Same Game Different Turf

Former NFL player and Cosm CEO Jeb Terry talks about what happens when you find new ways to stay close to your dream.
 
After injuries and being released from the NFL, Jeb went back to business school and could have taken a traditional route into finance at Goldman Sachs. Instead, he took a risk and built his first startup to stay close to sports, connect with athletes, and rethink the fan experience. That decision eventually led to selling the company to Fox, where he gained new experiences in sports, media, and technology that helped him connect the dots to build Cosm.
 
We talk about why you can't fear failure but still have to hate losing, the importance of enduring long enough to figure things out, building great teams, maintaining relationships, and why some of the people Jeb met nearly a decade ago are helping Cosm succeed today.
 
One of the biggest things that stood out to me is that Jeb couldn't have mapped out where he is today when football ended. But each chapter gave him a skill, relationship, or perspective that became valuable in the next one.
 
Our conversation navigates:
• Why you can't fear failure, but still have to hate losing• Accepting when one chapter is over and finding somewhere new to apply your drive• Why the ability to endure is one of the most valuable traits an entrepreneur can have• Building a startup when you don't have all the answers• How relationships built years earlier can create opportunities you could never predict• Building a high-performing team like an NFL roster• Why great leaders give people the tools to perform and then get out of the way• The idea behind Cosm and what it took to turn it into reality• Why thinking big and actually executing big are two completely different things• Cosm's ambition to redefine the fan experience around the world
 
Subscribe for more conversations with athletes, entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders navigating what comes next.

Elly Karamoh saw the world differently long before he became the stylist behind some of entertainment’s biggest names.
Growing up outside Paris, Elly was the kid studying fashion shows, red carpets, music videos, and the evolution of stars while everyone around him viewed him as different. Elly moved to Atlanta as a teen who couldn’t communicate because he couldn’t speak English.
Today, Elly communicates in perfect English while helping to reshape the image of Steve Harvey and working with names including Lori Harvey, Kelly Rowland, Busta Rhymes, Mary J. Blige, Khloé Kardashian, and more.
In this episode of Same Game, Different Turf, Elly shares how observation became education, education became obsession, and obsession eventually created opportunity. We talk about the confidence required to remain yourself when you don't fit in, his approach to reinventing Steve Harvey without losing what made Steve iconic, and why great style is about understanding someone's identity and helping the world see them differently.
Elly also opens up about handling criticism, resisting the pressure to rush success, staying present instead of constantly worrying about what's next, and why he believes being great requires studying the greats and being willing to "apply pressure."
In this conversation:
Growing up around fashion and culture in Paris
Moving to Atlanta without speaking English
Learning to become comfortable being different
Turning isolation into education and obsession
How confidence develops through knowing yourself
Getting the opportunity to style Steve Harvey
The thinking behind Steve Harvey's fashion reinvention
Why great styling enhances someone's identity instead of replacing it
Creating range and longevity instead of chasing one great look
Styling men and women at the highest level
Why Elly continues going to Paris Fashion Week for inspiration
Handling criticism when your work is always under scrutiny
Why you shouldn't rush your journey because other people think your moment will disappear
Staying authentic as success and visibility grow
Why Elly believes the picture matters
Watch and listen to the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
 
Subscribe to Same Game, Different Turf for more conversations about the people, experiences, and transitions.

Former NFL Pro Bowler and No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick Ronnie Brown joins Same Game Different Turf to discuss what happens after achieving the dream you've worked toward your entire life.
 
From growing up in a small Georgia town to starring at Auburn and spending 10 seasons in the NFL, Ronnie shares what it was like navigating success, identity, and the transition into a completely different career as a financial advisor. We discuss purpose after sports, imposter syndrome, financial literacy, relationships, mentorship, and why the skills that make someone successful on the field can translate into success anywhere.
 
This conversation isn't just for athletes. It's for anyone navigating change, pursuing a second chapter, or wondering whether they can become great more than once.
 
In this episode:
* Why becoming great doesn't have to happen only once
* The identity shift after leaving professional sports
* $187 to a $19.5 Million Signing Bonus
* Transitioning from the NFL to financial advising
* Why purpose matters more than titles
* Building wealth and changing financial habits
* The power of mentors, teammates, and relationships
* Why mastering the fundamentals creates long-term success
* How athletes can prepare for life after sports
* Raising kids through sports without losing the joy
* Nobody Prepares You for the End
* Don't Fear of Your Own Greatness
 
#RonnieBrown #LifeAfterTheNFL #AuburnFootball #FinancialLiteracy ##CareerTransition #AthleteTransition #WealthBuilding #SelfDevelopment

This episode features Frank Brown, CEO of Communities In Schools of Atlanta, one of the nation's leading organizations focused on helping students overcome the barriers that prevent them from succeeding in school and in life.
 
Frank's story is one of education, relationships, and purpose. Growing up in a single-parent household in Charleston, South Carolina, Frank’s brother was sentenced to 15 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter after killing his stepfather. Same house. Same parents. Similar upbringing. Yet their lives took very different paths.
Frank discusses how he experienced firsthand how one opportunity completely changed the trajectory of his life. That opportunity led him to college, law school, Capitol Hill, and ultimately to leading one of Atlanta's most impactful nonprofit organizations. 
 
We discuss why relationships often matter more than talent, how education can alter the course of an entire family, what it takes to lead through complexity, and why solving generational problems requires long-term commitment instead of quick fixes.
 
Themes from this episode:
How one opportunity can change an entire life
The power of education to break generational cycles
Why relationships compound over a lifetime
Growing up in a single-parent household
Leadership lessons from Capitol Hill
Building trust before creating change
The hidden barriers preventing students from succeeding
Why nonprofit leadership should operate like a business
Data, accountability, and measuring impact
Mentorship and changing the trajectory of young lives
Leading with purpose instead of ego
Developing future leaders
Building organizations that outlast you
Why service is one of the highest forms of leadership
Creating pathways to the American Dream
 
Subscribe for more conversations exploring leadership, resilience, purpose, and the transitions that shape extraordinary lives.

This episode features Justin Anthony, founder of Yebo Beach Haus, Lion's Head Private Club, and several of Atlanta's most recognized hospitality concepts.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Justin's life revolved around soccer. From the age of six, he knew he wanted to become a professional player and spent years pursuing that dream. But after a serious knee injury changed the trajectory of his career, he was forced to confront one of the hardest realities athletes face: what happens when the identity you've built your life around begins to disappear?
What followed was a journey of reinvention. Justin went from professional athlete to waiting tables, learning the hospitality business from the ground up before opening the first South African restaurant in America. Over the next three decades, he built a hospitality empire rooted in authenticity, service, resilience, and a willingness to evolve.
This conversation explores transitions, humility, entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience, and what it takes to build a meaningful second chapter when life doesn't go according to plan.
Themes from this episode:
Navigating life after sports
The identity challenges athletes face after retirement
Why humility is essential for long-term success
Learning a new industry from the ground up
Building the first South African restaurant in America
Entrepreneurship, risk, and betting on yourself
Ownership versus letting others control your future
Leadership and building high-performing teams
Knowing when to persist and when to pivot
Growing through adversity and uncertainty
Lessons from COVID and leading through crisis
The power of authenticity in business and life
Building culture through hospitality
Why success looks different at every stage of life
The connection between athletics and entrepreneurship
Watch and listen: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Subscribe for more conversations exploring transitions, leadership, resilience, and building a meaningful life beyond the labels we place on ourselves.

From the 1996 Olympics to OutKast, TLC, Usher, Pink, Babyface, T.I., Nike, and Adidas, DL Warfield has spent decades helping shape culture through art and creativity.
In this episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with fine artist and creative director DL Warfield to discuss creativity, resilience, authenticity, relationships, and what it takes to build a career that stands the test of time.
DL shares stories from designing the Olympic album cover, working with some of the biggest names in music, staying culturally relevant across multiple decades, and why approaching creativity like an athlete helped him sustain success.
This conversation is a reminder that success is rarely about one moment. It's about continuing to evolve, staying true to who you are, and doing the work long enough for your gifts to compound.
In this episode:
Designing the 1996 Olympic album cover
Working with OutKast, TLC, Usher, Pink, and T.I.
Creativity, culture, and artistic evolution
Why athletes and artists think more alike than people realize
Staying relevant over multiple decades
Creative instincts and trusting your vision
Building a career through relationships
Authenticity and creative longevity
Finding where your gifts are celebrated
Balancing creativity with business
The importance of resilience and consistency
Why good taste matters
DL's story is a masterclass in staying authentic while continuing to grow.
Hosted by Mohamed Massaquoi 

This episode features Brian McGowan, President of Centennial Yards Company, the largest sports adjacent entertainment district underdevelopment in the world. Brian’s career is a masterclass in navigating transitions. His work has spanned the Obama Administration, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office, leading Invest Atlanta, and serving as CEO of the Atlanta BeltLine.
We discuss career reinvention, leading through uncertainty, identifying opportunity, and why meaningful work often requires vision, resilience, and the ability to create belief before results show up.
We also talk about what it takes to lead transformational projects when people doubt the vision, why transferable skills often matter more than perfect credentials, and how great teams create confidence in high-pressure environments.
Themes from this episode:
Transforming downtown Atlanta through Centennial Yards
Why meaningful work creates a different level of commitment
Moving toward difficult problems instead of avoiding them
Leadership during uncertainty and pressure
Transferable skills and career reinvention
Creating belief before results show up
Why culture drives execution
Managing risk on billion-dollar projects
Public service, purpose, and long-term vision
The emotional weight of transformational work
Perspective, resilience, and family priorities
Building teams that create confidence
Why opportunities often come through conversations
Sports-adjacent entertainment districts and the future of development
Balancing ambition, pressure, and personal life
 

This episode features Herm from Roadshow, one of the most trusted names in the high-end automotive world. From selling cars out of Cincinnati to building a globally recognized brand that works with athletes, entertainers, and top executives, Herm’s journey is built on persistence, relationships, and doing business the right way.
We get into how Roadshow was built from the ground up, what it actually takes to earn trust at the highest level, and why most people misunderstand success. This is not a story about overnight wins. It’s about years of consistency, learning on the fly, and staying in the game when most people quit.
We also break down the mindset behind building a brand that people trust, navigating NIL and young athletes with money for the first time, and why focusing on people over transactions is what creates real longevity.
Themes from this episode:
Building Roadshow from nothing to a global brand
Why persistence is the real separator in success
Learning business through experience, not a traditional path
The importance of relationships and referrals in scaling a business
Trust as the foundation of working with elite clients
Balancing risk, capital, and confidence in high-stakes deals
Why focusing on the client always wins long term
NIL, young athletes, and navigating money early
Authenticity and why being yourself scales further than trying to fit in
Turning clients into lifelong relationships, not transactions
The reality behind “overnight success” and the years it actually takes
Watch and listen: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | SpotifySubscribe for more conversations on leadership, transitions, and performance

This episode features Tiffany Willis, former SVP of Investor Relations at Starbucks, whose journey redefines what success actually looks like. From becoming a mother at 14 and facing homelessness to rising through PwC, EY, and leading investor relations at a $130B company, Tiffany’s story is a masterclass in resilience, ownership, and purpose-driven leadership.
We unpack what it really means to own your narrative, how your struggles can become your greatest competitive advantage, and why success is not about a perfect path but about persistence, adaptability, and belief. Tiffany also shares the mindset shifts that helped her navigate corporate leadership, make difficult family decisions, and step into her next chapter with intention.
This is a conversation about identity, leadership, and building a life on your terms, regardless of where you start.
Themes from this episode:
Owning your narrative and embracing your full story
Turning adversity into a competitive advantage
From teenage motherhood and homelessness to corporate leadership
The power of work ethic, curiosity, and raising your hand
Navigating corporate America without a perfect background
Translating business strategy into the “language of numbers”
Building a career through adaptability, not a straight path
Imposter syndrome in high-level leadership rooms
Choosing purpose over position in critical life decisions
Leadership, storytelling, and influencing at scale
Helping others see what’s possible through your journey
 Watch and listen: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, transitions, and performance

What does success really cost, and what happens when you finally choose yourself?
In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Shanti Das. Shanti is a music industry powerhouse turned mental health advocate. She helped build the legendary careers of Outkast, Usher, and Toni Braxton as a music execute at LaFace, Columbia, and Universal Records. Shanti shares the untold truth behind climbing to the top and what it took from her along the way.
At the height of her career, everything looked right on paper. What followed was a powerful pivot from corporate success to purpose-driven impact through her nonprofit, Silence the Shame.
This conversation is about leadership, sacrifice, mental health, and learning how to create a life that actually aligns with you.
In this episode, we cover:
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
https://silencetheshame.com/