This week, Gary chatted with the legendary Olympic beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings. We dive deep into her journey of rehabilitation post-injury, exploring themes like expectation management, maintaining an active lifestyle for personal well-being, and setting examples for children. Listen as she shares valuable insights on handling adversity in high-stakes situations, teamwork dynamics, and overcoming fear – all while juggling career aspirations and family responsibilities. Tune in to hear more about how she continues to inspire others through her story of resilience!
This episode is sponsored by:
In This Episode:
Reading Bible verses and using the Bible Recap app
Teenagers’ desire to spend more time with their parents
The importance of staying active and vibrant as one ages
Pouring into and creating a legacy for one’s family
Taking time for oneself in a relationship and focusing on personal growth
Overcoming fear and maintaining a positive focus
The bronze medal game and the challenges faced
The power of love and support from trusted individuals
The importance of self-awareness and managing one’s energy
The role of fear in clouding judgment and perception
Quotations:
“So for your kids, for my kids, to see us wanting to be vibrant, to make it a priority to keep moving, and to pray and to do all these things that fill us up so we can be vibrant in life for them, for ourselves; it’s just such a powerful gift.” ~Kerri Walsh Jennings
“As parents can, to a certain extent, we can control so much of our children’s lives based on the environment that we create in our homes and how we respond to their stresses and their growth, and all these things. And we set the tone largely, and that is such a huge responsibility.” ~Kerri Walsh Jennings
Guest’s Bio:
Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings is an American professional beach volleyball player, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, and a one-time Olympic bronze medalist. She is the beach volleyball leader in career victories as of 2016, having won 135 international and domestic tournaments.
In this engaging episode, host Gary Scott Thomas welcomes the legendary comedian Killer Beaz. They discuss their shared experiences growing up in the South and the challenges they faced in pursuing their dreams. The conversation takes a spiritual turn as they delve into their rediscovery of faith and the importance of changing one’s mindset. Killer Beaz shares a powerful story of how he and his wife reached out to a couple in need and how their act of kindness had a profound impact on both the couple and those who witnessed it. They emphasize the importance of leading with faith and generosity and how it can bring happiness and blessings to others. Overall, this episode is a heartfelt and inspiring conversation about faith, kindness, and the power of laughter.
This episode is sponsored by:
Habana Cuba (Use “Gary20” to get 20% off your order.)
In This Episode:
Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life: One of the biggest revelations discussed in this episode is the ability to change our mindset. Our thoughts have the power to shape our reality, and by consciously choosing to think positively and let go of negative thoughts, we can transform our lives. As Killer Beaz shared, “Change your freaking mind. Change that mindset. It’s painless, and it works.”
You Have the Power to Stop Negative Thoughts: We all experience dark thoughts from time to time, but the key is to recognize that we have the power to stop them in their tracks. By acknowledging our ability to choose happiness and not worry, we can shift our focus towards a more positive outlook. As our guest emphasized, “When you have those dark thoughts, you have the power to stop them in their tracks and go not today, not today.”
Let Go of Limiting Beliefs: Our mindset can sometimes be like a lid on a jar, holding us back from realizing our full potential. We often limit ourselves with beliefs that are not true or no longer serve us. As one of our guests shared, “You’ve got to get rid of that mindset because all things are possible for us.” By letting go of these limiting beliefs, we open ourselves up to endless possibilities and true freedom.
Quotations:
“Change your freaking mind.” ~Killer Beaz
“My phrase in my head is, ‘Not today, Satan.'” ~Killer Beaz
“The research shows the happiest that you will feel is when you do something for someone else.” ~Killer Beaz
“You don’t have to be Bible-literate. You don’t have to be a scholar of the Bible. You don’t have to be well-versed in it in order to just share with people why you’re happy and why you don’t have a life full of worry and anxiety.” ~Killer Beaz
“We have no idea what the blessings others are gonna get just because we’re obedient.” ~Killer Beaz
“They say that smart is knowing what to say. Wisdom is knowing when not to say it.” ~Killer Beaz
“God’s going to use it in some way wonderful.” ~Killer Beaz
“But God is gonna ask you, what’d you do with all the blessings I gave you?” ~Killer Beaz
“When you open that Bible, how many times have you randomly opened it, and holy moly, right there is something that has pertained with something that’s going on that day or something you were fretting over. It will address it.” ~Killer Beaz
Guest’s Bio:
Celebrating his seventh season on Discovery Channel’s hit series, “Moonshiners”, comedian Killer Beaz is touring the nation when not filming. With well over three decades of comedy clubs and theatres, television, and radio, Killer Beaz is legendary in the comedy industry. Beaz continues to make regular stops with his family-friendly show to The Grand Ole Opry stage. Tickets and information for his tour are available at www.KillerBeaz.com.
Killer Beaz has his own, unique brand of “Hard Hitting” – “Laugh out Loud” – “Laugh A Lot” – “HI-PROOF” – “High Energy” – “Everyman-style” comedy! With many thousands of radio, television and stage appearances, Beaz has been entertaining audiences worldwide, but his passion is his live stage performance. He is an award-winning artist and has been signed with both Sony and Warner Brothers Records, and received reviews such as:
“Beaz is ‘Killer!’” – Rolling Stone Magazine
“Killer Beaz lives up to his name, “Killing” his audience, night after night, show after show!” -Entertainment Today/Las Vegas, NV
“Killer Beaz has a universal appeal that makes him a crowd favorite!” – SHOWTIME/Reno, NV
Don’t miss your opportunity to see “THE BEST BUZZ in TOWN!” See him on television, hear him on the radio, see his stage performance live…you’ll be “Stung for Life!” Live show tickets and information are available at KillerBeaz.com.
Growing up in a segregated Alabama, Ralph Stokes never imagined he would play for the University of Alabama. But when his all-black high school closed down, he found himself in a predominantly white school, facing challenges of integration. Through perseverance, teamwork, and respect, Ralph became a trailblazing athlete, carving out a path for future generations. This episode explores the lessons learned from Ralph’s journey and how his experiences prepared him for life beyond football. Join us as we delve into the unexpected twists and turns of Ralph’s story and discover how he transformed adversity into opportunity.
This episode is sponsored by:
In this episode you’ll be able to:
Discover valuable lessons from a pioneering football player’s journey
Understand the crucial role of respect in fostering successful team dynamics
Learn how to rise above discrimination and setbacks through respectful dialogue
Uncover how to apply football-derived strategies to excel in business and entrepreneurship
Gain insight into effective goal setting and teamwork inspired by collegiate athletics
Key Moments:
00:03:12 – Ralph Stokes’ Career, Ralph Stokes talks about his current role as Vice President of Diversity Partnerships and Community Relations at the PGA Tour Tour Superstore, and his upcoming role as President of the Georgia State Golf Association.
00:06:16 – Ralph Stokes’ Experience with Integration, Ralph Stokes shares his experience with integration, starting from when he had to move to a different high school after his all-black high school was shut down, to playing football at a predominantly white school and leading integration his way.
00:11:15 – Football at Robert E. Lee High School, Ralph Stokes talks about his first day at Robert E. Lee High School, where he and other black players were outnumbered by white players and faced a giant Confederate flag in the gym. He shares how they were able to bring the team together and succeed in football.
00:15:28 – The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion, Ralph Stokes emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion, and how it benefits everyone, whether it’s in sports, business, or society. He shares his hope for a better future where people are judged by their character, not their skin color.
00:16:50 – Learning Respect for Each Other, Ralph Stokes shares a story about how he learned respect for his white teammates during his high school football career. He explains how this respect helped them build a strong team and emphasizes the importance of respect in any organization.
00:19:07 – Ralph’s College Recruitment, Ralph talks about his college recruitment process and the numerous scholarship offers he received from various schools, including Notre Dame, Southern Cal, and Alabama. He explains how he never wanted to play for Alabama due to their lack of black players and how his mother influenced his decision-making process.
00:25:13 – Meeting Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, Ralph’s mother initially refused to let him play for Alabama due to Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s racist remarks. However, Coach Bryant went to Montgomery to meet Ralph’s family and apologize for his statements. Ralph’s mother asked tough questions, but ultimately allowed Ralph to play for Alabama.
00:32:27 – Coach Bryant’s Promise, Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant promised Ralph and his family that he would treat Ralph fairly and be like a father to him while he was away at college. Ralph emphasizes the importance of having someone to look up to and how Coach Bryant fulfilled his promise to him.
00:34:39 – Priorities Beyond Football, Ralph Stokes shares how his mother’s priority wasn’t just about football, but about her son’s future. She asked legitimate questions and allowed Coach Paul Bear Bryant to answer. They found common ground with respect and had a conversation.
00:36:51 – Coach Bryant’s Response, Coach Bryant responded positively to every issue that addressed the four questions Ralph Stokes had. He was an outstanding coach, but an even greater man.
00:39:46 – Business School, Ralph Stokes wanted to go to business school but was denied. He insisted he wanted to go, and they told him he had to talk to Coach Bryant. Coach Bryant allowed him to go to business school after listening to his reasons. Stokes graduated in four years and later served on the board of directors and was honored as one of the outstanding alums.
00:44:23 – Blessed with a Brain, Ralph Stokes felt blessed to have a brain and wanted to challenge himself to use it to do the best he could. His mother instilled the importance of education, and he and his siblings were driven by a set of parents that valued education.
00:48:16 – Responsibility of Results, Ralph Stokes talks about the importance of taking responsibility for the results of your actions. He uses golf and the stock market as examples of places where results are based on actions and not discrimination. His mom instilled the value of education, which she believed was the road to their future.
00:50:49 – Background and Decision Making, Ralph Stokes talks about his decision not to accept the scholarship offered to him by legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant and his reasons for taking a break from school. He also talks about his friends’ decisions to go to law school and play football.
00:52:49 – Paul Bear Bryant’s Legacy, Ralph shares his memories of the day of Paul Bear Bryant’s passing, the huge impact the coach had on the state of Alabama and the outpouring of support from former players and fans. He also talks about attending Bryant’s funeral.
00:54:11 – The Procession, Ralph describes the procession from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham for Paul Bear Bryant’s burial. He talks about the incredible turnout of people and how it felt like the passing of a president.
00:55:30 – Future Episodes, Gary asks Ralph to come back for future episodes to talk about his business life and college football. Ralph agrees and teases stories about his experiences in insurance sales and presenting to the Klu Klux Klan.
00:56:38 – Closing Remarks, Gary and Ralph thank each other for the conversation and Ralph expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to share his story. They look forward to future episodes together.
Bio:
Ralph Stokes, a former University of Alabama running back who made history as part of the first black recruiting class. His incredible personal journey serves as a testament to the power of determination, integrity, and the unwavering drive to succeed against all odds. From his early days playing football at Booker T. Washington High School in Montgomery, Alabama, to joining the historically white Robert E. Lee High School, Ralph’s story showcases the lessons learned on and off the field that continue to inspire countless others. As a respected executive in the golf industry, Ralph demonstrates that with resilience and dedication, anything is possible.
Check out Ralph Stokes’ book One of the First and consider sharing it with others. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralph-stokes-01b73526/ https://www.amazon.com/One-First-Overcoming-Challenges-Integration-ebook/dp/B098LP8QJY
This powerful episode from Charles Kelley with Lady A kicks off our Mental Health series for May, Mental Health Awareness Month. Many months into his sobriety, he has an open and honest message he’s sharing about what life is like without alcohol.
This Episode is Sponsored By:
In This Episode:
The realization that his drinking was out of control
Slipping after the first time he tried to curb his alcohol consumption
Tapping into an honest side of himself
Fears that come along when you stop drinking
What he’s discovered since he’s gone dry
Discovering WHY he would drink
Why Tim McGraw goes for a 5-mile run before a show
Finding a stronger faith
Seeing God in everyday moments
How they’ll be connecting with the audience this tour
Mickelson vs Woods
Quotations:
“The thing that’s really helped me get through it is being ready for a change, but also my wife–just how much work she’s doing around it and how much we’re able to kind of talk about all these things, you know, and what I was drinking over; a lot of it was boredom. Some of it was a little bit of fear, but a lot of kind of just became this routine and boredom.” ~Charles Kelley
“It’s interesting…when I would turn into a different person, and it was so consistent, and I didn’t like the man and the things I would hear afterward about my behavior.” ~Charles Kelley
“I let a liquid control my life.” ~Charles Kelley
“If it took drinking to be overly social, then maybe that wasn’t really who I was.” ~Charles Kelley
“It [not drinking] doesn’t have to be a thing.” ~Charles Kelley
“I don’t think I would’ve stopped if it wasn’t for, you know, the risk of, of. Losing my marriage or the band.” ~Charles Kelley
“I know what the highs feel like, and I know what the lows feel like, and you know, it’s kinda nice just to live in that middle spot where just; you almost start appreciate it. It’s just the little moments.” ~Charles Kelley
“The goal is longevity. I mean, you can kind of definitely see artists kind of come and go and, and a lot of it is self-destruction, you know, and I think that’s one thing.” ~Charles Kelley
“I think it’s been the beauty about being in a band is they’ve held me accountable, and we’ve held each other accountable.” ~Charles Kelley
Guest’s Bio:
Charles Burgess Kelley (born September 11, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, lead singer, and founding member of the country music trio Lady A, which was formed in 2006 and signed to Capitol Nashville.[1]
