LeSean "Shady" McCoy: Former NFL player

LeSean McCoy is a former NFL running back and 2x Super Bowl Champion who played for a total of 12 seasons. After playing at the University of Pittsburgh for only 2 seasons, McCoy was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft, making him a 20-year-old rookie and the youngest player in the entire league. LeSean went on to make remarkable impacts on the league becoming the rushing touchdowns leader in 2011, rushing yards leader in 2013, and winning a Super Bowl in each of his last 2 seasons in the league. On Episode 46 of our Catch the Moment Podcast, we were honored to have the opportunity to sit down with LeSean and dive deeper into his story.

McCoy spoke with us about how his upbringing shaped the goals and aspirations he had growing up. “Growing up in the hood I was blessed to have both of my parents, so a lot of stuff that my friends were doing and participating in I couldn’t do because my dad was at home,” says LeSean. His ultimate goal was to succeed so that he could take care of his parents and improve their situation. This fueled his competitive drive and determination from an early age and allowed him to eventually play football at the highest level. LeSean and I connected on the importance of family as we talked about raising our children. We agree that having children makes you think about the little things you say and do that easily rub off on them. 

Throughout his time in the league, LeSean learned the importance of constantly evolving and growing as you enter new environments. “You work this hard not to be the same,” McCoy says as he discusses how he regrets not branching out more and taking advantage of the opportunities he had while in the prime of his career. Looking back, he wishes he would have made new connections to grow with, instead of being so adamant about only being around his “Day One’s.” He could have been learning from so many new people and making valuable connections. LeSean also learned the value of keeping people around you who hold you accountable when you make mistakes. The people who love you demand the best out of you because they believe in you and know what you are capable of. 

Ultimately, LeSean McCoy’s defining moment has nothing to do with football. “Mine is just being a walking role model to my kids…my kids are set up for life,” LeSean shares as he talks about how proud he is of his children. He wants his kids to see his accomplishments and know that those things are possible for them as well. LeSean’s football career may have ended, but his story is just beginning. He continues to be an inspiration through his success as a businessman and father, and the determination he cultivated within himself from a young age shines through to this day. Give our podcast episode with LeSean a listen to hear his full story!

Danny "Book 'EM" Rivera: Hip-Hop Artist and Law Enforcement Officer

Danny “Book’EM” Rivera is a man motivated by service, as he works to make an impact on his community that is bigger than his role as a law enforcement officer. Book’EM is the founder of The Bridges Project and the host of The Bookem Show. On episode 63 of our Catch The Moment podcast, Book’EM shared how his background has led him to become the bridge to the gap between the youth and law enforcement. He powerfully stated the reason behind it all, “My driving force is leaving a legacy – a positive legacy.” 

Book’EM is working to break down the stigma of ‘cop culture.’ Due to many unfortunate events that have taken place in today’s society, a large segment of youth have lost trust in law enforcement. In the media, law enforcement has primarily become associated with violence, discrimination, or unjust behavior. However, Book’EM has been making the effort to represent himself and his role as an officer in a different light. He has recognized the importance of remembering, “You weren’t born with a badge, you were born with a heart.” Using this motto, he has allowed the public to see him for who he truly is, rather than for a badge and stereotype that does not define him. Furthermore, Book’EM has shown dedication to using his musical talent to connect himself to the youth in a more relatable way. His love for writing music began at an early point in his life, as he used it to escape from the hardships of his lifestyle, including battles with mental health and domestic violence. Using this outlet to overcome those challenges, he has found a way to help others benefit from his musical efforts. 

The Bridges Project is a non-profit organization, founded by Book’EM, focused on community outreach. Through mentoring and additional resources, the organization works to build confidence in the youth through teaching and strengthening their leadership qualities. Book’EM has shown consistency in his allegiance to ‘protect and serve’ as he exemplifies the genuine meaning behind that phrase.

Despite what others in law enforcement may be doing, he is confident in his belief, “You need to be a big fish in a small pond, not a small fish in a big pond.” Tune in to the episode featuring Danny “Book’EM” Rivera to learn more about how he has set himself apart by making himself a part of the community.

Dr. DeForest B. Soaries: Author, Public Speaker, and Corporate Director

Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. is an author and public speaker, with an outstanding background in social activism and religion. This foundation has led him to become the President and CEO of Corporate Community Connections, Inc., which encourages the expression of social responsibility and community impact for numerous companies. On episode 55 of our Catch The Moment podcast, Dr. DeForest shares how his family values, collaboration with community leaders, and responses to social issues, have shaped him into the knowledgable man he is today.

Dr. DeForest and I connected over our humble beginnings in Montclair, NJ. He appreciated the strong presence of community and deeply rooted history of civil rights and education. Furthermore, with his life focused on school, community, and church, he recognized he was inevitably “saturated with purpose [and] with a sense of destiny…” A heartfelt experience with his grandmother is what motivated Dr. DeForest to act on this profound destiny and discover how he wanted to shape his life to positively influence society. 

Moving forward, the passing of his father sparked Dr. DeForest’s desire to grow spiritually. While pursuing religion and social change simultaneously, he learned, “You can have a social movement that has a spiritual sound, or you can have a spiritual movement that has social relevance,” in which the latter is what he is in pursuit of. In fact, Dr. DeForest has lived by this statement through his previous success in various roles; these including Secretary of State in NJ and Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens. 

Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. continues to base his actions around the values of spiritual growth, educational excellence, and economic empowerment. His books and podcast are only the beginning of what is yet to come regarding his recent plethora of achievements. You do not want to miss this episode with Dr. DeForest, which covers his full story and updates on what he has in store for the future.

Andrew Hawkins: Co-Founder, President at StatusPRO

Andrew Hawkins is a 37-year-old former American football wide receiver. He played with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns for six seasons in total. Andrew also played in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes for two seasons. In his off-season, he played for the New England Patriots. Andrew spoke on episode 43 of our Catch the Moment podcast discussing his time playing in the NFL and creating his business afterwards. 

After Andrew’s NFL career, getting a job was a bit of a battle. “I was told as well as my peers, my family members, my teammates that if you weren't on the field there's no value for you in sports. You can't affect business, you can't affect technology, you can't be a decision-maker. And so I'm like how do I create something where all the value and the expertise comes from people who have been there? [...] That's why I created StatusPRO,” says Andrew. His ultimate goal is to share insights on life as a player outside the game and to make that experience better for those after him.

In the episode, Andrew shares his most impactful moment during his career saying “It was like a realization I had to look in the mirror and say okay I've devoted my life to this thing and I had to make a decision. Was I going to feel used up or was I going to get some get back? And I'm like, I feel like I've earned the right to be in this space and so I just made that decision. Like it doesn't matter what anybody says, I'm gonna blaze my own path, create opportunity for myself, and create opportunities for people that are also in this situation.” Hawkins started to see his own potential in the professional football industry and didn't let anyone around him stop that progress. “It's a mindset, it's a devotion. Your life's the longest relationship you got and that was the kind of pivotal moment because once you make the commitment then you're willing to make the necessary sacrifices.” 

When describing how he overcame pushback from others, Hawkins says “The hell everybody says, I'm gonna make it happen and I made it happen. And what that did for me was set the blueprint for when I had to get from college to the league, when I had to transition to business, when I had to start my own company. It's this whole concept of, hey if I believe and I put the work in, it does not matter what anybody else does.” And he definitely put in the work. According to the StatusPRO website, their tech is the ultimate XR football training platform developed specifically for NFL clubs, coaches, and players. The platform allows players to gain a competitive edge while keeping health and safety at the forefront.

Andrew Hawkins has made great strides in the business world and shows that he has not let anyone stop him and will not in the future. He continues to build and grow his business while helping other athletes around him, and he is truly someone we can all learn from. Give our podcast with Andrew a listen to hear his full story.