Pivot Podcast

• Jack Bech NFL Draft Prospect opens up on losing his brother in Bourbon Street attack, overcoming adversity, how he's turned grief into grit, the power of faith and family and a special message to NFL teams when they select him this wknd

  “Last words I ever told him was I love him and keep fighting. So that’s what I’m gonna live by from now on, just keep fighting, keep going no matter the circumstance but just keep on going.” Jack Bech We try to find the right words to capture the impact and emotion of this episode, but this is one, that when you listen to it, you'll understand how rare and special of a human Jack Bech is and why any NFL team who drafts him, will instantly be better for it. Whether you're an athlete, a dreamer, or someone rebuilding from a loss, this episode is a reminder: the pivot isn’t the end — it’s where growth begins. Ryan, Channing and Fred visit Lafayette, Louisiana, home of the Bech family and sit with Jack at the place his football career all started, St. Thomas More Catholic High School. Recent tragedy struck his family as his older brother, Tiger, was a victim of the Bourbon Street New Year's Eve attack. Jack opens up on the horrific moments of that night as he reflects on losing his brother who he idolized in every aspect from football to his faith to being his best friend since he was a young boy. In a special moment, he reveals something that he hasn't publicly shared yet about losing his brother and why now is the right time to share, With Jack projected to be a day two pick in the upcoming NFL draft, he shares that NFL teams are getting a two-for-one special as he is no longer just playing for him, but his brother too. As a wide receiver, his football journey has been anything but linear. From LSU to TCU, Jack opens up about the highs, the heartbreaks, and the headspace it takes to bet on yourself when the world starts doubting you. Coming off a dominant final year in college ball, Jack shares how he’s turned grief into grit—navigating injuries, transfers, and the pressure of expectations while holding tight to his love for the game. His family's heartbreak is added-fuel towards fulfilling his dream of a long successful NFL career and names a few star wide receivers he admires and models his game after from Cooper Kupp to LSU friends Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Malik Nabers, taking pieces of their style to craft into his own. Jack is ready for wherever his journey takes him next and his guardian angel will be there to join him in any NFL city he calls home, and if you don't believe him, just watch. The Pivot Family will be rooting for Jack and his family this weekend as his football fate is determined. Don't forget to subscribe and comment below. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Lane Kiffin College Football's most Polarizing figure, Ole Miss pride, personal growth, legacy of his father Monte Kiffin, Mentors Nick Saban & Pete Carroll and reveals the one thing that makes Quarterback Jaxson Dart so valuable in the NFL Draft

  "I didn't hit a rock bottom. I just got tired of digging…Tired of digging myself out of messes.” Lane Kiffin, Head Coach Ole Miss Football  It's a football Friday episode with the fellas as Ryan, Channing and Fred chat with one of the most polarizing figures in college sports, Coach Lane Kiffin, who's sharp wit fans have come to expect, but this conversation reveals a side of him that few get to see, full of humility, gratitude and tremendous respect for the men who helped shape his career from Nick Saban to Pete Caroll to most important his father, the late Monte Kiffin. From once being the NFL’s youngest head coach at just 31, to public scrutiny in his hirings and firings to now becoming the Head man at Ole Miss football, Kiffin reflects on the peaks and pitfalls of a career that’s seen everything from sideline success to very significant setbacks. Now older, wiser, and grounded in both his personal life and his coaching philosophy, Kiffin opens up about the man he’s become, both for himself, his players and children. He talks candidly about getting sober, becoming a more present father, and rebuilding his life off the field, explaining how change didn't come from a breakdown, but from a decision to be better. Losing his father, his life-long hero, is a something Coach couldn't measure the impact one person could have on so many people and so many aspects of life until he had time to let his legacy sit in and guide him through the next phase of his life. The guys ask Kiffin about the ever-changing landscape of college football, NIL, the transfer portal, and what it takes to keep a team together when everything around it is constantly shifting. Kiffin isn’t shy about the challenges, but he’s also clear-eyed about what matters most, connection and relationships with these young men. He speaks on his Quarterback, a top NFL Draft prospect, Jaxson Dart and why any of the 32 teams isn't just getting a talented stud on the field but a massive star in everyday. Reflecting on his time working with mentors, Pete Carroll and Nick Saban, Lane offers a rare look into what shaped his football mind and how getting fired from USC, the job he once idolized, became a major pivot, forcing him to grow not just as a coach, but as a human. The guys go beyond X’s and O’s. From laughing about yoga poses and NIL drama to unpacking grief, fatherhood, and the need for emotional sobriety, Kiffin shows that vulnerability is not weakness it’s evolution... “You don’t have to figure it out forever. You just have to do it today,” he says. Getting prepped for the 2025 season after Spring ball, Coach Kiffin is already scheming, tweeting and quietly building something powerful in Oxford. He may not be calling Cover 2 like his dad, but he’s got a few plays dialed up you won’t see coming on this episode of the Pivot. Don't forget to like and comment as you follow us on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  1:10:02
• Jay Shetty, Best-Selling author & Podcast guru, brings years of study, wisdom and experiences into the sports space, challenging Ryan, Channing and Fred to find clarity and balance in a busy world with pressures of relationships, love, work and society.

  “Even if you hate your job, you hate your career- Collect everything you possibly can from this experience and then move to the next thing and collect everything from that.” Jay Shetty  Pivot Family, in this introspective and soul-stirring episode, we go outside our comfort zone of sports and entertainment, approach topics we tend to ignore and ask questions that will help guide us to not just find our purpose but to LIVE our purpose, and who better to do it with than a man who sits atop the space, globally known for his wisdom and guidance. New York Times Best Selling author, Award-winning podcast host and former monk Jay Shetty brings a powerful blend of vulnerability, clarity, and wisdom to the discussion. Known for helping millions navigate personal growth and emotional healing, Jay sits down with the newly minted Black Monk (our own Ryan Clark), Channing and Fred to share how his life has been built on pivots. Spiritually, emotionally, and professionally, “My life has just been full of pivots… I don’t actually want to be ever not pivoting,” he says, embracing change as a lifelong practice rather than a one-time choice. Jay opens up to the guys about his unlikely journey from chasing status in London to giving it all up to become a monk, living in an ashram. Ryan asks if it was a failure to leave the monastery after three years to pursue his calling for motivational speaking as the guys discuss the reality of how life shifts and if we don't evolve, we can't grow. Jay recounts the days when no one showed up to hear him speak, the power of pushing forward and not being afraid to start at zero, reminding us all that growth requires humility, patience, and persistence. Throughout the conversation, Jay breaks down the challenges people face in modern relationships, identity, and purpose. He speaks candidly about love. What it is, what it isn’t, and why we often confuse instability for excitement, flipping the cultural script on romance and connection. Whether discussing solitude, emotional baggage, or finding meaning through pain, Jay delivers deep truths with the calm assurance of someone who’s lived every word. Jay opens up about marriage, failure, grief, and the challenge of letting go of people, careers, and versions of ourselves we’ve outgrown. He shares with the guys that we lose love to remind ourselves that there are other emotional skills to be developed by challenging us to grow beyond heartbreak, not just recover from it. More than just motivation, this episode is a toolkit for self-discovery. With his signature compassion and clarity, Jay Shetty proves that pivoting isn’t something you fear, it’s how you evolve. Whether you’re starting over or standing still, this conversation might be the shift you didn’t know you needed. Like and Comment what your biggest takeaway is from the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  1:24:45
• Michael Carter-Williams Former NBA Star opens up on Mental Health struggles and depression after early success, extra pressure going from Rookie of the year accolades to the injuries to fighting to feel alive and regain back control of his life.

  “I was at the lowest point, I didn't know what I wanted. I didn't even know if I wanted to be alive at the time.” Michael Carter-Williams Former NBA star  In this powerful episode of The Pivot Podcast, former NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams sits down with Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder to share the untold story of his journey through the highs and lows of professional basketball, the quiet moments that almost broke him and uncovering resilience. From instant stardom to injury setbacks and battling to stay in the league, Micheal opens up on how he found the mental toughness needed to keep pushing when the world counted him out and shares how he found peace and joy again. From rock bottom back up to the fullest he's been in his life, Michael talks about the pressure of early success, the lessons learned from adversity, and how fatherhood and personal growth reshaped his mindset both on and off the court. This conversation is raw and honest about identity, perseverance, and finding purpose beyond the sport. He reflects on growing up in a wealthy town but not having wealth, navigating the feeling of being an outsider in both predominantly white and Black spaces, and how basketball became his outlet.   Michael takes the guys through the surreal moment of winning Rookie of the Year with the 76ers, only to be traded the next season. He opens up about being coached by his childhood idol Jason Kidd, their fallout, the challenges of bouncing between five teams in five years, and the mental toll of trying to live up to high expectations.   At one of the lowest moments in his life, Michael reveals how he lost both his NBA job and his fiancé in the same week, sending him into deep depression and self-doubt. He admits there was a time he didn’t even know if he wanted to be alive. But through therapy, self-reflection, and rediscovering his purpose, he found his way back, eventually re-earning the trust of his now-wife and securing a two-year deal with the Orlando Magic.   Transitioning into the next phase of his life, Michael talks about his role as an ESPN analyst, the importance of teaching athletes about business, and why mental health is still taboo in NBA locker rooms. He hopes to change that narrative by starting real conversations something he wishes had been available to him earlier in his career.   This episode of the Pivot is about survival, self-worth, and embracing the journey, no matter how unpredictable it gets. Michael Carter-Williams’ story proves that success isn’t defined by awards or contracts, but by the ability to fight through adversity, rebuild, and come back stronger than before. Don't forget to comment, follow and like for more conversations like this! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  56:37
• Penny Hardaway Pride of Memphis, NBA Hall of Famer to Visionary College Coach, Mentorship, Orlando Magic, Shaq stories, playing vs Michael Jordan, bond with grandma, NIL in NCAA and impactful legacy

  “I came back and gave my time so that I could give a young man an opportunity to dream, understand how to handle himself on and off court, have accountability, responsibility and to share a mentality that nothing is going to be given to you, you have to earn everything and get out of entitlement phase.” Penny Hardaway   In this episode of The Pivot Podcast, Ryan, Channing and Fred sit down with NBA legend and Hall of Famer Penny Hardaway for an in-depth conversation about his journey from basketball icon to cultural influencer to fatherhood to head coach of the Memphis Tigers. This conversation goes far beyond basketball, it’s about life, leadership, mentorship, and Penny's commitment to giving back to his community to inspire future generations. Penny opens up about his early days growing up in Memphis, his rise to fame in the NBA, and the lessons he’s carried with him throughout his career. He shares with the guys his humble beginnings and being raised by his grandmother after both his parents were in and out of the picture. He speaks with raw honesty about the quiet strength she instilled in him, preaching loyalty to his roots and how that foundation helped him navigate the fame and expectations that would come with being one of the most prolific athletes of his generation. As one of the most beloved figures in basketball, Penny shares behind-the-scenes stories from his time with the Orlando Magic, From playing alongside Shaquille O’Neal to chasing a championship to facing Michael Jordan to injuries derailing his explosive career...Penny doesn't lean into regrets, but admits that without the injuries, his name would have been mentioned with the greats. Despite Shaq and Penny going separate ways, he admits that the most fun he had playing basketball was with his larger than life teammate and it was a rockstar lifestyle on and off the court. Now as Head Coach of the Memphis Tigers, Penny is more than just a coach. He’s a pillar for his city and a mentor to a new generation of young men. He reflects on the promise he made to his childhood friend and former coach Desmond Merriweather, a promise that brought him back home and inspired him to help create paths for young people to chase dreams. He talks about coaching his own sons and how it brought a new love of the game seeing his own sons play and be able to connect with them differently. With a disappointing early-round loss in NCAA tournament, Penny understands that the post season is where legacy is created, not just for him as a coach but for the athletes too. Navigating the NIL landscape has been tricky, but Penny stands firm on his philosophy that anyone can give you the money, butt not everyone can get you better in the gym. One of our favorite conversations we have had because of the honesty and realness in the words spoken as Penny reminds us all that life is bigger than who we are, it's what we do with the gifts given to us that matter the most. And in every word, he proves that no matter how far you go, there’s power in returning home, not just to give back, but to build something bigger than yourself. Follow us and comment on what you think about this conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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