In this episode, I sit down with Brayden Concepcion, one of the strongest leaders on the SF State campus and a standout NCAA Division II wrestler. Brayden currently serves as the 2025–26 SAAC President (after roles as VP and Social Media Chair) and has built a reputation for being the kind of leader who actually follows through — on the mat, in the classroom, and across his campus community.

Brayden shares what it takes to balance high-level wrestling with real leadership responsibilities, the discipline behind competing in one of the mentally hardest sports in college athletics, and how he’s built his identity around integrity, service, and consistency. We talk about his journey from Rancho Bernardo to SF State, the academic honors he’s earned along the way, and why the habits he’s built in wrestling carry into every part of his life.

This episode dives into what it really means to be a scholar-athlete leader: showing up for people, leading with purpose, and staying committed even when the grind hits back.

If you’re a student-athlete looking to grow as a leader — this one will hit home.

Brayden’s LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brayden-concepcion-014619253/

https://sfstategators.com/sports/wrestling/roster/brayden-concepcion/6002

My Linktree
https://linktr.ee/naniktagore

https://linktr.ee/truetolifepodcast

Episode Notes (Kenson Tate – Track & Field, Long Jump)

In this episode, I sit down with Kenson Tate, one of the most explosive long jumpers in the college track world and a rising name in the sport. Kenson has won multiple conference titles, competed at the NCAA Championships, and even stepped onto one of the biggest stages you can hit as a college athlete — the U.S. Olympic Trials.

We talk about his journey at Lamar University, the mentality behind elite performance, the pressure and excitement of chasing bigger stages, and how he uses discipline, routine, and confidence to keep leveling up.
Kenson also gets real about the mindset required to win, the role of community in track culture, and what it takes to keep showing up when the stakes get higher.

This one’s for anyone who wants a deeper look at what separates good athletes from great ones — and what it really takes to bet on yourself.

Kenson’s Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/kensont8/

My Linktree
https://linktr.ee/naniktagore

This episode breaks down my biggest takeaways from the NCAA SALF Conference—leadership, strengths assessments, core values, growth mindset, and what it really takes to level up as a student-athlete today.

I also highlight LaceUPNetwork, the new platform helping student-athletes connect with each other and with employers. It’s designed to give athletes a real network outside their sport—community, opportunity, and a place to grow.

We also dig into baseball, personal development, and the mindset shifts that separate athletes who stay stuck from athletes who level up.

LaceUP Network

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laceupnetwork/?igsh=MXJ1YTE1OGY2MzI3Yg%3D%3D#

• Waitlist: https://laceupnetwork.carrd.co/

Hudson’s Links

• Baseball Profile: https://hardingsports.com/sports/baseball/roster/hudson-vaughn/17823

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hudsonvaughn/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hudsonvaughn

My Linktree

• https://linktr.ee/naniktagore

Message from-- "His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama"

🎧 Listen & Connect:

🎙️ True to Life Podcast –⁠⁠ Linktree⁠⁠

📸 Instagram –⁠⁠ @naniktagore⁠⁠

🎥 YouTube –⁠⁠ True to Life Podcast⁠⁠

📲 Podcast Instagram –⁠⁠ @truetolifepodcast

In this solo episode, Nanik breaks down how our phones quietly drain our focus, peace, and sense of purpose. He shares real strategies to reclaim your attention, find contentment in stillness, and build a healthier relationship with technology. Tune in for a quick reality check and mindset reset.

🎧 Listen & Connect:

🎙️ True to Life Podcast –⁠ Linktree⁠

📸 Instagram –⁠ @naniktagore⁠

🎥 YouTube –⁠ True to Life Podcast⁠

📲 Podcast Instagram –⁠ @truetolifepodcast

In this solo episode of the True to Life Podcast, I dive into a mindset distinction that’s shaped how I approach everything — from basketball to business to personal growth.

Recently, someone told me to “stay persistent.” I almost corrected them and said “relentless”… but then I realized — those two words mean very different things.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between being patient and going all-in, this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen & Connect:

🎙️ True to Life Podcast – Linktree

📸 Instagram – @naniktagore

🎥 YouTube – True to Life Podcast

📲 Podcast Instagram – @truetolifepodcast

In this episode of the True to Life Podcast, host Nanik Tagore sits down with Alison Donnally, CEO of Joeyco, a company reimagining affordable housing and community living.

Alison shares how Joeyco is creating solutions for student-athletes and Gen Z, why connection and human contact matter more than ever in a digital-first age, and how lessons from sport and leadership fuel her entrepreneurial journey.

This conversation dives into the future of housing, building resilient communities, and the mindset it takes to lead with purpose.

Stay Connected with Alison Donnally
💼 LinkedIn – Alison Donnally
🌐 Website – withjoey.com

Stay Connected with True to Life Podcast
🎥 – Youtube
🎧 – True to Life Podcast

Follow, subscribe, and share for more real stories and practical conversations on growth, leadership, and mindset.

Too many of us wait for the “perfect time” to step up. In this solo episode, I look ahead to my own senior year and share why waiting to get involved—or waiting for someone else to open the door—is a losing play. The real edge? Start building now.

Takeaways:

• Waiting = wasted reps

• Why involvement now multiplies opportunities later

• The compounding effect of early action

Links & Resources:

• 🎧 Linktree → truetolifepodcast

• 🌐 My site → nanik.life

• 💡 KaizenU → kaizenu.org

• ▶️ YouTube → @truetolifepodcast

• 📸 Instagram → @naniktagore

What do college athletics, healthcare, and AI have in common? Adaptability.

Adam Carewe joins Nanik Tagore to unpack how the skills forged on the court—discipline, resilience, and teamwork—translate into business, healthcare, and the rapidly changing tech landscape. From the rise of AI to new ways of working, Adam shares how staying curious and open to change fuels growth in every season of life.

Enjoyed this? Follow True to Life on YouTube, Spotify, and connect with us here:
🔗 https://linktr.ee/truetolifepodcast

Connect with Adam

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-carewe/

• Substack: https://rewskidotcom.substack.com/

Connect with Nanik

• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Naniktagore48

Additional Resources
🎧 Podcast mentioned in this episode: How I built this podcast

In this episode of the True to Life Podcast, host Nanik Tagore reconnects with UC Davis innovator Anirudh Murugesan for a rapid-fire catch-up that spans artificial intelligence, business, school, sport and everything in between. Since their last chat, Anirudh has:

• Founded the AI Student Collective—that’s making AI literacy accessible on campuses nationwide gsm.ucdavis.edu

• Helped ship GovTech products as a Product Manager at AggieWorks and a Streamline intern gsm.ucdavis.edugsm.ucdavis.edu

• Advocated for smarter US AI regulation, co-authoring a 2024 policy brief with UC Davis faculty gsm.ucdavis.edu

Links & Resources
🔗 Connect with Anirudh on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anirudhmurugesan
🤖 AI Student Collective: bit.ly/aisc-ucd
🎧 Podcast Linktree: True to Life Podcast
🌎 Nanik’s Linktree: Nanik Tagore
📩 Email: [email protected]

Enjoy the episode—and don’t forget to rate, follow, and share if it hits home!