Pivot Podcast

“Human beings are the only puzzle I can’t figure out.” Aldis Hodge

On this powerful episode of The Pivot Podcast, Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, and Fred Taylor sit down with actor, producer, and master watchmaker Aldis Hodge for one of their most raw and revealing conversations yet.

Hodge opens up about being raised by a single mother whose strength and sacrifice shaped his work ethic and sense of responsibility from an early age. Growing up in an area where the presence of the KKK was real and racial tension wasn’t just history—it was lived experience—he reflects on how those early encounters with hate forged both resilience and purpose. Rather than shrink, he found his voice. A passionate, unapologetic Black voice grounded in truth, excellence, and accountability.

Best known for his roles in Straight Outta Compton, Hidden Figures, One Night in Miami, Hawkman in Black Adam, and currently the lead in Prime Video series Cross, Hodge shares the pressure of portraying cultural icons and superheroes alike. He discusses the responsibility that comes with representing real stories and real communities—and how he channels personal experience into every performance.

Beyond Hollywood, Aldis speaks about fatherhood and how being a proud girl dad reshaped his definition of success. Legacy is no longer just about career accolades—it’s about what he models at home, the protection he provides, and the standard he sets for the next generation. In a deeply personal moment, Aldis lets us in on a powerful exchange between him and his wife that has forever changed and guided him.

He also dives into his passion for puzzles and engineering, explaining how building his own watch brand is rooted in ownership, precision, and creating generational wealth. Drawing powerful parallels between elite athletes and elite artists, Hodge breaks down why mastery demands hard work, sacrifice, and the courage to pivot toward purpose.

This episode is about perseverance through adversity, using your platform with intention, and building a legacy that stands taller than the obstacles meant to break you.

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“They would have had to cut my foot off before I didn’t play in Super Bowl.” Nick Emmanwori 

They say Defense wins championships, and the Seattle Seahawks backed that statement up with one of the fiercest units!

Keeping up Pivot tradition, we travled to the home of the world champions post Super Bowl to sit down with Nick Emmanwori, the Seattle Seahawks’ rookie safety who defied the odds and finished his first NFL season on top of the league. Nick takes us inside an unforgettable year — from his Nigerian roots to being selected as the 35th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, to becoming an anchor of Seattle’s defense and a key contributor to their championship run. 

We get into the biggest question looming Super Bowl week when a video of Nick surfaced not being able to walk as he opens up on the ankle injury scare heard round the football world as he shares missing the biggest game of his life was never an option and what he did to push through the unknown to stay locked in mentally and physically to help his team win the Lombardi. He takes Ryan, Channing and Fred into the locker room mentality to paint a picture of what Seattle truly built the past year and why he trusts a repeat is not off the table, recognizing all the pieces that need too fall in place to go back to back.

Beyond the big game, we dive deep into the ups and downs of his rookie campaign, falling to the second round of draft and rebounding with the early-season growth that earned him Defensive Rookie of the Year buzz and how he battled adversity to find his confidence on the biggest stages. Relying on veteran leadership, Seattle's locker room bonded together on a mission to never let outside noise affect the team goal which created the NFL's No. 1 ranked defense, known as the "Dark side". He opens up about his bond with head coach Mike Macdonald and what he had to do to soak in all of the football knowledge to adapt to X & O schemes that elevated his play.

Nick also opens up about the bond with Sam Darnold, whose own redemption arc culminated in a sturdy Super Bowl performance — proving that heart and leadership can outweigh the critics. The guys reflect on resilience, leadership, and the lessons learned in a season that none of his team will ever forget. And we couldn't not ask about the women in his life, from his mom's viral interview Super Bowl week to Dawn Stalely wearing his jersey to his girlfriend, Raven Johnson's unconditional support...this conversation covers it all.

From draft dreams to the Lombardi Trophy, this is the inside story of a rookie who refused to be ordinary and a team that rewrote the championship narrative. Pivot Family, please like, comment and subscribe- we love hearing and interacting with you all to see what resonates with you most!
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“There's something sort of romantic about losing everything and going back to zero.” Garry Vee

Continuing to champion a winning mindset after Super Bowl week, We sit down with serial entrepreneur, investor, cultural icon and friend of The Pivot Gary Vaynerchuk, better known to the world as Gary Vee. From immigrating to the U.S. as a kid and transforming his family’s liquor store into a multimillion-dollar business, to building VaynerMedia and becoming one of the most influential voices in entrepreneurship, Gary’s journey is all about betting on yourself and embracing the long game.

Gary dives right in on the do's and don'ts of navigating everyday life, offering research and guidance whether you are someone who feels stuck, looking for the next thing or experiencing self-doubt, he shares something for everyone in this conversation by making complex ideas seem relatable and breaking down what's hold someone back. He breaks down the fears associated with AI and how, electricity, something we couldn't live without now, was once feared that same way.

Gary gets real about taking chances before you’re ready, the fears that still drive him, and why self-awareness is the ultimate competitive advantage. He breaks down what most people get wrong about success, money, and happiness, and why patience, humility, and execution matter more than hype.

The conversation also dives into emerging business and media trends, where attention is really going in 2026, and how creators, athletes, and entrepreneurs can stay ahead without burning out. Plus, Gary connects his passion for sports to leadership, ownership, and legacy—and explains why athletes are perfectly positioned to dominate the business world if they play it right.

This is a masterclass in mindset, risk, and evolution from someone who’s lived every chapter and has a willingness to share information hoping to make an impact.

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“I take the blame on defense, we thought we earned it but it was a young mindset.” Jared Verse

We love sports because it's all about the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, but for the athletes who play the game, it's all the moments in between that truly impact one's journey and mindset. Heading into Super Bowl weekend,  we look ahead to the big game with one of the most dominant young players in the NFL, LA Rams Jared Verse — the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year and one of the league's most disruptive young edge rushers. Jared joins The Pivot Podcast for a deep-dive into the chess match called professional football.

The young star breaks down how film study, technique, and a relentless motor have helped him terrorize NFL quarterbacks, rack up pressures and tackles for loss, and evolve into a true game-changer for the Rams’ defense. 

We get into LA's last two season endings in heartbreak loss, going inside the mindset after his team's NFC Championship loss in Seattle as Jared opens up in a reflective and humbling tone about what went wrong, who's to blame and how to recover mentally from the disappointment. He talks about his MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford, leadership from Sean McVay and special advice from Aaron Donald that has changed his approach to the game. In opening up about this loss that still stings, and how this feeling will fuel his offseason preparation — from extra hours in the lab to the mindset tweaks that separate good defenders from great ones.

Plus, he shares what it’s like to learn from and compete with the best: the time he challenged Aaron Donald to a brutal one-on-one workout, came out the other side exhausted but inspired, and walked away with lessons on grit, fourth-quarter toughness, and the habits of elite defenders. 

Jared also talks about the defensive stars he studies, the moves and counters he’s adding to his repertoire, and how guys like Donald, Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, TJ Watt and others helped shape his approach — even facing San Fran's Trent Williams on his welcome to the NFL moment and how it woke him up to another level. He also shares his thoughts on his former college teammate Keon Coleman's struggles in Buffalo and what he thinks will come of it all.

From film breakdowns to mental insight to edge rushing philosophy, teammate dynamics, and how the greats build a game against the very best — this is one of the most personal, candid reflections of a top athlete opening up on the highs and lows of playing sports at an elite level.

Pivot Family, thank you for rocking with us, we love hearing from you, please hit subscribe, like, and comment! Keep this thing rolling!
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Super Bowl week is about the culmination of blood, sweat and tears with the best teams going at it and crowning a new NFL champion. This episode is a conversation with someone who knows a lot about what it takes to be at the top of a sport and the will to win at all costs...retiring with a perfect 42-0 boxing record, Terrance "Bud" Crawford joins The Pivot for a powerful, reflective conversation about legacy, purpose, and what comes next.

Without hesitation, Bud tells Ryan that fight night between two top boxers is bigger and more pressure than the Super Bowl and explains why he sees it as such.

Describing his journey in detail and how he defied the odds as a kid from the streets of Omaha to the mountaintop of boxing 🥊 Bud opens up about his decision to step away from the ring, revisiting a career defined by record-breaking fights, historic championships, and defying the odds to become an undisputed world champion. He speaks with honesty how he didn't have all the same opportunities as the big names in the sport yet he prevailed as the best to do it in his era. He is the first male in the modern four-belt era to become an undisputed world champion in three different weight divisions and highly regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the history of the sport- with his win over Canelo Álvarez widely seen as a defining achievement and one of boxing’s signature performances.

Bud breaks down the mindset that carried him through adversity, the moments that shaped him as a fighter, and the pride he takes in representing his city and his people at the highest level. Beyond the belts and accolades, Bud talks fatherhood, growth, and why family has always been his true north. He also shares why he believes boxing is in good hands, offering respect and insight on the next generation ready to carry the sport forward. Channing asks if there is a number that could get him to return to the ring, and his answer is surprising but also extremely telling of who he is as a man.

This conversation is an exploration of greatness, resilience, and a life built with intention showing that anything is possible. Whether you’re a boxing diehard or a fan of real stories about perseverance and purpose, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

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