Same Game Different Turf

What happens when you've achieved the dream you've worked toward your entire life, but behind the scenes you're struggling with things nobody can see? In this episode of Same Game, Different Turf, Mohamed Massaquoi sits down with Fernando Velasco, former NFL offensive lineman, player development leader, and mental health advocate, for a conversation about identity, adversity, vulnerability, and finding purpose beyond the game. Fernando grew up in Wrens, Georgia, a town of approximately 2,500 people. His childhood was shaped by family trauma, an incarcerated father, and circumstances that made his dream of playing in the NFL seem almost impossible. Through football, faith, and the support of people who believed in him, he earned an opportunity to play at the University of Georgia. After being redshirted as a junior and eventually going undrafted, Fernando entered the NFL as a free agent, spent time on the practice squad, and went on to build a nine-year career that included playing in the Super Bowl. While his professional accomplishments continued to grow, Fernando was navigating challenges most people never saw. The loss of a close friend to suicide, a season-ending Achilles injury, and the pressure of maintaining his identity as a professional athlete took a toll on his mental health. Fernando shares how he hid what he was experiencing, the moment someone helped him open up, and how a later bipolar I diagnosis changed the way he understood himself. Today, Fernando uses those experiences to help others recognize the importance of mental wellness, community, and understanding who they are beyond their performance. In this conversation, we explore: Growing up in Wrens, Georgia, and navigating family trauma The role faith, family, coaches, and mentors played in shaping his life How being redshirted at Georgia became a turning point in his development Going undrafted and spending his early NFL career on the practice squad What it felt like to reach the Super Bowl The pressure of performing while dealing with grief and personal challenges How the loss of a close friend changed his perspective on mental health The moment Ray Jackson helped him recognize that he didn't have to struggle alone Living with bipolar I disorder and building systems of support Why high performers often hide behind a mask of pressure, performance, and expectations The importance of vulnerability, asking for help, and finding identity beyond your career How Fernando is helping others through the Velasco Family Foundation and his MASK framework His pursuit of a doctorate at Penn State and desire to create opportunities for the next generation Fernando also shares his MASK framework, which has become central to his work: M — Meet Your Truth: Be honest with yourself about what you're experiencing. A — Ask for Help: Recognize that you don't have to navigate difficult moments alone. S — Systems: Build the habits, resources, and support structures that help you manage life's challenges. K — Know Your Identity: Understand that you are more than your performance, accomplishments, or circumstances. What makes this conversation especially meaningful is Fernando's willingness to share experiences that were once difficult for him to talk about. From his childhood to his NFL career and the challenges that followed, he offers a perspective on how the moments that test us can also shape how we show up for others. Watch the full conversation and subscribe to Same Game, Different Turf for more conversations with athletes, entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders navigating transitions in life and business. #FernandoVelasco #SameGameDifferentTurf #MohamedMassaquoi #MentalHealthAwareness #NFL #GeorgiaBulldogs #Leadership #LifeAfterFootball

What does it take to go from working 16-hour days in a hotel kitchen to building a global hospitality company with 110 properties across 26 countries? In this episode of Same Game, Different Turf, I had the honor of sitting down with Euan McGlashan, co-founder and CEO of Valor Hospitality Partners, to unpack his journey that began in a tough working-class town in Scotland and eventually led to building a global hospitality management company. Euan's path included leaving Scotland as a young man, moving to South Africa, helping open and lead the award-winning Cape Grace hotel, and eventually moving to the United States, where he experienced some of the most difficult years of his professional and personal life. At 44, while navigating a negative career situation, Euan walked away from his job and started Valor Hospitality Partners. During this time Euan live off his kids college fund as he built a company that would eventually employ approximately 8,000 people across the globe. But what makes this conversation interesting isn't just the growth of the company. It's how Euan's experiences shaped his perspective on leadership, humanity, confidence, and the responsibility that comes with building something bigger than yourself. In this conversation, we explore: * Growing up in Scotland and how difficult early experiences shaped Euan's approach to life * Going from a hotel kitchen to leading Cape Grace in South Africa * Lessons on humility, humanity, and leadership from Nelson Mandela * Overcoming anxiety, self-doubt, and the need for external validation * How The Power of Now changed his perspective * Leaving a job at 44 and risking his family's financial security to start Valor * Why pressure can be a privilege when you're taking action * Building a culture where employees can grow personally and professionally * Balancing kindness with the relentless pursuit of excellence * Why businesses must constantly evolve rather than follow the status quo * Navigating COVID and the importance of strong relationships * Building a company that can continue to grow beyond its founder   From the importance of self-awareness to the idea that every stage of life and business is another diary entry, this conversation gives an inside look at how experience, adversity, and intentional growth can shape the person you become. Watch the full conversation and subscribe to Same Game, Different Turf for more conversations with entrepreneurs, athletes, executives, and individuals navigating major transitions in life and business.

Matt Bronfman didn't set out to become a CEO or spend nearly three decades helping shape some of the most recognizable real estate projects in the country. He thought he was going to be a lawyer. After law school and clerking for a judge, Matt realized litigation wasn't for him. He became a transactional lawyer, started doing work with a small real estate company called Jamestown, and saw an opportunity. Instead of waiting for someone to ask, he raised his hand. That decision eventually led him from general counsel to acquisitions, portfolio management, COO, and ultimately CEO of Jamestown, where he has helped shape places like Chelsea Market and Ponce City Market. What stood out to me is how much of Matt's journey wasn't mapped out in advance. He talks openly about luck and being in the right place at the right time, but he also consistently put himself in position for luck to find him. He volunteered, stayed curious, took chances, and was willing to step into opportunities before knowing exactly where they would lead. We talk about: • Why you shouldn't wait for an engraved invitation • Realizing the career you prepared for may not be the right career for you • Raising your hand before you feel completely ready • How luck and preparation work together • Discovering strengths you didn't know you had • Why curiosity keeps you from becoming complacent • Finding opportunity in places other people overlook • The thinking behind Chelsea Market and Ponce City Market • Why creating places people actually want to be matters • Building relationships with tenants instead of simply collecting rent • Navigating COVID, changing work habits, and difficult real estate cycles • Why laughter and joy have been important throughout Matt's career • Becoming a better synthesizer as you gain experience • Bringing younger perspectives and new ideas into an organization • Making situations better instead of focusing on what's wrong • Staying open to AI, technology, and what's coming next Matt's story is a reminder that you don't always have to know exactly where you're going. Sometimes you have to stay curious, raise your hand, and be willing to walk through the opportunities that show up along the way. Episode: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify www.thevessol.com 

Former NFL player and Cosm CEO Jeb Terry talks about what happens when you find new ways to stay close to your dream.   After injuries and being released from the NFL, Jeb went back to business school and could have taken a traditional route into finance at Goldman Sachs. Instead, he took a risk and built his first startup to stay close to sports, connect with athletes, and rethink the fan experience. That decision eventually led to selling the company to Fox, where he gained new experiences in sports, media, and technology that helped him connect the dots to build Cosm.   We talk about why you can't fear failure but still have to hate losing, the importance of enduring long enough to figure things out, building great teams, maintaining relationships, and why some of the people Jeb met nearly a decade ago are helping Cosm succeed today.   One of the biggest things that stood out to me is that Jeb couldn't have mapped out where he is today when football ended. But each chapter gave him a skill, relationship, or perspective that became valuable in the next one.   Our conversation navigates: • Why you can't fear failure, but still have to hate losing • Accepting when one chapter is over and finding somewhere new to apply your drive • Why the ability to endure is one of the most valuable traits an entrepreneur can have • Building a startup when you don't have all the answers • How relationships built years earlier can create opportunities you could never predict • Building a high-performing team like an NFL roster • Why great leaders give people the tools to perform and then get out of the way • The idea behind Cosm and what it took to turn it into reality • Why thinking big and actually executing big are two completely different things • Cosm's ambition to redefine the fan experience around the world   Subscribe for more conversations with athletes, entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders navigating what comes next.

Elly Karamoh saw the world differently long before he became the stylist behind some of entertainment’s biggest names. Growing up outside Paris, Elly was the kid studying fashion shows, red carpets, music videos, and the evolution of stars while everyone around him viewed him as different. Elly moved to Atlanta as a teen who couldn’t communicate because he couldn’t speak English. Today, Elly communicates in perfect English while helping to reshape the image of Steve Harvey and working with names including Lori Harvey, Kelly Rowland, Busta Rhymes, Mary J. Blige, Khloé Kardashian, and more. In this episode of Same Game, Different Turf, Elly shares how observation became education, education became obsession, and obsession eventually created opportunity. We talk about the confidence required to remain yourself when you don't fit in, his approach to reinventing Steve Harvey without losing what made Steve iconic, and why great style is about understanding someone's identity and helping the world see them differently. Elly also opens up about handling criticism, resisting the pressure to rush success, staying present instead of constantly worrying about what's next, and why he believes being great requires studying the greats and being willing to "apply pressure." In this conversation: Growing up around fashion and culture in Paris Moving to Atlanta without speaking English Learning to become comfortable being different Turning isolation into education and obsession How confidence develops through knowing yourself Getting the opportunity to style Steve Harvey The thinking behind Steve Harvey's fashion reinvention Why great styling enhances someone's identity instead of replacing it Creating range and longevity instead of chasing one great look Styling men and women at the highest level Why Elly continues going to Paris Fashion Week for inspiration Handling criticism when your work is always under scrutiny Why you shouldn't rush your journey because other people think your moment will disappear Staying authentic as success and visibility grow Why Elly believes the picture matters Watch and listen to the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.   Subscribe to Same Game, Different Turf for more conversations about the people, experiences, and transitions.

Former NFL Pro Bowler and No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick Ronnie Brown joins Same Game Different Turf to discuss what happens after achieving the dream you've worked toward your entire life.   From growing up in a small Georgia town to starring at Auburn and spending 10 seasons in the NFL, Ronnie shares what it was like navigating success, identity, and the transition into a completely different career as a financial advisor. We discuss purpose after sports, imposter syndrome, financial literacy, relationships, mentorship, and why the skills that make someone successful on the field can translate into success anywhere.   This conversation isn't just for athletes. It's for anyone navigating change, pursuing a second chapter, or wondering whether they can become great more than once.   In this episode: * Why becoming great doesn't have to happen only once * The identity shift after leaving professional sports * $187 to a $19.5 Million Signing Bonus * Transitioning from the NFL to financial advising * Why purpose matters more than titles * Building wealth and changing financial habits * The power of mentors, teammates, and relationships * Why mastering the fundamentals creates long-term success * How athletes can prepare for life after sports * Raising kids through sports without losing the joy * Nobody Prepares You for the End * Don't Fear of Your Own Greatness   #RonnieBrown #LifeAfterTheNFL #AuburnFootball #FinancialLiteracy ##CareerTransition #AthleteTransition #WealthBuilding #SelfDevelopment

This episode features Frank Brown, CEO of Communities In Schools of Atlanta, one of the nation's leading organizations focused on helping students overcome the barriers that prevent them from succeeding in school and in life.   Frank's story is one of education, relationships, and purpose. Growing up in a single-parent household in Charleston, South Carolina, Frank’s brother was sentenced to 15 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter after killing his stepfather. Same house. Same parents. Similar upbringing. Yet their lives took very different paths. Frank discusses how he experienced firsthand how one opportunity completely changed the trajectory of his life. That opportunity led him to college, law school, Capitol Hill, and ultimately to leading one of Atlanta's most impactful nonprofit organizations.    We discuss why relationships often matter more than talent, how education can alter the course of an entire family, what it takes to lead through complexity, and why solving generational problems requires long-term commitment instead of quick fixes.   Themes from this episode: How one opportunity can change an entire life The power of education to break generational cycles Why relationships compound over a lifetime Growing up in a single-parent household Leadership lessons from Capitol Hill Building trust before creating change The hidden barriers preventing students from succeeding Why nonprofit leadership should operate like a business Data, accountability, and measuring impact Mentorship and changing the trajectory of young lives Leading with purpose instead of ego Developing future leaders Building organizations that outlast you Why service is one of the highest forms of leadership Creating pathways to the American Dream   Subscribe for more conversations exploring leadership, resilience, purpose, and the transitions that shape extraordinary lives.

This episode features Justin Anthony, founder of Yebo Beach Haus, Lion's Head Private Club, and several of Atlanta's most recognized hospitality concepts. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Justin's life revolved around soccer. From the age of six, he knew he wanted to become a professional player and spent years pursuing that dream. But after a serious knee injury changed the trajectory of his career, he was forced to confront one of the hardest realities athletes face: what happens when the identity you've built your life around begins to disappear? What followed was a journey of reinvention. Justin went from professional athlete to waiting tables, learning the hospitality business from the ground up before opening the first South African restaurant in America. Over the next three decades, he built a hospitality empire rooted in authenticity, service, resilience, and a willingness to evolve. This conversation explores transitions, humility, entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience, and what it takes to build a meaningful second chapter when life doesn't go according to plan. Themes from this episode: Navigating life after sports The identity challenges athletes face after retirement Why humility is essential for long-term success Learning a new industry from the ground up Building the first South African restaurant in America Entrepreneurship, risk, and betting on yourself Ownership versus letting others control your future Leadership and building high-performing teams Knowing when to persist and when to pivot Growing through adversity and uncertainty Lessons from COVID and leading through crisis The power of authenticity in business and life Building culture through hospitality Why success looks different at every stage of life The connection between athletics and entrepreneurship Watch and listen: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify Subscribe for more conversations exploring transitions, leadership, resilience, and building a meaningful life beyond the labels we place on ourselves.

From the 1996 Olympics to OutKast, TLC, Usher, Pink, Babyface, T.I., Nike, and Adidas, DL Warfield has spent decades helping shape culture through art and creativity. In this episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with fine artist and creative director DL Warfield to discuss creativity, resilience, authenticity, relationships, and what it takes to build a career that stands the test of time. DL shares stories from designing the Olympic album cover, working with some of the biggest names in music, staying culturally relevant across multiple decades, and why approaching creativity like an athlete helped him sustain success. This conversation is a reminder that success is rarely about one moment. It's about continuing to evolve, staying true to who you are, and doing the work long enough for your gifts to compound. In this episode: Designing the 1996 Olympic album cover Working with OutKast, TLC, Usher, Pink, and T.I. Creativity, culture, and artistic evolution Why athletes and artists think more alike than people realize Staying relevant over multiple decades Creative instincts and trusting your vision Building a career through relationships Authenticity and creative longevity Finding where your gifts are celebrated Balancing creativity with business The importance of resilience and consistency Why good taste matters DL's story is a masterclass in staying authentic while continuing to grow. Hosted by Mohamed Massaquoi 

This episode features Brian McGowan, President of Centennial Yards Company, the largest sports adjacent entertainment district underdevelopment in the world. Brian’s career is a masterclass in navigating transitions. His work has spanned the Obama Administration, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office, leading Invest Atlanta, and serving as CEO of the Atlanta BeltLine. We discuss career reinvention, leading through uncertainty, identifying opportunity, and why meaningful work often requires vision, resilience, and the ability to create belief before results show up. We also talk about what it takes to lead transformational projects when people doubt the vision, why transferable skills often matter more than perfect credentials, and how great teams create confidence in high-pressure environments. Themes from this episode: Transforming downtown Atlanta through Centennial Yards Why meaningful work creates a different level of commitment Moving toward difficult problems instead of avoiding them Leadership during uncertainty and pressure Transferable skills and career reinvention Creating belief before results show up Why culture drives execution Managing risk on billion-dollar projects Public service, purpose, and long-term vision The emotional weight of transformational work Perspective, resilience, and family priorities Building teams that create confidence Why opportunities often come through conversations Sports-adjacent entertainment districts and the future of development Balancing ambition, pressure, and personal life