1 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: Hi Eminus Willis. Welcome to the NFL Legend podcast. I'm 2 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 1: so excited I'm talking with Derek and Charity Morgan. We're 3 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 1: talking about wellness and a plant based diet. Let's listen 4 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:23,240 Speaker 1: in it. So let's get right into it first. Come on, Derek, 5 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: take me through the benefits of a vegan diet and 6 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: why you both have chosen to eat this way. First 7 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: you Derek, and then you Charity. Yeah, we could jump 8 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 1: straight into it, man. My uh really, my motivation behind 9 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: transition into a plant base diet came from my off 10 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: season in I always tell the story around when you 11 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 1: go back, and you appreciate this as well. It's because 12 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: you know, when you go back, you have a reporting 13 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: way and every time you're either over or underweight, you 14 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: get fined, you know, per pounds. So for for for us, 15 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: I think it was six and seventies hot hours per 16 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: pound and per pound per pound. And I was like, 17 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: you know what, I was carrying a little bit of 18 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: extra weight in the soft season. I would beating too good, 19 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: you know. I was like, man, I'm like, I'm like 20 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:13,839 Speaker 1: ten pounds over. How am I gonna drop this weight? 21 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 1: So I started looking into like different diet alternatives, and 22 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: I was working with the nutritionists who will happen to 23 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: be a plant based and so she's like, have you 24 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 1: ever tried to plant based diet? I was like, no, 25 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 1: there's no way I could do plant based. I'm moving 26 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: people out the way for a little you know what 27 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: I mean, And so there's no way I can do that. 28 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: She's like, well, actually, you know the research that I've 29 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: been doing, there's a lot of professional athletes and high 30 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: performers who are on these types of diets. But you 31 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 1: just have to have an intentional approach that you do 32 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: it and you'll be fine. And so, slowly but surely, 33 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: I started to cut out things like red meat, dairy, poultry, 34 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: and then I was for a long time I was 35 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: eating only seafood, and then I fully made the switch 36 00:01:56,200 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: really about four years ago to all you know, dairy free, 37 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: animal free, plan based diet. And so for me, it 38 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: was around losing the weight, but also secondly, it was 39 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: around cutting down my inflammation in my body. And that 40 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: was a big piece of it as well, because every 41 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: time you go out in the field or you're in 42 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: the weight room, you know you have low systemic you know, 43 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 1: inflammation in your body, which prevents you from recovering and 44 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 1: prevents your injury healing as fast as they should. And 45 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: so for me, that was a big deal. I went 46 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: ahead and took the leap. My wife at the time, 47 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: you know, at the time, she was looking at different 48 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 1: um you know, diets and whatnot. And so when she's 49 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: seen it, I was transitioned to this. She kind of 50 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: got on board, but grudgingly because she didn't know what 51 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: to cook for me anymore. And so when she kind 52 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 1: of made that that jump, it made it. It made 53 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 1: it very very practical for me to to carry out 54 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: the diet because you know, my wife is a chef 55 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: by trade and cooks in her sleep, you know, so 56 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: this is this was something when she took the reins 57 00:02:58,160 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: to it, I was like, Wow, this is gonna be 58 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: a bit easier for me. But I'll let her dive 59 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: into that. Person. Come on, charity, charity, here's a question 60 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: I had. So, just as Derek said, you had a 61 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: little reluctance. I don't I don't want miss quote him, 62 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: but how did you guys finally get in agreement? What 63 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: was that like? Charity? For me? It was um, it 64 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 1: was personal. Um, it was a little bit of personal 65 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 1: and envy. I was. Derek was waking up like, oh 66 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 1: I got I had the best sleep of my life. 67 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: And I just saw him chiseling up, his stomach was 68 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: getting all six pack looking, and I'm like, wait, it 69 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: just bouncing around here, and I'm deteriorating. Like at the time, 70 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: I was struggles with my digestion system and everything I 71 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: was doing wasn't working, and I got desperate. I was like, 72 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: I gotta do something else. And then I started looking 73 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: up the research as well, and then not only seeing 74 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: Derek was doing, but reading about the benefits I kind 75 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: of jumped on and it kind of I was getting 76 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: frustrated because Derek wanted to eat a certain kind of way, 77 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 1: and then you know, I'm making another meal for the 78 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: kids and I and I kind of got to this 79 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: point where I'm like, I don't even know how to 80 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 1: cook for my husband anymore. It's much easier for me 81 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: to jump on his wagon than for me to try 82 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 1: to recreate all these different short order cooks. Like I'm 83 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,119 Speaker 1: not a rust I'm not a restaurant. I'm not gonna 84 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 1: do a meal for the kids and meal for me 85 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: and a meal for my husband. It was just taking 86 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: way too much of like my mental capacity. So I said, 87 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: I'm gonna jump in. When I did it, the first week, 88 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 1: I've wanted to hold onto my cheese so bad. I 89 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: love cheese, and I just I didn't want to let 90 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: it go. But the second I let those things go, 91 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: it was by maybe week three. It took me a 92 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 1: couple of weeks to let go of the cheese. Um. 93 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 1: By week three, I did a whole week without anything. 94 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:09,279 Speaker 1: And I remember that feeling because I was like I 95 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 1: had very low energy, like I was just not myself. 96 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: And I just remember that first week of being completely vegan, saying, Wow, 97 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:24,480 Speaker 1: this is how God designed my body to feel. Wow. 98 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: Charity the and I'm hearing you, Derek, it sounds like 99 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: you guys experience almost like instantaneous differences. Can you can 100 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: you guys share that? I mean, that was pretty all 101 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 1: of a sudden, Charity. You're saying, uh, Derek is looking chiseled. 102 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 1: There's a little envy, little little competition. I'm adding these 103 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,559 Speaker 1: words that mean not that case, right, But it looks 104 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 1: like you guys waiting to see exponential differences in a 105 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: short period of time. Yeah, yeah, I would. I would 106 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: definitely agree. When I first switched off like like dairy, 107 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: I noticed that the amount of mucus and my body, 108 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: you know, I was like coughing up stuff and it 109 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 1: was that's what I mean. But like when I started 110 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 1: cutting dairy out, I noticed that went away like almost 111 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 1: within like a week. And at the same time I 112 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 1: was having I was having really good sleep, you know, 113 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: it was more so like so so very rested when 114 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 1: I woke up, and then my energy levels were naturally 115 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,359 Speaker 1: at a really good level. I didn't have to caffe 116 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 1: eate or just kind of like you know, chuck some 117 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: coffee real quick. I noticed the difference immediately, and so 118 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: my energy, my sleep and really just like I felt 119 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 1: like I was in homeostasis, just kind of felt like 120 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: I was in balance, you know, just when you know 121 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: when you when you eat, you know, you you always 122 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: get that lethargic type feeling if you eat a pretty 123 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: big meal, you might want to lay down. Some people 124 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 1: call it the isis. You know, I wasn't getting those 125 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 1: things I was. I was. I was eating, and I 126 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: felt like my body like I was feeling my body 127 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 1: with the right with the right fuel, and it was 128 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: more um, I felt like I had more energy to 129 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: do other things. You know, when your body, when you 130 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: eat a big thing like that, it takes a lot 131 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,559 Speaker 1: of energy out of your body to break those things down. 132 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: But if you're eating you know clean you know um, 133 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 1: you know, whole food, plant based type foods, your body 134 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: doesn't have to use as much energy to break those 135 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: things down, So then you have more energy to allocate 136 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: two other systems in your body. So I just I felt, 137 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: I felt immediately the differences. The other thing I noticed 138 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,679 Speaker 1: being an NFL athlete. You are intentional about it, Derek, 139 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: but you also appear that you gave charity and the 140 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: kids the option to join you. So and going through that, 141 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: you guys to other and volent charity, you come around 142 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: to it. If there are other athletes, are all the 143 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: people that want to follow your example, who are married, 144 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: who do have UH partners? How would you guys communicate 145 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: or recommend whoever starts at first? Should they have a 146 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,119 Speaker 1: family meeting and come up with some type of plan 147 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: or the way it was organically done? You're just doing 148 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: it there because this USUS was good for you, and 149 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: then charity you been you seeing a result. You now 150 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 1: came alone. So what would you guys suggest to others 151 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 1: who may want to do the same thing that you're doing. 152 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: I would definitely recommend planning. We don't talk much about this, 153 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: but Derek and I tried to do like a vegan 154 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: eary back in and it lasted for like literally a week, 155 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:58,560 Speaker 1: and I'm talking about like five days week. Um, because 156 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:03,199 Speaker 1: we there were things that we didn't do that we 157 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: did this time around, and it was like we were 158 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:10,079 Speaker 1: doing it simultaneously and we didn't realize we were both 159 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 1: doing it. But I realized it's the keys to success 160 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: educating yourself. You gotta know your why. If you don't 161 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 1: know your why, then you're gonna just think that you're 162 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 1: just following a trend and you're doing it because someone 163 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 1: else said it was cool. If you understand your why, 164 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: Like you know what I'm I'm tired of feeling unhealthy. 165 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: I I want to feel my best me. What is 166 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: the best version of me? Then you and everyone's why 167 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: is so different. There's people that do it for animals, 168 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,199 Speaker 1: there's animals, there's people that do it for the environment. 169 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 1: But in the NFL world, UM, I took all that 170 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: out because I had to make it about you because 171 00:09:55,440 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 1: we're dealing with a younger group of men that you know, 172 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:03,319 Speaker 1: come into money. I can't lie to you. A lot 173 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 1: of those guys can care less about animals or the environment, 174 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: you know, just because of maturity and things that you 175 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 1: just don't know. You don't know what you don't know. 176 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 1: But when you take it and put it about yourself, 177 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: then somebody can go, hey, that makes sense. So I 178 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: would always encourage people to know their why and then 179 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: make a game plan. And I love including wives. I 180 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 1: love talking to wives and telling them the benefits because 181 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 1: you know, if you're an NFL player, you're not going 182 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 1: to the grocery store. You're not buying these things. That's 183 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: your wife. So you have to get both on board 184 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: or you know, the wife could feel like, uh, this 185 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: is just another trend. This is just another thing that 186 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: he's going through, and I can't lie to you. I 187 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: thought it was another thing Derek was going through, you know, 188 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: as an as an athlete, you guys could be very 189 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: neurotic about certain and things that I don't I can't 190 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: even comprehend, you know. So I was like, oh, this 191 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: is just a little fluke he's going through. So it's 192 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: it's really nice to talk about it and go through 193 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:21,319 Speaker 1: the importance, and that conversation with your significant other will 194 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: let them know that, hey, this is something serious that 195 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 1: I want to go through. And you never know, when 196 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 1: once couples get together, it's weird. They'll go, oh my god, 197 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: I've been thinking the same thing. And then you guys 198 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: could build a plan together. Initially, you know, why was this, Uh, 199 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 1: this is fine that you who want to receive profound Yeah, 200 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: that was the the initial motivation, right, But then when 201 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: I realted to Charity's point, when you start doing the 202 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 1: research on it, and then you realize when you look 203 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: at what you're putting in your body. Charity has a 204 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: quote where she always talks about eating is your oldest 205 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 1: habit and when you go through life and you're, you know, 206 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: habitually eating the things that you grew up eating, whether 207 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: whether it's through your family or to tradition or what 208 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: have you, you're kind of subconsciously doing these things. And 209 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 1: when you have an awareness and start to develop an 210 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 1: awareness of what you're putting in your body, you can 211 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 1: start to realize how that makes you feel. So, yeah, 212 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 1: I just ate some pork chops, But how do I 213 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,679 Speaker 1: feel after that? You know, what I mean, there's a 214 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: direct This is a direct relationship to what you're putting 215 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 1: in your body and how it makes you feel. And 216 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: sometimes you may not even feel something, but when you 217 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 1: do a deeper dive and you look at your blood 218 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 1: panels per se and you check your blood pressure, you 219 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: may look healthy, but on the inside you may be dysfunctional. 220 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 1: So I tell the story of after being on the 221 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 1: diet for six months, I got my blood tested and 222 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 1: when I went into uh, you know, day one versus 223 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 1: six months, all of my my blood panels were spot on. 224 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,959 Speaker 1: And so for me, I I struggled with hereditary high 225 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: blood pressure. I had some some like some liver enzymes 226 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 1: that were showing up, and like my inflammation markers were 227 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: pretty high. And then like six months being on this diet, 228 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: all those markers were on perfect levels. And so for me, 229 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 1: that was the confirmation because at that point it wasn't 230 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: a placebo effect, it wasn't something that like I was 231 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: just imagining that I was feeling good. It actually was 232 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: affecting my body on a deeper level. And so that's 233 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 1: when I became a true believer. That's where I kind 234 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:43,200 Speaker 1: of changed my relationship with food to some extent, and 235 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:44,680 Speaker 1: there a couple of things. What are some of the 236 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: misconceptions that people have about eating a vegan. Well, one 237 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 1: is that you're gonna always be hungry, or it's not 238 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: good or the two biggest ones is you're gonna eat 239 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: like a rabbit and that there's no protein. I mean, 240 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 1: like Derek said, our meals look far from a rabbit. 241 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 1: It almost looks like people have to blink twice and say, 242 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:15,559 Speaker 1: so that's vegan. Did I really just eat vegan? I'm like, yeah, 243 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 1: it's the two things that you got to incorporate in 244 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 1: that flavor. You can't. You can't take something away from anyone. 245 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: And like Derek said about that quote that I talked about, 246 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: most of our habits is not our habits, it's our 247 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 1: parents habits. Like why do I like cilantro and rice 248 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 1: with everything? Uh, that's because my mom likes that and 249 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: I grew up like that. So you can't take anything 250 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 1: away from someone. You have to make them feel like 251 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: they're eating the same things that they love. So what 252 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: I'd like to do is ask people what's your five 253 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: top favorite recipes that you make your wife makes them, 254 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: and recreate those. It's about recreating those those memories that 255 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 1: you have to a chicken popeye or fried chicken and 256 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: gravy or whatever it is that goes along with you 257 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: know the how to do it. That's a big misconception. 258 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: And then you know the protein aspect of it. People 259 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 1: don't realize there's protein and everything. You know. The funniest 260 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: quote that vegans say, and it's so true and it 261 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: used to be annoying to me before I was vegan, 262 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: but now I totally get it. I get my protein 263 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: from the same place that your protein gets. Your protein 264 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 1: got you, which is common sense if you think about it, right, 265 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: right right? How about that but cherry, I won't get 266 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 1: you a little pushback? Now you you are a chef, 267 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 1: like you can take a dish vegan plant base and 268 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 1: you can make it amazing. What about some of wives 269 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 1: are evil guys who want to cook themselves. How do 270 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: you how do you help them? How do you encourage them? 271 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: Because they don't have the skills like you. I meet 272 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: people where they are. So if you're a takeout queen, 273 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: or if you're a milk delivery person, or you do 274 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 1: scratch the surface of cooking, I meet them where they are. Like, 275 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 1: like I said, like if maybe it's a guy that 276 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: he cooks once a week for his wife and it's 277 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: every Taco Tuesday. I'm only gonna change one thing for you, 278 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: and that's your ingredients. I'm not changing what you eat. 279 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 1: I'm just changing your ingredients. So, hey, you do Taco 280 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: Tuesday with ground turkey, Hey, let's do it this week 281 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 1: with um like ancho chili, roasted cauliflower and or some 282 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 1: you know, black beans. We we're gonna still do everything 283 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:52,560 Speaker 1: you're gonna have yourself, because guess what, all the topics 284 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 1: you put on a taco is vegan. I mean, I 285 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: think we overlook it. When people hear the word vegan. 286 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 1: You're thinking about all the things you're not gonna have 287 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:06,879 Speaker 1: opposed to the things that you eat on a daily 288 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: that's already vegan. You don't think like that, and most 289 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 1: people don't think like that. Or their seasoning their food 290 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 1: every day with vegan products like seasoning, whether it's creole 291 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:24,120 Speaker 1: or jerk seasoning, it's all vegan. So it's taken that 292 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:27,680 Speaker 1: like that mystery out of it and connecting people with 293 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 1: food because I realized most people are not connected with food. 294 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:35,679 Speaker 1: If you ask your modern day children, where does your 295 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 1: food come from. They have no idea, they think think 296 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:42,160 Speaker 1: it comes from the grocery store. And just connecting people 297 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: with food and understanding and that your food comes from 298 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: a garden and this this is where your meat comes from, 299 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: and just understanding what's on your plate and how it 300 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: got there. And Derek, let's do any of your coaches 301 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:59,399 Speaker 1: trainers give you any push back once you've talked about 302 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: becoming a vegan. Well, um, let's see, when I first started, 303 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:07,880 Speaker 1: it was just me in my corner in the cafeteria 304 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 1: eating my vegan meals. So nobody was tripping on the 305 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:13,159 Speaker 1: more eaton vegan. It was like, all right, you know 306 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 1: this guy, he's always up to something, He's always trying 307 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: something new. You know who We've got eating steaks at 308 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:21,959 Speaker 1: no time. And so so your teammates, So Darry, your 309 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 1: teammates start just with charity thought, this is a little fat, right, correct, 310 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:31,440 Speaker 1: dar fat in the face. So when I'm like week 311 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: two weeks in and I'm still over to eating my meals, 312 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 1: you know, guys started poking their head around like, yo, 313 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:40,480 Speaker 1: what's what do you mean? Who who's cooking that? I'm 314 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 1: like my wife And so at the time we used 315 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 1: to host a lot of stuff out our homes, like 316 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: barbecues and cookouts. So people knew the type of caliber 317 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 1: cooking that I was getting at home, you know, this 318 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:54,919 Speaker 1: regular food. And so when they say, well, wait, Charity 319 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 1: is cooking that, okay, you think let me let me 320 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 1: try a little bit of that. And so I would, 321 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: you know, I would divvy up my my meals and 322 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 1: let people try some of my burgers and they're like, yo, 323 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:07,720 Speaker 1: there ain't no way this vegan. And so once they 324 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:11,159 Speaker 1: tasted it, they became believers. And so you know, it 325 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 1: started multiplying one three five By time and season started, 326 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 1: we had about fifteen guys on the meal plane. And 327 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 1: then that's when the coaches and the trainers started to 328 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:25,639 Speaker 1: get frenzied. It was it was hilarious. We I'm not 329 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: the name the guy, but we had a we had 330 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: a game versus um the Raiders, and um that's what 331 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 1: Marcia John Lynch was that. You know, he was tolding 332 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 1: the rock and like he like like ran through somebody. 333 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:43,359 Speaker 1: And the next day the guy was on the diet 334 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 1: and the next day my weight coach was walking around 335 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:50,640 Speaker 1: the facility with packets of research and why vegan diets 336 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: make you, you know, weak and why they don't work 337 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 1: for you and blah blah blah. So it was a 338 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:58,879 Speaker 1: whole hysteria around. Oh my guys. You know this guy 339 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,440 Speaker 1: he never he's never done this before, and it's directly 340 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: contributed to the vegan diet. And everywhere I went, you know, something, 341 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 1: I would see somebody one of my teammates, they like, hey, man, 342 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 1: watch out for coach blah blah blah, like he's going 343 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 1: terror today because of this whole vegan thing. But then 344 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: the next week we won, and as you know in 345 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 1: the NFL, winning cures all, and it kind of like 346 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 1: started the fade to the background. Okay, we've got these 347 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 1: guys are performing at a high level still, you know, 348 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:25,640 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, like they're only doing 349 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: you know, two meals one meal something. Guys are doing 350 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 1: two meals today, but like it's not affecting them in 351 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 1: a negative way. And so after we started winning more 352 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 1: and you know, guys are performing still at a high level, 353 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 1: all that flag started to fade away. That's what I 354 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: wanted to ask you. When your teammates start coming around 355 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 1: seeing you in the cafeteria eat your vegan diet, where 356 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 1: they also seeing you on film practice film would look 357 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:57,119 Speaker 1: like more energy, quicker, where he's starting to see some things, 358 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:00,879 Speaker 1: because I know that also gets guys attention. Yeah, I 359 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,880 Speaker 1: mean I think it was more so like the sustaining, right, Like, 360 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: you know, I was coming off one of my best 361 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: my best years in sixteen going into sevent team, and 362 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:13,160 Speaker 1: so for me, you know, as you know, to like 363 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,399 Speaker 1: with the NFL is like can you be consistent? Right? Like, 364 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:19,280 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that this was like a uh, you know, 365 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 1: a performance enhancer, and like it just kind of like 366 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 1: took my game to a whole new level. I'm not 367 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: saying that, but what it did allow me to do 368 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,600 Speaker 1: was to be consistent in my performance. You know, I 369 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 1: led the team in sacks that year. I still was 370 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: playing at a high level. You know, I felt good. 371 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:37,359 Speaker 1: I was still you know, when I was I was 372 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:39,400 Speaker 1: a power rusher, So I was like always bull rush, 373 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: very physical type rusher, and so I was able to 374 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 1: still do that. That was a big part of my game. 375 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 1: When when there wasn't a like any drop off and 376 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:50,360 Speaker 1: I was still able to maintain, I think that's when 377 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:53,200 Speaker 1: guy's okay, well, if he's still left you know, being 378 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,919 Speaker 1: the trenches and you know, moving around and and and 379 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: take on double team all those things. Okay, like he's 380 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:01,679 Speaker 1: still alive the thing, you know what I mean. So 381 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,879 Speaker 1: as we get into a total wellderness, we know that 382 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: diet plays a part, but what do you determine to 383 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:12,719 Speaker 1: be the central elements of total wellness for the individual 384 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 1: and for the Filmily start with what's the importance of 385 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 1: a balanced life and sharity? You can start there. Balances everything. 386 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 1: I mean, we're still trying to balance with balance. It's 387 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: like you're it's a never ending job trying to balance everything. 388 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,679 Speaker 1: And for us, it starts to round food because food 389 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:41,160 Speaker 1: happens so much throughout the day, and for your children. 390 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 1: I mean, most kids are just so filled up with sugar. 391 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 1: And I'm not even talking about like, hey, I'm giving 392 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 1: you a doughnut for breakfast. I'm talking about the hidden 393 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:56,920 Speaker 1: sugars in our diet, whether it's a pack of oatmeal 394 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 1: or the high fruit toast corn syrup. It's for us. 395 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 1: It was really huge to have everyone involved because when 396 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 1: I started doing all my research, I realized it was 397 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:11,080 Speaker 1: good enough for a child as well. And debunking a 398 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:13,919 Speaker 1: lot of these myths that you know, children need this 399 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:17,280 Speaker 1: and children need that. So I feel like for a family, 400 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:21,199 Speaker 1: the biggest balance is doing it as a as a 401 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: whole and understanding that it's okay if you fall off. 402 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 1: It's okay. If you know you've eaten plant based for 403 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: seven days and then on the eighth day you fall off, 404 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,159 Speaker 1: it's okay, Like get back up and you try it again. 405 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 1: I don't beat people up for mistakes. I mean, that's 406 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 1: what's wrong with the whole vegan community. It's like beating 407 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 1: people up for their choices. We don't do that here. 408 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:48,879 Speaker 1: We we let people come as they are, and we 409 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 1: just guide you and let you know, like we've even 410 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 1: fallen off the wagon accidentally sometimes and and sometimes intentionally, 411 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,440 Speaker 1: and just understand that it's okay. That's that balance that 412 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:04,719 Speaker 1: you have to have. So, Derek been a legend. One 413 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:08,359 Speaker 1: has been a very tough year, as you know, COVID base, 414 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:13,680 Speaker 1: also social unrest, challenging things that were happening. Your one 415 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:17,400 Speaker 1: year removed and now you're officially a legend. I guess 416 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:22,159 Speaker 1: the first question when it comes down to wellness mental health, 417 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:26,119 Speaker 1: how have you transition? What is it? What has that 418 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:30,639 Speaker 1: been like for your charity It's funny because the latter 419 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 1: part of my career was I was always thinking about 420 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:37,560 Speaker 1: the transition because I didn't want to be somebody who 421 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:43,119 Speaker 1: would lose themselves, who would struggle indefinitely with like this 422 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,960 Speaker 1: next phase in this text, this next chapter. Even after 423 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:49,159 Speaker 1: all the seeds that I planned, while I was playing 424 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:51,919 Speaker 1: in the relationships and networking, all those business things that 425 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 1: I've done, it still was a transition. There still was 426 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:59,679 Speaker 1: a challenging part of Okay, I've done this for twenty 427 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: plus years of my life. Now I you know, I 428 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 1: had to reinvent myself and I have to really do 429 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 1: something else and find a way to channel all this 430 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 1: energy I have into something new. And so I think 431 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 1: that for me that was the hardest part of Yeah, 432 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: I had some options of things that I could do, 433 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 1: but what what was gonna be my day to day? 434 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 1: You know, this is what wakes me up. This is 435 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 1: what my purpose, This is what God's purpose is for 436 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:28,600 Speaker 1: my life. For me. Once I started to get a 437 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: clear sense of what that was in my life, it 438 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 1: started to motivate me and energize me to say, Okay, look, 439 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:37,920 Speaker 1: I still have a purpose that that may be even 440 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: bigger than this game, that's outside of this game. It was. 441 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 1: It was more so like okay, getting my life right 442 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: with God, understanding what my purpose was, you know, looking 443 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:51,680 Speaker 1: at my my mental state and my awareness of like okay, 444 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:53,720 Speaker 1: like what's my identity? You know what I mean? What 445 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 1: gives me value? Was was the game the only thing 446 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,160 Speaker 1: that gave me value? Or do I have value outside 447 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 1: of the game? And was you know, we're always told 448 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:05,320 Speaker 1: our performance was what was was was our value and 449 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: who we are and what we do, And everybody around you, 450 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 1: the crowds chanting your name and your fans, everybody's saying 451 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 1: your value is what you do. And so it's a 452 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:17,879 Speaker 1: hard disconnect and detachment that has to happen if you 453 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:20,840 Speaker 1: put your value in your performance and who you were 454 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,879 Speaker 1: as a player. So I think that that's always a 455 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 1: challenging thing for me. It's it's all around, like I said, 456 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:31,359 Speaker 1: my relationship with God. Um, I meditate daily, which gives 457 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 1: you a whole another layer of awareness of certain narratives 458 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: that may be going on in your mind. And then yeah, 459 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 1: just it's it's all about order for me. Like so 460 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 1: I'm still like regimented, I'm still waking up at five 461 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 1: thirty I'm getting my workouts in, you know, I'm in 462 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 1: my word and reading, so I have a routine, right, 463 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: and then you know, I thank God willing, you know, 464 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: thank thank God. I have like things that I'm doing 465 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:56,200 Speaker 1: in the business world and real estate investing and things 466 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 1: like that, so it allows me to like apply myself. 467 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 1: And so I think, you know, we're all, you know, 468 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:06,239 Speaker 1: professional athletes for for a lot of intangible reasons. And 469 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 1: those things can be you know, persistence, perseverance, you know, 470 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 1: the diligence, discipline, you know, focus, and these are all 471 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:17,919 Speaker 1: attributes that take us to this level, but that that 472 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 1: could be also attributed to other careers and um, you 473 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 1: know purposes. So that's that's that that was the challenging part. 474 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: But you know, I'm continuing the walk in faith every 475 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:31,359 Speaker 1: single day. Derek. Have you taken advantage of any of 476 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 1: the league programs when you were thinking a lot of 477 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: years about transitioning? Yeah, what are some of those programs? 478 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,160 Speaker 1: I would say the biggest one I did, The biggest 479 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:43,240 Speaker 1: impact I think for me was going back to get 480 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 1: my m b a. And this was a program at 481 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:48,639 Speaker 1: the University of Miami and the League was you know, 482 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,919 Speaker 1: they were giving you reimbursements for that program, and it 483 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:55,240 Speaker 1: was an eighteen month program that was tailored around the 484 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:59,119 Speaker 1: the the NFL season. Um that that was really a 485 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:01,919 Speaker 1: big impact for me and help me a lot, you know, 486 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:04,919 Speaker 1: in terms of making relationships and in my network. And 487 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:07,679 Speaker 1: then you know, there's always the internships, the externships that 488 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 1: are always super helpful. And I think there was a 489 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:12,879 Speaker 1: couple of financial workshops that I was a part of. 490 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 1: But like, yeah, I mean, you know, the League has 491 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,680 Speaker 1: a lot of resources, the Union, the PA got a 492 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:20,560 Speaker 1: lot of resources that I think those those are available 493 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:22,719 Speaker 1: to us. We just gotta be able to tap in 494 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:27,639 Speaker 1: and take advantage of them. And charity. You you what 495 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 1: I'm I'm I'm I'm putting out there. Maybe you've already 496 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,679 Speaker 1: been referred to as a world renowned chef right in 497 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:38,760 Speaker 1: the midst of the social injustice now transitioning, uh, Derek 498 00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 1: transition from the league. How important is it for legends 499 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 1: in their wives to be on the same page. And 500 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 1: I also speak to some wisdom that you have as 501 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:57,640 Speaker 1: as Derek is walking through this transition. Tell me what 502 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 1: it's been like from your viewpoint. It has to it 503 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 1: starts with what your identity in the NFL. It starts 504 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:10,040 Speaker 1: with that um and knowing what your identity is while 505 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: they are still playing. If your identity is that shield, 506 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 1: when that shield has taken away, most people go through 507 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:23,680 Speaker 1: depressive states and all these different emotions because they were 508 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 1: so connected by it. For me, it was absolute freedom. 509 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 1: I was just so excited that my life no longer 510 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:39,320 Speaker 1: evolved around the NFL schedule. And you know my husband, 511 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 1: you know Derek, You know, Derek's no different than any 512 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 1: other athlete. When you're in the game, your mind is 513 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 1: solely in the game. And I feel like when he retired, 514 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:59,880 Speaker 1: I got a husband. So um, it's it's important that 515 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 1: the wives too, Just like Derek was speaking about about, 516 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 1: you know, having to find his purpose and connect with 517 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:14,960 Speaker 1: God and ask if you know for these purposes outside 518 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 1: of the field. And you know that doesn't mean that 519 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:22,959 Speaker 1: his his missions, you know, complete, because you know he 520 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:28,120 Speaker 1: hangs up as cleats. God is always using us throughout 521 00:30:28,240 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: our entire lives, not just a certain part of our lives. 522 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:38,840 Speaker 1: And that includes you know, injustices and being together with 523 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:42,800 Speaker 1: every aspect because you know your wife can't be saying 524 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:45,760 Speaker 1: you know how it breaks my heart because of injustices 525 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:48,560 Speaker 1: and this is how I feel. And the husband can't 526 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:51,040 Speaker 1: be like, oh, I I can care less about that. 527 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:53,400 Speaker 1: You have to be on the same page or what 528 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 1: it's gonna do is it's gonna eventually cause a lot 529 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:58,440 Speaker 1: of you know, tension in your home if you guys 530 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:01,560 Speaker 1: aren't on the same page. And that's kind of without 531 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:04,560 Speaker 1: even the plant based thing. It was annoying watching Derek 532 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 1: order these nasty meals and I'm like, why are you 533 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 1: ordering that? You have to be on the same page 534 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:13,400 Speaker 1: or you're just not gonna You're not gonna go nowhere. 535 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 1: And Derek, here's a question I've never asked, but I'm 536 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:20,960 Speaker 1: gonna ask you. And it's a it's a it's comical. Okay, 537 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:25,360 Speaker 1: So your wife, you're choosing your you're choosing players for 538 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:37,240 Speaker 1: your football team. What position would you draft Cherry to play? Quarterback? Quarterback? Look, 539 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:40,720 Speaker 1: I'm just blocking for her, you like, I'm on the 540 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:44,360 Speaker 1: front line, clearing the way. But when you know, when 541 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,600 Speaker 1: I have a tough decision to be made, you know, 542 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:49,120 Speaker 1: I was already asked yourself about the houses, you know 543 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:53,560 Speaker 1: this morning, But like, yeah, quarterback, she she she's navigating 544 00:31:53,600 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 1: everything all right, Well, would you sign her to like 545 00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:06,640 Speaker 1: a Dack franchise. Take are contract all the way? Contract 546 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:13,320 Speaker 1: that man also some amazing assens man. I love it. 547 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:15,640 Speaker 1: But but Charity the other thing, how did you end 548 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:18,960 Speaker 1: up in this documentary The Game Changers? And I'm hearing 549 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:21,600 Speaker 1: like you stole this show? How did you end up 550 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 1: in this movie? It's so crazy. Just timing God's timing 551 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:32,200 Speaker 1: for everything is insane. It was an article that popped 552 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:36,040 Speaker 1: up on my feed that talked about James Cameron funded 553 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:42,360 Speaker 1: a documentary um that was revolved around elite athletes eating 554 00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:47,400 Speaker 1: a plant based diet. And I'm like, this is this real? 555 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:51,840 Speaker 1: Like this can't be real, and it just it came up. 556 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:57,440 Speaker 1: I ignored it and another feed popped up on my Instagram. 557 00:32:57,520 --> 00:33:01,000 Speaker 1: It was like a veg news and it talked about 558 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:05,320 Speaker 1: it again. They already started their Instagram and I said, hey, 559 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:10,480 Speaker 1: are you guys seriously doing a documentary on plant based athletes? 560 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 1: And it was just like a really quick question I 561 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:18,440 Speaker 1: asked them. The reply was, we have been trying to 562 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:20,200 Speaker 1: figure out how we can get in touch with you, 563 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:23,480 Speaker 1: and they were willing to stop everything. We're like, They're like, 564 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:26,320 Speaker 1: we're gonna stop production because the movie was actually done 565 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:31,400 Speaker 1: for we came into the picture and they're like, we're 566 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:34,640 Speaker 1: gonna stop production because we don't feel like it's complete 567 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:37,960 Speaker 1: without you guys a story. Is that true that your 568 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 1: your husband's vegan and you guys are feeding uh NFL 569 00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 1: players plant based meals. I'm like yes, and so um 570 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:49,120 Speaker 1: we worked it out on the schedule. They came and 571 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:51,440 Speaker 1: they filmed us, and it was just me being honest 572 00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:54,719 Speaker 1: and me being me and I guess, um, you know, 573 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:58,080 Speaker 1: the percentage of elite athletes in the world are less 574 00:33:58,120 --> 00:34:03,200 Speaker 1: than you know, just normal people like me, and people 575 00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:07,040 Speaker 1: could relate to my story because, hey, I think my 576 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:12,080 Speaker 1: husband's you know, he's such a discipline individual where he 577 00:34:12,120 --> 00:34:15,920 Speaker 1: can If I told Derek when he was playing, he 578 00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:18,000 Speaker 1: could get to the super Bowl if he ate the 579 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:20,799 Speaker 1: same thing for the next year, most NFL players would 580 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:23,759 Speaker 1: be like, sure, sign me up. But for me, I'm like, 581 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:25,440 Speaker 1: I don't want to eat the same thing every day, 582 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:29,160 Speaker 1: you know, And so relating to people and how they eat, 583 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:32,880 Speaker 1: I think it was really important and people got to 584 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:35,920 Speaker 1: see that, hey, this isn't only about NFL players, and 585 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:40,279 Speaker 1: it's not only about athletes. There's some surrealness into it, 586 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:43,600 Speaker 1: and I feel like I've provided that and that's why 587 00:34:43,680 --> 00:34:47,360 Speaker 1: people can relate to me. What Derek and Charity, this 588 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:51,480 Speaker 1: has been amazing. Keep up the great work, continue to 589 00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:56,040 Speaker 1: get the word out, continue to perfect all those great 590 00:34:56,120 --> 00:35:00,880 Speaker 1: dishes that will encourage many others like myself to consider 591 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 1: an actually implemented in our lives to vegan diet our 592 00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:08,160 Speaker 1: plant base. So thank you, thanks for joining us and 593 00:35:08,239 --> 00:35:11,279 Speaker 1: the bestage yet to come. Thanks for having me. Thank you. 594 00:35:15,640 --> 00:35:19,640 Speaker 1: This has been the NFL Legends podcast. To provide feedback 595 00:35:19,719 --> 00:35:22,960 Speaker 1: or request a topic for discussion, email us at NFL 596 00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:25,279 Speaker 1: Legends at NFL dot com, m