The Victory Degree

Hello party people, welcome back to the show! There are plenty of podcasts out there and so I thank you for choosing The Victory Degree today - the podcast where my mission is to interview the most influential people in sports both on and off the field. 

Today’s guest is Josh Dobbs - current NFL player and aspiring Aerospace Engineer. Josh’s NFL career started in 2017 when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 4th round after playing 4 seasons for the Tennessee Volunteers. Since then, Josh has played for the Jaguars, Steelers, Browns, Lions, Titans, Cardinals, Vikings, and is currently with the 49ers. Besides football, Josh is passionate about the field of Aerospace Engineering - even interning at the Kennedy Space Center in both 2020 and 2021. 

In this interview, Josh reveals details about his childhood including his first passion - Aerospace Engineering, his hectic lifestyle in college, life as an NFL quarterback, why he’s excited to play for the 49ers, and much more. 

As always, I sincerely hope you enjoy this episode and please remember: you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take….

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Joshs' Favorite Plane

(01:32) Childhood

(05:49) Kennedy Space Center

(08:33) Role Models

(12:04) Advanced Math

(14:15) Josh Dobbs the Superhuman

(16:53) Maturity

(20:54) Josh's Insane College Schedule

(30:12) Engineering: The Good Ol' Days

(39:08) Engineer or Football Player?

(41:49) Drafted by the Steelers

(46:27) What Separates the Best Quarterbacks

(49:22) 7 Different Teams by 28

(53:27) Relationship Between Starting QB and Backup

(57:05) QB Confidence

(01:00:09) Dealing With Failure

(01:02:20) Learning From the 2023 Season

(01:04:58) Team Culture

(01:07:19) Meeting the 49ers

(01:09:49) The Player-Agent Relationship

(01:15:39) Bay Area Housing Costs

(01:16:09) Inside the Helmet

(01:19:58) Crowd Noise

(01:22:38) Toughest NFL Stadium To Play In

(01:23:59) Life Advice

Connect with Josh: 

Twitter: https://x.com/josh_dobbs1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshdobbs/

Connect with Nik: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikatanackovic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nik_Atanackovic

Hello party people, welcome back to the show! There are plenty of podcasts out there and so I thank you for choosing The Victory Degree today - the podcast where my mission is to interview the most influential people in sports both on and off the field. 

Today’s guest is Daniel Carcillo - former NHL player and current concussion survivor and mental health advocate. Daniel spent 10 years in the NHL, winning 2 Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks and excelling in his role as an enforcer. Daniel was known for his aggressive play style on the ice and willingness to drop the gloves - so much so it earned him the nickname “car bomb.” After retiring from the NHL, Daniel experienced severe mental health conditions - the aftermath of countless concussions while playing. Daniel’s work and commitment to brain health initiatives have been featured in The Players’ Tribune, The New York Times, USA Today, The Athletic, and more. 

In this interview, Daniel opens up on his journey to hockey which started in King City, Ontario, his experience playing in the NHL, his work surrounding brain health, and the power of discipline, self-care, and a positive mindset.

As always, I sincerely hope you enjoy this episode and please remember: you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take….

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Who Is Daniel Carcillo?

(02:17) King City, Ontario

(04:57) Pursuing Hockey

(07:22) Moving Away from Home at 16

(10:12) Managing Pressure

(13:43) Visualizing Success

(20:11) Day in the Life of a NHL Player

(26:23) How to Keep Going

(29:44) Daniel's Willingness to Drop the Gloves

(37:01) The Link Between Hockey and CTE

(41:34) The Power of Discipline, a Positive Mindset & Self-Care

(47:07) Life Advice

Connect with Daniel: 

Twitter: https://x.com/CarBombBoom13

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielcarcillo13/

Website: https://danielcarcillo.com/

Connect with Nik: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikatanackovic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nik_Atanackovic

Hello party people, welcome back to the show! There are plenty of podcasts out there and so I thank you for choosing The Victory Degree today - the podcast where my mission is to interview the most influential people in sports both on and off the field. 

Today’s guest is Andy Holloway- host of The Fantasy Footballers, a podcast which has been nominated for or won more than 40 industry and podcasting awards and is one of the largest sports podcasts in the world. Andy, alongside his co-hosts Jason Moore and Mike “The Fantasy Hitman” Wright break down the world of Fantasy Football with astute analysis, strong opinions, and matchup-winning advice you can’t find anywhere else. It is truly fantasy football at its finest. 

In this interview, Andy and I cover how The Fantasy Footballers started, the exact methods and tactics Andy and his co-hosts used to grow the podcast, Andy’s advice for all entrepreneurs including: the importance of focus, looking for signals, the role luck plays in success, and how to deal with your harshest critics. Andy also breaks down podcasting as a business and if you should start one today. 

As always, I sincerely hope you enjoy this episode and please remember: you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take….

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(03:53) Early Days of Fantasy Sports

(6:07) Leaving Tech for Podcasting

(09:51) Viewing the Podcast as a Business

(11:54) Monetization

(16:49) Starting Broad vs. Niche

(20:23) Future of Podcasting

(26:31) Looking for Early Signals

(31:55) Knowing When to Quit

(34:55) The Importance of Staying Focused

(41:03) Disagreements With Jason & Mike

(43:49) What is Andy's Why?

(46:00) Is a Podcast a Sellable Asset?

(48:17) Enjoying the Day-to-Day

(50:20) Andy's Daily Routine

(54:47) Downsides to Andy's Job

(57:43) Dealing with Criticism as a Public Figure

(01:05:21) What Fatherhood Has Taught Andy

(01:09:40) Learning From Athletes

(01:12:20) The Role of Luck and Timing in Success

(01:17:39) Life Advice & What's Next for The Fantasy Footballers

Connect with Andy: 

Twitter: https://x.com/andyholloway

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyholloway/

The Fantasy Footballers: https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/

Connect with Nik: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikatanackovic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nik_Atanackovic

In this episode of The Victory Degree Podcast, Nik sits down with Mike Sielski - the author of "The Rise, Kobe Bryant and the Pursuit of Immortality." Mike has been a sports columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer since 2013 and was formerly a reporter at The Wall Street Journal. Mike was voted the top sports columnist in 2015 by the Associated Press Sports Editors. 

The book explores Kobe's origins, his upbringing in Italy, his time at Lower Merion High School, the influence of Kobe's parents, particularly his father Joe Bryant, and the impact of his experiences on his mindset and self-confidence. The conversation highlights Kobe's dedication to basketball and his relentless pursuit of greatness. Nik and Mike also explore Kobe Bryant's on-court and off-court persona, his search for identity, the impact of skipping steps in his development, his decision to bypass college, the importance of winning the state championship, his desire for a big market team, the draft fiasco and his journey to the Lakers, his dedication to improvement, and the lessons from his life and legacy.

 Please Enjoy! 

TIMESTAMPS 

(00:00) Mike's Relationship With Jake Voracek 

(01:20) Inspiration to Write the Book 

(03:28) Research For the Book 

(05:49) Where is Kobe From?

(08:07) How Kobe Got His Name

(08:41) Joe Bryant: Kobe's Father 

(15:03) Kobe's Maturity and Mindset 

(17:24) Kobe's Time in Italy 

(19:00) Kobe & American Culture 

(20:19) Kobe's Love for Storytelling 

(21:57) Kobe's Lower Merion High School Career 

(28:05) Kobe's Self-Confidence 

(30:33) Kobe's On-Court and Off-Court Persona 

(33:00) Kobe The Intimidator 

(35:13) The Importance of Winning the State Championship

(38:12) Bypassing College 

(40:44) The Draft Fiasco and Kobe's Journey to the Lakers 

(44:25) Do Big Market NBA Teams Have an Advantage? 

(45:21) After the Loss to Utah 

(46:51) Lessons from Kobe's Life and Legacy 

(47:55) Kobe's Regrets 

(49:49) Life Advice 

(53:09) Mike's Favorite Lesson from Kobe 

Connect with Mike: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeSielski 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mike.sielski/ 

Buy "The Rise": https://shorturl.at/adkry 

Connect with Nik: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikatanackovic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nik_Atanackovic

In this episode of The Victory Degree Podcast, Nik sits down with Raymont Harris - a former NFL running back for the Chicago Bears. Raymont shares the challenges he faced growing up in the small town of Lorain, Ohio without a mother and the pivotal role football played in keeping him on the right path. Raymont shares his journey from starting only 7 games his entire high school career, to having an outstanding run at Ohio State, and eventually landing in the NFL with the Chicago Bears. Life after the NFL saw Raymont start a career in the mortgage business but quickly realized it wasn't for him. This lead him to starting Elite Mindset and Performance (EMP), a program designed to help you level up in life and achieve your dreams. Raymont's passion for helping others is evident and his journey is nothing short of spectacular.

Please Enjoy!

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(02:41) How Raymont Deals With a Birthday Close to Christmas

(03:54) Growing Up Without A Mother

(05:48) Football as an Escape

(08:23) Dreams of Going into the NFL

(10:54) Importance of Support

(13:05) Early Injuries & Motivation 

(17:22) Ohio State vs. Michigan 

(19:05) Getting Drafted Into the NFL

(20:49) Slim Odds

(25:26) Balancing Confidence and Cockiness

(28:37) Healing From Past Traumas

(31:59) Regrets From the NFL

(34:29) Comparison to Current NFL Running Backs

(36:41) Post NFL Career

(39:43) Starting Elite Mindset and Performance (EMP)

(42:41) Control the Controllables

(48:09) Self-Belief

(51:23) Visualizing Success

(54:39) Favorite Part of Running EMP

(55:54) Future Goals for EMP

(59:01) Comparison of NFL and Entrepreneurship

(01:01:10) Life Advice

(01:03:57) Advice To Younger Self

Connect with Raymont:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/raymontharris

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raymont_harris/?hl=en

Elite Mindset & Performance: https://raymontharris.com/

Connect with Nik:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikatanackovic/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nik_Atanackovic

In this episode of The Victory Degree Podcast, Nik sits down with NFL agent Mike McCartney. Mike  has been involved in college football and the NFL as a coach, scout, and personnel executive for more than 25 years. This includes stints with the Chicago Bears as a Pro Scout and the Philadelphia Eagles as the Director of Pro Personnel. Currently, Mike works for VaynerSports and represents NFL talent like Kirk Cousins, Josh Dobbs, and Aidan Hutchinson. Nik and Mike discuss McCartney's background in football, his transition to becoming an agent, the challenges of drafting quarterbacks in the NFL, McCartney's experience negotiating contracts for Kirk Cousins, the process of navigating free agency, and more! 

Please Enjoy!

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Bad Joke About Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy 

(02:19) "Football is Here, Goodbye Dear"

(08:56) Differences Between College Football & The NFL

(13:21) Why Drafting a Franchise QB Is Tough

(19:23) Becoming a NFL Agent 

(25:13) Importance of Integrity

(27:54) Recruiting New Clients

(30:35) Responsibilities as an NFL Agent

(33:12) Negotiating Kirk Cousins' Falcons Contract

(34:49) Navigating Free Agency

(43:27) Do Players Care About the City They Play In?

(47:22) Understanding NFL Contracts

(55:08) Predicting The Future QB Market

(58:39) Insights into Kirk Cousins, Josh Dobbs, and Aiden Hutchinson

(01:02:03) Life Advice

Connect with Mike:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeMcCartney7

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/i_am_mikemac/

Spotrac: https://www.spotrac.com/

Connect with Nik:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikatanackovic/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nik_Atanackovic

In this episode of The Victory Degree Podcast, Malcolm Lemmons, a former professional basketball player turned entrepreneur, shares his journey from a life-changing car accident to playing basketball overseas and building his personal brand. He emphasizes the importance of embracing discomfort, taking risks, and understanding that greatness takes time. Malcolm also highlights the significance of building a brand for athletes, as it can provide opportunities and leverage during and after their sports careers. Malcolm's journey is one worth paying attention to and his insights into brand building are exceptional. 

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(01:02) The Car Accident

(07:01) Choosing Basketball

(18:03) Playing in Japan

(24:35) Lessons from Basketball

(36:11) Why Should Athletes Build a Brand?

(38:00) Working At Apple

(40:35) Brand Perception

(41:56) Balancing Viral Content and Value

(44:12) Athletes as Role Models

(47:31) Athlete-Led Podcasts

(49:54) Examples of Good Brands

(52:40) Starting Vetted Sports & Newsletters

(56:38) Timing of Entrepreneurship for Athletes

(59:31) Business Mentors

(01:01:13) Challenges Growing a Newsletter

(01:03:36) Life Advice

(01:07:16) Finding Your Passion

Connect with Malcolm:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MalcolmLemmons

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malcolmlemmons/

Vetted Sports: https://newsletter.vettedsports.com/

Twitter Thread: https://x.com/MalcolmLemmons/status/1635263423297773569

Buy "Impact Beyond the Game": https://shorturl.at/goxEN

Buy "Lessons From the Game": https://shorturl.at/wEOW1

Connect with Nik:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikatanackovic/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nik_Atanackovic

In this episode of the Victory Degree Podcast, Nik sits down with Jason McIntyre: the cohost of The Herd With Colin Cowherd, sports analyst at Fox Sports, founder of The Big Lead, and host of The Straight Fire Podcast. Jason shares his experience building and selling a sports media company, his take on the future of sports media, and key frameworks and advice you can implement to find success in whatever you do. Jason also gives us a behind the scenes look at The Herd and his relationship with Colin Cowherd.

Please Enjoy!

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Jason's Early Love for Sports

(05:35) The Big Lead

(09:10) Importance of Timing

(13:00) Adversity

(18:05) Conquering Fear

(20:56) Discovering Your Own Potential

(23:50) Advice From Athletes

(27:22) The Herd With Colin Cowherd

(31:30) Future of Sports Media

(34:30) Jason's Life Advice

Connect with Jason:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasonrmcintyre

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonrmcintyre/

Straight Fire Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/straight-fire-with-jason-mcintyre/id1523353907

Connect with Nik:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikatanackovic/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nik_Atanackovic

In this episode of the Victory Degree Podcast, Nik sits down with Sean Clifford, the backup quarterback for the Green Bay Packers and founder of Limitless NIL. In this conversation, Sean Clifford discusses his journey to the NFL, the culture of the Green Bay Packers, the impact of role models, the growth of Jordan Love, his entrepreneurship ventures, and the lessons he learned from football that he applies to business. 

Please Enjoy!

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) High School Sean

(02:59) From Long Snapper to Quarterback

(08:38) Preparation & Luck

(11:26) Penn State

(13:50) Death Threats

(18:49) Criticism 

(23:18) NFL Draft 

(31:35) Family 

(35:12) Green Bay Packers' Culture

(38:33) Aaron Rodgers

(40:46) Role Models

(44:04) Jordan Love 

(47:08) 49ers Own the Packers

(48:07) Entrepreneurship & Starting Limitless NIL

(53:51) Lessons Learned from Football

(57:06) Ji'Ayir Brown

(01:01:06) Life Advice

In this episode of The Victory Degree Podcast, Nik sits down with Ben Brewster - a former draft pick of the Chicago White Sox and current founder & CEO of Tread Athletics. Ben shares his underdog journey from fighting for a roster spot on the White Sox to starting one of the largest baseball coaching & performance companies in the world. Learn the secret strategies & tactics Ben used to grow Tread Athletics, why so many baseball prospects don't fulfill their potential, and a breakdown of the top pitchers in the MLB.

Please Enjoy!

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(01:41) Who Is Ben Brewster?

(10:30) Ben Gives a Masterclass in Pitching

(13:30) How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

(20:29) Everyone Starts As a Beginner

(23:50) Getting Drafted into the MLB & Starting a Company 

(29:29) MLB Draft Process Explained

(32:45) What It's Like Playing in the MLB & Why Most MLB Players Don't Make It

(44:13) Why Ben Decided to Start Tread Athletics 

(56:56) The Impact of COVID on Tread Athletics

(59:36) Was Ben Surprised by His Success?

(01:02:39) Ben's Social Media Strategy 

(01:11:52) Mechanical Breakdown of the Best Pitchers in the MLB

(01:19:38) Mental Preparation for Pitchers

(01:29:07) Is Baseball a Dying Sport?

(01:31:29) Ben's Life Advice

Connect with Ben Brewster:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TreadAthletics

Tread Athletics on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TreadHQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tread_athletics/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@treadathletics

Tread Athletics: https://treadathletics.com/

Connect with Nik:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikatanackovic/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nik_Atanackovic