Sons & Daughters

How a Broken Leg Launched One of TV's Greatest Voices

Joe Tessitore joins Shannon Spake on Sons & Daughters for a deeply personal conversation about the moments that shaped him long before ESPN, Monday Night Football, WWE, boxing, horse racing, and college football made him one of the most recognizable voices in sports. In this episode, Joe reflects on his childhood, the loss of his sister Dana, the survivor’s guilt that followed, and the serious football injury that became a turning point in his life. He also shares the story of Brother Aloysius Meyers, the mentor who pushed him into an oratory competition and helped him realize he had a voice worth using. Joe and Shannon also talk about Boston College, his early days in college radio, his love of boxing and horse racing, the grind behind a broadcasting career, why he sees himself as a storyteller more than a traditional play-by-play announcer, and the Italian family traditions that still connect him to his roots. This is Joe Tessitore beyond the broadcast booth: family, grief, faith, hard work, identity, and the origin story behind the voice. For more Sons and Daughters content, head to our YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/@sonsanddaughterspod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kirby Smart: From Getting Cut to Building Georgia

Kirby Smart joins Shannon Spake on Sons & Daughters for a personal conversation about the moments, people, and decisions that shaped his life long before he became the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs. Kirby opens up about growing up as the son of a high school football coach, the influence of his father, his late offer to play football at Georgia, meeting Peyton Manning on a recruiting visit, getting cut by the Indianapolis Colts, and the identity crisis that followed when his playing career ended. He also reflects on working for Bobby Bowden and Nick Saban, the phone call from Will Muschamp that helped launch his coaching career, why he turned down the Georgia defensive coordinator job in 2010, and the role Mal Moore played in keeping him at Alabama. This episode also reveals a more personal side of Kirby Smart as he talks about parenting, his twins leaving for college, insecurity, humility, and the lessons he now shares with Georgia players about life after football. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Steve Wojciechowski: From Almost Quitting to Duke Legend

Steve Wojciechowski joins Shannon Spake on Sons and Daughters for a powerful conversation about the origin story behind “Wojo.” Before he became a Duke basketball legend, National Defensive Player of the Year, longtime assistant under Coach K, Marquette head coach, and Olympic gold medal-winning coach, Wojciechowski was a kid from Severna Park, Maryland, trying to figure out where he belonged. In this episode, Wojo opens up about growing up as the son of a longshoreman, the youth coach who changed his life, the recruiting whirlwind that took him from Penn and Princeton to Duke, and the freshman season that nearly made him walk away. He shares the emotional phone call home after a heartbreaking Duke loss, the blunt response from his father that kept him from quitting, and the hard conversation with Coach K that forced him to change. Wojo also reflects on failure, getting fired at Marquette, learning to rebuild his life, and why basketball has been his greatest teacher. This is a story about family, toughness, humility, second chances, and the people who help you get on the right bus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brett Raymer: From Rock Bottom to Reality TV Success

Brett Raymer from Animal Planet's TANKED Opens Up About Prison, Losing Everything, and Why He Wouldn't Change a Thing | Sons and Daughters with Shannon Spake. Brett Raymer, the man behind one of Animal Planet's longest-running reality TV shows, sits down with Shannon Spake for one of the most honest conversations you'll hear from a TV personality. Before the celebrity fish tanks, before building custom aquariums for Kevin Hart, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Tracy Morgan, and Anthony Davis, and before 15 seasons and millions of loyal fans, Brett Raymer was a kid from Brooklyn with no clear direction until a string of life-altering pivots changed everything. In this episode, Brett talks openly about growing up in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn in the 80s and 90s with divorced parents, bouncing between homes, and dreaming of a career as a professional athlete until injuries derailed that plan. He details his move to Las Vegas, his time dealing drugs, getting snitched on by a close friend, and serving 15 months in federal prison at Nellis Air Force Base. He walks through the moment he got out, fought for and won custody of his daughter, and slowly rebuilt a legitimate business before getting the idea to pitch a reality TV show after watching Orange County Choppers one night in 2004. Brett shares the full behind-the-scenes story of how Tanked was created, why it ended after 15 seasons on Animal Planet, what happened when he checked "yes" on every single criminal history question on the show application, and how the show that seemed like it would never happen became a generational hit that still airs today. He also gets candid about losing his brother Paul, losing $1 million a year in income when the show ended, and how he pivoted again to open Stallone's Italian Eatery, two locations in Las Vegas, with zero restaurant experience. If you've ever been knocked down and wondered how people get back up, this episode is for you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ricky Carmichael: The Dark Side of Becoming the GOAT

Ricky Carmichael joins Shannon Spake on Sons and Daughters for one of the most honest conversations of his career. Known as the GOAT of motocross and supercross, Carmichael opens up about the grind behind his dominance, the burnout that almost made him quit, and the moment he realized he had to change everything to reach his full potential. This episode dives into parenting, pressure, work ethic, and what truly matters after the championships are over. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to become the best in the world, this is the conversation. #SonsAndDaughters #RickyCarmichael #Motocross #Supercross #GOAT #ShannonSpake Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.