Wide Open with Tony Gonzalez

Welcome back to Wide Open! This week we’re covering forgiveness. Having the ability to practice forgiveness in your life and relationships is the quickest way to level up as a person because the quickest way to be the best version of yourself is by forgiving yourself and those around you! In this episode, I’ll take you through my experiences with forgiveness, both on and off the field, and how learning more about this topic has made me a stronger and more understanding person. We’ll cover how to relinquish your ego, how to forgive your family, living resentment-free, and much more. As always, I’ll answer some questions direct from the audience. Thanks for listening!

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This week’s solo episode of Wide Open is all about coaches & coaching. Coaches are a lot like mentors; the best coaches are the ones that play to your strengths, motivate you, and help make you better! In this episode, I’ll talk to you about some of the best coaches I’ve ever had, what they taught me, and how you can use some of these learnings to help motivate yourself and others, whether it’s in sports, business or life.

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Let's talk about authenticity! I truly believe that being authentic is one of the most important and valuable qualities you can have. From the importance of truth in the news to being a genuine partner, friend, and communicator, authenticity is in many ways the bedrock of success and progress. In the end, a person who is authentic is just someone who is 100% themselves — and some more people will want to be around and engage with. In this episode, I share some of my thoughts on the meaning and value of authenticity, as well as answer some great questions from our Wide Open audience on the subject.

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Let's talk about sleep! I think sleep is one of the most important things we can understand as human beings. Sleep makes us happier, healthier, stronger, and more in control of our emotions. Whether you're someone who sleeps a lot or a little, having more knowledge about the science of sleep and how it can work wonders for your mind is essential to increasing your full potential. In this week's solo episode of Wide Open, I'm giving you all the tools and tricks to level up your sleep IQ. I also answered some super insightful audience questions from the Wide Open family, so big thanks to everyone who submitted those on social media. Have a listen, and I'll see you next week. Sweet dreams!

Note: all information is based on books I’ve read and research I’ve done, but of course consult your medical professional for any questions.

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This week’s solo episode of Wide Open is about how you can overcome fear in your life and the world. It's hard for me to think about a more relevant topic for the moment right now, as well as one that I've experienced at different points throughout my life. I tell people a lot that life starts out on the other side of fear, which for myself means that you can't truly improve or thrive unless you discover ways to move past fear. Through outlining some of my own life experiences, in addition to answering audience questions, I hope this episode offers you some real advice on how to get past fear in your life.

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Marriage is what brings us together, though that doesn't mean it's always easy! In the second solo episode of Wide Open, I'm joined by my wife, October Gonzalez, for an intimate and fun conversation about the wonderfully winding road that is marriage. From the story about how we met to our most challenging moments, the importance of trust, and how our relationship has leveled up over the years, our discussion is one that could only come from the two of us! We also answer questions from the Wide Open audience about soulmates, our advice for young adults looking for love, anda lot more.

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Jeezy has one of the most inspiring success stories in rap music. He started his life growing up abroad as part of a military family, and after his parents separated, eventually became a lonely kid growing up in the South being raised between different family members. He soon fell in with the wrong crowd and was sent to a correctional facility for boys at a young age. Decades later, Jeezy is one of the most respected names in rap, with countless hits like “Soul Survivor” and “Put On,” as well as multiple successful investments and charitable organizations to his name. So how did he make it through his darkest days and straight to the top? In this episode of Wide Open, Jeezy tells us how he learned and matured over the years while dealing with periods of substance abuse, loss and tragedy, and malicious people.  We also learn about the unique origin story of how Jeezy became a rapper, the sacrifices he had to make to thrive and survive, and his advice for the younger generation of rappers, many of whom are being lost to drugs and violence.

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Alexi Lalas is a sports ICON, full stop. The minute he, his red beard, and iconic long hair stepped onto the field at the 1994 World Cup (located here in the US), people met a unique and powerful personality that would influence and inform the game of soccer for decades to come. But playing soccer for the likes of MLS and European leagues was always just one part of Alexi's story. Throughout his life, he's been a star hockey player, multi-album recording artist, and these days, a fellow on-air analyst on Fox Sports.

We learn about all of the above, and lots more, in Alexi's episode of Wide Open. Prepare to learn how Alexi has pushed and leveled up through various moments of harsh rejection, the trials and tribulations of being a career athlete, his best (and worst) habits, and how he's learned to deal with criticism on social media. Alexi also shares some unique insight about his experiences helping popularize soccer in America, and he thinks the future of the game might be. I relate to this guy a lot and respect him just as much. Get into it!!

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You won't go long in the world of basketball and video games without hearing the name Ronnie2K. Ronnie Singh passed on a promising career in law to chase his dreams of working in sports, and more specifically, finding ingenious ways to break through the noise and build great products. Ronnie's obsessive passion and knowledge of basketball, and more specifically, NBA2K, eventually scored him his dream gig as the face of the NBA2k franchise. Ronnie is now a celebrity in the basketball space and confidant amongst the world's best players and gamers. He's known for his strong opinions and resilience in the industry, as well as a level of passion that's contributed to 2K owning the market share and redefining the video game experience. Ronnie came on Wide Open for a dynamic conversation about his lifelong love of basketball, how to build a community through authenticity, using his platform to give back and why you shouldn't ever settle for anything less than what you really love to do. Plus lots more!

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Few artists in history have leveled up as much as Snoop Dogg has. Born Calvin Broadus Jr., in Long Beach, California, the beloved rapper and entertainer went from a life navigating crime in a gang-ridden neighborhood to becoming the face of a musical movement that would change culture forever. His debut album, Doggystyle, produced by his friend and early producer, Dr. Dre, put West Coast rap on the map and catapulted Snoop into the center of a controversial scene that would influence style, movies, media, and so much more for decades after. Along the way, the world watched Snoop—and his many aliases—grow and experience becoming a father, football coach, actor, activist, and incredibly successful entrepreneur. In this episode of Wide Open, Snoop holds nothing back while taking us through his journey, touching on the legacy he wants to leave behind, how he learned to study greatness, fatherhood, losing legendary loved ones, and how to outwork anyone and everyone to get to the top. All hail the Doggfather.

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You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and the same goes for heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson. The New York-native’s troubled youth was full of tough times, loss, and years in and out of crime. But along the way, Mike’s natural talent as a fighter and truly unique human being was discovered and led to him winning the heavyweight boxing title at the unheard-of age of 20. He’d go on to become one of the most naturally talented athletes and fiercest competitors to ever live, earning numerous titles and hundreds of millions of dollars in winnings, a fortune he’d lose nearly just as fast while struggling with toxic media attention, drug abuse, and failed relationships. I sat down with Mike at his Tyson Ranch, home to his latest cannabis-focused venture and production company, to discuss the intimate moments of his journey, many of which you haven’t heard via the media. Prepare for an emotional and intense conversation about thriving on fear, searching for redemption, struggling with self-control, and learning from the past in search of a better future. This is the true story of Mike Tyson’s second act. 

Content warning: listener discretion is advised. This episode contains graphic descriptions of drug use, violence and language that some listeners may find disturbing and/or triggering.

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From coming to America after growing up in Mexico to getting traded five times, MLB All-Star and legend Adrián González has experienced some pretty powerful moments of change in his life and career. He’s someone who can tell you firsthand that there’s a lot more to professional athletes than people think. On Wide Open, Adrián took us through some milestones from his historic career, touching on how he overcome the low points, the pressures of being an 18-year-old first round pick with a $10 million dollar signing bonus, growing up in Mexico, and his later moves as a successful businessman and investor in the food and beverage space. For anyone curious about things like self-confidence, making transitions, and work-life balance, there’s some super valuable insight in this one.

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This week on Wide Open, I'm joined by three of the most inspiring, successful, and 100% badass women in the sports and entertainment industry. Constance Schwartz-Morini co-founded SMAC Entertainment alongside Michael Strahan, a multi-dimensional talent management, music, branding and production company that represents the likes of Wiz Khalifa, Deion Sanders, and Erin Andrews. Kim Pegula was a child living homeless on the streets of Seoul before immigrating to the U.S., and later, becoming the owner of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres alongside her husband, Terry Pegula. Last but not least, Tracy Perlman, is a veteran NFL executive who currently holds the influential post of Senior Vice President of communications and marketing, overseeing all player and legend relationships. What these women all share in common is that not only are they some of the most influential people in their respective industries but also that they’ve had to overcome a vast amount of adversity to get there. Along the way, they've learned a whole lot about patience, finding balance, ego, hustle, and how to thrive in a male-dominated industry. In our conversation, they break down these experiences and life-lessons, as well as provide tips on everything from how to nail job interviews to overcoming sexism in the workplace.

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If you’re looking for advice about how to understand the universe—and yourself—you can’t go wrong listening to a guy that many consider one of the smartest humans alive. Welcome astrophysicist, author, and much-loved host of shows like Cosmos and Startalk, Neil deGrasse Tyson. Neil’s ability to take complex topics about science and package them in playful and approachable ways has cemented him as one of the most interesting and unique voices of our time. On Wide Open, Neil talks about how to deal with haters, the value of college, breaking down the intimidation factor of science, and how he’s devoted his life to helping people understand the many mysteries of our existence. Whether you consider yourself a science buff or not, my very fun and unexpected conversation with Neil will stoke your curiosity and get you hungry to learn. Enjoy!

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It’s primetime, my friends. This week on Wide Open, I welcome one of the most versatile and talented athletes and entertainers in modern history, Deion Sanders. From the NFL Hall of Fame to the MLB, Deion redefined human potential by becoming one of the few athletes to play two different professional sports.

Deion’s story is all about maintaining deep focus and refusing to give in to outside voices, all while accomplishing many different things simultaneously. He came on the show to take us through his journey from a difficult Florida upbringing to how he found stardom in sports, raising kids, how he obsessively organizes his daily life and goals, and the real magic behind his success. Deion is truly one of the greatest, so pay attention!

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This week on Wide Open we have a guy with one of the greatest success stories ever, Quest Nutrition and Impact Theory founder, Tom Bilyeu. Tom’s journey from an underachieving teen and failing film school student to the founder of a billion-dollar company personifies how if you set your mind to learning—and learn to love what you do—your growth potential can become truly limitless. Tom and I shared a jam packed conversation about his transition from serial entrepreneur to an influential voice across culture who’s teaching people how to sharpen their skills and hack their mindset to manifest the life they’ve been dreaming of.

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Who wants to learn more about control while mastering the art of negotiation? If you’re not raising your hand, you should be. Former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss became one of the bureau's top assets for neutralizing high priority situations, from bank robberies to acts of terror. Today, he advises Fortune 500 CEOs on the art of negotiation, and even inspired actors like Denzel Washington’s character in like Inside Man” and “Man on Fire.” Chris is also the author of “Never Split the Difference,” a best-selling book that takes his unique and incredible career experiences and breaks them down so that anyone can learn how to talk to people with empathy, create calm, and ultimately, get what you want.

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Tony Hawk is the greatest skateboarder of all time, but that doesn’t mean his road to the top was always easy or straightforward. On Wide Open the podcast, Tony talked about how doing things his own way—from landing the world’s first 900 to launching a video game and massive shoe empire—helped him put extreme sports on the map. From advice for aspiring athletes to tips for dealing with the haters, and how to turn risk into massive reward, it’s all here in this intimate conversation with one of the world’s most iconic champions.

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Gary Vaynerchuk needs no introduction, but here’s one anyway. This guy has become one of the world’s top entrepreneurs, leaders, and motivators, by simple saying what so many others won’t. Whatever the topic is, Gary is all about having empathy and helping others level up their mind, business, or opportunities by thinking differently and living with gratitude. Gary came on Wide Open the podcast to talk about the value of crying a lot as a kid, waking up happy, and learning how not to sweat the little stuff, but instead, live with perspective.

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World-renowned hypnotherapist Marisa Peer wants to free your mind from the past, so YOU can take control of your future. Through her revolutionary RTT (Rapid Transformational Therapy) practice, Marisa uses a unique form of hypnosis to help patients identify past trauma and triggers. On Wide Open the podcast, Marisa explained her process and provided tips for how we can institute her work into our own lives. This is essential viewing for anyone who wants to part ways with the past, and is tired of making excuses for their lack of progress!

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Danny Trejo almost didn’t make it. The heavily tattooed, Los Angeles-bred actor and entrepreneur was addicted to drugs and in and out of prison for a decade before turning his life around and appearing in huge films like Machete and Heat -- plus nearly 300 others throughout his prolific career. Danny came on Wide Open the podcast in his classic no-filter style to tell us about his wild journey, dropping all sorts of knowledge along the way.

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Marc Lore is currently the CEO of E-Commerce at Walmart in the US, an incredibly important and influential role that helps dictate how people buy and consume products. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg of his legendary career as an entrepreneur, risk-taker, founder, leader and innovator. After a career in finance, Marc risked his entire net worth to found Quidsi, a company that brought us the likes of Diapers.com and Soap.com, and was later sold to Amazon for a cool half a billion dollars. Marc then joined Walmart in 2016, after the retail giant purchased his next company, Jet.com, for $3.3 billion. Beyond the monumental sales, Marc’s story is all about understanding when to risk it all, and how to lead people with empathy and integrity to create and sell great products and ideas.

Ed Mylett is helping MILLIONS of people level up to get a better and more successful life that’s always on the up. Through his top-ranked #Maxout podcast, speaking engagements and more, Ed uses his real-life experiences in everything from athletics to finance, to mentor others with tactical advice. In our conversation on Wide Open the podcast, Ed and I chat about his humble beginnings, marriage, career in baseball, family, and how to use fear to your advantage. It’s a vital conversation for anyone looking to maintain an upward trajectory in their life and relationships.

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Ever feel like your emotions get the best of you? Or that you can’t break through the noise and find peace and productivity in the present? You should listen to Ryan Holiday, the marketing executive, entrepreneur, and best-selling author of books like “Stillness is the Key” and “Ego is the Enemy.” Respected by world leaders and NFL athletes alike, Ryan’s books and massive email newsletter use the ancient study of stoicism to help people control their inner-dialogue and get more strategic and successful in everything they do. On ‘Wide Open,’ Ryan takes us into his world to talk about curbing desire, letting go of past baggage, and how to deal with a variety of stressors—from the daily news to an addiction to social media.

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Barack Obama’s fitness, sports, and nutrition council appointee dropped into Wide Open for a house call. Say hello to Dr. Ian Smith. This brilliant guy is changing the entire health and fitness game through his best-selling books, TV appearances, social media presence, and so much more. He’s also an accomplished athlete, so you know we had plenty to relate on and talk about. Ian provided some inspired tips on how to eat better and live healthier, and spoke about his unique journey from the child of a single mother, to Harvard, all the way to the White House.

Jessica Alba’s journey from an introverted kid with endless health problems and challenging upbringing, to the star of films like Fantastic Four and Sin City. She is now the owner of billion-dollar valued The Honest Company, and will teach you a lot about how to get better at being you. Throughout her life and career, Jessica has transformed herself from a quiet, self-labeled eccentric youth and child actress to someone who’s inspired countless people through her health-focused consumer goods company and charitable work. Jessica came on Wide Open to explain some ways in which she learned to shed her troubled and impulsive past to start living a life of confidence and optimism.

Next up on Wide Open, I’m joined by one of the most hilarious and talented comedians to ever do it, David Spade. Whether you grew up watching SNL or saw him in films like Tommy Boy or Grown Ups, you’ve probably laughed out loud to this guy. His new show on Comedy Central, Lights Out with David Spade, finds him at his very best breaking down the biggest pop-culture headlines alongside friends and celebrities. David came on Wide Open to discuss his humble beginnings,  the challenges and crazy moments he experienced on SNL, his new show, and the fluctuating influence of family on his career.

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