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Obie Stillwell, Former OSU Buckeye walk-on, Buckeye Fever television co-host and real estate professional serving hundreds of residents in affordable housing. Obie Stilwell has lived enough lives for three people—and in this episode, Coach Tim Brown dives into the through-line behind all of them: faith-driven leadership and relentless perseverance.

From Mansfield roots to Big Ten locker rooms, Obie shares how a walk-on mindset—humble, gritty, and resilient—continues to shape how he leads family, work, and community today. The conversation spans the Breakfast Club he co-founded that regularly brings together more than 700 people across race, industry, and age, the realities of overseeing 248 units for elderly and disabled residents, and the art of running a mission with a business backbone.

Obie pulls back the curtain on why hard coaching is often the truest sign of belief, how to accept critique as investment, and why endurance—quiet, steady, uncompromising endurance—is the hidden currency of sustainable leadership.

Things turn deeply personal when Obie opens up about his son’s multi-year court battle and his own cancer fight—and the faith, scripture, and village of mentors that carried him to the other side.

You’ll leave with actionable lessons and a mandate:

• build rooms where difference strengthens community
• give people chances to fail, learn, and come back stronger
• lead in ways that are measurable and humane
• bridge generations so wisdom and energy align

If you’re building something that lasts—family, business, ministry, or neighborhood—this story will sharpen your mindset and expand your mission.

If this episode fuels you, share it with a leader in your circle, leave a review, and subscribe for more conversations that inspire excellence, service, and purpose.

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Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support.

What. A. Year.
Coach Tim Brown kicks off this special Be A Baller Podcast episode by reflecting on the unforgettable journey of 2025 — a year overflowing with stories, student leadership, and community impact.

From powerful conversations to life-changing lessons, this season was shaped by YOU — the listeners, partners, and friends who support the mission of helping young people lead with purpose and faith.

And now the momentum continues.

Season 7 launches Tuesday, January 20th.
Get ready for new voices, fresh conversations, and more inspiration to step up and Be. A. Baller.

Stay subscribed, spread the word, and get ready to make 2026 the most impactful year yet!

Support the show

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support.

A celebration can tell you everything about a leader’s life’s work. When Dr. Moses Newsome Jr. returned to Norfolk State University for the 30th anniversary of its social work PhD—the school’s first doctoral program—he saw former students running departments, teaching his own daughter, and carrying forward a mission built on access, excellence, empowerment, and legacy. We dive into how those outcomes were forged: a childhood in Charleston, WV where compassion wasn’t preached, it was practiced; a track scholarship to Toledo that opened the first door; and mentors who steered raw purpose toward social work and higher education.

From the Howard classroom to the dean’s office, Dr. Newsome describes the moment he realized teaching 20 students at a time wasn’t enough. He began writing to scale his message, then pursued leadership to build structures where service could multiply. That vision drove a decade-long effort to launch Norfolk State’s PhD program, navigating state approvals and institutional change to lift a master’s-level university into doctoral territory. The story doesn’t stop there—he went on to shape national standards with the Council on Social Work Education, embedding inclusive curricula, international perspectives, and community engagement across HBCUs and PWIs alike.

We also unpack what makes HBCUs uniquely powerful: real nurture, practical support, and faculty who refuse to let students fall through the cracks. For early-career academics, Dr. Newsome offers hard-won advice—pick your lane (micro, or macro), find mentors aligned with your mission, and build a body of work that opens doors for others. His definition of legacy is both personal and systemic: not just who follows you, but what practices they carry forward. Listen for a masterclass in servant leadership, institutional change, and the kind of commitment that turns a career into a lineage. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway so more listeners can find the show.

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