Épisodes

  • Mental Health Quickcast: Susy Ramirez

    Mental Health Quickcast: Susy Ramirez
    Feb 18 2026
    In this heartfelt conversation, Susy Ramirez—Kennedy Kids Foundation board member and the heart behind Dani's Balloons—joins Robert Bailey and Bailey Brooks Mashburn to share a story rooted in resilience, reinvention, and purpose.

    Susy opens up about the mental-health challenges that shaped her life across seasons: immigrating from Honduras, being bullied as a child, navigating the pressure and expectation of NFL cheerleading, and enduring deeply personal losses— including her family’s devastating experience with suicide. She reflects on how grief can stay raw for years, and why community is often the bridge that helps people keep going.

    Together, they pull back the curtain on the “glamour” of professional cheerleading—talking about body image pressure, perfection culture, financial strain, and the emotional toll that many people never see. But this episode is also about hope: how service, movement, family, and meaningful rituals can become survival tools—like Susy’s powerful way of honoring her nephew through the “Brendan’s Sandwich Project,” giving food to people in need. Susy also shares the mindset practices that help her stay grounded: prioritizing fitness, taking pride in caring for herself, showing up for her family, and giving back—because helping others can sometimes be the very thing that helps you heal.

    If you or someone you know is struggling, visit kennedykids.org and explore the Resources tab. If immediate help is needed, call 911. You can also call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), available 24/7
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    34 min
  • How Bryant McFadden, Former Shutdown Cornerback in the NFL, Addresses His Mental Health Mindset

    How Bryant McFadden, Former Shutdown Cornerback in the NFL, Addresses His Mental Health Mindset
    Feb 17 2026
    Former NFL cornerback Bryant McFadden (B Mac), two-time Super Bowl champion, Florida State legend, and CBS Sports football analyst, joins Bailey & Buck Unplugged to talk about athlete mental health, identity after sports, and what life feels like when football ends. Bryant opens up about hitting a dark place when his NFL career ended, and why retirement can feel like losing your structure, your identity, and your daily purpose all at once. He breaks down what he calls “double trouble,” how being a man and being a former athlete can make asking for help feel impossible, and what finally pushed him to talk to a professional. We also get into how athletes can approach mental wellness the same way they approach film, training, and getting better every day.

    Bryant shares practical steps for finding the right therapist, why you should never settle for a “yes man,” and how building a new passion helped him stay connected to the game while creating a healthier life outside of it. Plus, the crew talks rivalry culture, NIL, and how the pressure on athletes starts way earlier than people realize.

    Bailey & Buck Unplugged is a program of the Kennedy Kids Foundation. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). If you are in immediate danger, dial 911. More mental health resources: KennedyKids.org
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    50 min
  • Mental Health Quick Cast: Alonzo Highsmith

    Mental Health Quick Cast: Alonzo Highsmith
    Feb 9 2026
    Former University of Miami Hurricanes standout Alonzo Highsmith joins Bailey and Buck Unplugged for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from elite performance to real-life resilience. Highsmith shares his journey from South Florida high school football to a championship legacy at “The U,” his years in the NFL, and his surprising transition into professional boxing—including fights on major cards and what it took to earn respect in a new sport.The conversation goes deeper as Alonzo opens up about grief, leadership under pressure, and mental health in professional sports. He reflects on returning to work quickly after profound loss, the athlete mindset of “push through everything,” and why many players struggle to ask for help.

    Explore the realities of the NFL “bubble,” how team culture impacts mental wellness, and why fear of losing playing time or contracts can keep athletes silent.Highsmith also shares powerful insights on identity after retirement, the importance of mentorship and character, and practical tools he uses to reset—like solitude, reflection, and ending the day with positive affirmations. Plus, don’t miss the incredible stories from his connection to Don Shula, early experiences around the Dolphins, and lessons learned from legendary coaches.If you care about sports leadership, athlete mental health, life after the game, and what it really takes to stay grounded through success and adversity

    —this episode is a must-listen.

    If you or someone you love is struggling, you’re not alone. Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (free and confidential). In an emergency, dial 911.

    More resources are available at kennedykids.org.
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    31 min
  • Susy Ramirez Former Miami Dolphins Cheerleader Opens Up About Suicide Loss and Healing

    Susy Ramirez Former Miami Dolphins Cheerleader Opens Up About Suicide Loss and Healing
    Feb 2 2026
    In this heartfelt conversation, Susy Ramirez—Kennedy Kids Foundation board member and the heart behind Dani's Balloons—joins Robert Bailey and Bailey Brooks Mashburn to share a story rooted in resilience, reinvention, and purpose.

    Susy opens up about the mental-health challenges that shaped her life across seasons: immigrating from Honduras, being bullied as a child, navigating the pressure and expectation of NFL cheerleading, and enduring deeply personal losses— including her family’s devastating experience with suicide. She reflects on how grief can stay raw for years, and why community is often the bridge that helps people keep going.

    Together, they pull back the curtain on the “glamour” of professional cheerleading—talking about body image pressure, perfection culture, financial strain, and the emotional toll that many people never see. But this episode is also about hope: how service, movement, family, and meaningful rituals can become survival tools—like Susy’s powerful way of honoring her nephew through the “Brendan’s Sandwich Project,” giving food to people in need. Susy also shares the mindset practices that help her stay grounded: prioritizing fitness, taking pride in caring for herself, showing up for her family, and giving back—because helping others can sometimes be the very thing that helps you heal.

    If you or someone you know is struggling, visit kennedykids.org and explore the Resources tab. If immediate help is needed, call 911. You can also call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), available 24/7
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    1 h et 3 min
  • Mental Health Quickcast: Jhoanna Alba

    Mental Health Quickcast: Jhoanna Alba
    Jan 29 2026
    In this powerful episode of Bailey & Buck Unplugged, the hosts sit down with Joanna Alba — founder of Alba Legacy, Co-Author of InHerPurpose , and Co-Founder of @RepurposeLegacy — a renowned custom fashion designer known for creating made-to-measure pieces for high-profile clients in sports and entertainment. But this conversation goes far beyond style.Joanna shares her deeply personal journey through childhood trauma, domestic violence, family separation, substance use, and suicidal thoughts, and how creativity became her lifeline. From thrifting and redesigning clothes as a kid to building a career in formalwear and launching her own brand, she explains how purpose-driven entrepreneurship helped her reclaim her voice and her future.The conversation explores forgiveness, rebuilding family relationships, and the role of faith, discipline, and service in healing. Joanna also opens up about losing a loved one to suicide, navigating grief, and why compassion matters in mental health conversations. Plus, she shares practical ways she resets today, including embracing solitude, prioritizing recovery, and protecting her peace.

    If you or someone you love is struggling, you’re not alone. Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (free and confidential). In an emergency, dial 911. More resources are available at kennedykids.org.
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    35 min
  • Alonzo Highsmith: From the U to the NFL Front Office—Legacy, Loss & Life Beyond the Game

    Alonzo Highsmith: From the U to the NFL Front Office—Legacy, Loss & Life Beyond the Game
    Jan 26 2026
    Former University of Miami Hurricanes standout Alonzo Highsmith joins Bailey and Buck Unplugged for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from elite performance to real-life resilience. Highsmith shares his journey from South Florida high school football to a championship legacy at “The U,” his years in the NFL, and his surprising transition into professional boxing—including fights on major cards and what it took to earn respect in a new sport.The conversation goes deeper as Alonzo opens up about grief, leadership under pressure, and mental health in professional sports. He reflects on returning to work quickly after profound loss, the athlete mindset of “push through everything,” and why many players struggle to ask for help.

    Explore the realities of the NFL “bubble,” how team culture impacts mental wellness, and why fear of losing playing time or contracts can keep athletes silent.Highsmith also shares powerful insights on identity after retirement, the importance of mentorship and character, and practical tools he uses to reset—like solitude, reflection, and ending the day with positive affirmations. Plus, don’t miss the incredible stories from his connection to Don Shula, early experiences around the Dolphins, and lessons learned from legendary coaches.If you care about sports leadership, athlete mental health, life after the game, and what it really takes to stay grounded through success and adversity

    —this episode is a must-listen.

    If you or someone you love is struggling, you’re not alone. Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (free and confidential). In an emergency, dial 911.

    More resources are available at kennedykids.org.
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    1 h et 25 min
  • Mental Health Quickcast: Mike Rumph

    Mental Health Quickcast: Mike Rumph
    Jan 22 2026
    In this episode of Bailey and Buck Unplugged, the hosts sit down with Coach Mike Rumph—Director of Football Recruiting & On-Campus Experience at the University of Miami, a former first-round NFL Draft pick, and a leader who’s unapologetically changing the conversation around mental health in sports and at home. Mike shares the turning point that pushed him to prioritize his mental wellness: a painful in-game moment early in his career that led him to work with therapist Kevin Elko, learn mental performance tools, and rebuild his confidence—so powerfully that he says he never gave up another touchdown after that play. He opens up about growing up without his mother, how childhood anger showed up on the field, and how therapy helped him understand what he was really carrying. The conversation also dives into marriage, communication, and what it looks like to model emotional strength as a father—because Mike doesn’t just go to therapy; he brings his kids too, making it clear that getting support is normal, healthy, and encouraged. From the importance of decompression time after work, to using the gym as mental clarity, to coaching with discipline without humiliation, Mike offers real-world tools for athletes, parents, and partners. This episode is packed with powerful reminders: your mistakes aren’t forever, asking for help isn’t weakness, and resilience is built through honesty, community, and the courage to do the inner work—on and off the field.

    If you or someone you love is struggling, you’re not alone.
    Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (free and confidential). In an emergency, dial 911. More resources are available at kennedykids.org.
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    33 min
  • Jhoanna Alba on Custom Fashion, Healing Through Creativity, and Building a Legacy

    Jhoanna Alba on Custom Fashion, Healing Through Creativity, and Building a Legacy
    Jan 19 2026
    In this powerful episode of Bailey & Buck Unplugged, the hosts sit down with Joanna Alba — founder of Alba Legacy, Co-Author of InHerPurpose , and Co-Founder of @RepurposeLegacy — a renowned custom fashion designer known for creating made-to-measure pieces for high-profile clients in sports and entertainment. But this conversation goes far beyond style.Joanna shares her deeply personal journey through childhood trauma, domestic violence, family separation, substance use, and suicidal thoughts, and how creativity became her lifeline. From thrifting and redesigning clothes as a kid to building a career in formalwear and launching her own brand, she explains how purpose-driven entrepreneurship helped her reclaim her voice and her future.The conversation explores forgiveness, rebuilding family relationships, and the role of faith, discipline, and service in healing. Joanna also opens up about losing a loved one to suicide, navigating grief, and why compassion matters in mental health conversations. Plus, she shares practical ways she resets today, including embracing solitude, prioritizing recovery, and protecting her peace.

    If you or someone you love is struggling, you’re not alone. Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (free and confidential). In an emergency, dial 911. More resources are available at kennedykids.org.
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    57 min