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Podcast • April 30, 2021

EP 16 - NFL Icon Ray Lewis on Inspiring Greatness & Turning Pain Into Joy

In this episode

We’ve got a special edition of Next with Novo with one of the greats of our time (and the NFL), Baltimore Ravens defensive linebacker & University of Miami Hurricanes icon, plus Florida state champ wrestler Ray Lewis. Ray is simply one of the most motivating and inspirational speakers and humans I have ever met, as well as a guy with a big heart. During our chat, Ray takes us through his tough upbringing in Florida, the absence of his father, and how he discovered his natural talent for wrestling before ending up in football. Ray caught a lucky break early in his football career and got the last available scholarship at University of Miami, where he'd become one of the most iconic players in the school’s history. After his legendary career with the Baltimore Ravens, where he won two Super Bowls, Ray retired from the NFL, but as he put it in the podcast, "not from life." Since leaving the game, Ray has found success in business, motivational speaking, and done some amazing philanthropy with the Ray Lewis 52 foundation. He also recently started a philanthropic, solar-focused organization, Power 52, where he's creating opportunities for at-risk youth. We talked about Ray's work in criminal justice, how to inspire leadership and navigate life’s detours & challenges, finding purpose after the pain and loss of COVID, and what he's learned during his incredible journey through life and sports.

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Next with Novo is the go-to resource for what's new and what's next. In this series, Mike Novogratz, influential investor, Wall Street Veteran, and CEO at Galaxy Digital, invites viewers to learn with him from the brightest minds behind disruptive businesses, prolific social movements, and technologies powering permissionless innovation.

This podcast was recorded on April 5, 2021.

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