ex.clusively: beyond the game

ex.clusively media
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Football
  • Updated Weekly

A women-led sports culture podcast hosted by Kensley Tolliver and Olivia Blankenship, founders of the November Saturdays Foundation. From honest conversations to laugh-out-loud moments, Kensley and Olivia sit down with athletes, coaches, and cultural voices around sports to spotlight the person underneath the helmet. Each episode explores identity, relationships, mental health, faith, family, and the real-life moments that shape athletes beyond the game.

  1. Basketball, Brotherhood & Building a Legacy | Calen & Caden Lightford

    May 27

    Basketball, Brotherhood & Building a Legacy | Calen & Caden Lightford

    In this episode of ex.clusively beyond the game, host Kensley Tolliver and Olivia Blankenship, sit down with brothers Calen and Caden Lightford for a real conversation about basketball, family, discipline, mentorship, and finding purpose beyond the court. From Calen’s journey as a college athlete and future basketball coach to 14-year-old Caden balancing basketball and sports photography, this episode highlights the importance of hard work, networking, and staying grounded.The conversation dives into growing up with strong parental support, the lessons sports can teach about life, overcoming injuries, mental toughness, and how today’s generation navigates pressure, social media, and identity.🎧 WATCH & LISTENYouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadioConnect on Socials:Calen Lightford:@clightf0rd @clightbasketballacademy Caden Lightford:@fatt_productions1@__f5ttBo's Best Wings:@bosbestwingsFollow ex.clusively: beyond the game:@exclusivelybeyondthegameFollow The November Saturdays Foundation:@thenovembersaturdaysfoundationwww.thenovembersaturdaysfoundation.org

    45 min

  2. May 27

    The Blessings That I Almost Missed Part Two | Shenequa Phipps

    In this two-part episode of ex.clusively: beyond the game, Kensley Tolliver and Olivia Blankenship sit down with author, mother, wife, nonprofit founder, and advocate Shenequa Phipps for one of the most emotionally honest conversations the platform has had to date.This conversation dives into healing, rejection, faith, emotional resilience, identity, single motherhood, generational trauma, purpose, and learning how to keep going through seasons that almost break you.Shenequa opens up about surviving painful chapters of life while still showing up for others, sacrificing her own dreams to raise her children, navigating rejection, and learning how to heal from trauma without allowing bitterness to define her. Through faith, writing, and vulnerability, she shares how brokenness became part of her purpose instead of the end of her story.Together, Kensley, Olivia, and Shenequa discuss the emotional weight people silently carry behind closed doors, the fear of letting go, God’s timing versus our timing, father wounds, domestic violence, emotional survival mode, and what it means to stop diminishing your own pain just because someone else “has it worse.”This episode is a reminder that healing is not linear, rejection is not always punishment, and some of the blessings we almost miss arrive quietly.Topics in this episode include:mental health, emotional resilience, faith, healing, generational trauma, identity, rejection, forgiveness, leadership, single motherhood, purpose, vulnerability, and life beyond survival mode.⸻What part of this conversation resonated with you most?Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know what conversations surrounding healing, mental health, leadership, faith, and identity you want ex.clusively to explore next.Subscribe for more conversations surrounding sports culture, emotional resilience, leadership, mental health, and life beyond performance.Purchase Blessings That I Almost Missed Barnes & Noble & Amazon⸻WATCH & LISTENYouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadioCONNECT WITH US@exclusivelybeyondthegame@kensleypaydentolliver@_livblankenship@thenovembersaturdaysfoundationTHE NOVEMBER SATURDAYS FOUNDATIONthenovembersaturdaysfoundation.org

    43 min
  3. The Blessings That I Almost Missed | Shenequa Phipps

    May 21

    The Blessings That I Almost Missed | Shenequa Phipps

    This episode of ex.clusively: beyond the game dives deep into the emotional battles people often carry in silence. Kensley Tolliver and Olivia Blankenship sit down with author, mother, daughter, wife, nonprofit founder, and advocate Shenequa Phipps.From mental health and suicidal thoughts… to generational trauma, father wounds, single motherhood, healing, faith, and purpose. Shenequa opens up about surviving brokenness while still finding a way to smile, raising children while sacrificing her own dreams, returning to school later in life, and how writing became part of her healing journey.This conversation is for anybody who’s ever felt overlooked, emotionally exhausted, stuck in survival mode, or questioned if God still had a purpose for their life. And sometimes… the blessings we almost missed are the ones that changed everything.If this episode impacted you, share it with someone who may need to hear it.

    53 min
  4. Family Ties, an iPhone, and a Dream | Nasir Butler, Social Gimmickz

    May 6

    Family Ties, an iPhone, and a Dream | Nasir Butler, Social Gimmickz

    By 21, Nasir Butler walked away from football, built a sports media brand from nothing but an iPhone, got married, and made the hardest call of his life, stepping back from his parents to protect his peace. In this raw conversation, Kensley and Olivia sit down with Nasir Butler, founder of Social Gimmickz, for an honest conversation about toxic masculinity, burnout, navigating an interracial marriage , and why being in tune with your emotions doesn't make you less of a man. If you've ever doubted whether your dream is "ready enough" to chase... watch this. SUBSCRIBE & CONNECT Hit subscribe, drop a comment on the moment that hit hardest, and share with someone chasing a dream. Follow @socialgimmickz and tag us when you donate to the Downtown Rescue Mission.

    37 min
  5. Coach Cody Freeman on Prayer, Purpose, Marriage, and the Micro Details

    Apr 22

    Coach Cody Freeman on Prayer, Purpose, Marriage, and the Micro Details

    In this episode, Coach Cody Freeman, founder of Detail Training, elite professional basketball trainer, youth pastor, Marine veteran, husband, and father, shares how prayer, discipline, marriage, fatherhood, and the “micro details” shape the way he leads on and off the court. It’s a conversation about building people, not just athletes.They talk about:• what prayer really looks like• how fast business growth tested his spiritual discipline• why character matters more than talent• what JUCO teaches athletes about sacrifice• how he met his wife• what fatherhood changed in him• why real trainers build people, not just playersThis episode is for athletes, coaches, parents, leaders, and anyone who believes sports can reveal something bigger than performance. Train with Mr. Detail: ⁠https://www.detailtraining.org/⁠

    51 min
  6. Betting On Yourself, Men’s Ego & What’s Beyond the Lens | 2LIVEQ

    Apr 1

    Betting On Yourself, Men’s Ego & What’s Beyond the Lens | 2LIVEQ

    The game doesn’t end when the clock hits zero, that’s where the real pressure starts. This is the why behind the win, men’s ego, and what athletes carry in silence. In this episode of ex.clusively: beyond the game, Kensley Tolliver and Olivia Blankenship sit down with Quenton “Q” Lawson, the creator behind 2LIVEQ, a force in sports videography. This episode explores his journey from working in news to taking a leap of faith into entrepreneurship.We unpack the realities of chasing passion, the pressure of men’s ego, and why vulnerability is often misunderstood, especially in competitive environments. Through candid dialogue, we also touch on mental health in sports, athlete storytelling, content creation in sports media, and the importance of building genuine relationships beyond the camera.If you’ve ever questioned your path, struggled with self-doubt, or wondered what really happens behind the lens, this episode offers a raw, unfiltered perspective on growth, risk, and authenticity.Subscribe for more conversations like this.What does “betting on yourself” look like in your life right now?

    47 min

  7. Mar 28

    Nobody Owes You Anything: Fame, Money & Entitlement (Full Episode)

    Nobody Owes You Anything. In this episode of ex.clusively: beyond the game, Kensley Tolliver and Olivia Blankenship break down the reality nobody wants to say out loud: Fame doesn’t mean money. Success doesn’t mean obligation. And just because someone made it… doesn’t mean they owe you a thing. From NIL deals and athletes carrying entire families… to relationships, entitlement, and social media pressure... this conversation goes deeper than sports. This is about identity.This is about accountability.This is about who you are when nobody’s watching.If you’ve ever felt pressure to provide, prove, or perform for others…this episode is for you..🎧 TAP IN:Full conversations that matter →YouTube | Spotify | Apple | iHeart📲 Subscribe & follow to stay tapped in💬 Comment: Do you agree… or is this take too harsh?

    43 min

  8. Mar 22

    The Rematch Mentality: When to Finally Walk Away

    Did you really walk away… or did you quit too soon? The “leave the game before it leaves you” mentality isn’t confidence, it’s a defense mechanism. In this episode, Kensley Tolliver and Olivia Blankenship unpack the uncomfortable truth behind why we walk away from things we were meant to fight for. From heartbreak to rejection, this conversation dives into the “Rematch vs. Ball Game” mindset—and how it quietly holds people back from ever seeing what could’ve been. Are you leaving because it’s truly time… or because you’re scared of what happens if you stay? 🎯 What You’ll Hear In This Episode: • How Kensley turned heartbreak into fuel• The psychology behind quitting before rejection hits• Olivia’s last game—and the regret that stayed• Rematch or ball game? The mindset behind rejection• The Texans prediction—and what it revealed about intuition• Why “just showing up” isn’t enough• What it means to find a rare teammate and why it matters ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: The “Leave the Game” Mentality02:10 – Why Your Exit Strategy Is the Real Problem05:45 – Rejection vs Redirection09:30 – From the Court to Real Life14:15 – The Cost of Mentally Checking Out18:40 – Accountability & Growth23:20 – Showing Up When It’s Hard24:10 – Finding a Rare Teammate28:10 – Choosing the Right Circle32:45 – The Texans Call… Before It Happened33:00 – Discipline vs Motivation38:20 – Final Thoughts: Stay in the Game Subscribe & stay connected on socials: Instagram | @exclusivelybeyondthegameTikTok | @exclusivelybeyondthegameThe November Saturdays Foundation | www.thenovembersaturdaysfoundation.org

    32 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

A women-led sports culture podcast hosted by Kensley Tolliver and Olivia Blankenship, founders of the November Saturdays Foundation. From honest conversations to laugh-out-loud moments, Kensley and Olivia sit down with athletes, coaches, and cultural voices around sports to spotlight the person underneath the helmet. Each episode explores identity, relationships, mental health, faith, family, and the real-life moments that shape athletes beyond the game.

Information

  • Creator
    ex.clusively media
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © ex.clusively media
  • Show Website
    ex.clusively: beyond the game