Marc Eckō Built A Creative Empire, Almost Lost It All, + Came Out On Top

In 2012, an undersized football player with a chip on his shoulder from Marrero, Lousinia had an idea.In the middle of an NFL playing career that saw him go from undrafted free agent to Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champion, Ryan Clark channeled the competitive streak that fueled his play into a media career.Clark not only overcame the odds to simply play in the NFL, he also overcame a terrifying on field health scare that nearly took his life, and turned it into the next chapter of his career.Since then, Clark has become one of the top voices in sports media, becoming a regular on ESPN, winning an Emmy, and launching his own wildly successful podcast, The Pivot.And it all started with one idea… 0:00 Intro2:02 Biggest Problem in Sports Media6:30 Lessons at LSU8:23 NIL Deals vs NFL Rookie Contracts11:03 Getting Cut From the Giants13:01 “Now You’re a F*cking Steeler”16:02 Battle With Sickle Cell: “I Thought I Was Dying”19:04 Super Bowl Win and Loss25:40 First TV Opportunities While Playing / Debating Skip Bayless / ESPN31:25 “Players are Humans”36:50 The Pivot: Business, Guests, & The Future44:40 Where Does Motivation Come From?

In 1991 a 7-year-old girl on Chicago’s South Side had an idea.Inspired by the stories she heard from her grandmother and mother, Lena Waithe decided she wanted to see the lives of herself and her family and neighbors depicted on television.Moving to Los Angeles in her early twenties, Waithe worked her way up through the television business, eventually winning an Emmy for her writing, creating The Chi, a beloved series loosely based on her own life, and launching her own production company, Hillman Grad.And despite facing sharp criticism for her distinct creative vision, Waithe remains committed to shaping her legacy her way.…and it all started with one idea.Chapters:0:00 - Intro2:10 - Growing Up / 3 Generation House4:05 - Working at Blockbuster / Hoop Dreams7:15 - Navigating Changing Audience Behavior 10:49 - Early Days as an Assistant in Hollywood12:19 - Master of None “Thanksgiving” Episode17:00 - Dealing With Scrutiny That Comes With Fame22:42 - Does Culture Influence Creation? 26:05 - The Chi / Keeping it Fresh 7 Seasons In32:10 - Finding Inspiration Today35:50 - Future Aspirations / Leaving a Legacy

In 2020, a 30-year-old father of two in the Bronx had an idea. While struggling to establish a music career, John Jaequan Cotton, better known as Jae Tips, took inspiration from the streetwear brands he loved and committed fully to a vision for a personal brand focused on apparel and merch.After building an organic following for his designs, Jae stepped outside of his comfort zone and started knocking on the doors of the people who could help scale his vision. That hustle led to a partnership with an obscure running shoe brand, Saucony, and a series of beloved footwear collaborations that captured the imagination of the sneaker community.But despite critical and cultural acclaim, the harsh economics of streetwear and the crowded footwear landscape mean that Jae still cannot take success for granted.And it all started with one idea…Chapters:0:00 - Intro2:15 - Growing Up / Early Influences4:50 - Dealing with Social Anxiety 6:08 - The Influence of Billionaire Boys Club and BAPE8:10 - Lessons Learned Working at Footlocker9:10 - Music Career / Shifting Focus to Merch13:00 - Opportunities During COVID15:00 - Creating Hats, Sneakers, and Shirts17:55 - Keys to Building Community19:30 - First Sneakers with Saucony24:17 - Balancing Supply & Demand / Marketing27:30 - Aftermarket and Resellers29:00 - Five Year Plan / Managing Growth of the Brand32:40 - Biggest Challenges as an Entrepreneur38:20 - Aspirations / What’s Success?40:30 - Leaving ComplexCon Sneaker of the Year Panel43:05 - Turning Adversity into Art

For more stories rooted in the spirit of perseverance, check out Tres Generaciones Tequila: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/ On June 8, 2023, IDEA GENERATION and Tres Generaciones Tequila hosted a listening party with Grammy award-winning rapper Killer Mike in celebration of his latest album, 'Michael.'Killer Mike and IDEA GENERATION Founder Noah Callahan-Bever sat down together in Atlanta in front of a live audience to listen to the album, discuss Mike's career, and hear stories about how the legendary rapper constantly persevered throughout his entire career. The room was packed with fans sipping on Tres Generaciones Tequila, and the after party was popping as Mike once again performed records from the album.Special thanks to our partners at Tres Generaciones for bringing this experience to life. More about Tres: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/

For more stories rooted in the spirit of perseverance, check out Tres Generaciones Tequila: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/ On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, designer Mike Amiri takes us on a journey from his early days growing up in Hollywood, to releasing his first capsule collection, to launching his flagship brand, AMIRI. From handcrafting clothes for musicians, to reaching over $300 million in annual revenue, Mike Amiri's journey is truly remarkable... and it all started with one idea.Special thanks to our partners at Tres Generaciones for bringing this podcast to life. More about Tres: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/

For more stories rooted in the spirit of perseverance, check out Tres Generaciones Tequila: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/  On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, writer and filmmaker Sacha Jenkins takes us on a journey from his childhood in Queens launching his own underground rap and graffiti zines, to pioneering the culture-defining magazine EgoTrip. Eventually Sacha would move into the world of filmmaking, directing the critically acclaimed documentaries 'Fresh Dressed,' 'Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men,' and his latest work, 'Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues.' And it all started with one idea. Special thanks to our partners at Tres Generaciones for bringing this podcast to life. More about Tres: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/

For more stories rooted in the spirit of perseverance, check out Tres Generaciones Tequila: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/  On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, designer, artist, and entrepreneur Marc Ecko takes us on a journey from his days as a young airbrush artist in New Jersey, to launching a $500 million brand in Ecko Unlimited, to creating the culture-defining Complex Magazine, to becoming a best-selling author and philanthropist. And it all started with one idea. Special thanks to our partners at Tres Generaciones for bringing this podcast to life. More about Tres: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/

For more stories rooted in the spirit of perseverance, check out Tres Generaciones Tequila: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/  On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, rapper Rapsody takes us on a journey from her early days in a hip hop collective in college, to rising through the underground rap scene and landing major collaborations with Mac Miller and Kendrick Lamar, to the release of her critically acclaimed debut album, 'Laila's Wisdom.' From rapping for fun to signing to Jay-Z's Roc Nation and getting nominated for Grammy's, Rapsody's career is an incredible story... and it all started with one idea. Special thanks to our partners at Tres Generaciones for bringing this podcast to life. More about Tres: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/

On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, actor, entrepreneur and activist Gabrielle Union takes us on a journey from her early days as a struggling actor in Los Angeles, to becoming a blockbuster movie star, film producer, and author... all while building a portfolio of her own brands and being a present mother in her family. And it all started with one idea. The Idea Generation Podcast is brought to you by Tres Generaciones Tequila.  The perfect tequila for creatives who are ready to fail twice, but get up Tres!  @TresGenTequila

On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, producer Tay Keith takes us on a journey from his early days taking piano lessons, to meeting BlocBoy JB and building their careers together, to producing smash hits for artists like Beyonce, Drake, and Travis Scott, including the Diamond record "Sicko Mode." The Idea Generation Podcast is brought to you by Tres Generaciones Tequila.  The perfect tequila for creatives who are ready to fail twice, but get up Tres!  @TresGenTequila Credits  Noah Callahan-Bever Creator & Host, Idea Generation Starring: Tay Keith Executive Producer: Helena Ox  Producer: Jack Erwin  Lead Editor, Creative Director & Sound Designer:  Sarathi Garimella  Producer / Editor: Xan of Mars