Bench To Bold with Alisa Hood and Marnie Schneider

S2 Ep 17: Panther Legend on the Padel Court | Tre Boston | Bench to Bold

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2519788/fan_mail/new] Carolina Panthers safety Trey Boston joins Marnie and Alisa to talk about the sport that's taken over his post-NFL life: padel. From a vacation rally in the Dominican Republic to traveling internationally for tournaments, Trey breaks down what the sport is, why it's exploding worldwide, where to play in Charlotte and why he's betting big on it as a business. Plus: his media career after football, raising kids with intention, the meaning behind number 33, and a look at the team tennis league he's helping bring to the South. Episode Highlights: 00:00 — Welcome & introducing Panther legend Trey Boston 01:00 — Paddle or padel? The naming debate explained 03:23 — The international governing body and Premier Padel league 06:04 — Life after the NFL: ACC Network, Weather Channel, and HBCU GameDay 09:50 — Jobs that found him: on financial freedom and commercial real estate 17:25 — Why padel makes business sense: court economics and investment opportunity 22:37 — 92% retention rate, 45% women players, and why padel beats pickleball 26:51 — Where to find padel courts in Charlotte right now 34:15 — Growing up with a single mom in Fort Myers and the faith that guides him 39:04 — The meaning of number 33, Intense Tennis, and a new padel brand on the way About This Week's Guest: Trey Boston is a former Carolina Panthers safety who played six seasons in the NFL after being drafted in the 2014 NFL Draft. Since retiring, he's built a media career that includes co-hosting a daily show on the ACC Network, appearing on the Weather Channel for a home renovation series, and covering HBCU football for Byron Allen's network. He's now one of padel's most visible advocates in the United States, investing in courts, attending international tournaments, and building what he calls a "family" around the sport. Trey splits his time between Charlotte and Fort Myers, Florida, where he grew up. Connect with Trey Boston: https://www.instagram.com/trebos10/ Follow Trey on Instagram and keep an eye out for his upcoming padel brand, Por Quatro. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenchtoBold Follow Bench to Bold on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benchtobold

S2 EP16: Discovering Charlotte's Transportation Gap | Diondre Lewis | Bench to Bold

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2519788/fan_mail/new] Diondre Lewis went from a military upbringing across four continents to Duke pre-med to IBM and landed in Charlotte, the city he swore he'd never live in. Marnie and Alisa talk with the founder of Wave Rideshare about what it took to break into tech, why he started giving away free training to underserved communities, and how that nonprofit mission eventually gave birth to a safety-first ride and delivery platform. They also get into the broken economics of gig platforms, Wave's growing footprint in healthcare and professional sports, and the story of how Diondre met his wife in the YMCA basement. Episode Highlights: 00:00 — Welcome & introducing Diondre Lewis of Wave Rideshare 01:37 — Born in Fayetteville, raised in the military: Germany, Hawaii, and everywhere in between 03:12 — Choosing Duke over full rides and surviving organic chemistry 07:55 — A pivot from pre-med to tech, inspired by IBM-bound engineering buddies 13:20 — Spamming IBM every day for a semester and landing a job in 25 minutes 24:43 — Starting a free tech training nonprofit and discovering Charlotte's transportation gap 28:42 — How Wave was born: trust, safety, and the problems gig platforms can't solve 35:36 — Wave's food delivery model and why high-value orders need a different kind of driver 41:15 — Healthcare, professional sports, and the exotic car division 38:45 — Meeting his wife in the YMCA basement, the one he always knew was coming About This Week's Guest: Diondre Lewis is the founder and CEO of Wave Rideshare, a Charlotte-based transportation company built around safety, trust, and accountability. A Duke University graduate who pivoted from pre-med to tech after stints in IBM research and training, Diondre spent years helping underserved communities access technology skills before identifying transportation as the hidden barrier behind his nonprofit's attendance problem. That insight became Wave — now serving healthcare systems, professional sports organizations, restaurants, and individuals who need more than a gig platform can offer. He lives in Charlotte with his wife, a music professional with sync licensing credits and studio connections, and their family. Connect with Diondre & Wave Rideshare: Follow Diondre on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmajorbnr/ Follow Wave Rideshare: https://www.instagram.com/waverideshare/ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenchtoBold Follow Bench to Bold on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benchtobold

S2 Ep 15: What's in Your Bag? | Marnie & Alisa | Bench to Bold

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2519788/fan_mail/new] Marnie and Alisa turn the cameras on themselves, literally emptying their bags on air. Inspired by a Louis Vuitton 'What's in Your Bag' campaign, they go item by item through everything they carry: the sentimental keepsakes, the wellness staples, the snacks, the things they didn't know they had. Turns out, what you carry says a lot. Episode Highlights: 0:00 — Welcome and the Rorschach test intro, why 'what's in your bag' is really 'what's in your brain' 1:35 — Alisa's bag: the Gucci silk bag, rhinestone readers, and why glasses are non-negotiable 4:15 — Alisa's essentials: wallet, Fireball candies (yes, they've broken two teeth), phone, keys, and Alisa Lux Beauty lip gloss 6:47 — Alisa's makeup bags and organization system 7:28 — Marnie's bag reveal begins 10:30 — Marnie's sentimental carries: her mom's charm bracelet, photos, a note from her grandmother Jane, and a copy of 'Briefcase Essentials' 12:09 — Marnie's wellness staples and what's on her supplement counter 16:08 — The 'Grippy' prototype 18:07 — The cookie reveal: Nowhere Bakery (no soy, no dairy, no eggs, no gluten, no refined sugar) and Erewhon pronunciation drama 23:40 — On staying consistent and keeping your foot on the gas 24:12 — Alisa's gummy vitamin routine and the art of pre-portioning for two-week travel About Your Hosts: Marnie Schneider is an entrepreneur, author, and lifestyle voice rooted in Charlotte, NC. A connector by nature and a storyteller by trade, Marnie brings warmth, humor, and a deeply personal lens to every conversation. Alisa Hood is the founder of Alisa Luxe Beauty and a lifestyle entrepreneur known for her sharp eye for quality, her love of all things beautiful, and her refreshingly direct take on everything from skincare to Gucci bags. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenchtoBold Follow Bench to Bold on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benchtobold

S2 EP14: Stop Calling Her Intimidating | Nesha Pai | Bench to Bold

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2519788/fan_mail/new] When Nesha Pai's brother told her that his friend found her life 'intimidating,' it triggered something. She'd been hearing that word her entire life and she was done letting it be a problem. In this episode of Bench to Bold, Marnie and Alisa sit down with the Charlotte-based CPA, keynote speaker, author, and breast cancer survivor to unpack one of the most loaded words applied to successful women. Nesha traces her own path from starting Pai CPA at 40 as a single mom with one client and a kitchen table to running a fully remote firm with over 70 clients and shares how a 2024 breast cancer diagnosis was just another obstacle for someone who describes herself as a doer. Together with Marnie and Alisa, they dig into the double standard of who gets called intimidating, why relatability is the antidote, what it means to build your own personal board of directors, and why the most powerful response when someone calls you intimidating is simply: thank you. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:07 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Introduction — Retiring the Word Intimidating 01:07 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Where the Conversation Came From — A Brother and a Triggered Word 02:29 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Do We Ever Say That About Men? The Double Standard Nobody Talks About 04:41 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — One Client, One Kitchen Table — Starting at 40 as a Single Mom 05:28 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Breast Cancer, 2024 — Another Obstacle for a Doer 08:16 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Lupita, Citizenship & What Truly Intimidating Looks Like 11:29 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Inspiring vs. Intimidating — The Word Swap That Changes Everything 13:30 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — The Highlight Reel Problem — Why Relatability Is the Answer  19:38 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Susan Fletcher, the Wicked Witch of the Vet & Rewriting the Rules 23:04 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Your Personal Board of Directors — Who's Calling You Out?z ABOUT NESHA PAI: Nesha Pai is the founder and CEO of Pai CPA, PLLC [https://www.paicpapllc.com], a fully remote bookkeeping firm in Charlotte, NC, one of the first of its kind when she launched it in 2011. Starting as a single mom with one client and no office, she grew the firm to over 70 clients and multiple six-figure revenues while prioritizing employment for stay-at-home moms. A breast cancer survivor, keynote speaker, and award-winning author of Overcoming Ordinary Obstacles [https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Ordinary-Obstacles-Nesha-Pai/dp/173427490X], winner of the Multicultural Non-Fiction category at the 2020 American Book Fest. Nesha was named one of the Top 50 Influential Women in Charlotte by The Mecklenburg Times in both 2020 and 2024. She is a podcast host, keynote speaker, and fierce advocate for women building lives on their own terms. Find her at neshapai.com [https://www.neshapai.com] and on Instagram at @neshapaicpa [https://www.instagram.com/neshapaicpa]. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenchtoBold Follow Bench to Bold on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benchtobold

S2 EP 13: From High School Dropout to Pro Bowl | Ken Harvey | Bench to Bold

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2519788/fan_mail/new] He dropped out of high school, attempted suicide, got on a plane to Oakland with no money and no plan, earned a scholarship to UC Berkeley, and was drafted 12th overall in the 1988 NFL Draft. If the story ended there it would already be worth telling. In this episode of Bench to Bold, Marnie sits down with her longtime friend and Washington Commanders legend Ken Harvey — four-time Pro Bowler, author, comedian, and one of the most raw and honest guests the show has ever had. Ken walks through all of it: the truancy, the depression, the three career-ending injuries that didn't end his career, losing his first son to SIDS, the identity crisis that followed retirement, and the decade-long process of rediscovering purpose after the stadium went quiet. He also talks about writing children's books with Terry Crews to give his sons brown characters to see themselves in, the animated series and live-action sport he's creating now, and why he did stand-up comedy on his 60th birthday — because it's never too late. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00:07 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Introduction — One of Marnie's Favorite People 00:01:18 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Pop Warner to Dropout — The Road That Almost Wasn't 00:02:33 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — A Purpose and a Destiny — What Brought Him Back 00:04:10 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Laney Junior College to UC Berkeley — Speaking It Into Existence 00:05:44 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — 12th Pick, Arizona Cardinals & Learning to Be a Pass Rusher 00:08:37 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — ACL, Rotator Cuff & the Loss of a Son — Challenges as Challenges 00:12:05 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Where the Resilience Came From — Family, Faith & a Mom Who Hopped Fences 00:15:55 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Retirement, Identity Loss & Hiding in Broad Daylight 00:22:39 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — Children's Books, Terry Crews & the Exodus 4:2 Moment 00:26:18 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bench-to-bold-with-alisa-hood-and-marnie-schneider/id1833955403] — What's Next — Comedy at 60, Float Ball & Claudia and the Prayer Warriors  ABOUT KEN HARVEY: Ken Harvey is a former NFL outside linebacker, four-time Pro Bowler, and member of the Washington Commanders Ring of Fame [https://www.commanders.com/team/history/ring-of-fame]. Drafted 12th overall by the Phoenix Cardinals in 1988 out of UC Berkeley, he compiled 89 career sacks across 11 seasons before retiring in 1998. After football, Ken channeled his creativity into authorship, co-writing the children's book Come Find Me [https://www.amazon.com/Come-Find-Me-Ken-Harvey/dp/0998040207] with actor and artist Terry Crews, along with several other children's books and two thriller novels. He is the Executive Director of the Touching Heart Foundation [https://touchingheartfoundation.org/], focused on inspiring children through compassionate leadership, and is a co-host of the Commanders Justice podcast alongside Marnie Schneider and John Booty. He is currently developing a 12-episode animated series called Claudia and the Prayer Warriors and a new live-action sport called Float Ball. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenchtoBold Follow Bench to Bold on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benchtobold