Category

Professional Athlete

Sep 27
Love10

George Maxe

By Education, Personal Growth, Professional Athlete, Sports No Comments

This week on the Here’s What We Know Podcast, our guest George Maxe shares his 30-year career path filled with unexpected twists and turns that led him to his current role as the president and CEO of The First Tee of Silicon Valley, where he’s been making a significant impact for the past 15 years.

Listen in to hear more about George’s inspiring journey. He recalls memorable moments playing golf and how golf transcends being just a sport into a powerful tool for character development and social inclusivity. He also emphasizes making golf accessible to children from all backgrounds and creating balanced environments where they can learn from each other’s experiences.

This episode is sponsored by:

In This Episode:

  • The Unexpected Journey
  • A Swing to Remember
  • From Berkeley to San Jose 
  • Numbers Game 
  • Golf: A Social Catalyst 
  • Making Golf Accessible 
  • Balancing Act
  • The Power Within   
  • Unforgettable Encounters  
  • Women and Golf
  • The Art of Mentorship
  • Volunteering
  • Building Rapport Through Humor 
  • Golf Course Conversations

Quotations:

“There’s something magical that happens when two people click.” ~ George Maxe

“When you love competition, it’s gotta be so hard to let go of it when you think you have a chance to win again.”  ~ George Maxe

“One of the great things about golf is that we’re using it as a vehicle for character development.” ~ George Maxe

Guest’s Bio:

George Maxe is a dedicated and visionary leader who has made a significant impact on youth development through his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of The First Tee of Silicon Valley. His journey with the organization began in 2008, when he assumed the position of Executive Director at The First Tee of San Jose. Over the years, his leadership and unwavering commitment have transformed the organization, leaving an indelible mark on the community, which revolves around nurturing young talent and enabling them to reach their fullest potential, allowing him to leverage his education, experience, expertise, and background to make a positive impact on young lives. Under his guidance, The First Tee of San Jose experienced remarkable growth and expansion. By early 2012, he had successfully extended the program’s reach to include not only San Jose but also Gilroy and East Palo Alto, effectively renaming it The First Tee of Silicon Valley. This strategic move broadened the organization’s service area, ensuring more young people had access to its valuable programs. He aims to serve 10,000 youth by 2020 and elevate that number to 18,000 by 2025.

Guest’s Contact Info:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmaxe/

Website: https://firstteesiliconvalley.org/

Aug 30
Love7

Kerri Walsh Jennings

By Faith, Fun, Mental Health, Personal Growth, Professional Athlete, Sports No Comments

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.

Guest’s Contact Info:

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May 17
Love3

Gold Medalist, Dr. Jason Richardson

By Education, Grief, Mental Health, Personal Growth, Philosophy, Professional Athlete, Sports No Comments

This episode is sponsored by:

If you’re feeling frustrated and unfulfilled because you’ve been tirelessly pursuing your dreams with purpose, but nothing seems to be working out, and you’re constantly facing setbacks and roadblocks, then you are not alone!


This week’s guest is Gold Medalist Jason Richardson. After a catastrophic injury, he defied the odds and returned to his passion of racing. But what led him to become a psychologist and expert in sports performance? Join us as Jason shares his journey of soul searching, overcoming obstacles, and discovering the keys to success. But just when it seems like he’s found the answer, a shocking twist leaves him facing a difficult choice. Don’t miss this gripping story of resilience and determination.

In this episode:

  • Tackling hurdles head-on and paving a path toward true accomplishment
  • Igniting your inner fire and taking calculated leaps toward your dreams
  • Fostering an optimistic lifestyle and implementing restorative wellness strategies
  • Examining your core beliefs and determining your authentic ambitions
  • Embracing minimalist techniques to reach your objectives and prevent standing still

Meet Jason Richardson, a gold medalist in BMX racing at the Pan Am Games, who has transformed his life after a life-changing injury. With an MBA under his belt and a thriving career in sports psychology, Jason is passionate about helping others find their true desires and cultivate personal growth. As an author of “More, Better, Happier,” he shares his insights on overcoming challenges and embracing life’s opportunities. As a guest on the Gary Scott Thomas Show, Jason’s energy and enthusiasm is infectious, making him a friend you’d want to have by your side in your journey of self-discovery.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

  • Check out Dr. Jason Richardson’s book It’s All BS! We’re All Wrong, And You’re All Right! for tips on improving mental health.
  • Consider seeking out a sports psychologist, like Dr. Richardson, for help with improving performance and mental health.
  • Practice avoiding the four things that rob you of energy: comparing, complaining, complicating, and worrying.
  • Focus on feeling your emotions and finding ways to be productive and helpful to yourself and others.
  • Seek help for clinical issues from professionals in the field.

Quotations:

“Having the intention of racing actually sped up and gave me great not just motivation, but a great intention to heal and get better and push myself.” ~Jason Richardson

“Gratitude is one of the biggest things that can help you not only get over a hump but actually take stock of where you are.” ~Jason Richardson

“If you are truly not happy with where you are or even who you are, what is the opposite of that?” ~Jason Richardson

“Comparing, complaining, complicating, and worrying, those are the four things that just suck energy out of us.” ~Jason Richardson

Contact Dr. Jason Richardson:

https://www.drjasonrichardson.com/

Apr 12
Love7

Kerri Walsh Jennings

By Faith, Personal Growth, Professional Athlete, Sports No Comments

From heartbreaking defeat in Tokyo to family, the joy of winning, and the dream of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Kerri Walsh Jennings is sharing the journey that she is on as a parent and pro athlete in this week’s episode of Here’s What We Know.

This episode is sponsored by:

In This Episode:

  • Pursuing the Olympics – Paris 2024
  • Sacrificing family time vs. empowered choices
  • Faith, family, and sports.
  • Setting the example for the next generation of athletes
  • Choosing a partner for Paris 2024

Quotations:

“I took a year and a half off. I realized I wasn’t done yet, and so here I am.” – Kerri Walsh Jennings

“I see my choices as a decision I willingly made, and because of that, it must be very meaningful to me, and therefore I’m willing to take the good with the challenging, the heartbreaking with the triumphs–all of it.” – Kerri Walsh Jennings

“I wanna speak the things into my life and claim the things in my life that make me feel empowered. And I don’t care if the ground is falling out from under me or the roof is falling down. If I choose to own that situation, then there’s always a way out.” – Kerri Walsh Jennings

“I don’t care if you win or not. If you get to play, that’s all that matters.” – Gary Scott Thomas

“I had to learn how to lose and how not to have my identity wrapped up in it, not have it ruin my life.” – Kerri Walsh Jennings

“For me, I do not want my children thinking about playing for a high school scholarship when they’re 13 years old. To me, that takes away the joy of everything, and then everything becomes so end-result focused and pressure-filled.” – Kerri Walsh Jennings

“If you love something, I know that I’m willing to suffer for it, and I’m willing to take the good and the bad. But it has to be a sincere, authentic desire on your part. Otherwise, it’s not sustainable.” – Kerri Walsh Jennings

“It takes a lot of courage and a lot of faith, and a lot of belief in yourself. And so those are the tenets that I would love to preach and to be an example of to the next generation because the journey is long, and you have to take it day by day, step by step.”  – 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.

Guest’s Contact Info:

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