In this episode, Clay speaks with James Casey. James is a 7-year NFL veteran, spending time with the Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, and Denver Broncos. Currently, he is the tight ends coach for the Cincinnati Bengals. Drafted by the Chicago White Sox out of high school, James spend 4 years in professional baseball before returning to school to pursue his education and football dreams. He earned All-American honors at Rice University before being drafted into the NFL. James and Clay walk through James’ unique journey from humble beginnings in small town Texas to the NFL. The two discuss James’ introvert personality, the tragic loss of James’ mother at 16 years old, asking for help, perseverance, professional baseball and failure, finding his way to Rice, what James does better than anyone else, and what James is most proud of in his life.

In this episode, Clay speaks with Kyle Vitale, PhD. Kyle is the Director of Programs at the Heterodox Academy (HxA). HxA is a nonpartisan nonprofit formed as a response to the rise of orthodoxy within scholarly culture. HxA works to improve the quality of research and education by promoting open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement in institutions of higher learning. The HxA community is made up of more than 5,000 professors, educators, administrators, and students who come from a range of institutions, represent nearly every discipline, and are distributed throughout 49 states and across the globe. Learn more about HxA on their website (https://heterodoxacademy.org/) and check out educational videos on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/c/HeterodoxAcademy)! Kyle introduces listeners to the Heterodox Academy. Kyle and Clay explore HxA’s mission, the problem of orthodoxy, how to win skeptics, John Stewart Mill’s case for free speech and view point diversity, why ideas must be vigorously contested, responsible disagreement, how to frame ‘harm’ and develop trust.

In this episode, Clay speaks with Christina Olufunmike Tegbe and Crystal Oluwamayowa Tegbe. Christina is the founder and CEO of 54 Thrones and Crystal is the company’s Chief of Staff. 54 Thrones is a beauty brand that celebrates the richness of the 54 diverse nations across the African continent. Every product offered is sourced directly from artisans throughout Africa. The company has been featured widely, including on Oprah’s Favorite Things, Shark Tank, Today Show, People, Elle, US Weekly, Essence, InStyle, Goop, and is carried nationwide by retailers Sephora and Nordstrom. Christina, Crystal, and Clay use 54 Thrones as a bridge to larger conversations that extend beyond building a great company. The trio discuss growing up in a multicultural environment, American perceptions of Africa, embracing culture, cultural appropriation, representation, and the responsibility that comes with success.

In this episode, Clay speaks with Matt Flaherty. Matt is a professional ultramarathoner (50 – 100-mile races). He is a past ultra-champion and placed second in the 2021 Leadville 100. In this episode, Matt and Clay walk through Matt’s journey into professional ultramarathoning, his decision to leave professional running to return to school in his 30’s, managing diverse interest, running to your strengths, unreasonable belief in yourself, staying positive over 100 miles, pain and suffering, and making an impact outside of running.

In this episode, Clay speaks with Dr. Gwen Bradford. Gwen is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of Graduate Studies at Rice University. She works in value theory and normative ethics, focusing on achievement, meaning, uniqueness, perfectionism, well-being, and ill-being. Gwen’s book, Achievement (OUP 2015), which is about the nature and value of achievement, was awarded the 2017 APA Book Prize. Gwen and Clay focus mainly on Achievement, and how achievement relates to meaning in life. In addition, they discuss the goal of being human according to Aristotle, the ‘Golden Mean’, Plato’s view of leadership, the philosopher’s role in society, difficulty, evil achievements, and why it’s important to engage in conversations that make us uncomfortable.

In this episode, Clay speaks with Danny Southwick. Danny is a psychologist and doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania. Where he is studying under, and publishing work with, Dr. Angela Duckworth, the wildly influential psychologist and author of the best-seller, Grit. Danny’s research focuses on practice, expertise, grit, and perceptions of talent. Danny is also an accomplished athlete. He has quarterbacked teams in the Arena Football League for over 14 years, and spent time early in his career with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders. Danny walks listeners through an athletic journey that included 6 college transfers, 21 different professional football teams and finding a passion for psychology. Danny and Clay also diver deep into Failure, Quitting, Discipline, Grit, Talent, Innate Ability, Excellence, Success, Survivorship Bias, and Goal Setting.

In this episode, Clay speaks with Bobby Bramhall and Nate Headley. Bobby and Nate are the co-authors of Who’s on First? Everything a Baseball Parent Needs to Know. Who’s on First? is a ‘how-to’ manual designed to help young athletes and their parents navigate the baseball journey from tee-ball to pro-ball. Bobby Bramhall is the President and Co-Founder of the Athlete Licensing Company, a former NCAA Division I Assistant Athletics Director, former professional baseball player, and All-American at Rice University. Nate Headley is the Owner and Operator of RBI Baseball & Softball in Knoxville, TN, a former collegiate athlete, former NCAA Division I Baseball Coach at the University of Tennessee and Director of Baseball Operations. Bobby, Nate, and Clay discuss the book at length. In addition, they share why they fell in love with baseball, their favorite baseball memories, focusing on what you can control, natural ability, specialization at a young age, small pond theory, great coaching, mentality, and the realities of the minor leagues.

In this episode, Clay speaks with Rice University’s Martha and Henry Malcolm Lovett Professor of Psychology, Dr. Mikki Hebl. Mikki is an applied psychologist whose research focuses on workplace discrimination and the ways both individuals and organizations can remediate such discrimination and successfully manage diversity. She has published approximately 200 journal articles, book chapters, and edited books. She has presented her research across the globe and often shares her expertise on subtle biases, gender issues, and ally training within organizations. Mikki has been the recipient of 23 major teaching and mentoring awards (including the prestigious Cherry Award), research grants from NSF and NIH, and several gender-related research awards. She has joined an elite few at Rice University who have been retired from winning further awards. In 2005, she was selected as the Commencement Speaker at Rice University’s graduation ceremonies, which marked the first and only time a current faculty member gave the address. Mikki is also a life-long runner, completing 74 marathons, including 1 in every state and 1 on every continent. Mikki and Clay exchange definitions of self-actualization, explore the pursuit of extremely difficult goals and challenging ourselves (including running a marathon in Antarctica), impacting and influencing others, finding progress in challenging spaces, partisan professors and their social media habits, Mikki’s ‘anti-vita’, and what Mikki is most proud of in her career.

In this episode, Clay speaks with Caroline Burckle. Caroline was a two-time National Champion, multiple-time All-American, and 2008 NCAA Swimmer of the Year at the University of Florida. She represented the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the 4x200 meter freestyle relay. Caroline is also the co-founder of RISE Athletes, a virtual mentoring program where professional and Olympic athletes mentor and empower youth athletes with transferable skills to impact sport and life performance. Caroline and Clay discuss methods for raising self-actualized young girls, flawed coaching/motivational methods, the trappings of building an identity around sport and success, contradictory emotions, the difference between resilience and happiness, unhealthy vs. healthy emotional examination, small acts of kindness, and Caroline’s virtual mentoring program, RISE Athletes. Follow Caroline’s journey @caroburckle on Instagram or learn more about her at www.carolineburckle.com. And find out more about RISE Athletes @RISEathletes on Instagram or at www.rise-athletes.com.

In this short episode, Clay shares an essay describing what he calls ‘Beautiful Conversation’ and encourages us all to seek out consequential conversations, see the best in one another, and emphasize common humanity.