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SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW WITH JOHN SALLEY

This month, we talk with John Salley, who had a phenomenal NBA career with 4 Championship rings on 3 separate teams. Post his NBA career, he has been a host of FOX Sports' Best Damn Sports Show Period, a host on a number of shows such as VH1's Basketball Wives and Basketball Wives LA, as well as a number of other hosting and TV appearances. In addition, he is known for his philanthropy, activism and his investments within health and wellness. With his focus on veganism as well as the cannabis sector, he has a truly diversified portfolio. We talk with him about his career, his legacy in the game and his transition into current projects.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was that moment that you realized that you wanted to play basketball and ultimately, go to the NBA?

JOHN SALLEY: At the time, I think that I was 6 years old! I was realizing that everybody was getting up early to go to work and I saw that people were playing games at night and that’s when I knew that was a job that I wanted instead.

AM: As a 15 year veteran in the league and as the first player to win 4 championship games on 3 different teams, what do you think your legacy is in terms of your contribution to the game?

JS: Oh wow. My legacy? Some of my teammates like me, I say it all the time time that everything is just moments in time! For me to be on that stage 5 times and to win 4 of them is an amazing accomplishment and that can’t be taken away. A lot of the people that I talk to say that there are great players and I tell them that there is a difference between great players and champions.

AM: A lot of people during this time of year get a little confused when it comes to buying their father or father figures something for Father’s Day. What are 3 gifts that you suggest so that we’re not just getting in the rut of a coffee mug or a tie?

JS: A tie and a coffee mug is good because next year you realize that you broke that coffee mug or you're still wearing that tie that everyone saw at that Christmas party ha ha! I have this wonderful bald head. God took the middle out so I took the rest out. I love and use the Philips Norelco 6000 Shaver. It protects your skin from getting those cuts and head bumps. It has rings that goes around. It feels good all day. I shave my head so that I can always be smooth and ready.

I also love, as I am a photographer and always take pictures – Epson Workforce BT4750 Printer with an ecotank. Many people take pictures and they leave it on their camera. Sometimes I like to put it in a frame! I like when you can have something in your hands and and know that you have it.

Lastly, you can get the 4K UHD Blu-Ray Player which is available at Amazon, Best Buy, Target etc. A lot of guys have a lot of Blu-Ray collections but I love that you can just sit back and watch all of your favorite.

I love Bumblebee so funny and you can watch with your whole family at anytime! They also have Forrest Gump which I believe is one of the greatest movies of all time – everybody else does too. Tom Hanks got his award because of it – you can do anything in America and that is a proven thing about Forrest Gump and everything counts to the next point. It’s the 25 year anniversary too! Then there is Batman. I mean, you have Jack Nicholson and he was psycho and they played a lot of Prince music which I loved! The movies come along with this player and it's cool that this is what people want to see. That's what I think works for Father's Day.

AM: This time of year also makes you think about what you want to gift grads – what ideas do you have for that?

JS: For a grad – I don’t want you sitting around all day eating nachos that’s not vegan and just watching movies although it’s a great gift to have! I definitely suggest the Epson printer for anybody.

AM: As you transitioned from the game, you’ve been in movies, hosted shows, are philanthropic and you are making serious moves in the health and wellness sector. Why is being involved in this area so important to you?

JS: Well, I have a big foot but I want to leave the smallest footprint on the planet whenever I decide to leave. I believe everything deserves to have life. Nothing needs to be taken from life it just needs to have life. I believe that the best you can, the best energy you put forth, making sure you do something to help society, the world, the planets, and animals – the more you do the more you’re blessed!

IG @JohnSalley

PHOTOS CREDITS | 1st + 4th pic JOHN SALLEY | 2nd pic Jean Nelson | 3rd pic s_bukley |

Read the June Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Something You Should Know with John Salley.

You can hear John Salley's interview now on our show, #TRIBEGOALS which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multi-media podcast network! Make sure to subscribe to find out when the episode drops. You can hear it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and wherever you enjoy listening to your favorite podcast.

#TRIBEGOALS

Read the latest Athleisure Mag May Issue and see #TRIBEGOALS in mag.

THE GOAL WITH SLOANE STEPHENS

We had the pleasure of talking with professional tennis player Sloane Stephens, who is ranked in the top 10 by the Women's Tennis Association. Her accolades include winning the US Open in 2017, as well as 6 WTA singles titles as well as representing Team USA in Tennis at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016! We took a moment to chat with Sloane about her early days of tennis, going pro, her goals for this year as she prepares for an array of matches, the importance of staying healthy, as well as information on the Sloane Stephens Foundation.

ATHLEISURE MAG: At what point did you realize that you were going to be a tennis player and at what point did you realize that you were going to go pro?

SLOANE STEPHENS: Well I started playing tennis early because I played across the street at the club and my mom always wanted me to be a tennis player and I don’t know why. I just started playing and it was just for fun. I started in summer camps and just across the street at the club and that’s just how I started. And then obviously, when I turned Pro, you have to decide whether you’re going to go to college or if you’re going to turn Pro. I got to that little middle ground and I was like, “ok I’m just going to try it and see what happens” and it worked out. Obviously when you’re starting out it’s tough because at the beginning you’re making the transition into Pros and it’s a different ballgame. That’s how I decided, it wasn’t anything that was profound, I just wanted to try it to see and hoped that it would work out – so I just went for it.

AM: You won the US Open in 2017, what are your goals to reclaim that title this year?

SS: Well obviously, every tournament that you go into each year, the draws are always different in terms of who you will be playing with, so there is a whole different scenario. I think that for me, the important part is staying healthy. That’s been a big part for me, as obviously I got injured and missed a lot of months, and that is when I had my career kind of reset and it wasn’t fun and it is always something that I keep in the back of mind as I don’t want to do that again. Just being able to reset and stay healthy. Since I have been back, I haven’t had that many injuries just little nagging, that stuff that everyone normally gets which has been great. But most importantly, it’s about staying healthy.

AM: We know that you have been a partner with Built with Chocolate Milk since 2017. What about this partnership has been synergistic with your brand and why are you such a big fan of chocolate milk in general?

SS: Well before I even signed with them, I have been a fan of chocolate milk and have always enjoyed drinking it. I remember being at the Olympic Committee like 7 or 8 years ago and they were like, “yeah chocolate milk is a great recovery tool that you can enjoy drinking. I was like, “yeah perfect” – they didn’t need to convince me to drink it ha! I can just drink it all the time. When I signed with them. I knew it was perfect because I drink it all of the time and it is in my routine and it actually helps me. It’s very natural and super easy. It’s good for me, it helps me recover and I can stay fit with it. It just went into the general – this is good for you, it’s what you need and it has been a great partnership for me thus far.

AM: What are your goals for 2019 that you are looking forward to during the season?

SS: Just a lot of travel and there is a lot of during the year, especially prior to the Olympics. So it’s about staying healthy throughout the season and obviously just trying to maintain throughout the year. We all try to do that in terms of staying healthy and with nutrition which is important in terms of recovery. With all the traveling on the road 30 weeks a year, which is absurd haha, you need to maintain and stay healthy for that recovery. It all plays such an important role in maintenance which is such an important thing.

AM: We know that you were in Rio for the Olympics in 2016, how did that feel to represent the US at the Olympic Games and are you planning to go to Tokyo in 2020.

SS: Yeah obviously Rio was my first Olympic Games and I was super pumped about that. Obviously, it was in incredible experience just in general, and I do want to play the next Olympics as that would be really great for me. But obviously it’s a lot of hard work. I just finished playing Fed Cup and you have to qualify for the Olympics, be eligible, there is a lot that goes into it, but obviously playing for your country and the Olympics is the greatest honor that you can have to represent your country.

The Opening Ceremonies were amazing and I would love to play in this next one as the one after that, I would probably be too old so this would be my last go at it, but I am excited for it. I think it will be great!

AM: Our readers of Athleisure Mag and our listeners of our podcast network, Athleisure Studio know that one of our podcasts, The Road to Tokyo 2020 is dedicated to Olympic athletes and we’re always amazed at the time and dedication needed in order to participate! So we will keep our eyes out to see you on your journey there.

SS: Oh yeah it’s amazing, but all of the qualifications that are leading up to the Olympics. Like everyone just sees what happens when you’re at the Olympics competing, but before that, it's like a year and a half of pre-qualifications and tournaments. It’s a lot of stuff and to get there, obviously it means that you’re amazing and that you took all of those steps to get there which is really cool.

AM: Can you tell us more about the Sloane Stephens Foundation?

SS: Sure, the Sloane Stephens Foundation is based in Compton, California and it’s in the school district. We have 23 schools that participate in the after school credit program and then we have a Saturday program as well. A lot of schools are taking out recess and I think that recess is really important. Being able to bring tennis to the community of Compton is really important and to show them what it’s about, how it’s fun and what the tools of tennis provides you and how you can use it as a vehicle to get you where you need to be whether it’s a high school team, a college team, a community college – whatever it might be. Maybe you want to get a job in tennis to work at a Tennis Journal or for Tennis Magazine, there is a lot of different things that you can do to work in tennis and so many different ways that you can branch out and I think that giving those kids the opportunity to seek more in life whether it be a job or a team – it’s given me a lot in life and I have used it as a means as a vehicle to get me to a lot of places in life and different things that I would have wanted to do. Without tennis, I would not have been able to do those things and I think that giving this opportunity back feels so good as it’s not just for me, it’s for the community.

AM: We’re all about the importance of tribes and those that have influenced us whether personally or professionally as #TRIBEGOALS are essential.

SS: Obviously my mom has been very supportive of me and my career My brothers have also been supportive and have cheered me on and encouraged me to do whatever it is that I have wanted to do. My grandparents are very supportive. Everything I have wanted to do, they have encouraged me to try it out, have fun and if it doesn’t work out, I can always come home. To have that attitude in my life that I can go out and try things and if it works out great, if not, I can figure it out and do it again or go in another direction – it’s a great way for me to live my life and has been so cool.

IG @SloaneStephens

PHOTOS COURTESY | PG 74 Scott Draper | PG 77 Brecht Van’t Hof | PG 82 Zhukovsky |

You can hear Sloane Stephens' interview in May on our show, #TRIBEGOALS which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multi-media podcast network! Make sure to subscribe to find out when the episode drops. You can hear it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and wherever you enjoy listening to your favorite podcast

Read Athleisure Mag’s April Issue and see The Goal with Sloane Stephens in mag.

S1. E9. | #TRIBEGOALS WITH WTA SLOANE STEPHENS

On today’s #TRIBEGOALS we’re chatting with WTA and US Open 2017 winner, Sloane Stephens. We find out how she came to tennis as well as her decision to go pro, her focus this season as she takes on an array of matches, the importance of staying healthy as well as what it was like to represent Team USA in 2016 for the Olympic Games at Rio.

#TRIBEGOALS

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag and see #TRIBEGOALS in mag.

THE MIND IS THE FOUNDATION WITH RON BOSS

We caught up with Celebrity Fitness Trainer Ron Boss whose clients include: Ne-Yo and Kevin Hart. He shares how he came into the fitness industry, his approach to working with clients, his partnership with Cellucor, how important it is engaging audiences at fitness events, as well as his social media is in order to showcase his brand and vision.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior to creating Just Train what was your background before becoming a celebrity fitness trainer?

RON BOSS: I kind of got my start from football. I was always an athlete and my background just always came from sports teams and always being in the gym and competing with myself to be better and to compete with my teammates and starting Just Train came from that mindset.

AM: What was the moment that you decided that in addition to being a fitness trainer, you also wanted to have a brand?

RB: Well for me, it was always about something bigger than myself and once football was one of those things that were kind of taken away from me or that I didn’t excel at it the way that I wanted to, I obviously had to change careers and being very passionate about entrepreneurship, I didn’t want to go to work for anyone. If I did create something, then it would need to be something that benefited multiple people. That’s kind of how we started to build.

AM: How do you define yourself as a trainer and what do you think that people are looking for when they want you to train them?

RB: I define myself as a committed trainer. I approach it from a psychological standpoint and with those that are committed in terms of their long term goals and not a short term one. We’re going to get results, but obviously, the main focus is to mentally challenge people. I believe that if you train the mind, the body will follow. We want to get people to believe that they can do anything at first and that’s really my approach. So, we use competition, we use a lot of reassurance, and also holding them accountable for when they fall short. So using competition and doing this throughout their workouts will build upon the things that they may not be good at.

AM: What methods or modalities can clients expect when they are training with you?

RB: Well you’re definitely going to come and feel like an athlete. That’s one of the things that I love to get my clients to understand that everyone is an athlete. I want you to move a little bit more and to have fun. We’re going to put our bodies into various positions and I want you to do a number of things – not just lifting weights, but to move, and feel good that you can do all things whether it’s lifting, or jumping or running. Having a strong core and all of those things which is why I have an athlete's approach to training.

AM: Which is what we saw when we were going through your Instagram - seeing all of the drills that are like what athletes go through.

RB: You want to make it fun for people and one of the things that you see on TV every day is sports and sports is fueled by athletes who are very motivating not only to young kids, but to athletes who they have motivated us as young people when we were growing up. That’s where we get a lot of our fuel from and thinking back we look to athletes that inspired us and why not try to be more like that by moving more and creating longevity in our body and to look good while we’re doing it?

AM: What are 3 routines that you feel that people should include in their workouts regardless of what their goals are?

RB: Oh haha you’re going to be put me on the spot. I think that plyometrics is very important in being able to move without weight – calisthenics for pullups, pushups and things like that, I obviously want people to do and jump. The third one is core – keeping a strong core. We focus a lot on that as it’s the base of your body and is the center and we want it to be strong. Those are all great things that I like to approach with my clients is being able to move your body weight, move from side to side, plyometrics – jumping and things like that and obviously, the core component for foundational movement which keeps it as the baseline.

AM: We know that you are a Cellucor athlete as you did a session recently at Model Volleyball in Miami, you were recently at The Retreat - FUNKSHION at SXSW - why is this synergy between you and the brand such a great fit?

RB: Well I have been with them going on for 4 or 5 years now. One of the main reasons why it's #1, I appreciated them for the being the leader in the industry and I saw an ability for them with their amazing products that I use and then to have the ability to continue reaching people through energy and motivation. To be able to be at events like that and to spread the knowledge and to be with them as they evolve. To see them focusing on the body builders to the everyday moving people to also dealing with the natural products like C4 with the natural zero energy is incredible to be with people who not only knows that it works, but to push it in order to continue to evolve.

AM: How is that beneficial for you in terms of extending your brand and do you feel you will do more of these engagements?

RB: It's important to have these type of events and partners to gain more exposure and I gain more exposure. We have a really unique message. I am on the go all of the time – they have a product that is on the go and it benefits and tells people that you don’t get to make excuses and you can make time no matter where you are. You’re busy but you can make time. I’m flying all of the time from here to there and you never know what to expect and there is never a reason for you not to train!

AM: The challenges of building a business and growing it can be intense, what are lessons that you learned that have carried you through your business?

RB: Just stay consistent to the plan. It’s not easy – it wasn’t easy. When you’re building a business, it’s always important that you stay and believe in the core mission of where you are trying to go. People won’t understand it, but if you do it and remain consistent and hold yourself accountable with the things that you do good and the things that you do bad – nothing is a guaranteed success, but you have a damn good shot at it to excelling and being successful. You have to define your success in the beginning of the process and if it’s money, it can’t be that, it has to also be other things that continue to motivate you and take you to the next level.

AM: In order to commit to working out and being where you want to be, we know you have a no talking policy when working out - what are 3 must haves of other things that are essential for clients to know when working out with you?

RB: There aren’t three things, there is only one thing – the mind, once you’re ready to go. I don’t care if you’re not a great mover or the best mover – if you’re not mentally ready, to be able to challenge yourself, that’s the thing – the mind. To be able to come out and work out with me, you have to be mentally prepared to challenge yourself to the next level. So, for me its not a three part thing it’s a one part thing. Once you have decided that you want to see a change, no matter whether it’s fitness or entrepreneurship or going to work – when you decide that you want to be the best, it starts with our mind first. So when you decide to work with me, it’s a mindset thing. All the physical components will fall into place.

AM: You train a number of celebrities including Kevin Hart, how did that come about as his trainer who also travels with him, how do you balance that schedule along with your other clients, trainers, etc?

RB: Yeah you know that I have been fortunate enough to build a team. You know, you find a balance. I met Kevin through Ne-Yo, well honestly, I met Kevin back in 2004 when we met at the barbershop so we go way back and I was training another client, Ne-Yo and they are really good friends. Kevin and I just had this energy to continue to build something with one another and we just found ourselves building towards some runs, fitness movements and then it kind of got us to this point.

You just find yourself between that balance of doing what I am hired to do and what I want to do which is again – to building something that is bigger than myself. If it was just about me being a Celebrity Fitness Trainer, that would not be interesting to me for the long term, so we have to get these moments with the Just Train idea, the Cellucor partnerships and the things that we have been able to build along the way!

AM: As someone who travels a lot, what are 3 must haves that you have in your bag that are your essentials?

RB: I keep resistance bands on me all the time. You have to have some good deodorant on you so that you don't get musty! I always like to have a pair of fresh work out clothes because you feel good and you look good. You’re motivated to keep going into the gym to put in good work. Contrary to the last few weeks, I haven’t been changing my clothes very often because I have been in my focus mode. You really want to stay and look good when you go to the gym and you want to build on that!

I keep resistance bands, fresh outfits and some deodorant to make sure that I smell good!

AM: We love that your Instagram shows you working out, including videos of you and Kevin, people that you have met who are inspiring and just you when you're just hanging out - how important is social media and having this well rounded presence to your business?

RB: I’m just so fortunate to have social media right now to be able to spread a lot of messages to get up and do more and move more. Physical fitness has been a by-product of that to challenge people to that part of the life. Social media has been a great way to be able to reach so many different people in so many different walks of life. It’s very interesting to be a football player and then for people to be able to come and find you – they say, “man where can I find you?” and then you give them your Instagram and then they’re like, “man, my boy on Wall Street – he follows you.” What’s the chance of that and it’s cool when they say that their mom follows me and it’s like “oh shit” – social media is a really great tool to do that!

I don’t know why they are following me, but I want to be a source of good energy and social media has been able to provide me that and I want to be able to create good content to be able to motivate people. It inspires them that they are able to train and do great things as well as being able to live and have fun! It’s not about being one dimensional. I don’t believe in eating a certain way, I like to enjoy life, take vacations – whatever it is. But social media has been able to allow me to show that life is not one dimensional. You don’t have to just wake up, go to work, go to the gym, sleep, wake up and do it all over again.

AM: We are all about tribes and those that inspire us to be our best selves - who are 3 people that you look to in your tribe as sources of inspiration?

RB: I’m inspired by my family number 1 as an overall. The people that I am around – Kevin inspires me just because you can’t become complacent! The third person is myself - if that’s ok to say! When you look at who you are and where you came from and that there is more that you can give as you know where you have been and where you can continue to push that ball forward.

AM: When you hit the gym, what songs are on your playlist at the moment that you enjoy listening to?

RB: Aww man! I’m kind of all over the place these days! I like R&B, a lot of slow jams then I go to a lot of old school 50 Cent’s “Get Rich Or Die Trying”. Man, I go to A-list R&B, I don’t know, it just depends on the mood. Sometimes I’m really in a sweet mood and everybody says that I am not a sweet guy because I don’t smile much but actually, I’m the opposite! So, I’m really a nice person and listening to slow music makes me happier.

AM: When it's time for a bit of down time and you're not focused on clients and your brand - how do you take time for yourself?

RB: I take time for myself by going to the gym actually. Really thinking about things and sometimes I just need to sit down in a room or in my office and think about my thoughts. I like drives. It sounds corny but sometimes I like to just get in the car and just think about and look at things that I want to achieve and accomplish and it just helps me to refocus!

AM: Tell us about your style. What's your go-to's for working out, going out, around town and lounging?

RB: Just Train apparel is amazing and I wear it a lot! There are some other brands that are really cool – Alo Yoga has some really cool men’s stuff that came out recently and that’s kind of my loungewear. I’m really simple as I like comfortable t-shirts and pants when I go out at night. I love Jordan 1’s as it’s kind of one of my favorite shoes – I have a number of them as well as some exclusives that are really cool. A nice kick will make a whole outfit look 10X better.

AM: In the city that you're based, where can we find you grabbing a drink or meal, working out and to go shopping?

RB: I’m based in LA so when I’m shopping, I like Nordstrom, it’s one of my favorite department stores because you can get really expensive stuff although I am a middle kind of guy so I like to get really nice t-shirts and things like that. In LA, you’ll find me at a restaurant called Leo & Lily a lot. They have a homemade breakfast. There is a new spot called Mister O’s for a good brunch on a Saturday morning – it’s really incredible there and is owned by the people who own Bull Steakhouse.

I have a Just Train gym here in LA that has really cool equipment that influencers can come in and use. A lot of trainers in this industry don’t have the equipment or place that they can go to where they can train their clients as well as to build content, to my partners over at XD Fitness Equipment, they built this whole gym facility that is super cool so that people can come in and be as creative as they want to be to film content. So I love to go there and if not, I am at Equinox in the Valley just kind of putting in some work. I like the space of creativity to kind of do what I want and to just throw shit around!

PHOTOS COURTESY | Ron Boss + The Retreat FUNKSHION

IG @JustTrain

Read the March Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Mind is the Foundation with Ron Boss in mag.

You can hear Ron Boss' interview in April on our show, #TRIBEGOALS which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multi-media podcast network! Make sure to subscribe to find out when the episode drops. You can hear it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and wherever you enjoy listening to your favorite podcast shows.

#TRIBEGOALS

Read more from the March Issue of Athleisure Mag and see #TRIBEGOALS in mag.

#TRIBEGOALS

Read more from the Feb Issue of Athleisure Mag and see #TRIBEGOALS in mag.

S1. E6. | #TRIBEGOALS WITH ADAM CAROLLA

Over at Athleisure Studio, #TRIBEGOALS dropped their latest episode! When you think of Adam Carolla, Loveline comes to mind immediately. He co-hosted this relationship focused call in show with Dr Drew Pinsky on MTV and you learned a lot of information while having levity throughout the show. He is also known for The Man Show, being a host of a number of TV and radio shows including, The Adam Carolla Project which focused on home improvement on TLC. In addition to appearing on Dancing with the Stars, The Celebrity Apprentice, his voiceover work, his own sangria line known as Mangria writing a number of books and more – his passion for cars is undeniable! Last month, we interviewed Adam at The Chicago Auto Show where he shared where his passion for cars emerged, Paul Newman, working on cars, Exotic EVs and of course his bromance with Jimmy Kimmel.