The Victory Degree

In this episode of The Victory Degree Podcast, I sit down with Aaron Golub, the first legally blind Division I football player, to talk about his inspiring journey from being picked last in childhood sports to playing at Tulane University and becoming an NFL free agent. Aaron opens up about the adversity he faced, the lessons he’s learned, and why he believes anything is possible with the right mindset, hard work, and persistence.

What we cover in this conversation:

- Overcoming adversity: how Aaron’s blindness became the driving force behind his discipline, grit, and success

- The value of failure: why rejection and loss can be the greatest teachers in sports, business, and life

- Leadership and resilience: lessons from football, public speaking, and entrepreneurship

- Self-belief and mindset: reframing fear, handling judgment, and setting goals with long-term horizons

Connect with Aaron:

Twitter: x.com/aaronjgolub

LinkedIn: instagram.com/aaronjgolub/

Connect with Nik: 

Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/

Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik

YouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegree

Other Episodes You May Enjoy:

Josh Dobbs

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George Mumford

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Dr. Jim Loehr

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Preston Rutherford, co-founder of Chubbies, joins me to share the unfiltered truth about building a $100M brand, the struggles behind the success, and what he’s learned about entrepreneurship, mindset, and resilience.

In this conversation, we cover:

- How four Stanford friends turned a joke into a $100M brand

- The hardest moments building Chubbies and how they overcame them

- Why self-limiting beliefs stop most people from starting

- The balance between performance marketing and long-term brand building

- Preston’s new venture Marathon and what he’s focusing on today

Connect with Preston:

Twitter: x.com/PrestonRuther10

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/prestonr/

Connect with Nik: 

Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/

Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik

YouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegree

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

Former Seahawks center Justin Britt opens up like never before. From the highs of playing in the Super Bowl to the lowest moments of his career, he reveals the untold truths about football, mental health, and life after the NFL.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Super Bowl XLIX play that still haunts him
• His battle with depression and walking away from the NFL
• Pete Carroll’s leadership and why it changed his life
• The truth about playing with Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch
• How he found purpose again through running marathons

Connect with Justin:

TikTok: tiktok.com/@justinbritt.68

Instagram: instagram.com/justinbritt68

Connect with Nik: 

Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/

Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik

YouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegree

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

From being overlooked and doubted to earning a $76M contract with the Buffalo Bills, Christian Benford’s story is a masterclass in resilience, faith, and relentless self-belief.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

- The tears, doubt, and sacrifices that fueled his journey

- Why regret hurts more than failure

- How faith gave him unshakable confidence

- The mindset shifts needed to go from high school to college to the NFL

- Why character development is more important than talent

- Balancing football, family, and faith without losing yourself

Christian opens up about the struggles behind the success, what it really means to “be you,” and how staying grounded in faith and love can transform everything. A real look at what it takes to succeed at the highest level, on and off the field.

Connect with Christian:

Website: christianbenford.com

Instagram: instagram.com/thetruecb_/

Buy Stylish Safari: bit.ly/4lzmogk

Connect with Nik: 

Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/

Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik

YouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegree

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

From high school phenom to “Mr. Irrelevant” in the NFL Draft, Chad Kelly’s journey has been anything but ordinary. In this conversation, the Grey Cup champion opens up about growing up in a legendary football family, the politics of the NFL, and the lessons he’s learned from both his triumphs and mistakes. Chad shares inside stories about Patrick Mahomes, Andrew Luck, and Aaron Donald, breaks down what really makes a great quarterback, and explains why he still believes he’s one of the top 32 quarterbacks in the world.

Topics:

• Pressure of being Jim Kelly’s nephew and early QB development
• How NFL politics impacted his chances in Denver and Indy
• Overcoming ACL and wrist injuries to keep playing
• Patrick Mahomes praising a legendary Ole Miss play
• Aaron Donald telling him he should be starting in the NFL

Connect with Chad:

Twitter: x.com/RocketmanKelly

Instagram: instagram.com/ckelly_6/

Connect with Nik: 

Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/

Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik

YouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegree

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

In this raw and revealing conversation, former NFL quarterback Kyle Sloter opens up about the harsh realities of professional football, from the euphoric highs of unexpected opportunities to the hidden politics behind team decisions. Kyle dives deep into his unconventional journey, his unique mindset fueled by proving doubters wrong, and the pivotal role that luck, preparation, and timing play in achieving success. Discover why being "too good" can sometimes hurt your career, how NFL teams manage controversy, and the true inner workings of a quarterback's mind during critical moments. Whether you're an NFL fan or simply fascinated by resilience, mindset, and the untold truths of pro sports, this conversation is one you don't want to miss.

Topics: 

• Kyle Sloter shares his unconventional NFL journey, emphasizing how politics, timing, and luck influenced his career path.
• He reveals surprising NFL politics, including being advised to deliberately perform worse to avoid controversy.
• Sloter explains how visualization and a mindset driven by proving doubters wrong significantly shaped his success.
• He highlights critical lessons learned from veteran quarterbacks on decision-making, preparation, and mental processing in the NFL.
• Kyle discusses the hidden complexities of quarterback play, including the massive cognitive demands and unseen challenges at the professional level.

Connect with Kyle:

Twitter: x.com/KyleSloter

Instagram: instagram.com/kylesloter/

Connect with Nik: 

Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/

Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik

YouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegree

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

Eric Jorgenson — author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant — joins me for a deep conversation on ideas, growth, self-belief, and what it really takes to create lasting work. We talk about how to avoid audience capture, the difference between finite and infinite games, the power of cliche advice, and what it means to build something authentic. We also explore podcasting, social media, dating, and the quiet years of creative obscurity that often come before success.

If you’re a creator, thinker, or someone searching for clarity in a noisy world, this one’s for you.

Topics:

• Be a collector of great ideas. Share what’s useful, not just what’s original
• Don’t chase virality. Audience capture kills creativity
• Cliché advice like "work hard" and "be consistent" is true. It’s just hard to follow
• Success usually means years of obscurity first. Embrace the long game
• Pick the right game. Infinite games are better than finite wins

Connect with Eric:

Twitter: x.com/EricJorgenson

Website: ejorgenson.com/

Buy "The Almanack of Naval Ravikant": amzn.to/46wEege

Connect with Nik: 

Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/

Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik

YouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegree

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

What if the future of sports isn’t about fairness but about becoming superhuman?

Dr. Aron D’Souza is leading the charge with the Enhanced Games, a radical new competition where performance-enhancing drugs aren’t banned, they’re embraced. But this episode goes way beyond sports.

We dive deep into:

- Why Aron believes biology should never limit human potential

- His formula for achieving outrageous success with limited resources

- Why he tracks every gram of protein, fiber, and carb he consumes

- How to write a life plan that bends time in your favor

- The moral case for human enhancement and why he says it's inevitable

- Why he believes history will remember his name

If you’ve ever felt stuck, small, or like your goals are impossible, this conversation will challenge your beliefs and maybe even rewrite your future.

Connect with Aron:

Enhanced: enhanced.com/

Instagram: instagram.com/aronpingdsouza/?hl=en

Connect with Nik: 

Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/

Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik

YouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegree

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

In this powerful episode, former NBA player Alex Acker opens up about his incredible journey from growing up in Compton with almost nothing—literally playing basketball with an orange—to reaching the NBA and beyond. He shares raw stories of his upbringing, the hunger that fueled him, and how his faith and family kept him grounded through life’s toughest moments.

Alex talks about:

What it really takes to make it to the NBA—and why talent alone isn’t enough

Getting discovered at a random Pepperdine pickup game

Practicing with legends like Reggie Miller, Chauncey Billups, and Kevin Garnett

How European basketball challenged and matured him

His honest take on pressure, confidence, and self-belief

Why most pro athletes go broke—and how he’s helping change that with his company Amongst Elite Capital

If you’ve ever chased a dream, doubted yourself, or wondered what separates the 1% who make it from those who don’t—this episode will hit you hard.

Connect with Alex:

Twitter: x.com/ackright

Instagram: instagram.com/ackright/

Connect with Nik: 

Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/

Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik

YouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegree

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

Max Browne shares his journey from top QB recruit to navigating the highs and lows of college football. He opens up about the pressure of the “bust” label, the role of luck and environment in success, and how NIL and social media are reshaping the game. Through it all, he highlights the power of mindset, resilience, and learning from failure.

Connect with Max:

Twitter: x.com/MaxBrowne4

Instagram: instagram.com/maxbrowne/

YouTube: youtube.com/@maxbrowne4

Connect with Nik: 

Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/

Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik

YouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegree

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