Intellectual Athlete: Recent Episodes
Greg Plater
Ankeet Presswala speaks on the value of technology in our society, misconceptions of masculinity, gender norms, and being an engineer in the bay area.
Curious about what it takes to perfect your craft? Is the drive to be great intrinsic or can it be learned? Are parents putting too much pressure on kids? WNBA fundamentals, Lebron's greatness, Kyrie's new role with the Celtics - Guest Tihon Johnson and I discuss the importance of letting kids be kids and exploring interests of all areas along with the importance of learning from failure.
Fellow intellectual, acupuncturist, community leader, and youth basketball coach, Chris Pearson, takes us on a descriptive journey of self mastery. This involves growth mindset, and resiliency with the addition of awareness cultivation. We also discuss the importance of integrity and consistency, liberation and whole awareness, and the impact of systematic inequity and the legacy of oppression in America.
Grayson Boucher aka The Professor is one of the most legendary streetball players in history with global success rising from underdog to stardom. The journey wasn't always smooth but with an open mind, finding faith through adversity, and strategic branding, Grayson has taken his passion for hoops and used it to impact cultures around the world. In our conversation, he shares never before heard detail on the lowest point of his professional basketball career, the impact of losing his best friend Troy "Escalade" Jackson, and his perspective on race issues in America. A thought leader, forward thinker, and intellectual athlete uses his platform to better the lives of others while continuously reaching new heights of success.
Paradigm-shifter; Green lightsaber brandisher; citizen of the kingdom of God & heaven; and seeker - Horace Wormley aka The Gingerbread Man blesses our ears with wisdom and style. Horace is a writer, professional basketball player, creator, world traveler, and out of the box thought leader. From the influences of James Baldwin, Lupe Fiasco, Paul Robeson, Japanese culture, and anime we learn what it means to be apart of the "Seeker Søciety" from the mind of the movement's founder.
Shane Lawal takes us through a descriptive journey of his experience as a professional athlete, father, vegan, and perspective of true wealth. His journey to Euroleague stardom, 2016 Olympics, Italian Serie A championship, and TBT Tournament Champion wasn't easy, it was actually the nearly impossible. From walk-on to Olympian, Shane breaks down how the obstacles in his life motivated him to ignore being overlooked and accomplish his dreams. Now dealt with overcoming the ups and downs of recovering from a torn patellar tendon, we see a more personal side of what it means to be a professional on and off of the court.
Travel to new arenas - have you ever been outside of your community? Do you have a dream travel destination? Well traveling isn’t just a physical adventure, it can encompass a mental exploration as well. Let’s see how far the rabbit hole this conversation about The Matrix, the universe, and stepping outside of your comfort zone will take you.
Diversity with guest Chris Head - Our first guest, Oakland native, Chris Head. He is a legend in the Bay Area known for his hard work, dedication, and humble spirit. Former collegiate basketball player at Hampton University, Chris shares the ups and down of pursuing the dream of playing professional basketball overseas, diversity in the bay area, and how to appreciate and make the best of the every moment.
Identity - Introduction to The Intellectual Athlete host Greg & co-host David with a discussion about the importance of identity. The ability to know one's self is extremely valuable when navigating our individual and collective journey. There is no I in team but there are individuals who make up a team, so to create our best 5 we have to work together.