Foyle's Forum

Adonal Foyle

Where sports, culture, and big ideas collide. Welcome to Foyle’s Forum—where former NBA player, author, and advocate Adonal Foyle goes behind the scenes with athletes, leaders, and changemakers for conversations that blend entertainment, insight, and inspiration. Each interview brings together thought-provoking questions, personal stories, and a dose of fun—exploring not just the big issues of our time, but also the human moments that connect us all. Foyle’s Forum brings powerful ideas and real stories to life.

Episodes

  1. The Cookout: Bea Rudney

    JAN 20

    The Cookout: Bea Rudney

    In this episode of Foyle’s Forum, Adonal Foyle sits down with Bea Rudney for a rare and deeply human conversation about resilience, kindness, gratitude, and what it truly means to live a life that matters.Born in 1923 in New Haven, Connecticut, the daughter of Russian immigrants, Bea has lived through the Great Depression, World War II, the polio epidemic, the civil rights movement, and more than a century of social and technological change. She went on to become one of the early nurses at Kaiser in Oakland, dedicating 35 years to patient care, advocacy, and community service, while raising a family and opening her home—and heart—to generations of neighbors Now at 102 years old, Bea continues to engage with the world with curiosity, warmth, and joy. In this conversation, she reflects on the lessons shaped by history and lived experience: navigating fear during pandemics, choosing kindness in moments of division, standing up to injustice in segregated hospitals, sustaining a 70-year marriage, and embracing change with grace rather than resistance.Drawing from her book The Neighbor Who Always Waves: How Bea Rudney Became Everyone’s Mom, Bea reminds us that gratitude is a daily practice, curiosity keeps us alive, and community begins with something as simple—and powerful—as acknowledging one another.This episode is not just a look back at history, but a masterclass in humanity—offering wisdom that feels urgently relevant today.

    23 min
  2. The Cookout: Graham Betchart

    JAN 20

    The Cookout: Graham Betchart

    In this episode of Foyle’s Forum, Adonal Foyle sits down with longtime friend and mental performance coach Graham Betchart for a wide-ranging conversation on mindset, growth, and what it really takes to perform—on and off the court.Graham is one of the pioneers of modern mental skills training, working with NBA players, elite athletes, and everyday people to help them strengthen focus, confidence, and resilience. Together, Adonal and Graham explore the mental challenges athletes face at every level, how the conversation around mental health in professional sports has evolved, and why mindset training is just as essential as physical preparation.The discussion goes beyond sports, offering practical tools anyone can use—whether you’re an athlete, parent, creative, or leader—along with reflections on identity, transition after sports, legacy, and living with intention. With humor, honesty, and deep respect, this episode feels like sitting in on one of their off-mic conversations: thoughtful, grounded, and real.If you’re interested in performance, mental health, leadership, or becoming more fully yourself in high-pressure environments, this conversation is for you.0:00 Introduction3:29 Working with young athletes6:41 Parenting young athletes8:53 The pressure on young athletes10:50 Mental Coaching in professional sports 16:02 Being present17:44 Basic Mental Skills21:45 Transition 24:43 Success vs Failure28:42 Flow State30:33 Teacher Shout Out32:29 Quick Questions36:50 Caribbean camps

    39 min

About

Where sports, culture, and big ideas collide. Welcome to Foyle’s Forum—where former NBA player, author, and advocate Adonal Foyle goes behind the scenes with athletes, leaders, and changemakers for conversations that blend entertainment, insight, and inspiration. Each interview brings together thought-provoking questions, personal stories, and a dose of fun—exploring not just the big issues of our time, but also the human moments that connect us all. Foyle’s Forum brings powerful ideas and real stories to life.