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Most people negotiate with one billionaire in their lifetime. De Smith negotiated with 31 of them simultaneously.

As CEO of the NFL Players Association for 15 years, the former homicide prosecutor didn't just survive what ESPN called "the toughest job in all of sports." He transformed it, creating over $150 billion in value for players while revolutionizing how we think about athlete safety and life after the game.

In this raw, unfiltered conversation on Awake the Network, De. pulls back the curtain on:

The brutal truth about professional football is that the average career is 3.3 years, the injury rate is 100%, and "you're not a Saint, you're not an Eagle, you're not a Giant, you're an employee."

What it takes to lead in impossible situations. From prosecuting murderers to facing down NFL owners, D. shares the single most important skill he learned in the courtroom.

Why he stopped watching football and what it took to get him back into the game.

QTR (Quality Time Remaining) is the framework that changed how he thinks about every relationship, every decision, every moment.

His new book, Turf Wars, isn't about football. It's a brutally honest examination of power, humanity, and how we choose to treat each other when billions of dollars are at stake.

Listen now to hear how a kid from a long line of Baptist preachers became the voice for thousands of players—and why he believes America is now being run like the NFL.

This podcast is available wherever you listen to podcasts. Book available wherever books are sold, and also check out De's book at turfwarsbook.com

Connect with Melissa @ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissagwilson/
Connect with Billy @ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/billydexter/
Connect with John @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-st-augustine-1b3192/

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What happens when a thriving corporate career collides with a mother's love?

In this powerful episode of Awake In the Network, where destiny happens, we sit down with Sally Rucking—a woman who traded first-class airline travel for a front-row seat to changing lives.

After 17 years soaring through the corporate skies with a major airline, Sally made a decision that would transform not only her life but also thousands of others'. When her daughter's severe allergic asthma led to 40 hospitalizations, Sally discovered something more valuable than any boardroom success: purpose.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How a chance encounter on an airplane redirected an entire career path
• The moment Sally realized grassroots storytelling could move mountains (and money)
• Why "imposter syndrome" didn't stop her from becoming a nonprofit powerhouse
• The secret to building a legacy that outlasts any paycheck
• How to connect your passions to create opportunities that matter

From volunteering with the American Lung Association to leading as VP of Corporate Relations, from serving as President and CEO of Beyond OCD to now building a performing arts nonprofit spanning three countries, Sally's journey proves that when you answer your calling, the network awakens.

This isn't just another career pivot story. This is a masterclass in:

• Recognizing connected outs that change everything
• Turning personal tragedy into transformational impact
• Building nonprofit organizations with a clear mission and vision
• The art of fundraising through authentic storytelling
• Creating a legacy through service

Whether you're contemplating a career change, starting a nonprofit, or simply wondering if there's more to life than the corner office—Sally's story will remind you that the greatest success is measured in lives changed, not bonuses earned.

Join hosts Billy Dexter and Melissa G. Wilson for a conversation filled with wisdom, heart, and even a nostalgic trip down Romper Room memory lane.

Because in business, and in life, being aware of the connections, great and small, can be the difference between success and significance.

Connect with Melissa @ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissagwilson/
Connect with Billy @ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/billydexter/
Connect with John @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-st-augustine-1b3192/

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Are You Truly Awake to the Connections Around You?

Life is a game of connected outs on many levels. Sometimes those connections lead to career opportunities and business success. Other times? They lead to mysteries that defy explanation.

Join hosts Billy Dexter and Melissa G. Wilson, along with producer John St. Augustine, for an extraordinary episode that bridges the corporate world with the supernatural, just in time for Halloween.

🎃 This Episode's Spine-Tingling Stories: The Voice from the Eastland Disaster

Producer John St. Augustine shares his chilling experience at Chicago's Harpo Studios, where a disembodied voice spoke the name of a man who drowned in the 1915 Eastland disaster—in the very building that once served as a morgue for over 800 victims. What happened next will make you question everything you thought you knew about the paranormal.

Messages from Beyond

Host Billy Dexter reveals his gift for receiving messages meant for others—a blessing that changed his brother's life and launched the careers of others. But is it intuition, divine guidance, or something more?

Angels Among Us

Melissa G Wilson offers a counterpoint to the darkness with her perspective on angels, faith, and why more than 70% of people worldwide believe in angels. Her grandmother's encounter with an angel will restore your faith in the light.

What Makes This Podcast Different?

Awake the Network isn't just another business podcast. It's about recognizing the connections, great and small, that shape our destinies. Whether those connections are:

• ✨ A chance encounter that becomes a career opportunity
• 🔮 An unexplained experience that changes your perspective
• 💫 A message you're meant to deliver to someone else
• 🌟 A moment of awareness that shifts everything

This podcast reminds you to stay awake because you never know what's coming your way.

Perfect For:

• Entrepreneurs and business professionals who trust their intuition
• Anyone who's experienced something they can't quite explain
• People who believe everything happens for a reason
• Those seeking deeper connections in business and life
• Fans of authentic, unscripted conversations

What Listeners Are Saying:

"This podcast balances practical networking advice with the kind of deep, meaningful conversations you rarely hear. It's church, therapy, and a business seminar all in one."

"I never thought I'd hear a podcast that goes from marketing strategies to paranormal experiences and makes both feel equally important to success."

Your Hosts:

Billy Dexter - A master networker with an unexpected gift for delivering life-changing messages.

Melissa G. Wilson - The "Hallmark Channel" of the trio, bringing light, faith, and major book creation (having published 175 thought leader books), creating 10 traditionally published books herself with 6 traditional publishers, a New York agent, 5 best sellers, and a book featured on Oprah.

John St. Augustine - Author, producer, and experiencer of the unexplained (former Oprah Radio executive)

Subscribe & Connect:

🌐 Visit:

Connect with Melissa @ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissagwilson/
Connect with Billy @ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/billydexter/
Connect with John @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-st-augustine-1b3192/