This interview with Pulitzer Prize winner, Washington Post Columnist and New York Times Bestselling author, Sally Jenkins is one of my favorites for so many reasons. Sally has a tremendous story. Growing up in New York City surrounded by her brother and a "Wolf pack" of boys (one of whom was a decorated marine pilot, another a surfing photographer), Sally was always involved in sports.

Whether she was playing touch football or stickball on the sidewalks of NYC, or watching her favorite professional teams, Sally had a passion for sports that led to an incredible career. Hear how Sally describes her youth and the great names that defined sports when she was growing up: Joe Namath, Bill Bradley, Fran Tarkenton, George Steinbrenner, Walt Frazier, Earl the Pearl Monroe, as well as her heroes: Rocky the “kick returner” and Dean Meminger among others.

Sally also makes a transition into modern day sports and discusses well-known names, Eli and Peyton Manning, Chris Everett, Tony Kornheiser, and others as well as her father, a Hall of Fame sports writer.

Sally has been at the heart of many of sports’ top stories, including Joe Paterno and Lance Armstrong. Listen to her views on the new generation of athletes, the importance of knowing your craft, and her controversial insights into doping and performance enhancement. This interview also provides very personal reflections on her friendship with Pat Summitt and the relationship she still holds today as a loyal friend to Lance Armstrong, despite the public social controversy.

This absolutely is an interview you will want to listen to. Sally is an incredible voice in the world of sports and you are sure to both enjoy and learn from her. I know I did.

Kevin shares a story In Memory of Olympic Skier, Sarah Burke.

Go inside the locker room to hear the story of why Jerome's NBA Detroit Pistons teammates laughed at him after seeing his "new ride" in the players' parking lot. Was it a Mercedes? A Range Rover? A Lexus Truck? You may be surprised. Unfazed, the NBA 1st Round Draft Pick, deflected the locker room banter and instead focused his energy on "his plan" rather than what type of car he drove. 

Rick Barry is a Hall of Fame Basketball player and listed as one of the Top 50 Greatest NBA players in history - being selected to 8 All Star games. Rick is the only player to lead the NCAA, the ABA and NBA in scoring for an individual season. But off the court, including today, Rick has a no-nonsense attitude and candid approach to speaking to the life lessons of sports. According to Rick, the word "Greatness" is not an award, instead it is a combination of natural born talent and the will to work harder than anyone else, Period!

Rick's basketball stats and list of accomplishments speak for themselves, but prepare yourself as you listen to Rick speak about working jobs as a young man, coaching, parenting, communication and other incredibly important lessons, such ensuring that he was always having fun playing. In a semi-School of Hard Knocks, Rick provides us with the insight of a legend and a man who continually dives into business, sports and entrepreneurial projects with passion and intelligence. Without either of those attributes, Rick will not only stay away, but he will strongly suggest you do the same.

After retiring from the NBA, Rick successfully transitioned to sports broadcasting where he had an accomplished 30-year career covering a wide range of sports on both radio and television.

Rick has one daughter, Shannon; 4 older sons, Scooter, Jon, Brent and Drew, all of whom were professional basketball players and one younger son, Canyon who is currently playing basketball at the College of Charleston. Rick currently resides in Colorado Springs and is involved in a myriad of businesses including the introduction of a specially designed basketball shoe, known to drastically reduce ankle sprains.

Not only a well-known basketball all-star, Rick has also been a world champion in multiple golf long drive competitions, winning the Grand Champions and Legends Divisions as well as the Masters ReMax World Long Driving Championship.

Go inside the locker room to hear the story of what it's like to be 3 outs away from winning Game 7 of the World Series. Paul walks us through the 9th inning, extra innings and then unfortunately the bizarre and frenzied aftermath inside the Indians' Clubhouse after the Florida Marlins won the game.

Over 16 years later, Paul explains the details of this momentous event in detail when he worked for the Cleveland Indians in 1997--the last time the Indians made it to the World Series.

Cari Champion is a superb example of determination, a strong woman who lived the early years of her life on a quest to find, discover and pursue her vision. The best part, and what she learned from playing sports, was that she did not quit until she had achieved them. As a prime example, Cari has become a leading figure in the world of sports and broadcast journalism. As host and moderator of First Take on ESPN2, Cari has cemented her position as a prominent voice covering multiple sports and in her own words, “fulfilled her vision of fostering a better image of African Americans and representing the underdogs.”

Listen to Cari’s reflections on Andre Agassi, Magic Johnson, Tiger Woods, Venus and Serena Williams, and Facebook CEO, Sheryl Sandberg.

If you enjoy motivation and drive, then this episode was tailor made for you. Cari reminds and encourages all of us to trust our own gut and provides candid answers about time management and accountability. All of this and more is what makes her last name so fitting.

It is an honor to introduce Cari Champion as she speaks to the life lessons that are told with a positive energy, sincerity and a lot of moxie! Enjoy.

Jonathan Ogden, Hall of Fame Left Tackle, takes us directly onto the field and tells us what it was like to play for the Baltimore Ravens when they won Super Bowl XXXV over the New York Giants. Why does this story include Hulk Hogan and his patented "Broooother" hand sign? Listen in on Jon's humble yet in-depth explanation of being a Super Bowl Champion.

Learn where the relationship between Muhammad Ali and Nancy all began as a special bond was formed for life. Also, did you know Nancy played with the Jackson boys, as in the Michael Jackson? Listen in.

Nancy Lieberman is a Hall of Famer, Olympian, broadcaster, author, and one of the greatest athletes ever to play the game of basketball. Known as "Lady Magic" because of her similarity in athletic ability and charisma to NBA All-Star and Legend Magic Johnson, Nancy has an incredible array of achievements at every level. 

While Nancy's play on the basketball court was truly magic, her off the court leadership arguably represents her true wizardry. Despite her upbringing, Nancy had an "I'm not going to be poor attitude" and ultimately turned that mindset into a very powerful message of learn, earn, and return. From making cotton candy and literally asking strangers for money to jumpstart her international career as a 15 year old, to becoming an all-around leader in so many facets of life, there is more than one reason that Muhammad Ali took her on as a life-long mentee and why leaders in the world of sports such as Larry Fitzgerald, Joe Girardi, Michael Irving and Mike Tomlin routinely reach out to her for input and advice. 

Through personal stories and reflections, Nancy points to the importance of understanding our roles in parenting and in being part of a team, of philanthropy, and of aiming to be extraordinary. 

I am so pleased to have on our show today: Lady Magic!     

"Marcellus Wiley" takes us onto the airplane for his first flight as a NFL player and WOW, wait to you hear what happened. Let's just say his agent told him to never forget about the lesson that came out of that ride.

Marcellus Wiley, the former NFL 10 year all-pro player, currently co-hosts SportsNation on ESPN2 and a talk radio show on ESPN 710am in Los Angeles. He was also the 2nd round draft pick coming out of Columbia University by the Buffalo Bills. That’s right, Columbia University.

Wait a second, wasn’t that the Columbia University who, at the time, had lost 44 straight games! Yes, it was and yes, that’s where the power of Marcellus Wiley and his narrative to date begins; a narrative that he currently says “is far from the end.”

Marcellus grew up in Compton and learned from an early age how important it was to know his limitations and his strengths if he was going to move beyond his Los Angeles neighborhood and take advantage of what the world had to offer. Through guidance and his athletic ability allowing him to play multiple sports, Marcellus was able to achieve just that.

His choice to attend Columbia over top-notch football schools underscores his desire to embrace adversity, to adopt a position of leadership, and to follow his own path. Marcellus instinctively knew, that the keys to success were going to have to be built on the fundamental platform that included: surrounding himself with people who could challenge him in positive ways, having the mindset that life is a marathon not a sprint, and using multiple sports to help him form and cement not only opportunity, but his identity.

Marcellus will undoubtedly influence how you view your own path as girt, determination and the school of hard knocks is inspiring.

Reggie Gray takes us into a dark period of his life. He had lost his millions, lost his confidence and returned home for advice. After a period of time, Reggie got back up on his feet, recalled how to be resilient from playing sports and started all over again, but this time with a "I'm Going To Help Others" attitude and team-spirit, leading he and his teammate at H3TV.com to a partnership with the Lebron James Family Foundation and the iPromise Tour & campaign.

Reggie Regg --- The Magic Man!

Reggie's incredible story starts with individual and team sports. As a young man, Reggie learned responsibility, comprehensive knowledge attainment, and creative thinking from athletics, as well as how to take risks and deal with the consequences. His journey includes becoming a 7-year old award-winning entertainer/magician/juggler, multi-sport athlete, self-made millionaire, and real estate tycoon. Life was great. But it all came with a cost.

Reggie lost everything and went broke, financially and mentally. However, after a long period of self-reflection, Reggie used the focus and determination he learned from sports to turn his life around with a no-excuse attitude.

Together with his teammate, H3TV.com, Rappin Roy, Reggie motivates and inspires children with creative music, dance, magic and fun for kids all over the country as a unique partner with the iPromise Tour and the LeBron James Family Foundation.

Reggie Gray the Magic Man -- here we go!

You may know Chris Brogan as the master of the Internet, internationally known for his online marketing and social media expertise, as well as his New York Times bestselling book. And if you are an owner of a Fortune 100 company you may have already called upon Chris to help build influence, improve reputation, and earn trust.

But did you know that Chris is also incredibly insightful on sports, able to weave the lessons from athletics seamlessly into all facets of life? In his usual powerful and concise way, Chris introduces lesson after lesson for us all to absorb. 

Chris reminds us about the absolute necessity of discipline and how training is more important than the competition. He points to mental toughness as a core foundation in facing obstacles seemingly insurmountable with a positive energy and willingness to sacrifice to achieve ultimate goals. And, he challenges us as sports fans to emulate the expectations we have of athletes. 

To demonstrate his points, Chris uses examples of top competitors like Larry Bird, Tom Brady, and Bill Belichick, as well as mixed martial arts and body building athletes. Finally, he stresses the importance of the To Do list and how Chris utilizes the United States Military’s most successful tool for preparation and action.

This is no ordinary interview; this is mastery in motion.

BONUS EPISODE. You will not want to miss this last part of the show with Kevin Harrington as he describes how he once wrestled a businessman in the Penthouse Suite of a Las Vegas, NV hotal for a Deal. Did he Win? Were their consequences?

Kevin Harrington was a multi-sport athlete and went on to become a tremendous high school wrestler, one of the best in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. In fact, after listening to this interview you will quickly understand the parallel life between Kevin’s high school success on the wrestling mat to the man we know today who defines every letter in the word entrepreneur.

As a pioneer in the Entrepreneurial World, Kevin has worked with some of the most fascinating people in the world, creating a brand that led to over 500 projects over a 30-year period with the As Seen On TV brand. Engaging with athletes and entertainers such as Bruce Jenner, Tony Little, George Foreman and Lo Green, Kevin tells all on this podcast journey.

Perhaps best known for his role on the hit TV Show Shark Tank, his story goes well beyond that and provides a critical example of how the life lessons of sports can lead to achievements in all aspects of life including his enthusiasm, focus, and energy led him to be a leader in the infomercial market and several other aspects of business.

Listen and learn as we hear an original Shark, the mastermind behind the George Foreman Grill and infomercials, Kevin walks us through his journey from tenacious athlete to serial entrepreneur. Although he is certainly not Joe Maddon, from his beloved Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Kevin has the drive of a Major League Baseball Manager and shares the parallels between sports and business during this podcast interview.

Whether you are in business or simply love sports, you will learn Kevin’s blueprint to success, both on and off the wrestling mat that undoubtedly will inspire and motivate you.

Jonathan Ogden will go down in history as one of the greatest offensive lineman to ever play the game of football. Playing at 6 foot 9 inches and 335 pounds, Jon dominated both at UCLA (as a 2-sport athlete) and with the Baltimore Ravens. His list of accomplishments are simply amazing including most recently as he was inducted into the National Football League 2013 Hall of Fame, the first Baltimore Raven to do so as well as the youngest player to ever have his bust in the Hall of Fame. Jon was also the first-ever player to be drafted by the newly formed Ravens franchise back in 1996 and played a tremendous role in the Ravens' 2001 victory in Super Bowl XXXV as well as serving as the honorary team captain for the team when they won it again in 2013.

If you think it stops there, pick up a printed copy of "The Blind Side", by Michael Lewis, where Jon is featured in many sections of the book as a man to reinvent and establish the Tackle position, protecting the Quarterback from being hit by opposing players from the QB's blind side.

Selected as an All-Pro Football Player and playing the offensive tackle position, Jon won the annual award 9-times and made the Pro Bowl 11-times in a 12-year career. Although most fans know him as a ferocious football player, one not to be reckoned with, Jon is truly a remarkable man whose awareness and balance of family, education and dedication to being a multi-sport athlete far exceed any Super Bowl Ring, Hall of Fame Induction or other major accomplishments he ever received.

This interview includes a special introduction from "Who Are You: The Life Lesson of Sports Podcast Host," "Rob Elwood," as Rob shares personal stories of growing up and playing on the same high school football team together back in Washington, DC. This conversation also touches on a few pointers from Jon about what parents and coaches should be looking out for when children play the game of football. Stories include his personal opinion on the concussion issue as well as the NFL's" stance to be untruthful about it to the players back during Jon's career.

Jon has rightfully earned Hall of Fame Status in Canton, Ohio, but it is rare to hear such a dominating athlete speak in such a sincere, down-to-earth and thoughtful manner as he does in this inspiring, informative and motivational can't miss podcast interview.

Kevin Donoghue is a Spartan Race Podium athlete and an Ultra Beast! He is in the top 20 in the world for Spartan Racing, a grueling obstacle race that is known for its incredibly difficult and demanding courses including what’s known as the Ultra Beast Marathon. Kevin is appreciated and recognized globally not only for his incredible endurance but also for his leadership in sports performance, his dedication to Special Needs Athletes as well as his outdoor adventure instruction.

Do you oftentimes face obstacles?Well, Kevin overcomes obstacles for a living! Kevin’s story is amazing and inspirational. At just 5’5”, 155 pounds, Kevin is one of the toughest athletes there is. Listen to how Kevin joined and is now dominating the one of the fastest growing sports in the world that includes grueling events that challenge both your overall athleticism and your will to push through adversity.

This exclusive interview opens the door to Kevin’s story about his most challenging choice in his life and what he did thereafter, which truly underscores a significant reason I started this Podcast, “Who Are You: The Life Lessons of Sports” For an amazingly tough guy, Kevin shares emotional and motivational insights into his journey and will no doubt encourage you to get out there and hurdle your own obstacles, whatever they may be.

When he is not competing, Kevin designs and motivates his own clients through workouts that push them to reach their absolute best while offering nutritional advice and healthy lifestyle choices. Whether it’s in the great outdoors, over the web, or in your own home, Kevin finds the key to bringing out the best in you.

Who Are You Nation, Kevin is coming in with full positive energy as a co-owner of Gladiator Sports, an ultra marathoner, a national and New York State champion power lifter, a former college football player, and an extreme skier. You better be prepared to be your own Spartan as you buckle in and listen to our featured guest today, Kevin Donoghue.

Mike Tannenbaum, former General Manager of the New York Jets from 2006-2012 made his mark both on professional sports and organizational leadership in a number of ways. Early in his career, Mike worked with Bill Belichick while he was with the Cleveland Browns, and then with the New Orleans Saints. 

However, years later his career took a turn for the best after interviewing with Hall of Famer Bill Parcells, who was ultimately responsible for hiring Mike to join the New York Jets back in 1997. True to his work ethic and team player attitude, Mike dedicated his time and passion into the franchise until he earned his promotion and named the youngest General Manager in the National Football League. From there, Mike successfully lead the Jets into one of the more successful times in franchise history, as the Jets reached the playoffs three times and the AFC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons.

Although many have identified with Mike as most of us did on HBO’s featured sport’s series, Hard Knocks, this interview portrays how Mike’s success in the NFL goes far beyond his incredible tenure as a General Manager. Over the years, Mike realized that to work in sports he had to start from the ground up.

As a dedicated Red Auerbach and Boston Celtic fan at a young age, Mike pursued his dream of having a job in the world of sports and sought out any opportunity he could, eventually taking a low paying job with the Pittsfield Mets, a minor league baseball team. However, by following his own “pillars of success” methodology, his journey in a Western Massachusetts small town minor league stadium was simply a launching point for decades of success to come.

Graduating Cum Laude from Tulane University Law School, Mike earned his degree in Sports Law and positioned himself to be a strong candidate to continue his dream of landing a position in the NFL. Listen in as Mike candidly explains what it means to be a true leader, a team player and a person of character and integrity. Learn how Mike instilled simple, yet oftentimes, overlooked principals and core values with the New York Jets that went far beyond the practice and playing field. 

Mike’s story is both inspirational and motivational as he reveals details of his journey and how he used rejection as a catalyst to only work harder. Enjoy stories such as his “wallpaper of rejection,” and his ability to bounce back and reverse the situation when facing unemployment and major debt from law school student loan; as it was the only way he knew how to respond to that situation.

It is an honor to introduce Mike Tannenbaum to the show as he exemplifies so many of the life lessons that sports reveal. Even Mike’s behind-the-scenes story will introduce you to little known, but fascinating facts that very few people have heard before, so listen and enjoy another episode of Who Are You: The Life Lessons of Sports.

Named the most successful Australian surfer ever, male or female, Layne Beachley is a 7-time consecutive world champion setting her apart from even the best names in the history of surfing, such as Kelly Slater. Beyond being inducted into both the Australian and US Surfing Hall of Fames, and winning the Laureus World Sports Alternative Sportsperson of the Year Award in 2004 and the Extreme Female Athlete of the Year in 2005, Layne’s athletic achievements were simply predicated on her mindset.

Adopted as a baby into a beach-loving family, Layne faced constant inner fears that she had to conquer in order to achieve success. Growing up in and around the Manly Beach area, located in the Northern part of Sydney, Australia Layne explains how she was “powered by the sun,” expanding limitless energy playing or spending all of her time outdoors. Although her adopted mother tragically passed away when Layne was only 6 years old, she persevered.

 In our tell-all conversation Layne explains how she learned to conquer her own fears head on, by re-directing focus on the effort and passion she harnessed as opposed to constantly fixating on the scoreboard and outcome. Learning one of her most important lessons, to trust her own instincts, Layne knew when to “get out of her own way,” as she focused on controlling the “controllables.”

Today, Layne is a life coach, motivational speaker, board member and the founder and director of her Aim For the Stars Foundation where she inspires and motivates young women to “Dare to Dream, Pursue their Passion and Aspire to Achieve.” 

Inspiring stories include: Layne’s in-depth surfing stories about her competitive battles with surf star, Lisa Anderson; her trials, triumphs and tribulations; and the guidance she received from Wendy Botha and Australia’s well-known personal trainer, “The Sandhill Warrior,” Rob Rowland-Smith. Enjoy listening to Layne’s journey as we even get a down under “G’Day” from Layne’s husband and INXS music star, Kirk Pengilly.

 Do not miss this interview, as it is both motivational and inspirational, especially when Layne explains her incredible adrenaline rush and daring feat, riding a 50-foot wave, which ultimately depicted a summary of her life. 

Paul DePodesta has permanently cemented his place in the annals of Major League Baseball. Paul was the fifth youngest General Manager in baseball history when the Los Angeles Dodgers signed him in 2004 at the age of 31.

Paul has also worked with the Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres and the New York Mets, where he is currently the Vice President of Scouting and Player Development. Paul's sabermetrics, along with General Manager, Billy Beane's methodology led to the Michael Lewis's Best Selling Book and later on the movie, Moneyball. More importantly Paul helped redefine executive decision-making in Major League Baseball. Paul has been recognized as A Top 10 Innovator under the age of 40.

This interview allows listeners to go inside one of the greatest minds in executive operations and sports. Learn how Paul’s upbringing and childhood dreams helped him in his career path and led to one of the most challenging, but rewarding, decisions he would ever make. Paul’s ability to take calculated risks and constantly understand the importance of surrounding himself with complementary talent; he provides these essential lessons for all of us to learn at Who Are You Nation.

Among the amazing stories and insights Paul provides, including working with Billy Beane, Mark Shapiro, and many other leaders and current General Managers in baseball, but perhaps none are as powerful as his reflection on his time with the Indians and losing in Extra Innings of the 7th Game of the World Series.

Jerome "Junkyard Dog" Williams (JYD), a name that exemplifies his work ethic and dedication to being the best in all facets of his life, speaks to how he gained success by continually following "his plan."

A man who truly understood his role as identified by legendary Georgetown Coach John Thompson, Jerome succeeded playing in the NBA for 9 years for the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors setting records along the way in rebounding over some of the biggest names in the league such as Tim Duncan, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon and Dennis Rodman. Through sheer grit and determination, Jerome proved himself a true competitor both on and off the court.

When Jerome is not coaching at Findlay Prep, one of the best high school basketball programs in the country, he runs the JYD Project, an integrated support system for youth and their families that ensures successful matriculation from elementary school to college.