High-Level Summary
In this episode of Rise Urban Nation, host Taryell Simmons sits down with former professional athlete and author Angela R. Lewis to discuss the intersection of sports, leadership, and personal growth. The conversation highlights how athletic principles can be leveraged for lifelong success and how storytelling and representation can heal and empower youth.
Key Takeaways
Embrace Your Athletic Identity: Athletes do not need to shed their sports background when transitioning to business; they should build upon it.
The Power of the V6 Framework: Personal development is a continuous cycle of navigating challenges and executing values to reach victory.
True Confidence is Evidence-Based: Confidence is cultivated through consistent practice and small wins, not just positive thinking.
Impactful Storytelling and Representation: Diverse children's books and workshops are vital tools for building resilience in underserved communities.
Detailed Outline & Topic Breakdown
Introduction and Reconnection: Taryell Simmons welcomes back Angela R. Lewis, introducing her as a former professional basketball player, author, and coach who has impacted over 500 athletes.
Angela's Origin Story: Angela describes how joining a competitive all-girl basketball team in the seventh grade expanded her horizons, taught her about excellence, and ultimately led to her professional career.
The Marquette Realization: Angela recounts her time as Director of Basketball Operations at Marquette University, where witnessing a young girl's profound reaction to a player's pencil made her realize that sports have a community impact far bigger than the game itself.
Speaking as a Gateway to Writing: Angela explains how her coaching speeches and interviews naturally transitioned into published books, including The Game-Changing Assist and Post Moves.
The Myth of Transition: Angela challenges the notion that athletes must leave their athletic identities behind, encouraging them to apply their sports-honed discipline directly to entrepreneurship.
The V6 Framework Explained: Angela details her six-step model for continuous growth, which guides individuals from the Valley, through Voice, Vision, Values, and Volunteering, to Victory.
Confidence and Parental Support: Angela breaks down the misconception that confidence is all-or-nothing, emphasizing the role of evidence-based capability and sharing how her father's unconditional support shaped her security.
Philanthropy and Upcoming Projects: Angela announces her 2026 book releases and a charitable basketball camp in Dallas to raise funds and gear for Phase One Academy in Jamaica following a devastating hurricane.
Memorable Quotes
"Your gift is not what you do. It's what happens to people when you do what you do." — Angela R. Lewis (quoting Viola Davis)
"You don't have to be completely different. Take everything that you've learned from being an athlete and apply those same drills in order to grow as an entrepreneur." — Angela R. Lewis
"Thank you for always treating me the same, whether I won or lost." — Angela R. Lewis
Resources, Tools, & Recommendations Mentioned
The Game-Changing Assist by Angela R. Lewis
Post Moves by Angela R. Lewis
A Ball and a Chance by Angela R. Lewis
Speaker Hub
Ron Story Jr.
Phase One Academy
