Success gets you to the top. Knowing what to do after the spotlight fades is a different challenge.

This episode features Kim Alexis in conversation with Mark Pattison, a former NFL wide receiver who reinvented himself as an entrepreneur, digital media leader, and high altitude mountaineer. Mark opens up about the shock of being traded, struggling to find direction after football, and learning that success in one career does not guarantee success in the next.

He shares how taking action helped him rebuild, from working with Starbucks to launching businesses in toys, e-commerce, and sports media. Then his journey takes him to the Seven Summits, where loss, divorce, and a desire for something bigger pushed him toward some of the toughest climbs in the world.

Key themes from the episode:

• Life after professional sports
• Career reinvention and resilience
• Turning setbacks into momentum
• The mindset behind extreme challenges
• Finding purpose after major life changes

Listen to hear how Mark rebuilt his identity after football and turned his hardest chapters into fuel for what came next.

This episode features Kim Alexis in conversation with Vinny Del Negro, who shares how his Italian roots, family values, and love for basketball shaped a career that took him from NC State to the NBA, Italy, and eventually the head coaching sidelines.

Vinny reflects on the lessons he learned from Jim Valvano and Bill Russell, why leaving the NBA for Italy became a major turning point, and how his time with Benetton Treviso changed the way he approached the game. He also shares what he learned from the San Antonio Spurs and how those lessons influenced his work with the Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, and LA Clippers.

Key themes from the episode:

• Italian values that shaped his career
• Why leaving the NBA became a breakthrough
• Lessons from Jim Valvano and Bill Russell
• Building strong teams and developing players
• The mindset behind NBA coaching

Listen to discover how Vinny turned an unconventional career path into a lasting NBA legacy.

One phone call turned a local musician into the bassist of one of rock's biggest bands.

This episode features Kim Alexis in conversation with Bruce Hall, who shares how a call from Gary Richrath led him to join REO Speedwagon and launch a career that helped define classic rock. He reflects on the band's rise, the making of High Infidelity, and the unexpected story behind hits like "Keep On Loving You."

The conversation also explores life beyond the stage, including the pressures of constant touring, sobriety, serious health challenges, and the perspective that comes from decades in the music industry.

Key themes from the episode:

• How Bruce Hall joined REO Speedwagon
• The story behind High Infidelity
• Life on tour during rock's biggest era
• Sobriety, health, and resilience

Listen for the untold story behind one of classic rock's most successful bands and the lessons that lasted long after the encore.