In this episode, former UNC Men's basketball player and national champion, Brandon Robinson, joins the show to discuss what it was like to win a national championship at UNC, how he ended up at UNC, the basketball network he experiences because of playing at UNC, what Kobe Bryant meant to him and what life has been like since graduating from UNC and preparing for professional basketball. 

Trials Make Champions Podcast

Brandon Robinson | Ep. 35 | National Championship @ UNC, Duke Rivalry & Kobe | TRIALS MAKE CHAMPIONS

In this episode, former professional basketball player, author of over 25 books, keynote speaker and CEO of Work On Your Game, Dre Baldwin, joins the show to discuss his unique journey to playing basketball overseas, how his experience with basketball prepared him to dominate in business and creating his own company, Work on Your Game. 

Dre Baldwin | Ep. 36 | Overseas Basketball, 3rd Day Rule, Work On Your Game | TRIALS MAKE CHAMPIONS

In this episode, Utah Jazz forward Jarrell Brantley joins the show to discuss the NBA bubble experience in Orlando, Florida with the Utah Jazz, what it was like to be a part of the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets playoffs series, biggest lessons he learned during his rookie season in the NBA, how he's spent his time since the Jazz season ended & more! 

Jarrell Brantley | Ep. 34 | NBA Bubble Experience, Donovan vs. Jamal, Jazz | TRIALS MAKE CHAMPIONS

In this episode, former Georgia State Panther and current Salt Lake City Stars player, Malik Benlevi, joins the show to discuss his experience growing up in Savannah, Georgia, why he decided to attend Georgia State and how he ended up playing his first season of professional basketball in the NBA G League for the Salt Lake City Stars. 

Malik Benlevi | Ep. 33 | SLC Stars, Ga State Basketball, Savannah, GA | TRIALS MAKE CHAMPIONS

In this episode, former San Jose State and Xavier basketball player and current Naturopathic & Chiropractic medical student, Ryan Welage joins the show to discuss his outstanding basketball career at San Jose State, playing a 5th year at Xavier University, making the decision to pursue medical school rather than professional basketball though he had multiple options and various health and wellness tips he recommends in order to live the longest and healthiest life possible. Go to @welage_wellness on Instagram, go to the Well Eyes website in Ryan's bio and use the discount code KC15 on any of his glasses products on the site in order to get 15% OFF any product AND free shipping! 

Ryan Welage | Ep. 32 | Sleep Deprivation, Veganism, Meditation, Eye Health | TRIALS MAKE CHAMPIONS

In this episode, former Georgetown Hoya & current professional basketball player, Rodney Pryor joins the show to discuss his unique journey to Georgetown from JUCO and Robert Morris University. Rodney's path to professional basketball was not as simple as the path of others, but his particular journey humbled and prepared him to be the man he is today on and off the court and in this episode Rodney discusses the importance of adversity in his becoming. From playing professionally overseas to the NBA G-League to finding his best self off the court, Rodney gives insight to the importance of having no idols in life and learning not to base life on things he cannot control. 

Rodney Pryor | Ep. 31 | Georgetown Hoops, Drew Hanlen, College Dunk Champ | TRIALS MAKE CHAMPIONS

In this episode, former Columbia University 2-Time NCAA Fencing Team Champion & NCAA Women's Foil Champion, Iman Blow, joins the show to discuss her journey growing up being exposed to the sport of fencing with other people of color, the hectic schedule fencing has forced her to live while balancing the sport, academia and other career interests and her Fundamentals of Fencing clinic in order to continue to reveal to all kinds of people that YOU are what a fencer looks like! 

Iman Blow | Ep. 30 | 3-Time NCAA Fencing Champ, Aspiring Olympian & Clinic | TRIALS MAKE CHAMPIONS

In this episode, former Columbia Men's Basketball player and current German National Team and FC Bayern Munich guard, Maodo Lô joins the show to discuss his journey to Columbia University from Germany, beginning to play with the German National Team in college, and the experience of playing in Euro League in Germany and winning a few German championships. 

Trials Make Champions Ep. 29 Maodo Lô, National Team Experience W/ Dirk, Dennis Schröder, Euroleague

In this episode, Coach Travis Steele, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Xavier University, joins the show to discuss his journey to becoming head coach at Xavier, learning from coaches like Kelvin Sampson, Sean Miller, Thad Matta, & Chris Mack, and how Xavier basketball has been built on the shoulders of many former players who played with a chip on their shoulder and helped build an amazing basketball program and history! 

Trials Make Champions Ep. 28 Coach Travis Steele, Xavier Basketball, Tu Holloway, Coach's Mentors

In this episode, my former Columbia basketball teammate and current professional basketball player in Germany for Medi Bayreuth, Lukas Meisner joins the show to discuss how a young player from Germany ends up playing college basketball in the United States of America, what his professional basketball experience has been like thus far & how learning from Dennis Schröder and other guys on the German National Team has helped him grow as a player. 

Trials Make Champions Ep. 27 Lukas Meisner, Pro Hoops Journey, Columbia, Dennis Schröder

In this episode, DJ McCall of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants joins the show to discuss his journey from Concordia Lutheran to IUPUI to the NBA G-League. Get insight on how redshirting in college benefitted DJ academically and athletically, and what his journey to the NBA G-League looked like via attending open tryouts prior to the season. 

Trials Make Champions Ep. 26 DJ McCall, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Victor Oladipo, IUPUI

In this episode, Coach Jeremy Growe goes into detail about his journey from being a manager at Indiana University, a graduate program assistant at Xavier University, to coaching at Xavier and now Furman University. He also discusses what it takes to create a great team, what separates the best players at every level and how adversity propels you to the peaks you always imagined.

Trials Make Champions Ep. 25 Jeremy Growe, Tu Holloway, Importance of Adversity

In this episode, I am interviewed by Bridgette Tolbert, from the NBA, about my journey to the NBA G-League, my college basketball experience vs. my professional basketball experience, how COVID-19 has impacted my life directly and what I think about the G-League looking to recruit top HS recruits to the league. 

Trials Make Champions Ep. 24 Kyle Castlin, G-League Journey, COVID-19 Impact, NCAA vs. G-League

In this episode, Trey Scotti and Sam Frayer go into detail about their journeys of getting into coaching at the Division I basketball level, thoughts on the NCAA allowing student-athletes to be compensated for endorsements and promotions and some tips they would give kids who aspire to play basketball at the Division I level. 

Trials Make Champions Ep. 23 Sam Frayer, Trey Scotti, NCAA vs. G League for Top Recruits

In this episode, Kenyan Drake, 2-Time National Champion with the Alabama Crimson Tide and current Arizona Cardinals Running Back, joins this show to discuss how playing football at Hillgrove High School helped prepare Kenyan for playing football at Alabama for Coach Nick Saban, in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins & Arizona Cardinals and overcoming all the obstacles he has throughout his journey to achieve the success he has up to this point in his life. 

Trials Make Champions Ep. 22 Kenyan Drake, Nick Saban, 2 National Championships, NFL Experience

Kyle Castlin hosts Trials Make Champions. Trials Make Champions is a one-of-a-kind show that will give an unmatched look into the experiences of professional athletes and the lives of those in the daily business world, and how some of the top performers in various fields fought through adversity to achieve success. Kyle found his passion for podcasting after experiencing some tough times in the pursuit of his professional basketball dream. As a result, Trials Make Champions is a passion Kyle has found off the court that allows him to still make an impact using his platform. In Trials Make Champions, Kyle will discuss his own experiences in pursuing basketball professionally, the experiences of peers in various professional sports and even how to be successful in the corporate world. Trials Make Champions will provide unmatched access to professional athletes, plenty of adversities those we look up to have endured, and world-class guests from on and off the playing field in an unprecedented sports podcast showcasing a professional athlete finding another way to make a positive difference.

hubhopper

Brandon Robinson | Ep. 35 | National Championship @ UNC, Duk...

hubhopper