Matt Bronfman didn't set out to become a CEO or spend nearly three decades helping shape some of the most recognizable real estate projects in the country.

He thought he was going to be a lawyer.

After law school and clerking for a judge, Matt realized litigation wasn't for him. He became a transactional lawyer, started doing work with a small real estate company called Jamestown, and saw an opportunity. Instead of waiting for someone to ask, he raised his hand.

That decision eventually led him from general counsel to acquisitions, portfolio management, COO, and ultimately CEO of Jamestown, where he has helped shape places like Chelsea Market and Ponce City Market.

What stood out to me is how much of Matt's journey wasn't mapped out in advance. He talks openly about luck and being in the right place at the right time, but he also consistently put himself in position for luck to find him. He volunteered, stayed curious, took chances, and was willing to step into opportunities before knowing exactly where they would lead.

We talk about:

• Why you shouldn't wait for an engraved invitation

Matt's story is a reminder that you don't always have to know exactly where you're going. Sometimes you have to stay curious, raise your hand, and be willing to walk through the opportunities that show up along the way.

Episode: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

www.thevessol.com 

Elly Karamoh saw the world differently long before he became the stylist behind some of entertainment’s biggest names.

Growing up outside Paris, Elly was the kid studying fashion shows, red carpets, music videos, and the evolution of stars while everyone around him viewed him as different. Elly moved to Atlanta as a teen who couldn’t communicate because he couldn’t speak English. 

Today, Elly communicates in perfect English while helping to reshape the image of Steve Harvey and working with names including Lori Harvey, Kelly Rowland, Busta Rhymes, Mary J. Blige, Khloé Kardashian, and more.

In this episode of Same Game, Different Turf, Elly shares how observation became education, education became obsession, and obsession eventually created opportunity. We talk about the confidence required to remain yourself when you don't fit in, his approach to reinventing Steve Harvey without losing what made Steve iconic, and why great style is about understanding someone's identity and helping the world see them differently.

Elly also opens up about handling criticism, resisting the pressure to rush success, staying present instead of constantly worrying about what's next, and why he believes being great requires studying the greats and being willing to "apply pressure."

In this conversation:

* Growing up around fashion and culture in Paris

* Moving to Atlanta without speaking English

* Learning to become comfortable being different

* Turning isolation into education and obsession

* How confidence develops through knowing yourself

* Getting the opportunity to style Steve Harvey

* The thinking behind Steve Harvey's fashion reinvention

* Why great styling enhances someone's identity instead of replacing it

* Creating range and longevity instead of chasing one great look

* Styling men and women at the highest level

* Why Elly continues going to Paris Fashion Week for inspiration

* Handling criticism when your work is always under scrutiny 

* Why you shouldn't rush your journey because other people think your moment will disappear

* Staying authentic as success and visibility grow

* Why Elly believes the picture matters

Watch and listen to the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe to Same Game, Different Turf for more conversations about the people, experiences, transitions, and decisions behind extraordinary journeys.

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:

Subscribe for more conversations exploring leadership, resilience, purpose, and the transitions that shape extraordinary lives.

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

Subscribe for more conversations exploring transitions, leadership, resilience, and building a meaningful life beyond the labels we place on ourselves.

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