With the NBA season just getting started, Jimmy sits down with Utah Jazz legend Thurl “Big T” Bailey for a wide-ranging, heartfelt conversation. Thurl looks back on being the No. 7 pick in 1983, falling in love with Utah and its fans, and the lessons his mom taught him about letting basketball open doors to serve the community. He also relives NC State’s iconic 1983 title run with Jimmy V—manifesting by “practicing” cutting down the nets, the game plan against Phi Slama Jama, and why leadership, belief, and defense still win.

The conversation turns deeply personal as Thurl shares his journey of faith and conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, meeting his wife, and how their love endured family pushback before ultimately bringing everyone together. They wrap with candid Jazz talk—young core optimism, what it takes for small-market contenders today, ideas to spice up the NBA (U.S. vs. World All-Star), and why Ryan Smith’s vision across Utah sports has Thurl genuinely excited.

00:00 Introduction
01:30 Thurl Bailey on joining the Utah Jazz and embracing Utah
06:30 The legendary NC State championship run with Jim Valvano
13:00 Thurl’s faith journey and conversion to the LDS Church
17:00 Love, family challenges, and lessons in forgiveness
22:00 Finding purpose beyond basketball and serving others
23:00 The future of the Utah Jazz and today’s NBA
31:49 Outro

In this episode of The Jimmy Rex Show, Jimmy sits down with his good friend Dallas Offill, founder of Happy Roofing and host of The Happy Hour Podcast. Dallas shares his inspiring journey of building a thriving business at a young age — from humble beginnings and early struggles to becoming a leader in his industry and community.

The two dive deep into topics like entrepreneurship, leadership, scaling a company, personal growth, and the power of mentorship. Dallas opens up about the challenges of hiring, building systems, and maintaining integrity while growing fast. The conversation also explores how being part of We Are The They (WATT) has helped him strengthen his mindset, deepen his relationships, and continue to evolve as a man and a leader.

Jimmy and Dallas end by reflecting on the importance of gratitude, connection, and authenticity — how being open and real with others can transform both your business and your life. 

00:00 Introduction
01:11 Is it harder to get ahead today? Tools, mindset & opportunity
07:00 Networking at scale: social reach, info age, and starting a podcast
13:24 Machu Picchu trek: grit, gratitude, and “enjoy the journey”
20:30 Presence over pace: slowing down in a hyper-speed world
31:00 Risk, variety & Tony Robbins’ six human needs
34:52 Scaling Happy Roofing: hires, mistakes, systems & training
41:30 Tough calls: firing, lessons learned & Ed Mylett’s hiring tip
44:46 Daily gratitude practice & mindset reps
47:52 Finding We Are The They & paying it forward
51:41 Outro

NBA veteran and human-rights activist Olden Polynice sits down with Jimmy to talk about the “old school” Jazz culture under Jerry Sloan, what he learned from playing alongside legends, and how today’s NBA compares to the 80s/90s. Olden opens up about the realities of fame before social media, wild road stories, the explosion of player salaries, and why he thinks the league’s effort has dipped—and what he’d do as commissioner to fix it.

He also shares his improbable start in basketball (he didn’t pick up the game until 16), the professor-level value of listening, and life after the cheering stops: divorce, identity, and why therapy has been a pillar for him since college. We dive into his hunger strike for Haitian refugees, visiting detention centers with TV cameras rolling, and his belief that speaking up—athletes and citizens alike—changes the world one person at a time.

00:00 Introduction
01:20 Life in the Old School NBA with the Utah Jazz
06:30 Comparing Eras: 80s–90s vs. Today’s NBA
10:10 Lessons from MJ, Stockton, and Malone
13:15 From Player to Coach: Growth, Mistakes, and Apologies
16:30 Life After Basketball: Identity, Divorce, and Therapy
20:10 Activism and the Hunger Strike for Haitian Refugees
26:00 Speaking Out on Injustice: Courage and Responsibility
33:10 How to Fix the NBA & Restore Effort
39:20 Outro

In this episode, Jimmy sits down with his close friend Taylor Palmer, founder of Rope Swing Moab—the crew behind the massive canyon rope swings that have become a rite of passage for We Are The They. Taylor shares how a desert hobby among buddies turned into a fully permitted operation, why Moab’s arches and canyons make these swings possible, and how rigorous safety (redundant systems, load cells, and 10x margins) transforms a terrifying idea into a life-changing experience.

Beyond the adrenaline, Taylor explains the deeper side of the jump: intention, breakthrough, and brotherhood. From the hard lessons of earning permits with the BLM, to stories of people leaving addictions and grief on the cliff, to his own journey from welding grind to dream job—and even a quick surf trip with his daughter—this conversation is about courage, community, and building a life that actually fits. 

00:00 Introduction
01:45 From Desert Hobby to Epic Canyon Swings
04:00 Safety, Rigging, and the Road to Becoming Permitted
10:00 Facing Fear and Finding Deeper Meaning in the Jump
18:00 We Are The They Moments & Personal Breakthroughs
26:00 Brotherhood, Feedback, and Growth
33:00 Balancing Ambition, Family, and Fulfillment
41:00 From Welding Work to Purpose and Freedom
49:00 Reflections on Courage, Purpose & Next Adventures
50:28 Outro

Baseball legend Dusty Baker sits down with Jimmy for a candid, story-packed conversation spanning his life in the game—All-Star outfielder, World Series champion, and three-time Manager of the Year. Dusty relives the Barry Bonds era from a front-row seat, breaks down how elite hitters actually “know” what’s coming, and shares the mindset he learned from Hank Aaron about trusting your eyes, handling failure, and staying ready. He also opens up about representation in the dugout, what it’s really like to get rehired in MLB, and how age and experience still matter in a sport obsessed with numbers.

From the heartbreaks—’02 World Series, the Bartman game, Halladay’s no-no—to redemption with the 2022 Astros, Dusty explains managing under pressure, restoring dignity after the scandal, and navigating the COVID season and hostile road crowds. He reflects on winter ball’s intensity, the economics behind the decline of Black American players, and a deeply personal moment when his young son stepped onto the World Series stage while Dusty was battling cancer. Plus: why he said yes to managing Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic.

00:00 Introduction
01:32 Barry Bonds up close; lessons from Hank Aaron
09:31 Rehiring, respect, and minority managers
11:54 How the Astros job happened & the 2022 run
15:34 COVID season, boos, and rebuilding trust
22:04 Prior/Wood, pitch counts, and the injury era
27:52 ’89 quake Series & toughest losses (Bartman, ’02)
32:37 Fatherhood, cancer, and a World Series moment
41:06 Outro

In this powerful episode, Jimmy Rex sits down with Steve Mann, author of Stories That Shape Us: Unlock the Secret to Passing Down Your Greatest Lessons Through the Power of Story. Together, they explore how storytelling is one of humanity’s oldest and most essential skills — a way to preserve wisdom, build legacy, and connect generations.

Steve shares personal stories about working for three U.S. Presidents, living in Africa during the AIDS crisis, and learning to communicate timeless values through simple, emotional storytelling. He explains how anyone can start sharing their life lessons, the importance of passing down stories to children and grandchildren, and how storytelling helps build both identity and national pride.

This conversation dives deep into legacy, family connection, freedom, and personal growth, offering timeless lessons for anyone who wants to leave a meaningful mark on the world.

00:00 Introduction
01:12 Why storytelling matters + Steve’s introduction
05:02 Legacy & ancestors: why stories make us remember
08:02 How to start telling your own stories
12:00 Teaching values through stories (grandson example)
14:46 What legacy really means & why it matters
20:39 Africa: moving the family, AIDS education & lessons learned
27:10 Freedom, beliefs, and closing thoughts + where to find the book
31:49 Outro

Dwight “Doc” Gooden sits down with Jimmy to open up about life on and off the mound—rising from teenage phenom to Cy Young & Triple Crown winner, the wild ride of the ’86 Mets, and the redemption arc that followed years of addiction. Doc shares why missing the 1986 World Series parade became a turning point, how therapy (starting in 2019) helped him finally forgive himself, and the daily practices that keep him sober today.

They trade stories from the Yankees–Red Sox 2004 ALCS, debate Gary Sheffield’s Hall of Fame case, and compare Doc’s instant impact to today’s fireballers like Paul Skenes. Doc relives his 1996 Yankees no-hitter—pitched the day before his father’s surgery—and reflects on loyalty to both Mets and Yankees, his love for speaking to young people, and being present for his kids and grandkids. If you love baseball, resilience, and real talk about growth, this one’s special. 

00:00 Introduction
02:00 Yankees–Red Sox memories & Gary Sheffield’s legacy
06:00 The ’86 Mets and life in the spotlight
10:30 Addiction, missing the parade, and hitting rock bottom
16:00 Choosing sobriety and healing through therapy
25:00 The rise: Rookie years, Cy Young, and peak dominance
27:00 Throwing a no-hitter for his dad in 1996
33:00 Life after baseball & lessons in redemption
38:00 Outro

On this episode of the Jimmy Rex Show, Jimmy sits down with Karalynne Call—founder & CEO of Just Ingredients and host of a top-20 health podcast. Karalynne opens up about her battle with depression, the rock-bottom moment that changed everything, and the step-by-step healing journey (labs, nutrition, lifestyle) that led her to build a real-food company from the ground up—without debt or outside investors.

They dive into her “one ingredient at a time” philosophy, why she avoids “natural flavors,” the truth about bitter blockers in energy drinks, and how she turned a small Instagram account into a mission-driven brand trusted by families. Karalynne breaks down product development (protein, cans, creatine), shares her family-first leadership pillars, and gives practical tips to reduce inflammation, stabilize energy, and feel genuinely better—one simple swap at a time. 

00:00 Introduction
01:23 From teacher to founder: Karalynne’s backstory
02:56 Depression, rock bottom, and healing through nutrition
07:15 Launching Just Ingredients & the first products
16:15 Energy drinks, hidden ingredients & real food philosophy
22:24 Business growth: listening to customers & new product lines
27:04 Building culture, family-first values & transparency
34:14 Teaching, legacy, and simplifying health education
37:00 Reducing inflammation & practical steps to feel better
40:40 Outro

On this episode of The Jimmy Rex Show, Jimmy sits down with MLB All-Star Dexter Fowler — the Chicago Cubs leadoff catalyst from the historic 2016 World Series run. They relive Game 7 in Cleveland, from Fowler’s tone-setting leadoff home run to the rollercoaster late innings, the rain delay, and Jason Heyward’s now-legendary clubhouse speech. You’ll hear dugout perspective on Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks, the emotions behind Rajai Davis’s homer, and why the Cubs played looser on the road.

Dexter also shares how he landed in Chicago, what Joe Maddon told him that changed everything, and why the post-title roster couldn’t stay together forever. Then it’s life after baseball: Dexter’s production company, sports & entertainment management, and wealth advisory work; investing (including a stake tied to Bournemouth in English football); and the mentorship lessons he’s picked up from business leaders and friends.

Along the way, Jimmy and Dexter riff on communication, team culture, and having tough conversations — the competitive edge athletes carry into business.

00:00 Introduction
02:43 Game 7 rewind: leadoff HR, momentum swing, rain delay & Heyward speech
08:24 Motivation story: the “Ace of Spades” bottles
09:43 Game 3 at Wrigley: pitcher duels, crowd energy, fan chaos
10:41 After the title: injuries, economics, and the Cubs’ breakup
12:18 Routine vs. noise: why they played looser on the road
13:52 Becoming the Cubs’ leadoff: Iowa preview & Joe Maddon’s trust
17:00 Life after baseball: companies, investments, mentorship & communication lessons
24:06 Outro

Super Bowl champion and 3x Pro Bowler TJ Ward sits down with Jimmy to revisit Denver’s epic Super Bowl 50 run, life in the league with the Browns and Broncos, and the leadership that defined one of the 2010s’ most feared defenses. TJ opens up about playing a title game in his Bay Area backyard, the “clutch” side of Peyton Manning that fans forget, and why DeMarcus Ware was the OG leader of that locker room. He also dives into scheme fit, memorable matchups (Gronk, Antonio Gates, Jamal Charles), and the very real grind of injuries and concussions.

College fans will love TJ’s Oregon stories—Autzen’s energy, the Nike effect, Chip Kelly’s era, and honest thoughts on NIL, the transfer portal, and the breakup of the Pac-12. Post-football, TJ shares what he’s building now with his new show Safety First and where to follow it.

00:00 Introduction
01:20 Super Bowl 50 homecoming memories
02:27 Defense-led title run & Peyton’s clutch factor
03:39 Browns → Broncos culture shift & leadership (DeMarcus Ware)
07:02 Oregon Ducks: Autzen energy, uniforms, coaches
10:46 NIL, transfer portal, and donor money
13:43 Walk-on to star: injuries, rehab, breakthrough
17:03 NFL health: concussions; dropping weight in Denver
19:24 Cleveland love & toughest matchups (Gronk, Gates, Charles)
21:04 Scheme/coach fit: Rob Ryan, Ray Horton; Tampa frustrations
24:29 Post-football: TJ’s Safety First podcast
25:33 Outro