Six years grinding overseas. Multiple country jumps. Undrafted in 2006. Chris Copeland could have walked away from basketball more times than he can count, but instead he became Belgian league MVP, signed with the New York Knicks in 2012, and earned the nickname The X-Factor over 171 plus NBA games with the Knicks, Pacers, and Bucks.

In this episode of Intangible Podcast, Chris sits down with former NFL center and host Chris Spencer to break down the mindset that took him from undrafted free agent to the NBA stage at Madison Square Garden. They get into the psychology degree that taught him people matter more than basketball, the mom who installed a no excuse mentality before he even knew what one was, and the night he proved to himself, not the world, that he belonged.

Chris also opens up about where real confidence comes from, what most people get wrong about perseverance, why he is grateful for every setback he calls divine timing, and the wisdom he wants to pass on to the next generation of athletes who think success means never losing.

If you are an athlete chasing a dream that feels far away, a parent raising a competitor, or anyone trying to build the mental resilience it takes to compete at a high level, this conversation is for you.

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What does it actually take to build generational wealth as a professional athlete? In this episode of the Intangible Podcast, Chris Spencer sits down with Michael Ledo, CEO and founder of Rise Family Office, for the unfiltered conversation most athletes never get to have until it is already too late.

Michael is the nephew of Eugene Parker, the first major Black sports agent in America. He is a two-time Division II All-American running back whose ankle injury became the turning point that led him to build three athletic training facilities, develop over 100 Division I athletes and 15 NFL players, and eventually create one of the most distinctive wealth management platforms for professional athletes in the country.

In this conversation, Michael and Chris break down why a shockingly small percentage of athletes are prepared for life after the game, what it really means to learn the language of money, and the dangerous difference between a financial advisor who preserves your wealth and a family office that grows it. Michael shares real client success stories from Jalen Smith and Jesse Bates and reveals the mindset shifts that separated them from the 78 percent of athletes who go broke within five years of leaving the game, even while 56 percent of those same athletes had financial advisors the entire time.

This episode gets personal. Chris opens up about his own struggle with dyslexia and what it felt like to hide behind the helmet for years. Michael explains why most athletes are hiding too, why the helmet has to come off before real wealth can be built, and how vulnerability is the first step toward operating like a true entrepreneur. From the Five Whys method for finding your real motivation to the off-season calendar that Rise Family Office builds for every client, this is a masterclass in the intangibles of financial performance.

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Most athletes say they're coachable. Beno Udrih has a question that will change the way you see yourself.

In this episode of the Intangible Podcast, two-time NBA champion, 13-year NBA veteran, and current G League head coach Beno Udrih sits down with host Chris Spencer to unpack the intangibles that took him from a small village in Slovenia all the way to back-to-back championships with the San Antonio Spurs.

Beno gets honest about what it actually means to be coachable — not just with the coach who talks your language, but with every coaching style you'll ever face. He opens up about the Spurs' culture, what it was like watching Pop go at Tim Duncan as a rookie, and why fundamentals are the single most underrated intangible in any sport. He also shares the exact player development system that helped make San Antonio a dynasty, what he looks for in players beyond talent when scouting, and the question he asks every player on his G League roster at the start of training camp.

From scrolling through a mock draft and not seeing his name, to winning two titles, to now chasing his goal of becoming the first European-born ex-NBA player to be an NBA head coach — Beno's story is about consistency, self-awareness, and what it really takes to stick at the highest level for over a decade.

If you've ever questioned whether you belong, struggled to adapt to a coaching style that isn't your preference, or wondered what separates players who last from those who don't — this episode is exactly what you need.

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Shan Foster is the all-time leading scorer in Vanderbilt history. His number is retired. He was named SEC Player of the Year, drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, and played professional basketball across four continents. But the story that made all of that possible starts long before any of that — in New Orleans, in an abusive household, learning how to survive by wearing different masks every single day.
In this episode, Shan breaks down the intangibles that built him — not the accolades, but the actual wiring underneath them. He talks about how an abusive stepfather, a friendship with a kid named Neil Jolly, seven workouts a day in high school, and a father who gave him a calendar before anyone was recruiting him, became the foundation for one of the most decorated careers in SEC history.
He also gets real about what nobody talks about — the identity crisis that hits when the game is over. Who are you when you're not "the guy" anymore? Shan goes deep on that, and on how a conversation with a mentor challenged him to do work that outlives him — leading him to co-found a charter school, fight violence against women, and become a keynote speaker on stages he never imagined.

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In this episode of the Intangible Podcast, Chris Spencer sits down with Janee’ Kassanavoid, one of the most powerful and inspiring throwers in the world.

Janee’ shares the mindset, discipline, and inner strength it takes to compete on the global stage, while also carrying the pride of her Comanche heritage into everything she does. From chasing big goals to handling pressure, overcoming setbacks, and learning how to trust the process, this conversation is packed with lessons for young athletes, parents, and coaches.

This episode is a reminder that greatness is not just about talent. It is about identity, resilience, consistency, and the intangible qualities that help athletes rise when the moment gets heavy.

Tap in to hear Janee’ Kassanavoid’s story and discover what intangibles drive her.

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Former Oregon Ducks wide receiver and Atlanta Falcons player Drew Davis joins Chris Spencer on the Intangible Podcast for a powerful conversation about football, identity, leadership, and life after the game.

Drew’s journey took him from Denver to the University of Oregon, where he was part of one of the most exciting eras in Ducks football, to the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons. But this episode goes deeper than stats, highlights, and football memories. Drew opens up about the mindset it takes to bet on yourself, the reality of being an undrafted free agent, and what young athletes need to understand about preparation, patience, and purpose.

Chris and Drew also talk about the transition athletes face when the game no longer defines them, why player development matters, and how the same intangibles that help you succeed on the field can guide you in life, leadership, family, and career.

For young athletes, parents, and coaches, this episode is a reminder that talent may open the door, but character, discipline, humility, and self-awareness are what help you stay ready when opportunity comes.

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On this episode of the Intangible Podcast, we sit with Emmanuel Adebi, Vanderbilt tight end and former Cornell standout, to talk about the mindset, faith, and discipline it takes to keep chasing greatness when the road does not look like everyone else’s.

Emmanuel’s journey is bigger than football. From competing in the Ivy League at Cornell to earning his opportunity at Vanderbilt in the SEC, his story is about resilience, belief, and finding strength in the things people cannot always measure. He opens up about his path as an athlete, the role faith has played in his life, and the intangible qualities that have helped him keep showing up with purpose.

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On this episode of the Intangible Podcast, former NFL center Chris Spencer sits down with former Ole Miss defensive back and NFL safety CJ Moore for a powerful conversation about grit, resilience, faith, and the mindset it takes to keep going when the path doesn’t go as planned.

CJ shares what it was like growing up in a small Mississippi town with no stoplights, working on the farm, competing with his twin brother, and building the work ethic that carried him from Ole Miss to the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans. He opens up about going undrafted, earning his way through special teams, learning to adapt in the NFL, and the mental and spiritual growth that came after football.

This conversation is for every young athlete, parent, and coach who wants to understand what really separates athletes beyond talent. CJ’s story reminds us that the game can open doors, but the intangibles — resilience, adaptability, leadership, self-reflection, faith, and a never-quit mindset — are what carry you through life.

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