What does it mean to hold space for celebration, grief, community health, and legacy all in one week? Host Mariah Woodson flies solo this episode — Tamara Peyton couldn't make the trip — to reflect on a jam-packed week at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Mariah walks through the events, moments, and conversations that shaped her week, including: Attending the NBA Legends Annual Event and watching her father fellowship with the pioneers of the game,

A surprise, full-circle moment when former guest Olden Polynice praised "Born to the Game" to a room of NBA legends

Missing the "She's Got Time" summit — founded by Swin Cash to empower women across sports and entertainment — and committing to attend next year.

A candid conversation with her dad and her husband about how Summer League is really used to evaluate young talent, not just wins and losses

An unforgettable "10 out of 10" Jeezy concert experience in Vegas

A critical PSA from the National Basketball Wives Association summit: per the CDC, Black women account for over half of new HIV diagnoses among women in the U.S. despite being just 13% of the female population — and why safe sex, regular testing, and ending the stigma matter

Processing what it means when fans stop her in person to say the show matters to them

A first look at an upcoming Summer League behind-the-scenes YouTube series

New episodes are live every Tuesday.

Full videos are live every Wednesday on YouTube.

Subscribe to Born To The Game for more honest conversations about culture, family, entertainment, ambition, and legacy.

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What does it mean to carry your family’s legacy while building an identity of your own?

Iyana Halley and Manny Halley Jr. — siblings raised around music, acting, television, and entertainment — join hosts Mariah Woodson and Tamera Peyton for a candid conversation about family, grief, identity, motherhood, and finding your own path in the industry.

The siblings reflect on growing up as the children of talent manager and television producer Manny Haley, their close bond as children, and the experiences that shaped them after the loss of their mother, Yolanda Haley.

In this episode, Iyana and Manny Halley Jr. open up about:

Growing up in the entertainment industry and navigating life as industry kids
Moving from Brooklyn to Atlanta and adjusting to a new world
Sharing a room, having late-night talks, and praying together as children
The legacy of their parents and the impact of their mother, Yolanda Haley
Processing grief and learning to cope with loss in different ways
Iyana’s acting journey, including her experience on Abbott Elementary
Balancing motherhood, identity, and a growing entertainment career
Manny Halley Jr.’s work in music, acting, and television producing
Touring with Keyshia Cole as an opening act
The unforgettable Fabolous phone call arranged by their father
Their upcoming BET project, Lot Patrol
Advice for aspiring actors, musicians, producers, and entertainment professionals
Why family, purpose, and personal growth matter when building your own legacy

New episodes are live every Tuesday. Full videos are live every Wednesday on YouTube.

Subscribe to Born To The Game for more honest conversations about culture, family, entertainment, ambition, and legacy.

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In this special episode of Born to the Game - Summer League Rewind, we revisit our conversation with Jazmin Erving — daughter of NBA legend Julius "Dr. J" Erving — joins hosts Mariah Woodson and Tamara Peyton to talk about growing up in the shadow of one of sport's most beloved figures, navigating the assumptions and pressures that came with the name, and how she became the first Black woman co-owner of a domestic crystal mine in the United States.

Julius "Dr. J" Erving's legacy in basketball is untouchable — a pioneer of above-the-rim play, an ABA and NBA champion, a Hall of Famer, and one of the most recognized athletes in American sports history. But to Jazmin, he was first and foremost Dad — the man who protected family time from autograph seekers, took the family to Vegas every summer, played 5-on-5 pickup in the South of France, and quietly taught his children to "see people" for who they really are. Jazmin opens up about what it was like growing up with a father whose fame followed them everywhere — and how at just 12 years old, when asked what it was like being Dr. J's daughter, she simply said: "To me, he's just Dad."

She reflects on the double-edged nature of the name — the doors it opened, the assumptions it brought, and the quiet work of learning to be guarded without becoming closed off. She shares the moment in college when eight guys falsely claimed to have been with her — and the calm, direct way she handled it. She tells the story of walking out of her Ralph Lauren job "full Jerry Maguire style" after a visiting manager made assumptions about her because of her father, only to be rehired by her regular manager. And she recounts the moment a player rudely dismissed her and her younger brother asking for an autograph — until he realized who their father was — a lesson she never forgot about how people treat you when they think you're nobody.

Then comes the origin story of Because I Rock — her crystal mining company. During the pandemic, Jazmin and her business partner stopped to help a stranded driver on the side of the road. He turned out to own crystal mines. That chance encounter became a partnership, and Jazmin became one of the first Black women to co-own a domestic crystal mine in the United States.

This is a joyful, grounded, funny, and deeply moving conversation about legacy, identity, entrepreneurship, and what it looks like when a woman born to greatness decides to go out and create some of her own.

🔑 In This Episode:

• Growing up as the daughter of NBA legend Julius "Dr. J" Erving

• "To me, he's just Dad" — her answer at age 12

• How Dr. J protected family time from autograph seekers

• Vegas summers, Circus Circus, and a 5-on-5 game in the South of France

• The double-edged nature of a famous name — doors opened and assumptions made •

💬 Key Takeaway: Jazmin Erving didn't inherit a jump shot — she inherited a standard. Growing up as Dr. J's daughter meant learning early that people will always see the name before they see you. Her story is about doing the quiet, grounded work of becoming someone in your own right — and then building a business that puts crystals in the hands of children who never knew they were miners. "This rock chose you" is not just a tagline. It is how Jasmine Erving has lived her whole life. Subscribe, share, and join the journey.

New episodes are live on Tuesdays and videos on Wednesdays.

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https://borntothegamepodcast.com/

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What happens when a reality TV moment becomes one of the most precious memories you have left?

Allison Mathis Jones — daughter of legendary Atlanta attorney and civic leader Charles Mathis and a familiar face from MTV's My Super Sweet 16 — joins hosts Mariah Woodson and Tamara Peyton for a candid, layered conversation about identity, legacy, grief, and what it truly means to have it all.

Allison grew up in Atlanta's elite circles — Grammy parties at home, T.I. and Jermaine Dupri dropping by, and a father who represented some of the biggest names in entertainment. But behind that world was a young woman learning what it meant to carry her father's name, face public scrutiny, and eventually lose him far too soon.

In this episode, Allison opens up about:

• What it was really like filming MTV's My Super Sweet 16 — and why it was largely her dad's idea
• The legacy of Charles Mathis and how long it took her to grasp his full impact on Atlanta
• Her journey through grief and how loss reshaped her purpose
• Launching Moments to Media Content Co., helping brands create social media-ready content
• Why she believes women can have it all — just not all at once
• Balancing motherhood, marriage, real estate, content creation, and entrepreneurship
• Finding your identity outside of being someone's wife or mother
• The one word she'd use to describe herself: multifaceted

New episodes drop every Tuesday. Full videos every Wednesday on YouTube.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode of Born to the Game - Summer League Rewind, we revisit our conversation with Zeke Thomas — DJ, activist, and son of NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas. Zeke joined hosts Mariah Woodson and Tamara Peyton live at NBA Summer League 2025 to talk about growing up in the shadow of one of basketball's greatest legends, carving his own identity, and using his platform to fight for equal rights and equal justice.

Isiah Thomas's résumé is unmatched — two NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons, a Hall of Fame induction, and a career that extended into ownership and leadership with the Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, and New York Knicks. But to Zeke, his father was first and foremost Dad — and understanding the weight of that legacy took a lifetime of moving, adapting, and self-discovery.

Zeke reflects on a childhood spent constantly relocating — from Detroit to Indiana to New York — and the toll that repeated uprooting took on his friendships, his trust, and his sense of belonging. He shares the moment his father's fame truly landed for him: arriving in New York and seeing Isiah Thomas on the cover of every newspaper, every single day. He recounts being taken out by Spike Lee and Chris Rock to the 40/40 Club, where he met Jay-Z — a night that crystallized exactly what world he had been born into.

The conversation gets candid as Zeke discusses the unique pressure of being asked, constantly, whether he was as great a basketball player as his father — a question he still gets asked today and still finds deeply uncomfortable. He shares the story of beating his father one-on-one on the Pacers' practice court, dunking on him, after which Isiah simply said they couldn't play anymore. He talks about experiencing racism despite his privilege, and the powerful reminder that in America, no matter how famous your father is, being Black means you are never exempt.

Zeke opens up about surviving sexual assault and how that experience became a turning point — one that forced him to reckon with his voice, his platform, and his responsibility to speak. As a gay Black man, he describes the layered pressure he carries: a duty inherited from ancestors, from his father's legacy, and from his own community. He speaks about his activism work in cannabis legislation with NORML, his involvement with Shelan Champagne, and his sustainability work with One World Products in the bio-hemp space.

Zeke also shares three pieces of advice from his father that have stayed with him: that the one you love the most has the ability to hurt you the most, that the same effort you put in is what you get out, and simply — to smile.

This is a layered, funny, vulnerable, and inspiring conversation about legacy, identity, duty, resilience, and what it means to be born to the game — and then choose to play it entirely on your own terms.

Key Topics Covered:

• Growing up as the son of NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas
• Childhood memories of Detroit, Indiana, and New York
• Seeing his father on the front page of every New York newspaper
• The night Spike Lee and Chris Rock took him to meet Jay-Z at the 40/40 Club
• The pressure of constantly being asked: "Are you as good as your dad?"
• Beating Isiah Thomas one-on-one on the Pacers' practice court
• How frequent moves shaped his trust, friendships, and emotional resilience
• Experiencing racism despite growing up in a privileged household
• Surviving sexual assault and finding his voice through activism
• Being a gay Black man and the layered duty that comes with that identity
• His career as DJ Zeke and his start at Hot 97
• Activism in cannabis legislation with NORML
• Shelan Champagne and One World Products in the bio-hemp space
• The three pieces of life advice Isiah Thomas gave him
• How Isiah Thomas helped recruit Mike Woodson to Indiana University
• Advice for other children of legends navigating identity and legacy
• Three words for "Born to the Game": resilient, duty, and luck

About the Guest: Zeke Thomas is a DJ, activist, and creative force based in New York. The son of NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, Zeke began his career in music at Hot 97 and has built a platform centered on equal rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy, mental health awareness, and sustainability. He sits on the board of NORML, is involved with Shelan Champagne, and works with One World Products in the bio-hemp space. He is one of the most prominent and outspoken voices among the children of NBA legends.

🎧 New episodes are live on Tuesdays! 🎥 New videos drop on Wednesdays!

Subscribe to Born to the Game for more stories from the families behind the game's biggest names.

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In this episode of Born to the Game, Alexis Polynice, daughter of 15-year NBA veteran Olden Polynice, opens up about growing up inside professional basketball culture and the unexpected ways her father's career shaped her identity, relationships, and professional path.

Olden Polynice's basketball journey was remarkable — born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he played center for the Seattle SuperSonics, Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, and Utah Jazz across a 15-year NBA career. But to Alexis, he was also Dad — a figure whose frequent absences for games and travel left a complex emotional imprint she didn't fully understand until adulthood.

Alexis shares her early memories of going to games and feeling embarrassed by the public attention, the assumptions peers made about her lifestyle as an NBA player's kid, and how her parents' separation at a young age shifted the family dynamic. As the second eldest of four siblings, she describes the close-knit bond with her brothers and the unique pressure of navigating life with a famous, often absent father.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Alexis discusses her early career in child modeling and pageantry — signed to Ford Models and traveling the country for competitions — and how those experiences contrasted with the traditional path many expected her to follow. She reveals how the nannies who raised her (Cora, Yumi, Barbie, and Fabi) profoundly shaped her life, inspiring her to pursue nannying as a profession.

Alexis offers a deeply moving account of her nannying career, including working for notable families such as Julie and Paul Pierce, and a life-altering experience caring for a 13-year-old whose mother was terminally ill. She shares the lessons she learned about love, loss, and the invisible emotional labor of caregiving — and why she believes nannies are among the most valuable assets in any family.

Looking ahead, Alexis discusses her aspirations to transition into estate management and personal assistant work, her desire to mentor young women entering the domestic staffing industry, and the therapy and self-reflection that helped her recognize subconscious patterns — like exclusively pursuing long-distance relationships — shaped by her childhood.

This is a thoughtful, honest, and emotionally rich conversation about family, legacy, identity, grief, caregiving, and the unexpected ways our earliest experiences write the script for the life we choose to build.

Key Topics Covered:

• Growing up as the daughter of NBA player Olden Polynice

• Early memories of NBA games, public attention, and peer assumptions

• Impact of her parents' separation and her father's frequent absences

• Sibling dynamics and growing up as the second eldest of four

• Child modeling career with Ford Models and the pageant world

• The five nannies who shaped her childhood and inspired her career

• Nannying for notable families, including Julie and Paul Pierce

• Caring for a child whose mother was terminally ill

• The business of nannying and domestic staffing

• Future aspirations: estate management, personal assistant work, and mentoring

• Subconscious relationship patterns shaped by childhood

• Therapy, self-awareness, and personal growth • Advice for aspiring nannies and a message to parents

About the Guest: Alexis Polynice is the daughter of 15-year NBA veteran Olden Polynice. A former child model signed to Ford Models, she has built a career as a professional nanny working with high-profile families. She is currently pursuing opportunities in estate management and personal assistance, with a passion for mentoring young women in the domestic staffing industry.

🎧 New episodes are live on Tuesdays! 🎥 New videos drop on Wednesdays!

Subscribe to Born to the Game for more stories from the families behind the game's biggest names.

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🎙️ Born to the Game — Mike Woodson, Mariah Woodson, Olden Polynice & Alexis Polynice

NBA Fatherhood, Family Legacy & Old-School Basketball Stories

What happens when two NBA fathers sit down with their daughters to talk legacy, family, basketball, and the stories fans never get to hear?

In this special episode of Born to the Game, we bring together two father-daughter duos: Mariah Woodson and her father, former NBA player and longtime coach Mike Woodson, alongside Alexis Polynice and her father, former NBA player Olden Polynice.

This conversation is playful, heartfelt, unfiltered, and full of real family energy. From father-daughter games and hilarious old-school vs. new-school debates to NBA memories involving J.R. Smith, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Ray Allen, Ben Wallace, DeAndre Jordan, and Andre Drummond, this episode gives listeners a rare look at the men behind the basketball careers — as fathers, mentors, friends, and protectors.

Mike Woodson opens up about fatherhood, watching his daughters grow into their own lives, the pride he feels in their independence, and why family is the true definition of legacy. He also shares stories from his NBA journey, including overcoming a serious college injury, coaching personalities like J.R. Smith, and the unforgettable fashion choices his family still will not let him live down.

Olden Polynice reflects on growing up in Haiti, being born with a physical challenge, learning basketball later than most, and still becoming a professional player. He talks about resilience, brotherhood, old-school toughness, protecting the family name, and how having daughters taught him to soften, listen, and grow.

Together, the group laughs through stories about shopping, cooking, chili, vegan food, fashion, basketball terminology, Start/Bench/Cut debates, and the difference between old-school and new-school basketball. But beneath the jokes is a deeper conversation about safety, parenting, adversity, identity, family pride, and what it means to build a legacy that goes far beyond the game.

This is a funny, warm, and meaningful episode about NBA families, fatherhood, daughters, resilience, legacy, and the lessons passed down from one generation to the next.

🔑 In This Episode:

Two father-daughter duos on one couch
Mike Woodson and Mariah Woodson on family, growth, and legacy
Olden Polynice and Alexis Polynice on fatherhood, independence, and family pride
What NBA fathers really know about their daughters
The Know Your Player game
Favorite foods, pet peeves, shopping, and dad phrases
Mike Woodson’s legendary fashion story from the Knicks era
Olden Polynice on cooking, Haiti, and family roots
Old-school vs. new-school basketball
Explaining basketball terms like pick and roll, boxing out, fast break, switch defense, weak side rotation, and blitz
Start/Bench/Cut: Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Dirk Nowitzki
Who takes the last shot: Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, or Ray Allen
Free throw pressure with Ben Wallace, DeAndre Jordan, and Andre Drummond
Mike Woodson on coaching J.R. Smith and professionalism
Olden Polynice on blocking Michael Jordan
The story behind Mike Woodson shaving his eyebrows
NBA brotherhood, golf trips, and lifelong friendships
How fathers help daughters feel safe going into the world
Why boys and girls both need emotional support and stability
Mike Woodson’s comeback from a serious college injury
Olden Polynice’s journey from Haiti to the NBA
Why adversity does not have to define your life
What legacy means beyond awards, stats, and careers
Family as the real legacy
Protecting your name, your values, and your people

💬 Key Takeaway:

Legacy is bigger than basketball. It is not only about points, championships, coaching careers, or who you played against — it is about the family you build, the name you protect, the lessons you pass down, and the way your children carry that love forward.

Subscribe, share, and join the journey. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

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YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/@BornToTheGamePodcast

https://borntothegamepodcast.com/

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