In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Mo Fitzgerald — former NWSL player, strategist, facilitator, and founder of Play Street Studio — to explore why play is not a distraction from performance, but a catalyst for it.We unpack the loss of identity athletes experience after sport, the isolation of leadership and entrepreneurship, and why modern workplaces are starving for connection, creativity, and presence. Mo breaks down how play functions as a love language, a leadership practice, and a competitive advantage — not fluff, not recreation, but a disciplined way to build culture, trust, and innovation.

Key Takeaways

1) Play is wired into human biology and is essential for connection, creativity, and adaptation

2) The best leaders facilitate wisdom already inside their teams instead of extracting answers

3) Creativity is a practice — if teams don’t train it, they can’t access it under pressure

4) Seriousness is often mistaken for rigor, but play and excellence are not opposites

5) In-person connection creates exponential impact that technology cannot replace

Quotes

• “Play isn’t juvenile — it’s how humans connect, adapt, and create.”

• “If you don’t practice creativity, it won’t show up when you need it.”

• “Leadership isn’t about engagement — it’s about who you choose to lead for.”

• “We haven’t updated how we work to match how people actually learn.”

• “Play creates culture. Culture creates performance.”

Connect with Mo Fitzgerald

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mofitzgerald

• Website: https://playstreetstudio.com

• Instagram: @momofits

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Alignment First. Progress Always.

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In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Madeline Davis Tully — former Princeton rowing athlete and rowing coach at Stanford, Ohio State, and Boston University, national champion, and founder of MDT Leadership. We unpack what it truly means to transition from competing for championships to creating champions, the parallels between elite sport and executive leadership, and how identity, values, and discipline shape high-performance lives.

Key Takeaways

1) The transition from athlete to coach demands humility, identity work, and a shift from “me” to “we.”

2) Elite coaching hinges on understanding team chemistry, not just talent, and making objective decisions without bruising egos.

3) Leadership translates best when it’s authentic; great leaders learn to lead from the front, middle, or rear depending on situational need.

4) Athletes become exceptional executives because they already understand discipline, failure, repetition, and long-term process.

5) A coach’s power lies in steadiness, especially when a client or athlete misses the big moment.

Quotes

• “To become a champion, you must act like one before you ever win.” – Madeline Davis Tully

• “My job isn’t to want it more than you. My job is to help you realize what you truly want.” – Madeline Davis Tully

• “A great coach meets their athlete at the dock after a loss — steady, present, and ready for what’s next.” – Madeline Davis Tully

Connect with Madeline Davis Tully

• Website: ⁠https://mdtlead.com

⁠• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinedavistully

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In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Christian Ponder — NFL veteran, entrepreneur, and founder of The Post, a community built to elevate athletes long after sport. We dig into identity, fatherhood, leadership, boundaries, and how to create systems that keep you aligned while building something bigger than yourself. Christian breaks down the misconceptions about athletes in transition and reveals what he really learned from the darkest turning point of his football career.

Key Takeaways

1. Why athletes and veterans share nearly identical identity challenges post-career — and how The Post reframes that experience as an asset, not a burden.

2. How the “broken wing narrative” harms high performers — and what aspirational communities do differently.

3. Christian’s pivotal college mistake, how it derailed his NFL trajectory, and the humility and ownership it forged.

4. The real reason boundaries get harder after sports — and the system Christian now uses to stay present as a husband and father.

5. Why youth sports matter more than ever — and how over-specialization is robbing kids of the adversity they need to grow.

Quotes

• “People want to be part of something that makes them feel elevated, not treated like they’re broken.” – Christian Ponder

• “Sports are a safe hard thing — a classroom for character.” – Christian Ponder

• “Leadership is earned. Especially at home.” – Christian Ponder

Connect with Christian Ponder

• IG: @cpsevenseven

• The Post: https://www.thepost.co

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-ponder-075a64155/

___________________________________________________________________________________

Stay Connected & Take Action

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Alignment First. Progress Always.

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