Ep. 177 - Tom Russo: In a Blink of an Eye

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Episode Summary:In today’s episode, we sit down with Tom Russo — a man whose journey spans countries, careers, and generations. Born in Ankara while his father served in the USAF, Tom grew up in the orbit of NASA’s missions and the discipline of professional bowling. After attending Texas Tech, he married his lifelong partner and spent 32 years rising through the banking world. Along the way, he ran a sports memorabilia store, owned a candy shop, hosted sports and business radio shows, and wrote a motivational book.

But retirement didn’t slow him down. Tom became a middle school history teacher and coach, discovered a new calling, and touched countless lives — until a medical issue forced him to retire again. Now, he’s building a brand new bank and still selling baseball cards.

This is a story about resilience, reinvention, service, and the power of staying curious.

Topics Covered:

* Growing up in a NASA household

* Lessons from an 82-year-old PBA professional bowler

* What 32 years in banking taught him

* Running a sports memorabilia shop & candy store

* Officiating high school football

* Teaching and coaching middle school

* The medical challenge that changed everything

* Forming a new bank in retirement

* Legacy, gratitude & identity

Perfect For:Listeners who love entrepreneurship, education, sports, leadership, and human stories about reinvention.

A Blink of an Eye podcast

Lemongello bowling story

Tom Russo’s book

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