Pivot Podcast

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find One of the most decorated female athletes in women’s basketball, Staley took her passion for the sport and applied her point guard abilities to navigating life and helping young women follow their dreams. Often widely criticized for her outspoken approach, Staley is unapologetic in standing up for her players and the integrity of the game which is what makes her such an inspiration and rarity in coaching. Staley shares how her passion for sports and competition stems from an early age growing up in North Philadelphia and helped set her on a path toward her wildly successful career. Only a few weeks removed from a tough loss in the final four, Staley is finding focus and peace in moving forward and the success her players are having as women off the court and the people they’ve become. Channing asks how someone so dedicated has time for themselves and he asks her if there is a personal component to life or what she does for fun…and her guilty pleasure may shock you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Kenny Pickett joins the Pivot to share his football journey, teaching moments, how’s he preparing his team for next season while planning a wedding and his advice to young guys going through the draft process this week. Ryan, of course amped up to have a fellow Pittsburgh native on the show, starts the conversation with the mental toughness one must possess to be a starting quarterback in the NFL and what it was like to receive that call from Coach Tomlin on draft night. Channing chimes in that his journey seems like a Disney story and wonders what has been the hardest parts of making it to where he is today while the guys talk about being a young leader and his approach to bringing the team together to build a championship mentality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Don’t miss out on all the action this week at DraftKings! Download the DraftKings app today! Sign-up using https://dkng.co/pivot or through my promo code PIVOT Raised in Collins, Mississippi in a single mother household and with the help of his grandparents, DeMario lacked a consistent male role model and became a product of his environment early on in life. DeMario walks Ryan, Fred, and Channing through the three strikes that could’ve jeopardized his career and ultimately ended his life. From stealing in high school, being sent to an alternative school, and being jailed during his collegiate career, Demario was being tested at every stage. He credits his faith and God to the one relationship that transformed his life. Ryan inquires about DeMario’s transition to the NFL and career trials and tribulations. DeMario talks about discovering that the key to consistent performance was not just his talent and work ethic but relying on his knees for faith every step of the way. After this discovery, he’s been training like a DB, a decision that has ultimately led him to being named a 2023 Pro-Bowler and sheds some light on what the future of the Saints looks like and his long term goals as he prepared for next year this off season. Gambling Problem? Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/MD/NI/NY/OH/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in NH/OR/ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 bet pregame moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as bonus bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/basketballterms. Ends 5/28/23 at 11:59PM ET. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Lines and Odds Subject to Change. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Embarking on a journey of a lifetime, next week’s NFL draft is a monumental occasion filled with a range of emotions, nerves, excitement and kore as it will forever change the lives of many young men and their families. With all the talk swirling around the Alabama standout, his fate will be decided in the coming days but Bryce says he isn’t worried about being number one or any number he goes, he just wants to get on a team and start playing. With a lot of questions about his height and stature affecting his ability to stand tall on NFL fields may affect his draft stock, Bryce isn’t phased by the comments and has been hearing those same things all his life and always quiets his critics with his talent and capabilities. Not short on confidence, Bryce shares how he’s managed to keep composure and avoid nervous energy when stepping onto the field all these years and describes how it’s a dream every time he touches the ball so he embraces it which helps him shed any worries or fears when playing. Channing asks Bryce to recall the moment he knew he had the “it” factor that made him different than other players on the field as Bryce takes us through some of the plays he felt most confident as Ryan shares the one play he saw that made him associate the word “magical” with every time Bryce touches the ball. Bryce talks about CJ Stroud and other QBs in this draft and what makes them first rounders as well as breaks down his own play of how he would describe himself as a player and man on and off the field. Bryce’s father joins the conversation as the guys poke fun at his alleged story of a 4 month old Bryce with a grip on the football as he has now and they jokingly talk about seeing his talents from a young age and the closeness the two share along with his mother too. Having a strong foundation and good character is an asset in this day and age for teams and Bryce’s father is most proud of the man he raised and the quarterback in him is just extra. Transitioning from college super star to NFL leader, the guys talk to Bryce about what it will be like stepping into a role as a leader of grown men and controlling a locker room as a 21 year old. Bryce is excited for the opportunity and looking forward to getting to know his new teammates and the new city he lands where he will call home for hopefully years to come. And with the first pick of the 2023 NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers select…. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Following the recent surge of research and acceptance of CBD’s health benefits for athletes, Davis launched Defy, a CBD-infused sports drink company designed for athletes. Known for winning big at the Beverage Digest 2022 Awards, Terrell reflects on how his perception has completely changed and the mission of the company. Reflecting, Ryan asks Terrell about his father’s parenting and strict upbringing. From being the youngest of six children and always seeking approval from his father, Terrell struggled with understanding if his dad loved him. He speaks about his father's extreme parenting tactics and even walks Ryan, Fred, and Channing through the moment his father shoots a gun over their heads. Although Terrell wouldn’t parent that way today, he shares his ability to see the positive in what the world would consider negative parenting of his father. Seeking ways to appease his father, Terrell took a liking to football because he knew his father enjoyed the contact of the game. He shares candid stories about dominating on the field at a young age but his turning point was the passing of his father because the reason he started playing was no longer present. No stranger to adversity, TD talks about the struggles he faced in his collegiate and rookie seasons and the conversations he had internally to change it around. Oh, how the tables have turned! Terrell takes the time to give Fred Taylor his flowers and says he believes Fred was the most skilled Running Back to ever touch the field. High regards from someone Fred considered a role model, they take their time to discuss the HOF criteria. Of all his accomplishments, Terrell still wonders if he’s made his father proud. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Don’t miss out on all the action this week at DraftKings! Download the DraftKings app today! Sign-up using http://dkng.co/pivot or through my promo code PIVOT Never allowing failures to define your future has become the message Sarkisian spreads to his players, coaches and those around him. Known as one of the most dynamic and successful college football coaches under the Nick Saban tree, Sarkisian turned his low moments into lessons and his opportunities into a success story. After being fired from USC in 2015 mid season, Sarkisian sought treatment for alcoholism and worked to overcome personal struggles. Not being able to find any coaching job and about to give up and turn into a different career path, Sark received a call from Nick Saban who saw something in him to give him a shot. Embracing his second chance to the fullest, Sarkisian opens up on how his own trials and tribulations have helped made him navigate coaching and relationships with more of an open mind. Becoming the head coach of University of Texas football team in 2022, he makes it known that Nick Saban saved his career and he wouldn’t be where he is today without Saban’s grace, which is why he chooses to extend the same courtesy to others on this journey. NIL and the transfer portal have been big topics throughout college athletics and one that our very own, Fred Taylor feels very strongly about. Fred asks Sarkisian about his perspective on NIL and the transfer portal and as a head coach how he combats this during recruitment. Steve talks about the tool of adaptability and finding the positives in change. Promoting a philosophy of not allowing players to come back to the team if they've entered the transfer portal, Sark believes they’ve maintained a steady program at Texas due to transparency and truly selling that playing for Texas is a 40-50 year decision rather than a 4-5 year decision. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MA/MI/MD/NJ/NY/OH/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in MA/NH/OR/ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 prefight moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as bonus bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/basketballterms. Ends 5/28/23 at 11:59PM ET. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find After a record breaking final four weekend and being catalysts for cultural impact in women’s sports, LSU’s champions Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson sit with Ryan, Channing and Fred to talk about everything surrounding their historic NCAA run, controversial social remarks and unapologetic influence in the game of basketball and with black women. The two Tiger teammates share how their tight knit bond has motivated one another, held each other accountable and supported each other through the highs and lows of the past couple months while building a championship mentality every time they stepped on the court. Both women growing up in single mother households, attribute their determination and swag to their mothers who paved the way for them to have the opportunities they do. Angel took Flau, a freshman, under her wing after bumping heads early in their season and led by example to show Flau and her other teammates what it takes to have a heart of a champion. Angel, named the Most Outstanding Player Of 2023 NCAA Championship, is known for her dominant play on the court just as much for her voice off the court as well. Amassing over 1M social media followers, Angel shares how she has used her position in sports not just to be one of the best to do it but setting out to be most influential as well. She shares with the guys her thought process for some of her comments and double downed on her words being proud of the lane she has created for herself and women who look like her. Pursuing a passion of music all her life, Flau’jae was always doubted that she could be successful as a rapper and a basketball player but being named SEC freshman of the year after winning the NCAA title has proved the naysayers wrong. Flau’ said her “ahhh moment” was Sunday evening when the confetti was pouring down and she was hugging the championship trophy while her song blared through the speakers of the arena…Flau’ emotionally shared how meaningful it all was to have everything click at once and grateful to her mother for never giving up their plan and paid a special tribute to her father who was killed before she was born. Channing gets the girls laughing and asks about Coach Mulkey’s fashion style for game days asking if they get to hold her accountable for her outfit choices just as she holds them accountable for their play on the court. Tap in every Tuesday at noon eastern for our premiere episode of the Pivot and Special drops on Friday afternoons at 3:30 pm. We are your one-stop platform for all your sports and entertainment content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Opening up to Ryan, Channing and Fred- Riep and Wint described what first went through their heads when they were accused of rape and went from preparing for their senior years as expected Captains of the football team to three years of fighting in court before finally reaching justice. After first being accused and removed from the OSU football team in February 2020, Riep and Wint were finally declared not guilty on all charges this past February. The duo expressed the emotions they felt throughout the long process in great detail throughout the conversation. The two young athletes share how much this process has affected them and their families, with Amir losing his father during this time. Ryan and Fred ask what are some of the lessons they learned hoping their courage to share the trials and tribulations will help other young athletes avoid a similar situation. Trying to get back their life and still pursue a football career, the two young men have entered the transfer portal and begun the process of trying to get back on the playing field and still chase their NFL dreams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find After meeting Jason Lee during Super Bowl week and becoming fascinated with his story and impact in media and culture, Ryan, Channing and Fred asked him to sit down to talk about how he’s disrupting the industry and breaking down barriers for black media in Hollywood. Completely uncensored and unfiltered, this conversation journeys a young boy from Stockton, California surviving a rough childhood, growing through grief and overcoming adversity to become a pioneer in the business. From Floyd Mayweather to Cardi B to Rhianna to Tiffany Haddish, Jason talks about how he was able to leverage close relationships to make a solid name for himself and go from blogger to reality tv star to podcast host to author to entrepreneur to media mogul as he continues to disrupt the norm of Hollywood and unlock stories that entertain millions. Jason acknowledges his brand, image and approach in the industry is sometimes questioned and comes off intrusive but he assures the guys it’s one he’s comfortable with because he’ll always prioritize authenticity over a check. This style of storytelling is often unpopular among Hollywood’s elite but it also has led to his company having a nearly 50M evaluation in a few short years and positioned himself as a trusted source of information. As Ryan, Channing, and Fred dive into the experiences that have shaped his journey, Jason opens up and reveals that witnessing the murder of his brother completely destroyed his feelings. Working through the effects and emotions from it all, Jason turned his pain into purpose and used his survivor mentality to cultivate the industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find With one of the most unique careers in professional sports, Miami Heat’s Udonis Haslem is set to say farewell to basketball after a 20-year career and is sitting with Ryan, Channing and Fred ahead of his last week of regular season play to talk everything basketball, life and what’s been most important to him. Not holding back in any areas, this conversation journeys a young boy from Liberty City and how he beat the odds and turned his opportunities into a two decade long career embracing his role on the Heat and continuously finding ways to benefit his teammates. Winning three championship titles with the Heat, Udonis has played with some of the game’s best players from Lebron to D Wade to Shaq to Chris Bosh to Ray Allen to many more and attributes his long lasting career to the relationships he sustained over time and his endless work ethic. As the guys dive into his childhood and early playing years, UD reveals the pain he felt losing his mother, who he just recently reunited with, and how the loss of his father led him down a different path and approach of opening up to people and asking for help when he needed it. He stressed the importance of finding balance and how his three rings mean the world to him but he’s most proud of his work giving back in the community. As the OG of the league, UD shares his thoughts on this year’s NBA MVP, which he feels should be Joel Embiid or Giannis, as they are above and beyond on the court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Enthralled by the journey of a young man who made it out of Mexico, Missouri, Ryan guides the conversation from Coach Lue’s upbringing to his close relationship with his family to the power of sacrifice and finding success through gratitude. Because of that, his responsibility to take care of his family, especially mother and grandmother, fuels his work dedication. Coach Lue recalls the moment his life was changed when he was drafted to the league and how it became his purpose to take care of his family and continue to evolve as a man through playing in the NBA. Playing with basketball royalty in Kobe and Jordan, Ty never took for granted his opportunities but also learned quickly the value of hard work. Lue explains the infamous Allen Iverson “step over” moment and how he attributes the longevity of his career to that play. Using his leadership skills from being a teammate and playing with some of the biggest personalities and most skilled in the game, Ty talks about how he got into coaching and who gave him the final nudge pushing him to know that he would be a great fit for the job. From experiences with Kobe, Shaq, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Doc Rivers and many more, Ty Lue shares personal stories that truly highlight his career and the respect he has for them game and the game has for him. Being known as more than just a coach, Ty Lue is focused on being an example that young black and brown kids can be something special and make it if they work at it. Winning a championship with the Cavs, Coach hopes to duplicate that success in the west with the Clippers and is very confident with his team in the post season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find This Saturday, former IBF champion, Caleb Plant, challenges Super Middleweight star David Benavidez on Showtime Pay Per View in a geated rivalry that stems beyond the ring. Ahead of his title bout, Caleb sits with Fred, Ryan and Channing to talk about his journey and why this fight means so much to him and opens up on how the emotion surrounding the two fighters isn’t just for entertainment but is real. Growing up life wasn’t easy and boxing wasn’t a hobby, it became a way out for Caleb and now, it’s a way of life for the former champion as he continues to etch his name atop the sport. Detailing his heartbreak of his young daughter’s illness and her passing, Caleb emotionally shares how his life changed and how he was able to find strength in family and the will to keep fighting inside the ring. Losing his daughter Alia and also his mother shortly after, Caleb’s motivation to be one of boxing’s greats was fueled by his love of family and support from his best friend and now wife, Jordan. The foundation of his marriage is the structure if everything he does and fights for after recently welcoming their newest addition to the family, daughter Charly. Coming off a win in the fall after a loss to Canelo Alvarez last spring, Caleb understands what’s at stake and is prepared to go to war this Saturday to win in the title and hand Benavidez his first loss. Caleb knows the sport comes with a good amount of trash talking but when someone talks about another man’s wife or children, it’s not reversible or forgotten…and Caleb is on a mission to let his opponent know there’s no coming back from what was said. It’s not enough to stand across from someone, it’s about having your hand raised when the final bell rings. Tune into Showtime Pay Per View Saturday March 25th at 9pm est for the full card of fights ending with the main event between Plant and Benavidez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Ryan, Channing and Fred sit down with the 20 year old superstar to talk about her fast-track to the top of the sport and how she handled life changing quickly going from a high school student to College student to NCAA champion to Olympic gold medalist to world champ in less than two years. Her meteoric rise and unprecedented success has Athing’s name in conversations with top athletes around the globe and expectations continue to grow which is both a good and bad thing for the young star. Unbeaten for 13 races, Athing is considered the future of of American sports and the most exciting runner in track and field at the moment where that pressure can seem overwhelming, especially for a young woman, but Athing takes everyday day with stride and realizes she is running for herself, focusing on her personal growth with each challenge she faces. The guys are blown away by her confidence and complete belief in herself to avoid the pressures and stress other athletes in her position may go through and just flat out compete. With her family migrating from Sudan before she was born, Athing doesn’t forget the sacrifices her parents made for her and although she runs for the United States she represents her homeland every time she steps on the track. Her passion for running is matched with her dream of walking the runways one day as a fashion model and with all the confidence, Athing believes she has room for both in her life and looks forward to the day she gets to trade her cleats for heels and step into that part of her realm being seen as more than an athlete. Gearing up for competition, Athing is currently training with Bob Kersee, husband of track phenom Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and is learning not just how to be a pro on the track but in life too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find In a stunning and unexpected loss this past August against Leon, Kamaru was dominating the entire match until Leon landed a kick to his head that knocked the Nigerian Champion out and gave Leon a come-from-behind upset victory. Never experiencing such an outcome, it was a struggle at first to rewatch it but Kamaru talks about the hardest part was seeing his daughter sad which in turn altered his mindset reminding him he needs to show her it’s ok to fall once in awhile but getting back up is what matters. With many worried that the mental toll of the loss and gravity of it is something difficult to overcome, Kamaru isn’t concerned with that part and confidently says that he knows who he is and what he’s capable of and needs to remind Leon who he is, a fighter that was down the entire time and dying on inside and got lucky landing one move. Refocused and more than ready, Kamaru understands the stakes this bout offers and is ready mentally and physically to regain his spot atop the ufc world. The final match of the trilogy match between Leon and Kamaru is this Saturday on ESPN+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Vena E, known as Pretty Vee on social media and an entertainment mogul, known for her hilarious skits and funny dances sits with Ryan, Channing and Fred for a conversation covering her journey from childhood to stardom. Growing up with her parents in south Florida, one of Vee’s greatest motivators and influences is her her mother, who spent her life as a pastor, educator and a constant force of encouragement to Vee’s aspirations to follow an unlikely career path. Seeing her parents hard work all her life, Vee worked several hourly jobs while trying to figure out the next steps to put her in position to follow her dream but the catalyst to start her journey was when Vee was fired and credits that moment of being let go to giving her the push to pursue her passion. Trying to break into comedy and what was considered for so long a man’s world, Vee never was intimidated and always motivated to reinvent herself and find new ways to use her skits to generate attention. Living by the philosophy of a delay is not denial, Vee never took a no as a never and turned very closed door into another opportunity to go after he dreams. Amassing a social media following over 6M, Vee continues to entertain the world with her comedic skits, risk taking storylines and dominate the industry with her savvy business skills, using her characters to create products for women to help boost confidence and a fun easygoing lifestyle. Sustaining longevity in a Hollywood lifestyle is the continued goal for Vee as her path has allowed her to capitalize on every opportunity, carving her own niche in the comedic space and build a brand sustainable with respect and success in a cut throat entertainment business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find In an emotional and layered conversation covering everything from his HBCU exit, to new job at Colorado, his grave health scare, the importance of family and progression...Deion doesn't hold back as the guys chat through many tough topics and are able to soak up the wisdom and grasp the spirit of a man willing to share his trials, tribulations as well as celebrate the wins along the way too. Following the recent social and cultural uproar from his comments on recruitment, leaving Jackson State University for Colorado- Coach Prime is not shying away from the backlash and speaking honestly as he opens up to Fred, Ryan and Channing about the past couple months of change. In a long awaited conversation dating back to a previous exchange where Channing told Deion he didn't see him at a HBCU for a long time because of the lack of money and resources- Deion sets record straight that it was never about money, it was always about a calling to make a difference and create opportunities. Focused on what's in front of him and adapting to the opportunities life creates and the importance of bringing those close to him along on the journey, especially with his children. Ryan asks Prime how HBCUs will continue to grow without his footprint and blueprint, especially after bringing 5-star players like Travis Hunter with him in his exit and how will the programs maintain that level of attention without his contributions. Deion credits his time at JSU for making him the coach he is today and proud of the foundation he built for others to expand upon and explains why he felt it was his time to move on. Deion becomes emotional when Fred asks about the importance of community and continues to discuss family through his recent health scare. In a moment of vulnerability, Deion opens up about having no control as he battled one of the toughest things he’s ever been through and one of the scariest too, having blood clots in his lower extremities which led to amputation of two toes. Relying on those close to him, it was extremely difficult to be away from his children as Prime emotionally shares one moment with his son Shedeur which really put into perspective the effects change was having on not just him, but everyone close to him. Being one of the greatest athletes in our era and an icon on every level, Ryan talks to Deion on how doing the physical things that made him a legend are now the things he is unable to do and how that transition has been mentally. "I hope to run again one day...that's my goal, to be able to run," Deion says with watery eyes, it's the little things sometimes we take for granted who made us who we are that we no longer can do- that's when life becomes real. With the odds stacked against him, Deion is known for being a winner everywhere he goes and with everything he does which makes this transition to a new level, a challenging one. Ryan reiterates the importance of strong leadership and putting good people in proper places to excel and grow with him, which Deion has mastered. Close to selling out the stadium in Colorado for the first time in years, Prime talks about what it takes to build a championship program and his goals for the upcoming years as not just a coach but a father too. Deion’s next chapter as the head coach of Colorado is being documented for an upcoming series on Amazon Prime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Today we sit down with Mina Kimes, a woman and friend we all admire and truly respect for the niche she has created and breaking barriers for women in sports and television. As an ESPN NFL analyst, media personality and writer, Mina has set the standard and continues to raise the bar in sports analytics. This conversation covers everything from her academic success, embracing her Korean heritage and the importance of representation which has led to finding her voice in the industry. Graduating summa cum laude from Yale University, some may say Mina may be over qualified for talking football and stats but she shares her why with Channing, Ryan and Fred as she explains she took what she was good at and mixed it with doing what she loves. Mina opens up about her relationship with her father and the influence he’s had on developing her love for football. Being raised as a military child and always moving around, Mina credits her nomadic life as the foundation of her strength and adaptability. Being a Korean woman is not the traditional candidate for this job, which Mina talks about relying on her coworkers to give her confidence and acceptance but admittedly opening up on her struggles with imposter syndrome for a lot of her career and an extreme focus on perfection. Fred relates to this to fight or flight vulnerability and opens up about doubtful times he had during his rookie year and how he overcame it as well. Mina’s intelligence and unique spin combining numbers and football makes her a rarity in the sport media space and a pivotal member of ESPN’s highly respected NFL Live show. An avid Seattle sports fan, Mina couldn’t leave without talking football and proving her predictions for the organization and future with Geno Smith. Tap in every Tuesday at noon eastern for our premiere episode of the Pivot. Special drops on Friday afternoons at 3:30 pm. We are your one-stop platform for all your sports and entertainment content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Considered one of the best Defensive Ends in the game, Maxx Crosby’s journey to becoming a household name is more than just hard work on the field, it’s the humility and dedication as a man that truly makes his story inspirational. The guys sit down for a conversation that hits home for all of us as we all have moments in life we aren’t proud of or we try to keep hidden, but releasing the attachments and learning from the dark times is what makes the brighter days so meaningful. Opening up about the tough times of addiction, how it affected his game, his relationships, his family- Maxx takes us through the moments that led to him the life changing pivot and how he’s faced adversity head on and has come out even stronger on the other side. Extremely difficult to imagine and re-live, listening to Maxx’s story gives a new perspective of beating the odds and rooting for the good guy. Coming up on three years of sobriety in March, Maxx highlights that as a proud moment but becoming a father to his daughter Ella is truly the pivotal moment in his life that has brought everything full circle. Maxx raves about being a girl dad in good company with Ryan, Fred and Channing who all know the feeling and also expresses intimate gratitude to his wife Rachel who has stood by his side through it all. Despite his addiction, Max performed at a high level on the field which often tricked him into believing he didn’t have a problem. But now with a clear heart, Maxx has taken his ability to another level and shares in the confidence that he can be one do the best to ever play the game at his position. After a difficult season, Maxx talks about all the changes this off-season and what the Raiders need to do to be back in playoff contention this coming year, starting with finding a new QB. Tune in now to hear Maxx’s thoughts on what the key steps are this off-season for him and his teammates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Ryan, Channing, and Fred sit down with Lil Duval in one of his first conversations since his life-threatening accident in the Bahamas as he shares how his life has changed both physically and mentally since. Opening up to the guys, Lil Duval shares his recollection of the incident and talks through his mindset laying on side of road while waiting for help and how he tried to find humor in the difficulty of it and how the accident has helped teach him reassurance and the vulnerability of having to depend on others for help. Transitioning the conversation to his multi talented career, Ryan asks about navigating social media backlash and how Lil Duval has mastered not caring what others think while maintaining credibility and honesty in sharing his experiences and thoughts publicly. Never having ill intent and always knowing his audience to understand their relatability to his jokes and comments has been important to his sustainability and success. Opening up about his truth and vision from a young age, Lil Duval has always envisioned his success and says he has no finish line because he’s reinventing himself and evolving daily. Sharing the Jacksonville connection with Lil Duval, Fred talks about how the power behind the name “Duval” has transcended the city and caught on in culture to put Jacksonville on the map and a new swagger to those who live there, especially with their beloved Jaguars team! Not missing an opportunity to use the guys and their stories as comedic material, Lil Duval has some fun imitating Fred as a host and making jokes about Ryan and Channing. With Rehab going well and Lil Duval feeling more like himself, next up for him is his “Back On My Feet” tour! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find For four seasons, Aaron and Jamaal were constants in the Green Bay Packers backfield before Jamaal settled for a two-year deal with the NFC North rival Detroit Lions in 2021. Aaron and Jamaal describe their relationship as more of “brothers” than friends. Fred and Channing curiously ask how they maintained the brotherhood despite competing for same role on same team and even now that they are on rival teams. Jamaal talks about how the decision to leave Green Bay to go to the Lions was hard but in the end had to do what was best for him and his family. One commonality that Aaron and Jamaal bonded over and share was having influential male figures in their life. For Aaron, his father and for Jamaal, it was his uncle/trainer. In an emotional conversation, Aaron and Jamaal open up about the recent loss of these men in their lives and how it’s affected them and changed their course of life. With one of the major NFL offseason storylines tracking where QB Aaron Rodgers lands, Aaron Jones talks about his teammate’s leadership and drive pushed him to be a better player on the field and understand more the impact of winning and how to handle disappointment. Jones said he doesn’t want to see Rodgers leave but is prepared for what the team may be like with his absence. With a trio of running backs sitting together, you know the show can’t end without Fred asking who their top 5 RBs currently in the league are and why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Considered one of the most influential R&B artists of all time, Ryan, Fred, and Channing dive into Musiq’s path to this point and discuss his transformation to stardom. Musiq opens up about his upbringing which he attributes to a lot of growing pains over the years. Dropping out of college and leaving the house at 17, Musiq talks about being forced to grow up quickly and the impact it had on him personally and professionally. From Musqi’s perspective, it was all a big risk for him to pursue his passion and he questioned himself every step despite the success and quick climb up record charts! Inspired by the sounds of similar artists such as D’Angelo, Musiq talks about how he worried if his sound would be accepted by the majority. Learning more about music and using his pain to produce legendary songs, he reflects on his process of writing songs and what moved him to produce this style. Ryan, Fred, and Channing reflect back on their days of listening to Musiq’s songs and the romantic tone it set, especially his big hit, Love. Musiq lets the guys know that Love was actually a therapy session for him and a product of searching for his definition of love. Fred goes down to the path of what it’s like to be in the industry limelight and how the journey affects him. Despite his 20+ years of experience, Musiq shares how he still gets nervous under the bright lights and even still gets nervous with every performance. He talks about his struggles balancing being an introvert and having an extroverted profession. Inspired by Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder, Musiq plans to continue to make music that’s a soundtrack to life. Fred, Ryan, and Channing don’t shy away from letting him know that he’s a legend in their book and that his music has forever impacted moved them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Emmitt shares how a young man from Florida who had dreams of playing for the star turned his vision into a reality breaking the mold and going far beyond what he imagined. Opening up to Fred, Ryan and Channing- the football legend talks about how his purpose went far beyond the game and becoming an admirable man solidified his legacy. Meeting Walter Payton for the first time helped Emmitt shape his mission and knowing that breaking the running back’s record was on his radar, he worked everyday as that was his mission. Sharing memories and stories of playing for the Cowboys during the glory days of the 90s, Emmitt talks about what it was really like playing for America’s team. Away from the field and away from the bright lights and star, Emmitt shares how being a father and how finding life again after separating from his wife of almost two decades changed him and redefined his purpose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Seattle's Pro Bowl Quarterback Geno Smith joins The Pivot to talk his comeback story from overcoming adversities in a sports world who wrote him off to finding himself again as one of the top QBs in the NFL. In a rare moment, Smith who's known for being quiet and often reserved, is opening up to address early criticism of his NFL career, how he overcame certain perceptions on and off the field, dealt with conflicts and regained his confidence leading the Seahawks to the playoffs this season. Geno talks with Ryan, Fred and Channing addressing some of the obstacles he faced from draft wknd, to playing in NY to a fight with a teammate and how his close upbringing with his family helped ground him and shape the man he is today. Being one of the few black starting quarterbacks in the NFL, Geno shares his excitement and pride in seeing Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts face off in the Super Bowl and makes his pick as to what team he sees winning it all and why. Tap in every Tuesday at noon eastern for our premiere episode of the Pivot. Special NFL seasonal drops on Friday afternoons at 3:30 pm. We are your one-stop platform for all your sports and entertainment content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Super Bowl Champion and actor/entertainer Victor Cruz joins The Pivot for a conversation about being the underdog, his evolution as a man and how playing football shaped his purpose and led him on a path to stardom and success. Going from an undrafted rookie to impressive back to back early seasons with the Giants, winning a Super Bowl and becoming widely known for his touchdown celebration salsa dance moves, Victor used his on field success to help carve a niche for him in the Big Apple, finding himself in the spotlight with fashion, film and philanthropy. Growing up in Patterson, NJ attending boarding school, having some troubles in and out of college and losing his father, Victor credits his success to becoming the man of the house at an early age and to his upbringing watching his mother work hard made him want to do the same. No stranger to adversity, Victor made a career of overcoming setbacks and after suffering a very serious injury on the road in Philadelphia where he tore the patellar tendon in his right knee, the wide receiver documented his recovery process and shocked the world when he returned to the field a year later. Ryan, also undrafted turned Super Bowl Champion, talks about how the journey through the league is different for guys who don't get their number called on draft day and Victor echoes that sentiment and opens up on why his story means so much, especially to young people who are chasing a dream. Creating a legacy for his family and the young people of his hometown is most important to him and he shares with Fred why giving back and showing today's youth what is possible is most important. Channing isn't going to let him off easy and comes right out and asks about his very public break up with Karrueche Tran and how he landed the actress and model to begin with. Victor talks about dating in the public eye and the effect it has on his relationships, the headlines his daughter reads from it and how he navigates his personal life looking to be in a long-term relationship again. With the recent playoff run by his New York Giants, Victor shares his excitement around the team and gives his Super Bowl pick but Ryan couldn't let him off the hook without asking for the real story around the infamous boat trip Victor and his teammates took the morning after winning a playoff game a few years back that received public backlash and nicknamed a curse of a trip as the favored Giants ended up losing the next round. We get the real story on the infamous boat outing with Trey Songz! If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY)1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA), 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 2/12/23 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find After making an unexpected run in the post season, NY Giants safety and captain Xavier McKinney talks this past year, Head Coach Daboll’s success, the Eagles as the team to beat, his accident that threatened his career and how it changed his life. The former Alabama stand out is used to the spot light but playing in the New York market has proved to be a bigger opportunity than he imagined and grateful for his place as the Giants defensive captain and for the leadership he comes to work with everyday. Picking the Eagles to win the Super Bowl, McKinney talks about how playing against the divisional rival has motivated the Giants to elevate their play and continue to be a NFC contender. He talks about the offensive leadership and play by QB Daniel Jones and star running back Saquon Barkley as difference makers in the team output this season and how imperative it is to get them both signed under contract before next year. Crediting new head coach Brian Daboll for the change in team chemistry and attitude, Xavier believes his coach is the only choice for coach of the year because his commitment to winning and approach in leadership skills. During his bye week, Xavier suffered an ATV accident crushing his left hand and leaving him unable to play for seven weeks during the season. Xavier shares how humbling the incident was and how taking full responsibility for the mishap and the effect it had on his teammates. Returning in time for the last regular season games and two crucial play off wins, McKinney shared his gratefulness in getting back on the field and how it changed his perception. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY)1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA), 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 2/12/23 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Celebrating one year of The Pivot as we look back on our defining moments and the best of, as Ryan, Channing and Fred reflect on the past year and the pivots we all have made personally and professionally. We appreciate everyone who's been on this journey with us and invite you all to kick back and join us as we take a trip down memory lane sharing behind the scenes moments, our funniest times, the long days and long nights as we chat about the ins and outs of what has made The Pivot space it is today. Don't forget to leave us a comment on what your favorite moment and guest have been over the past year. Thank you for all the support...we are just getting started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find With the NFL being one of the most premiere sports leagues and a lucrative form of entertainment to people all over the world, but to many, it is still considered a job, especially the men who play the game. Today in a special edition of The Pivot, Ryan, Channing and Fred sit down with the man who is at the helm of the NFL's Player Union- DeMaurice Smith for an in-depth conversation covering the state of the union, player's contracts, injury clauses and the relationship with owners and the commissioner Roger Goodell. Ryan starts the conversation going back to working as player rep before the lock out in 2011 and how the league has changed from then and continues to evolve every year. De talks about how he got involved as the head of the union and his passion behind his purpose and explains why he is often seen as an adversarial figure between the players and the owners and league. Fred and Channing ask a lot of questions around injury clauses after what we saw happen with Damar Hamlin a few weeks ago as well as guaranteed contracts around quarterbacks and specifically ask about Lamar Jackson and what the future looks like for him as well as learn why it takes a unified front to go against a multi-billon dollar business. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY)1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA), 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 2/12/23 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find The former NBA first overall pick Kwame Brown, often known for being outspoken and his public rants about life, society and what’s wrong with culture and sports, joins The Pivot today for an in-depth conversation about who he truly is as a man and what he stands for. Ryan, Channing and Fred sit down with Kwame to peel back the layers of this once basketball great and find out if it’s anger or frustration that fuel his words. Selected as the first overall pick at age of 19 in 2001, Kwame talks about his experience as a child and rough upbringing to making it out to discover a life as not just a professional basketball player, but one of the best in the country at his young age. Kwame talks about playing with Michael Jordan, the misconceptions of his rookie year and why he was labeled a problem player and later known as a bust. He shares his experience of playing with Kobe Bryant and being on the court for the legend’s historic 81 point performances and also how Kobe shaped him as a better player and man. Sharing his truth regarding past issues and incidents between his ongoing battle with Stephen A Smith, the use of the word bust and former players speaking out on him- Kwame is not holding back and using his voice as an open book through his platform. Working now to help today’s youth and provide an outlet and teach through his experiences, Kwame is focused on bringing reality to young men in the community and helping them evolve into better people with hope through opportunities. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY)1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA), 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 2/12/23 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Former Rutgers star Football player Eric LeGrand became paralyzed making a tackle during a game in October 2010…since then Eric has used his experience to impact people all over the world and inspire perseverance during tough times. Filming this episode prior to Damar Hamlin’s incident, Ryan went back and visited with Eric to get his reaction and thoughts watching that Monday night game to include as part of the original episode. Visiting Eric in his home state of New Jersey, Fred, Channing and Ryan had the chance to sit and talk with the young man about his love for life, passion for football and will to help others. Eric described the play on the field and the moments after where he felt like his life was over followed by the realization that not only would he never play the sport he loved again but he’d never walk again either. Taking us through the trials and tribulations of that time, Eric has since parlayed his experience into an entrepreneurial spirit and created a legacy of motivation for anyone who knows his story. From Creating different brands around his name, to signing with the Tampa Bucs as an honorary player to being a sports broadcaster to opening his own coffee shop back in his home town…Eric has never spent a day feeling sorry for himself, only trying to become better and find more opportunities. Eric’s story is one everyone should hear and Ryan, Fred and Channing are extremely grateful for the opportunity to share his story and spend time with a young man who is a true role model and epitome of strength. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY)1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA), 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 2/12/23 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Sitting with one of the greatest tight ends to play the game, a super bowl champion and projected first ballot hall of famer…Travis Kelce shares with Ryan, Channing and Fred how his contributions in the sport are just hitting stride and his legacy is still a work in progress. With the NFL post season underway and the Chiefs have the number one seed, Travis says if the team plays flawless football as they are capable of- no team is beating them. Under the leadership of MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes, Travis shares why there is no one more cut out to lead a team than his quarterback and certainly no one more talented to play under center than #15 and that playing for Coach Andy Reid is one of the most motivating and rewarding experiences of the right end’s life. Being a part of this special unit, Travis credits the younger guys on the team for stepping up in unexpected roles this season and admits anything less than Kansas City winning a Super Bowl is a disappointment, but respects the road ahead with tough teams to face in Cincinnati and Buffalo. Always a family first mentality and having his older brother Jason to look up to, Travis credits his close bond with the Philadelphia Eagles star as his motivation to be the best version of himself on and off the field. Travis talks about his life transitions from being suspended at college to putting in the work to reflect and reevaluate his path to everything finally clicking for him as a player leaving behind behaviors that may have derailed his All Pro career. Considered one of the NFL’s most eligible bachelors, Travis is content playing the field right now and focused on football and whatever else is extra. Of course, Channing nominated himself to be a contestant on the next season of catching Kelce for a chance to run with the young, single Chiefs star. Travis talks on rumors of his past relationships and shares some of his craziest attempts by ladies to land a date. Fred talks about the accomplishments of tight end legends Shannon Sharpe and Tony Gonzalez who played before him and asks Travis if he considers himself the greatest of all time...tap in now to hear his response and much more. *Please note this episode was filmed prior to the Monday Night matchup between Buffalo and Cincy and scheduled to release Tuesday 1/3/23. Out of respect and care for Damar, we held the episode until aThe Pivot family and Travis decided we should hold the release of the show out of respect and concern for Damar. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY)1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA), 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 2/12/23 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find This past Monday's match up between the Bills and Bengals will forever be a night we all remember as we watched one of our brothers, Damar Hamlin go into cardiac arrest on the field as team trainers worked tirelessly and performed CPR for nearly ten minutes before getting him into an ambulance. Since that moment, the entire country united behind Damar and has been pulling for his recovery through prayer, his community endeavors and his family. Receiving positive medical updates in the past 24 hours about Damar has lifted everyone's spirits and allowed his teammates, friends and brothers around the league to refocus and somewhat prepare to play the game they all love again this weekend. Knowing Damar almost his entire life, Jordan talks about when he watched his friend fall to the ground, how hard it was to watch and the amazing outpouring of support for his friend. Sharing with Fred, Ryan and Channing, Jordan talks about Damar's love for football, his dedication to the community and how bringing joy to others has always been his focus and the type of man he is. He knows that his friend would want him to go out and play Sunday and still be a physical player and that is what Jordan plans to do as he honors his long time brother and friend. Echoing the same sentiment as Damar's family, Jordan says Damar wouldn't want his Buffalo teammates to play for him but he would want to bring positivity to them and have them come together as a team and fulfill their season goals of winning a Super Bowl. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Jordan reminisces about playing against Damar and becoming college roommates and teammates in Pitt and the two forming a lifelong bond and brotherhood both wearing the number three jersey as their NFL careers have taken off. Jordan shares with Channing, Fred and Ryan his plans for after the regular season is to go spend time with his friend and help him recover and hopefully still take the trips they have planned for the off season. Winning a Super Bowl with Tom Brady as part of the Bucs core defensive unit, Jordan has taken what he learned during his time in Tampa, especially the leadership skills and worked to bring them to his Jets team as the young defense shaped out to be one of the toughest and most dominant in the league this season. Following in the footsteps of his cousin and future Hall of Famer Darelle Revis, Jordan's on field play is earning him the reputation as one of the best Safeties in the league and talks about just falling short of making the playoffs this year. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY)1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA), 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 2/12/23 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Not often do we get to tell the stories behind success but today, we sit with two young men who set out to change the game not just in sports but with their entrepreneurial skills too. Earl Cooper and Olajuwon Ajanaku, two minority business owners share their unique journey from humble beginnings to stardom and success. Earl, a PGA professional and O, the founder of East Side Golf, sit with Fred, Ryan and Channing sharing the back story on how the duo got involved in the sport of Golf, a predominantly white sport, and infiltrated the industry, changing the culture and impacting fashion along the way. Coming from a HBCU background, O used his education and business skills applying it to his passion to carve out a niche in the gold industry. Catching the attention of stars like Michael Jordan, Chris Paul, Tiger Woods, Fat Joe and many others, their style and ideas for fashion have created a buzz not just in golf but in all walks of sports and entertainment fashion. On the heels of their recent Hulu docu-series Grails, the two young entrepreurs are sharing the journey of how turning an idea into a business has not only set out to change the world of golf but also made a cultural impact. The conversation is guided by the story of East Side Golf and its quest break into the world of sports fashion and sneaker culture but also it stories the journey of how a two young men go from humble beginnings to landing a deal with the top brand in the industry. The conversation is filled with bits of humor and wisdom as the guys open up to Fred, Channing and Ryan about the process, the obstacles and the feeling of finally "making it" after so much of the blood sweat and tears is poured into their passion. Sharing personal conversations and moments they have had with big names along the way who not only have inspired them but supported turning the dream into a reality. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA), 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 12/30/22 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find With the historic Winter Classic game coming up on New Year’s Day, Former NHL star and trailblazer PK Subban joins The Pivot for a conversation you don’t want to miss. Over his thirteen year NHL career, The Canadian native forged himself as more than a hockey player, creating his own lane on the ice and leaving his imprint on culture and change. Ryan, Channing and Fred ask PK how a black kid growing up found a love for hockey and how he overcame racial barriers in a primarily white dominated sport to become one of the faces of the NHL and a global star. PK credits his parents for keeping him grounded and focused on his passion, tuning out the negative comments and the naysayers throughout his career to propel to stardom. PK shares his personal experiences with racism in the sport from fans, teammates and others around the league and also how picking and choosing the moments to stand up to it and speaking out against even what his brother went through in the sport as well. Winning the Norris Trophy, playing in Stanley Cup finals, the 3x All Star’s successful career on ice paved the way for his future entertainment, philanthropy and entrepreneurial world, becoming a leader in the minority ownership space with sports franchises. Channing doesn’t miss the opportunity to ask PK about dating celebrities and his former engagement to Lindsey Vonn with the infamous story that she proposed to him and the real story behind their relationship. After retiring at the young age of 33, PK shares why he felt it was the right time to hang up his skates and what his future looks like starting with a career in broadcasting. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA), 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 12/30/22 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Fred, Ryan and Channing get together to wrap up before the holidays this weekend and are talking about everything from the NFL playoff outlook, to Jaguars to Cowboys to disciplining kids to fighting as grown men and meaning of the holidays. This past Saturday marked an unfortunate loss for the Indianapolis Colts under the leadership of Jeff Saturday, giving Channing more reason to believe that Jeff Saturday isn’t qualified for the job. The guys chime in on the situation and discuss what coaching decisions should look like for the Colts moving forward. Ryan, Fred, and Channing give their opinion on the recent situation with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Giovani Bernard, had with ESPN reporter, after this past Sunday’s game. The guys talk about the importance of journalistic integrity and all give personal experiences with the media during their playing careers. Amar’e Stoudemire was recently charged with battery for allegedly hitting his daughter. Fred, Ryan, and Channing weigh in on their parenting tactics and send well wishes to the Stoudemire family as they go through a difficult time. Staying on topic of being fathers, the guys discuss Tiger Wood’s decision to forego a PGA Tour to spend time with his son Charlie and how at this point in life, that’s what it matters. Fred, Channing, and Ryan give their opinion on the transfer portal and NIL deals and the effect it’s having on college sports. Fred provides solutions to what they see as the lingering issue affecting college students and why Ryan says youth today is impatient. As they talk about the holidays, the guys reflect on why this season is so special for their families and their own personal growth over time. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA), 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 12/30/22 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Ryan, Channing, and Fred sit down with one of the most iconic athletes who just happens to be their long time idol, NBA hall of famer, Isiah Thomas. The original Bad Boy of Detroit Pistons is opening up and talking everything from his relationship with Magic Johnson to Detroit Pistons changing the game to sharing his side of the infamous Michael Jordan feud. Isiah starts the show saying very simply that he is going to state facts and you can’t argue facts and that it’s one thing to win a championship in the NBA but it’s another to win a championship at every level ever played. Growing up on the West Side of Chicago, Isiah shares how his upbringing was shaped by his mother’s guidance and a family first mentality where his mother cared more about the type of man he’d become vs the money and opportunity being offered. His mom’s influence was so great, it became her decision where he played college basketball and also who he played for. The West Side of Chicago is home to many activists and organizations such as Fred Hampton, Martin Luther King Jr, and The Black Panther Party. Isiah grew up in this environment and recalls marching alongside his mother with Dr.King. Spearheading change at the national level, Isiah used his local groundwork in Detroit to advocate for Black journalists covering the team, more rights for Black NBA players leaving a greater impact with his legacy not just on the court but in culture. Isiah makes his case known for why so many people overlook Detroit Pistons as transcending the NBA and shares what the team really did for the league and how they were the firsts to do many things back then setting the example of how teams should be and move. Known for his historic rivalry with Michael Jordan, Ryan asks what were his thoughts on the way his character was portrayed by Jordan in The Last Dance. Isiah provides The Pivot with an exclusive inside look to his true relationship with MJ and goes on to say that he always looked out for Michael and that their families were even close. He also speaks about how rules within the NBA were changed to protect Michael Jordan. Isaih doesn’t hold back as he shares his thoughts on while he was deemed the a-hole of the NBA when in fact he was the nice guy. Lastly, Isiah lets the guys in on the history of his and Magic’s close relationship and what led up to their legendary interview. He gives credit to the current legends playing the game such as Lebron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, and says they’ve transformed the game in a way we may never see again. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 12/30/22 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find In a special edition of The Pivot, we sit down with University of Virginia running back Mike Hollins who survived the shooting that killed three of his teammates a month ago. In an emotional conversation with Ryan, Fred and Channing, Mike opens up about that day for the first time and courageously takes us through the moments leading up to the senseless attack and the minutes following when he was shot. On a school trip to Washington DC with his classmates, that Sunday started off as a happy day filled with so many positive memories for these young people as they took in important parts of history and spent their time laughing, listening to music and enjoying the opportunity. As the bus returned to school that evening, shots were fired by one of the students on the bus, killing three young men and injuring two others, one being Mike Hollins. Mike takes the guys through this emotional day, how he lost his best friend and teammates to the senseless act, his recovery and approaching each day now with love and purpose. A story of tragedy and loss turned into tribute and honor. Tap in every Tuesday at noon eastern for our premiere episode of the Pivot. Special NFL seasonal drops on Friday afternoons at 3:30 pm. We are your one-stop platform for all your sports and entertainment content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find With Channing out of town, Fred and Ryan needed to find someone who could try and fill his shoes, so they tapped Druski, comedian, actor and entrepreneur, who proved to be an excellent fit. From the beginning, the light hearted fun spirit entertainer led the conversation as Ryan and Fred peeled back the layers of Druski learning and understanding how his journey has shaped the person he is today. Becoming famous and most well-known for his hilarious skits on Instagram, Druski first went viral in 2017 with a skit of him counting one-dollar bills that accumulated over millions of views and helped him amass a social media following with close to 6M followers on all platforms. successfully turning his life experiences into a million-dollar business. Being raised by parents who stressed education first, Ryan asks Druski what made him stray from the academic route and turn to comedy. He shares that when he first got to college, he realized it wasn't for him and began chasing his passion. Druski credits his mother for playing a huge role in who he’s become today and how his mom's support and influence was key to his comedic success. Sharing his long term goals, Druski talks about how he would love the opportunity to act in a biopic, impersonating Heavy D if he had to pick and eventually forging his place atop the list of best comedians ever. Being able to receive respect and acknowledgement from industry idols such as Issa Rae and Kevin Hart, Druski jokes that hanging with Jack Harlow and Drake is cool but it wasn't until he started turning the heads of females that he knew he made it. Opening up about trying to find his calling and realizing through a lot of odd jobs he has had over the years that he never felt like he was in the right place but normalizing wanting more for yourself has been a big part of Druski's climb to the top. Although he went through a dark transition period, Druski isn’t afraid to share what those moments were like and believes that every person needs to go through some tribulations and be tested. Helping others through his story, his message to young people is to disconnect from phones and the internet once in awhile and learn to sit with yourself to really have moments of reflection. Druski gives an exclusive look into what fans should expect from his first-ever “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda", a 30-city comedy tour presented by Happy Dad and he also mentions a few staples that will keep people entertained as well as lean into the surprise element with guests and moments. Visit Druski's website for tickets and updates on his tour dates. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 12/30/22 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find In an exclusive conversation with The Pivot Podcast, Clinton Portis sits with Fred, Ryan and Channing for a transparent discussion on hie he went from being one of the most regarded running backs in the league to the face of a NFL scandal that landed him prison time. In Clinton Portis’s first public conversation since being released from prison, he gets right into it and how he believes he went to jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Ryan recalls mentioning something Clinton said to him in a recent conversation, “I ain’t never stole a piece of bubble gum.”…Feeling the certainty and passion in this statement, Ryan wanted to know how and why this prison sentence came about. Tangled up in a NFLPA insurance fraud scandal, Clinton was one of over 170 names listed in the case and became one of the main ones to take the fall. Clinton says he was unaware of any of the other people convicted for this crime and he believed that based on what was presented in court, he wouldn’t be sentenced, Sepe since there was a hung jury. Clinton tells the guys that this justice system experience was life-changing and allowed him to see that the justice system needs improvement. He shares stories with the guys about conversations he’d have with the guards and other inmates, comparing their sentences based on the crime. Continuing to see the disparity in the justice system, Clinton is dedicated to becoming a spokesman and helping those cope who have been wrongfully convicted. The guys also talk about how Brett Favre seemed to be untouched and his scandal buried for way worse yet, Clinton made headlines for months. Transitioning back to days of playing football, Ryan asks Clinton if he’s upset that this conviction took away his opportunity to receive a gold jacket. Portis says that he does want a gold jacket but finds peace in that his stats have been forever cemented in NFL history and the forever bond he has with teammates and friends. Fred asks about what role having legendary teammates played in his success. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 12/30/22 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Wallace Peeples better known as Wallo 267 joins The Pivot in a conversation storying his life from a young man growing up on the streets of Philly to serving 20 years in prison to being one of the original innovators in the podcast game and now considered a global influencer, entrepreneur, motivational speaker and marketing phenom. Most well known for his cultural platform Million Dollaz Worth Of Game, which he created with his cousin Gillie Da King, a legendary Philadelphia rapper, Wallo shares his business model that has transcended the podcast game and made an impact around the world. With over 7 million + social media impressions weekly, Wallo has successfully turned his tough experiences, life lessons and natural business instincts into a multi million dollar collaboration. Sharing with Fred, Ryan and Channing how he ended up in prison and his mindset growing up of what he thought earned respect and was the way to success, Wallo taps into an emotional side of his life that is painful but a lesson he applied since. Wallo shares with the guys how his two decades in prison prepared him for life as if he went to school so that when he came out he knew what his calling would be and how he wanted to be a person that he wished he had as a mentor growing up. Admitting that the scariest day of his life was the day he was released from prison with the choice of what to do next and how to get back into society, forging a different path. In his message, Wallo explains how less than 5 minutes of criminal activity cost him so much and landed him 20 years in jail and in his new life that same 5 minutes of energy landed him the opportunity of a lifetime. Ryan acknowledges how Wallo inspires so many people and his enthusiasm is endless around making an impact and always working but feels there is a hole in his heart as he never talks of what he does for himself or that brings him joy. Channing chimes in that Wallo's life habits seem as if he is still institutionalized, keeping a regimented schedule and not very social unless it is for work. Fred is most impressed with the turnaround and Wallo's ability to build, sustain and leverage his social platform into a multi-million opportunity. Opening up about business practices, supporting one another in the black community and following through on basic principles, Wallo gives insight into his brand building and tips on how anyone can make something from nothing. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 12/30/22 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find On this Friday edition of The Pivot, Ryan and Channing welcome back Fred from his world travels and tackle some really tough topics. With all that is going on in the world right now, the guys felt it was necessary to sit as a group and have some timely discussions. The recent release of a photo with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones present during a time of segregation as a teenager sparked a lot of questions but also the need for an important conversation. Ryan leads the discussion saying the photo doesn't say Jerry is a racist but looking at his track record over the years, what should be more concerning is the lack of him in a position to elevate minorities to a higher positions and hasn't. Channing chimes in that his close relationships with his players doesn't mean he's elevating black people but just points to the fact that he is running a business and putting the best people to help him win. This past Sunday marked the 15th anniversary of Sean Taylor's passing and Ryan attended Washington's memorial unveiling which was not the tribute it should have been or could be as the guys talk about how a player and man of his stature deserves way more. OBJ watch is still in effect despite recent airline issues causing different type of headlines, the guys discuss making a mountain out of a molehill with the situation and agree teams will not be affected by this citation. Fred, Channing and Ryan make some late season picks for MVP, Offensive and defensive player of the year and Super Bowl bound teams. As they talk about the holidays and ups and downs of family gatherings, Ryan shares a heartfelt moment as a father and how parenting comes with no playbook and how it is not always the easiest of times, but it's always an unconditional love. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 12/30/22 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find The former 2nd overall pick, only behind Peyton Manning in the 1998 NFL draft, Ryan Leaf shares his emotional journey and his fall from the top to finding light again after very dark times. This episode of The Pivot is a story of redemption, addiction, and a conversation about restoring faith with the former first round NFL pick, Ryan Leaf, as he sits with Fred, Channing and Ryan to open up about how the star quarterback found himself in handcuffs a few short years after being at the top of the sports world. After losing his NFL career and football, the one thing he felt defined him, Ryan tried to lean into fame and eventually turned to pills to disguise the pain. His addiction over time led to desperation and burglarizing homes trying find prescription medications and anything that he could find to feed his fix until his actions left him behind bars in prison. Considered one of the best collegiate quarterbacks during his time at Washington State, Leaf admits now he wasn't mentally prepared to be under the NFL microscope from growing up in a small town in Montana to becoming a Heisman finalist to instant stardom and wealth of the NFL. Playing for five years in the league, Ryan admits that his career was over after his third game, despite winning 2 of the 3 because of how he handled them. Blaming everyone else for his short comings and behaviors, his outbursts and arrogance cost him his career, his money and he ended up quitting thinking he was bigger than the sport itself. This choice led him further down a path of poor decisions and pills to numb the absence of the thing he loved most, football. Ryan reflects back on his depression saying he was consumed by the validation of others and tried to cover up the shame of being considered the NFL’s biggest draft bust. Looking back, Leaf explains to guys that he’s grateful for his time in prison because it allowed him to humble himself and learn to take accountability for his actions. Although he believes that rehabilitation is a better solution for nonviolent drug offenders, Leaf shares that his fellow inmates taught him some hard lessons and made him realize the blame and also how to rebuild that life wasn’t over for him. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 pre-game moneyline bet. Bet must win. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. Ends 12/30/22 at 11:59PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find NBA Analyst and Duke basketball legend Jay Williams joins the Pivot for a deep conversation addressing some of the latest media controversies and the tragedy he's overcome. With Fred returning from his trip this week, we asked Jay Williams, someone who we admire as an entrepreneur and media personality but also one of the greatest to play the game of basketball, to sit in for a special edition of The Pivot. With Thanksgiving just passing and the holidays around the corner, It's a good time to reflect on life and appreciate the growth life's journey takes us on. Jay joins Ryan and Channing for a conversation covering the latest topics in sports, media and takes us through the trials and tribulations he's experienced from being a star at Duke to being a #2 NBA draft pick to his life changing accident to finding his purpose in life through rehabilitation, media and family. Recently, Jay, a NBA analyst for ESPN, received backlash and sparked some viral debates as he was one of the first to publicly demonstrate support for Kyrie Irving in the controversy around his social media post promoting a documentary "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America" and encouraged people to take a moment and allow for conversation around the situation without immediately condemning Kyrie for his thoughts. The guys go into detail about what led Jay to take this stance and jeopardize his job and put so much on the line to speak his mind. Jay details the night of the motorcycle accident that almost took his life and took the thing he loved most from him, basketball. In an emotional moment, Jay shares the fear and emotional battles he fought while also fighting physically to regain his strength. Finding purpose again and being able to have a gift to impact others through media and his businesses has been life saving and a blessing that Jay doesn't take lightly. A father of three and married to his best friend, Jay talks about how family is the foundation for all that he does and his backbone after growing up with a close knit family but one that wasn't exempt from emotional hardships as well. Gambling Problem? Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find The 3x Super Bowl Champ, Hall of Famer, and one and only, Playmaker, Michael Irvin sits down with Ryan and Channing after Dallas' big win vs Minnesota to talk everything Cowboys, Jerry Jones, his dominant era and a deep dive into how his upbringing shaped the man he is today. With Fred away for the holidays, Ryan taps in his playmaker’s partner to join the Pivot to kick off Thanksgiving week with all eyes on Irvin’s Dallas Cowboys to keep up their winning ways. Extremely fired up, Michael can't help share his excitement around this year's Cowboys team and how the meter is hot for this roster to go all the way this season, Championship or bust! Sharing his own memories from playing on Thanksgiving, Michael talks about the infamous Leon Lett moment, playing against Randy Moss and what the city of Dallas was like after the big Thursday game. Opening up about his love and respect for Jerry Jones and his close relationship with former coach, Jimmy Johnson, Michael goes in-depth on how it was just playing football in Dallas it became his way of life, sense of family and purpose. Ryan asks if it was always Dallas for him and Michael shares how he had a special connection to the team as a child from his late father who would watch the games growing up with him. One of 16 kids, Michael learned the importance of teamwork and sacrifice early in life and used it to help propel him to the next level in athletics. Explaining the lineage and meaning of new beginnings behind wearing #88 and how Drew Pearson was the first but Michael wanted to continue to make that the premiere jersey number on the Cowboys for decades to come which he has. Ryan jokes about Michael saying, “If you can’t help me win, you can’t be my friend,” as he talks about wanting to be surrounded by teammates on the Cowboys who had the same unwavering commitment in winning a Super Bowl As he did. If he found out a teammate didn’t align with this same mission, he wasn’t afraid to let it be known to the coaching staff or the player. On the road to three championships and a hall of fame career, Michael had to face greats such as Deion Sanders defensively and Randy Moss who was always in the shadows to be the next best at his position. Michael shares a few stories from the times competing against them and the respect he has for other receivers who may be more physically gifted but given the chance would trade careers with him if they had the chance, specifically citing Randy Moss. Michael has high hopes for this year's Cowboys team and talks about how they don't realize how talented they are sometimes which could be a weakness for them down the stretch. Attributing his success to three special women in his life, his mom, his mother-in-law and aunt, Michael says being able to experience the highs of life with them and travel the world has been the highlight of his life. Gambling Problem? Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find It’s Friday and we are chopping it up or as Channing says- just your uncles sitting on the back porch talking about life and what's going on in the world. Many of you have asked for a show with just us, so we figured it's a good time to do that, catch up and talk amongst us OG's. And without a guest, we don't have to be on our best behavior so anything goes in this conversation! We are coming off a heart break after watching our guy Israel Adesanya lose his belt this past Saturday and speaking of Saturday, we also are talking Indianapolis Colts and the controversial hiring of their new head coach, Jeff Saturday along with other news around the NFL including the return of Deshaun Watson and also discuss some other questionable situations going on in sports. Ryan opens the conversation by discussing Izzy's recent fight in which was Fred's first time experiencing the UFC in person and how his emotion had him feeling like he was back on the field. Channing says how he took Izzy's loss personal since the fighter was just on the show while Fred took it personally that people were saying he shouldn't be doing interviews before a fight of that magnitude almost blaming it on a lack of focus instead of the actions in the octagon. This leads into a conversation about superstition and debate between commitment vs routine. Channing, Fred, and Ryan agree that they don’t believe in superstitions but they do believe in preparation. Transitioning to a conversation about the NFL, the guys talk Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, Jeff Saturday's hiring by his friend and former boss, the Rooney rule and return of Deshaun Watson to the Browns facility in an official capacity. Ryan firmly believes that Saturday's hire isn’t a race issue but rather one of familiarity and nepotism while the guys continue the tough conversation of how Deshaun's return will be received in the locker room as well as by Cleveland's fans. Fred thinks as long as he wins, people slowly forget what you were in trouble for but losing often magnifies the trouble surrounding someone. Being connected to controversy isn’t new for professional sports teams and seems ongoing as Fred asks the guys their opinion about Mitchell Miller, the Boston Bruins NHL Hockey Player. The guys get into a deep discussion on whether Mitchell’s career should be over and ruined due to his poor choices and actions as a young boy. Regardless of the outcome, Ryan makes it clear that any situation like this whether innocent or guilty, right or wrong, that athletes or people in the public eye can't ever escape the cloud that follows them with incidents like this. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY)1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 pregame moneyline bet. Bet must win. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Sponsored by DK. Ends 11/20/2022 11:59 PM ET. Eligibility restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.#1 Rated Sportsbook App based on Eilers&Krejcik (2Q22). Product Analysis: Testing, Scoring, and Ranking U.S. Sports Betting Apps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Grammy nominated, entrepreneur, philanthropist and now author, Fat Joe, joins Ryan, Fred and Channing for a conversation covering the release of his highly anticipated memoir, “The Book of Jose: A Memoir.” Taking a trip down memory lane, Joe opens up to the guys about the highs and lows of his career, parenting, philanthropy, miscues in his life and discloses some never-heard before moments and stories that peel back the layers of this young man who made it out of the Bronx. From growing up poor, to losing friends in music and from the neighborhood, to his climb to the top of music and stardom to thoughts of taking his own life to forming a close bond with Big Pun to turning pain into inspiration and respect to the greats who came before him is all detailed in Joe's book that comes out today. People see the end results and where he is now, but few understand the struggles and dark moments endured to get to this point in life. Although everything looks on the up and up now, Joe reveals his inner struggles and how he feels like there is a recurring shadow in his life that comes from betrayal and unexpected hurt. At his core, Joe feels he is a good guy doing bad things and he’s been working to set his legacy straight with each level of success and growth. Fat Joe admits that his upbringing in the Bronx wasn’t ideal but his mother’s strength served as the glue for the family and the financial struggles he experienced as a child helped shape the man he is today and his unique appreciation for life and forgiveness. Making music changed his life and Joe credits hip-hop stemming from minority communities as an attempt to make light of oppression and find light in dark times. Channing pushes back on his words, asking Joe where the desire to do bad things came from despite growing up in a loving household as he acknowledges that he did a lot of bad things, some that others knew about and some that no one ever found out about and he asks him how he got to that place in life. Opening up about one moment which changed Joe's perspective on life and made him move differently is revealed as he shares a story of betrayal by a person closest to him that forever changed how he moved. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY)1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 pregame moneyline bet. Bet must win. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Sponsored by DK. Ends 11/20/2022 11:59 PM ET. Eligibility restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.#1 Rated Sportsbook App based on Eilers&Krejcik (2Q22). Product Analysis: Testing, Scoring, and Ranking U.S. Sports Betting Apps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find In anticipation of Israel's upcoming Middleweight Title fight in UFC 281's main event against Alex Pereira, Izzy is sitting down with Ryan, Fred and Channing a few days ahead of his biggest fight in one of the most candid and entertaining conversations. A global star and one of the top UFC fighters int he sport, Israel knows what's at stake and is embracing it, saying he is going to make this upcoming fight, "A Horror Movie". Fully understanding the energy around this fight knowing that he has lost to Pereira twice in kickboxing, Izzy isn't worried about what others think and knows who he is as the champion and isn't worried about outside pressures. Israel says, people think he is joking when he says, he is prepared to die and prepared to kill, but once he steps into the cage and it lock behind them, it's on. Using the Lion King reference, he explains that sometimes you have to remind yourself who you are like Mufasa did to Simba, and now he is reminding himself who he is, and he knows he's a mother f**cking savage. Getting into how some of his training has changed for this fight and how each of his past bouts have helped him grow and expanded his mind mentally and physically, Izzy shares what it's like preparing for battle and how his outside passions and interests shape his approach to battle, often watching cartoons and reading for motivation and inspiration. Izzy uses the analogy that pressure makes diamonds, and there are moments in a man’s life where he has to step up and this is one of those for me. The last three fights I showed up and made each camp better than the last one and this will be no different. Channing asks him about some of the charismatic traits of his persona, wearing pearls, watching anime cartoons, theatrical fight entrances and why all of these unique aspects of him are important to who he is inside and outside the fight game. Freaky Fred puts some meaning behind his own nickname and asks Izzy about why he has an Only Fans account and what kind of material he puts out there to need one. The friendly banter continues as the guys talk about admiring greatness in other sports and athletes and how it takes a great one to admire a great one. Israel isn't just fighting for himself, he's fighting for his entire team and plans to give it all come Saturday night, even if that comes with physical sacrifice. We are your one-stop platform for all your sports and entertainment content.If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY)1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 pregame moneyline bet. Bet must win. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Sponsored by DK. Ends 11/20/2022 11:59 PM ET. Eligibility restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.#1 Rated Sportsbook App based on Eilers&Krejcik (2Q22). Product Analysis: Testing, Scoring, and Ranking U.S. Sports Betting Apps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Use code PIVOT for $20 off your first SeatGeek order: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/PIVOT It's Football Sunday and start your day with The Pivot! Our friends at Seat Geek are waking you up with the top football storylines around the league and giving you access to the best of the best! Heading into Week 9 of the NFL season, it's about that time to see what rosters have the talent and depth to finish the season strong and Ryan, Channing and Fred are breaking it down for you. With one of the most active trade deadlines we've seen, the league's top teams didn't stray away from making moves to keep them in contention for the big game come February. Channing is big on Miami and the team's roster moves and feels strongly about Tua's performance that he is not only one of the top talents playing the position but could have been a MVP candidate if he didn't miss two games. Comparing his comeback after injury to Dak Prescott's return in Dallas, Channign says Tua is the better quarterback while Ryan feels that the two will be measured differently as Tua is more on his individual success while it's either Dallas goest o the Super Bowl or Dak and big D is considered a major let down. Getting into Dallas' running back situation and the explosive play of Tony Pollard, Ryan asks Fred to share insight on Pollard vs Zeke Elliott and if there is room for both to share the load or is this a passing of the torch situation. Fred reflects on his time in Jacksonville in similar scenarios and how he sees it playing out. With so many young quarterbacks stepping up with strong numbers and winning ways, the guys talk about if this is the end of an era of greats such as Tom Brady and Arron Rodgers as we see some of these younger more mobile quarterbacks top the league. As the discussion plays out, Ryan also shares a message about criticism he has received recently when speaking about Tom Brady and makes it very clear how he feels about #12 and the success he has had along with his contributions to the sport are unmatched but doesn't take away from his performance this season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Don’t miss out on all the NFL and NBA action this week at DraftKings! Sign-up using http://Dkng.co/pivot or USE Promo Code: PIVOT. Extremely talented as a football player, the offers and potential for Martellus to be one of the top Tight Ends in the league was present from day one, but his heart was always on the quality of life and how he would be remembered not for playing a game but for making an impact. One of the most well-rounded and intellectual Black men under the umbrella of the NFL shield, Ryan, Fred, and Channing dive into Marty’s journey and why he may just be the NFL's top creative mind. Marty opens up about his childhood with a single-parent father for the first nine years of his life before his mother, Penny, who provided the perfect balance between playful and stern, joined in his upbringing. Martellus tells the guys the greatest lesson he learned from his parents was to be present. In 2014 during his tenure with The Chicago Bears, Bennett got into a scuffle with teammate Kyle Fuller. He sets the record straight on The Pivot as to why the situation took place and how he’s a man that stands on principle. However, Martellus tells the guys that core values aren’t always taught to young athletes. Taking the stance that coaches only develop athletes physically rather than mentally, Martellus reflects on the importance of his diverse experiences as a kid such as being a Mathlete. Marty talks about his experience venturing into various projects such as samurai training, founding his creative agency, and becoming an author. Channing inquires about where this change in mindset stems from and Marty refers to always looking to update his “software.” He attests his evolution to three things; reading, traveling, and life-changing experiences. Always cognizant that there is more to life than football, Bennett admits that he almost retired from the league after his third season. Channing asks if that awareness resulted in an early career end which Marty admitted that it did play a major role. After taking a sabbatical to Japan, it was a realization about priorities and passion for Martellus when he realized he'd walk 50,000 steps for his love of curiosity and Arts but not for a NFL check. Towards the end of his career, Marty was one of the very few individuals to first take a knee during the National Anthem. But quickly realized that this form of activism wasn’t the best for him and he’d rather use his pen to improve his surroundings. Turning to his creative agency and love for the Arts, Marty describes the etymology of the name of his small creative agency and his mission to restore imagination and playfulness into society. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY)1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 pregame moneyline bet. Bet must win. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Sponsored by DK. Ends 11/20/2022 11:59 PM ET. Eligibility restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.#1 Rated Sportsbook App based on Eilers&Krejcik (2Q22). Product Analysis: Testing, Scoring, and Ranking U.S. Sports Betting Apps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices