The 5th Quarter Podcast with Sandy Adams
A bi-weekly podcast that delves into the lives of retired athletes as they navigate the uncharted waters of life after their competitive careers end. Host, Sandy Adams, brings forth captivating interviews, sharing the stories of athletes who transitioned into new endeavors, discovered their purpose beyond sports, and the highs and lows along the way. Plus a new mini series "On The Sideline" conversations with current athletes and people working in the sports world.
Episodes
- In this episode of The 5th Quarter, Sandy Adams sits down with former college football player and first-generation college graduate Emmanuel Orange. Born in Haiti and raised in Florida, Emmanuel shares what it was like adjusting to life in a new country, learning English through experience, and finding his voice—and purpose—through football.
From his early years at Naples High School to his time as a team captain...
- Coach Courtney Burns, head coach women's basketball at Post University, joins The 5th Quarter Podcast to share her journey from athlete to coach and how she’s helping players grow on and off the court. From trust-building to teaching self-motivation and staying focused on the next step, Courtney opens up about the mindset behind her coaching and the resilience it takes to lead through change.
Her story is ful...
- In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, Sandy Adams sits down with former NBA point guard and current Memphis Grizzlies color commentator Brevin Knight to talk about grit, belief, and finding your second act.
Brevin opens up about growing up with a chip on his shoulder, being overlooked in high school recruiting, and how a chance viewing by Stanford changed everything. His story is one of relentless confidence...
- In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, Sandy Adams sits down with Geoff Mack, the public address announcer for the University of Memphis Tigers Football and Men’s Basketball teams.
From growing up in Wyoming to becoming the iconic voice heard at every Tigers game, Geoff shares stories of family, legacy, and what it means to own the mic.
In this episode:
- Following in his older brother’s footsteps
- What he wan...
The Voice of Consistency: Jeff Brightwell on Longevity, Preparation, and Evolving in Broadcasting
In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast – On the Sideline, host Sandy Adams interviews Jeff Brightwell, a veteran play-by-play broadcaster and proud University of Memphis alum.
With a career spanning nearly 30 years across radio, TV, and digital platforms like ESPN and CBS Sports Network, Jeff brings a wealth of insig...
- In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, I sit down with Nate Brown—former college athlete, longtime coach, and now a leader in athletic administration. From the field to the front office, Nate’s career has been built on leadership, resilience, and helping the next generation of athletes grow into their potential.
In this conversation, we dive deep into:
✅ The transition from player to leader – How his experien...
- In this episode, we sit down with Grace Cave, a standout D1 athlete from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, as she reflects on her record-breaking college career.
From growing up in Weeping Water, Nebraska, to winning a state championship, to navigating college basketball during COVID, Grace shares the highs, the struggles, and what’s next.
She also dives into the state of women’s sports, the challenges female a...
In this episode, Sandy sits down with Gwendolyn Sanders Woods, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Memphis.
Gwendolyn shares her incredible journey from growing up in Memphis, navigating childhood adversity, and discovering her passion for track & field through the mentorship of a middle school coach.
Episode Highlights:
- Overcoming childhood adversity in Memphis.
- Finding track & field through mentor...
- In this special episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, host Sandy Adams honors National Girls & Women in Sports Day by exploring the history, achievements, and future of women in athletics.
From Title IX’s impact to the record-breaking success of female athletes in 2024, this episode is all about celebrating progress—and recognizing the challenges still ahead.
Episode Highlights:
- The Evolution of Women in Sport...
- In this episode I talk to Brandon Branch about his unconventional journey to becoming a successful basketball coach. Starting with non-traditional high school and college basketball experiences, Brandon’s path is a powerful example of turning passion and perseverance into impact.
Highlights from the episode:
- Unconventional Start: Brandon didn’t play traditional high school basketball and only played one year o...
- In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast – On the Sideline series, 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 opens up about his journey from Memphis roots to sports industry success, sharing powerful insights on mindset, perseverance, and purpose.
Key Highlights:
- Faith as a Foundation – How staying gro...
In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of The 5th Quarter, Sandy Adams sits down with Coach Regina Smith, Morgan State’s inaugural Head Acrobatics and Tumbling Head Coach, to explore her incredible journey from competitive athlete to pioneering leader.
As the head coach of the first and only HBCU Division I acrobatics and tumbling program, Regina shares how her faith has been a cornerstone of her life, gu...
In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, we sit down with Jason Staub, a former pitcher for Eastern Connecticut State University and now the interim Head Baseball Coach at Pomona-Pitzer Colleges.
Jason shares his incredible journey from a standout high school and college athlete to a coach leading his team to unprecedented success.
Key Highlights:
- Athletic Journey: Jason reflects on his 14-year baseba...
- In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, Sandy sit's down with former MLB pitcher, Drew Hayes, to explore his inspiring journey from small-town Tennessee to life in professional baseball and beyond.
Drew shares insights into the MLB draft process, the mental toughness required for life in the minors, and the pressure of pitching on the biggest stage.
He reflects on navigating setbacks, learning to move past...
. In this episode on the sideline, Sandy sits down with Greg Graber, a renowned mental performance coach, author, and educator, to dive into the transformative power of mindfulness in sports.
Known for his work with college basketball teams, including the Memphis Tigers Men’s Basketball program, Greg shares his journey from the classroom to the court, where he now helps athletes and coaches overcome menta...
- In this inspiring episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, we dive into the journey of Sydney Griffin, a former D1 sprinter/hurdler and retired semi-pro international athlete whose track career began at just 13 in Marietta, Georgia.
From an early age, Sydney faced her share of challenges, including injuries that tested her grit and determination through high school. At every step, her father—a former track at...
In this episode, I sit down with Calvin Blackmon — a former D1 football player from Miami University in Ohio and founder of the Fourth Phase.
Join us as Calvin opens up about the fascinating way football found him, how reality hit him early in his college career and how it all prepared him for what he does now.
If you are struggling with your true calling and finding value in yourself, this episode is for you.
🎧 Tune...
. In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast's On the Sideline series, I sit down with Pete Pranica, sports broadcaster and the tv voice of the Memphis Grizzlies.
We talk about his childhood and how his love for sports commentary began.
We dive deep into his career before digital media and after. We discuss his prep work for each game and how he and co-worker, Brevin Knight, make each game cast sound, and look...
In this episode, I sit down with Grant Vermeer—a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former D1 basketball player, former Cryptologic Warfare Officer, and current real estate expert.
Grant’s story is one of finding true purpose beyond his job titles. From playing basketball at the Naval Academy to serving in submarine operations, Grant realized that his identity wasn't just about his sport or his military career—it ...
. In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast's On the Sideline series, I sit down with sports broadcast journalist Jessica Benson, host of The Jessica Benson Show with CJ Hurt on Grind City Media Network.
We dive deep into her journey as a woman navigating the male-dominated world of sports media. Jessica shares how she found her unique voice in the industry and the challenges she faced breaking into the sports...
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