In this episode of Born to the Game, Alexis Polynice, daughter of 15-year NBA veteran Olden Polynice, opens up about growing up inside professional basketball culture and the unexpected ways her father's career shaped her identity, relationships, and professional path.

Olden Polynice's basketball journey was remarkable — born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he played center for the Seattle SuperSonics, Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, and Utah Jazz across a 15-year NBA career. But to Alexis, he was also Dad — a figure whose frequent absences for games and travel left a complex emotional imprint she didn't fully understand until adulthood.

Alexis shares her early memories of going to games and feeling embarrassed by the public attention, the assumptions peers made about her lifestyle as an NBA player's kid, and how her parents' separation at a young age shifted the family dynamic. As the second eldest of four siblings, she describes the close-knit bond with her brothers and the unique pressure of navigating life with a famous, often absent father.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Alexis discusses her early career in child modeling and pageantry — signed to Ford Models and traveling the country for competitions — and how those experiences contrasted with the traditional path many expected her to follow. She reveals how the nannies who raised her (Cora, Yumi, Barbie, and Fabi) profoundly shaped her life, inspiring her to pursue nannying as a profession.

Alexis offers a deeply moving account of her nannying career, including working for notable families such as Julie and Paul Pierce, and a life-altering experience caring for a 13-year-old whose mother was terminally ill. She shares the lessons she learned about love, loss, and the invisible emotional labor of caregiving — and why she believes nannies are among the most valuable assets in any family.

Looking ahead, Alexis discusses her aspirations to transition into estate management and personal assistant work, her desire to mentor young women entering the domestic staffing industry, and the therapy and self-reflection that helped her recognize subconscious patterns — like exclusively pursuing long-distance relationships — shaped by her childhood.

This is a thoughtful, honest, and emotionally rich conversation about family, legacy, identity, grief, caregiving, and the unexpected ways our earliest experiences write the script for the life we choose to build.

Key Topics Covered:

• Growing up as the daughter of NBA player Olden Polynice

• Early memories of NBA games, public attention, and peer assumptions

• Impact of her parents' separation and her father's frequent absences

• Sibling dynamics and growing up as the second eldest of four

• Child modeling career with Ford Models and the pageant world

• The five nannies who shaped her childhood and inspired her career

• Nannying for notable families, including Julie and Paul Pierce

• Caring for a child whose mother was terminally ill

• The business of nannying and domestic staffing

• Future aspirations: estate management, personal assistant work, and mentoring

• Subconscious relationship patterns shaped by childhood

• Therapy, self-awareness, and personal growth • Advice for aspiring nannies and a message to parents

About the Guest: Alexis Polynice is the daughter of 15-year NBA veteran Olden Polynice. A former child model signed to Ford Models, she has built a career as a professional nanny working with high-profile families. She is currently pursuing opportunities in estate management and personal assistance, with a passion for mentoring young women in the domestic staffing industry.

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🎙️ Born to the Game — Mike Woodson, Mariah Woodson, Olden Polynice & Alexis Polynice

NBA Fatherhood, Family Legacy & Old-School Basketball Stories

What happens when two NBA fathers sit down with their daughters to talk legacy, family, basketball, and the stories fans never get to hear?

In this special episode of Born to the Game, we bring together two father-daughter duos: Mariah Woodson and her father, former NBA player and longtime coach Mike Woodson, alongside Alexis Polynice and her father, former NBA player Olden Polynice.

This conversation is playful, heartfelt, unfiltered, and full of real family energy. From father-daughter games and hilarious old-school vs. new-school debates to NBA memories involving J.R. Smith, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Ray Allen, Ben Wallace, DeAndre Jordan, and Andre Drummond, this episode gives listeners a rare look at the men behind the basketball careers — as fathers, mentors, friends, and protectors.

Mike Woodson opens up about fatherhood, watching his daughters grow into their own lives, the pride he feels in their independence, and why family is the true definition of legacy. He also shares stories from his NBA journey, including overcoming a serious college injury, coaching personalities like J.R. Smith, and the unforgettable fashion choices his family still will not let him live down.

Olden Polynice reflects on growing up in Haiti, being born with a physical challenge, learning basketball later than most, and still becoming a professional player. He talks about resilience, brotherhood, old-school toughness, protecting the family name, and how having daughters taught him to soften, listen, and grow.

Together, the group laughs through stories about shopping, cooking, chili, vegan food, fashion, basketball terminology, Start/Bench/Cut debates, and the difference between old-school and new-school basketball. But beneath the jokes is a deeper conversation about safety, parenting, adversity, identity, family pride, and what it means to build a legacy that goes far beyond the game.

This is a funny, warm, and meaningful episode about NBA families, fatherhood, daughters, resilience, legacy, and the lessons passed down from one generation to the next.

🔑 In This Episode:

Two father-daughter duos on one couch
Mike Woodson and Mariah Woodson on family, growth, and legacy
Olden Polynice and Alexis Polynice on fatherhood, independence, and family pride
What NBA fathers really know about their daughters
The Know Your Player game
Favorite foods, pet peeves, shopping, and dad phrases
Mike Woodson’s legendary fashion story from the Knicks era
Olden Polynice on cooking, Haiti, and family roots
Old-school vs. new-school basketball
Explaining basketball terms like pick and roll, boxing out, fast break, switch defense, weak side rotation, and blitz
Start/Bench/Cut: Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Dirk Nowitzki
Who takes the last shot: Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, or Ray Allen
Free throw pressure with Ben Wallace, DeAndre Jordan, and Andre Drummond
Mike Woodson on coaching J.R. Smith and professionalism
Olden Polynice on blocking Michael Jordan
The story behind Mike Woodson shaving his eyebrows
NBA brotherhood, golf trips, and lifelong friendships
How fathers help daughters feel safe going into the world
Why boys and girls both need emotional support and stability
Mike Woodson’s comeback from a serious college injury
Olden Polynice’s journey from Haiti to the NBA
Why adversity does not have to define your life
What legacy means beyond awards, stats, and careers
Family as the real legacy
Protecting your name, your values, and your people

💬 Key Takeaway:

Legacy is bigger than basketball. It is not only about points, championships, coaching careers, or who you played against — it is about the family you build, the name you protect, the lessons you pass down, and the way your children carry that love forward.

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Description:
🎙️ Born to the Game — Jade Johnson

NBA Legacy, Finding Her Voice & Building a Creative Empire Beyond the Game

What does it mean to grow up inside NBA culture — surrounded by greatness, discipline, expectation, and legacy — while still learning how to become fully yourself?

In this episode of Born to the Game, Jade Johnson, daughter of NBA standout and Phoenix Suns analyst Eddie Johnson, opens up about growing up around basketball, watching her father’s career evolve, and navigating the assumptions people make when you are born into success.

Jade reflects on her childhood memories from Greece, Indiana, Houston, and Phoenix, the discipline her parents instilled in her, and the pressure that comes with being the child of a successful athlete. Although basketball was part of her world, Jade’s heart led her somewhere else: theater, music, acting, songwriting, and storytelling.

She shares how she found her voice as a performer, why acting and singing became safe places for vulnerability, and what it really takes to survive the entertainment industry. From graduating at the top of her class at USC to launching her publishing company TS2 — Time, Space, and Sound — Jade explains why artists must also understand business, ownership, catalog development, and creative strategy.

Jade also opens up about dating, standards, femininity, friendship, faith, family, and the kind of leadership she hopes to find in a future partner. In a heartfelt moment, she shares the legacy objects that represent her creative journey: a pen, symbolizing storytelling and the power of writing, and the first professional microphone she bought as an investment in herself.

This is a warm, funny, emotional, and deeply inspiring conversation about identity, creative purpose, family legacy, discipline, love, music, faith, and the courage it takes to build a life that is truly your own.

🔑 In This Episode:

Growing up as Eddie Johnson’s daughter
Life inside NBA culture and basketball families
Childhood memories from Greece, Indiana, Houston, and Phoenix
The discipline Jade’s parents instilled in her
Why success was never simply handed to her
The pressure and expectations placed on children of athletes
Trying basketball before choosing theater and music
How Jade found her voice through acting and singing
Why performing became a safe space for vulnerability
The reality of pursuing a career in the arts
What people misunderstand about auditions and creative work
Graduating from USC at the top of her class in acting
Why Jade launched TS2, her publishing company
What TS2 — Time, Space, and Sound — represents
Music publishing, catalog development, and song placement
The importance of artists understanding business
Jade’s performance of her song “Caught”
Her songwriting process and creative inspiration
Dating, standards, leadership, and faith
Friendship, femininity, and women’s expectations
Her legacy objects: a pen and a microphone
A surprise message from her father, Eddie Johnson
Building a legacy as an actress, singer, writer, creator, and brand

💬 Key Takeaway:

Legacy is not just something you inherit — it is something you shape. Jade Johnson grew up surrounded by NBA greatness, but her story is about discipline, creativity, ownership, faith, and finding the courage to build her own path. Through music, acting, writing, publishing, and storytelling, Jade is carrying forward her family’s foundation while creating a legacy that is fully her own.

Subscribe, share, and join the journey. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

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🎙️ Born to the Game — Danielle Tisdale

Wayman Tisdale’s Legacy, Life After Loss & Carrying Joy Forward

What does it mean to grow up as the daughter of someone who was not only an NBA star, but also a beloved jazz musician, devoted father, and constant source of joy?

In this episode of Born to the Game, Danielle Tisdale, daughter of the late Wayman Tisdale, opens up about growing up inside one of the most unique legacies in sports and music. Wayman was a standout basketball player, the No. 2 overall NBA Draft pick, an Oklahoma legend, and a successful jazz musician — but to Danielle, he was first and foremost Dad.

Danielle shares what it was like realizing her father was a major figure in the NBA world, traveling with him during his Phoenix Suns years, watching him transition from basketball to music, and understanding later in life just how rare it was for him to thrive in two different arenas.

She also reflects honestly on losing her father, the waves of grief that followed, and how music, therapy, family, and faith helped her stay connected to his love, light, and joy. From his famous smile to his belief that “quitting isn’t an option,” Danielle carries forward a legacy rooted not only in achievement, but in family, resilience, and purpose.

This is a heartfelt conversation about legacy, grief, joy, music, fashion, fatherhood, and learning how to keep going when the person who gave you so much strength is no longer physically here.

🔑 In This Episode:

Growing up as Wayman Tisdale’s daughter
Realizing her dad was the No. 2 overall NBA Draft pick
Life around the NBA with the Phoenix Suns
Her favorite memories of watching Wayman play
Wayman’s transition from basketball to jazz music
How music was always part of his life before and after the NBA
What made Wayman’s joy, smile, and spirit so unforgettable
How Danielle experienced grief after losing her father
Why she describes grief as “the price of love”
The role therapy played in her healing journey
Staying connected to Wayman through music and March Madness
How her father inspired her love of fashion and menswear
Danielle’s plans to launch her own menswear line
Carrying forward the lesson that quitting is not an option

💬 Key Takeaway:

Legacy is not only what someone accomplishes — it is how they love, how they lead, and what they leave inside the people closest to them. Wayman Tisdale’s legacy lives on through his music, his joy, his family, and Danielle’s commitment to keep moving forward with love, purpose, and resilience.

Subscribe, share, and join the journey. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

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🎙️ Born to the Game — Asia Monet Ray

Childhood Fame, Dance Moms & Finding Your Voice Beyond Perfection

What does it mean to grow up in the spotlight before you are old enough to fully understand it—and still become your own person beyond the stage?

In this episode of Born to the Game, Asia Monet Ray—singer, dancer, actress, and daughter of bodybuilding legend Shawn Ray—opens up about growing up in a world shaped by discipline, performance, competition, and public attention.

From becoming the youngest national title holder at age five, to appearing on Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition and Dance Moms, Asia shares what it was really like to be a child performer navigating pressure, perfectionism, and public perception while still trying to understand her own identity.

Asia reflects on the lessons she learned from her parents, the role her mom played as her protector and advocate, the impact of growing up around elite athletic discipline, and why she has shifted from proving herself through dance to expressing herself through music, creativity, and self-discovery.

This is a powerful and honest conversation about childhood fame, resilience, family support, perfectionism, reinvention, and learning that you do not have to be perfect to be enough.

🔑 In This Episode:

Growing up as the daughter of bodybuilding legend Shawn Ray
How discipline and competition shaped Asia’s childhood
Becoming a national title holder at age five
Her journey through Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition and Dance Moms
What people misunderstood about her childhood in entertainment
The pressure of being labeled mature beyond her years
How perfectionism shaped her as a dancer and performer
Why she stepped away from competitive dance
Her transition into music, singing, and creative expression
The role her mother played as her advocate and protector
What Asia would tell her younger self today

💬 Key Takeaway:

You can grow up performing for the world, but true confidence comes from learning who you are when the performance ends. Legacy may shape you, but your voice, your boundaries, and your self-worth are yours to define.

Subscribe, share, and join the journey. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

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🎙️ Born to the Game — Jessica & Justin Johnson of The Serving Spoon

Legacy, Community & Carrying Forward an Inglewood Institution

What does it mean to inherit more than a family business — to inherit a cultural landmark that an entire city calls home?

In this episode of Born to the Game, Jessica Bane and Justin Johnson, owners of the legendary Serving Spoon in Inglewood, share the incredible story behind one of Los Angeles’ most beloved soul food restaurants and the responsibility that comes with carrying on a multi-generational legacy.

Founded by their grandfather Harold E. Sparks and later run by their parents Angie and JC Johnson, The Serving Spoon became far more than a restaurant. It became a gathering place for athletes, entertainers, politicians, families, and generations of Angelenos looking for comfort, community, and home.

Jessica and Justin open up about growing up inside the restaurant, the realities of taking over a family business, navigating pressure and sacrifice, surviving COVID, and preserving the soul of Inglewood during a time of rapid change and gentrification.

From stories about celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah, Magic Johnson, and Mike Woodson stopping by “the Spoon,” to emotional reflections on community support during the pandemic, this conversation is a powerful reminder that legacy isn’t just about business — it’s about people.

🔑 In This Episode:

The origin story behind The Serving Spoon in Inglewood
How their grandfather built the restaurant with family recipes from Ohio
Growing up inside one of LA’s most iconic Black-owned restaurants
The emotional moment they realized the restaurant belonged to the community
How COVID nearly forced the restaurant to close
The GoFundMe campaign that saved the Spoon during the pandemic
Stories about celebrities, athletes, politicians, and LA legends who became regulars
The realities and misconceptions of owning a restaurant
Balancing family dynamics while running a multi-generational business
Protecting culture and preserving legacy as Inglewood changes
Why hospitality, service, and community are at the center of everything they do

💬 Key Takeaway:

Legacy is bigger than ownership. When you serve your community with consistency, love, and authenticity, a business can become part of people’s lives for generations.

Subscribe, share, and join the journey. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

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Born to the Game Website

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