Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: We're shooting this at a place called on the Avenue, which is a location in Nashville, Tennessee for individuals on and off the autism spectrum to help them foster creativity through digital art, physical art, or video art, such as my podcast.
[00:00:18] Speaker B: So for anyone out there that's just down on life or struggling, having a hard time, they're stressed, whatever, what advice might you give them?
[00:00:25] Speaker C: Follow.
[00:00:25] Speaker A: Find someone who's struggling with the same thing and build each other up.
On today's episode of I guess the Von Helm Show, Rowdy Riley's actually going to sit back for a second and be interviewed.
[00:00:45] Speaker B: Here I am today in Nashville, Tennessee, on the Avenue with longtime friend and popular podcast host Riley Delaney. Riley, thank you for letting me be in your space and just being willing to share your story with me and those who are going to be listening.
[00:01:06] Speaker A: Yes, sir. Thank you so much. I've been looking forward to this forever.
We've been talking about it for how long?
[00:01:14] Speaker B: A couple, probably over a year.
Let's just kind of back it up from the beginning. Something that I've always admired about you is I remember when you were working at that athletic shoe store in Raleigh, North Carolina, and I would go by there and you were usually in the back and stalking and doing different things. I'd say, hey, is Riley here? And you'd come out and, you know, we'd have a good time and we'd chat and everything. And I remember your manager, on multiple occasions, he said, riley is the hardest worker that we have in this entire organization.
And we were sitting there having fun, and he was like, no, take all the time you want. And so we'd talk and then you'd say, okay, I've got to go. I'll get back to work. But the way you have approached anything that was put before you with excellence has always encouraged me and been an inspiration to me. So thank you for the way that you have always approached daily life just with excellence.
[00:02:09] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:02:11] Speaker B: Tell me what an average day in the life of Riley Delaney looks like now.
[00:02:18] Speaker A: It completely varies from day to day.
Sometimes I'm.
I'm at our location shipping drug test kits from Johnson City to Memphis and everywhere in between, or helping pack product to get shipped later.
And then occasionally I will.
Or two days a week, I will be editing my own podcasts, which are sports and music related.
[00:02:56] Speaker B: Let's talk about these podcasts a little bit because, I mean, it seems like every time I talk to your brother Ty or your mom or dad, they're like, oh, no, he's with this celebrity. Or that profession, you know, that professor, professional athlete or whatever. Talk about how this thing unfolded and. And just some of the. Some of the friends you've made along the way.
[00:03:15] Speaker A: Before I get into that, I have to explain or explain a little bit about our location.
[00:03:22] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:03:25] Speaker A: We're.
We're shooting this at a place called on the Avenue, which is a location in Nashville, Tennessee, for individuals on and off the autism spectrum to help them foster creativity through digital art, actual physical art, or video art, such as my podcasts or even personal videos I've been filming.
[00:03:58] Speaker B: Well, for you to have me here is such an honor.
So I know we've talked about it for over a year, but for me to be one of your guests, especially following, you know, professional athletes and coaches and singers, man, I mean, this is. This is really a treat. So thanks for having me.
[00:04:17] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:04:18] Speaker B: So you started this on the Avenue in this podcast. Talk. Talk about your podcast, specifically just how that. How that came about. How long have you been doing it?
[00:04:29] Speaker A: My sports one, which is called Rowdy Riley's Sports Review, which, you know is a complete misnomer.
[00:04:38] Speaker B: Oh, I love it. Well, you love sports, man. So. And you are Rowdy Riley, and I love your intro. We're gonna have to, like, weave that in and play it for people to see that intro, because Todd or Todd's
[00:04:49] Speaker A: editor or Riley put that in.
[00:04:53] Speaker B: Welcome to the Rowdy Riley Sports Review. My name is Rowdy Riley.
[00:04:57] Speaker A: Let's get Rowdy.
[00:04:59] Speaker B: It's so creative, and I love intro and everything about it. It's just great. So you started that how long ago now?
[00:05:06] Speaker A: 20. 19.
[00:05:08] Speaker B: Wow. So seven years.
[00:05:10] Speaker A: Seven years. And I was the only podcast. I am one other podcast were the only ones that actually survived the pandemic. The pandemic. Because I didn't have to be physically close to my guest.
So I used to. That. I used Covid to my advantage and just cranked out four episode. Four to five episodes, maybe. Yeah.
[00:05:36] Speaker B: Off the top of your head, who were. Do you remember who those were? Because I know you've got so many.
[00:05:42] Speaker A: Along the way, had interviewed a couple soccer analysts.
One actually been my boss's wife and a friend of hers because they had both been at the same Nashville SC game. And I wanted to get both of their perspectives, one being a fan and one being the announcer.
[00:06:08] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:06:10] Speaker A: One was a friend of mine who at the time was a collegiate athlete at Belmont.
Another one was a former collegiate athlete at Lipscomb, who was the first professional soccer player from school. Another one was a friend of mine's Brother who was a professional golfer and has now turned to Sirius xm.
[00:06:38] Speaker B: Okay. Oh, that's cool. Well, speaking of, I did, I think, if I'm not mistaken, didn't I see you on the. Oh, what's the. What's the one with Webster Simpson in the golf.
[00:06:47] Speaker A: Oh, you saw my Bible caddy episode? Yeah, yeah.
[00:06:50] Speaker B: That was cool, man. Sitting here going, when did Riley become a professional golfer? You know who else who was on that with you on that show that I saw? It was like two or three guys.
[00:07:01] Speaker A: So it was William Kane.
[00:07:03] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:07:04] Speaker A: Ben Crane and Webb.
[00:07:05] Speaker B: Okay. Yeah. Those guys are so cool, man. And aren't you in a Bible study with them or something like that? Isn't that.
[00:07:12] Speaker A: I'm in a Bible study with William and Ben.
[00:07:14] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:07:15] Speaker A: Ben is on the Champions Tour, so obviously he doesn't get to come as much.
[00:07:23] Speaker B: Right. Yeah, I've been thinking about that. I was like, I've got a. I've got a couple of friends that, you know, One guy knows Scotty Scheffler, another's friends with Bryce DeChampo. And the problem is, man, they're gone. They're like gone every week somewhere. Right?
[00:07:36] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:07:36] Speaker B: So the fact that you were able to, you know, get on with them and even through zoom, that. That was pretty cool. How do you like living in Nashville? It seems like it's growing like crazy.
[00:07:44] Speaker A: Oh, God.
I mean, there.
There's sometimes driving around town where it's. Peak of. Peak of boo. Views of old Nashville.
[00:07:57] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. Yep. No, in fact, the guy that dropped me off here, he said, yeah, this, this whole area, there was nothing here before, and now it's just. It's growing like crazy.
So.
No, but. And you've been back here. Now you. Because I can't remember, were you born in Nashville or in North Carolina?
[00:08:15] Speaker A: Knoxville.
[00:08:15] Speaker B: Knoxville. Okay. So you are.
[00:08:18] Speaker A: I've been. My entire life. Has been up and down 40.
[00:08:21] Speaker B: Gotcha. Yeah.
[00:08:22] Speaker A: Because of spending a lot of time on the.
Pretty much the South Carolina. The Carolina line.
[00:08:29] Speaker C: Yep.
[00:08:31] Speaker A: And then came to Lipscomb through a two year program and mentally never left when I started that program.
[00:08:41] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:08:41] Speaker B: What a cool program, though.
So you. And you actually finished that and yeah. Your degree from Lipscomb. And that's amazing. I'm really proud of you, man.
Have you thought about more school or do you have enough?
[00:08:54] Speaker A: Honestly, I think I had enough.
[00:08:56] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:08:56] Speaker A: Just because that while that program was great, it just didn't really fit with me sometimes.
[00:09:06] Speaker B: Oh, I know that feeling.
[00:09:07] Speaker A: There were times I was.
I felt I was taught down to. And not taught at.
[00:09:13] Speaker B: Have you noticed that in life and with. Have you ever felt that way with people? You feel like people are talking down to you?
[00:09:20] Speaker A: Sometimes, but I think once they get to know me, they talk at me.
[00:09:25] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:09:26] Speaker A: Or sometimes talk over me and I'm
[00:09:28] Speaker B: able to reach and catch it for whatever reason. However we're wired, we've always been able to talk with each other.
[00:09:34] Speaker A: I think.
[00:09:34] Speaker B: You know what I mean?
[00:09:35] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:09:35] Speaker B: I love. I love it when I get to chat and just. And talk to you and, and. And I'm just. I'm grateful for the friendship that we've had just all these years and. And, you know, kind of started through your. You want to talk about that a little bit?
[00:09:47] Speaker A: I was actually about to segue into. Or segue back to how we got to know any. Each other anyway.
[00:09:54] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. Whatever you want to talk about.
[00:09:56] Speaker A: Dr. Van Helms was the chaplain at a school in Raleigh called St. David's which is where my brother had gone for or from what, sixth grade all the way through.
I can't remember where in that time span you came in.
[00:10:15] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:10:16] Speaker A: Towards the end.
[00:10:18] Speaker B: Well, I think he. I think it was probably early high school years, you know.
[00:10:22] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
Everything medically going on, he went through
[00:10:26] Speaker B: so many things, you know, and it was cool because with Ty, I mean, he was in my office all the time and I love that, you know, it was so cool. But I mean, like every day if he was at school because he did have a lot of medical challenge. But I mean, he would. He would come by and say hello and hang out and. And of course, you know, I heard about you early on and. And I was like, well, is he here too? And he goes, no, he's. He's not here. And I was like, well, I want to. I want to meet this guy.
[00:10:51] Speaker A: But I do remember you coming into Omega several times.
When I first started there, it was rare that I ever got to come out or come up front because that was still when North Carolina had tax free weekend and all the shoes were gone. No matter what sport.
[00:11:11] Speaker B: Right.
[00:11:11] Speaker A: What size, all the shoes were gone.
[00:11:14] Speaker B: Yep, I remember that. I think I contributed to that. I was buying multiple pairs. Yeah. I don't guess I've ever asked you that. When I would go in there and. And ask for you and your manager, your boss would come back and say, some. Some dude is out. Some ball dudes out here wanting to talk to you. What did you think about that?
[00:11:32] Speaker A: When we first met, I was like, who's asking for me?
[00:11:36] Speaker B: Right.
[00:11:36] Speaker A: Because my mind was behind the curtain.
[00:11:39] Speaker B: Sure.
[00:11:40] Speaker A: I'm like, who the heck is asking? And then I would come out and I'd be like.
And then I would see you, and I'm like, yeah, that makes sense now. Business is business. But I'm so sad. I was so sad to hear they closed.
[00:11:57] Speaker B: I was, too, you know, because I always associated that place with you. I did.
And even when. Even when you moved away, I was kind of sad because I always wanted to go in there and say hello, and then I couldn't. Then I said, I just call you or text you.
[00:12:12] Speaker A: Well. And it was weird for me because we started going there, or I started going there as a customer when it was in one form. And then I come back and it had taken over that entire corner.
[00:12:31] Speaker B: Oh, it's. It's great. It's. Now it's like two stories. It was Altered State, I think, is what it's called.
And I think if you walk in there, you're gonna be in an altered state. I mean, it's like, what is this? Wow. Where's Omega? Your shows, you know, the one that sticks out to me. And I. And I've. I bet I've watched the beginning of this 20 times because it. I love it because it's just. It's real and it's raw. The one with Jeff Fisher. You may not like that one.
[00:12:54] Speaker A: I love that one.
[00:12:55] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:56] Speaker A: Because he took our phone conversation and completely flipped it.
[00:13:01] Speaker B: Did he?
[00:13:02] Speaker A: Okay, yes, it was Jeff Fisher, and I had to. Because it was him. I had to admit that I'm a Buffalo Bills fan.
[00:13:13] Speaker B: I love it.
[00:13:13] Speaker A: So he took that and ran with it.
[00:13:17] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:13:18] Speaker A: Insert clip. In the 19992000 season playoffs against the Buffalo Bills. What was the name of the play as it stood in the Titans playbook?
[00:13:30] Speaker C: Can I ask you a question? Is this coming from a Buffalo Bills fan by chance?
[00:13:34] Speaker A: Yes, it is.
[00:13:35] Speaker C: So I knew I.
[00:13:36] Speaker A: However, I am a 50 50. If you're listening to this, Dawson.
[00:13:41] Speaker C: So you're 50 50. Your Titans and Bills. Okay, right down the middle. No, right, no. 4951.
[00:13:48] Speaker A: Right down the middle.
[00:13:49] Speaker C: Okay. What happens when the Dolphin. When the Bills and the Titans play, what happens to you?
[00:13:57] Speaker B: Let's talk about your.
Your love of the Bills because you've got a good friend that plays for the Bills. Talk about him a little bit. And you've had him on your show, too.
[00:14:06] Speaker A: Insert clip this episode of Rowdy Riley's Sports Review. You'll hear from Dawson Knox. Dawson is a tight end for the Bills. The first time I Met Dawson.
He had literally just about something. He had literally just signed his rookie.
Yeah. And you can go watch this episode on my channel too, which I'll have Todd Link. But he actually got drafted in town too, which I thought was.
Of all drafts.
[00:14:42] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:14:42] Speaker A: For you to get.
[00:14:44] Speaker B: Oh, was the draft.
[00:14:45] Speaker A: Was the draft was in town.
[00:14:46] Speaker B: Oh, man. Whoa.
[00:14:48] Speaker A: For you to get the. For him to get the call in Brentwood and be home. And be home.
[00:14:53] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:14:54] Speaker A: Watching the draft.
[00:14:55] Speaker B: And you were obviously. Were you. Were you there or were you just watching?
[00:14:58] Speaker A: I was just watching because program I was in at Lipscomb needed me either on campus or doing what I needed to be doing.
[00:15:08] Speaker B: I see.
[00:15:09] Speaker A: At all times.
[00:15:09] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:11] Speaker A: Because that was a.
Again, while it was a wonderful program, there were parts I loved and parts I didn't like.
[00:15:19] Speaker B: And that was one you didn't like because you. You were there and not at the draft. So when his name was called that day, what was your reaction?
[00:15:26] Speaker A: I didn't watch that far into the draft.
[00:15:29] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:15:30] Speaker A: Because I was trying to pack up my dorm room.
[00:15:32] Speaker B: Yeah. And there's a lot of picks, too. It takes a while. I know it does. Okay, so when you found out that Dawson Knox was drafted by the Bills, what was your reaction?
[00:15:42] Speaker A: So I actually didn't know him when.
[00:15:46] Speaker B: At all happened.
[00:15:46] Speaker A: When the draft happened.
[00:15:48] Speaker B: Okay, I see. Okay.
[00:15:49] Speaker A: I met him months or that was April of 19. I met him like September.
I met him a few months after.
[00:16:02] Speaker B: I see.
[00:16:03] Speaker A: He was a complete nobody.
[00:16:05] Speaker B: Except being an NFL player.
[00:16:06] Speaker A: Except being an NFL player.
[00:16:08] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:16:10] Speaker A: And then turn around, what, three.
Yeah, three years later. I friend of mine puts us in touch.
He comes in and one of the first things we say to each other was we've seen each other before kind of thing.
[00:16:33] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:16:34] Speaker A: Because this mutual friend was working for. I am second at the time.
[00:16:38] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:16:39] Speaker A: That I met Dawson.
[00:16:40] Speaker B: So you had met him and then he remembered meeting you.
[00:16:43] Speaker A: Yes. See, and then I had.
I completely blocked that part out because three years had passed and I was still trying to produce Rowdy Riley episodes and Bowen's work.
It just. It was so surreal that he one remembered me. And then it jogged my memory of like, crap. I met you before. Literally no one except your family knew who you were.
[00:17:19] Speaker B: Right. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I'm not surprised that he remembered you because I think you have that effect on people. What is his relation? Your friendship with him, with Dawson?
[00:17:28] Speaker C: What.
[00:17:29] Speaker B: What does that meant to you?
[00:17:31] Speaker A: It's honestly meant the world to me because through him I've gotten to. Or through that interview and him I'VE gotten to see what the NFL is actually like.
[00:17:44] Speaker B: Mh.
[00:17:46] Speaker A: Because his off season house is near town.
[00:17:52] Speaker C: Yep.
[00:17:52] Speaker A: And now that he has a child, it makes the most sense that his offseason house is in town.
[00:18:00] Speaker B: Do you have a favorite interview or episode?
[00:18:02] Speaker A: I've got three in completely random order. Jeff, Fiser, Dawson and Bible Caddy.
[00:18:13] Speaker B: Okay. Yeah. And those are the three that I'm most familiar with and I. They are great. They are great.
[00:18:18] Speaker A: Well, Bible Caddy, because I'm like, I finally get to ask about 2013 open.
I finally get to ask about Birdman.
[00:18:31] Speaker B: Tell me. I don't know. The audience might know what that that is about. Talk about that.
[00:18:35] Speaker A: So back when Webb was fairly new on the PGA Tour, he had, he had either qualified or through the out the season or have won enough majors to qualify for the Open.
And on the 300 something yard, I believe, par four, 18th hole at the Olympic course green or on the 18th green of the Olympic course, this random dude just slides into the camera and starts squawking like a bird.
[00:19:21] Speaker B: I don't think I've seen this insert clip. Right.
And so. And did it distract him?
[00:19:28] Speaker A: Completely distracted him. And Pap Costas,
[00:19:33] Speaker B: what was the reaction? Did they just cut to break or something?
[00:19:36] Speaker A: Like as quick as he comes on camera, he gets tackled off.
[00:19:41] Speaker B: Oh, okay. The Birdman got taken out.
[00:19:43] Speaker A: And without missing a beat, Webb goes. Enjoy the jail cell, pal.
[00:19:52] Speaker B: Okay, so you asked him about it and he would. I bet he laughed.
[00:19:56] Speaker C: Huh?
[00:19:56] Speaker A: Well, and not only that, he has a rep.
Probably a replica hat too.
[00:20:03] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:20:04] Speaker A: Which in that episode you can see him wearing.
[00:20:07] Speaker B: Oh, he does. He's wearing it.
[00:20:09] Speaker A: He's wearing it.
[00:20:10] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:20:11] Speaker A: As I'm talking to him.
[00:20:12] Speaker B: I love it. Oh, that's so good. Who's out there that you'd like to interview that you, you know, maybe if, maybe somebody you've been a fan of or that you've recently discovered.
[00:20:22] Speaker A: Discovered.
[00:20:22] Speaker B: Is there someone else out there you'd like to talk, sit down with?
[00:20:25] Speaker A: I can't remember his name, but you're actually your most recent interview.
[00:20:33] Speaker B: Oh yeah.
Nick Harris.
[00:20:35] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah.
[00:20:36] Speaker B: That played in the NFL. Yeah, he, he's a really cool guy. He is. He's out in California and he's headmath. He went from the NFL, all kinds of records as a punter and, and then he's, he's started teaching at a, at a private school and outside of San Francisco.
And now he's been the headmaster now for years. But he is a super cool guy and I'll have to. Maybe I can make that happen. That'd be really cool. You'd like him a lot.
[00:21:00] Speaker A: But my absolute reach.
[00:21:02] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:21:04] Speaker A: Would be McAfee and Coach Corso.
[00:21:08] Speaker B: Okay, well, you never know. Maybe someone will see this and. And the next thing you know, either McAfee is on your show or you're on his.
[00:21:16] Speaker A: What made you want to start this podcast?
[00:21:19] Speaker B: That is a great question.
I'm not on social media. And it's ironically enough, I'm an author. I've got a few books out there, and I'll have marketing people that say your books have done well and they would do better if you would get on social media. And I'm not knocking anybody who is, because I know that's the way in which people get their information and communicate. And I think if you have a business or something you're trying to promote, why wouldn't you do it that way?
But for me, it was just. It's just one of those things where I thought, you know, I feel like I'm too busy the way it is already, and it would just be a distraction for me to be engaged in all forms of social media. And so I've always been. I was always reluctant even to do anything with YouTube, but again, I know that especially for people under 30 or even 40, I mean, everybody's on YouTube, right? Everybody. And so along the way, I've been able to meet some really cool people that have great stories.
And if you remember, I would do speaker series events in North Carolina, and I'd have some, you know, sometimes some big name, you know, celebrities, authors, whomever come in and speak. And I would. And people would say, you know, why don't you record them? Why don't you record them?
[00:22:31] Speaker C: And.
[00:22:31] Speaker B: And I just. I didn't. And then, I don't know, a couple years ago, I just started thinking about it. Just like, for instance, for Nick. Nick Harris.
[00:22:39] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:22:40] Speaker B: I've known this guy for years. I've been at that school, spoken a couple of times. And I thought, you know what? His story is great, and he's an amazing guy. And I thought, you know, it'd be encouraging for maybe for me to sit down with him and let him tell a story. And I thought about that potential interview years ago, before the. I even started a podcast. And then just thinking of other people I've known, I thought, you know what, it's kind of selfish on my part not to be able to, you know, I'm having these great conversations.
Maybe it would encourage or bless other people if I could let them get a glimpse into some of these conversations and these people that they might otherwise not know about. And so I was like, okay, fine, I'm going to create a YouTube channel.
We're going to do some interviews, and I'm going to put it out there. And it's slowly, you know, building and growing, and some of them will have thousands of views, and some of them have a couple hundred views. And I'm not really caught up in that. I just feel like put the product out there and it's going to reach who it's supposed to reach. And. And so that. That's kind of been my approach to it, and I've gotten some cool feedback, and so I think it's been worthwhile. So I'm usually doing maybe one a month, but I'm spending a lot of time, a lot of what I do. If you ask me what it. What is your day or week look like? I'm saying, well, it depends on the week. It's on the week. But I travel a lot, and I speak on college campuses to a lot of fraternities, which is ironic because I wasn't in a fraternity. I couldn't afford it, and I was working. You know, but that's the good part about that, is when, you know, I'm in this. I'm going to be at the Sig App House at University of Texas next week.
Next week. And if. If they said to me, well, you went to University of Texas, right?
And then they said, well, which fret were you in? And were. You say gap and I'll say no, and which one? And I'm. I don't have an answer. And it actually has led to open doors because I think if I did say, you know, I was Phi Gam or a Deke or whatever, that maybe they. That fraternity wouldn't let me in. But the fact that I wasn't in one, it's kind of like everyone.
Yeah, exactly. And so we are kind of identified by the schools we've gone to or that we've rooted for and things like that. And I'm all about that.
But I also think just with life and friendships, they transcend. It should. True friendship should transcend what we're for or against, you know, in some ways. And so that is another reason why with the podcast and the different. If you. Because if you look at the guests I've had, there's a really eclectic array.
[00:25:14] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:25:15] Speaker B: I mean, I've got a, you know, a rabbi. I've got, you know, headmaster of A school that played in the NFL or I'll have the world's leading CS Lewis scholar, or. I mean, it's just. And I want to keep it that way. I want it. I don't want there to be this, you know, one flavor. I'd like to keep it diverse.
[00:25:32] Speaker A: My favorite of yours not only was Nick Harris, but was also the pastor of Port City.
[00:25:41] Speaker B: Yeah. Yes.
[00:25:43] Speaker A: Because growing up in North Carolina. Yeah. The visuals and his accent almost immediately told me.
[00:25:51] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:25:52] Speaker A: That you didn't have to go that far.
[00:25:55] Speaker B: Yeah. And I'll tell Mike that, too. I have to let him see this. Mike Ashcraft has been at Port City, you know, for decades, and he sounds very Southern, and he is really bright and very humble.
Even though the church is, you know, so big, life can be challenging sometimes.
And I'm curious to know for you, what have been some of the most difficult things you've dealt with and how did you get through them?
[00:26:27] Speaker A: Long story short, 20 years ago, on the coast of North Carolina, I suffered a massive injury to my left ankle where I broke my foot right through my growth plate.
Including that day, had four surgeries.
[00:26:50] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:26:50] Speaker A: In the span of five years.
[00:26:54] Speaker B: My goodness. I did not know that. And you're still dunking basketballs that. Well, that's. That's one to overcome. Any. Anything else come to mind? Like, in terms of challenges that you faced, what you learned from them?
[00:27:07] Speaker A: I think just the traditional. Moving away to college and not being as close to your family as you would normally be.
[00:27:15] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:27:16] Speaker A: Which is a lot more challenging than you think for someone with autism.
[00:27:21] Speaker B: I say this all the time, but how much I admire you because you have overcome a lot of adversity. And to your point, it is hard for anyone to go off to school, but to what you just said and the fact that, you know, you did that, I mean, and not only did you do it, you finished. And you finished well in that, so congrats, man. So for anyone out there that's just down on life or struggling, having a hard time, they're stressed, whatever. What advice might you give them?
[00:27:50] Speaker A: Find someone who's struggling with the same thing and build each other up.
[00:27:56] Speaker B: Yeah, I agree. That's. That is really good advice.
I do want to hit on. I do want to ask you about this, because I know your faith is important to you.
Do you want to talk about that a little bit? What does your faith meant to you?
[00:28:09] Speaker A: My faith means everything.
And it's actually funny because I don't think I've ever told you this. The church I attended in Raleigh. Used the chapel at St. David's for a few years. As it got started, I remember.
[00:28:23] Speaker B: Yeah. Holy Trinity.
[00:28:24] Speaker A: One day while I was at home, but we were attending Holy Trinity, I just started singing Amazing Grace and started just bawling.
Nothing's been the same ever since.
[00:28:36] Speaker B: Thank you for sharing that with me.
What do you think it was about that moment in that song, that hymn?
[00:28:43] Speaker A: I think it was just finding a place to be still for 30 seconds.
[00:28:51] Speaker B: Yeah. That's hard to do sometimes in life, isn't it? Just to be still.
[00:28:54] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:28:55] Speaker B: And I think when we do, we can reflect and give thanks to God for what we've been given, because we're all very fortunate, aren't we?
Someone out there that always has a harder time than we might be experiencing, even though we all have our share of challenges in life. But I know for me, that hymn is powerful, and it probably reminded you of that, that day, right?
[00:29:19] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:29:20] Speaker B: Yeah. No, you've never told me that story. Thank you for sharing that. That's very.
That's powerful. And so you just. It just. You were overwhelmed and just got emotional and started crying, huh?
[00:29:29] Speaker A: Yes, sir. I traditionally end Rally Riley, or my music podcast, which is called Nashville Note, by asking my guests what platforms they're on.
[00:29:43] Speaker B: That's a short answer for me.
[00:29:45] Speaker A: I'm not on. Any of you can find me on Instagram at Rowdy Riley Sr.
And at the Nashville Note, and you can find on the Avenue at. On the Avenue tn.
[00:30:00] Speaker B: Well, and for those watching or listening, I would say you will be encouraged and blessed to tune into any of those.
And just as I have been just by being your friend for all these years. So, again, I just. Riley, I want to thank you for who you are and for what you've meant to me.
[00:30:18] Speaker A: Yes, sir. Thank you so much.
