Stay ConnectedGet inspired to make your next big jump by hearing the stories of professional athletes who have reinvented themselves to create success beyond sports.
Join host David Gardner, a former pro basketball player turned award-winning branding firm founder, as he leverages his emotional intelligence training to unpack the human side behind the most inspiring reinventions
The underdog South Central LA native attended Beverly Hills High School via a permit, the start of an unlikely story that inspired the CW television Series "All American.” But the against-all-odds nature of Spencer Paysinger’s (@pysngr) story didn't end there.
The undrafted rookie won a Super Bowl with the NY Giants in the season following a heartbreaking loss on a last second field goal with Oregon in their first ever national championship game.
With a goal to leave the NFL before age 30, Spencer taught himself screenwriting as an escape from football – a hobby that would lead him to pitch the premise for the television series “All American,” inspired by his life story, which was green lit, and debuts in primetime less than ten months after the 7-year NFL linebacker hung up his cleats.
On this episode, you’ll hear the behind the scenes underdog account of Spencer’s incredible and inspiring story of how he made his big jump from the NFL to Hollywood.
Episode Webpage
Show notes, links to people mentioned, guest social media links, and behind-the-scenes photos are available at:
www.thebigjumpshow.com/episodes/spencer-paysinger
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The cult favorite author vulnerably discusses the ups and down of his big jump from pro hoops player to author and writer’s workshop space founder. Season Two kicks off with Paul Shirley, who began his writing career while playing in The NBA for the league-best Phoenix Suns, writing on their blog about his experience on the team as it unfolded throughout the 2004-05 season.
In 2018 we often see players giving fans a behind-the-scenes online account in real-time, but in the pre-social media world that Paul was writing during, it was unheard of – and Paul may have been the first to do it. And in doing so helped pave the way for players to share more of themselves and their experience, thoughts, and ideas directly with fans.
You’ll hear Paul’s insane rollercoaster of basketball rosters playing for about a dozen teams between the NBA and teams overseas and more about that Phoenix Suns blog which led to his first hit book Can I Keep My Jersey, which was then adapted and made into a TV pilot. All of this while playing pro basketball.
Guest Info
Paul believes his dual identity as a player/writer actually made him less desirable to teams during his decade-long pro basketball career, but ultimately being first to be a player/writer launched his pro writing career, which has included writing for Slate, The Wall Street Journal, and Esquire, in addition to the books he’s authored included his latest release Stories I Tell On Dates.
Show Notes
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The hidden thing that holds us back from writing our own story, host David Gardner presents the idea of “Invisible Box Syndrome." Rather than the usual interview format where Host David Gardner sits down with a pro athlete who has created success beyond sports, this a Solo Episode – or a if you prefer a “Solosode.”
If you’re thinking about making your next big jump, this episode is for you. It answers the question “what holds us back from reinventing ourselves and writing our own story?”
And what holds people back, the reinvention killer – is actually ourselves. So this episode is really about you.
There’s something that we all do – but we’re blind to it – it’s invisible to us – what David calls “Invisible Box Syndrome.”
This episode discusses how to beat “Invisible Box Syndrome” and will help anyone who wants to spark their next big jump.
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Olympic gold winner turned doctor in residence, the Stanford standout “The Buehldozer" gives a behind-the-scenes account of her big jump from the soccer field to the medical field that saw sitting in her first medical school class less than 24 hours after taking off her professional jersey for the last time. In episode 6 of The Big Jump, David and Rachel talk the “Buehldozer,” Disney music, and her incredible 24 hour transition from professional soccer to medical school orientation. From inspiring the next generation of female soccer players to following her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor, Rachel opens up about her double life as a professional athlete and high-level academic.
Guest Info
As a three-year captain of the Stanford soccer team, two-time Olympic gold medal winner, and World Cup silver medalist, Rachel Buehler van Hollebeke won hearts as the “Buehldozer.” However, Rachel has always kept her dream of being a doctor alive. After retiring from professional soccer in 2015, Rachel has returned home to San Diego as a medical student at the University of San Diego School of Medicine. Now in her third year of medical studies, Rachel is considering a career in either family medicine or OB-GYN.
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NFL concussion effects to startup investor identity creation, Ryan Mundy opens up about his big jump. With a Superbowl win and eight seasons in the NFL under his belt, Ryan Mundy has made his big jump from professional football to the tech investing world. From tackling offensive linebackers to launching his own venture capital firm, Mundy is more than just an athlete. In episode five of The Big Jump, Mundy and David talk helmets, concussions, tech, and transitions.
Guest Info
A former safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, and Chicago Bears, Ryan Mundy has since transitioned from the NFL to the tech world. Mundy completed his MBA while still in the NFL and now runs his own tech investing firm, Techlete Ventures. From the NFL to the business world, Ryan is now a one-man venture capitalist, focusing on cryptocurrency and blockchain.
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“Shut up and dribble” is discussed by the current NBA player and former Duke champion who defies convention with his myriad off-court business pursuits he’s embarking upon during the prime of his NBA career. Mason Plumlee, one of three Plumlee brothers in the NBA. From using Outlier Theory to understand Mason’s success as a middle child to recognizing the need to pursue interests off the court, David and Mason discuss Mason’s journey into the NBA and the future transitions that will inevitably result.
Guest Info
A National Champion at Duke University who currently plays for the Denver Nuggets, Mason Plumlee ranks within the top third of NBA players. Plumlee’s success follows him off the court as he engages in various pursuits from his webshow and rap videos to investing in aloe water, and real estate. A native of Indiana, Plumlee enjoys traveling and adapting the reflective perspective that results from world travel.
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Post-Olympic depression is discussed by the 2x silver medalist and she opens up about her journey of making her big jump from the Olympics to Silicon Valley. An example of incremental growth and triumph, Christine gets real with David about the realities of post-Olympic depression and adapting to life beyond professional sports. From swimming laps against the clock to diving headfirst and fast into the corporate world, Christine reveals how she transitioned from a momentous career in professional swimming to making it in Silicon Valley.
Guest Info
With two Olympic medals from the 2008 Beijing games and seven years on the U.S. National Team, Christine Magnuson made quite the splash in professional swimming. A native of Tinley Park, IL, Christine has since relocated to Silicon Valley to work as a Solutions Engineer in the tech industry.
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The contagiously energetic, vulnerable, champion’s mindset that fuels Brooks Laich (@brookslaich) as he figures out his next move in Hollywood alongside his wife Julianne Hough, fresh off of his 13-year NHL career.
Guest Info
A Canadian native, Brooks Laich started playing professional hockey on the NHL circuit when he was 19. In his 14 year long NHL career, Brooks became known for his passion and discipline. Now, Brooks is an avid crossfit athlete and humanitarian, helping people in need through his and his wife’s charity, Love United.
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Who knew?! A rare interview reveals a budding business empire, wise emotional depth, and a youth world swimming title – check what you think you knew about Kris Humphries (@krishumphries) at the door, because there’s much more than meets the eye.
The episode covers topics Kris doesn’t normally touch and rest assured that you’ve never heard Kris quite like this before. From being voted the “Most Hated NBA Player,” to being banned from buying Range Rovers, to being the #1 youth swimmer in the world, the interview reveals the human side of Kris – and it’s likely not what you expect.
The interview goes in-depth on how he quietly built a budding business empire during his NBA career: from hundreds of apartment units, to Five Guys burger franchise locations, to trading cryptocurrency, his astute nose for business than began while helping his dad with stock trades as a kid shines through.
Host David Gardner, a pro basketball player turned founder of branding firm ColorJar, and Kris Humphries were high school teammates in Minnesota at Hopkins High School and their longtime friendship results in an open and revealing conversation that includes behind-the-scenes accounts of Kris’ story never heard before.
This isn’t a podcast about drama or gossip, but we’ve all been labeled, all been put in a box, and there is something for all of us to learn from Kris' approach to creating his own identity from within, an identity that originates from an intrinsically motivated place – one that stays true to who you are and how you’ve become who you are, even during times of intense scrutiny and pressure.
So check what you think you might know about Kris at the door, because in this episode you are getting the real Kris, the Kris that most of the world has never seen.
Episode Webpage
Show notes, links to people mentioned, guest social media links, and behind-the-scenes photos are available at www.thebigjumpshow.com/episodes/kris-humphries
Sponsors
Thank you to GRAND VOYAGE, GQ says "they’re changing the fashion game” with their leather street shoes and luxury bags – designed in LA and made in Italy. Get $35 off at www.thebigjumpshow.com/shoes
Thank you to AUDIBLE, for when you need a break from podcasts, new members can start off their account on Audible with a FREE AUDIOBOOK. Just go to www.thebigjumpshow.com/audiobook
Fueled by a mission to inspire your next big jump, this podcast is about human reinvention – featuring professional athletes who have leveraged their athletic minds to create success beyond sports.
Join host David Gardner, a professional basketball player turned CEO of branding firm ColorJar, as he shares interviews with professional athletes that uncover their challenging and surprising transitions.
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