Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. John Pace was a born entrepreneur. On his eighteenth birthday he planned and implemented his first marketing strategy complete with an event platform. Three years later, John sold the intellectual property rights and trademark to Anheuser Busch which became part of their Michelob brand introduction. Over the next twenty-five years, John designed and implemented data-driven marketing plans to introduce exciting new produ...
Jul 03, 2025•30 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Scott Mallory grew up in the "Mallory Nation of Men" who loved both the Lord and football, Scott witnessed firsthand how shared passions create pathways for deeper connection. Scott stands at a remarkable vantage point—the middle link in a five-generation chain of faithful men. Looking back to his grandfather and forward to his grandsons, he offers unique insights into building a legacy that transcends time. His family'...
Jun 24, 2025•27 min•Season 5Ep. 16
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Coach Frank Stretar after raising eight children who've gone on to have families of their own, Frank's impact now touches the lives of 24 grandchildren—and countless young men in Cleveland without father figures. Coach Frank Stretar knows firsthand what it take to build a legacy of fatherhood that spans generations. Frank takes us on a journey from his Catholic upbringing through decades of youth ministry with FCA, Youn...
Jun 19, 2025•32 min
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. BAB Podcast, Fatherhood Series Guest Chad Wise shares his approach to raising children with purpose and commitment. Chad's perspective is deeply rooted in his upbringing. Growing up with involved parents and grandparents who emphasized academics and hard work provided him with models of excellence he now passes to his children. His 93-year-old grandfather's perseverance through historical challenges and his late father'...
Jun 17, 2025•30 min
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. At the Be a Baller Podcast Live Event Podcast host Tim Brown had an engaging conversation with Fathers and Sons, Randall and Matthew Gaddis, Burt and Steve Lindsay, and Pastor David Forbes Jr. and son David. The fathers shared life lessons with their sons about faith and family. The live audience was Blessed to hear the importance of preparing and Passing The Torch to the next generation. Support the show...
Jun 05, 2025•47 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Bishop Howard Tillman, New Covenant Believers' Church, takes us on an extraordinary journey from his humble beginnings in Springfield, Ohio to becoming a visionary church leader and international evangelist. With remarkable candor, he reveals how his father's unwavering work ethic and his mother's spiritual guidance shaped his understanding of manhood and faith. The conversation takes a powerful turn when Bishop Tillman...
Jun 03, 2025•47 min•Season 5Ep. 17
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Dan Britton, long time Fellowship of Christian Athletes staff member, author, and founder of SportsLife Leadership reveals how his father's intentional approach to life and faith created ripples that continue long after his passing. With remarkable vulnerability, Dan shares how his father balanced success in the financial world with passionate dedication to ministry. The family home became a revolving door for missionar...
Jun 03, 2025•44 min•Season 5Ep. 19
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Raima Forbes takes us on a deeply personal journey through what it really means to build an authentic legacy while navigating the complexities of being a pastor's daughter, mother, teacher, and servant. With disarming honesty, she reveals the moment God became real to her – not in a church service or mission trip, but when she called her parents from Los Angeles to share news of an unexpected pregnancy. "I was so overwh...
May 27, 2025•27 min•Season 5Ep. 18
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. https://www.bonitahamptonsmith.com/books/ Bonita Smith is author of a new book "Dear White Women, Dear Black Women." A powerful collection of letters between Black and White women, interwoven with stories of pain, forgiveness, and the transformative power of compassion. This collection aims to bridge the divide between women and start the healing of a nation’s soul. Bonita is currently the Chief Operating Officer of the...
May 20, 2025•43 min•Season 5Ep. 17
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Ralph Smithers Jr., journey from northeast Columbus through Mifflin High School and Ohio State University reveals the power of unexpected paths. Despite being a self-described "C student" and late bloomer physically (just 5'3" and 103 pounds in 9th grade), Ralph found his calling through service and relationship-building. Now leading inclusion, belonging and community engagement at Encova Insurance, he demonstrates how ...
May 13, 2025•35 min•Season 5Ep. 16
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Angela Pace powerful story weaves through the nurturing community of Columbus's historic Poindexter Village (the "Blackberry Patch") where three generations of women taught her about determination and sacrifice. With candid warmth and infectious humor, she shares how her grandmother and mother instilled in her a love of learning, proper English, and unwavering faith that would become the foundation of her broadcasting c...
May 06, 2025•41 min•Season 5Ep. 15
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. As President and CEO of the Ohio Black Expo, Sherri Hamilton brings a fascinating blend of technical expertise and community vision that's reshaping how we think about empowerment. Want to experience the Ohio Black Expo's impact firsthand? Join thousands at the Riverfront Culture Fest on May 24-25, featuring everything from health screenings and youth activities to cultural performances and business showcases. Visit Ohi...
Apr 29, 2025•35 min•Season 5Ep. 14
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Commissioner Kevin Boyce's remarkable journey from childhood tragedy to trailblazing public service offers a masterclass in resilience and purposeful living. When his father was murdered at age seven, Boyce found himself navigating life with a single mother working multiple jobs to make ends meet. What could have been a story of limitation instead became one of extraordinary possibility through what Boyce calls his "vil...
Apr 22, 2025•36 min•Season 5Ep. 13
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Chris Broussard's story is uniquely powerful and he is transparent about the spiritual journey that transformed his life. Despite achieving what many would consider the American Dream—promising career, loving relationship, financial security—he describes feeling an emptiness that only surrendering to faith could fill. On his 21st birthday, this decision became the foundation upon which he's built everything since, guidi...
Apr 17, 2025•45 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Judge Guy Reece's remarkable journey from a Mississippi sharecropper's son to a decorated military officer and groundbreaking African-American judge captivates with its powerful message of perseverance and purpose. Growing up in the segregated South before his family relocated to St. Louis, Reece's childhood foundation of hard work and determination became the bedrock of his future success. When drafted during the Vietn...
Apr 15, 2025•39 min•Season 5Ep. 12
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. https://www.youngmengrowing.org/event-details/black-male-teen-summit-2025 The Young Men Growing Mentor Program is hosting a leadership summit on April 19th at Cuyahoga Community College. Gary Hicks Sr. is transforming lives one young man at a time. As founder and CEO of Young Men Growing, his mission pulses with urgent purpose: to shift how young men see themselves from "just kids" to "growing men" with responsibilities...
Apr 14, 2025•32 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. What happens when your legacy ends with you? Pastor Charlie Davis believes that true legacy should live on after we're gone, passed to future generations rather than dying with its creator. In this deeply moving conversation, he shares profound insights from over three decades in ministry about building something that outlasts yourself. Pastor Davis new book "Hidden Blessings: Finding Your Passion After Experiencing Pai...
Apr 08, 2025•33 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Dr. Alesia Gillison's powerful journey from track champion to educational leader demonstrates how authentic belief transforms lives and systems. Faith anchors Gillison's approach to both personal challenges and professional leadership. Her powerful statement – "You don't have to prove to me that you're worthy; you're worthy because God made you" – captures the unconditional belief that drives her work with students, esp...
Apr 01, 2025•28 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Shawn Harper shares his journey from the south side of Columbus to seven seasons in the NFL carries powerful lessons about purpose, perseverance, and spiritual transformation. With remarkable vulnerability, he shares the exact moment his perspective shifted from external validation to internal purpose: "Sometimes, when we lack identity, we tend to want to develop an image. But God didn't call your image, God called your...
Mar 25, 2025•24 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Shelbi Toone, Community Activist, takes us on a remarkable journey through her evolution as an artist, community organizer, and cultural preservationist in Columbus, Ohio. What began with watching her grandparents honor their elders has blossomed into a multifaceted career dedicated to ensuring Black history and community stories aren't lost to time. Today, as project lead for the Poindexter Village Museum (soon to be O...
Mar 18, 2025•36 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Coach Stan Jackson, who has a wealth of experience both playing for Ohio State and now coaching at Westerville North HS, emphasizes that the values learned in sports—that accountability, hard work, and competition—carry over into every aspect of life. Coach Stan Jackson shares his journey through sports, weaving in practical wisdom that every athlete and parent should hear. He openly discusses the pitfalls of "Daddy Bal...
Mar 11, 2025•31 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. On this episode, Shirley Rogers-Reece, a seasoned leader with a wealth of experience accrued over 34 years in the McDonald's Corporation. Her unique insights into corporate culture, mentorship, and the power of legacy are invaluable. Shirley shares about her remarkable path—from working her way up through the ranks in the U.S. to becoming a pivotal force in expanding McDonald's operations in Indonesia. Shirley recounts ...
Mar 04, 2025•31 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Black History Icon: Catherine Willis is a member of the Columbus, Ohio Hall of Fame, and her legacy extends far beyond her accomplishments. She co-founded Friends of Art for Community Enrichment (F.A.C.E.) nearly 50 years ago, introducing children to the art and culture of Africa and African Americans. Catherine's passion is to encourage minority students to explore their musical talents. As the founder of Urban Strings...
Feb 28, 2025•24 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Music Producer, Job Clarkson describes the seven essential mindsets that can lead to a lasting legacy. As a multifaceted artist and the visionary behind the Heart of Job Foundation, Job captivates us with his journey from collaborating with music icons like Ludacris and Rick Ross to founding his own record label, Black Box Entertainment. He shares personal anecdotes that emphasize the importance of making every moment c...
Feb 26, 2025•23 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Christian Johnson and Northland High School student Caden Gadjigo share how they turned their passions into thriving entrepreneurial ventures. Christian reveals her evolution from crafting greeting cards to becoming a business co-founder of ABC Black Iconic Figures, driven by a thirst for autonomy and a deep commitment to education. Meanwhile, Columbus Northland high school senior Caden shares how a simple sketch set hi...
Feb 18, 2025•20 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Gene Smith, a Division I athletic director for nearly 40 years was a trailblazer for Black college administrators. In 1986 when he earned his first athletic director job, he was one of two Black Division I-A athletic directors. Through his diversity and inclusion efforts, Smith has played a big role in administrators from underrepresented groups earning athletic director jobs themselves. Gene Smith’s true legacy can be ...
Feb 13, 2025•30 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Kristen Jones Miller's entrepreneurial journey is both inspiring and transformative. Driven by a personal frustration with the lack of suitable nude lip colors for darker skin tones, Kristen co-founded Minted Cosmetics with Amanda Johnson, turning a light bulb moment into a multi-million dollar success. Their story is a testament to the power of creativity and resilience, as well as the vital role of community support. ...
Feb 11, 2025•26 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. BAB Podcast Black History Month Episode. Judge Yvette McGee Brown. Judge Brown was the first African American woman elected to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court in 1992, and in January 2011, she became the first African American woman to serve as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Ohio. Judge Brown graduated from Columbus City Schools and attended Ohio University with a degree in Journalism/Public Relations, followe...
Feb 06, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Pastor Keith Bradley, Heirs Christian Center Church in Charlotte, North Carolina is a dynamic leader with a compelling story, joins us to uncover the profound intersection of faith and purpose. From his early days in Newark, New Jersey, where he navigated the challenges of foster care and his mother's mental health struggles, to becoming a beacon of spiritual guidance for athletes at Ohio State University, Pastor Bradle...
Feb 04, 2025•29 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support. Join us as we explore this remarkable journey with Vince "The Voice" Bailey, whose signature baritone voice paved his way from a book-loving child in Gary, Indiana, to a prominent voiceover artist and entrepreneur. Vince shares stories of his upbringing, influenced by a hardworking father and a supportive community, highlighting the profound impact of family and mentors on his path to success. Vince takes us through his...
Jan 28, 2025•34 min•Season 5Ep. 1
