Club 520 Podcast: Ryan Clark on The Pivot, NFL Journey, Stephen A. Smith, "Podcast Olympics"

Date: December 29, 2025
Host: DJ Wells (with Jeff Teague & Bishop B Henn/Fred)
Guest: Ryan Clark

Episode Overview

This episode of Club 520 welcomes Ryan Clark—Super Bowl champion, ESPN analyst, and co-host of The Pivot Podcast—for a wide-ranging, hilarious, and heartfelt conversation. The group discusses everything from growing up and choosing college, to hard-earned lessons from pro sports, the evolution of college athletics, race and community, media authenticity, and dream podcast collaborations. Along the way: friendly jabs, deep insights, and memorable stories about athletes and hip hop legends.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter, Old School Phones & Nostalgia (04:15–06:00)

• The crew (post sponsors) jokes about old cell phones—Ryan Clark as the original “Nokia Snake” king (“I had pagers. All that. I had the clear joint though, so that meant I was cooler than most people.” — Ryan Clark, 04:42).
• Club 520 camaraderie sets the laid-back, joke-filled tone that runs throughout.

2. Podcast Olympics Trash Talk & Sports Crossover (07:04–12:12)

• The crew pokes fun at potential Podcast Olympics, especially rooting matchups against other podcast hosts.
• Ryan says he’s not a bowler (shoulder issues post-NFL), but won’t get pushed around on the court.
• “You have an actual pro on the team. That makes… [it tough].” — Ryan Clark, 12:09
• They dream up cross-podcast sports matchups (Gillian Wallow, Jeff Teague, spades and tonk, etc.)

3. Creating Impactful Content in a Saturated Media Space (13:10–14:07)

• Ryan congratulates Club 520 for being genuinely entertaining in a crowded podcast landscape:
  • “The ability to create genuine interest in what you have to say is difficult… The space is extremely saturated. Everyone believes they have something to say. But that’s not true… The fact that y’all could be entertaining, engaging, impactful just speaking to one another—it is really amazing.” — Ryan Clark, 13:19

4. Ryan Clark’s High School/College Days & The LSU Story (14:07–18:00)

• Ryan shares humble beginnings from Louisiana, early basketball ambitions (“Second MVP...but I airballed a free throw in the state championship”—14:13), and why he chose football.
• He was recruited with a VHS tape (!) and initially wanted to attend Tennessee, but his mother’s dream led him to LSU.
• Memorable Moment: The dream of standing on LSU’s sideline as fans stormed the field—later came true exactly as seen.
  • “My first year at LSU, we played Florida...We beat him 28-21 and everybody rushed the field. It was the exact same scene that I had my dream.” — Ryan Clark, 17:33

5. Legends in Louisiana High School Sports (18:25–20:45)

• Ryan highlights Randy Livingston, Hollis Price, and Kerry Kittles as local basketball legends.
• Tells the story of how Nick Saban identified talent (like “Swagu” Marcus Spears and Corey Webster) and motivated them to switch positions for NFL success.

6. LSU’s Coaching Carousel & Culture Fit (22:08–24:44)

• Ryan’s inside perspective on Lane Kiffin becoming LSU coach, texting group chats with different former players.
• Sharp critique of Brian Kelly’s lack of passion for LSU:
  • “Brian Kelly wasn’t excited to coach there. He was acting like a bad chick that got with the smart dude...He felt like he was doing us a favor by coaching there.” — Ryan Clark, 23:43

7. Modern College Football: Transfers, NIL, and Loss of "Home" (33:54–41:54)

• Candid, critical look at NIL and transfer portal chaos.
• Kids switching schools leave them “homeless” in the alumni world, lacking roots or backup plans.
• “These kids have no home to go to after this though. So you’re getting all this money, you burning bridges everywhere you go. And if you might need a lifeboat, you don’t even have no one who can rock with you… Everything is transactional.” — Fred & Ryan Clark, 38:24
• Ryan emphasizes the unique pride in being a four-year LSU alum.

8. Adapting to Life After Football – Locker Room to Real World (43:50–52:27)

• Ryan reflects on “turning the switch off” after pro football, struggling with being too direct or combative outside of sports, especially in transition to media.
• “Our level of directness is not something that works in the real world… I had to figure out how to express my feelings in a way where people don’t feel like it’s aggressive.” — Ryan Clark, 50:21

9. The Pivot & Podcasting with Purpose (60:24–64:33)

• Behind-the-scenes on compiling emotional, vulnerable interviews on The Pivot.
  • “RC is the black barber wall. He is gonna get to the root of it.” — Fred, 60:35
• On the difference between surface podcasts and the real talk of The Pivot:
  • “We get a lot of people when stuff is dark… when there is trauma, that come on our show to talk about it and to get it out.” — Ryan Clark, 63:27

10. Camaraderie in Black Media & Dream Podcast Roundtable (65:02–66:56)

• Idea for a “supercast” roundtable: Club 520, The Pivot, Million Dollaz Worth of Game, and Unc Shannon’s show, not as rivals but as black men breaking bread together.
• “I think it could be life changing in the sense for people who love our shows… to see all of us as black men, able to sit down, break bread… not a competition, where it’s all love.” — Ryan Clark, 66:02

11. Music Debate: No Limit vs. Cash Money (71:10–73:26)

• The crew compares the legacy of Cash Money and No Limit Records.
• Ryan: “Without No Limit, there is no Cash Money… But when Juvie released 400 Degrees, it took New Orleans rap to a different level… you need them both.” — 73:15

12. NFL Memories, Perseverance, and Faith (75:10–79:05)

• Ryan tells the story of nearly quitting football, how faith and perseverance got him from washing out to starter and champion.
• “That was the turning point… If I don’t get that call, if I don’t make that team, I don’t become a Super Bowl champion. I’m not in this point, at least in this way of my life.” — Ryan Clark, 78:47

13. Shout-outs & Closing Vibes

• Closing warmth from all, shout-outs to sponsors and one another.
• “Divine intervention, man. With a story like that, can’t say nothing else. True journey, man, for sure.” — Fred, 78:49

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “The ceiling is the roof.” (Multiple callbacks, Michael Jordan’s classic quote, 05:33)
• On learning your limits in sports:
  “People who talk bad about dudes who don’t get in the game in the NBA, go play them.” — Ryan Clark, 15:28
• On authenticity in the podcast space:
  “To be entertaining, engaging, impactful just speaking to one another… that is really amazing.” — Ryan Clark, 13:19
• On college football roots:
  “College used to be: I got so much pride in LSU because that’s the only place I chose.” — Ryan Clark, 39:59
• On the difference between locker room and media world:
  “In the athlete's mind, I'm like, well, they aren't my friends. Yeah, I'm gonna eat by myself.” — Ryan Clark, 50:22
• The Pivot’s unique appeal:
  “The balance y’all show has is just amazing… It’s a place for people to come and talk.” — DJ Wells, 63:34
• On black media unity:
  “There’s y’alls generation, and then there’s us, and then there’s what Shay is… If there was a way to have a conversation… with all of us, it could be life changing.” — Ryan Clark, 66:02

Segment Timestamps

• Intro/Ads/Nostalgia: 00:00–06:00
• Podcast Olympics & Sports: 06:45–12:12
• Media Authenticity: 13:10–14:07
• LSU & Faith Stories: 14:07–18:00, more at 75:10–79:05
• Louisiana Sports Legends/Nick Saban: 18:25–21:55
• Coaching & Culture at LSU: 22:08–24:44
• Modern College Football Issues: 33:54–41:54
• Life After Sports: 43:50–52:27
• The Pivot Podcast Insight: 60:24–64:33
• Black Podcast Culture/Collaboration: 65:02–66:56
• Music Debate: 71:10–73:26

Tone & Style

• Language: Unfiltered, direct, humorous, familial.
• Vibe: Conversational, intimate, supportive, gritty, proud.

For Listeners New and Old

This episode is a goldmine of insight into the soul of sports media, culture, and community. Whether you’re a Club 520 regular, a Ryan Clark fan, or fresh to the world of “pivoting,” this is an episode to lock in, sit back, and soak up game on success, adaptation, roots, and keeping it real in every room you enter.

Listen to the full episode for more stories and laughs at Club520Podcast.