The Victory Degree

By Nik AtanackovicSports

The Victory Degree episodes

May 15 NBA Champion Jeff Ayres Reveals Rare Kobe & LeBron Stories & Behind The Scenes of The Spurs Dynasty
Former NBA champion Jeff Ayres joins The Victory Degree Podcast to share a rare inside look at life in the league, from his rookie year with the Portland Trail Blazers to battling LeBron’s Heat with the Pacers and winning a title with the Spurs. Jeff opens up about the grind of an NBA season, learning the business side of basketball, playing alongside stars like Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden, Steph Curry, Paul George, Tim Duncan, and more — plus the lessons he took from some of the best coaches and veterans in the game. This conversation is about basketball, perspective, resilience, and what it really takes to survive at the highest level.
Connect with Jeff:
Instagram: instagram.com/jayres1912/
Connect with Nik:
Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/
Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik
Other Episodes You May Enjoy:
Josh Dobbs
Spotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXu
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVB
George Mumford
Spotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaR
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBR
Dr. Jim Loehr
Spotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21
1 hr 59 min
May 03 What 13 Years Inside The NFL Taught Him About Greatness & Why Drew Brees Is The GOAT | Luke McCown
Luke McCown returns for Part 2 — and somehow, we covered even more ground than the first time.
A 13-year NFL career as the guy standing right behind Drew Brees gives you a perspective most fans never hear. Luke pulls back the curtain on what really happens inside an NFL building — the parts the cameras don't catch on Sunday, the politics nobody admits to, and what it actually takes to stick around in a league where most guys don't make it two years. We get into the modern youth sports machine and where it's quietly breaking kids, the lie of "if you can dream it, you can do it," and the one moment in his first practice with Drew Brees that made him call his brother before he'd even taken his helmet off.
He also makes a case for the greatest quarterback of all time and it may be someone you're not expecting...
If you missed Part 1, watch it here.
Connect with Luke:
Twitter: x.com/luke_mccown
Connect with Nik:
Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/
Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik
Other Episodes You May Enjoy:
Josh Dobbs
Spotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXu
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVB
George Mumford
Spotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaR
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBR
Dr. Jim Loehr
Spotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21
59 min
April 27 From 400 Followers to 60k+: How He Became One of NY’s Biggest Sports Voices (Alex Day Interview)
Alex Day went from making $33K behind the scenes to becoming one of the biggest voices in New York sports — and he did it without the overnight viral moment everyone assumes built his career. In this episode, Alex breaks down what authenticity actually means in content creation, why picking a niche is the growth hack he never used, and the trap of "audience capture" that pulls creators toward more extreme versions of themselves. We get into the long road from broadcast school to running his own shop, the fundamentals that quietly compound over years, and why the dream guest you want today probably isn't the one you should chase.
Then we shift gears into pure New York sports — the Giants' real problem (and why John Harbaugh might actually fix it), Brunson's place in Knicks history, the case for Derek Jeter as the best life in sports, and where the future of sports media is actually headed.
A conversation about building something real in a world obsessed with overnight success.
Connect with Alex:
Instagram: instagram.com/alexday7/
TikTok: tiktok.com/@alexday5
YouTube: youtube.com/@alexday7
Connect with Nik:
Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/
Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik
Other Episodes You May Enjoy:
Josh Dobbs
Spotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXu
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVB
George Mumford
Spotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaR
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBR
Dr. Jim Loehr
Spotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21
1 hr 18 min
April 19 He's Building The World's First Supplement Brand Specifically for Hoopers. Here's How.
Will Custis, aka The Corporate Hooper, built a massive New York City basketball following while working a full-time corporate job, then bootstrapped HoopFuel, the first performance supplement brand built specifically for basketball players.
In this episode, we get into the reality of going from creator to founder: how he built an audience without chasing virality, why "just document your truth" is better advice than any hook formula, the unsexy operational side of bootstrapping a brand nobody tells you about, and the storytelling framework he uses to get people bought into HoopFuel.
If you're a creator thinking about building something real, a founder trying to grow without outspending the giants, or anyone stuck between a stable job and the thing you actually care about, this one's for you.
Connect with Will:
Instagram: instagram.com/thecorporatehooper/
HoopFuel: instagram.com/hoopfuelnutrition/
Connect with Nik:
Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/
Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik
Other Episodes You May Enjoy:
Josh Dobbs
Spotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXu
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVB
George Mumford
Spotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaR
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBR
Dr. Jim Loehr
Spotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21
57 min
April 12 Tyler Webb ON: Packers' Secret, 15M Views From 1 Video, AI's Threat & Why ESPN Is Losing to YouTube
Tyler Webb grew up a die-hard Packers fan in Green Bay, Wisconsin — and turned that sports obsession into a 12-year career in content creation. Now he runs a sports media brand and social media agency, and he knows better than anyone what it takes to build an audience in this space. In this episode, we get into how sports content is evolving, what the creator economy looks like for the next generation, and why the sports creators who survive AI will be the ones with a perspective — not just highlights.
Connect with Tyler:
Instagram: instagram.com/tyler.m.webb/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tylermwebb/
Connect with Nik:
Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/
Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik
Other Episodes You May Enjoy:
Josh Dobbs
Spotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXu
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVB
George Mumford
Spotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaR
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBR
Dr. Jim Loehr
Spotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21
1 hr 20 min
April 03 The Most OVERLOOKED Quarterback Story in NFL History
Chris Streveler didn't get a single call from the NFL after college. So he went to Canada, won a championship, and forced his way into the league. Then he got cut. Then he threw game-winning touchdowns three weeks in a row without getting a single practice rep. Then he got cut again. Then he tore his ACL. Twice.
This is the story of a quarterback who refused to stay down, and the mindset that made it possible.
Connect with Chris:
Instagram: instagram.com/cstrevy5/
Connect with Nik:
Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/
Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik
Other Episodes You May Enjoy:
Josh Dobbs
Spotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXu
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVB
George Mumford
Spotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaR
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBR
Dr. Jim Loehr
Spotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21
1 hr 15 min
March 27 Inside the Mind of Elon Musk
What does it actually mean to learn from someone you disagree with?
Eric Jorgenson spent five years compiling the most useful ideas from one of the most polarizing figures alive — Elon Musk. Not a political book. Not hero worship. Just the frameworks, mental models, and philosophy behind someone who built things everyone said were impossible.
We get into why Elon was a legend in the tech world long before he became a household name, what made him worth writing a book about in the first place, and how Eric thinks about separating someone's ideas from their controversies.
Plus the Naval quote on beliefs that everyone needs to hear.
Connect with Eric:
Instagram: instagram.com/erjorgenson/
X: x.com/EricJorgenson
Website: ejorgenson.com/
Connect with Nik:
Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/
Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik
Other Episodes You May Enjoy:
Josh Dobbs
Spotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXu
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVB
George Mumford
Spotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaR
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBR
Dr. Jim Loehr
Spotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21
1 hr 17 min
March 20 Tom Brady's Secret Weapon: Lessons From The Legendary Coach Who Changed Everything
Tom House has spent nearly 80 years learning what it actually takes to build elite athletes — and he's still coaching. A former MLB pitcher turned pitching coach, Tom has worked with some of the most iconic athletes in sports history — including Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Nolan Ryan, and a long list of MLB pitchers spanning multiple generations. In this conversation, he shares the philosophy that has kept him relevant across decades of sport, technology, and cultural change. We get into why today's athletes are physically better than ever but technically underdeveloped, what most coaches get wrong about solving performance problems, and why Tom believes baseball is a game of failure coached by negative people in a misinformation environment. He also breaks down the four performance absolutes he's built his coaching system around — and why the mental and emotional side of sport is still the most overlooked piece of the puzzle. Tom also opens up about his personal health journey, what authenticity really means when you're working with superstars like Brady and Brees, and why — after a career full of Hall of Famers — his favorite athletes to coach might surprise you. If you've ever wanted to hear from someone who has worked with the best in the world and still shows up every day to make athletes better, this one's for you.
Connect with Tom:
Instagram: instagram.com/tomhousesports/
Website: nationalpitching.com/
Connect with Nik:
Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/
Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik
Other Episodes You May Enjoy:
Josh Dobbs
Spotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXu
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVB
George Mumford
Spotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaR
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBR
Dr. Jim Loehr
Spotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21
1 hr 2 min
March 14 Why You Should Take More Risks (Lessons from a 13-Year NFL Veteran)
What does it really take to chase a dream for decades—even when the outcome isn’t what you imagined? Former NFL quarterback Luke McCown joins the podcast to share the mindset that carried him through 13 seasons in the league, the risks he took pursuing football since childhood, and the lessons he learned from setbacks, injuries, and the unpredictable journey of professional sports. From growing up in small-town Texas to standing on NFL sidelines alongside some of the game’s greatest quarterbacks, Luke reflects on faith, discipline, failure, and why the attempt itself can be more fulfilling than the result. This conversation dives into the psychology of risk, the pursuit of excellence, and why focusing on the journey—not the outcome—can change the way you approach your goals. If you’re chasing something big in sports, business, or life, this episode will challenge the way you think about success.
Connect with Luke:
Twitter: x.com/luke_mccown
Connect with Nik:
Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/
Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik
Other Episodes You May Enjoy:
Josh Dobbs
Spotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXu
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVB
George Mumford
Spotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaR
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBR
Dr. Jim Loehr
Spotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21
1 hr 25 min
March 06 "You're Overthinking Success" The 1% Mindset That Changes Everything | Bishop Kevin Foreman
In this conversation, Nik sits down with Bishop Kevin Foreman to unpack one of the biggest misconceptions about success: that it’s complicated. Together they explore why the most powerful principles in life, business, and personal growth are often the simplest ones — and why so many people still struggle to apply them. Bishop Foreman shares raw stories from his own journey, including building major businesses, facing sudden financial collapse, and navigating moments where everything seemed to fall apart. The discussion dives into the difference between knowledge and execution, why many people stay stuck in “learning mode,” and how action — even imperfect action — creates momentum. They also explore powerful mental frameworks like “ready, fire, aim,” useful thoughts, resilience, patience, and the mindset shift that turns setbacks into setups. Through personal stories, practical analogies, and honest reflections on failure, the episode reveals why progress often comes from simply taking the next step instead of waiting for perfect conditions. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure whether you’re on the right path, this conversation offers a refreshing reminder: sometimes success is less about knowing more — and more about doing more with what you already know.
Connect with Bishop Kevin Foreman:
Twitter: x.com/bishopforeman
Instagram: instagram.com/bishopforeman/
Website: harvestchurch.church/bishop-kevin-foreman
Connect with Nik:
Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/
Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik
Other Episodes You May Enjoy:
Josh Dobbs
Spotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXu
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVB
George Mumford
Spotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaR
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBR
Dr. Jim Loehr
Spotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21
1 hr 23 min