On this episode of the Intangible Podcast, we sit with Ole Miss softball phenom Mackenzie Pickens — a rising SEC star with the mindset and motor every young athlete should study. Mackenzie breaks down the pressure, the grind, and the intangibles that fuel her confidence on the biggest stage. If you’re chasing greatness or raising an athlete who is, this conversation is pure gold. Mackenzie opens up about her journey to Oxford, what it’s like growing up with a twin sister who also plays colle...
Today on the Intangible Podcast, we sit down with Compete Every Day founder, keynote speaker, and leadership coach Jake Thompson — a man who has trained over 85,000 leaders and built a global brand rooted in one message: your habits will take you where your hype never will. Jake opens up about developing composure in the toughest moments, redefining what competition really means, and why the greatest opponent you’ll ever face is the one in the mirror. He even breaks down his COMPETE Framewor...
In this episode of the Intangible Podcast, we sit down with Ole Miss volleyball standout Gabi Placide — a fierce competitor with a quiet intensity and a heart for leadership. Gabi opens up about her journey from Colorado to the SEC, why the Grove sold her on Ole Miss, and how ambition carried her from a mid-major to one of the biggest stages in college volleyball. Gabi talks about the intangibles that truly shape her game: hunger, consistency, competitiveness, confidence, staying grounded in...
Clemson great and former NFL defensive end Austin Bryant joins Chris Spencer for a powerful, raw, and inspiring conversation about the intangibles that shaped his life on and off the field. From growing up in a small South Georgia town to winning two national championships at Clemson and navigating the highs and lows of the NFL, Austin opens up in a way young athletes and parents rarely get to hear. He reflects on the village that raised him, the toughness he learned competing with older cou...
In this episode of The Intangible Podcast, former UCLA and Florida State tight end Jordan Wilson opens up about the qualities that shaped his journey — faith, resilience, leadership, and an obsession with greatness. From growing up in Nashville with a strong faith foundation, to ACL setbacks, to transferring across the country, to fighting his way back from an Achilles tear, Jordan’s story is a masterclass on what separates good athletes from great ones. Young athletes, parents, and coaches —...
In this episode of the Intangible Podcast, Chris Spencer sits down with Jake McKenzie, VP of Membership & Community Engagement for PAC (Pro Athlete Community). Jake’s journey from foster care and instability to becoming one of the most trusted leaders helping pro athletes transition into life beyond sports is powerful and deeply human. Jake opens up about his early upbringing, the identity battles that came with leaving football, and how vulnerability became his greatest strength. He expl...
Super Bowl Champion and 13-year NFL veteran Rodney McLeod joins host Chris Spencer on The Intangible Podcast to talk about the intangibles that fueled his career—from going undrafted to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy with the Philadelphia Eagles. Rodney opens up about his upbringing in D.C., lessons in leadership and composure, the faith and family foundation that grounded him, and his transition into life after football—now as an ESPN SEC analyst and co-founder of the Change Our Future Foundat...
Former Alabama wide receiver Mac Hereford joins The Intangible Podcast to unpack what it’s really like to grind your way into Nick Saban’s program — and how that experience shaped his mindset beyond football. From waking up at 4:30 AM to catch passes in front of D1 scouts, to earning his spot on one of the greatest college football teams ever, Mac reveals the discipline, faith, and character that carried him through it all. This episode dives deep into mental toughness, leadership, and the ...
What happens when the game ends — but your purpose is just beginning? In this powerful episode of The Intangible Podcast, former Tennessee defensive back Derrick Furlow Jr. joins host Chris Spencer to talk about the real work that begins after the final whistle. Derrick opens up about growing up in southwest Atlanta, finding football as his escape, and how a devastating ACL injury forced him to face a bigger question: Who am I outside the game? Now an author, speaker, and entrepreneur,...
Katy Sullivan is proof that limits are meant to be redefined. Born without the lower halves of her legs, Katy grew up in Alabama in a family that never saw her disability as something to fix — only something to face head-on. That foundation shaped her into one of the most inspiring performers and athletes in the world. In this powerful episode, Katy joins Chris Spencer to talk about the resilience that carried her from the track to the stage — from representing Team USA at the Paralympic Gam...
From walk-on to Pro Bowler — Marc Mariani’s story is pure grit. In this episode of The Intangible Podcast hosted by former NFL center Chris Spencer, Marc opens up about growing up in small-town Montana, walking on at the University of Montana, and earning his way to the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the Tennessee Titans. Marc shares how his underdog mentality, love for the process, and relentless competitive fire took him from being 5’5”, 95 pounds in high school to becoming a Pro Bowl retu...
Former NFL guard Andy Levitre joins Chris Spencer on The Intangible Podcast for a real, down-to-earth conversation about hard work, discipline, and what it takes to build a career that lasts. From weighing 340 pounds in high school to becoming a second-round NFL draft pick, Andy’s story is all about the grind — transforming his body, outworking the odds, and learning from teammates like Matt Ryan and Ryan Fitzpatrick along the way. He opens up about his journey from Oregon State to the Super ...
In this episode of The Intangible Podcast, Chris Spencer sits down with Kate Pettersen — a two-sport athlete turned broadcaster who’s covered the Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, and now the Vancouver Canucks. From growing up in Toronto with a pro football dad and a mom who modeled resilience, to her breakout moment at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Kate’s story is about passion, preparation, and finding her voice in the world of sports media. Kate opens up about the grind behind the broa...
In this episode we're joined by former NFL offensive lineman Jamil Douglas for an honest and inspiring conversation about the grind of football and the lessons it leaves behind. Jamil opens up about growing up in Compton and Cypress, his first love for basketball, and how the influence of his late brother gave him a deeper sense of purpose that carried him onto the football field. He reflects on the challenges of learning the offensive line at Arizona State, the pressure of Draft Day, and the...
What does it take to become Vanderbilt’s first true freshman All-American while also running a sustainable fashion brand and studying environmental sociology? In this episode of the Intangible Podcast, we sit down with Allyria McBride—track star, entrepreneur, and advocate for change. Allyria shares how her mom became both her coach and biggest inspiration, the lessons she learned from long, all-day meets as a kid, and the grit it takes to chase records in the SEC. She opens up about performa...
We chop it up with NFL cornerback Amani Oruwariye about the journey that’s taken him from Tampa, Florida, to Penn State, and eventually to Sundays in the league. Amani shares what it was like growing up with a Navy mom who ran a tight ship, how he flipped his recruiting story from Vanderbilt to Penn State, and what it really felt like hearing his name called on draft day. He opens up about learning from vets like Darius Slay, the grind of earning respect as a fifth-round pick, and why short-...
We sat down with former NFL lineman Brandon Frye to unpack the journey behind his career — from growing up in Myrtle Beach with a single mom, to earning a scholarship at Virginia Tech, to making the leap into the NFL with the Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks. Brandon shares the lessons that carried him through every level of the game: discipline, patience, and an unshakable work ethic. We talk about the turning point in high school that changed his future, what it was like switching positi...
From the soccer fields of Scotland to the music stages of Nashville, Sean Collin Kennedy’s story is one of resilience, heartbreak, and unexpected discovery. After a rare knee injury cut short his dream of playing professional soccer, Sean found himself battling depression and questioning his identity. What felt like the end turned into the beginning of something greater when he uncovered his true voice as a musician. Now known for blending pop, rock, soul, and R&B, Sean has built a career...
Abi Brighton shares how a kid obsessed with touches turned the grind into a pro shot in Serie A Femminile. Host Chris Spencer digs into her Vanderbilt years (captain vibes, big lessons), the Tormenta FC roots that built her techy toolkit, and the DM from a Juventus scout that changed everything. Abi keeps it real on moving to Italy—new culture, new language, same hunger—while fighting for minutes in those black-and-white stripes. Hit play for mindset, habits, and a blueprint for getting notic...
From Chicago sandlots to the bright lights of the Major Leagues, former Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Garrett Jones joins us for an unfiltered look at what it really takes to make it in professional baseball. Garrett shares how he went from a multi-sport kid in Chicago to being drafted by the Atlanta Braves, grinding through years in the minors, and finally breaking into the MLB. He opens up about the mental battles of the game, the pressure of staying in the big leagues, and the unforgettable m...