August 25, 2025 • 42 mins
What does it really take for young professionals—especially student athletes—to build true resilience and open lines of communication in today’s high-pressure world? In this episode of Speaking with Confidence, we dive deep into this crucial question that’s affecting students, educators, coaches, and leaders nationwide.
I’m Tim Newman, your host and a recovering college professor turned communication coach. Today, I’m honored to bring you a candid and impactful conversation with Kenisha Brown-Alexander, a true trailblazer in the sports industry and the founder of the Brainerd Tomorrow Foundation. With a background that spans leading roles for major organizations like the Miami Dolphins, the Super Bowl Committee, and the Orange Bowl Committee, Kenisha also serves as a certified life coach, adjunct professor, and the creator of the Game Changers United program.
Throughout our conversation, Kenisha and I address:
- The shifting landscape of communication skills among young professionals and why intentional teaching of these skills matters more than ever
- The logistical and interpersonal challenges of managing thousands of volunteers at a major event like the Super Bowl
- The critical role of resilience and faith in overcoming personal trauma—and how sports can provide a sense of purpose and belonging
- How and why Kenisha launched Game Changers United, and the impact it’s having in supporting student athletes’ mental health
- The realities of suicide and mental health crises among college students, and strategies to strengthen support systems on campuses
- Why it’s our job as leaders to reach out, show vulnerability, and invite connection
- The need for early self-discovery and helping young people uncover their “why,” so they can build lasting resilience
If you’re an educator, coach, administrator, parent, or simply someone who cares about the next generation’s well-being, this episode will give you insights, strategies, and real stories to help you foster greater communication, resilience, and support—on and off the field.
For more on Kenisha’s work or to bring Game Changers United to your campus, you can find her on Instagram at @KenishaNichelle, on LinkedIn as Kenisha Brown-Alexander, or visit gamechangersunited.com.
As always, remember—your voice has the power to change the world. Thanks for listening to Speaking with Confidence.
Want to be a guest on Speaking With Confidence? Send Tim Newman a message on PodMatch
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Tim Newman (00:10):
Welcome back to Speaking with Confidence, a
podcast that helps you build thesoft skills that lead to real
results communication,storytelling, public speaking
and showing up with confidencein every conversation that
counts.
I'm Tim Newman, a recoveringcollege professor during
communication coach.
And I'm Tim Newman, arecovering college professor
during communication coach, andI'm thrilled to guide you on a
journey to becoming a powerfulcommunicator.
Today's guest is Kenesha BrownAlexander.
(00:33):
Kenesha is a trailblazer in thesports industry, with
experience leading major eventsfor organizations like the Miami
Dolphins, the Super BowlCommittee, the Orange Bowl
Committee and more.
She's a certified life coach,adjunct professor, speaker and
founder of the Brighter TomorrowFoundation, which is dedicated
(00:53):
to guiding individuals throughlife's toughest challenges,
transforming pain into purpose,fostering resilience and
embracing new beginnings.
Through the foundation, hersignature program, game Changers
United, supportsstudent-athletes in balancing
academics, athletics and theirpersonal life by promoting
mental well-being and spiritualgrowth.
(01:14):
Her inspiring journey ofresilience and faith uplifts
others, reminding them that evenin life's darkest moments, a
brighter tomorrow is alwayswithin reach.
Kenesha, welcome to the show.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (01:26):
Thank you, Tim.
Thank you for having me.
Tim Newman (01:30):
Oh, this is going to be a I'd like to say a fun
conversation, but we're going totalk about some serious issues
that need talked about.
I mean ultimately, because forthe most part, we as a society,
you know, brush these thingsunder the rug or just discount
them.
But before we really get intosome of those issues, I want to
(01:54):
talk with you about sports andthen we can get into the
important things.
You know, from a professionalperspective, you know you and I
have a lot in common.
We are both student athletictrainers, we both have sport
industry experience andoperations, both college
professors, et cetera.
But what have you seen in termsof the communication skills of
(02:16):
young professionals over thelast few years?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (02:19):
I mean, if I could be transparent.
You know it's it lacking,unfortunately, this generation,
you know it's different.
That's probably the easiest waythat I can put it.
And that is honestly half thereason why I decided to become
an adjunct professor, because,especially in the sports
(02:40):
industry not because obviously Ican't speak for any others, but
here you know it definitelyrequires, you know, students to
step up, to give it all you gotto show up, you know, to give
the grit.
You know they think that it'sjust all fun and games and while
, yes, it's sports and it's fun,you know it definitely requires
(03:01):
a level of tenacity in order tobe, successful in this industry
, and so communication, for one,is something that I believe
lacks.
But I make it a point toemphasize that in my classroom,
if you ask any of my students,you know they know, with
Professor A it's about thedetails, it's about you know the
little things.
I tell them all the time.
I will pull up their assignmenton the board and I tell them do
(03:24):
you see these four bullets?
If you follow these fourbullets, I promise you will do
well in this class or you'll dowell on this assignment.
But they also know that I dothat because that is a going to
(03:45):
teach you those interpersonalskills that you're going to need
for whatever career that youhave.
And so you know, I think, thatif we all, like persons like you
and I and other professors thatare out there, you know, are
very intentional about thethings that are necessary, and
they use that in the classroomand utilize that, I think the
(04:06):
students will be fine.
But it's on them, you know, tostep up and want to do this.
Tim Newman (04:11):
It really is and you know, what I found over the
last few years of my, you know,career in academia was I was
spending more time teaching softskills and communication skills
than I was the content and andpart of that was because it
doesn't really matter what youknow if you can't communicate,
it doesn't right it reallydoesn't matter right and you
(04:31):
know what we do in the sportingindustry.
It's not rocket science, it's.
It's not like they're going tobe doctors.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (04:37):
I mean if that's, that's not like
they're gonna be architects andbuilding bridges and you know
you've got to be able to havegood interpersonal relationship
skills.
Tim Newman (04:43):
You got to be able to talk to people.
You have to be architects andbuilding bridges, and you know
you've got to be able to havegood interpersonal relationship
skills.
You got to be able to talk topeople.
You have to be able to thinkcritically on your feet.
All those, all those types ofthings, but um you know, I tell
them all the time.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (04:56):
You know, obviously they're they're
young adults, so they're notmade to come to class and things
like that, and obviously thingshappen.
But I tell them you have tocommunicate, like you should
send me an email to let me knowif you're not going to show up
to work when you get out of here, like you can't just not show
up, right, you have tocommunicate, that you know.
So, just like you said, thoseinterpersonal skills, I'm doing
(05:16):
my very best to try to get thatingrained in them in these you
know four, four and a halfmonths that they at least take
that with them when they leaveme and go out into the rest of
this world.
Tim Newman (05:29):
So, so, let's take that just a step further.
And, and you know, you were themanager of the volunteer
program for the 2020 Super Bowl,miami, which, but I don't think
people understand what anundertaking that that actually
is right, um, and?
And so you, you're just amanager of one segment of the
(05:49):
overall experience of theoverall experience, right, right
, um so.
So give everybody an inside look.
You know what did you actuallydo.
How many volunteers was it?
I mean, how many differentpeople are you are you dealing
with, like?
Give us a quick overview ofwhat that's like.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (06:04):
Sure, sure, sure.
So I break it down like this Ofcourse everybody knows Super
Bowl Sunday.
Everybody knows that's the biggame.
You know that's what we're allhere for.
But for the city that ishosting the game there's a week
long of events.
So they may or may not televisethat, you may or may not even
hear about it.
Everybody knows about Sunday,and so for the host city that is
(06:27):
hosting the game, theyestablish a host committee.
That are basically the boots onthe ground for the NFL, because
the league office is in NewYork so those guys can't move
down to the cities where thegame is being held, so they have
to rely on the host committeeto give them direction, to give
them guidance.
They don't know the bestrestaurants, they don't know the
(06:47):
best venues to host.
You know all of the differentevents.
So they rely on the hostcommittee to give them some
insight.
And you know some directives on, you know best experience for
them.
So, within all of that, youhave the volunteer team, the
host committee.
Let me back up the hostcommittee is actually a
nonprofit organization.
While the NFL is a for-profit,the host committee is a
(07:10):
nonprofit.
Therefore, that is why there'sa need for volunteers, and so
the volunteers are helping withthe host committee events,
because there are actuallyevents that are assigned to the
host committee.
But then there's also rolesthat are sometimes even paid
positions that are assigned tothe host committee.
But then there's also rolesthat are sometimes even paid
positions that are available forSuper Bowl Sunday.
And so, as the manager of ourvolunteers, we were required
(07:34):
well, not required, but we weretasked with recruiting 10,000
volunteers.
And that is again because thereis Super Bowl Live.
Live, which is a free eventthat the host committee does,
that runs the full seven days ofSuper Bowl week.
Then there's the Super Bowl, ornow NFL experience.
That's usually held at theconvention center in that city,
(07:58):
and so the NFL asks forvolunteers to help support that
event.
Monday of Super Bowl week isopening night, so that is when
the teams are first in town andthey're having their media night
, and so there's volunteersneeded for that.
And then, of course, from ahospitality perspective, at the
airports, at some of the morepopular hotels, there are a need
(08:22):
for volunteers Because again,you've got people coming from
everywhere, even international,and so they don't know anything
about the city, perhaps they'venever visited there before.
So volunteers are the folksthat are familiar with the city.
They know the best restaurants,they know where to get your
nails done, they know where thebarbershops are.
They can help from ahospitality perspective for the
(08:43):
guests who come into town.
And so it's a year long process.
You know we started literally assoon as the former game was
over, so for us it was Atlanta.
So as soon as that game wasover we opened up our portal for
volunteers to register.
They go through a screeningprocess, they go through a
background process, they gothrough an interview and
(09:04):
eventually, you know, we narrowit all the way down.
I think our end number wasmaybe right around 8,300.
We didn't quite get 10,000.
I think, because Miami has heldso many Super Bowls that you
know maybe fatigue.
But nevertheless you know we'vegot.
We lean on corporations,corporations to bring.
They can do it as a group, youknow, if they want to do it as a
(09:26):
staff outing in the sports,sports management world for
colleges, there's colleges thatwill bring a group of students
that want to get that learningexperience.
And so I mean, I would say wehad at least 45 universities
that would bring a group ofstudents to come down and they,
you know, get the experience of,you know, working the Super
(09:47):
Bowl game.
So yes, it was a daunting taskbut it's a lot of fun.
You know, you meet some greatpeople and a lot of these folks
have remained friends of minethroughout the years.
I still, you know, keep up withthem today.
So I love it.
It was good yeah.
Tim Newman (10:03):
It's, it's, it's.
It's a daunting task to to dothat.
And you know again, justbecause the Superbowl is over on
Sunday at 10, 30, 11 o'clock,your job isn't necessarily over
yet because you still have allthe wrap up and the clean up and
the this and that and, and youknow, communication with City
(10:23):
Right, those types of things.
What about the level ofcommunication that has to take
place just in coordinating,let's say, 8,300 volunteers on
top of all the other committeesand all the other people that
are, you know, because that'sjust one cog in the wheel of
that whole event?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (10:41):
Yeah, so it definitely requires some
management processes, if youwill.
So we use a tool called Rosterfywhere the volunteers would have
like their own portal, if youwill.
And so on the backend, on ourside, from the staff perspective
, we go in and we assign themtheir shifts and they get the
notifications of when theirshift is coming.
(11:03):
They get all the detailedinformation as far as parking
and meals and all of thosethings.
So it's nearly we were a staffof three, so it was nearly
impossible for us tosingle-handedly try to
communicate without having somesort of automated tool, and so
that tool was very helpful forus.
Even if we had to send outreal-time messages or something
(11:26):
changed, we could send thatalert and they would get a text
message.
So communication is definitelynecessary, you know, even for a
leadership committee, if youwill, and that was 10
(11:48):
individuals that were reallystrong in various areas and we
could communicate to them.
And so of those 10, then theyhad a subset within their group,
so they were each assigned to aspecial sector.
Somebody was hospitality,somebody was managing
headquarters, someone wasmanaging the uniforms, and so
under them then they hadcaptains.
(12:09):
So under them they had captainsthat had their own shifts and
schedules, and then you hadgeneral volunteers.
So it wasn't as if I wasdirectly talking to a general
volunteer, I would communicatemy information to one of the
leads and then the leads woulddisseminate the information,
because it was broken down intosmaller groups.
So I think it was important forus to establish some sort of
(12:32):
workflow in that way, becausethere's no way that I can have
hundreds of people calling meand texting me and trying to
reach out to me that you know.
that was never going to work.
Tim Newman (12:42):
It's not going to work, right, but but you know
your message has to be reallyclear.
Right, because we know howmessages get diluted or words
can.
Words can be misconstrued oneway or the other.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (12:53):
We've all played the phone tree game.
Tim Newman (12:57):
Think about how, how catastrophic that could be If
one word is is is messed up oryou know.
You know is messed up or timeis wrong.
Think about this.
Let's just say the shifts arethree hours.
You put a shift off by an hourwrong An hour yeah.
(13:18):
That matters.
It does, it really does.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (13:21):
Yeah, I mean it affects anything
Parking.
You check in all of the things.
So, yes, you know we.
That's why the leaders that wechose, they had to be strong,
they had to be professionals,you know, in their day to day
work.
So we know that we can rely onthem on the details.
Tim Newman (13:38):
You know and we talk about how important this stuff
is.
But you know, I tell studentsall the time, all the time, that
nobody really cares aboutsports.
Nobody cares, and we know thisbecause on super bowl sunday
other networks have ratingsright.
You know, nobody cares how manypoints somebody scored or who's
(14:00):
going to make the playoffs.
I mean because in the scheme oflife it nobody.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (14:07):
I mean that it doesn't really mean
anything, right, it's minor incomparison.
Tim Newman (14:10):
It's minor it's minor, um, we care because it's
our industry and it's of course,of course but I try and tell
students to to get out of thatmindset and try and put it in
perspective, put it in in intoperspective of the people that
you're, that you'recommunicating with so that you
know there's that you couldbuild that relationship and so
(14:32):
that you can see how it actuallydoes matter and how it does
relate to me.
Now and I bring this up becausenow we're going to start getting
into some of the serious talkhere because you've said that
sports saved your life- yeah,yeah.
What do you mean by that?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (14:48):
What do I mean by that?
Well, in a nutshell, I lostboth of my parents very early in
life.
So I lost my dad at the age of12 and my mother at the age of
21.
And she passed while I was incollege.
So you know, I'm a collegestudent, just I don't know
(15:08):
nothing, right, I'm trying tofigure it all out.
And so, unfortunately, you know, I was working as a, well, I
was studying to be an athletictrainer and I was a student
trainer as well, and I wentright back to my
responsibilities, butunfortunately, my supervisor
(15:35):
wasn't very empathetic to thegrief that I was experiencing
and just the need for supportand just to be loved on by my
family, that a request home tosee my family was denied.
And when she denied that, thatwas the last day that I was a
trainer.
But that was also the day that Iattempted to take my life,
because I just felt like, whatam I doing this for?
(15:56):
You know, I was barely hangingon as is, and you know I hadn't
graduated, I hadn't accomplishedanything, you know, hadn't
gotten married.
You know none of the monumentalthings that you, you know,
would do in life.
You know those things hadn'thappened yet.
So you know, I was justconfused as to why am I even
still here, but gratefully, youknow, my life was spared.
(16:18):
You know I'm a woman of faithand so I believe that.
You know, god knew that I hadother things, like the Superbowl
we just talked about, on thehorizon, but in that experience
I came through it.
I ended up transferring schoolsback to my hometown so I could
be closer to my family.
But when I transferred, youknow I had failed so many
(16:41):
classes.
You know, just being theretaking care of my mother, that I
was encouraged to change mymajor from exercise science to
sports administration.
When I changed my major, I hadto have an internship, and I
won't go through the whole storyof the internship process
because I'll end up datingmyself.
But I ended up landing aninternship with the Orange Bowl
(17:04):
Committee, which is in Miami,and so I'm originally from
Kentucky, so I just call it ablessing that you know I would
end up in sunny Florida, ofcourse, right, and then Miami
Florida, where it's sunny, likeyou know, I don't know, 99% of
the time.
And so having that opportunity,getting down to Miami and it
(17:26):
was a double hosting year, whichmeans it was an Orange Bowl
game and a national championship.
It literally saved my life.
You know, which means it was anOrange Bowl game and a national
championship.
No-transcript, believe thathaving something that brought me
(18:03):
joy outside of you know justthe things that I had been
through definitely was thesaving grace for my life.
Tim Newman (18:14):
Yeah, and thank God for that.
You know I.
You know the.
I think we get lost sometimes.
You know sports is supposed tobe fun.
It's supposed to be it'ssupposed to be.
You know the place where we allcome together.
Yes, but in that you know,taking it just a step further,
you know from how a young man acouple weeks ago committed
(18:36):
suicide Sad, tragic.
Don't have the, the, the skills, don't have the um, the support
systems right.
(18:57):
And when I say that sportsdoesn't matter, sometimes, like
you said, in in this person'slife that was the only thing
that was keeping him around,right, right.
And you know we've come a longway in how we deal with with
mental health and how how wedeal with with these types of
(19:18):
issues.
Talk a little bit about whatyou're doing, um, in terms of,
of helping student athletes, and, and and and the support
systems or those that areaffiliated with with with
athletics.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (19:30):
Yeah, so I, obviously I've known that
I had some purpose work, right.
You know you don't justexperience this for the heck of
it.
You know I don't believe thatI'm supposed to have.
You know, just live this andjust go on.
(19:50):
Like, I definitely know that I'msupposed to do something in a
space, but for a while I did notknow what that was.
So I've always just worked insports and events and the fun
side, the stuff that you knowpeople clap for, the stuff that
I don't care about, I'm just,you know, gifted to do it.
You know, it don't matter to me, but it was not until December
(20:23):
of 2023.
And I, you mentioned, I am anadjunct professor, and so
December of 2023, as a faculty,I received an email of a young
woman.
Be honest, you know, obviouslywe hear about it and we know
that it happens, but when it'son your campus and you get the
notification, it's a differentkind of feeling.
And particularly, you know, ittook me back to my journey, my
(20:44):
own story.
You know, I didn't know theyoung lady.
I had one of her teammates inmy class.
That was about as close as Iwas, but I knew that, whatever
she was going through, she feltthat that was the only option
and that is what I could relateto.
Tim Newman (20:58):
Right.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (20:59):
And so in that I said, all right,
kenesha, you know you've done alot of great things in sports,
it's been a fun ride.
But how can we stop this?
How can we put it into this,like, what can you do with your
voice, your story, yourovercoming, to help this?
And so there is where myprogram, the Game Changers
(21:19):
United, was initially birthed mypurpose in just being a light
and being an inspiration in somesort of way.
When the pandemic hit and ofcourse we didn't have any sports
, I became a certified lifecoach to help just regular
individuals with grief and loss.
(21:40):
But again, I did not know it wasgoing to morph into this.
I knew I wanted to do something, but I didn't know what.
And so it's kind of ironic thatall of the puzzle pieces start
to come together when you findyour purpose.
But yeah, so I started the GameChangers United program
honestly, just for me to have ahave a way to support colleges
(22:01):
and universities with theirinitiatives and endeavors.
You know, obviously, the NCAAmandates, you know mental health
awareness and you knowreferring their student athletes
to the campus counselors oreven if they have one in
athletics.
But what I, what I believe andwhat I feel is that you know
some of these departments.
They want to do more but theyjust don't have the capacity to
(22:23):
do so.
You know they don't have thetime.
You know, if you've got aprogram with four and 500
athletes and it's only one,maybe two of you, it's not
enough.
And so that's where I want tosupport them, Like, hey, I want
to use all these years in sports, all these years in events, and
to help you create something onyour campus so that a Kyron
(22:44):
Lacey doesn't happen again, sothat they have a place where
they know I can be vulnerable, Ican be safe, I can share in my
experiences with other studentshere and not feel alone.
Because that was my issue.
I felt that I was the onlyperson on this green earth that
was having an issue, which wasnot true, but you feel like that
(23:04):
when you're in the middle ofyour trauma and your experience,
and so this is to help mitigatethat and to help bring some
sort of community on campus sothat students don't feel alone
as they're experiencing lifeissues.
Tim Newman (23:18):
Yeah, it's something that, obviously, that we really
need and it's long overdue.
There's so many other issuesthat go into this because, for
whatever reason, each individualsituation, either people they
don't know how to ask for help,which is a problem they don't
(23:39):
know who to ask for help, theydon't know what to ask for.
And you know, what I've found isthat if you just speak up and
say I need help, I think there'sa ton of people that would say
what can I do?
But without without you know,knowing how to ask, or knowing
(24:00):
who to go to, or whatever.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (24:01):
Or feeling comfortable with that
person, that individual.
Tim Newman (24:05):
Right, and it's.
That's also a problem too,whether it's whether it's a
coach, whether it's a strengthcoach, whether it's the athlete
trainer, whether it's aprofessor, you know what.
What's going to be the blowback, Right?
Um, and I'm not, I don't wantto throw anybody under the bus,
but you go to a coach and itsays, well, okay, well, you've
got these other issues, I'mmoving, I'm moving on to
(24:26):
somebody else.
Oh, that's a real thing, that'sa real thing.
Or?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (24:36):
a professor say well, it's not my
problem.
Yeah, no, I hear that that'spart of why we're doing this
this way, because they don'tfeel comfortable going to their
coach.
They feel what I cause.
Again I have student athletesthat support me in this and are
on the board so I can get theirreal life insight.
And they say exactly thatthey're reluctant to go to their
coach because they thinkthere's going to be
ramifications they mayunderstand, but then they may
think that that means they needtime off or they need to pull
(24:59):
back on their playing time, andit's like that's not what I'm
saying.
I just want you to know me as ahuman being and I want you to
know that my mom is sick or mygrandma just passed, know that
there's other things thathappened in my life other than
me playing with this ball, and,yeah, that that's a very real
thing.
Tim Newman (25:17):
You know, and and for the majority of these, these
kids, they've got what?
Three, four seasons?
Yeah, Maybe, maybe, maybe thisis their last week.
Right, and and you know,there's the pressure that,
whether it's the real pressureor the perceived pressure,
(25:37):
because there's both.
There's both and not knowing howto deal with that Yep, coupled
with the societal pressure,coupled with the academic
pressure, mm-hmm, there's a lotgoing on and I think in that
(25:58):
entire space there's thosepressures and and and things
need to be looked at and how,and how we're, how we're
approaching them.
From the academic piece youknow the whole idea of grades I
mean, oh, you, you, you betterget a good grade.
I mean, you better, you betterhurry up and get a good grade.
(26:19):
Right, you better hurry up,right, and, and do whatever you
got to do which leads which alsoleads to other other behaviors
Right, and do whatever you gotto do which leads, which also
leads to other other behaviors,right, and.
And now, all of a sudden, itcomes to a head.
And now, what are we going to?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (26:34):
do, and now because now it's a now.
Tim Newman (26:36):
It's a problem, right, it wasn't a problem
before because we didn't careabout it, right, because we,
because we didn't care about it,Right, right, right, but, but
now, oh, now.
Now we didn't care about itright, right, right, but, but
now, oh, now, now we have todeal with now we have to do
something, as opposed to dealingwith some of these other things
before they become problemsexactly being proactive instead
(26:56):
of reactive yeah yeah.
so I, you know there's.
I love the work that you'redoing.
What can we do?
Or how can we help students tolearn how to ask for help?
Or you know, because, again,even if let's just say you had,
you had a I don't know, yeah,you had one person who.
(27:19):
This is the person you go tofor help.
Ultimately, bureaucracies arebureaucracies, right, and we
know what's going to happen.
Right, because that's whathappens.
I mean, that's just whathappens, right.
How do we, what advice can wegive to students to say, okay,
(27:40):
it's okay to go to somebody youknow, and yes, there's gotta be
a comfortability there, butthere also has to be somebody
who can, who knows and who canactually do something to help.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (27:52):
Yeah, so it actually I'm going to flip
it.
It starts on the side of, I'mgoing to say, the adult.
because, even though, these areyoung adults, it's not of the
adult, because, again, what Ihave discovered, just kind of
working with my own studentathletes, they're just big kids.
They're big, strong, tall, long, wingspan, but they're kids at
the end of the day, until 25, 26, and they graduate.
(28:15):
They're kids.
So it's on the adult in thesituation to make themselves
available, make themselvesvulnerable.
They need to share more oftheir selves in order for the
athlete to feel comfortable.
Because I can tell you all daythat I have the credentials and
I mean I'm referring to, likethe mental health counselor.
Tim Newman (28:35):
Right.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (28:35):
I can tell you all day that I have the
credentials.
Oh, I'm a licensed therapistand I went to this school and
all of these things Right.
But if I can't see myself inyou or if I can't know that
you're safe, I'm not going tocome to you.
Your credentials mean nothingto me as a 19 year old.
So it's on that licensedprofessional or the coach or
(28:55):
whomever to say, hey, you knowwhat, I know what you're going
through, because I experienced X, Y and Z.
One of my favorite phrases thatI always share is that there is
relatability in vulnerability.
That if some of the coaches andthe staff would take their mask
off and show themselves andrelate to them and say, hey look
(29:18):
, I struggled with this too.
Or my girlfriend broke up withme when I was an athlete too,
the more that they share, Iguarantee you the athletes will
be like, oh coach, I didn't knowyou went through that.
Oh man, I didn't know you lostyour mom too.
When you can be vulnerable andyou can share the human side of
yourself and not just be seen asan authority, that will open up
(29:40):
the door for them to becomfortable and say, hey, look,
let me get your thought, Let metalk to you because you you can
relate to this and you know,I've seen that personally.
You know, the more I startedsharing my story, the more
people started coming andconnecting, and so I just think
the same same thought applies tothe, the administrators and the
coaches.
(30:00):
It starts with them in orderfor the students to be more
reluctant to come and speak.
Tim Newman (30:06):
Yeah, and I'm glad you brought that up, and I just
want to make a couple pointshere.
You know, not everybody'strauma is the same, but it's
still trauma.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (30:19):
It's experience, yeah.
Tim Newman (30:21):
And I think a lot of times.
What happens is I've beenguilty of this, well, okay, but
this person over here is goingthrough much worse than you are.
You need to get together, andthat's not the way that you can
do that.
Each individual is an individualand each individual experience
(30:43):
is their own individualexperience and we need to make
sure that we approach it fromthat perspective right and that
that that, I think, is key.
But I'm also glad that you saidthat it's up to us as the
adults to to move that forwardand take that step, and you know
I've been saying this for abouta number of different issues,
(31:03):
not just the the mental healthpiece health piece but the
communication piece it's up tous to, it's no longer just fall
in line and get in line and doit because we said it those long
days are over, gone.
And it's up to us, as the oldergeneration, as the, as the air,
(31:25):
everything is, quote leaders toreach out and say, okay, what's
going on?
This?
is how we need to do things, butplease give me your feedback,
or Right?
I mean, tell me what you'refeeling, tell me what you're
thinking about, whatever it isRight, about the process, about
the you know the steps, itdoesn't really matter, but we
can't just expect things to bedone.
You know the steps, whatdoesn't really matter?
But we can't just expect thingsto be done.
(31:46):
You know you better and I'mlife handing you now.
You better hurry up, and youbetter hurry up and do it,
because that's it doesn't workanymore, right, and I, I, I
truly believe that if, if, morepeople from the older
generations were to just kind oftake a step back, put that, put
that ego aside and say you knowwhat.
(32:07):
Let's, let's reach out and findout what's actually going on.
Let's see.
Let's see what they actuallythink.
Let's get.
Let's get their thoughts andopinions.
You know, I think things wouldwould move forward so much
better and everybody would bemore productive.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (32:23):
Yeah, I mean it's necessary.
And the longer it takes forthese schools to get on board
and these you know coaches toopen themselves up.
You know, unfortunately you maystill have situations like we've
been seeing, you know, and sothat's why my program is a
little different because, again,I have this idea that they're
(32:48):
kids, right, so you have tocreate these environments that
are comfortable for them.
What does a big kid want to do?
They can play games Uno anddominoes and we'll have a game
night, or we'll just sit up andhave a movie night.
You know you have to create theenvironment that is welcoming
for them to want to A come andthen B, you know, actually want
to have the conversation.
(33:09):
So it requires effort, you know.
You just can't throw somethingout there and say, oh, y'all
come to circle.
They're not doing that, youknow.
So it requires some strategyand that's why I'm taking the
burden off of these athleticdepartments to say, hey, I have
figured it out, I know what theyneed, so allow us to bring it
(33:31):
in and implement it on yourcampus so that it can be
something that is long term.
Tim Newman (33:36):
Right yeah, and just so everybody understands this
isn't just a Division I majorcollege problem, this is an
every college problem.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (33:46):
It's top to bottom it.
I major college problem.
Tim Newman (33:48):
This is an every college problem, every college,
I mean.
You can't go to a college oruniversity or a place of higher
education and not find somebodywho is in this position.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (34:00):
Right.
Tim Newman (34:01):
Because it's just a microcosm of society.
Go down the road.
It's probably going on in yourworkplace that you don't know.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (34:08):
Oh yeah , yeah, because it's, it's just
a microcosm of society.
Go down the road.
It's probably going on in inyour workplace that you don't
know.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, we're justspecifically relating to, you
know, sports and athletics, butthis is everywhere you know,
we're in different times now.
Tim Newman (34:19):
So let's get together.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (34:22):
Yeah, for sure.
Tim Newman (34:24):
So talk about resilience, and how can we build
that resilience?
To, to, to, because it's notlike again.
You can't just wake up and say,okay, today's better, I'm, I'm,
I'm getting over it today andI'm going to get it done.
How do we build resilience inyoung people when they're going
(34:47):
through whatever it is?
It could be something small,could be something big.
Yeah, I mean because,ultimately, you know, we have to
move forward, we have to, wehave to to get them to
understand that, yeah, you gotto move forward.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (35:03):
Yeah, I think it goes back to what we
like to say.
You know, in the speaking world, what's your why?
You know, why are you doing thethings that you do?
Because that's going to be thething that helps you to get out
of bed.
Not necessarily the absolute,you know, but if you have
something bigger than yourself,you have a goal or you have
(35:24):
someone that is bigger than youshould not be attached to
anything monetary, but if youhave a reason that you want to
keep getting up, that issomething that you have to
reflect on when those toughtimes come.
And so I've obviously havetried different things and
personal endeavors and all ofthe things, and some have been
(35:44):
successful and some haven't.
But I think the resilience ofkeeping going when the times get
tough and when you're havingsetbacks and things aren't
working out for you, you have toremember what got you started
in the first place, you know,because it's not going to be
smooth sailing in reallyanything.
So you have to remember well,why did I start?
Why did I go back to school?
(36:06):
Why did I change careers?
Why did I, you know, move tothis city?
You know, you have to rememberthat part of the thing when
adversity strikes, and so youknow it may not be something
that you overcome instantly, or,you know, within a day, or what
have you, you know, but itgives you something to hold on
to, it gives you something toremember in those moments as
(36:29):
you're still trying to pullyourself, you know, out of that
space and get back to you knowwho you are.
So I just think it's importantto have a why you know and be,
be for real.
You know, understand that ifit's bigger than you, you know
you're more inclined to keepgoing because somebody or
something is dependent on yourresiliency.
Tim Newman (36:51):
Yeah, and I think the the the piece that I
struggle with is, and I keep, Ifeel like I'm, I feel like my
grandfather.
You know, young people thesedays, these kids these days, but
I guess, as I was there too isthat they don't really know who
(37:13):
they are.
They don't spend that timethinking about that.
Why?
Until later in life or untilthere's a problem, right, and
that just makes it so muchharder.
Just, you know, but you got tohave it and maybe that's
something that we as a societyneeds to do a better job of
(37:37):
helping the younger generationsto start thinking about that, to
start thinking about who theyare and what their core values
are and what gets them going.
What, what, what excites them?
What, what, what, what are they?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (37:52):
Yeah, you have to have an identity in
something beyond this.
Yeah, you know.
Tim Newman (37:56):
I call it the innards, my innards.
I mean I know what I'm excited,right, and I know what it is
and I know that feeling, I feelit throughout, right, and you
got to figure that out.
I think that they figured outwhen they're younger and again,
things may change as you getolder but if you figured out
(38:16):
when you're younger, how muchbetter is life going to be for
you Right, if we could startearlier.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (38:22):
you know there are some thoughts of
some thoughts of that.
You know this this pathwaywould be a little more simpler,
may not be as rocky as many ofus have experienced, but you
know, it's all trial and error.
You know, we, even as a child,you know, you try four and five
different sports until you findyour favorite one and then you
(38:42):
keep on going with that tillyou're ready to get better, um,
and do it better.
So again, I it kind of goes backto the parents, it kind of goes
back to you know, yourauthority figures and your
leaders, you know, to help moldand shape and kind of instill
that early so that when you getdown the road and life really,
(39:02):
you know, rubber meets the road,as they say you have something
to pull on.
But even if you don't, you know, that's why persons like myself
and, you know, other people inthese spaces are trying to help
you to all right.
Well, if you didn't get itbefore, you can get it now,
because you still have the restof your life to live.
And so, and these are going tobe those skills that you're
(39:23):
going to need because life isgoing to continue to meet you
and meet you well, and if you'renot ready, you know it could be
a setback that you're notprepared for.
Tim Newman (39:34):
Yeah, but, and that's the other thing that they
have to understand- yeah.
It's.
Something is going to be happento them in their life.
It's going to happen thatthey're not going to be prepared
for?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (39:44):
Yeah, I mean that's called life is what
happens.
Tim Newman (39:48):
And like you said, having that good grounding
having that core you know, for Idon't want to speak for you,
but for people like you and mewho come from the faith
background, we have that to toas a I mean for me it's an
anchor, yeah, and you know, andI'm not saying people have to do
(40:11):
that, I mean it's up.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (40:12):
Yeah, of course, of course, we, we, if
you come back.
Tim Newman (40:26):
You know else, but but yeah you.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (40:27):
You understand what I'm saying here.
Tim Newman (40:28):
Of course you've got to have it.
You got to have some anchor,something bigger, yeah, so, uh
well, kanesha, thank you so muchfor for spending some time with
us today.
I really do appreciate it.
Where can people you know workwith you or find out what you're
doing to get involved?
Um, all all the good stuff thatyou're doing I mean, you're
coaching, um helping with withwhat, what's going on in college
campuses when can they?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (40:47):
find you.
Yeah, so you can find mepersonally.
I'm on Instagram at KeneshaNichelle N as in Nancy Nichelle.
Linkedin is a good place.
To you know, I give a lot ofgood tips and information about
the gang trainers United program, as well as tips and tools for
students and student athletes.
So Kenesha Brown Alexander onLinkedIn, and then Game Changers
(41:11):
United so GameChangersUnitedcom.
Game Changers United onInstagram as well.
So, yeah, you know, ifanybody's interested in
connecting and want to learnmore or how you could get Game
Changers United on your campus,please let's connect because at
the at the end of the day, thisis about these students.
We're just trying to save alife and trying to make sure
that they successfully getthrough their collegiate career.
Tim Newman (41:34):
Absolutely, and they have skills to move forward as
a good order as well.
This is a long-term endeavor.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (41:43):
For sure, this is a long-term
endeavor here, for sure, forsure.
Tim Newman (41:46):
Well, again, thanks so much.
We'll put those links in theshow notes.
And again, Kenesha, I reallyappreciate you coming on and
sharing what you're doing.
You're doing the work.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (41:55):
Thank you.
Tim Newman (41:57):
And anything I can do for you in the future.
You just let me know.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (42:01):
I appreciate it, Tim.
Thank you so much.
Tim Newman (42:04):
Be sure to visit speakingwithconfidencepodcastcom
to get your free ebook Top 21Challenges for Public Speakers
and how to Overcome it.
You can also register for theForming for Public Speaking
course.
Always remember your voice hasthe power to change the world.
We'll talk to you next time,take care.
Welcome back to Speaking with Confidence, a
podcast that helps you build thesoft skills that lead to real
results communication,storytelling, public speaking
and showing up with confidencein every conversation that
counts.
I'm Tim Newman, a recoveringcollege professor during
communication coach.
And I'm Tim Newman, arecovering college professor
during communication coach, andI'm thrilled to guide you on a
journey to becoming a powerfulcommunicator.
Today's guest is Kenesha BrownAlexander.
(00:33):
Kenesha is a trailblazer in thesports industry, with
experience leading major eventsfor organizations like the Miami
Dolphins, the Super BowlCommittee, the Orange Bowl
Committee and more.
She's a certified life coach,adjunct professor, speaker and
founder of the Brighter TomorrowFoundation, which is dedicated
(00:53):
to guiding individuals throughlife's toughest challenges,
transforming pain into purpose,fostering resilience and
embracing new beginnings.
Through the foundation, hersignature program, game Changers
United, supportsstudent-athletes in balancing
academics, athletics and theirpersonal life by promoting
mental well-being and spiritualgrowth.
(01:14):
Her inspiring journey ofresilience and faith uplifts
others, reminding them that evenin life's darkest moments, a
brighter tomorrow is alwayswithin reach.
Kenesha, welcome to the show.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (01:26):
Thank you, Tim.
Thank you for having me.
Tim Newman (01:30):
Oh, this is going to be a I'd like to say a fun
conversation, but we're going totalk about some serious issues
that need talked about.
I mean ultimately, because forthe most part, we as a society,
you know, brush these thingsunder the rug or just discount
them.
But before we really get intosome of those issues, I want to
(01:54):
talk with you about sports andthen we can get into the
important things.
You know, from a professionalperspective, you know you and I
have a lot in common.
We are both student athletictrainers, we both have sport
industry experience andoperations, both college
professors, et cetera.
But what have you seen in termsof the communication skills of
(02:16):
young professionals over thelast few years?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (02:19):
I mean, if I could be transparent.
You know it's it lacking,unfortunately, this generation,
you know it's different.
That's probably the easiest waythat I can put it.
And that is honestly half thereason why I decided to become
an adjunct professor, because,especially in the sports
(02:40):
industry not because obviously Ican't speak for any others, but
here you know it definitelyrequires, you know, students to
step up, to give it all you gotto show up, you know, to give
the grit.
You know they think that it'sjust all fun and games and while
, yes, it's sports and it's fun,you know it definitely requires
(03:01):
a level of tenacity in order tobe, successful in this industry
, and so communication, for one,is something that I believe
lacks.
But I make it a point toemphasize that in my classroom,
if you ask any of my students,you know they know, with
Professor A it's about thedetails, it's about you know the
little things.
I tell them all the time.
I will pull up their assignmenton the board and I tell them do
(03:24):
you see these four bullets?
If you follow these fourbullets, I promise you will do
well in this class or you'll dowell on this assignment.
But they also know that I dothat because that is a going to
(03:45):
teach you those interpersonalskills that you're going to need
for whatever career that youhave.
And so you know, I think, thatif we all, like persons like you
and I and other professors thatare out there, you know, are
very intentional about thethings that are necessary, and
they use that in the classroomand utilize that, I think the
(04:06):
students will be fine.
But it's on them, you know, tostep up and want to do this.
Tim Newman (04:11):
It really is and you know, what I found over the
last few years of my, you know,career in academia was I was
spending more time teaching softskills and communication skills
than I was the content and andpart of that was because it
doesn't really matter what youknow if you can't communicate,
it doesn't right it reallydoesn't matter right and you
(04:31):
know what we do in the sportingindustry.
It's not rocket science, it's.
It's not like they're going tobe doctors.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (04:37):
I mean if that's, that's not like
they're gonna be architects andbuilding bridges and you know
you've got to be able to havegood interpersonal relationship
skills.
Tim Newman (04:43):
You got to be able to talk to people.
You have to be architects andbuilding bridges, and you know
you've got to be able to havegood interpersonal relationship
skills.
You got to be able to talk topeople.
You have to be able to thinkcritically on your feet.
All those, all those types ofthings, but um you know, I tell
them all the time.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (04:56):
You know, obviously they're they're
young adults, so they're notmade to come to class and things
like that, and obviously thingshappen.
But I tell them you have tocommunicate, like you should
send me an email to let me knowif you're not going to show up
to work when you get out of here, like you can't just not show
up, right, you have tocommunicate, that you know.
So, just like you said, thoseinterpersonal skills, I'm doing
(05:16):
my very best to try to get thatingrained in them in these you
know four, four and a halfmonths that they at least take
that with them when they leaveme and go out into the rest of
this world.
Tim Newman (05:29):
So, so, let's take that just a step further.
And, and you know, you were themanager of the volunteer
program for the 2020 Super Bowl,miami, which, but I don't think
people understand what anundertaking that that actually
is right, um, and?
And so you, you're just amanager of one segment of the
(05:49):
overall experience of theoverall experience, right, right
, um so.
So give everybody an inside look.
You know what did you actuallydo.
How many volunteers was it?
I mean, how many differentpeople are you are you dealing
with, like?
Give us a quick overview ofwhat that's like.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (06:04):
Sure, sure, sure.
So I break it down like this Ofcourse everybody knows Super
Bowl Sunday.
Everybody knows that's the biggame.
You know that's what we're allhere for.
But for the city that ishosting the game there's a week
long of events.
So they may or may not televisethat, you may or may not even
hear about it.
Everybody knows about Sunday,and so for the host city that is
(06:27):
hosting the game, theyestablish a host committee.
That are basically the boots onthe ground for the NFL, because
the league office is in NewYork so those guys can't move
down to the cities where thegame is being held, so they have
to rely on the host committeeto give them direction, to give
them guidance.
They don't know the bestrestaurants, they don't know the
(06:47):
best venues to host.
You know all of the differentevents.
So they rely on the hostcommittee to give them some
insight.
And you know some directives on, you know best experience for
them.
So, within all of that, youhave the volunteer team, the
host committee.
Let me back up the hostcommittee is actually a
nonprofit organization.
While the NFL is a for-profit,the host committee is a
(07:10):
nonprofit.
Therefore, that is why there'sa need for volunteers, and so
the volunteers are helping withthe host committee events,
because there are actuallyevents that are assigned to the
host committee.
But then there's also rolesthat are sometimes even paid
positions that are assigned tothe host committee.
But then there's also rolesthat are sometimes even paid
positions that are available forSuper Bowl Sunday.
And so, as the manager of ourvolunteers, we were required
(07:34):
well, not required, but we weretasked with recruiting 10,000
volunteers.
And that is again because thereis Super Bowl Live.
Live, which is a free eventthat the host committee does,
that runs the full seven days ofSuper Bowl week.
Then there's the Super Bowl, ornow NFL experience.
That's usually held at theconvention center in that city,
(07:58):
and so the NFL asks forvolunteers to help support that
event.
Monday of Super Bowl week isopening night, so that is when
the teams are first in town andthey're having their media night
, and so there's volunteersneeded for that.
And then, of course, from ahospitality perspective, at the
airports, at some of the morepopular hotels, there are a need
(08:22):
for volunteers Because again,you've got people coming from
everywhere, even international,and so they don't know anything
about the city, perhaps they'venever visited there before.
So volunteers are the folksthat are familiar with the city.
They know the best restaurants,they know where to get your
nails done, they know where thebarbershops are.
They can help from ahospitality perspective for the
(08:43):
guests who come into town.
And so it's a year long process.
You know we started literally assoon as the former game was
over, so for us it was Atlanta.
So as soon as that game wasover we opened up our portal for
volunteers to register.
They go through a screeningprocess, they go through a
background process, they gothrough an interview and
(09:04):
eventually, you know, we narrowit all the way down.
I think our end number wasmaybe right around 8,300.
We didn't quite get 10,000.
I think, because Miami has heldso many Super Bowls that you
know maybe fatigue.
But nevertheless you know we'vegot.
We lean on corporations,corporations to bring.
They can do it as a group, youknow, if they want to do it as a
(09:26):
staff outing in the sports,sports management world for
colleges, there's colleges thatwill bring a group of students
that want to get that learningexperience.
And so I mean, I would say wehad at least 45 universities
that would bring a group ofstudents to come down and they,
you know, get the experience of,you know, working the Super
(09:47):
Bowl game.
So yes, it was a daunting taskbut it's a lot of fun.
You know, you meet some greatpeople and a lot of these folks
have remained friends of minethroughout the years.
I still, you know, keep up withthem today.
So I love it.
It was good yeah.
Tim Newman (10:03):
It's, it's, it's.
It's a daunting task to to dothat.
And you know again, justbecause the Superbowl is over on
Sunday at 10, 30, 11 o'clock,your job isn't necessarily over
yet because you still have allthe wrap up and the clean up and
the this and that and, and youknow, communication with City
(10:23):
Right, those types of things.
What about the level ofcommunication that has to take
place just in coordinating,let's say, 8,300 volunteers on
top of all the other committeesand all the other people that
are, you know, because that'sjust one cog in the wheel of
that whole event?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (10:41):
Yeah, so it definitely requires some
management processes, if youwill.
So we use a tool called Rosterfywhere the volunteers would have
like their own portal, if youwill.
And so on the backend, on ourside, from the staff perspective
, we go in and we assign themtheir shifts and they get the
notifications of when theirshift is coming.
(11:03):
They get all the detailedinformation as far as parking
and meals and all of thosethings.
So it's nearly we were a staffof three, so it was nearly
impossible for us tosingle-handedly try to
communicate without having somesort of automated tool, and so
that tool was very helpful forus.
Even if we had to send outreal-time messages or something
(11:26):
changed, we could send thatalert and they would get a text
message.
So communication is definitelynecessary, you know, even for a
leadership committee, if youwill, and that was 10
(11:48):
individuals that were reallystrong in various areas and we
could communicate to them.
And so of those 10, then theyhad a subset within their group,
so they were each assigned to aspecial sector.
Somebody was hospitality,somebody was managing
headquarters, someone wasmanaging the uniforms, and so
under them then they hadcaptains.
(12:09):
So under them they had captainsthat had their own shifts and
schedules, and then you hadgeneral volunteers.
So it wasn't as if I wasdirectly talking to a general
volunteer, I would communicatemy information to one of the
leads and then the leads woulddisseminate the information,
because it was broken down intosmaller groups.
So I think it was important forus to establish some sort of
(12:32):
workflow in that way, becausethere's no way that I can have
hundreds of people calling meand texting me and trying to
reach out to me that you know.
that was never going to work.
Tim Newman (12:42):
It's not going to work, right, but but you know
your message has to be reallyclear.
Right, because we know howmessages get diluted or words
can.
Words can be misconstrued oneway or the other.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (12:53):
We've all played the phone tree game.
Tim Newman (12:57):
Think about how, how catastrophic that could be If
one word is is is messed up oryou know.
You know is messed up or timeis wrong.
Think about this.
Let's just say the shifts arethree hours.
You put a shift off by an hourwrong An hour yeah.
(13:18):
That matters.
It does, it really does.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (13:21):
Yeah, I mean it affects anything
Parking.
You check in all of the things.
So, yes, you know we.
That's why the leaders that wechose, they had to be strong,
they had to be professionals,you know, in their day to day
work.
So we know that we can rely onthem on the details.
Tim Newman (13:38):
You know and we talk about how important this stuff
is.
But you know, I tell studentsall the time, all the time, that
nobody really cares aboutsports.
Nobody cares, and we know thisbecause on super bowl sunday
other networks have ratingsright.
You know, nobody cares how manypoints somebody scored or who's
(14:00):
going to make the playoffs.
I mean because in the scheme oflife it nobody.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (14:07):
I mean that it doesn't really mean
anything, right, it's minor incomparison.
Tim Newman (14:10):
It's minor it's minor, um, we care because it's
our industry and it's of course,of course but I try and tell
students to to get out of thatmindset and try and put it in
perspective, put it in in intoperspective of the people that
you're, that you'recommunicating with so that you
know there's that you couldbuild that relationship and so
(14:32):
that you can see how it actuallydoes matter and how it does
relate to me.
Now and I bring this up becausenow we're going to start getting
into some of the serious talkhere because you've said that
sports saved your life- yeah,yeah.
What do you mean by that?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (14:48):
What do I mean by that?
Well, in a nutshell, I lostboth of my parents very early in
life.
So I lost my dad at the age of12 and my mother at the age of
21.
And she passed while I was incollege.
So you know, I'm a collegestudent, just I don't know
(15:08):
nothing, right, I'm trying tofigure it all out.
And so, unfortunately, you know, I was working as a, well, I
was studying to be an athletictrainer and I was a student
trainer as well, and I wentright back to my
responsibilities, butunfortunately, my supervisor
(15:35):
wasn't very empathetic to thegrief that I was experiencing
and just the need for supportand just to be loved on by my
family, that a request home tosee my family was denied.
And when she denied that, thatwas the last day that I was a
trainer.
But that was also the day that Iattempted to take my life,
because I just felt like, whatam I doing this for?
(15:56):
You know, I was barely hangingon as is, and you know I hadn't
graduated, I hadn't accomplishedanything, you know, hadn't
gotten married.
You know none of the monumentalthings that you, you know,
would do in life.
You know those things hadn'thappened yet.
So you know, I was justconfused as to why am I even
still here, but gratefully, youknow, my life was spared.
(16:18):
You know I'm a woman of faithand so I believe that.
You know, god knew that I hadother things, like the Superbowl
we just talked about, on thehorizon, but in that experience
I came through it.
I ended up transferring schoolsback to my hometown so I could
be closer to my family.
But when I transferred, youknow I had failed so many
(16:41):
classes.
You know, just being theretaking care of my mother, that I
was encouraged to change mymajor from exercise science to
sports administration.
When I changed my major, I hadto have an internship, and I
won't go through the whole storyof the internship process
because I'll end up datingmyself.
But I ended up landing aninternship with the Orange Bowl
(17:04):
Committee, which is in Miami,and so I'm originally from
Kentucky, so I just call it ablessing that you know I would
end up in sunny Florida, ofcourse, right, and then Miami
Florida, where it's sunny, likeyou know, I don't know, 99% of
the time.
And so having that opportunity,getting down to Miami and it
(17:26):
was a double hosting year, whichmeans it was an Orange Bowl
game and a national championship.
It literally saved my life.
You know, which means it was anOrange Bowl game and a national
championship.
No-transcript, believe thathaving something that brought me
(18:03):
joy outside of you know justthe things that I had been
through definitely was thesaving grace for my life.
Tim Newman (18:14):
Yeah, and thank God for that.
You know I.
You know the.
I think we get lost sometimes.
You know sports is supposed tobe fun.
It's supposed to be it'ssupposed to be.
You know the place where we allcome together.
Yes, but in that you know,taking it just a step further,
you know from how a young man acouple weeks ago committed
(18:36):
suicide Sad, tragic.
Don't have the, the, the skills, don't have the um, the support
systems right.
(18:57):
And when I say that sportsdoesn't matter, sometimes, like
you said, in in this person'slife that was the only thing
that was keeping him around,right, right.
And you know we've come a longway in how we deal with with
mental health and how how wedeal with with these types of
(19:18):
issues.
Talk a little bit about whatyou're doing, um, in terms of,
of helping student athletes, and, and and and the support
systems or those that areaffiliated with with with
athletics.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (19:30):
Yeah, so I, obviously I've known that
I had some purpose work, right.
You know you don't justexperience this for the heck of
it.
You know I don't believe thatI'm supposed to have.
You know, just live this andjust go on.
(19:50):
Like, I definitely know that I'msupposed to do something in a
space, but for a while I did notknow what that was.
So I've always just worked insports and events and the fun
side, the stuff that you knowpeople clap for, the stuff that
I don't care about, I'm just,you know, gifted to do it.
You know, it don't matter to me, but it was not until December
(20:23):
of 2023.
And I, you mentioned, I am anadjunct professor, and so
December of 2023, as a faculty,I received an email of a young
woman.
Be honest, you know, obviouslywe hear about it and we know
that it happens, but when it'son your campus and you get the
notification, it's a differentkind of feeling.
And particularly, you know, ittook me back to my journey, my
(20:44):
own story.
You know, I didn't know theyoung lady.
I had one of her teammates inmy class.
That was about as close as Iwas, but I knew that, whatever
she was going through, she feltthat that was the only option
and that is what I could relateto.
Tim Newman (20:58):
Right.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (20:59):
And so in that I said, all right,
kenesha, you know you've done alot of great things in sports,
it's been a fun ride.
But how can we stop this?
How can we put it into this,like, what can you do with your
voice, your story, yourovercoming, to help this?
And so there is where myprogram, the Game Changers
(21:19):
United, was initially birthed mypurpose in just being a light
and being an inspiration in somesort of way.
When the pandemic hit and ofcourse we didn't have any sports
, I became a certified lifecoach to help just regular
individuals with grief and loss.
(21:40):
But again, I did not know it wasgoing to morph into this.
I knew I wanted to do something, but I didn't know what.
And so it's kind of ironic thatall of the puzzle pieces start
to come together when you findyour purpose.
But yeah, so I started the GameChangers United program
honestly, just for me to have ahave a way to support colleges
(22:01):
and universities with theirinitiatives and endeavors.
You know, obviously, the NCAAmandates, you know mental health
awareness and you knowreferring their student athletes
to the campus counselors oreven if they have one in
athletics.
But what I, what I believe andwhat I feel is that you know
some of these departments.
They want to do more but theyjust don't have the capacity to
(22:23):
do so.
You know they don't have thetime.
You know, if you've got aprogram with four and 500
athletes and it's only one,maybe two of you, it's not
enough.
And so that's where I want tosupport them, Like, hey, I want
to use all these years in sports, all these years in events, and
to help you create something onyour campus so that a Kyron
(22:44):
Lacey doesn't happen again, sothat they have a place where
they know I can be vulnerable, Ican be safe, I can share in my
experiences with other studentshere and not feel alone.
Because that was my issue.
I felt that I was the onlyperson on this green earth that
was having an issue, which wasnot true, but you feel like that
(23:04):
when you're in the middle ofyour trauma and your experience,
and so this is to help mitigatethat and to help bring some
sort of community on campus sothat students don't feel alone
as they're experiencing lifeissues.
Tim Newman (23:18):
Yeah, it's something that, obviously, that we really
need and it's long overdue.
There's so many other issuesthat go into this because, for
whatever reason, each individualsituation, either people they
don't know how to ask for help,which is a problem they don't
(23:39):
know who to ask for help, theydon't know what to ask for.
And you know, what I've found isthat if you just speak up and
say I need help, I think there'sa ton of people that would say
what can I do?
But without without you know,knowing how to ask, or knowing
(24:00):
who to go to, or whatever.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (24:01):
Or feeling comfortable with that
person, that individual.
Tim Newman (24:05):
Right, and it's.
That's also a problem too,whether it's whether it's a
coach, whether it's a strengthcoach, whether it's the athlete
trainer, whether it's aprofessor, you know what.
What's going to be the blowback, Right?
Um, and I'm not, I don't wantto throw anybody under the bus,
but you go to a coach and itsays, well, okay, well, you've
got these other issues, I'mmoving, I'm moving on to
(24:26):
somebody else.
Oh, that's a real thing, that'sa real thing.
Or?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (24:36):
a professor say well, it's not my
problem.
Yeah, no, I hear that that'spart of why we're doing this
this way, because they don'tfeel comfortable going to their
coach.
They feel what I cause.
Again I have student athletesthat support me in this and are
on the board so I can get theirreal life insight.
And they say exactly thatthey're reluctant to go to their
coach because they thinkthere's going to be
ramifications they mayunderstand, but then they may
think that that means they needtime off or they need to pull
(24:59):
back on their playing time, andit's like that's not what I'm
saying.
I just want you to know me as ahuman being and I want you to
know that my mom is sick or mygrandma just passed, know that
there's other things thathappened in my life other than
me playing with this ball, and,yeah, that that's a very real
thing.
Tim Newman (25:17):
You know, and and for the majority of these, these
kids, they've got what?
Three, four seasons?
Yeah, Maybe, maybe, maybe thisis their last week.
Right, and and you know,there's the pressure that,
whether it's the real pressureor the perceived pressure,
(25:37):
because there's both.
There's both and not knowing howto deal with that Yep, coupled
with the societal pressure,coupled with the academic
pressure, mm-hmm, there's a lotgoing on and I think in that
(25:58):
entire space there's thosepressures and and and things
need to be looked at and how,and how we're, how we're
approaching them.
From the academic piece youknow the whole idea of grades I
mean, oh, you, you, you betterget a good grade.
I mean, you better, you betterhurry up and get a good grade.
(26:19):
Right, you better hurry up,right, and, and do whatever you
got to do which leads which alsoleads to other other behaviors
Right, and do whatever you gotto do which leads, which also
leads to other other behaviors,right, and.
And now, all of a sudden, itcomes to a head.
And now, what are we going to?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (26:34):
do, and now because now it's a now.
Tim Newman (26:36):
It's a problem, right, it wasn't a problem
before because we didn't careabout it, right, because we,
because we didn't care about it,Right, right, right, but, but
now, oh, now.
Now we didn't care about itright, right, right, but, but
now, oh, now, now we have todeal with now we have to do
something, as opposed to dealingwith some of these other things
before they become problemsexactly being proactive instead
(26:56):
of reactive yeah yeah.
so I, you know there's.
I love the work that you'redoing.
What can we do?
Or how can we help students tolearn how to ask for help?
Or you know, because, again,even if let's just say you had,
you had a I don't know, yeah,you had one person who.
(27:19):
This is the person you go tofor help.
Ultimately, bureaucracies arebureaucracies, right, and we
know what's going to happen.
Right, because that's whathappens.
I mean, that's just whathappens, right.
How do we, what advice can wegive to students to say, okay,
(27:40):
it's okay to go to somebody youknow, and yes, there's gotta be
a comfortability there, butthere also has to be somebody
who can, who knows and who canactually do something to help.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (27:52):
Yeah, so it actually I'm going to flip
it.
It starts on the side of, I'mgoing to say, the adult.
because, even though, these areyoung adults, it's not of the
adult, because, again, what Ihave discovered, just kind of
working with my own studentathletes, they're just big kids.
They're big, strong, tall, long, wingspan, but they're kids at
the end of the day, until 25, 26, and they graduate.
(28:15):
They're kids.
So it's on the adult in thesituation to make themselves
available, make themselvesvulnerable.
They need to share more oftheir selves in order for the
athlete to feel comfortable.
Because I can tell you all daythat I have the credentials and
I mean I'm referring to, likethe mental health counselor.
Tim Newman (28:35):
Right.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (28:35):
I can tell you all day that I have the
credentials.
Oh, I'm a licensed therapistand I went to this school and
all of these things Right.
But if I can't see myself inyou or if I can't know that
you're safe, I'm not going tocome to you.
Your credentials mean nothingto me as a 19 year old.
So it's on that licensedprofessional or the coach or
(28:55):
whomever to say, hey, you knowwhat, I know what you're going
through, because I experienced X, Y and Z.
One of my favorite phrases thatI always share is that there is
relatability in vulnerability.
That if some of the coaches andthe staff would take their mask
off and show themselves andrelate to them and say, hey look
(29:18):
, I struggled with this too.
Or my girlfriend broke up withme when I was an athlete too,
the more that they share, Iguarantee you the athletes will
be like, oh coach, I didn't knowyou went through that.
Oh man, I didn't know you lostyour mom too.
When you can be vulnerable andyou can share the human side of
yourself and not just be seen asan authority, that will open up
(29:40):
the door for them to becomfortable and say, hey, look,
let me get your thought, Let metalk to you because you you can
relate to this and you know,I've seen that personally.
You know, the more I startedsharing my story, the more
people started coming andconnecting, and so I just think
the same same thought applies tothe, the administrators and the
coaches.
(30:00):
It starts with them in orderfor the students to be more
reluctant to come and speak.
Tim Newman (30:06):
Yeah, and I'm glad you brought that up, and I just
want to make a couple pointshere.
You know, not everybody'strauma is the same, but it's
still trauma.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (30:19):
It's experience, yeah.
Tim Newman (30:21):
And I think a lot of times.
What happens is I've beenguilty of this, well, okay, but
this person over here is goingthrough much worse than you are.
You need to get together, andthat's not the way that you can
do that.
Each individual is an individualand each individual experience
(30:43):
is their own individualexperience and we need to make
sure that we approach it fromthat perspective right and that
that that, I think, is key.
But I'm also glad that you saidthat it's up to us as the
adults to to move that forwardand take that step, and you know
I've been saying this for abouta number of different issues,
(31:03):
not just the the mental healthpiece health piece but the
communication piece it's up tous to, it's no longer just fall
in line and get in line and doit because we said it those long
days are over, gone.
And it's up to us, as the oldergeneration, as the, as the air,
(31:25):
everything is, quote leaders toreach out and say, okay, what's
going on?
This?
is how we need to do things, butplease give me your feedback,
or Right?
I mean, tell me what you'refeeling, tell me what you're
thinking about, whatever it isRight, about the process, about
the you know the steps, itdoesn't really matter, but we
can't just expect things to bedone.
You know the steps, whatdoesn't really matter?
But we can't just expect thingsto be done.
(31:46):
You know you better and I'mlife handing you now.
You better hurry up, and youbetter hurry up and do it,
because that's it doesn't workanymore, right, and I, I, I
truly believe that if, if, morepeople from the older
generations were to just kind oftake a step back, put that, put
that ego aside and say you knowwhat.
(32:07):
Let's, let's reach out and findout what's actually going on.
Let's see.
Let's see what they actuallythink.
Let's get.
Let's get their thoughts andopinions.
You know, I think things wouldwould move forward so much
better and everybody would bemore productive.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (32:23):
Yeah, I mean it's necessary.
And the longer it takes forthese schools to get on board
and these you know coaches toopen themselves up.
You know, unfortunately you maystill have situations like we've
been seeing, you know, and sothat's why my program is a
little different because, again,I have this idea that they're
(32:48):
kids, right, so you have tocreate these environments that
are comfortable for them.
What does a big kid want to do?
They can play games Uno anddominoes and we'll have a game
night, or we'll just sit up andhave a movie night.
You know you have to create theenvironment that is welcoming
for them to want to A come andthen B, you know, actually want
to have the conversation.
(33:09):
So it requires effort, you know.
You just can't throw somethingout there and say, oh, y'all
come to circle.
They're not doing that, youknow.
So it requires some strategyand that's why I'm taking the
burden off of these athleticdepartments to say, hey, I have
figured it out, I know what theyneed, so allow us to bring it
(33:31):
in and implement it on yourcampus so that it can be
something that is long term.
Tim Newman (33:36):
Right yeah, and just so everybody understands this
isn't just a Division I majorcollege problem, this is an
every college problem.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (33:46):
It's top to bottom it.
I major college problem.
Tim Newman (33:48):
This is an every college problem, every college,
I mean.
You can't go to a college oruniversity or a place of higher
education and not find somebodywho is in this position.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (34:00):
Right.
Tim Newman (34:01):
Because it's just a microcosm of society.
Go down the road.
It's probably going on in yourworkplace that you don't know.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (34:08):
Oh yeah , yeah, because it's, it's just
a microcosm of society.
Go down the road.
It's probably going on in inyour workplace that you don't
know.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, we're justspecifically relating to, you
know, sports and athletics, butthis is everywhere you know,
we're in different times now.
Tim Newman (34:19):
So let's get together.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (34:22):
Yeah, for sure.
Tim Newman (34:24):
So talk about resilience, and how can we build
that resilience?
To, to, to, because it's notlike again.
You can't just wake up and say,okay, today's better, I'm, I'm,
I'm getting over it today andI'm going to get it done.
How do we build resilience inyoung people when they're going
(34:47):
through whatever it is?
It could be something small,could be something big.
Yeah, I mean because,ultimately, you know, we have to
move forward, we have to, wehave to to get them to
understand that, yeah, you gotto move forward.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (35:03):
Yeah, I think it goes back to what we
like to say.
You know, in the speaking world, what's your why?
You know, why are you doing thethings that you do?
Because that's going to be thething that helps you to get out
of bed.
Not necessarily the absolute,you know, but if you have
something bigger than yourself,you have a goal or you have
(35:24):
someone that is bigger than youshould not be attached to
anything monetary, but if youhave a reason that you want to
keep getting up, that issomething that you have to
reflect on when those toughtimes come.
And so I've obviously havetried different things and
personal endeavors and all ofthe things, and some have been
(35:44):
successful and some haven't.
But I think the resilience ofkeeping going when the times get
tough and when you're havingsetbacks and things aren't
working out for you, you have toremember what got you started
in the first place, you know,because it's not going to be
smooth sailing in reallyanything.
So you have to remember well,why did I start?
Why did I go back to school?
(36:06):
Why did I change careers?
Why did I, you know, move tothis city?
You know, you have to rememberthat part of the thing when
adversity strikes, and so youknow it may not be something
that you overcome instantly, or,you know, within a day, or what
have you, you know, but itgives you something to hold on
to, it gives you something toremember in those moments as
(36:29):
you're still trying to pullyourself, you know, out of that
space and get back to you knowwho you are.
So I just think it's importantto have a why you know and be,
be for real.
You know, understand that ifit's bigger than you, you know
you're more inclined to keepgoing because somebody or
something is dependent on yourresiliency.
Tim Newman (36:51):
Yeah, and I think the the the piece that I
struggle with is, and I keep, Ifeel like I'm, I feel like my
grandfather.
You know, young people thesedays, these kids these days, but
I guess, as I was there too isthat they don't really know who
(37:13):
they are.
They don't spend that timethinking about that.
Why?
Until later in life or untilthere's a problem, right, and
that just makes it so muchharder.
Just, you know, but you got tohave it and maybe that's
something that we as a societyneeds to do a better job of
(37:37):
helping the younger generationsto start thinking about that, to
start thinking about who theyare and what their core values
are and what gets them going.
What, what, what excites them?
What, what, what, what are they?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (37:52):
Yeah, you have to have an identity in
something beyond this.
Yeah, you know.
Tim Newman (37:56):
I call it the innards, my innards.
I mean I know what I'm excited,right, and I know what it is
and I know that feeling, I feelit throughout, right, and you
got to figure that out.
I think that they figured outwhen they're younger and again,
things may change as you getolder but if you figured out
(38:16):
when you're younger, how muchbetter is life going to be for
you Right, if we could startearlier.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (38:22):
you know there are some thoughts of
some thoughts of that.
You know this this pathwaywould be a little more simpler,
may not be as rocky as many ofus have experienced, but you
know, it's all trial and error.
You know, we, even as a child,you know, you try four and five
different sports until you findyour favorite one and then you
(38:42):
keep on going with that tillyou're ready to get better, um,
and do it better.
So again, I it kind of goes backto the parents, it kind of goes
back to you know, yourauthority figures and your
leaders, you know, to help moldand shape and kind of instill
that early so that when you getdown the road and life really,
(39:02):
you know, rubber meets the road,as they say you have something
to pull on.
But even if you don't, you know, that's why persons like myself
and, you know, other people inthese spaces are trying to help
you to all right.
Well, if you didn't get itbefore, you can get it now,
because you still have the restof your life to live.
And so, and these are going tobe those skills that you're
(39:23):
going to need because life isgoing to continue to meet you
and meet you well, and if you'renot ready, you know it could be
a setback that you're notprepared for.
Tim Newman (39:34):
Yeah, but, and that's the other thing that they
have to understand- yeah.
It's.
Something is going to be happento them in their life.
It's going to happen thatthey're not going to be prepared
for?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (39:44):
Yeah, I mean that's called life is what
happens.
Tim Newman (39:48):
And like you said, having that good grounding
having that core you know, for Idon't want to speak for you,
but for people like you and mewho come from the faith
background, we have that to toas a I mean for me it's an
anchor, yeah, and you know, andI'm not saying people have to do
(40:11):
that, I mean it's up.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (40:12):
Yeah, of course, of course, we, we, if
you come back.
Tim Newman (40:26):
You know else, but but yeah you.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (40:27):
You understand what I'm saying here.
Tim Newman (40:28):
Of course you've got to have it.
You got to have some anchor,something bigger, yeah, so, uh
well, kanesha, thank you so muchfor for spending some time with
us today.
I really do appreciate it.
Where can people you know workwith you or find out what you're
doing to get involved?
Um, all all the good stuff thatyou're doing I mean, you're
coaching, um helping with withwhat, what's going on in college
campuses when can they?
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (40:47):
find you.
Yeah, so you can find mepersonally.
I'm on Instagram at KeneshaNichelle N as in Nancy Nichelle.
Linkedin is a good place.
To you know, I give a lot ofgood tips and information about
the gang trainers United program, as well as tips and tools for
students and student athletes.
So Kenesha Brown Alexander onLinkedIn, and then Game Changers
(41:11):
United so GameChangersUnitedcom.
Game Changers United onInstagram as well.
So, yeah, you know, ifanybody's interested in
connecting and want to learnmore or how you could get Game
Changers United on your campus,please let's connect because at
the at the end of the day, thisis about these students.
We're just trying to save alife and trying to make sure
that they successfully getthrough their collegiate career.
Tim Newman (41:34):
Absolutely, and they have skills to move forward as
a good order as well.
This is a long-term endeavor.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (41:43):
For sure, this is a long-term
endeavor here, for sure, forsure.
Tim Newman (41:46):
Well, again, thanks so much.
We'll put those links in theshow notes.
And again, Kenesha, I reallyappreciate you coming on and
sharing what you're doing.
You're doing the work.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (41:55):
Thank you.
Tim Newman (41:57):
And anything I can do for you in the future.
You just let me know.
Kenisha Brown-Alexander (42:01):
I appreciate it, Tim.
Thank you so much.
Tim Newman (42:04):
Be sure to visit speakingwithconfidencepodcastcom
to get your free ebook Top 21Challenges for Public Speakers
and how to Overcome it.
You can also register for theForming for Public Speaking
course.
Always remember your voice hasthe power to change the world.
We'll talk to you next time,take care.
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