When you think about making it to the NFL, you probably picture success, stability, and being set for life. But what you don’t always see are the challenges that come with that journey.

In this episode, NFL former tight end Vernon Davis shares a side of his journey that most people never hear. Vernon opens up about the parts of success that don’t get talked about. The relationships you have to navigate when your life changes. The financial mistakes that can happen when no one teaches you how to manage what you’ve earned. And the way grief can cloud your judgment in ways you don’t expect.

There are so many take-aways from this conversation, but what stood out most to me is how Vernon reframes failure: he sees failure not as something to avoid, but as something necessary. Something that shapes you, sharpens you, and ultimately moves you forward.

What You’ll Hear:

1. The pressure of being the one everyone watches (12:53)
2. How grief can cloud your judgment (14:10)
3. What no one tells you about making the NFL (20:05)
4. The power of failure and growth (31:43)
5. Taking risks beyond football (35:02)

There’s something really powerful about hearing someone say the quiet parts out loud. That success can be fragile. That grief can shift everything. That failure might actually be the thing that moves you forward. What Vernon shares here isn’t just about football. It’s about paying attention, learning as you go, and giving yourself the space to grow through what you didn’t expect.

If this one stayed with you, make sure you’re following along. Subscribing, rating, and sharing the show with a friend helps our community grow.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XIZooQ1Atgk

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/vernon-davis-40

Check out more from Vernon Davis:

Discover The Next Role Show hosted by Vernon https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextRoleShow

Follow Vernon on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vernondavis85

Support this podcast:

Follow Things No One Tells You on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thingsnoonetellsyoupod/

Stay connected with Lindsay https://www.lindsaycz.com/ and follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindsaycz/

Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@lindsaycz

For nearly two decades, Joan Lunden welcomed millions of viewers into their mornings as the longest-running woman host of Good Morning America. But behind that familiar presence is a story filled with unexpected turns, bold decisions, and a lot of learning on the fly.

I was honored to talk with Joan at an event at The Westport Library, and I am thrilled to share our conversation from this live event with you all here at Things No One Tells You. In this conversation, Joan reflects on how she stumbled into television at a time when women were barely represented in the newsroom. What began as a chance opportunity quickly turned into a career that would help reshape the industry.

Joan shares the lessons she learned breaking into a male-dominated field, the mindset that helped her grow into one of television’s most trusted voices, and why sometimes the best career advice is simply to say yes before you know how it will work out.

We also talk about the deeper moments that shaped her life beyond the studio, including motherhood, resilience, and how facing breast cancer changed her perspective.

What You’ll Discover

1. Joan’s early career and unexpected start in TV (10:30)
2. The challenges women faced in journalism in the 1970s (11:24)
3. Why saying yes before you're ready can change everything (17:21)
4. The power of having a co-host who is the right fit (29:34)
5. Advocacy opportunities beyond the Good Morning America years (35:44)

From breaking barriers in television news to reflecting on the lessons that have made an impact along the way, Joan Lunden’s story is both inspiring and deeply human. Conversations like this are exactly what Things No One Tells You is all about. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the show and take a moment to share it with a friend.

This live event interview was recorded at Verso Studios in the Westport Library.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HPbjx3kc1K8

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/joan-lunden-39

Check out more from Joan Lunden:

Follow Joan on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/therealjoanlunden/

Discover Joan’s books, including her new memoir https://joanlunden.com/books/

Support this podcast:

Follow Things No One Tells You on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thingsnoonetellsyoupod/

Stay connected with Lindsay https://www.lindsaycz.com/ and follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindsaycz/

Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@lindsaycz

We talk a lot about transformation. We don’t talk enough about what it takes to sustain it.

Michael Chernow thought he was going to die at 24. After years of addiction and a near-fatal overdose, he didn’t believe he could stop. He couldn’t imagine a different life. What changed everything was structure after hitting rock bottom. A mentor who gave him an hour-by-hour plan. Small wins he could control.

In this episode, Michael opens up about addiction as a disease, the fears and misconceptions of sobriety, and how fitness and nutrition became the tools that rebuilt his confidence. He shares the story behind Kreatures of Habit and why he created Sober Fit Dude to help other men find mission and community in recovery.

What You’ll Hear:

• The overdose and the turning point (15:43)
• Why asking for help felt impossible (22:57)
• The discipline that built confidence (27:00)
• Entrepreneurship after sobriety (33:14)
• The daily habits that matter (59:19)

This is a conversation about rebuilding from scratch, about turning chaos into structure, and about what’s possible when you commit to the long game.

If this episode spoke to you, be sure to follow the show and leave a rating so others can discover it, too.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/seEn8c-9COI

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/michael-chernow-38

Check out more from Michael Chernow:

Follow Michael Chernow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelchernow/

Follow Kreatures of Habit on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit/

Discover Kreatures of Habit’s website: https://kreaturesofhabit.com/

Check out SoberFitDude: https://www.soberfitdude.app/

Mentioned in this Episode:

Navigating the Impact of Addiction with Stable Recovery https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/stable-recovery-28

Support this podcast:

Follow Things No One Tells You on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thingsnoonetellsyoupod/

Stay connected with Lindsay https://www.lindsaycz.com/ and follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindsaycz/

Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@lindsaycz