Gary Forbes: Beyond the Game: How One NBA Player Transformed Adversity Into Impact

Beyond the Game: How One NBA Player Transformed Adversity Into Impact Guest: Gary Forbes, Former NBA Player, Published Author & Founder of Soul Survivors Host: Julie Riga Overview In this inspiring episode of the Stay On Course podcast, host Julie Riga sits down with former NBA player Gary Forbes to explore what happens when life takes you beyond the game you thought would define you. Gary shares his powerful journey from professional basketball to purpose-driven entrepreneurship, revealing the three essential ingredients that transformed his challenges with Type 1 diabetes into a platform for empowering others. This conversation is a masterclass in authentic leadership, resilience, and creating meaningful impact through intentional living. Beyond the Game: How One NBA Player Transformed Adversity Into Impact About Gary Forbes Gary Forbes is a former professional basketball player who spent time in the NBA and played for 13-15 different teams across various leagues worldwide. Since retiring six years ago, Gary has evolved into a purpose-driven entrepreneur, published author, and advocate for children with chronic health conditions. Through his platform Soul Survivors, he's created a children's multimedia platform that empowers kids through storytelling, health literacy, and inclusion. Fun Fact: Gary's favorite food is Asian cuisine—especially American Chinese sesame chicken and anything Korean his partner makes. The Three Ingredients for Success 1. Mindset: Building Your Foundation Establishing a strong foundational mindset shapes how you interpret every challenge Learning that one bad moment doesn't define you "How you do one thing is how you do everything" - Coach Travis Ford 2. Optimism: Finding the Silver Lining Believing there's always a silver lining in every situation Understanding adversity as preparation for your purpose The "aha moments" that reveal why you went through challenges 3. Consistency & Sticktoitiveness: The Power of Commitment Doing mundane, re