David Pollack, former University of Georgia player, three-time All-American, first-round NFL Draft pick, former ESPN analyst, speaker, author, and host of the See Ball Get Ball podcast.

David shares a powerful story of identity, transition, faith, resilience, and learning how to make every day count. From becoming under-recruited, to elite football player, to suffering a career-ending neck injury in the NFL, to rebuilding through broadcasting, speaking, writing, and family life. Our conversation is full of perspective for anyone navigating change.

We talk about what it really means to be great where you’re at, how to stay present instead of living in the rearview mirror, how to grow through adversity, and why some of life’s hardest moments can shape you into the strongest version of yourself. David also opens up about faith, his wife’s battle with brain cancer, parenting, personal discipline, leadership, and the mindset behind his book Every Day Counts.

This is a conversation about more than football. It’s about purpose, suffering, grit, service, and how to respond when life changes faster than you expected.

In this episode, we discuss:

* David Pollack’s journey from Georgia football to the NFL

* The mindset that helped him become great after changing positions multiple times

* What happened after his broken neck ended his NFL career

* Transitioning from pro sports to local radio and eventually ESPN

* Why feedback, accountability, and self-evaluation matter

* How faith shaped the way he handled adversity and uncertainty

* Lessons from his wife’s brain cancer journey

* The message behind his book Every Day Counts

* Parenting, youth sports, resilience, and letting kids own their journey

* What success looks like now in speaking, media, and life

If you’re in a season of transition, rebuilding, leadership, loss, or growth, this episode will challenge and encourage you.

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders, athletes, founders, and high performers navigating life and career transitions on Same Game Different Turf.

#DavidPollack #SameGameDifferentTurf #NFL #GeorgiaFootball #Faith #Resilience #Leadership #Mindset #PersonalGrowth #EveryDayCounts #CareerTransition #Adversity #SportsPodcast #Motivation #SuccessMindset

In the latest episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with Elicia Azali, Chief Marketing Officer at Beazer Homes, to talk about leadership, marketing, and building a career that aligns with who you truly are.

Elicia’s journey from Oberlin, Ohio to the C-suite is a powerful reminder that success isn’t just about where you start.

It’s about work ethic, mentorship, and the courage to be yourself in rooms where you may feel different.

In this conversation:

• The work ethic lessons that shaped her growing up in Ohio

This episode is a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, motherhood, career development, and building brands that last.