Podcast Summary

Podcast: Mick Unplugged
Host: Mick Hunt
Guest: Gary Forbes (Former NBA player, entrepreneur, author, mentor)
Episode: Gary Forbes: Unlocking Success Strategies From the NBA to Entrepreneurship
Date: August 23, 2025

Overview

This episode features Gary Forbes—a professional basketball player turned entrepreneur, author, and mentor—who shares his journey from the NBA, through his diagnosis and life management of type 1 diabetes, to becoming an advocate and creator of the Soul Survivors platform. Forbes discusses the mindset shifts, optimism, and strategies that have propelled his success despite adversity, underlining the power of one’s "Because" and living out modern leadership principles for lasting impact.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of "Because" and Unshakeable Optimism

• Gary’s "Because": Gary describes his driving force as a belief that the world lacks optimism, which he sees as his personal superpower (01:59).
  • "I think the world is missing optimism. I feel like that's one of my superpowers. I just look at every opportunity or every situation as an opportunity to either, you know, win or learn." – Gary Forbes [01:59]
• His optimism was visible both on and off the court, described as “infectious” by teammates and coaches (03:19).
• Learned as a child and cemented by his family's high standards, particularly his father's consistent reminders:
  • "You're a Forbes. You're supposed to do these." – Gary Forbes [04:17]
• Emphasizes a mindset rooted in possibility, regardless of challenges.

2. Early Life and Family Impact

• Childhood dream was to play basketball, inspired by NYC playground culture and NBA stars (05:29).
• Integral support and instruction came from his father and older brother.
• Family’s approach instilled a blend of high expectation and belief:
  • "Whatever my last name would have been, he would have said that your last name is whatever it is, you know, you’re a descendant of me ... so pass that on." – Gary Forbes [04:59]

3. College Journey and Conference Player of the Year

• Shares UNC recruitment story and how circumstances changed his college path (08:35).
• At UMass, received Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year—initially viewed as an expected achievement, but later realized its significance (10:00).
  • “My father would always put these things in: You’re Forbes, you’re supposed to do that...Now that I look back, I was like, man, I was the player of the year in a conference.” – Gary Forbes [10:32]

4. Living and Thriving with Type 1 Diabetes

• Diagnosis came while at the University of Virginia.
• Recollects his doctor’s caution that he might have to give up basketball—and how that became a challenge to overcome (12:20).
  • "My stubbornness is like, all right, this doctor doesn’t think I could do it. All right, watch." – Gary Forbes [13:46])
• Family experience made him see diabetes as a challenge, not a disability.
• Overcame his needle phobia and quickly adapted:
  • "Only thing I did have a fear of needles...I talked myself. It took me a couple of hours. Until I talked myself into doing it. And once I did it, it's like, oh, okay. It's not that bad." – Gary Forbes [14:26]
• Became one of just three type 1 diabetic players in NBA history, and the only Afro-Latino (16:11).

5. Transition from Professional Sports to Business & Advocacy

• In 2018, started Soul Survivors to serve and empower youth and children with chronic health challenges (15:25).
  • "I have to find a way to connect with the youth who are going to be adults someday and carry that on and pass on the legacy and that shared optimism through difficult challenges." – Gary Forbes [16:35])
• Focused on building legacy through sharing stories, mentoring, and using personal experience to inspire.

6. Becoming an Author and New Creative Pursuits

• Pivot to authorship occurred while reflecting on career transitions and recognizing the need for a broader impact (18:07).
  • "I had to write a comic book...what I've created thus far is needed, especially in the space that I’m doing it in." – Gary Forbes [19:29]
• Authored “Soul Survivors” book trilogy with the goal of global reach and impact.

7. Leadership, Mentorship, and Legacy

• Forbes realized he was a mentor through natural interactions and community work, especially for kids dealing with diabetes (20:19).
  • "I kind of look back and I was doing it the entire time without really knowing that I was being a mentor." – Gary Forbes [20:19]
• Shares story of inspiring a young diabetic to believe in himself because “Gary Forbes has diabetes, and he plays in the NBA” (20:33).

8. Advice for Overcoming Challenges (for All Listeners)

• Reframes adversity as temporary, and routinely leverages cliches as guiding mantras:
  • “Your present situation is not your final destination.” – Gary Forbes [22:13]
  • “Always doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.” – Gary Forbes [22:50]
• Encourages changing language (“disease” to “challenge”) to shift outlook.

9. Advice for Aspiring Athletes and Dream-Chasers

• Stresses the necessity of single-mindedness and perseverance:
  • "Plan B all the way to Z is to make plan A work. Always have that kind of mindset and vision and just that love." – Gary Forbes [24:13]
• Recommends maintaining the same passion as when you began your pursuit.

Memorable Quotes / Notable Moments

• On mindset:
  “If you put in 10,000 hours, you become a professional at it.” – Gary Forbes [17:37]

• On legacy:
  "You're a Forbes." – Gary Forbes [26:31]

• Story of impact:
  "Her son wanted to play basketball, and...he was like, you can't, because you have type 1 diabetes. And fortunately, his friend was in the car. He's like, Gary Forbes has diabetes. He plays in the NBA." – Gary Forbes [20:33]

• Guidance for all:
  “Your present situation is not your final destination.” – Gary Forbes [22:13]
  “Always doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.” – Gary Forbes [22:50]

• Hot fire:

  • Best borough for hoops: “I gotta go Brooklyn.” – Gary Forbes [25:14]
  • Pizza in Brooklyn: “Cuts and slices in Brooklyn.” – Gary Forbes [25:26]
  • Dream NBA team: “New York Knicks...Playing at the Garden would have been cool.” – Gary Forbes [25:51]
  • Best teammate: “Al Harrington.” – Gary Forbes [26:09]
  • Post-NBA best advice: "You're a Forbes." – Gary Forbes [26:31]

Segment Timestamps

• Opening & Gary’s Origin Story: 00:00–05:18
• Family and Optimism: 03:43–05:18
• Childhood Basketball Journey: 05:29–06:23
• College Choices & Player of the Year: 08:29–11:28
• Life with Type 1 Diabetes: 11:28–15:06
• Business Foundations (Soul Survivors): 15:25–17:50
• From Athlete to Author: 18:07–19:41
• Mentorship Impact: 20:19–21:46
• Advice for Overcoming Challenges: 22:13–23:32
• Guidance for Aspiring Athletes: 24:13–24:46
• Rapid Fire Q&A: 24:46–26:34
• Where to Find Gary & Soul Survivors Mission: 27:00–27:52

Resources & Links

• Gary Forbes:
  • Email: gary@garyforbesoulsurvivors.com
  • Website: www.thesoulsurvivors.com
• Soul Survivors Campaign:
  • Focus: Empower children globally living with chronic health challenges

Tone & Closing Reflection

The conversation is candid, inspiring, and pragmatic, blending Gary’s signature optimism with actionable advice. Listeners are encouraged to find their “because”—the core driver behind their actions—and cultivate resilience and self-belief.

“Your because is your superpower.” – Podcast Interviewer [28:29]