Episode #11 - Fan-Controlled Sports & Entertainment - Ray Austin
Episode summary:
Everyone experiences changes throughout life, whether due to aging, career developments, new technology, or other lifestyle factors. However, people can maintain physical and mental wellness by positively transforming their wellness habits.
Ingrained & Balanced is a podcast about health, fitness, and a well-balanced lifestyle. On this episode, hosts Lonnie and Marty are joined by Ray Austin, a former professional football player who has lived many lives since his time in the NFL. From becoming an established actor and model to Co-founding the world's first fan-run pro sports and entertainment company, Ray explains how he transforms his habits to practice a wellness lifestyle throughout each stage in his life journey.
Listen to Lonnie, Marty, and Ray discuss wellness transformations
Meditation is a learning process (0:00)
This week's episode begins by introducing the special guest speaker Ray Austin. Ray is a former professional football player with the NFL, and in this episode, Lonnie and Marty are sitting down with Ray to discuss how his wellness routines have changed. After stepping away from football and getting older, he has adjusted his diet and activity habits to complement his lifestyle. In addition, they discuss Ray's business ventures in modeling, acting, and confounding a sports entertainment platform.
Life after the NFL (2:57)
As a retired NFL football player and former track athlete, Ray has had many experiences that have shaped his approach toward exercise and physical wellness. Listen as he discusses his athletic history and the healthy habits he practices today. Within this segment, Ray and the hosts share their thoughts on meditation, yoga, staying hydrated, and incorporating stretching into a fitness routine.
The importance of staying active (7:57)
Getting older can bring changes to our bodies. However, staying active and maintaining healthy physical fitness is still important. Ray, Lonnie, and Marty discuss how aging has affected their wellness habits and how they have adjusted their diets and lifestyles around these changes. For Ray, this meant minimizing his meat and sugar intake, eating, practicing intermittent fasting, and establishing a personal gym at home.
A lifestyle, and a journey (14:00)
Many people practice yoga for its fitness benefits, but for Ray, it is much more. He explains that yoga is a lifestyle rather than just a workout and expresses his appreciation for yoga and meditation as stress relievers. In addition, the speakers share their thoughts on consistent wellness as a lifestyle and journey rather than a temporary approach to fixing a health issue.
How do you make sure you get enough sleep? (17:09)
Ray describes himself as "the definition of work hard: play hard." He explains that his ability to wake up with energy and seize the day is partly due to his ability to wind down at the end of a busy day. Marty and Lonnie discuss the idea of self-discipline when it comes to indulging in guilty pleasures, the importance of looking at everything in totality, and how people's genetic makeup influences their body's response to substances.
Why don't we do this together? (21:30)
Ray's organization Fan-Controlled Sports & Entertainment, is a fan-run mobile sports technology platform. He explains how he got into the business of fan-controlled sports entertainment and developed the idea for the platform. Eventually, Fan-Controlled Sports & Entertainment became a hit, and now it has allowed him to connect to a new generation of sports fans. Ray provides listeners with a breakdown of the technology behind the company and expresses his desire to create innovations and change the perspective of how people view sports.
The convergence of sports and entertainment (26:16)
With so many forms of entertainment converging online, Ray had to be tactful in determining the best way to implement his organization's concept. He discusses how Fan-Controlled games are customized to appeal to an online audience of a different generation that appreciates long-form content. Still, he explains that his focus remains on athletes and incorporating lesser-known college athletes to help them gain exposure through his platform.
Financial literacy for young athletes (33:06)
Fan-Controlled Sports & Entertainment has had an impressive impact on gaining exposure for young athletes and helping them raise funds. That said, Ray feels strongly about creating a financial literacy program for college athletes he helps. Together Ray, Lonnie, and Marty discuss how assisting these young adults with networking and understanding financial literacy enables them to make wiser decisions in preparation for their future.
Links mentioned:
Ray’s Website:
Fan Controlled Football Website:
https://www.fcf.io/
DISCLAIMER:
The information contained on this podcast, our website, newsletter, and the resources available for download are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, medical or health advice. The information contained on these platforms is not a substitute for medical or health advice from a professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation.