The 5th Quarter Podcast with Sandy Adams

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The 5th Quarter Podcast with Sandy Adams

A podcast with former athletes and sports industry people hosted by Sandy Adams. The road for many of these athletes was not always easy or straight forward.

"The 5th Quarter" is a groundbreaking podcast that delves into the lives of athletes as they navigate the uncharted waters of retirement. Sandy Adams brings forth captivating interviews, sharing the stories of athletes who transitioned into new endeavors and discovered their purpose beyond sports. Each episode sheds light on the physical, emotional, and mental challenges athletes face during this

critical phase, and beyond, offering valuable insights and practical advice to empower listeners in their own post-athletic journey. This podcast is not only for athletes, but for anyone looking to transition into a new phase of life. www.5thquarterpodcast.com

08/06/2025

Who are you when the job that once defined you is no longer part of your life?

Angie Allen went from multi-sport athlete with no rowing experience to one of the fastest rowers in The University of Kansas history.

After an injury ended her competitive career, she reinvented her path and now serves as Assistant Commissioner for Compliance and Student-Athlete Engagement at The Big West Conference —and Chair of the Arizona State University Sport Law and Business Alumni Board.

In our latest episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast with Sandy Adams, Angie shares powerful insights on:

✔️ Navigating identity shifts and career transitions
✔️ How she prepared for her current role, including the interview process
✔️ Her regular use of LinkedIn as a strategic career tool
✔️ The importance of authenticity and relationship-building
✔️ How strategic networking can open unexpected doors
✔️ Finding purpose beyond your original career plan
✔️ Leadership lessons from sport that apply everywhere

🎧 Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2385568/episodes/17608802

📺 Watch here: https://youtu.be/UcEh32fYN3k

The Big West
The University of Kansas
University of Kansas Rowing

07/17/2025

Have you ever felt like you were outgrowing the version of yourself everyone else still expected you to be?

That quiet in-between space—the moment between who you were and who you're becoming—is where some of the most powerful transformation happens. And that's exactly where this week's guest on The 5th Quarter found himself.

In this episode, I sit down with Emmanuel Orange—a former college football captain at Carson-Newman University who moved from Haiti to the U.S. as a child, rose as a leader on and off the field, and is now building success in a whole new industry.

🎧 Listen here https://the5thquarterpodcastwithsandyadams.buzzsprout.com
📺 Watch here https://youtu.be/ch3wZOxzQ1g?si=0tbXArSFkP_1amST
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We talk about:
* Navigating major life and career transitions
* Leadership when no one hands you a blueprint
* Letting go of one identity to grow into the next
* Building purpose in a new chapter of life
* Getting honest with yourself when the title no longer fits

Whether you're pivoting in your career, rediscovering your voice, or just feeling the tension of your next level calling—this conversation will meet you right where you are.

💬 What part of your story are you learning to outgrow?

Host Sandy Adams Creative Group

07/10/2025

A Tiger forever. A Hall of Famer for life. Congratulations to William Bedford on his induction into the American Basketball Hall of Fame!

I interviewed William back in episode #2 with my co-host at the time, Michael Wilson, it was a fascinating and endearing conversation.

Listen here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2385568/episodes/15419288

Watch here https://youtu.be/r-ZDppUP6fM?si=t4zvZHYPgtFYw0HB

The American Basketball Hall of Fame's enshrinement ceremony is on August 17, 2025 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit.

07/03/2025

Ep 72. This week I sat down with Courtney Burns head coach at Post University to talk about what it really takes to evolve—on the court and in your career.

Her story is about basketball—but even more, it’s about transitioning into leadership, trusting yourself through change, and learning how to motivate others while still growing yourself.

We covered:
✅ Building trust as the foundation of leadership
✅ Coaching mindset shifts that apply to any career
✅ Teaching teams (and ourselves) to take it one step at a time

Courtney’s story is for anyone navigating a new chapter or figuring out how to lead in a way that feels aligned with who you are now.

🎧 Listen here → https://www.buzzsprout.com/2385568/episodes/17441186

📺 Watch here → https://youtu.be/k6ruOuaPUbI

Be sure to subscribe for more great episodes!

05/22/2025

How far can belief take you—even when the plan was never the spotlight?

I interviewed Brevin Knight on the latest episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast with Sandy Adams—and it’s a masterclass in mindset, leadership, and trusting your own path.

Brevin Knight didn’t grow up chasing NBA dreams.

A Jersey kid who wanted a great education—and a shot to keep playing the game he loved.

Nobody handed him a spotlight.

But he kept showing up—head down, fire lit—with something to prove to the only person that mattered: himself.

That relentless self-belief? It changed everything.

That quiet confidence took him from under-recruited to Stanford graduate… and all the way to the 1st round of the 1997 NBA Draft and a 12-year NBA career.

Now, as the color analyst of the Memphis Grizzlies and host of the Knight Court podcast, he’s telling a different kind of story.

Episode Highlights:

✅ Why he never dreamed of the NBA—and what he was really after
✅ How Stanford found him totally by chance
✅ The mindset that carried him through doubt, critics, and the grind
✅ His take on leadership—on and off the court
✅ What keeps him grounded and still evolving after the game
✅ And why he now calls Memphis home

🎧 Listen in here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2385568/episodes/17206036

📺 Tune in here: https://youtu.be/VYWRBQ6xUtg?si=ayNneDh5HpOOMDpi

Remember to subscribe!
Host: Sandy Adams Creative Group
Show website: 5thqrtpodcast.com

05/07/2025

You’ve heard his voice echo through the Liberty Bowl and FedExForum… but now you’ll hear his story.

This week on The 5th Quarter Podcast, I sit down with Geoff Mack, the public address announcer for Memphis Tigers Football & Men’s Basketball.

We talk legacy, family, and what it was like hearing his own kids on the mic for the first time.

Inside the episode:
• Why he followed his older brother’s lead
• What he dreamed of as a kid
• How he got to Memphis
• Will there be a next generation of announcers
• The one name that tripped him up on the mic
• What the mic means to him now

If you love sports, family stories, or just a killer game day voice — this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen: https://the5thquarterpodcastwithsandyadams.buzzsprout.com
📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com//videos

�📲 Screenshot your favorite episode and tag us on Instagram stories (at)5thqrtpodcast

04/19/2025

On this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast – On the Sideline, I sat down with Jeff Brightwell—a veteran broadcaster, University of Memphis grad, and voice behind nearly 30 years of college and pro sports across Memphis Tigers, ESPN, CBS Sports Network, and more.

But this conversation went way beyond sports.

We dive deep into:
✔️ What it takes to build a lasting career in media
✔️ How the industry has shifted—and how he’s adapted
✔️ Jeff’s personal health journey and discovering CrossFit
✔️ How he preps for his broadcasts
✔️ The mindset that helps him stay ready for what’s next

Jeff's story is full of career lessons—about preparation, longevity, reinvention, and how sometimes new opportunities come from unexpected places.

🎧 Tune in here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2385568/episodes
📺 Watch full episode https://youtu.be/EA7augJ27z0

Host: Sandy Adams Creative Group

04/02/2025

How do you turn experience into impact?

Leadership isn’t just about climbing the ladder—it’s about lifting others along the way.

In my latest episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast with Sandy Adams, I sit down with Nate Brown to talk about his journey from student-athlete at University of Louisiana Monroe to football coach to athletic administrator at Memphis Tigers

His journey is a masterclass in resilience, growth, pivoting with purpose and empowering the next generation of leaders.

Key Takeaways from Our Conversation:

✅ From Player to Leader – How his time as a student-athlete shaped his leadership style.
✅ Lessons from the Sidelines – The hardest transition from playing to coaching.
✅ Empowering Others – How he helps young athletes develop leadership skills.
✅ Building a Career Beyond Sports – Navigating career shifts and embracing new roles.
✅ The Power of Relationships – Why success is built on trust, not just talent.
✅ Being a "connector" – No matter the role he’s in, Nate sees himself as someone who builds bridges, connects people, and creates opportunities for collaboration and growth.
✅ And, of course… Food! – Nate’s love for good eats, the transition from North Texas flavors to Louisiana cuisine, and his ever-growing list of must-visit food spots across the country.

This conversation is a great reminder that leadership—and life—is all about connection, adaptation, and staying hungry for growth (in more ways than one!).

🎧 Tune in now: https://youtu.be/q2wt7RLrUyA

Nate... Appreciate you sharing your story and insights!

03/19/2025

What happens when you hit a major milestone… and suddenly, the next step isn’t clear?

For Grace Cave that moment came after a record-breaking college basketball career. Now, she’s stepping into a new chapter—one that requires just as much resilience, adaptability, and leadership as the game itself.

Every career—whether in sports, business, or life—starts with a single step.

For Grace, that first step was picking up a basketball in Weeping Water, Nebraska. From there, she put in the work, faced the challenges, and became a standout D1 athlete at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Omaha Women's Basketball

But success isn’t just about talent. It’s about perseverance, mindset, and learning to lead—especially when the path isn’t clear.

In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, Grace shares:
✔️The moment she knew basketball was her path
✔️ How she navigated setbacks, doubt, and the pressure of D1 sports
✔️ What breaking records taught her about leadership and resilience
✔️ What’s next—and how she’s preparing for life beyond the game

Her story is a reminder that leadership isn’t about titles…

It’s about showing up, doing the work, and believing in yourself, even before others do.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about career journeys, stepping up, and embracing the unknown.

🎙️Guest: Grace Cave
🎙️Host: Sandy Adams Creative Group

📺 Watch: https://bit.ly/4ikFSoq

🎧 Listen: https://bit.ly/4faXcen

Learn more: 5thquarterpodcast.com
Want to be a guest? DM Sandy

02/24/2025

What does it take to turn adversity into impact? To shift from being an athlete to a leader, guiding the next generation?

On the latest episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, I sat down with Gwendolyn Sanders Woods the new CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis

From her days as a track & field athlete at the University of Memphis to becoming the first female CEO of BGCM, Gwendolyn’s journey is one of resilience, purpose, and passion.

Key takeaways from our conversation:

✅ The power of mentorship in shaping young lives
✅ Navigating career transitions with confidence
✅ Leadership lessons from sports to the boardroom
✅ Her bold vision for empowering Memphis youth

Gwendolyn’s story is a testament to what’s possible when perseverance meets opportunity.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone striving to make an impact.

🎧 Tune in https://bit.ly/4faXcen
📺 Watch https://lnkd.in/eWs3tfUD

Learn how you can get involved here in Memphis at bgcm.org

01/22/2025

What if the twists and turns in your journey are exactly what you need to reach your dream?

In the latest episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, I sit down with Brandon Branch, a coach whose career journey was anything but conventional. Brandon’s story proves that success isn’t about following the traditional route—it’s about creating your own path and owning it.

Highlights:
➡️ How starting out unconventionally shaped his work philosophy
➡️ The lessons he learned transitioning from player to mentor
➡️ The impact of building programs that empower young athletes both on and off the court
➡️ The mindset that helped him turn challenges into opportunities.

Brandon’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and the impact of mentorship.

🎧 Curious how he turned challenges into opportunities and built a career making a difference?

Tune in to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4faXcen

01/08/2025

In this episode, I sit down with sports executive and agent Travis King to explore how faith, hard work, and a little Memphis grit can turn dreams into reality.

Travis shares his inspiring journey from his Memphis roots to success in the sports industry, offering powerful lessons on mindset, perseverance, and the importance of authentic relationships.

His insights remind us that true success is about more than just titles—it's about staying grounded, building genuine connections, and pushing through challenges with integrity.

Key Highlights:
➡️Faith as a Foundation – How staying grounded shaped his career decisions
➡️The Power of Relationships – Why building authentic connections is key
➡️Mindset Shifts – Overcoming self-doubt and focusing on long-term goals
➡️Resilience in Action – Real stories of pushing through challenges with grit
➡️Success Beyond the Spotlight – Balancing career growth with personal values.

If you're working toward big goals and need a reminder to stay focused and inspired, this episode is for you.

🎧 Tune in to catch full episode https://bit.ly/4faXcen

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Website

http://www.5thqrtpodcast.com/

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