In part two of their conversation with male breast cancer advocate Jake Messier, Rob and Jessica dig into the naming debate — should breast cancer even be called breast cancer if the word itself keeps men from getting checked? Jake pushes back on the idea of rebranding, arguing that softening the language only deepens the stigma, while making the case that a simple line in sixth grade health class could eventually save thousands of lives. From self-exam reality checks to the story of a doctor who refused to screen a man for breast cancer in 2024, this episode is a candid look at how far awareness still has to go.

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Former Marine and marketing executive Jake Messier was 52 years old when he discovered a lump and waited months before getting checked — because, like most men, it never crossed his mind that breast cancer was something he needed to worry about. Now a stage four patient and one of the most visible advocates for male breast cancer awareness, Jake opens up about the isolation, stigma, and systemic blind spots that make this diagnosis uniquely devastating for men. From being turned away from support groups to becoming the first male patient featured in a Susan G. Komen national campaign, his story is a master class in turning personal crisis into a movement.

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In part two of our conversation with Kevin McNee, the story gets personal. From pitching at Georgetown and Brookdale to blowing out his arm on a pro day with 30 MLB scouts watching, Kevin's baseball journey was defined as much by setbacks as by talent. Add two more Tommy John surgeries, a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis on the eve of a Red Sox workout, and a torn Achilles while training with his own kid — and you've got a masterclass in refusing to quit.

But Kevin didn't just survive the grind. He took it to Austria, coaching and playing baseball in a cornfield on the side of an Alpine mountain, where he also met his wife. He parlayed that experience into a career in finance, landing one of 30 spots at a European investment bank out of 10,000 applicants — and eventually channeling everything he'd learned into co-building Guest Player Connect.

Rob and Jessica dig into what actually keeps you moving forward when life isn't giving you a Rudy moment, and Kevin shares where Guest Player Connect is headed next — from six states to Florida, Cooperstown, Puerto Rico, and beyond.

To learn more or sign up for an event, visit guestplayerconnect.com.

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