BE A BALLER -"Building a lifelong legacy"

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. What does it take to build a legacy that transforms lives—not just your own, but an entire community? The conversation goes beyond professional success into the heart of legacy—fatherhood, mentorship, community giving, and developing the next generation of leaders through the African American Leadership Academy. His messa...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support.  What happens when your lifelong dream suddenly becomes impossible? For Columbus entrepreneur Rick Singletary, the end of one dream became the beginning of an extraordinary legacy.  n this inspiring episode of the Be a Baller Podcast , Rick shares how his parents shaped his character. His mother taught resourcefulness and...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. In this special Fatherhood Month episode, Jason Singleton Sr. , Director of Athletics at Columbus Academy and former Ohio State basketball captain, sits down with his son, Jason Singleton Jr. , one of the nation's top basketball prospects and future Harvard student-athlete.  Legacy sounds big until you realize it is...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. In this special Throwback Thursday Fatherhood Series episode of the Be a Baller Podcast , Coach Tim Brown revisits an inspiring conversation with Lawrence "Mr. Fundy" Funderburke —former NBA player, author, speaker, and founder of Momentum Dads . This conversation is for every dad, mentor, coach, and leader who...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. What does it look like to pass down more than a name—to pass down a calling? In this special Fatherhood Month episode of the Be a Baller Podcast , Coach Tim Brown sits down with Dion Drakeford and his son, Deondre Drakeford , two generations of educators and school leaders who have devoted their lives to serving students...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Legacy isn't built in big moments—it's built in everyday choices. In this special episode of the Be a Baller Podcast , we sit down with Ronnie Stokes , former Ohio State basketball standout and longtime Ohio State Men's Basketball Radio Network analyst, and his son, Ron Stokes Jr. , former college basketbal...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. In this Father’s Month conversation we sit down with Ralph Smithers Sr., a trailblazer in Columbus, Ohio urban development and public service, and his son Ralph Smithers Jr., a leader focused on inclusion, belonging, and community impact. Together, we unpack “passing the torch” as more than a motivational phrase. It’s the...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. What’s up, Ballers! Welcome back to The NxtUp Ballers Podcast — where we spotlight the people building something bigger than themselves. And today’s conversation is for every person who’s ever tried to build something while still figuring themselves out. Because building a brand sounds exciting… until you realize you’re a...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Legacy doesn’t happen by accident, and Celeste Allen proves it with a life that’s been shaped by faith, discipline, and service. We’re talking with a mother, educator, mentor, and ministry leader with more than 45 years of experience who has helped build people, not just programs. If you’ve ever wondered whether your ever...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Triplets. A baby at home. A working husband. Tight budgets. Big faith. At the center of her story is a steady foundation—faith expressed through prayer. You’ll hear how prayer has guided her marriage, shaped family decisions, and anchored her through uncertainty, including big transitions like college planning and raising...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. What’s up, Ballers! Welcome back to The NxtUp Ballers Podcast — where we highlight individuals who are building something bigger than themselves. Today’s guest is someone who’s using fitness as a vehicle — not just for physical transformation, but for discipline, mindset, and purpose Austin Parker, or Coach AP, is a Corpo...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. In this episode of the BAB Podcast, Dr. Michael Langan shares how faith, discipline, and purpose shape leadership in medicine and life. From burnout and mentorship to healthcare access and serving underserved communities, this conversation is full of wisdom on leading well, serving people, and building a legacy that honor...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. What does real prosperity look like when it’s not just about money? In this episode, we sit down with First Merchants Bank Jennifer Griffith and Matt Gerhardts, to explore how true success is built through relationships, trust, and long-term impact—not just bigger numbers. From business lending to community investment in...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. What's Up Ballers! Welcome back to another episode of The NxtUp Ballers Podcast. Today’s guest is someone who is literally engineering impact. Dr. Nathan Lee Roy Harris is an educator, visionary, and the President of See Brilliance — an organization rooted in helping Black and Latinx youth discover their innate geniu...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Shirley Rogers Reece was a pioneering figure in McDonald's leadership, breaking barriers for African Americans in corporate roles. She served as the first African American female vice president at McDonald's, paving the way for future leaders. Reece focused on community engagement and diversity initiatives withi...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. In this powerful Be a Baller Podcast episode, former Columbus City Schools Student Ambassador and current Otterbein University leader and licensed minister Joshua Goshay shares how faith shaped his leadership journey. From campus senate to keynote speaker at Ballers Edge, Joshua explains how spiritual conviction—not popul...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Dr. Gene Harris was the  longest-serving superintendent of Columbus City Schools. Dr. Gene Harris is a proud graduate of Columbus City Schools and spent 37 years as a professional educator.  She is a true women of great faith who God has used to impact thousands of students, families and fellow educators. She retired from...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. What's up, Ballers! Welcome to the first episode of The NxtUp Ballers Podcast — where we spotlight those who are building something bigger than themselves. The ones turning their hustle and purpose into legacy impact. Today, we’ve got one of those voices in the building — A Columbus native, public servant, and commun...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. What if legacy is less about success and more about alignment? Coach Tim Brown sits down with veteran educator Taylor Smith to explore a 46-year journey from segregation-era Virginia to leading Worthington Christian Schools with excellence and conviction. Together, they unpack how parents, churches, and schools can work i...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. What’s up! Welcome to The NxtUp Ballers (Building A Life Long Legacy) Podcast—where the next, and now, generation of leaders, dreamers, and builders come to talk real growth, real lessons, and real legacy. Here, with our host Christian Noel, we dive into business, leadership, faith, education, personal development, and co...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. What if the smartest move you ever made wasn’t the safe one—but the faithful one? Detroit native, Central State University alum, and educator Kimberly Jones joins us to share how faith, a no-excuses mindset, and the unique power of HBCUs can transform students, campuses, and communities. From cleaning chalkboards as a chi...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. In this compelling episode of Be a Baller , Coach Tim Brown sits down with Dr. Donja Thomas —educator, curriculum pioneer, and TEDx speaker of Blackness Is a Superpower —to explore how truth-telling in schools awakens identity, restores dignity, and unlocks possibility for every student. From her days as a Junior Olympics...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Obie Stillwell, Former OSU Buckeye walk-on, Buckeye Fever television co-host and real estate professional serving hundreds of residents in affordable housing. Obie Stillwell has lived enough lives for three people—and in this episode, Coach Tim Brown dives into the through-line behind all of them: faith-driven leadership...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. What. A. Year. Coach Tim Brown kicks off this special Be A Baller Podcast episode by reflecting on the unforgettable journey of 2025 — a year overflowing with stories, student leadership, and community impact. From powerful conversations to life-changing lessons, this season was shaped by YOU — the listeners, partners, an...

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. A celebration can tell you everything about a leader’s life’s work. When Dr. Moses Newsome Jr. returned to Norfolk State University for the 30th anniversary of its social work PhD—the school’s first doctoral program—he saw former students running departments, teaching his own daughter, and carrying forward a mission built...