Sometimes it only takes a moment to knock you flat—and force you to question everything. For Greg Stern, that moment came not with clarity, but with exhaustion and the quiet collapse of a dream he’d chased for years. What followed was a shift sparked by a few powerful words from his father and the support of mentors who reminded him of the gifts he carried.In this episode, I reconnect with my childhood friend to talk about the role basketball played in shaping his identity, the setbacks that challenged him, and the resilience it took to find his way forward.Whether through mentoring youth with Rise Above or advocating for mental health with the John W. Brick Foundation, Greg is using his story to drive real change. This conversation is about failure, mentorship, and the quiet courage it takes to begin again—again and again—and how the foundations we lay in our hardest seasons often shape the greatest impact we leave behind.Show Flow:
00:00 The Turning Point: Overcoming Self-Doubt
01:01 Introduction to Greg Stern’s Journey
01:41 Reconnecting After Decades
02:10 Childhood Memories and Early Influences
03:33 The Impact of Mentors and Early Sports Experiences
10:11 The Harsh Realities of Youth Sports Today
22:04 Struggles and Triumphs in High School
23:29 Facing Adversity: The College Basketball Experience
31:14 The Aftermath of Failure and Finding New Purpose
37:03 A Life-Changing Accident and Its Consequences
43:14 The Aftermath of the Accident
44:16 Dealing with Guilt and Emotional Turmoil
45:55 Struggles with Depression and Quitting
48:35 A Father’s Tough Love
53:35 Finding Purpose and Mentorship
56:05 The Power of Connection and Empathy
59:28 The Podcast Journey
01:08:43 Lessons from Mentors like John Stockton and Giving Back
01:16:07 Final Thoughts