In this powerful episode of The MCP Project, we sit down with Ken Solomon—better known to millions as Rocky, the legendary Denver Nuggets mascot. For 33 years, Ken brought laughter, hype, and heart to the court. But behind the mask was a man pushing through pain, pressure, and personal battles.
Ken shares how a high school dream—sparked by the San Diego Chicken—led to a life-changing role with the Nuggets in 1990. He opens up about the physical toll (including a broken back mid-performance), the emotional weight of being the man behind the fur, and the purpose that kept him going: making people—especially kids—feel seen, joyful, and inspired.
He also speaks vulnerably about facing depression, divorce, and the moments he almost walked away… only to find healing through the very character he created.
Now stepping into a new chapter, Ken talks about launching his podcast Between the Fur, writing a book, building adventure parks, and using his voice to inspire others.
This is more than a mascot story. It’s a journey of purpose, perseverance, and the power of connection.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:40 Ken's Journey to Becoming Rocky
03:13 The Life of a Mascot
05:51 High School Beginnings
10:14 College and Early Career Challenges
13:22 Joining the Denver Nuggets
23:29 Overcoming Adversity
27:06 Impactful Moments and Community Love3
2:45 Rocky's Impact on Lives
33:47 Special Moments and Flashy Stuff
34:41 Charles Barkley Stories
43:00 The Low Points and Personal Struggles
47:35 Life Lessons and Moving Forward
53:52 Family and Future Plans
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.