Elise Hart Kipness knows the rush of live TV: the countdown, the red light, the adrenaline. For years she reported from press rooms and sidelines, covering everything from the NBA lockout to the U.S. Open. But when she stepped away to raise her kids, the quieter lifestyle felt overwhelming. 

What Elise didn’t expect was that silence would lead her to something new: thrillers. Today, Elise is a USA Today bestselling author whose Kate Green series takes readers deep into the worlds she once covered.

In this conversation, Elise shares what it really means to reinvent yourself midlife, how she found courage in being a beginner, and why a pause can sometimes be the doorway to a bigger purpose.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Giving up the adrenaline rush of live TV (00:00)
• The identity shift of leaving a big career (11:26)
• Writing as a way to find purpose again (19:04)
• Real behind-the-scenes details woven into her novels (25:22)
• Why reinvention can be even more fulfilling than the first act (45:01)

Tune in to learn about Elise’s journey from sideline reporter to bestselling author and the behind-the-scenes moments that fueled her thrillers. Discover the quiet courage it takes to step back, and then leap forward into something new.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ELGobEHRAYs 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/elise-hart-kipness-14   

Check out more from Elise Hart Kipness: 

Learn more about Elise on her website: https://elisehartkipness.com/ and stay connected through her instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisehartkipness/ 

When you think of a Super Bowl champion, you probably picture confetti, rings, and a perfect ending. But for Alex Okafor, the story was much more complicated.

There’s a part of Alex’s story that gave me chills. It happened during the national anthem at the Super Bowl. He wasn’t suited up. An injury had taken him out of the game. But in that moment, sitting with his family, Alex’s mom wrapped her arm around him and reminded him that he’d already helped his team get there. Months later, she was gone, taken suddenly by leukemia.

In this conversation, Alex talks about what it’s like to go from the highest high to the lowest low in the span of weeks. He opens up about the uncertainty of draft day, the grind of an NFL career, and the grief that nobody really prepares you for. And he shares how he’s taken that pain and turned it into purpose: mentoring kids, serving his community, and helping families impacted by blood cancer.

What You’ll Discover:

• How Alex’s dream shifted from basketball to football (10:00)
• The lessons in culture and swagger from the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run (26:43)
• How an injury shifted Alex’s perspective and his seat in the stands (31:30)
• The last gift of time Alex got with his mom (37:13)
• Why nobody tells you what grief is really going to feel like (45:16)
• How Alex is carrying his mom’s legacy forward through service (50:56)

This is a story about football, but it’s also about faith, family, and finding your footing after life changes in an instant.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hnRlMTt4mGg 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/alex-okafor-13  

Connect with Alex Okafor

Follow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexokafor/

Learn more about Alex’s work with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: https://bloodcancerunited.org/ 

To read Alex’s article that he shared in Player’s Tribune, click here.

You may know Rebecca Lowe as the sharp, unflappable voice of Premier League mornings on NBC. But what struck me most in this conversation wasn’t just her broadcasting skill; it was her candor about what it really feels like to sit in that chair, live, with millions watching.

Rebecca opens up about mom guilt, nerves, and the kind of preparation that doesn’t always silence self-doubt. She’s been at the center of some of sports’ biggest stages, yet she’s refreshingly honest about the pressure, the mistakes, and the ways she’s still learning to breathe through it all.

What You’ll Hear:

• The path from London to hosting live sports in the U.S. (04:12)
• The surprising ways mom guilt shows up in Rebecca’s career (15:03)
• Behind the curtain of Premier League mornings (22:41)
• How Rebecca handles mistakes in real time (34:18)
• The quiet discipline that keeps her sharp on camera (42:10)
• What Rebecca wants her son to know about her work (52:47)

Rebecca’s story is a reminder that even the pros who seem calm under the brightest lights are still human: navigating nerves, balancing family, and finding their voice in real time. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to perform live, this episode is for you.

You can also watch this conversation on YouTube. https://youtu.be/Ntt9qLZtltA

Check out our blog post for a full transcript and more. https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/rebecca-lowe-12

Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review Things No One Tells You wherever you like to listen.

Check out more from Rebecca Lowe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccalowetv

I’ve told a lot of stories over the years, but watching Jen Welter tear up while reading a handwritten note from one of her linebackers? That one stuck with me.

Jen was the first woman to coach in the NFL, but what makes her story unforgettable isn’t just that milestone. It’s what it took to get there. No guidebook. No road map. Just a clear plastic bag, a heart full of determination, and the guts to cold call the Arizona Cardinals.

She opens up about the good, the gritty, and the completely unexpected parts of being “the first”—and why those handwritten notes might’ve mattered more than any play she called.

What You’ll Discover:

• Why a simple handwritten note made national headlines (06:20)
• What it really felt like to step onto that NFL sideline (10:35)
• The power and pressure of being “the first” in a locker room with no precedent (23:04)
• How one cold call changed the course of her life (27:22)
• Building trust one conversation, one linebacker at a time (41:42)
• Why women in leadership need true advocates, not just mentors (57:13)

There’s something about Jen’s journey that stays with you. The behind-the-scenes moments that don't make it into the highlight reel. The quiet decisions. The handwritten notes. The way she just kept showing up with no rulebook to follow. The quiet courage it takes to be the first. Jen’s story is a master class in showing up fully—even when the playbook doesn’t exist yet.

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep showing up when the path isn’t clear, this one’s for you.

To watch the video version on YouTube, click here: https://youtu.be/1g34SPXKy4s 

To see the full transcript and much more, check out the blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/jen-welter

Connect with Jen Welter

Follow Jen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welter47/ or check out her website: https://www.jenwelter.com/. 

Check out this ESPN article celebrating 10 years since Jen Welter was hired: “How Jen Welter's hire 10 years ago opened NFL to more women”

To see the iconic photo and read more about the handshake moment between Jen Welter and Sarah Thomas, check out this article.  

You may know Eric Church as a country music icon and Chase Elliott as a NASCAR champion, but what happens when two high performers sit down to talk, not about the spotlight, but about what keeps them steady behind the scenes?

Because rising to the top is one thing. Staying there? That takes a different kind of strength: the habits, the anchors, the quiet choices no one sees.

In this episode, I revisit one of my favorite conversations, which was originally recorded during my Lunch with Lindsay podcast series in partnership with FamilyMade. I joined Chase Elliott and Eric Church at Eric’s writer’s cabin for a special conversation.

Eric and Chase may seem like an unlikely pair, but sit with them long enough, and you’ll see the parallels run deep. Both have built careers in high-pressure arenas. Both have learned to tune out the noise. And both know the challenge of staying grounded when the stakes are sky high.

Chase and Eric open up about the moments that changed them, the pressures of being seen, and the quieter choices that shaped their careers. From Chase’s early days trying to outrun expectations to Eric’s defiant decision to tour solo after getting kicked off the Rascal Flatts stage, this episode is a deep dive into identity, legacy, and the kind of grit that can’t be taught.

What You’ll Hear:

• Eric’s surprising creative outlet: chainsaw therapy (03:28)
• Why Chase prioritizes fun off the track (06:45)
• Eric’s career-defining decision to go solo (14:09)
• Chase on separating passion from pressure (18:44)
• Why Eric stopped chasing charts, and found peace (20:23)
• The power of real connection in high-profile lives (31:49)
• The way both industries are changing over time (50:26)

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to stay steady in the spotlight, this one’s for you. Be sure to stay tuned for the special surprises Eric and Chase have for each other at the end of the episode. 

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kvpVqCsbtlU 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/eric-church-and-chase-elliott 

Connect with Eric Church and Chase Elliott: 

For more from Eric Church, you can follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericchurchmusic/ 

And for more from Chase Elliott, you can follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaseelliott9/ 

When I think about the people who shaped the world of horse racing, D. Wayne Lukas is at the top of the list. But what struck me most in this conversation wasn’t the trophies; it was the tenderness. And the truth-telling. In this special moment, recorded in June of 2024, I sat down with the Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne alongside Jena Antonucci, the first woman to win a Triple Crown race, for a conversation that spanned decades of horse racing history, personal transformation, and powerful mentorship.

D. Wayne opens up about what it really takes to be great, and how powerful it is to open the door for someone else. Jena shares what she has learned about how actions outpace words every time. We talk about what it really takes to build a lasting legacy, how to know when someone’s got what it takes to really make it, and why making space for others is just as important as crossing the finish line first.

What You’ll Discover:

• What Jena learned from D. Wayne outside the spotlight (08:40)

• How mentorship changed the course of Jena’s career (12:15)

• The difference between toughness and trust (15:44)

• What it means to show up, especially when no one’s watching (20:55)

• Reflections on legacy, loss, and leadership (27:38)

• Why this sport still has so much to teach us (34:02)

If you’ve ever had someone see something in you before you saw it in yourself, this episode will stay with you. 

As we mourn the loss of Mr. Lukas and remember his impact, I’m honored to share this never-before-seen interview with you. For more from D. Wayne Lukas, be sure to tune into our previous episode where I shared part of my conversation with him at the 2025 Kentucky Derby (around 41:18), and check out this special blog post to see Mr. Lukas’s poems. 

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9_lksvamvhY 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/d-wayne-lukas-and-jena-antonucci 

For more from Jena Antonucci, you can follow her on Instagram.

I’ve talked to a lot of people who’ve built something from scratch, but few have done it quite like Aliett Buttelman with Fazit. From modeling as a teenager to launching a beauty brand with a tiny budget and a bold idea, Aliett is the definition of scrappy, creative leadership. 

What started as an experimental product line born in a WeWork has grown into a viral beauty brand, Fazit. Aliett shares about a game-changing moment when Taylor Swift showed up wearing glitter freckles at an NFL game, and what she did to make the most of that moment.

In this episode, Aliett opens up about the grit it took to go all in, the clarity that came from rejection, and the powerful lessons she’s learning now as a young CEO at the center of a cultural wave.

 What You’ll Discover:

• Why early rejection was the best crash course in resilience (05:00)
• The story behind launching a brand with no plan B (06:23)
• How glitter freckles ended up on Taylor Swift’s face (21:00)
• What it really felt like to watch everything change overnight (24:00)
• The scrappy media blitz Aliett pulled off in 48 hours (25:00)
• What leadership looks like when you’ve never had a boss (41:00)
• The advice Aliett gives every aspiring entrepreneur (44:47)

From dorm room dreams to national headlines, Aliett’s story is a masterclass in trusting your gut to build something that feels like you, even when the road is unclear. If you’ve ever had a wild idea that wouldn’t let go, this one’s for you.

Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xWyCH0ZluuI 

For a full transcript and blog post, click here: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/aliett-buttelman 

Connect with Aliett and Fazit on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fazitbeauty/

You may know Kadi Lee’s work, even if you don’t recognize her name. Her artistry as a colorist is behind some of the most iconic hair in Hollywood (yes, that Julia Roberts transformation). But what moved me most about this conversation was her honesty about what it took to build something of her own.

From Jamaica to Connecticut to California, from salon chairs to supper clubs, Kadi’s story is about building something that reflects your values, holds space for others, and still leaves room for rest. Kadi is candid about what it’s really like to grow a beauty business while staying grounded in her purpose, and she talks with me about what no one tells you about being the first to do it.

What You’ll Hear:

• The path from blog to beauty brand  (05:45)

• How Kadi’s childhood shaped her journey (08:49)

• Building a peaceful, intentional space for gathering (24:52)

• The moment Julia Roberts changed everything (30:27)

• What no one tells you about launching a product line (42:17)

• The quiet signs of stress that show up in our hair (01:06:15)

If you’ve ever dreamed of building a business that reflects your values, or wondered what happens when success still doesn’t feel like ease, this episode is for you.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vhiwaDGSfLM

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/kadi-lee-07

Check out more from Kadi Lee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highbrowhippie

Craig Melvin is no doubt a familiar face on one of TV’s most popular morning shows. In this episode, he shares what it’s like behind the scenes.

Some of the most common questions I get since he took the seat of Today Show co-host in January are what is it like, and how has it changed for him? Melvin and I talk about that and more, including the weight of visibility, the emotional demands of the job, and the unexpected peace he’s found through a hobby that has nothing to do with headlines. 

From the Today Show to his garage candle studio, Melvin shares what he’s still learning about ambition, identity, and finding meaning in daily life.

What You’ll Discover:

• The surprising workload beyond the show itself (08:33)
• What it really takes to stay prepared under pressure  (14:02)
• Protecting your peace while living publicly (14:33)
• Why Melvin values interviews with everyday people most (19:44)
• The emotional cost of ambition, and how he’s reframing it (21:29)
• A surprising new passion for candle-making (31:42)
• How creativity is helping Melvin reconnect with what matters (34:44)

This is a powerful reminder that even at the top, people are carrying invisible weight. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to keep it all together, Melvin’s honesty might just offer the permission you didn’t know you needed to find your own groove.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5pESGLeecaU 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/craig-melvin-06  

Connect with Craig Melvin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigmelvinnbc/ 

When Brooke Baldwin lost her dream job, she didn’t expect to lose her sense of identity along with it. What came next wasn’t a clean pivot or a perfect plan. It has been a slow, deeply personal process of figuring out who she is without the title, the platform, or the external validation.

In this episode, Brooke talks with me about the shock of a career ending abruptly, the power of being cracked open, and how she finally gave herself permission to stop striving. I really appreciated how honest and open Brooke was about what she has learned and what she is still discovering.

• What it really felt like to walk away from CNN (06:50)
• The power (and pain) of being cracked open by loss (08:42)
• Why Brooke kept saying yes… until she finally had to say no (10:55)
• Navigating identity after a longtime career unraveling (16:10)
• Learning to see the signs, and to follow them (30:40)
• How Brooke found her way back to joy (34:55)

Brooke reminds us that you don’t have to have it all figured out, and how sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is stop chasing and start listening. 

This is a conversation about trusting your gut, finding the courage to pause, and choosing a different kind of success.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/04a-kW__hvM 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/brooke-baldwin-05  

Connect with Brooke Baldwin

Check out Brooke’s book Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power

Brooke’s Substack Unraveling - unravelingwithBrooke.Substack.com 

Find Brooke on Instagram: @brooke_baldwin

Read the Vanity Fair article referenced in the episode

Learn more about the American Woman with Brooke Baldwin project: https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2018/01/entertainment/american-woman/