Episode 52: Who Are You When the Applause Stops?

Summary

What happens when the title, the contract, and the crowd go away? Former Georgia Bulldog and NFL linebacker Rennie Curran joins Monée to talk about getting cut and rebuilding his identity. He explains how the lessons he learned in sports grew into a career as a speaker, author, and entrepreneur. He shares how faith, mentors, and humility carried him through his own "free agent" season. He also explains why he built Formr, a networking app that connects current and former athletes, fans, alumni, and businesses. Listeners in any kind of transition will leave with his three-step playbook: don't hit the panic button, tell yourself an empowering story, and get to work.

About Rennie Curran

Rennie Curran is a former University of Georgia All-American linebacker and Butkus Award finalist. He played professionally with the Tennessee Titans, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and in the CFL. Today he is a keynote speaker, the author of Free Agent, and the CEO of Game Changer Coaching, where he helps leaders, teams, and organizations reach their fullest potential. He is also the founder of Formr. Rennie gives back through his Game Changers Foundation, which develops student-athletes into leaders on and off the field, and through his work with the Boys & Girls Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Keywords

Rennie Curran, athlete transition, career transition, identity, Free Agent book, Formr app, Game Changer Coaching, University of Georgia football, NFL, resilience, faith, mentorship, networking, public speaking, entrepreneurship, holistic leadership

Key topics

• How sports build emotional intelligence, teamwork, and resilience
• Why parents and coaches shape how young athletes see themselves
• The pressure and stereotypes Black athletes face at the SEC level
• Getting cut and rebuilding identity apart from a title
• Building a speaking career by starting small and saying yes to every opportunity
• The inspiration behind Free Agent and the Formr app
• The power of shared connection in networking
• Moving from high performer to high-performing leader
• Three steps for navigating any major life shift

Sound bites

• "The world will never tell you that you're enough."
• "What happens when there's no applause?"
• "Feelings don't mean facts."
• "We reach our fullest potential through people, not just through ourselves."
• "Nothing else. Just don't hit the panic button."

Chapters

• 00:00 Why the values learned in sports matter
• 04:39 Raising a student athlete who's hard on himself
• 06:40 Who are you when there's no scholarship or contract?
• 08:20 Coach Mark Richt and leading by example
• 10:36 Pressure, perception, and athlete stereotypes at UGA
• 14:53 Staying humble and giving back
• 17:15 Getting cut and building a speaking career
• 23:06 Free Agent and telling yourself an empowering story
• 27:16 Why humility matters in every transition
• Life comes in seasons
• Building the Formr app
• Defining purpose and holistic leadership
• Advice for anyone in a major shift
• Where to find Rennie

Connect with Rennie

• Website: renniecurran.com
• Social: @renniecurran on all platforms
• Formr waitlist: formrapp.com

Connect with Monée

Time Managed, LLC: hello@timemanagedllc.com | Book a consultation: https://calendly.com/timemanaged/30-minute-consultation