Same Game Different Turf

This episode features Frank Brown, CEO of Communities In Schools of Atlanta, one of the nation's leading organizations focused on helping students overcome the barriers that prevent them from succeeding in school and in life.   Frank's story is one of education, relationships, and purpose. Growing up in a single-parent household in Charleston, South Carolina, Frank’s brother was sentenced to 15 ye...

This episode features Justin Anthony, founder of Yebo Beach Haus, Lion's Head Private Club, and several of Atlanta's most recognized hospitality concepts. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Justin's life revolved around soccer. From the age of six, he knew he wanted to become a professional player and spent years pursuing that dream. But after a serious knee injury changed the trajectory of his care...

From the 1996 Olympics to OutKast, TLC, Usher, Pink, Babyface, T.I., Nike, and Adidas, DL Warfield has spent decades helping shape culture through art and creativity. In this episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with fine artist and creative director DL Warfield to discuss creativity, resilience, authenticity, relationships, and what it takes to build a career that stands the test of ti...

This episode features Brian McGowan, President of Centennial Yards Company, the largest sports adjacent entertainment district underdevelopment in the world. Brian’s career is a masterclass in navigating transitions. His work has spanned the Obama Administration, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office, leading Invest Atlanta, and serving as CEO of the Atlanta BeltLine. We discuss career reinventi...

This episode features Herm from Roadshow, one of the most trusted names in the high-end automotive world. From selling cars out of Cincinnati to building a globally recognized brand that works with athletes, entertainers, and top executives, Herm’s journey is built on persistence, relationships, and doing business the right way. We get into how Roadshow was built from the ground up, what it actual...

This episode features Tiffany Willis, former SVP of Investor Relations at Starbucks, whose journey redefines what success actually looks like. From becoming a mother at 14 and facing homelessness to rising through PwC, EY, and leading investor relations at a $130B company, Tiffany’s story is a masterclass in resilience, ownership, and purpose-driven leadership. We unpack what it really means to ow...

What does success really cost, and what happens when you finally choose yourself? In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Shanti Das. Shanti is a music industry powerhouse turned mental health advocate. She helped build the legendary careers of Outkast, Usher, and Toni Braxton as a music execute at LaFace, Columbia, and Universal Records. Shanti shares the untold truth behind climbing to t...

In this episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with David Pollack, former University of Georgia player, three-time All-American, first-round NFL Draft pick, former ESPN analyst, speaker, author, and host of the See Ball Get Ball podcast. David shares a powerful story of identity, transition, faith, resilience, and learning how to make every day count. From becoming under-recruited, to eli...

In the latest episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with Elicia Azali, Chief Marketing Officer at Beazer Homes, to talk about leadership, marketing, and building a career that aligns with who you truly are. Elicia’s journey from Oberlin, Ohio to the C-suite is a powerful reminder that success isn’t just about where you start. It’s about work ethic, mentorship, and the courage to be yours...

In this episode, I sit down with TJ Callaway, founder and CEO of Onward Reserve, to unpack what building something real actually takes. TJ shares his journey from investment banking to entrepreneurship and how that experience gave him confidence in rooms where big financial decisions are made. More importantly, he explains why lasting success isn’t about hype or chasing fast exits. It is about dis...

This episode features Mariangela Corales, General Counsel of Goodwill of North Georgia, and a proud Latina leader whose journey reflects ambition, resilience, and cultural pride. As the daughter of Cuban immigrant parents, Mariangela carries a deep sense of responsibility and gratitude into her work. We discuss what it means to be a Latina executive in corporate law and nonprofit leadership, often...

This episode features Melissa Proctor, Chief Marketing Officer of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. Our conversation centers on navigating transition without having everything figured out. Melissa shares how staying rooted in who you are, anchoring in your strengths, and saying yes to opportunities that stretch you can create momentum over time. We talk about authenticity in leadership, crea...

Former NFL Pro Bowler D’Brickashaw Ferguson shares the real story of life after football — the identity shift, the divorce, the uncertainty, and what it took to rebuild from the ground up. Brick went from open-heart surgery as a kid to a 10-year NFL career without missing a game. But after retirement, he had to face a different kind of pressure: figuring out who he is beyond the NFL. He tried mult...

This episode features Steve Koonin, CEO of the Atlanta Hawks and former executive at Coca-Cola and Turner. Our conversation goes beyond sports and business. We discuss how to handle change without losing your sense of self, how to build a career that lasts, and how to stay relevant as things keep changing. We cover guiding principles, transferable skills, reputation, leadership, adaptability, and...

DESCRIPTION: This episode features Al Parker, a Morgan Stanley Managing Director and one of Barron’s Top Wealth Managers, and the most accomplished junior tennis players ever. This conversation is not about tennis or finance. It is about how we adapt when the path we trained for changes, and how we decide who we want to become next.

Mayo Sowell’s journey is one of the most powerful examples of redemption, identity, and purpose you will ever hear. After an injury ended his football career, Mayo chased instant gratification, turned to fast money, and eventually faced major prison time. But what happened in that season reshaped his entire life. In this episode, we explore: • The identity crisis after sports • How “quick wins” ca...

Nate Hybl was a standout quarterback at Oklahoma and played in the NFL. When football ended, he found himself starting over with no clear plan that forced him to confront who he really was. That led him into restaurant kitchens to founding gusto!, a fast-casual brand built on energy, optimism, and life-giving food. We explore how identity, obsession, and a willingness to do unglamorous work can tu...

C. J. Stewart was drafted twice into Major League Baseball. While his big league playing career ended sooner than he hoped, he went on to coach more than forty major league players. He was chosen as the physical model for the Hank Aaron statue at Truist Park. We explore how structure, self-reflection, and exposure to new ideas shape the lives we are capable of building.

This episode is a masterclass in reinvention. Bonneau Ansley built a real estate empire, lost almost everything in the 2008 crash, and rebuilt it into one of the top luxury brokerages in the country. In this conversation, we explore how you turn setbacks into strategy, why betting on yourself is a real skill, and how treating people well becomes a competitive advantage.

This episode is a master class in entrepreneurship. Ryan Wilson went from Georgetown Law to co-founding The Gathering Spot, a private social club. He learned fast, asked for help, pitched relentlessly, and turned ninety-seven rejections into momentum to build community. Ryan talks about partnerships, leadership, acquisitions, reacquisitions, and building a team that can grow through change.

This episode features Josh Brooks, the University of Georgia Athletic Director. We explore how he transitioned from aspiring athlete to coach, to operations, and ultimately to leading one of the most successful college programs in the country. SUBSTACK NEWSLETTER

I’m bringing you a new podcast called Same Game, Different Turf. Here, we’ll unpack real stories and lessons from real leaders who have figured out how to navigate change in real time. Some are smooth transitions. Others are messy. All of them are honest. We’re all on the same team — let’s grow together. SUBSTACK NEWSLETTER