Real and raw, JT Thomas (former NFL hopeful turned financial expert) reveals how a career-ending injury led to his "PhD in FIO" (Figuring It Out)—and how to apply his hard-won lessons to your reinvention.
Learn why chasing passion alone can bankrupt you, the 5 non-negotiable team members every entrepreneur needs, and how to rewire your identity when life forces a pivot.
Key Takeaways:
1. "You weren’t gonna play football forever." How JT’s mom’s tough love (and a divine moment) saved him from despair.
2. The FIO Mindset. Why "figuring it out" beats formal degrees when reinventing yourself.
3. Passion ≠ Paycheck. The harsh truth about monetizing your purpose (and how to balance both).
4. Your 5-Person Success Team: Accountant, Attorney, Banker, Mentor, and Wealth Manager— and why you can’t afford to skip one.
5. "If you don’t allocate your time, someone else will." Time-blocking strategies for relentless pivoters.
Timestamps:
00:00 - From NFL Dreams to Financial Freedom
02:30 - The Injury That Changed Everything
05:45 - Identity Crisis: "Who am I if not an athlete?"
08:15 - Massage Therapy, Sales, and False Starts
12:00 - Building a Business with Zero Experience
15:30 - The 5-Person Team Every Entrepreneur Needs
22:10 - Passion vs. Profit: Why Money Matters
25:40 - Time Management for Pivoters
30:00 - Faith, Failure, and the Power of FIO
Connect with JT Thomas:
Personal Instagram
Business Instagram
Connect With Me:
My Website
My Instagram
My TikTok
My YouTube Channel
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Fudd Around And Find Out
UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!