Pivot Podcast

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Sometimes analysts need to separate the player from the person, and in this episode Ryan, Channing and Fred touch on how volatile perspectives of athletes can be.

In the previous podcast episode with Devin Hester on Tuesday, the guys discussed the importance of providing an environment for their guests to open up. By speaking on Devin’s courage and reflection, they mention how blessed they are to be trusted with the platform for athletes and entertainers to speak their truth. With an open and honest environment, Devin was able to touch on aspects of his journey that he has not been public about before.

Switching to trending headlines, Ryan references the importance of being an impartial football analyst who looks at the player instead of the person. With Deshaun Watson’s season-ending injury, they understand how easy it is to dwell on the negatives of people and blaming injuries on karma, but what if things are going well? Who do we credit then?

Should the same theory apply when talking about positive impact off the field? Joshua Dobbs’ rise the past few weeks is an example of overcoming initial perceptions, which Ryan dealt with throughout his career as an undrafted player, always having to prove the doubters wrong. Fred loves the heart that Josh has been playing with even though multiple teams have given up on him before this. On the other end of the quarterback spectrum, although Channing is a mama’s boy, he dislikes the idea that Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito is starting in NFL games and still living with his mom and doesn’t hold back his thoughts!!

The guys wrap up the episode talking the recent Draymond Green incident and the importance of fulfilling the enforcer role on his Warriors team but when is it too far or too much? Ryan and Fred have differing takes on this situation and share.

Whether it is Joshua Dobbs’ success story or the negative media light being shined on Draymond and Deshaun, Ryan, Channing and Fred know that these athletes are each under the microscope from the public. It’s a tough balance of Navigating the adversity while respecting public opinion but not living by it.

New episodes drop on Tuesdays at 12 p.m. ET and Fridays at 3:30 p.m ET on YouTube, with audio available on all streaming platforms including Apple, Spotify and Amazon.

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Devin Hester the NFL’s most prolific return specialist, historical Super Bowl kick return, journey to a gold jacket, Miami’s top 5 hurricanes & reveals a life-long lie he was embarrassed to share. Nov 14, 2023

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Most well known for his opening kick off touchdown return in Super Bowl XLI, Devin Hester carved a unique niche in football as a specialist who flew his way to the top of the history books. Hester played eight of his 11 NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears and is known as the most prolific return specialist in league history, he holds NFL records with 19 kick-return touchdowns, 14 punt-return TDs and 20 return touchdowns, which includes punts, kickoffs, missed field goals, fumbles and interceptions.

Growing up with turmoil and heartache as his father, who he never met until later in his childhood, battled an illness after being released from prison. In a difficult moment, Devin opens up sharing what the true cause of death was for his father after spending his life telling the world his dad passed away from cancer when in fact it wasn’t. The release of burden is heavy and the guys offer a sounding board.

One of the University of Miami’s standout players during his collegiate days, Devin talks about his choice of going to school there and the controversy surrounding his attendance and how his playing days shaped his career. Talking with Ryan, Channing and Fred, Devin names his top 5 NFL players with Hurricane roots.

Most thought, Hester would be a first ballot Hall of Famer, but Hester shares how he discovered he was the last one left off the golden list 2 years in a row but for him it’s no longer about the Hall of Fame it’s about the journey and never giving up after all the knock downs he had.

Premiere Episodes of The Pivot release every Tuesday at Noon est with special football drops on Fridays at 3:30p est!

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Chad Johnson most lovable guy? Talks Growth, Keith Lee, Deion, NFL & Losing It All Before Having It All Nov 10, 2023

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This show hits a little differently with us as Chad is someone who was our first guest we had on The Pivot when we started but more than that, he’s our brother, friend and a supporter since day one. Chad has walked the path with us first on the field through the wins and losses of football and then life after as we experienced the highs & lows and have all been tested at our peeks as humans. This conversation covers growth, family, careers and how things work out the way they are supposed to be even when they seem to be off track at first.

The vulnerability and raw emotion shares between Chad, Fred, Ryan and Channing resonates with us all as the men talk about how life humbles them when they least expect it and how the success they achieve now is often tested with more freedom and opportunities. The guys commend Chad that through his career and life he’s managed to uphold a positive persona and be one of the most liked people in sports.

Ryan starts the conversation bringing up the recent Keith Lee situation and how the first time he saw the majority of folks mad at Chad and the guys get into the story as Chad explains his perspective and why he said and felt what he did. Chad understands how difficult it is for men and women of culture to succeed and how any little thing can knock them down to a point where some can’t recover and he always tries to come from a place of building up not tearing down.

Talking about new age of coaching with Antonio Pierce’s role with the Raiders and how the post locker room celebrations shocked some, the guys discuss it was more about the team bond and fresh start than the actuality of winning a game. Switching over to talk about Deion and how the hype has slowly quieted as Colorado has not been winning and so many people are quick to call Deion a failure and the guys discuss why he could never been considered one and the impact he’s making with young people far surpasses his persona on and off the field.

Chad opens up about how he had to lose the things he loved most in order to understand he may be moving the wrong way and that when the train falls off the track it’s a humbling process but a necessary one. Having football end before Chad was ready to hang up his cleats has always been a tough point in his life but he attributes the events surrounding that time as his biggest teaching moment to get discipline back in his life.

Fred talks about losing loved ones and reflects on Chad losing his mom and how the recent passing of his grandma has impacted him as well.

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Shakur Stevenson, rising star in boxing, looks to become Champion in 3 different weight classes in bout vs De Los Santos November 16th. Nov 07, 2023

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Although young in age, Shakur's story starts long ago as he represented USA boxing in the Olympics and felt his first heartbreak as an athlete, a feeling he carries with him today to guide his approach to the sport he loves. He opens up to Ryan, Channing and Fred on how that experience shaped him and something he considers the biggest pivot in his life because it taught him what he never wanted to experience again. Extremely confident and outspoken, Shakur has chosen to allow his work in the ring to do the talking for him and lives by a motto of never backing down from anyone.

Being mentored by some of the sport's greatest to fight, Andre Ward, Bud Crawford and Floyd Mayweather...Shakur has his sights set on becoming a legend and enshrined in boxing history as one of the best to ever do it. Understanding and prioritizing that training is all year round and being disciplined all the time, not just fight time, is one major takeaway Shakur has modeled his career after from his mentors. Having a marketing component is also his edge as he continues to build his super star status in the sport, recently signing a mega deal with Adidas, amassing a large social media following and working with entertainment A-listers Drake and managed by J Prince.

His upcoming championship fight is a defining one, but it's also necessary for Shakur to dominate his opponent in order to attract the bigger name fights of Gervontaa Davis and Devin Haney's of the sport, Shakur is not shy on speaking up that he is ready for these mega fights and believes he is the best fighter in the sport.

As a young father, Shakur talks about how having a daughter has changed him and motivated him even more, pushing him to be a winner but also a good man. Shakur's title bout vs De Los Santos kicks of F1 week in Las Vegas and is set for Thursday November 16, 2023 on ESPN, The Pivot Podcast releases premiere episodes every Tuesday with audio available at 9AMest and streaming on YouTube at 12PMest. Fridays are special drops during football season at 3:30pest.

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NFL Picks, Pippen Jordan, Only Fans, Harden & I Am “Not” Athlete Nov 03, 2023

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Business is business and family is family, but with The Pivot the two go hand in hand.

While on the road traveling, the guys sit down for a personal conversation about life happenings.

With the unfortunate passing of Fred’s grandmother, the guys prioritize doing a check in with him as his grandmother was instrumental in his upbringing and the heart of his family. Fred has always been vocal about the place his grandmother held and we know the loss of someone close to us is never easy.

Coming together in Austin, TX with our friends at Draft Kings and brothers at All The Smoke, we were preparing for the opportunity to take part in a panel discussion about business, owning our own content, second acts in life, controlling our narrative and legacy.

Part of having our own platform, earning respect and garnering success through our efforts, doesn’t always mean it’s an easy street because it does come with outside noise and sometimes taking the high road only takes us so far. We are all human so hearing false narratives and half truths become frustrating. Ryan, Channing and Fred address the Brandon Marshall comments and do their best to respond in facts rather emotion.

Relationships can often be complicated whether it’s in business, friendship or romantic ones- but guys talk about how as long as you are your true self and act in the best interest of others then you move with good intentions. Channing talks about showing the faults or “crumbs” as he says is the only way you really know if you are dealing with the right person and can’t be afraid to show people who you really are.

Excited for friend and former teammate Antonio Pierce for being named Interim Head Coach of The Las Vegas Raiders, the guys talk about the immediate respect shown for him from the locker room and excited to see what he does against his former team the Giants this Sunday.

Guys also talk about former NBA player Joe Smith and finding out about his wife’s Only Fans page as they weigh in and share their thoughts for the entire situation and what reactions are warranted or expected if this is indeed true that he didn’t know. Also discuss James Harden’s legacy and the possible Pippen Jordan wedding and what it would mean for the two infamous last names!

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Charles Woodson, Heisman Winner to NFL Hall of Fame. A Super Bowl Champ playing 18 years for Raiders and Packers, strength from being raised by a single mother, & his thoughts on Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan football controversy. Oct 31, 2023

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One of football’s most decorated players at the professional and collegiate levels, Woodson played 18 seasons in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers, racking up a list of accolades including Super Bowl XLV champion, 2009 Defensive Player of the Year, 1998 Defensive Rookie of the Year and the 2015 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021, his first year on the ballot, and enshrined in Canton that August.

Ryan starts the conversation off by quoting Charles on an important message that he shared during his Hall of Fame speech, and asking the significance of the line, "They say a woman can’t raise a man, I call bullcrap, because my mom raised two men." Charles shares why it was important for him to put that message out to the world and let him serve as proof that strong men can be raised in single mother households and talks about his own experience of being raised by his mother and how his work ethic and his will to never give up is all from watching his mom and the values she instilled in him. As hard as the NFL is and as many ups and downs, injuries, bad days and the days that make you want to walk away, Charles always remained grounded by his mother's efforts and life approach which he used to sustain his own success. Channing doesn't miss a moment in poking a little fun at Charles' singing comparing him to Demarcus Ware's recent performance, as Charles chose to sing a tribute for his mother at his Hall of Fame induction which gives the guys some material for a fun conversation.

Prior to his professional career, Woodson was a two-time All-American at Michigan and led the Wolverines to an undefeated season and national championship in 1997, the same year he became the only individual to win the Heisman Trophy while playing on both sides of the ball. Fred asks about playing with Tom Brady during those years at college and what type of player he was then and the difference in Brady during the early years vs becoming one of the best to ever play in the NFL. With all the surrounding controversy around Michigan football today, Woodson remains loyal to the program and doesn't find any foul play with the information he is aware of that's gone on.

Woodson goes on to talk about his own NFL career and later on playing against his college teammate sharing how a day doesn't go by where someone doesn't ask him about the infamous loss to Brady in the 2002 postseason, where Charles sacked Tom who fumbled to seal the win for the Raiders yet, it was overturned due to the "Tuck rule" and the Patriots went onto win. A moment that haunted Woodson for years which is why winning the Super Bowl with Green Bay Packers meant so much to him later on in his NFL tenure. Talking about how some of the greatest cornerbacks are often compared to Woodson, he reiterates how and why people view him as one of the greatest defensive players to step on the field with no argument on this from Ryan, Fred or Channing as they reiterate Woodson's achievements and go on to say that he himself often looks back at some of the things he did, and can't believe he did it either.

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Pivot’s Hot Takes, WK 8 NFL picks, Brady Quinn’s comments on Deshaun Watson, Dwight Howard & first date no gos! Oct 27, 2023

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As authentic voices of media on various shows weekly, Ryan understands his responsibility when analyzing sports and how to approach certain situations as it’s important to him to always talk about the player and the production not the athlete as a person or their intentions. Channing agrees it comes with a certain level of people weighing in where Fred feels new media is so different now compared to days when they played and it was just about numbers, production and results. In recent social media banter, Former QB Brady Quinn made a statement trying to be slick about QB Deshaun Watson’s play on the field using his off the field issues as a way to describe it. Ryan and Channing feel it was completely uncalled for in the way to take shots while Fred says it should never come to that when talking about a player who you don’t know the real reasons production on the field.

Transitioning into another topic of talk, The guys speak about the recent public news of Dwight Howard and legal implications of personal relationships as well as his private relationships being revealed. Although not a huge surprise of sexual relationships with men, it is still something he didn’t voluntarily share with the world but became revealed through other ways, now under the microscope for allegations of sexual assault and battery. Channing says how it doesn’t matter what someone does in their private life or with who, as long as it’s legal and not of forced. Ryan says how it’s normal and accepted in society where as in it’s still new and unfamiliar to talk about in locker rooms.

Wrapping the show on a lighter fun note, the guys dive into the popular topic of dos and donts of first date places to go…and you already know how Channing feels but it’s definitely a part of the conversation not to miss!

New episodes drop on Tuesdays at 12 p.m. ET and Fridays at 3:30 p.m ET on YouTube, with audio available on main streaming platforms including Apple, Spotify and Amazon.

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NE-YO, 3x Grammy Award Winner, biggest hits, writing for Beyonce & Rihanna, perception over reality, finding peace in the public eye and fatherhood Oct 24, 2023

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The king of R&B, known for his love songs and timeless hits, Ne-Yo sits with Ryan, Fred and Channing for in-depth conversation about music, family, fatherhood and finding balance in the public eye, Trying to emulate the R&B legend, Ryan is singing his music to start the show as the guys all get a laugh talking about wardrobe choices, in particular Ryan's so-called R&B outfit and lightening the tone before diving into the deep layers of who Ne-Yo is as a person and wildly talented artist.

Dating back to how his career started, how it took off and how he has been able to maintain his level of excellence and always staying motivated, Ne-Yo talks about how it's not just producing and performing his own music but it's relishing the power of his pen by writing some of the biggest hits for Rihanna to Beyonce to Usher and more. Understanding success comes with living under a microscope, Ne-Yo explains how he's navigated the waters all these years and being able to tune out the opinions of others while putting his faith in himself and his family to validate his work. Channing makes the joke about how females expect Ne-Yo to be the guy singing and writing those love songs in his actual relationships and asks if there is pressure to be that character over his everyday persona.

Out of all the accolades and #1 hits, he shares his biggest accomplishment is being a father and will always put his children first before anything else. He clears the air on misconceptions of him in his personal life and opens up on what life is really like away from the music. Despite being separated from his children's mothers, Ne-Yo has managed to maintain co-parenting duties and understands the importance of a family upbringing. Ne-Yo shares with the guys how he grew up in house full of women with his mother, sisters, aunts which he credits for helping to shape him into the man he is today,

Ne-Yo reflects on his biggest Pivot which he remembers clearly how a long time ago when he first started doing signings at a record store, a young man came up to him and thanked him for saving his life with is music and how the guy was struggling mentally wanting to take his own life, and something in the lyrics and flow of Ne-Yo's music, the young man found comfort and

Most recently, over the summer, Ne-Yo headlined President Biden's July 4th concert at the White House, 24 hours after performing a private celebration at Michael Rubin's Hampton's event with exclusive guests form Kim Kardashian, Beyonce, Jay Z, Tom Brady, Kevin Hart, Leonardo DiCaprrio and many more. Ne-Yo just released his brand-new single "Link Up" which will be featured on his 9th album coming out in 2024.

The Pivot Podcast releases premiere episodes every Tuesday with audio available at 9aest and streaming on YouTube at 12pest. Fridays are special drops during football season at 3:30pest.

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Actor & Rapper Joey BadA$$ reflects on his journey of Arts, NY roots, ImpactMENtorship & black love Oct 20, 2023

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Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott known by his stage name as Joey Badass, has created a brand for himself as a musician, actor and philanthropist hoping to inspire young people not just of similar backgrounds and culture but everyone. Ryan, Channing and Fred sit with Joey in admiration of what he's accomplished at a young age and encouraged by his philosophy and approach to everyday life through his work and commitment to give back to younger people. Being fans of his work, the guys really hone in on his success and how for being so young, he has such an old wise soul.

A native of Brooklyn, Joey talks about how from a young age the NY greats Biggie and Jay Z were two of the men who had a strong influence on him and how trying to be extensions of their approach really shaped the artist he wanted to be. Believing that music is one the most powerful forces in the world next to love, Joey has intentionally wrote lyrics and created a style of music that can try to change people's perspective the other way and not glorify the streets and growing up in a way that holds young people of color back rather, he encourages them to break down the barriers and soar to new levels.

Through all the music, shows, performances Joey has been a part of, one of his most proud accomplishments is creating the ImpactMENtorship program for men of all color to have an opportunity to shadow and receive guidance from people who started with similar goals and aspirations as himself. Joey makes it clear, he may not care about a lot of things but he cares about what's important and what's ultimately affecting our children and next generation is extremely important to him.

In an open discussion about life, trials and tribulations, Joey reveals how he first turned down acting roles not to fall into a certain niche of only playing roles that glorify the streets, he explains why he felt he was ready to embark on his acting journey and how he embraced the role of Unique in Power Book III: Raising Kanan which elevated him to be considered one of the more respected in the industry.

Starting his career at a young age, Joey has had many experiences and Being a father and empowering black love through his own relationship, he hopes to inspire other men and women of color to embrace the same. Dating actress, Serayah, Joey expands on their relationship in the public eye and how he's ok with it being out there to show his respect and appreciation for black love.

Ryan asks with all he's accomplished at such a young age, what's the end goal and Joey shares his hopes and how his biggest Pivot in life was about putting himself first and how that has changed his life forever in ways he can't even quantify with words. Premiere episodes of The Pivot release every Tuesday at 12PMet and special episodes release every Friday at 3:330pm est.

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Drew Robinson, former MLB player, attempted suicide with a self inflicted gun shot and lived to tell his story 20 hours after he shot himself & now sharing his story to help others. Oct 17, 2023

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