• The reality behind high-level success and hidden sacrifices
• Why “work-life balance” is a myth—and what to focus on instead
• The concept of work-life rhythm and how to navigate it
• Mental health in leadership and why it can’t be ignored
• How to recognize when you (or someone else) is struggling
• Shanti's RAP framework: Recognize, Acknowledge, Process
• Building your “starting five” support system
• The power of saying no and protecting your peace
• Turning pain into purpose through Silence the Shame

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 elite football player, to suffering a career-ending neck injury in the NFL, to rebuilding through broadcasting, speaking, writing, and family life. Our conversation is full of perspective for anyone navigating change.

We talk about what it really means to be great where you’re at, how to stay present instead of living in the rearview mirror, how to grow through adversity, and why some of life’s hardest moments can shape you into the strongest version of yourself. David also opens up about faith, his wife’s battle with brain cancer, parenting, personal discipline, leadership, and the mindset behind his book Every Day Counts.

This is a conversation about more than football. It’s about purpose, suffering, grit, service, and how to respond when life changes faster than you expected.

In this episode, we discuss:

* David Pollack’s journey from Georgia football to the NFL

* The mindset that helped him become great after changing positions multiple times

* What happened after his broken neck ended his NFL career

* Transitioning from pro sports to local radio and eventually ESPN

* Why feedback, accountability, and self-evaluation matter

* How faith shaped the way he handled adversity and uncertainty

* Lessons from his wife’s brain cancer journey

* The message behind his book Every Day Counts

* Parenting, youth sports, resilience, and letting kids own their journey

* What success looks like now in speaking, media, and life

If you’re in a season of transition, rebuilding, leadership, loss, or growth, this episode will challenge and encourage you.

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders, athletes, founders, and high performers navigating life and career transitions on Same Game Different Turf.

#DavidPollack #SameGameDifferentTurf #NFL #GeorgiaFootball #Faith #Resilience #Leadership #Mindset #PersonalGrowth #EveryDayCounts #CareerTransition #Adversity #SportsPodcast #Motivation #SuccessMindset

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 yourself in rooms where you may feel different.

In this conversation:

• The work ethic lessons that shaped her growing up in Ohio • How mentorship helped launch her career in marketing • Early career experiences at Procter & Gamble • Navigating imposter syndrome and authenticity in leadership • Why marketing is really about understanding people • How brand strategy drives business growth • Lessons from leading across multiple industries • Building alignment and vision as a C-suite executive • Balancing motherhood and executive leadership • The evolving meaning of purpose and success

This episode is a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, motherhood, career development, and building brands that last.

• Why loving the process matters more than chasing the exit
• How credibility gives you leverage in rooms most people feel intimidated in
• The risk of building a business you don’t control
• When to pivot from selling other brands to owning your own
• Why the grind never really stops, and why that is a good thing

If this episode resonated, subscribe and share it with someone navigating their own transition.

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 navigating rooms where you are the first or one of the only. Her story highlights the intersection of identity, leadership, and career growth, and how cultural heritage shapes confidence, drive, and purpose.

This conversation explores career transitions, imposter syndrome, and how to design your own path without sacrificing your values. Mariangela shares how she learned to trust herself, find evidence of her wins, and redefine what “having it all” means as a woman in leadership. Rather than choosing between ambition and family, career and culture, she demonstrates how alignment across seasons creates sustainable success.

We also talk about purpose-driven work, giving back to the community, and how leadership in the nonprofit sector can create meaningful impact beyond titles. This episode is for anyone navigating leadership development, cultural identity, career advancement, or the pressure to succeed while staying true to who you are.

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 multiple careers, the messy in-between, and ultimately finding purpose in nursing in oncology, where every day brings new perspective.

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 the habits that help us keep moving forward.