Raising A Pro with Annie Apple

Raising A Pro with Annie Apple

Hosted by journalist, storyteller, and NFL mom Annie Apple, Raising a Pro takes you beyond the gridiron to give you an intimate look at your favorite athletes. A glimpse through the eyes and experiences of those who helped star athletes become who they are. Parents, coaches, and others who helped set them on the path of greatness, and who now have a front-row seat to their lives as they evolve into who they are and who they’re destined to become.

Episodes

May 7, 2021 31 mins
In the final show of the season, Annie picks out some of her highlights and favourite clips from our stellar guests. It was no easy thing trying to whittle down so much wisdom... 
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“We saw Ryan’s life change in an instant. It made us not take anything for granted..it can happen to anyone”

Ryan Shazier is a former linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers after being drafted by the team back in 2014. Fast forward to December 4th 2017, it was during a Monday night football game when hearts stopped all over the world as Ryan went down in a game against the Steelers, clutched his bac...
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April 23, 2021 49 mins
"I really believe that mental health is about safety and creating safety.  Emotional, psychological, social and interpersonal. As parents, we have to model that behavior"

Today we’re talking about the importance of the emotional wellbeing of athletes. Annie is joined by Dr. Herb Martin, a clinical psychologist and mental health expert. He is the president of Peak Performance Consulting Group and Team Clinician for th...
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April 9, 2021 33 mins
“We told him. It’s a business and you totally lose all of your childhood when you sign that contract. You are a man…”

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive captain, Cameron Heyward has been a Pro Bowler the last four seasons while also earning All-Pro honors in 2017 and 2019. He was drafted by the Steelers straight out of Ohio State in the 2011 NFL draft and he’s been with the team ever since. 
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"It's ok to get accolades, you work hard and you happen to be one of the best at something - how many people can say that?"

Nick Bosa is defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers, he was drafted by the team second overall in the 2019 NFL draft. His brother, Joey,  is also an NFL defensive end and plays for the Los Angeles Chargers and and was selected by the team third overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Both men cut the...
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"I was stressed every day, I got to a point in my fourth year where I was ready to get cut"

Last month, former NFL wide receiver Greg Camarillo, found a series of tweets he posted about mental health in and beyond football going viral. He spoke honestly and poignantly in the tweets after learning about the sudden passing of friend and former team mate Vincent Jackson. 

In this episode, Greg talks about his ...
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March 19, 2021 50 mins
“He went into the weight room after his freshman year and he came out a linebacker”

Geno Atkins was drafted by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft straight out of The University of Georgia. He has spent his last 11 seasons in the league with the team ever since and is now an eight time Pro Bowler. And his star keeps on shining. 


In this episode we ...
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March 12, 2021 50 mins
Audrey Garrett and Robin Burrow join Annie to take a look back at a stand out season in NFL history. Together they dissect the highs and the lows of a season consumed with an unprecedented amount of injuries in the midst of a global pandemic. 
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“I told them, I want you to retire the game before it retires you”

Michael and Martellus Bennett have always been each other’s biggest cheerleaders. The brothers played football together at Texas A&M and both went on to become Super Bowl champions before retiring from the game and chasing their passions off the field. 

Their mother, Pennie Bennett takes us on a journe...
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February 26, 2021 43 mins
“They told the agent, we will never have a black quarterback” 

Donovan McNabb had a career as an NFL quarterback spanning 13 seasons, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was drafted by the team second overall in the 1999 draft out of Syracuse University and went on to lead the team to eight postseasons, five NFC East Division championships, five NFC Championship games and their first Super Bo...
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February 19, 2021 51 mins
“So I told him, Jerome, you're not going to speak out. You're not going to say anything. You're going to let them do this to you” 

Jerome “The Bus” Bettis was drafted 10th overall in the 1993 NFL draft. His career saw him play through 13 football seasons, his final 10 played out with the Pittsburgh Stelers before he retired after the 2005 season. A decade later and he found himself on the receiving ...
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February 12, 2021 63 mins
Kicking off our series of interviews in celebration of Black History Month, Annie sits down for a deep and honest chat with Jemele Hill.  

The host of the wildly popular Jemele Hill Is Unbothered podcast, writer for the Atlantic and co host of Vice TV’s Won’t Stick To Sports, opens up about her journey from a little kid growing up in Detroit sneaking a peak at the sports papers to becoming the NABJ ...
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January 29, 2021 46 mins
“I didn’t see those injuries on the field. But i’ve seen him be hurt and it’s like your heart stops”

You know Sterling Shepard as the dynamic wide receiver for the New York Giants. He played college football at Oklahoma and was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. But there is so much more to this young man’s story than you might expect. 

In th...
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January 22, 2021 43 mins
“It was crazy, but I just did it. I didn't drink, I didn't take drugs. I didn't smoke. I just got up every day. I look back now and I go, Oh my gosh.. but at the time, you just do it” 

The name Gronkowski is no stranger to professional sports. All five of the Gronkowski brothers have made it to pro level with four playing in the NFL; including Tampa Bay tight end Rob Gronkowski. 

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January 15, 2021 44 mins
“We couldn't plan this journey for Malcolm. It's not ours. It wasn't ours. It wasn't scripted by us” 

Malcolm Jenkins was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 2009 and has had an incredible career ever since. Over a decade later and he’s got two super bowl rings to play with after winning Super Bowl XLIV with the New Orleans Saints and Super Bowl LII with the Philadelphia Eagles. He is now back with...
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January 8, 2021 37 mins
Ndamukong Suh was drafted second overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2010 NFL draft after playing college football at Nebraska.That same year he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year and 10 seasons later he’s currently holding things down as Defensive End for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The time in between saw him play his first Super Bowl in 2018 during a short stint with the LA Rams. 

He is known f...
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“My number one piece of advice is to do everything in a manner that is true to yourself”

Amy Trask is a sports Analyst for CBS, a lawyer and author of the outstanding book ‘You Negotiate Like A Girl: Reflections On A Career In The National Football League’. She’s also the current chair of the board of Big3, a 3-on-3 professional basketball league.

But the achievements don...
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December 18, 2020 53 mins
“It bothers me when someone says one of these players is trash.. because none of these guys are trash”

Ezekiel Elliott is a star running back for the Dallas Cowboys after being drafted 4th overall in 2016. He played college football at Ohio State where he earned second team All America Honours in 2015. 

In this episode his mother, Dawn Elliott, takes us through Ezekiel’s ...
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December 11, 2020 41 mins
Everything in life has a setback..but sometimes you get setback for a greater journey”

Saquon Barkley started playing football at just five years old and after an incredible showcase throughout high school and college, the running back was drafted by the New York Giants in 2018. His star has been growing ever since. 

2020 has been a rough season for injuries across the ...
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December 4, 2020 49 mins
“It’ll never be easy to not see Zachary in an Eagles jersey...” 

Zach Ertz is the Philadelphia Eagles’ tight end whose incredible game winning touchdown catch sealed the long overdue Superbowl win for the Eagles in 2018. Philadelphia is a city that had been crying out for that big win and Zach is very much a part of that success story. 

In this episode we speak to his mom...
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