25: The Wrap Up!
In the final show of the season, Annie picks out some of her highlights and favourite clips from our stellar guests. It was no easy thing trying to whittle down so much wisdom...
May 07, 2021•32 min•Ep. 25
Raising A Pro with Annie Apple
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Episodes
24: The journey of Ryan Shazier
“We saw Ryan’s life change in an instant. It made us not take anything for granted..it can happen to anyone” Ryan Shazier is a former linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers after being drafted by the team back in 2014. Fast forward to December 4th 2017, it was during a Monday night football game when hearts stopped all over the world as Ryan went down in a game against the Steelers, clutched his back and couldn’t get back up. In this episode we hear from Ryan’s mother, Shawn Shazier. Shawn takes...
Apr 29, 2021•53 min•Ep. 24
23: In Conversation with Dr Herb Martin
"I really believe that mental health is about safety and creating safety. Emotional, psychological, social and interpersonal. As parents, we have to model that behavior" Today we’re talking about the importance of the emotional wellbeing of athletes. Annie is joined by Dr. Herb Martin, a clinical psychologist and mental health expert. He is the president of Peak Performance Consulting Group and Team Clinician for the Los Angeles Chargers....
Apr 23, 2021•49 min•Ep. 23
22: The Cameron Heyward story
“We told him. It’s a business and you totally lose all of your childhood when you sign that contract. You are a man…” The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive captain, Cameron Heyward has been a Pro Bowler the last four seasons while also earning All-Pro honors in 2017 and 2019. He was drafted by the Steelers straight out of Ohio State in the 2011 NFL draft and he’s been with the team ever since. In this episode we hear from Cam’s mother, Charlotte Heyward, who is not only his biggest cheerleader in l...
Apr 09, 2021•33 min•Ep. 22
21: The journey of Nick and Joey Bosa
"It's ok to get accolades, you work hard and you happen to be one of the best at something - how many people can say that?" Nick Bosa is defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers, he was drafted by the team second overall in the 2019 NFL draft. His brother, Joey, is also an NFL defensive end and plays for the Los Angeles Chargers and and was selected by the team third overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Both men cut their teeth playing college football at Ohio State after incredible high school caree...
Apr 02, 2021•45 min•Ep. 21
20: In Conversation with Greg Camarillo
"I was stressed every day, I got to a point in my fourth year where I was ready to get cut" Last month, former NFL wide receiver Greg Camarillo, found a series of tweets he posted about mental health in and beyond football going viral. He spoke honestly and poignantly in the tweets after learning about the sudden passing of friend and former team mate Vincent Jackson. In this episode, Greg talks about his college football days at Stanford, his shock and delight at being signed by the San Diego C...
Mar 26, 2021•35 min•Ep. 20
19: The Geno Atkins story
“He went into the weight room after his freshman year and he came out a linebacker” Geno Atkins was drafted by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft straight out of The University of Georgia. He has spent his last 11 seasons in the league with the team ever since and is now an eight time Pro Bowler. And his star keeps on shining. In this episode we hear from his mother, Sandra Atkins as she takes us deeper into Geno’s story right back to his early football days growing up in Flor...
Mar 19, 2021•50 min•Ep. 19
18: 2020 NFL Season recap
Audrey Garrett and Robin Burrow join Annie to take a look back at a stand out season in NFL history. Together they dissect the highs and the lows of a season consumed with an unprecedented amount of injuries in the midst of a global pandemic.
Mar 12, 2021•51 min•Ep. 18
17: The journey of Michael and Martellus Bennett
“I told them, I want you to retire the game before it retires you” Michael and Martellus Bennett have always been each other’s biggest cheerleaders. The brothers played football together at Texas A&M and both went on to become Super Bowl champions before retiring from the game and chasing their passions off the field. Their mother, Pennie Bennett takes us on a journey through the lives of these close brothers, and how their unshakable bond has never broken in spite of difficult draft days an...
Mar 05, 2021•49 min•Ep. 17
16: The story of Donovan McNabb
“They told the agent, we will never have a black quarterback” Donovan McNabb had a career as an NFL quarterback spanning 13 seasons, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was drafted by the team second overall in the 1999 draft out of Syracuse University and went on to lead the team to eight postseasons, five NFC East Division championships, five NFC Championship games and their first Super Bowl experience in 24 years. He was and remains an iconic player. His contribution to Eagles’ history...
Feb 26, 2021•44 min•Ep. 16
15: The journey of Jerome Bettis
“So I told him, Jerome, you're not going to speak out. You're not going to say anything. You're going to let them do this to you” Jerome “The Bus” Bettis was drafted 10th overall in the 1993 NFL draft. His career saw him play through 13 football seasons, his final 10 played out with the Pittsburgh Stelers before he retired after the 2005 season. A decade later and he found himself on the receiving end of the ultimate nod from the league as he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His ...
Feb 19, 2021•51 min•Ep. 15
14: In Conversation with Jemele Hill
Kicking off our series of interviews in celebration of Black History Month, Annie sits down for a deep and honest chat with Jemele Hill. The host of the wildly popular Jemele Hill Is Unbothered podcast, writer for the Atlantic and co host of Vice TV’s Won’t Stick To Sports, opens up about her journey from a little kid growing up in Detroit sneaking a peak at the sports papers to becoming the NABJ Journalist of the Year in 2018 and beyond.. Jemele is a truth sayer, she doesn’t sugarcoat reality o...
Feb 12, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 14
13: The story of Sterling Shepard
“I didn’t see those injuries on the field. But i’ve seen him be hurt and it’s like your heart stops” You know Sterling Shepard as the dynamic wide receiver for the New York Giants. He played college football at Oklahoma and was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. But there is so much more to this young man’s story than you might expect. In this episode his mom, Cheri, joins us to discuss the journey of her son and watching in awe as his childhood dreams come true. Hi...
Jan 29, 2021•46 min•Ep. 13
12: The Gronkowski Legacy
“It was crazy, but I just did it. I didn't drink, I didn't take drugs. I didn't smoke. I just got up every day. I look back now and I go, Oh my gosh.. but at the time, you just do it” The name Gronkowski is no stranger to professional sports. All five of the Gronkowski brothers have made it to pro level with four playing in the NFL; including Tampa Bay tight end Rob Gronkowski. In this episode we hear from Gordie Jr, Chris, Dan, Rob and Glenn Gronkowski’s mother, Diane. Diane ran a tight ship wh...
Jan 22, 2021•43 min•Ep. 12
11: The journey of Malcolm Jenkins
“We couldn't plan this journey for Malcolm. It's not ours. It wasn't ours. It wasn't scripted by us” Malcolm Jenkins was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 2009 and has had an incredible career ever since. Over a decade later and he’s got two super bowl rings to play with after winning Super Bowl XLIV with the New Orleans Saints and Super Bowl LII with the Philadelphia Eagles. He is now back with the Saints where he continues to be one of the best lines of defense they have. Aside from footbal...
Jan 15, 2021•45 min•Ep. 11
10: The story of Ndamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh was drafted second overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2010 NFL draft after playing college football at Nebraska.That same year he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year and 10 seasons later he’s currently holding things down as Defensive End for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The time in between saw him play his first Super Bowl in 2018 during a short stint with the LA Rams. He is known for his size and fierce playing style on the field, but that couldn’t be further from the truth of h...
Jan 08, 2021•37 min•Ep. 10
9: The rise of the first female CEO in NFL History: Amy Trask
“My number one piece of advice is to do everything in a manner that is true to yourself” Amy Trask is a sports Analyst for CBS, a lawyer and author of the outstanding book ‘You Negotiate Like A Girl: Reflections On A Career In The National Football League’. She’s also the current chair of the board of Big3, a 3-on-3 professional basketball league. But the achievements don’t stop there.. in 1997, Amy became the first female CEO in NFL with the Oakland Raiders, working with the team for almost 30 ...
Jan 01, 2021•40 min•Ep. 9
8: The journey of Ezekiel Elliott
“It bothers me when someone says one of these players is trash.. because none of these guys are trash” Ezekiel Elliott is a star running back for the Dallas Cowboys after being drafted 4th overall in 2016. He played college football at Ohio State where he earned second team All America Honours in 2015. In this episode his mother, Dawn Elliott, takes us through Ezekiel’s journey to the top, tracing the athletic gene through their family. Dawn opens up about Ezekiel’s heartbreak over the death of ...
Dec 18, 2020•54 min•Ep. 8
7: The journey of Saquon Barkley
“ Everything in life has a setback..but sometimes you get setback for a greater journey” Saquon Barkley started playing football at just five years old and after an incredible showcase throughout high school and college, the running back was drafted by the New York Giants in 2018. His star has been growing ever since. 2020 has been a rough season for injuries across the NFL, and Saquon is no exception. A knee injury cut short his 2020 season so for now he is focusing on healing so he can come ba...
Dec 11, 2020•41 min•Ep. 7
6: The Zach Ertz story
“It’ll never be easy to not see Zachary in an Eagles jersey...” Zach Ertz is the Philadelphia Eagles’ tight end whose incredible game winning touchdown catch sealed the long overdue Superbowl win for the Eagles in 2018. Philadelphia is a city that had been crying out for that big win and Zach is very much a part of that success story. In this episode we speak to his mom, Lisa Ertz, as she shares the story of Zach from his Pop Warner days, how his drive and determination to achieve and be ready f...
Dec 04, 2020•50 min•Ep. 6
5: Annie Apple in conversation with her son, Eli Apple
“I didn’t really know the extent of your condition, until you told me and I realised I might actually lose you” Eli Apple was drafted 10th overall in the 2016 NFL draft by the New York Giants from Ohio State after winning Fiesta Bowl MVP. He was then traded to New Orleans Saints where the team was one bad call away from going to the Superbowl in 2018. After a stint with the Carolina Panthers, Eli entered free agency in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic. In this special thanksgiving episode, m...
Nov 27, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 5
4: The DeAndre Hopkins story
“I remember him saying, i don't care that you can't see..i just want you there..” DeAndre Hopkins is a star wide receiver of the Arizona Cardinals. He was selected in the first round, 27th overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft by The Houston Texans, making him the second wide receiver in franchise history to be drafted in the first round. And his star has been rising ever since. Like her son, his mother Sabrina Greenlee is a force to be reckoned with and she’s been DeAndre’s biggest cheerleader eve...
Nov 20, 2020•47 min•Ep. 4
3: The journey of Myles Garrett
“None of our personal moments should define us in the totality of who we are..” Myles Garrett is the man on defense for the Cleveland Browns after being drafted first overall in the 2017 NFL draft and he’s been terrorising quarterbacks ever since. His mom, Audrey Garrett has been there through it all. The highs of his career, the challenges, and the devastating lows including his suspension from the 2019 season after an on field altercation with Mason Rudolph of the Pittsburgh Steelers. In this ...
Nov 13, 2020•55 min•Ep. 3
2: The journey of Joe Burrow
“His coaches always said he had ice in his veins..even from the time he was little” Joe Burrow is a quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, picked number 1 overall in the 2020 NFL draft. The first ever virtual draft due to the restrictions of COVID 19. Joe Burrow’s mom, Robin Burrow, takes us right back to when Joey first picked up a football as a boy, through his high school and college years right up to the man that we see standing on the field today. A man full of integrity, who is not afraid...
Nov 06, 2020•42 min•Ep. 2
1: Introducing Raising A Pro
Launching November 6th with new episodes released every Friday. Hosted by journalist, storyteller, and NFL mom Annie Apple, Raising a Pro takes you beyond the gridiron to give you an intimate look at your favorite athletes. A glimpse through the eyes and experiences of those who helped star athletes become who they are. Make sure you subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or via your favourite podcast app.
Oct 15, 2020•2 min•Ep. 1
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