The Tuff Juice Podcast with Caron Butler

In her prime and at the height of her professional basketball career, Washington Mystics guard and reigning WNBA champion Natasha Cloud opted out of the 2020 season to focus on the fight for equality and social justice. On this episode of “The Tuff Juice Podcast,” Natasha talks with Caron Butler about her decision to not play this season and why she doesn’t judge her sisters who are playing in the WNBA bubble, why silence and neutrality is no longer acceptable from athletes (or anyone), the significance of her shoe sponsor Converse covering her lost WNBA wages, why she’s incensed by the league’s treatment of her star teammate Elena Delle Donne, the one action she wants everyone to take, why nobody should vote for Kanye West, her shocking experiences playing basketball abroad, and much more. Natasha is an inspirational leader and you don’t want to miss a word of what she’s talking about!

The last time Jamal Crawford played an NBA game — April 9, 2019 — he dropped 51 points at age 39 like it was nothing. Fifty-@#$%in’-one! And yet, despite the scoring punch he could obviously still provide off the bench, not one of the league’s 30 teams signed the free agent guard for the 2019–2020 season. Now, while the NBA attempts a restart in Orlando and players are opting out due to health and social justice concerns, he’s hoping to get another chance to play the game he loves at the highest level. On this episode of “The Tuff Juice Podcast,” Jamal talks with Caron Butler about the NBA bubble and what it would take for him to opt out of it, the crazy routine he’s using to stay in game shape, how he’s adjusted to new roles over the course of his career, the teams he’s most interested in joining, his idea of a perfect sendoff, how he’s planning to continue his career in basketball once he retires from playing, mentorship in the Seattle basketball community and what makes the city’s culture so special, why he’s optimistic about the current anti-racism movement, his experience being on the Clippers team that took a stand against racist owner Donald Sterling, and much more. Like Jamal’s shooting, this episode is clutch!

Washington Wizards star point guard John Wall hasn’t played a game since December 2018, but while he’s been sidelined with heel and Achilles injuries he’s become an even more impactful leader in the NBA and in his D.C. and Raleigh, N.C. communities. On this episode of “The Tuff Juice Podcast,” John talks with Caron Butler about his efforts to help during the Covid-19 pandemic, including his 202 Assist program to provide rent relief for Ward 8 residents, activism in the NBA and the importance of giving time as well as money, his experience participating in a Black Lives Matter march, why he wouldn’t play in the Orlando bubble even if he could, what fans can expect from him when he returns to play next season, and why he’s back in school. This is powerful stuff you do not want to miss!

Tai Lopez is an entrepreneur, self-help guru, and social media influencer who not only makes money but also shares his financial wisdom to help other people come up in life. On this episode of “The Tuff Juice Podcast,” Tai talks with Caron Butler about the career challenges and opportunities of the pandemic, breaking patterns of generational poverty, specific skills that will help you build a career, the importance of financial independence and balance in your life, a reading strategy that will help you make money (with several book recommendations), learning how to read people, and much more. Listen to these lessons and make the most of your day and your life!

Luis Guzmán is one of the most beloved and prolific character actors of all time, with standout roles in films like Carlito’s Way, Boogie Nights, and Out of Sight, and in TV shows like Oz, How to Make It in America, Code Black, and Narcos. On this episode of “The Tuff Juice Podcast,” Luis talks to Caron Butler about his life during the pandemic, having loved ones working at hospitals in NYC, what he’s learned about survival and being self-reliant, farming and choosing a healthier diet and lifestyle, valuing science and nature over politics, the attitude that has led to his career success, and more. More than a mere entertainer, Luis drops knowledge, so pay attention and wise up!

On this episode of “The Tuff Juice Podcast,” Caron Butler welcomes a true trailblazer to the show! Dr. Jennifer Welter made history in 2015 when she joined the Arizona Cardinals as an assistant coaching intern for training camp and the preseason, becoming the NFL’s first female coach. More than an answer to a trivia question, she earned the respect and admiration of players with her knowledge of the game, coaching abilities, and underdog story, opening doors for women who’ve followed in her footsteps. “Coach Jen” talks about her NFL experience, the best advice she got going into it, her time playing pro and semi-pro football, the impact that her Vietnam vet father had on her mindset, her football camps for girls, and more. This one hits hard!

The recent in-person primary election held in Wisconsin — despite COVID-19 quarantine! — raised some serious questions about democracy and disenfranchisement in the United States. On this episode of "The Tuff Juice Podcast," Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes joins Caron Butler to talk about why the controversial election happened despite Governor Tony Evers’ order to postpone it, who benefited from forcing it through, pandemic politicization, what the primary teaches us about the November general election, his message to people who think their votes don’t matter, what the pandemic has revealed about our healthcare system and economy, and more. Listen up and don’t let anyone strip you of your power!

With a degree in journalism and a VP role on the National Basketball Players Association’s Executive Committee to go with his lethal jump shot, CJ McCollum has a unique perspective on the pandemic’s effect on society and on the NBA. On this episode of "The Tuff Juice Podcast," the Portland Trail Blazers' star shooting guard talks about why some NBA players are living check-to-check, how he got his financial education, how the pandemic shutdown is affecting people’s legacies, the notion that the league could resume soon in a single location, his experience playing with Carmelo Anthony, protests against the stay-at-home order in his home state of Ohio, news and communication during quarantine, his tips for relieving stress, and much more. Check it out!

Damon “Dame” Dash is the epitome of a hustler. A mogul and entrepreneur, he came to prominence co-founding Roc-A-Fella Records with Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke, then flipped that success into a number of notable business ventures, including a clothing company, a media collective, and his own television network (DTV) and streaming platform (Dame Dash Studios). On this episode of "The Tuff Juice Podcast," Dame talks about why he’s uniquely suited to thrive during the pandemic, the hurdles for black creators in Hollywood and importance of independence and controlling narrative, getting educated in both the streets and in private and boarding schools, his thoughts on Kanye West’s business moves, learning to farm from Minister Louis Farrakhan, and more. The man is dropping knowledge! Check it out!

Sue Bird is a basketball legend and an icon who transcends sports. A champion who’s won at every level, she’s also an inspiration to many for coming out publicly with her girlfriend, soccer star Megan Rapinoe, in 2017. On this episode of "The Tuff Juice Podcast," the Seattle Storm point guard and fellow UConn Huskies alum joins Caron Butler to discuss how her expectations of coming out compared to the reality of it, social distancing and how playing overseas in Russia prepared her for it, Kobe Bryant’s efforts for the women’s game, how the UConn women’s team has achieved sustained greatness, how the WNBA has changed since she entered the league in 2002, what keeps her going as the oldest player in the WNBA, and much more. Sue keeps it 100 throughout and you do not want to miss it!