The Klimb with Adrian Branch

Adrian Branch
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  • Personal Journals

Inspirational podcast hosted by former pro athlete turned transformative leader, interviewing a broad range of guests sharing their stories of resilience and encouragement.  

  1. 3d ago

    The Horse Nobody Bet On: Darryl Colbert's Klimb Story

    Some people get written off early and never stop believing the label. Darryl Colbert heard it in a different form: he was “the horse nobody bet on,” a kid who struggled with reading, got held back, and spent summers in school just to move forward. Yet his life ends up becoming a case study in resilience, character, and what can happen when you stop letting your past make your decisions.   We talk through his Washington, DC upbringing, the real-world cost of falling behind academically, and the hidden shame that shows up later when you are filling out job applications or trying to advance at work. Darryl shares how substance use started at 12, how it grew into a lifestyle, and why being a reliable worker is not the same thing as living with integrity. Then we get into the turning point: sobriety in 1992, a slow rebuild of his mind and habits, and an unexpected breakthrough in reading comprehension through structured Bible study that taught him how to think, not just how to read.   From there, the story expands into impact. Darryl explains why he founded the Lillian S. Jones Foundation, what it looks like to adopt a school and focus on attendance and tutoring, and how he now serves athletes as a University of Maryland character coach and as a chaplain with USA Wrestling teams. He also opens up about training for Ironman triathlon, collapsing near the finish, and realizing how quickly a goal can become an identity. If you care about overcoming adversity, addiction recovery, mentoring, servant leadership, and building a champion mindset, this conversation delivers practical insight with real heart.   Subscribe to The Klimb, share this with someone who feels behind, and leave a review so more klimbers can find stories like Darryl’s. What part of his journey sounds most like your own right now? Follow Darryl here: https://www.facebook.com/darryl.colbert.1 Keep Klimbing! Subscribe to Adrian for more content - Instagram: @adrianbranchspeaksLinkedIn : @adrianbranchspeaksYouTube: @adrianbranchspeaksDownload The Klimb here: https://theklimbwithadrianbranch.buzzsprout.com

  2. Aug 21

    Why I Walked Away From Pro Basketball: Fleceia Comeaux’s True Calling

    Join us as we sit down with Fleceia Comeaux to discuss her remarkable journey and the inspiration behind her decision to walk away from professional basketball. With a strong mindset and unwavering faith, Fleceia shares her story of self-discovery and the motivation that drove her to pursue a new path.  Through her faith journey, she found a true calling that brought her a sense of purpose and fulfillment. This powerful conversation is a testament to the human spirit and a reminder that sometimes, taking a leap of faith can lead to a more meaningful and inspiring life. With her courageous story, Fleceia aims to inspire and motivate others to reflect on their own values and aspirations, and to trust their instincts as they navigate life's challenges. Her story is a shining example of how a strong mindset and faith can lead to a more purposeful and inspiring life, and we are honored to share it with you. If this conversation of faith and resilience strengthens you, subscribe to The Klimb, share it with someone who’s fighting through a setback, and leave a review so more klimbers can find the show. Keep Klimbing! Follow Fleceia here: https://www.instagram.com/fcasouth/ Subscribe to Adrian for more content - Instagram: @adrianbranchspeaksLinkedIn : @adrianbranchspeaksYouTube: @adrianbranchspeaksDownload The Klimb here: https://theklimbwithadrianbranch.buzzsprout.com

  3. Aug 7

    Why the Best Leaders Choose Hard Rights Over Easy Wrongs

    He turned down the Naval Academy as a teenager, got cut from his high school varsity, and still found his way to become a Division I basketball player and 34-year career in the United States Army retiring as a Major General. That arc is why Cedric Wins’ klimb story is so impactful: it’s not a highlight reel, it’s a blueprint for resilience, leadership under pressure, and doing the right thing when it costs you. We talk about how winning habits get built early, why the Virginia Military Institute “chose him” more than he chose it, and how service finally started to click for him once he realized the similarities between the military and organized sports. Cedric shares a mistake from his early officer days that would shape his leadership philosophy: mission success means nothing if you fail to support the people you're leading. If you manage a team, lead a classroom, or run a business, you’ll recognize that moment instantly. We also discuss the lessons he learned in crisis leadership at VMI during COVID-19 and intense public scrutiny. The General breaks down what leaders actually do when an institution’s culture and reputation are on the line: assess the climate, clarify mission and values, rebuild trust, and listen better than you speak. We also get into his core non-negotiables: integrity, character, and the courage to choose “the hard right” over “the easy wrong.” You’ll leave with practical leadership lessons, a sharper sense of what grit really means, and a reminder that the extra mile stays uncrowded for a reason. If this conversation helps you, subscribe to The Klimb, share it with a friend who’s leading through a tough season, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. What’s one “hard right” you’re choosing this week? Keep Klimbing! Follow General Wins here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cedric-t-wins/ Subscribe to Adrian for more content - Instagram: @adrianbranchspeaksLinkedIn : @adrianbranchspeaksYouTube: @adrianbranchspeaksDownload The Klimb here: https://theklimbwithadrianbranch.buzzsprout.com

  4. Jul 24

    The Day He Stopped Chasing the Major Leagues

    One pivot can decide the next 30 years of your life. I sit down with Bruce K. Rosenblum, a former baseball standout who thought he was headed for the majors until reality hit in college and forced a hard, early reinvention. What follows is a story about setbacks, identity, and how you keep moving when the dream you trained for is no longer on the table. Bruce takes us from his childhood dreams of playing for his hometown LA Dodgers to the moment he realized he wouldn't reach the major leagues. From there, we trace how he broke into the entertainment industry through media research, learned the language of ratings from scratch, and built credibility through preparation and trust, eventually becoming the Executive Vice President of Warner Bros. Media Research & Insights Group. Along the way, he shares the unforgettable Paramount Pictures softball game that accidentally became the best networking event of his life, putting him in front of the executives who mattered and proving the power of performing under pressure. Bruce also shares insights into the balance between creative instinct and analytical evidence in media. He explains his impactful research on television and how audience trends, positioning, and even wardrobe choices affect public perception of TV shows. If you care about leadership principles, career pivots, networking that actually works, or business strategy, this conversation brings real lessons you can use immediately. Subscribe to The Klimb, share this with a friend who’s navigating a pivot, and leave a review so more climbers can find these stories. Keep Klimbing! Follow Bruce here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-k-rosenblum Subscribe to Adrian for more content - Instagram: @adrianbranchspeaksLinkedIn : @adrianbranchspeaksYouTube: @adrianbranchspeaksDownload The Klimb here: https://theklimbwithadrianbranch.buzzsprout.com

  5. Jul 10

    Purpose After Success: Jesse Heisler's Klimb Awakening

    What happens when you achieve every goal in life and still feel lost? Jesse Heisler did exactly what he was taught: chase the biggest house, the biggest car, the biggest bank account and call it “the good life.” By 32, he had the toys, the status, and the wins. Sitting alone with all of it, one word cut through the noise: purpose.   We walk through Jesse’s winding path from Southern California to UNLV, from nearly joining the military to landing at Pepsi, where mentorship and pressure helped him build a real sales work ethic. Then one unprofessional moment and a “bad joke” became a wake-up call about character, reputation, and what it really means to be a professional. From there, Jesse steps into a family business and finds himself inside a toxic, Wolf of Wall Street-style culture that promises freedom but quietly drains the soul.   The conversation turns when Jesse finds The Purpose Driven Life and begins a faith journey that includes doubt, conviction, and what he describes as a supernatural experience of God’s love. That inner change forces real-world decisions: leaving an unhealthy environment, reshaping his definition of success, and moving toward service. Today, Jesse mentors inmates in the California penal system while also working in private equity with values-driven leaders, and he shares how LinkedIn became the “new golf course” that opened doors through genuine connection.   If you’ve ever wondered why achievement can still feel empty, or how to rebuild after a misstep, this one will meet you right where you are. Subscribe to The Klimb, share this episode with a friend who’s chasing success, and leave a review so more climbers can find stories like Jesse’s. Keep Klimbing! Follow Jesse here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jes-h/ Subscribe to Adrian for more content - Instagram: @adrianbranchspeaksLinkedIn : @adrianbranchspeaksYouTube: @adrianbranchspeaksDownload The Klimb here: https://theklimbwithadrianbranch.buzzsprout.com

  6. Jun 26

    Humble And Hungry: UCF Coach Johnny Dawkins' Klimb to Success

    In this episode, we’re speaking with UCF men’s basketball head coach Johnny Dawkins, and his story hits every part of what The Klimb is about: resilience, faith, character, and turning setbacks into a better way forward.  The former Duke standout shares insightful lessons from his career in basketball including recovery from a freak injury as a younger player to the Kobe Bryant workout that nearly pushed him to the edge. Through it all, he refused to compromise authenticity, remaining humble and determined. We go back to Dawkins’ early years in Washington, D.C., where competition on the playground taught him how to compete and hone his skills. From there, he shares what it was like helping Coach K build the Duke basketball standard and why Coach K’s real advantage was relationships, preparation, and knowing exactly how to get the best out of people over time. If you’re a coach, athlete, or leader at work, the message is clear: be yourself, because your peers can feel when you’re performing. Then we get into the unforgettable moments: the NBA icing mistake that deadened a nerve in his leg nearly derailing his pro career, and the mental toll of living with uncertainty during the rehab. Dawkins also takes us inside the 2008 USA Redeem Team environment and tells a true Kobe Bryant story that defines Mamba Mentality, from demanding the toughest defensive matchup to training at full speed for hours. We close with how Dawkins builds UCF basketball culture in the NIL and transfer portal era of the NCAA, his five core values, and why loving the process matters more than chasing a perfect ending. Subscribe to The Klimb, share this with someone who needs a push, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Follow UCF Men's Basketball here -  Instagram: @ucf.mbb X: @UCF_MBB Subscribe to Adrian for more content - Instagram: @adrianbranchspeaksLinkedIn : @adrianbranchspeaksYouTube: @adrianbranchspeaksDownload The Klimb here: https://theklimbwithadrianbranch.buzzsprout.com

  7. Jun 12

    Regress To Progress: Mike Morrison's Klimb Journey

    He was an eighth grader testing at a third to fourth grade level in key subjects, getting laughed at when he read out loud, and hearing adults warn him not to bet on athletics. Coach Mike Morrison didn’t deny the struggle, he learned how to climb through it. We talk about dyslexia and learning differences in a real, practical way: what it feels like, why it happens, and the specific tools that helped him rebuild confidence and comprehension, from slowing his eyes down to using an index card window to focus on one word at a time. That academic fight runs side by side with a late-bloomer basketball story that ends in the NBA. Mike shares how tutoring, recording lectures, and relentless accountability at Loyola helped him grow into an All-American and a pro, and why real development is usually quieter than the highlight reel. We also get into what he learned coaching and mentoring around top basketball environments, and what separates great minds: love for people, respect for the game’s history, and obsession with the small details that create longevity. Then we zoom out to life after the final buzzer. Mike opens up about family, community, and why identity can’t be anchored to a jersey. He explains the mission behind Gap Year Unveiled, a nonprofit focused on helping athletes transition after sports with mentoring, counseling, and career development, and he shares the moment of faith that changed his direction for good.  If you’re chasing growth through setbacks, this conversation will meet you right where you are. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Keep Klimbing! Subscribe to Adrian for more content - Instagram: @adrianbranchspeaksLinkedIn : @adrianbranchspeaksYouTube: @adrianbranchspeaksDownload The Klimb here: https://theklimbwithadrianbranch.buzzsprout.com

  8. 10/31/2025

    Sowing Seeds To Harvest with Jonathan Paul

    Some stories challenge your definition of success. This one begins with humble origins and big dreams, then winds through boardrooms, hospital wards, and a quiet moment where a young man heard the words that changed everything: you’ve never enjoyed the harvest. Adrian sits down with longtime friend and corporate consultant leader Jonathan Paul to trace how early lessons in sowing and stewardship became a blueprint for building a national firm—and how love and caregiving for his family led to a profound new perspective on life. Jonathan shares major turning points in his life, shaped by faith, personal loss and keen perseverance. By the age of twenty‑six, he successfully launched a consulting firm serving Fortune 500s. The clients came quickly but so did the stress. On the other side of his career, Jonathan spent twelve years of round‑the‑clock caregiving for his wife while working nonstop on his business. This duality culminated in a cancer diagnosis with a 50 percent prognosis. From that crisis, Jonathan rebuilt around human purpose: taking on fewer clients, forming deeper partnerships, and an approach that blends organizational strategy with clinical psychology to align motivation, identity, and results. The insights cut to the bone for leaders and teams: acceptance precedes performance; purpose clarifies priorities; healthy companies invest in people’s growth and protect their dignity. Jonathan explains how to spot a poorly run organization, how to stop performing for approval, and how to design work that’s fruitful and humane. Jonathan calls the outcome the garden life—productive, beautiful, and bounded by rhythms that let you reap what you’ve faithfully sown. If you’ve ever wondered why success feels empty, this conversation offers a map back to meaning. Subscribe to The Klimb for more stories that turn adversity into wisdom and share this with someone who needs hope. Leave a review with one change you’ll make this week to enjoy your harvest. Keep Klimbing! Subscribe to Adrian for more content - Instagram: @adrianbranchspeaksLinkedIn : @adrianbranchspeaksYouTube: @adrianbranchspeaksDownload The Klimb here: https://theklimbwithadrianbranch.buzzsprout.com

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About

Inspirational podcast hosted by former pro athlete turned transformative leader, interviewing a broad range of guests sharing their stories of resilience and encouragement.  

Information

  • Creator
    Adrian Branch
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Klimb with Adrian Branch
  • Show Website
    The Klimb with Adrian Branch