In this episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with David Pollack, former University of Georgia player, three-time All-American, first-round NFL Draft pick, former ESPN analyst, speaker, author, and host of the See Ball Get Ball podcast.
David shares a powerful story of identity, transition, faith, resilience, and learning how to make every day count. From becoming under-recruited, to elite football player, to suffering a career-ending neck injury in the NFL, to rebuilding through broadcasting, speaking, writing, and family life. Our conversation is full of perspective for anyone navigating change.
We talk about what it really means to be great where you’re at, how to stay present instead of living in the rearview mirror, how to grow through adversity, and why some of life’s hardest moments can shape you into the strongest version of yourself. David also opens up about faith, his wife’s battle with brain cancer, parenting, personal discipline, leadership, and the mindset behind his book Every Day Counts.
This is a conversation about more than football. It’s about purpose, suffering, grit, service, and how to respond when life changes faster than you expected.
In this episode, we discuss:
* David Pollack’s journey from Georgia football to the NFL
* The mindset that helped him become great after changing positions multiple times
* What happened after his broken neck ended his NFL career
* Transitioning from pro sports to local radio and eventually ESPN
* Why feedback, accountability, and self-evaluation matter
* How faith shaped the way he handled adversity and uncertainty
* Lessons from his wife’s brain cancer journey
* The message behind his book Every Day Counts
* Parenting, youth sports, resilience, and letting kids own their journey
* What success looks like now in speaking, media, and life
 
If you’re in a season of transition, rebuilding, leadership, loss, or growth, this episode will challenge and encourage you.
Subscribe for more conversations with leaders, athletes, founders, and high performers navigating life and career transitions on Same Game Different Turf.
 
#DavidPollack #SameGameDifferentTurf #NFL #GeorgiaFootball #Faith #Resilience #Leadership #Mindset #PersonalGrowth #EveryDayCounts #CareerTransition #Adversity #SportsPodcast #Motivation #SuccessMindset

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with David Pollack, former University of Georgia player, three-time All-American, first-round NFL Draft pick, former ESPN analyst, speaker, author, and host of the See Ball Get Ball podcast.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;David shares a powerful story of identity, transition, faith, resilience, and learning how to make every day count. From becoming under-recruited, to elite football player, to suffering a career-ending neck injury in the NFL, to rebuilding through broadcasting, speaking, writing, and family life. Our conversation is full of perspective for anyone navigating change.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We talk about what it really means to be great where you’re at, how to stay present instead of living in the rearview mirror, how to grow through adversity, and why some of life’s hardest moments can shape you into the strongest version of yourself. David also opens up about faith, his wife’s battle with brain cancer, parenting, personal discipline, leadership, and the mindset behind his book Every Day Counts.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This is a conversation about more than football. It’s about purpose, suffering, grit, service, and how to respond when life changes faster than you expected.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we discuss:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* David Pollack’s journey from Georgia football to the NFL&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* The mindset that helped him become great after changing positions multiple times&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* What happened after his broken neck ended his NFL career&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* Transitioning from pro sports to local radio and eventually ESPN&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* Why feedback, accountability, and self-evaluation matter&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* How faith shaped the way he handled adversity and uncertainty&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* Lessons from his wife’s brain cancer journey&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* The message behind his book Every Day Counts&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* Parenting, youth sports, resilience, and letting kids own their journey&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;* What success looks like now in speaking, media, and life&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you’re in a season of transition, rebuilding, leadership, loss, or growth, this episode will challenge and encourage you.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Subscribe for more conversations with leaders, athletes, founders, and high performers navigating life and career transitions on Same Game Different Turf.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;#DavidPollack #SameGameDifferentTurf #NFL #GeorgiaFootball #Faith #Resilience #Leadership #Mindset #PersonalGrowth #EveryDayCounts #CareerTransition #Adversity #SportsPodcast #Motivation #SuccessMindset&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

David Pollack shares his journey from Georgia football star to NFL first-round pick, from a career-ending neck injury to building a new chapter in media, speaking, and life. In this conversation, he talks about resilience, faith, intentionality, parenting, leadership, and the mindset behind his book Every Day Counts. It’s a powerful episode for anyone learning how to respond when life takes an unexpected turn.

NCAA All-American → NFL Broken Neck → ESPN GameDay → Faith: David Pollack on Making Every Day Count

In the latest episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with Elicia Azali, Chief Marketing Officer at Beazer Homes, to talk about leadership, marketing, and building a career that aligns with who you truly are.
Elicia’s journey from Oberlin, Ohio to the C-suite is a powerful reminder that success isn’t just about where you start.
It’s about work ethic, mentorship, and the courage to be yourself in rooms where you may feel different.
In this conversation:
• The work ethic lessons that shaped her growing up in Ohio 
• How mentorship helped launch her career in marketing 
• Early career experiences at Procter &amp; Gamble 
• Navigating imposter syndrome and authenticity in leadership 
• Why marketing is really about understanding people 
• How brand strategy drives business growth 
• Lessons from leading across multiple industries 
• Building alignment and vision as a C-suite executive 
• Balancing motherhood and executive leadership 
• The evolving meaning of purpose and success
This episode is a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, motherhood, career development, and building brands that last.

<description>&lt;p&gt;In the latest episode of Same Game Different Turf, I sit down with Elicia Azali, Chief Marketing Officer at Beazer Homes, to talk about leadership, marketing, and building a career that aligns with who you truly are.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Elicia’s journey from Oberlin, Ohio to the C-suite is a powerful reminder that success isn’t just about where you start.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It’s about work ethic, mentorship, and the courage to be yourself in rooms where you may feel different.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In this conversation:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;• The work ethic lessons that shaped her growing up in Ohio
• How mentorship helped launch her career in marketing
• Early career experiences at Procter &amp;amp; Gamble
• Navigating imposter syndrome and authenticity in leadership
• Why marketing is really about understanding people
• How brand strategy drives business growth
• Lessons from leading across multiple industries
• Building alignment and vision as a C-suite executive
• Balancing motherhood and executive leadership
• The evolving meaning of purpose and success&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This episode is a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, motherhood, career development, and building brands that last.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

About Elicia Azali
Elicia Azali is the Chief Marketing Officer of Beazer Homes, a national homebuilder focused on energy-efficient homes and sustainable communities. She has held leadership roles across major organizations including Procter & Gamble, Nationwide Insurance, and The General.
Her work focuses on brand building, customer insight, and driving business growth through marketing leadership.

Small Town → Taking Risk → Beazer Home CMO: Elicia Azali on Marketing, Motherhood, and Leadership

In this episode, I sit down with TJ Callaway, founder and CEO of Onward Reserve, to unpack what building something real actually takes.
TJ shares his journey from investment banking to entrepreneurship and how that experience gave him confidence in rooms where big financial decisions are made. More importantly, he explains why lasting success isn’t about hype or chasing fast exits. It is about discipline, ownership, and playing the long game.
We cover
<ul>
<li>Why loving the process matters more than chasing the exit</li>
<li>How credibility gives you leverage in rooms most people feel intimidated in</li>
<li>The risk of building a business you don’t control</li>
<li>When to pivot from selling other brands to owning your own</li>
<li>Why the grind never really stops, and why that is a good thing</li>
</ul>
This conversation is grounded in patience, discipline, and building for the long term. TJ also shares how making thoughtful, deliberate decisions along the way allows you to control the variables that shape your future.
If you are building something, a company, a career, or your life, this episode will challenge how you think about control, preparation, and what success actually feels like.
 

If this episode resonated, subscribe and share it with someone navigating their own transition.

<description>In this episode, I sit down with TJ Callaway, founder and CEO of Onward Reserve, to unpack what building something real actually takes.
TJ shares his journey from investment banking to entrepreneurship and how that experience gave him confidence in rooms where big financial decisions are made. More importantly, he explains why lasting success isn’t about hype or chasing fast exits. It is about discipline, ownership, and playing the long game.
We cover
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why loving the process matters more than chasing the exit&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How credibility gives you leverage in rooms most people feel intimidated in&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The risk of building a business you don’t control&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;When to pivot from selling other brands to owning your own&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why the grind never really stops, and why that is a good thing&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
This conversation is grounded in patience, discipline, and building for the long term. TJ also shares how making thoughtful, deliberate decisions along the way allows you to control the variables that shape your future.
If you are building something, a company, a career, or your life, this episode will challenge how you think about control, preparation, and what success actually feels like.
 

&lt;p class="cta-caption"&gt;If this episode resonated, subscribe and share it with someone navigating their own transition.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

TJ Callaway, founder and CEO of Onward Reserve, reflects on his transition from investment banking to launching his own clothing brand. He shares three major lessons: fall in love with the process because the destination won’t satisfy you, build a foundation that creates credibility and leverage, and take control of the key variables that determine your success.

Investment Banking → → Entrepreneur → Brand Builder: Onward Reserve Founder: TJ Callaway on Process, Controlling Your Destiny, and Legacy

This episode features Mariangela Corales, General Counsel of Goodwill of North Georgia, and a proud Latina leader whose journey reflects ambition, resilience, and cultural pride.
As the daughter of Cuban immigrant parents, Mariangela carries a deep sense of responsibility and gratitude into her work. We discuss what it means to be a Latina executive in corporate law and nonprofit leadership, often navigating rooms where you are the first or one of the only. Her story highlights the intersection of identity, leadership, and career growth, and how cultural heritage shapes confidence, drive, and purpose.
This conversation explores career transitions, imposter syndrome, and how to design your own path without sacrificing your values. Mariangela shares how she learned to trust herself, find evidence of her wins, and redefine what “having it all” means as a woman in leadership. Rather than choosing between ambition and family, career and culture, she demonstrates how alignment across seasons creates sustainable success.
We also talk about purpose-driven work, giving back to the community, and how leadership in the nonprofit sector can create meaningful impact beyond titles. This episode is for anyone navigating leadership development, cultural identity, career advancement, or the pressure to succeed while staying true to who you are.

<description>&lt;p&gt;This episode features Mariangela Corales, General Counsel of Goodwill of North Georgia, and a proud Latina leader whose journey reflects ambition, resilience, and cultural pride.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As the daughter of Cuban immigrant parents, Mariangela carries a deep sense of responsibility and gratitude into her work. We discuss what it means to be a Latina executive in corporate law and nonprofit leadership, often navigating rooms where you are the first or one of the only. Her story highlights the intersection of identity, leadership, and career growth, and how cultural heritage shapes confidence, drive, and purpose.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This conversation explores career transitions, imposter syndrome, and how to design your own path without sacrificing your values. Mariangela shares how she learned to trust herself, find evidence of her wins, and redefine what “having it all” means as a woman in leadership. Rather than choosing between ambition and family, career and culture, she demonstrates how alignment across seasons creates sustainable success.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We also talk about purpose-driven work, giving back to the community, and how leadership in the nonprofit sector can create meaningful impact beyond titles. This episode is for anyone navigating leadership development, cultural identity, career advancement, or the pressure to succeed while staying true to who you are.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Mariangela Corales, General Counsel of Goodwill of North Georgia, shares her journey as the daughter of Cuban immigrants navigating leadership, identity, and ambition. This episode explores Latino pride, designing your own path, redefining “having it all,” and finding purpose through service and giving back.

First-Generation → Law → Motherhood  → General Counsel, Goodwill of North Georgia: Mariangela Corales

This episode features Melissa Proctor, Chief Marketing Officer of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena.
Our conversation centers on navigating transition without having everything figured out. Melissa shares how staying rooted in who you are, anchoring in your strengths, and saying yes to opportunities that stretch you can create momentum over time.
We talk about authenticity in leadership, creativity as a competitive advantage, and why growth often comes from unglamorous yeses long before titles or certainty appear. Melissa’s journey reminds us that clarity is rarely the starting point. Commitment, curiosity, and alignment are.
This episode is for anyone navigating change, stepping into new roles, or learning how to build a career that reflects who they actually are rather than who they think they’re supposed to be.

<description>This episode features Melissa Proctor, Chief Marketing Officer of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena.
Our conversation centers on navigating transition without having everything figured out. Melissa shares how staying rooted in who you are, anchoring in your strengths, and saying yes to opportunities that stretch you can create momentum over time.
We talk about authenticity in leadership, creativity as a competitive advantage, and why growth often comes from unglamorous yeses long before titles or certainty appear. Melissa’s journey reminds us that clarity is rarely the starting point. Commitment, curiosity, and alignment are.
This episode is for anyone navigating change, stepping into new roles, or learning how to build a career that reflects who they actually are rather than who they think they’re supposed to be.
 
&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Melissa Proctor, CMO of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena, shares lessons on navigating transition without certainty. This episode explores authenticity, leading with strengths, and saying yes to opportunities that stretch you before the path is clear.

Creative Artist → Career Transitions → CMO, Atlanta Hawks: Melissa Proctor

Same Game Different Turf Podcast aims to lead the conversation on navigating transitions. Rather than reinventing oneself, it emphasizes building on an existing foundation—growing, adapting, and moving forward. The goal is to evolve into the next version of yourself, whether that means overcoming a challenge or stepping into a new opportunity.

New episode and newsletter every other Wednesday.

Hosted by Mohamed Massaquoi. 
<a href="http://www.SameGameDifferentTurf.com">www.SameGameDifferentTurf.com</a>

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