Tre’ Crawford, defensive lineman in the NFL, joins us on this episode of the Silver Lining Phoenix. 

While we’re all familiar with the sports adage “defense wins championships,” Tre’ takes us a step further. Defense can also help you win off the field.

He’s transferred his defensive mindset from the gridiron to life. Defensive players are the hitters and he approaches life with the same attack offensive lineman and quarterbacks are privy to. Life, like an offense, has plans, but you have to create and execute your own strategy. 

You also don’t know when your number or name will be called, so Tre’ is prepared. Ready for whatever life and offensive lineman throw at him. In this episode, Tre' shares some of his insights and experiences from his college days at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, to being a pro with the Denver Broncos, and learning from individuals like Julio Jones while with the Atlanta Falcons. 

Football has taught him to adopt a relentless spirit. To get through current challenges, he looks at how far he’s come from less than ideal living conditions growing up. Faith – along with football – drives him. And we’re so glad he took a detour to pop on our podcast. 

Instagram: @trecrawford
Snapschat: @tresosa

#wearethephoenix

As an NBA Draft Analyst at Yahoo! Sports and Rivals, Krysten Peek knows everything there is to know about prospects on the court. Even if it means heading to the gym at 10:30 p.m. to watch a workout of a top high school prospect.

Odd hours aren’t the only obstacle Krysten battles in her job. As a female in a male-dominated field, it took her years to gain respect and trust – and four years for Coach K to finally remember her after numerous introductions. 

She may have a tough skin, but she’s affably approachable.

On this episode of Silver Lining Phoenix, Krysten talks about her journey in sports – and then we all geek out about basketball* including what Krysten looks for in prospects.

Join us for a slightly nerdy, completely insightful conversation about basketball.

*The three of us unapologetically use basketball jargon throughout this episode.

Dr. Preston Cherry believes he’s in his Benjamin Button moment in life. He’s lived a successful life up to now, but he sees the unwritten pages of his future and is ready to fill them. 

He's also dedicating the second half of his life toward making an impact on others. His positions as a speaker, assistant professor, founder and president of Concurrent Financial Planning provide him ample opportunity to do just that.

Dr. Cherry joined us on this week’s episode to talk financial planning (it’s a more interesting topic than you might think) and how exactly he plans to make an impact in that field. 

Listen to Dr. Preston Cherry's episode, and be sure to follow his mission on social media.

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/drprestoncherry
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drprestondcherry/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/preston.cherry
• Website: www.concurrentfp.com

Mike Thibault is the all-time winningest coach of the WNBA. And he served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks in the 1980s, ‘90s and early 2000s. 

His less than lucky career as a basketball player is to thank for his successful career as a coach in the sport. 

He was cut from the team his junior year. He sat out his senior year with an injury. But he ended up coaching the freshman team. Still, he didn’t think much of it. It wasn’t until college when he coached a local high school team and worked summer camps in California that he considered a career in coaching. It was at those camps where he connected with Lakers assistants. 

The rest is history. But it’s a fascinating history as Mike has coached star players such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

Give Mike’s episode a listen to learn more about how he earned the trust of those players with good, honest hard work and no BS.

Working as a golf caddie seems like a carefree career choice. It hasn’t always been a breezy experience – or a walk on the green – for John Rathouz. 

John jokes that, “you’re not a real caddie until you’re fired.” But he’s faced his share of change and hardship in the field. 

Starting in advertising, he worked his way into the caddie club with confidence.

And while he’s caddied on the PGA Tour, Master’s Tournament and the Olympics, he’s hustled to land those spots. And by hustling, we mean standing in parking lots outside courses at times.  

In this episode, John shares how he broke into caddying with persistence and creativity. Stick around for the whole episode to hear his journey in the golf game on a national and professional level. 

Family. Fiddling. Farming. 

From a young age, the first two have been staples in Natalie MacMaster’s life. The third? Thank her husband for that one. 

A Nova Scotia native, Natalie grew up in a family of fiddlers. If not under the same roof as her, in the same lineage as her. Fiddle music was always playing in the house, but she didn’t pick up the instrument until she was 9. 

At first, she didn’t believe fiddling could be anything more than a hobby. But Natalie has made a career and a name for herself. She’s toured with Alison Krauss, Carlos Santana, Faith Hill, the Chieftans and recorded with Yo-Yo Ma.

A mom of seven, music is a requirement for her kids just as eating vegetables or brushing teeth would be. Natalie MacMaster understands the power and magic behind music and shares her easy going spirit with us on this episode. (And maybe a tour story about Carlos Santana!)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nataliemacmaster/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/natmacmaster
Instagram: @nataliemacmaster_donnellleahy
Website: www.natalieanddonnell.com/

Step by step. 

A series of steps is how Joy McAdams views her greatest passions and proudest accomplishments. Running a marathon. Finishing an Ironman. Paying the mortgage. Growing your business.

And in that process – that journey – Joy has found, well, joy. She embraces the struggle and pain that accompanies anything in life. 

After growing up in an extremely conservative and strict (read: cult-like) family, Joy found her footing. She stepped out from living in fear to welcoming the mess and the success that life is filled with.

She owns her life with a growth mindset and strives to employ that in her marketing business and her other full-time job as a mom of five. 

It was a real treat to talk with Joy and hear how she’s embraced her journey and continues to forge a path that’s filled with grace and compassion. 

Listen to her episode and give her a follow on social media.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmcadams5/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-mcadams-59878a10a/

Three-time failed Olympian. Among the other accolades and achievements on his resume – CEO at Onramp Invest, financial consultant, start-up advisor, the first high school and college graduate in his family – Tyrone Ross Jr. attributes his success today to his unreached Olympic dream of 16 years.

But even his star-studded resume doesn’t matter to Tyrone. His pride lies in his legacy. He lives each day trying to answer the question, “How can I make a difference in schools, my community, my industry?”

He sees himself as a voice for the voiceless. A calling he answered post-Olympic dream. Now he combines his platform as a podcaster, speaker and minority in the financial services industry with his connections, story and passion.  

He brought his healing spirit to the latest episode of The Silver Lining Phoenix. It’s a powerful conversation and one you don’t want to miss.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tyrone.ross.10
Instagram: @tyrun401
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyroneross/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TR401
Website: www.tyroneross.io

“Pack it up, pack it in, let me begin…”

Hip hop music and House of Pain definitely pique Adam Peek’s curiosity. As a business development manager in the packaging industry, he met his podcast co-host at an industry conference over an adult beverage-induced conversation about hip hop music.

The two men co-host the People of Packaging Podcast and feature women and people of color in a white and male-dominated industry. 

All aspects of his life – podcasting, packaging and family – intersect. And it’s all thanks to what is at Adam’s core: curiosity. Whether he’s trying to make a sale, interview a guest, be a dad to five kids and a husband, Adam’s life is rooted in honesty, humility and learning. 

Chatting with Adam was like a light and casual conversation with an old friend. Check out Adam’s episode of the Silver Lining Phoenix.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek/
Website: www.adampeek.com
Podcast: People of Packaging Podcast

Sherronna Bishop’s personality and mission can be simultaneously summed up by her top two karaoke songs: Love Shack and the National Anthem.

She’s on a mission to live a vibrant life – not just exist – guided by faith, family and the founding fathers. A mom of four, Sherronna became involved in politics five years ago to better the future for her children. 

She realizes that while politics tends to be a divisive and negative topic, policy is where citizens can make a difference. As a civic responsibility advocate, Sherronna is heavily involved in her community in Colorado. 

On this episode of The Silver Lining Phoenix, Sherronna explains why healthy friction is a good thing in politics and how her faith plays an important role in her political and everyday beliefs. 

Twitter: @sherronnabishop
Facebook: America’s Mom
Instagram: @americas_mom
Email: [email protected]