Same Game Different Turf

This episode features Melissa Proctor, Chief Marketing Officer of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena.
Our conversation centers on navigating transition without having everything figured out. Melissa shares how staying rooted in who you are, anchoring in your strengths, and saying yes to opportunities that stretch you can create momentum over time.
We talk about authenticity in leadership, creativity as a competitive advantage, and why growth often comes from unglamorous yeses long before titles or certainty appear. Melissa’s journey reminds us that clarity is rarely the starting point. Commitment, curiosity, and alignment are.
This episode is for anyone navigating change, stepping into new roles, or learning how to build a career that reflects who they actually are rather than who they think they’re supposed to be.
 
 

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.

DESCRIPTION: This episode features Al Parker, a Morgan Stanley Managing Director and one of Barron’s Top Wealth Managers, and the most accomplished junior tennis players ever. This conversation is not about tennis or finance. It is about how we adapt when the path we trained for changes, and how we decide who we want to become next.

Mayo Sowell’s journey is one of the most powerful examples of redemption, identity, and purpose you will ever hear. After an injury ended his football career, Mayo chased instant gratification, turned to fast money, and eventually faced major prison time. But what happened in that season reshaped his entire life.
In this episode, we explore:
• The identity crisis after sports• How “quick wins” can destroy long-term purpose• The wake-up call that hit in a jail cell• Finding God in the darkest environments• Rebuilding identity through humility• Learning what truly drives you• Stepping into your calling rather than escaping it
If you're navigating transition, questioning your purpose, or trying to overcome your past, this conversation will help you take a meaningful step forward.

Nate Hybl was a standout quarterback at Oklahoma and played in the NFL. When football ended, he found himself starting over with no clear plan that forced him to confront who he really was.
That led him into restaurant kitchens to founding gusto!, a fast-casual brand built on energy, optimism, and life-giving food. We explore how identity, obsession, and a willingness to do unglamorous work can turn a hard transition into a meaningful new chapter.

C. J. Stewart was drafted twice into Major League Baseball. While his big league playing career ended sooner than he hoped, he went on to coach more than forty major league players. He was chosen as the physical model for the Hank Aaron statue at Truist Park. We explore how structure, self-reflection, and exposure to new ideas shape the lives we are capable of building.

This episode is a masterclass in reinvention. Bonneau Ansley built a real estate empire, lost almost everything in the 2008 crash, and rebuilt it into one of the top luxury brokerages in the country. In this conversation, we explore how you turn setbacks into strategy, why betting on yourself is a real skill, and how treating people well becomes a competitive advantage.

This episode is a master class in entrepreneurship. Ryan Wilson went from Georgetown Law to co-founding The Gathering Spot, a private social club. He learned fast, asked for help, pitched relentlessly, and turned ninety-seven rejections into momentum to build community. Ryan talks about partnerships, leadership, acquisitions, reacquisitions, and building a team that can grow through change.

This episode features Josh Brooks, the University of Georgia Athletic Director. We explore how he transitioned from aspiring athlete to coach, to operations, and ultimately to leading one of the most successful college programs in the country.
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