- [Blake] This program is made possible through a grant from the Greater Peoria Leadership Council, a coalition of business and civic leaders working together to shape a stronger, more connected region through the Choose Greater Peoria Initiative.

(lively music) ♪ Well, no matter what the question is ♪ ♪ We'll say yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ And if we wanna find some trouble ♪ ♪ We'll say yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Whoo ♪ ♪ Whoo ♪ ♪ You're amazing, baby, you're amazing ♪ ♪ Yeah, just remember ♪ ♪ Yeah, just remember ♪ ♪ You're amazing, yeah ♪ (audience cheering) - Thank you, thank you.

Thank you, thank you very much.

Good evening and welcome to "Vibe 309."

I am your host, Blake Wirth, and I am excited to be back in the saddle, back in the WTVP studio, back on your screen.

If you're keeping track at home, this is episode four, and tonight's guest is someone whose name has been attached to the vision for this show since day one.

Long before this set was built, shout out Don Stedman, before any of this was real, before I pitched "Vibe 309", rather, I should say, when I pitched Vibe 309 to WTVP, he was part of the picture I painted from the very beginning.

Because he's not just one thing, he is many things.

First and foremost, he is a vibe, authentically himself in every room he enters, he's also a bestselling author of a little book called "Damn, I Graduate in May."

He's a dynamic public speaker, journalist, promoter, and a real voice in the local media here in the River City.

He's what the late great Sports Center anchor Stuart Scott would call, "As cool as the other side of the pillow, boo yah."

Ladies and gentlemen, please give it up for the hometown kid, Marc Supreme.

(audience cheering) How you doing, man?

- [Marc] That was incredible.

- Like that Stuart Scott reference?

- Yeah.

- Thank you, thank you.

- How much time you spend on that?

- On the intro?

- Yeah.

- I wrote it on the way here, man.

- Okay, I love it.

- Okay, so first of all, glad to have you here, man.

Like I said, when this show was just an idea, a what if in my head, I always pictured you as one of the first few guests just because I love your energy, I love your personality, you're charismatic.

So before we get into it, I think people should know though, we actually go back, I think it's 25 years.

- I'm not that old, you are.

- No, we're the same age, we were in the same class at Notre Dame.

- It is facts.

- 25 years ago.

- Is it?

No, 21.

It'll be 20, dang.

- Now you left after freshman year, I believe.

- I left after junior year.

- We didn't hang out as much sophomore and junior year as I would've liked.

But I do have a vivid memory actually of, I'm 90% sure we were sitting at the same lunch table when Cory Salter tried to go for the chicken sandwich record.

- Oh man, yeah, I forgot all about stuff like that.

- I think he may have eaten 24 chicken sandwiches.

- He did a lot.

Yeah, he did a lot.

- Threw up.

- Yeah, yeah, that was an interesting time.

- He threw up.

So, anyway, it's always good to go back.

- Very athletic.

- Yeah.

- Very athletic.

- Sure, sure, football star.

Okay, so you wrote a book, but I don't wanna start there.

I know you've got such a cool story.

You talk about it in the book, you had a 1.8 GPA in high school, but then you fast forward, you've got your master's at 23.

So go ahead and walk me through kind of where you were coming up in the school system and then when you got serious.

- Man, I didn't get serious until college, seriously.

Like, I mean, I was a straight A student all through third grade, I mean, like, I was doing my thing.

- You knew your colors, you did the alphabet before.

- I did know my colors.

- Before we started and you nailed it.

- Yeah, yeah, I did.

I started to go backwards too.

- Yeah.

- But, man, I was a straight A student through like third grade, you know, little honor roll in the third grade.

And then, man, sixth grade, we just kind of took a dive.

Eighth grade, we managed.

- [Blake] What was it, sports, girls?

What was getting you off kilter there?

- I don't even know, homework.

- Homework?

- Homework.

- You didn't like homework?

- I don't do homework.

Grad school, I tell people all the time, grad school was easier than high school for me.

- [Blake] Why?

- Because grad school is, I had one class, it was like, dude, you got two papers, no, you got two tests and a paper.

If you mess any one of those up, you're toast.

And I was like, that works for me though 'cause there's no homework, so we just do our notes and I just gotta perform three times, I don't have homework every single day.

Freshman year, man, I went to Central and I was doing terrible.

I was failing everything except health, and that was a C. And then, so my mom, she was like, "Nope," it was almost like the Will Smith intro, like, she pulled me out and moved me over to, you know what I mean?

Notre Dame, and I was there for a couple years, but I was mad.

I don't know, you might not have known this, 'cause I was talking about it.

- I didn't even know you were there, man, I thought freshman year.

- Hey, listen, I wasn't there.

(laughs) - Okay.

- That was half the problem, I was skipping school.

But, so, I was mad, man, and then you couldn't play sports 'cause remember you had to wait that year, right?

So it was no sports.

And I was big in band at Central, band was a big thing at Central, in Notre Dame, you were lame if you did it.

So I was like, we ain't gonna do that either.

So I didn't do nothing, including homework.

- You had to wear a tie to school.

- We had to wear a tie to school, I mean, that was cool, you know, I like to dress up every once in a while, but.

- Sure.

- I just didn't have any motivation for real, you know what I mean?

But I made it through, you know, got back to Central and started, you know, studying, I guess that's what y'all call it.

- Yeah.

- And then, made it through.

But then when college came, I don't know, I just got serious and I knew what I wanted, I think, it was just the direction.

- Okay, so when did you know you wanted?

Because you went into education, you became an educator, higher education in your career path.

Or did you even want to be an educator?

- Hell no.

- Okay.

- No.

- So what did you wanna do?

- I talk about it in the book, I went to college because I'm like, okay, I wanted to, if anybody remembers like "106 & Park" or like "MTV News" and things like that, like that was like the direction I wanted to go in.

And so, I didn't know how to get there, but I just felt like I needed to go to college.

So I went to college for that and, man, did that.

And then, went to grad school at U of I Springfield, covered politics for a little bit at WTAX, which is like a conservative media outlet.

So it was covering like, you know, everything going on in the state capital and things like that.

And then, took a internship at a radio station at WACU, Strictly Hip Hop.

- Okay.

- Was there for a little bit, moved to LA just because, I interviewed Tim and Bob one day.

- Okay.

- Huge people out of PR, I don't know if anybody knows who Tim and Bob is, but like, you know, Boyz II Men, you know, Michael Jackson, Sisqo "Thong Song," like they made all that stuff, just, you know, the list goes on and on.

But I was interviewing 'em one day.

- This was in LA?

- No, this was in Peoria.

- Oh, it was in Peoria.

- And so, they're out of LA, but they came to Peoria and I was interviewing them one day and they're like, we're on a commercial break, and they're like, "Man, you're good at this."

I was like, "For real?"

- You mean that?

- Yeah, yeah, "You mean that?"

You know, because they'll gas you, you know what I'm saying?

He was like, "No, I'm serious, man.

You gotta get out of Peoria, man, like, you know, you belong in like LA somewhere."

I was like, "You think so?"

- [Blake] You mean that?

- You mean that, yeah?

They were like, "Yeah, man, like, you'd kill it in LA, man, you should come out to LA."

So about a month later, I quit my job.

- Okay.

- And I went to LA on a one ticket, you know, like a one way ticket type situation.

- And they didn't pick up the phone?

- Not for real, like... We tapped in a little bit, but it was nothing like, you know, and I'm green, bro, like, I don't know left from right, up from down.

And so, just like, I got some cool moments, but it never really stuck, right?

And so, man, went broke, came back home to Peoria and then just randomly started working in education.

It was kind of weird.

- [Blake] Okay.

- And then, yeah, fast forward, stayed here a little bit and then it was like this great migration to Atlanta, so I moved to Atlanta as well too, chasing the same type of dream.

And then, you know, I had moments, but nothing ever stuck, right?

And so, man, I'm living in Atlanta, I had some opportunities that almost came through, like CNN and other organizations, but just didn't happen.

And then, I'm broke in Atlanta, I'm broke.

- [Blake] Yeah.

- No, I'm broke.

- You don't have any money?

- No, no, no, no, no, I'm broke.

- You have no money?

- No, I'm broke.

And then, the last straw, I had a Mercedes, right?

Wrecked my Mercedes, so now I'm broke with a wrecked Mercedes.

- [Blake] Okay.

- I'm broke, and so NIU reached out, this is how I got into higher education, no, SIU Carbondale, my alma mater.

- Okay.

- They reached out and they said, "Hey, you wanna come work for us?"

And I'm like, "No.

But I'm broke, so, yeah, like, yeah, yeah, we can come do it."

And so, I did that and then ended up going to NIU and then realizing that there was some gaps in information that students didn't have that were similar questions that we would've had coming out.

It was like, man, how is this still going on?

- [Blake] Right.

- And so, pandemic came, wrote the book and that's how we're here.

- Okay, that's a great, great recap.

Great story, it really is.

So this book stemmed from everything you learned going through the process of school yourself and then what you learned when you got on the other side of it.

- Other side of it, and then being out in the real world, dream chasing and realizing that, 'cause, again, I had a master's degree at 23, like you mentioned, but you're out in LA, I'm like, "I got a master's degree."

And they're like, "So, that's cute."

Nobody cares.

- Yeah, they don't care.

- And so, that's when I realized, oh, there's more to it.

- Okay, so if you don't know this book, "DIGIM: Damn, I Graduate in May," it is, basically, it's a literary mix tape, which I love that term, it's a literary mix tape for life after high school and college.

Essentially, he helps break down what paths you can take, what options there are.

Everything from financial aid to loopholes you can get through, how you can get extra money to go to school.

So this is a great book for parents to read.

Real quickly, before we get off the Atlanta story, I know you were in Atlanta for a little bit in the book.

You gotta tell the Reggie Rouse story.

- Reggie Rouse, oh, Reggie Rouse.

Oh man.

- How you got into his office?

- I snuck in.

- [Blake] You snuck in, you told a couple fibs.

- Very white lies.

- White, white lies.

- I mean, they were very white lies.

- White lies.

But this is what you have to do sometimes to get where you want.

- To get in, yeah, to get in, yeah.

- I think you said, what do you say in this?

"Don't hate on nobody, don't wait on nobody."

- Yeah, yeah, exactly.

And that was actually the theme, so I did the ICC commencement speech like three years ago now.

- [Blake] Shout out.

- And that was the theme and that's kinda where that came from.

- [Blake] Don't hate on yourself.

- [Marc] No, don't hate on nobody, don't wait on nobody.

Meaning like, you know, don't stop others from progressing 'cause that's lame.

- That's lame, yeah.

- Right?

But you also don't have to wait for permission to get started yourself.

And I think sometimes we all wait for like stamps of approval from people, bosses, jobs, parents, family, whatever, to like start pursuing something.

- Mm.

- A lot of times, for high school students, they wait to graduate to begin working on that thing, that you don't need a high school diploma to begin working on.

And so, that was what that kind of theme is about, just like you wanna do something, everybody has the resources, let's just start if you can.

- I gotta say, man, and you're spot on and I came to ISU, the Bloomington, is it a career fair?

You call it a career fair?

- Man, it's more of a college fair.

- College fair.

- It's more of a college fair.

But, you know, we bring dope people in from all around the country, Misty was there, you know.

And just like people that are dominating at a high level that students can see and be inspired by for real.

- Yeah.

I mean, and the kids were absolutely picking up what you were putting down, I snuck in, I still have a video on my phone.

But you were on the stage talking to everyone in your authentic way, who you are, you talk to everyone the same way, which I appreciate.

And these kids really were gravitating to you, picking up what you were putting down.

I have to think that has to feel good, to be able to, you're not trying to like mold or shape the youth, but you're trying to nudge them in the right direction, you're trying to give them some tools to move forward with in this life, that's gotta feel good.

- It is dope, really, it just stems from trying to provide everything I wish I had, and I think a lot of us in our generation wish we had, whether it be some inside context or a connection.

I think that's the biggest thing.

When I meet students and like, "I wanna do such and such," if I know somebody that's in that space, I call them right then and there.

- Yeah.

- And see if we can get you going, because I never really had that.

Like, there were people along the way that might drop some jewels, but to say, "Oh you wanna do such and such at what level?"

Like, I had a student, this is funny, I had a student at Skills USA, I gave the keynote speech at The Civic Center for Skills USA last spring.

- [Blake] Shout out.

- And a student came up, he's like, "Man, I really wanna do audio engineering.

I really wanna like, you know, like record rap songs and things like that."

And I'm like, "You came at the perfect time 'cause I just got off the phone with my guy who is an audio engineer for T.I.

like the rapper T.I.

- Yeah, yeah.

- And so, I called him right then and there and he was able to speak to him right then and there.

- That's cool.

- Fast forward for the national conference for Skills USA, he's down in Atlanta and he calls me, he says, "Hey, you think you can hook me up with your friend Dre with, you know, that does such?"

I didn't even mean to put his name out there but, "You think you can hook me up, whatever?"

And so, they link down in Atlanta, he goes to T.I's studio and he actually gets to see T.I.

down at the studio.

I've been at this studio like five, six times and I've never met this dude and I love this dude, right?

- Yeah, yeah.

- But that student, you know what I'm saying?

Just by opening his mouth was able to not only get a connection to somebody who's killing it at a high level in audio engineering, but to also meet one of the top rappers ever.

And that's what I wanted to do because that's what a lot of us didn't have.

- It's not who you know, it's who knows you?

- It's who knows you.

- Right.

- It's definitely who knows you.

- I love that.

All right, we're gonna put a pin in that for just a minute because it's my favorite part of the show, (drawer clinking) the rapid fire section part of the show.

These got mixed out of order, that's okay.

Are you ready?

- I'm born ready, man, stay ready, you ain't gotta get ready.

- That's what I'm talking about, man.

Yeah, these got all kinds of mixed up, that's all right.

All right.

Ahem, I love this, you see that view?

You see- - Man, look, hey, I just saw a plane go across.

- Well, no, Andre Allen's down there on the riverfront and there's some sort of event going on down there.

(Marc laughing) Okay, are you ready?

- Yeah.

- Favorite place to eat in the 309?

- Oh man.

- [Blake] You can name more than one.

- Okay, cool.

I know, so Rhythm Kitchen gets a lot of my money.

They get a lot of my money.

- [Blake] They're open like two hours a week.

- Man, something like that.

- They need to be open more.

- Something like it, something like it.

- Great vibe.

Great vibes.

- Something like it, Joe's Italian, I just had that a couple days ago.

Fish House is amazing, I don't get there as much as I want to.

- [Blake] Those are great choices.

- Hearth is good.

Peoria Heights is just killing it right now.

- What about some good old fashioned comfort food?

- Comfort food?

- Where you going?

- Comfort food, I'm really going to Rhythm Kitchen for it, I hate to say it, man.

- I think I need to go, I need to check Rhythm Kitchen out.

Favorite coffee spot in the 309?

- [Marc] Zion.

- Cool, favorite view in the 309?

Besides that one, of course.

- Favorite view?

Man.

I hate to be, well, I love my view at home.

I live on the edge of town.

- Okay.

- So I do love my view.

So I actually get to see that for free on my couch, so that's dope.

- That's great.

- But I'm cliche, man, Grandview is fire.

- Grandview is fire.

- Grandview's fire.

- [Blake] I don't think that's cliche.

- [Marc] Oh, it's definitely cliche.

- It is what it is.

Okay, this is the last one.

What are three skills every graduating high school senior should have down, should have mastered, heading into the real world, adulthood?

- I think every high school student, maybe even adults, if you're like in between jobs and trying to figure stuff out, everybody should get a sales job.

- Okay.

- Like, cold calling sales to where they don't know you, you don't know them, you're scared to death to reach out, whether it be a phone call or just walking up in person, figuring out how to build rapport and sell something.

- [Blake] Okay.

- That is like transferrable throughout every aspect of life.

- [Blake] Love it.

- So I'll say sales for sure.

Man, sales, twice honestly.

- Sales twice?

- Yeah, sales twice.

- [Blake] And then, sales a third time?

- Perhaps.

- If you can do sales, you can do anything.

- If you can do sales, you can do almost anything.

- Because you know people.

- You can do almost anything.

- I love that.

- I'd have to think about the other ones, but it's definitely sales.

- Okay, almost anything.

And there was almost everything at the Winter Riverfront Market this past weekend.

We slid over there, checked the vibes, talked to some vendors, it was great energy, even saw an owl there, which was pretty crazy.

So why don't you go ahead and take a look for yourself in this next Vibe Check?

Run it.

Every Saturday during the summer, we got something around here called the Peoria Riverfront Market.

Everybody loves it, it's unanimous, it's a summertime staple and it can't be argued.

But what a lot of people don't realize is once a winter, they move the whole thing indoors.

Same community, same makers and growers, same energy.

And this morning, we're at the Peoria RiverPlex for the eighth annual Winter Riverfront Market.

About 70 local vendors, a couple thousand people are gonna roll through here today, supporting local, boosting our local economy.

And, to me, that's a vibe.

So let's go down and check it out.

(pleasant music) - This market started about 23 years ago and it started very small and has grown year to year.

And I think one of the best things that we have seen is to watch the businesses succeed.

Whether it's by design, whether they start here as a vendor with the intention of opening a brick and mortar or whether it's a hobby that's turned into a business, we've seen a lot of businesses get a lot of exposure at the market, which kind of propels them into the next step of their business and it's been really to watch.

- So I started doing this market over 20 years ago, about 20 years ago, just kinda learn how to get my feet wet and get into it.

And so, I've been doing the Riverfront Market ever since then, it's become a staple for my business.

(pleasant music continues) - Mike Tyson is not the only one who can get a face tattoo.

(pleasant music continues) Is she doing the Mike Tyson?

- This market has grown.

I love the people here, the vendors are like family, we know each other, we talk amongst each other, we support each other all the time.

It's an awesome market.

Sharon the market manager is fantastic.

- We're somewhat of a family down here.

We get to know each other throughout the summer, our customers come and get to know us and get to know the businesses.

And it's really like just an opportunity to get back together and have our shoppers come out and see us and we really appreciate that they support local.

- We have the best community, like, if it wasn't for the community, I don't know what I would've done.

Because, like, even, I had a hard time last year and I let everybody know just recently and the amount of support, an outpour, like, it was just amazing.

(pleasant music continues) - What does it mean to see the community come out and support your local business, your dream?

- Well, it helps pay the bills, for sure.

But it's something that we always strive to do to be successful and make a good go of it, and the community has showed us that we are doing pretty good.

(pleasant music continues) - Try that one.

- What's this one?

- That's a golden.

- A golden?

- Golden.

That's that, it's mustard based.

- Okay.

- That's my favorite.

(pleasant music continues) - All of them get five stars.

- Thank you very much, appreciate it.

- They're very good, man.

- Thank you.

- That Bald Guy, check it out.

My dog loves your single ingredient dog treats.

- I love that.

- They're very good.

I ate one of them one time and didn't get sick, so they must- - You can do that.

- Yeah, they're good.

- [Seller] Yeah.

- This is the eighth year for the winter market.

We thought we would try it out.

We realized that there was a need or a want for people to get out during the winter months and see some of their friends and family and an opportunity to shop local, and it's just grown ever since.

So we've kind of found a home.

We've jumped around a little bit here and there, we've found a home, hopefully, at the RiverPlex and we can fit 70 vendors in the RiverPlex and we've got a couple outside and it just seems to be growing every year.

(people chattering) (audience applauding) - Mine's got that too.

Yeah, we got a story, we'll do that later.

- Thank you, thank you, okay.

Well, you're a summer, you like the summer market, right, on the riverfront?

- Yeah, I was asleep on the winter, I didn't know about it.

- You didn't know about it.

- I didn't know about it.

- Once a winter, they move that whole sucker inside.

- Yeah, it's dope.

It's dope.

- Same vendors, same energy.

It's fantastic.

I got a couple trinkets while I was there.

Okay, I wanna ask you one question before we let you go 'cause I know you're a very deep, deep guy.

20, 30 years from now, 40 years from now, if you have good health, what do you want your your impact to be?

What do you want your legacy to be of DeMarcus AKA Marc Supreme Hamilton?

- Somebody who just tried to connect people and help them achieve what they wanted.

Really, I mean that's what DIGIM was about, helping people get what they want.

And it was written out of frustration of not getting what I wanted, right?

So now it's about trying to help other people get what they want.

And I just hope the work that not only myself but my team has put in where you're talking about Strictly Hip Hop, TRiO Talent Search, "DIGIM," my folks that I kick it with.

- [Blake] The YANI Collective.

- YANI Collective, Product of the Projects.

- You're doing a lot across the community, you're involved in a lot, you're touching a lot of lives.

So I tip my cap to you, man, I really do.

- Appreciate it.

- And on that note, I'd like to give you something.

Got a little goodie bag for you here, man.

We got the hat, his own "Vibe 309" hat.

- Right, right, right, appreciate it, appreciate it.

- And then, if you see this shirt here, DIGIM shirt here, I got one for you as well.

Great material.

Oh, nevermind.

- What'd you see?

- Thought I saw John Horse over there at the museum.

- You're funny, you're funny.

So, yeah, wanted to thank you.

- I got something for you too, brother.

- You got something for me?

- Oh yeah.

- You didn't have to do that.

- So first of all.

- You didn't have to do that.

- Shout out to Nothing Bundt Cakes because I wanted to do something for you.

'cause, first of all, as I've told you before, I'm ecstatic that you have this show, like, you are in your space, we talked about this a while ago.

You know, don't hate on nobody, don't wait on nobody, you know what I mean?

- Yep, yep.

- And so, I don't know, I think Peoria's lucky to have this show, Peoria is lucky to have you, WTVP is lucky to have you to fill this space that, from my recollection, I don't remember anything like this happening.

So, man, shout out to you for doing this.

- Appreciate that, thank you.

- And I know you're taking this serious, something you're taking serious.

- Finally, finally, finally.

- But I'm happy for you, man.

- I appreciate that.

- You got the DIGIM shirt, but we talked about this.

I wanted to make sure you got the very DIGIM shirt that we used for UIC.

- Oversized, now this is a small.

- You're gonna fit it.

You're gonna fit it, you're gonna fit it.

- Guys, I'm a large.

- You're definitely gonna fit that.

- Yeah, that'll fit me.

- Thanks, guys.

- You're definitely gonna, do the back.

- And the back.

- So that's the collaboration between Farmer Dwayne and actually David Edwama, who's in the audience.

- Shout out.

- Helped design some of that front as well too.

- I love it.

- So it's a lot of collaboration on that.

- [Blake] That's awesome, man.

- Lot of collaboration on that.

- [Blake] Thank you, I love that.

- We also got you some little trinkets, you know?

- Whoa.

- Got the DIGIM bag, you know what I'm saying?

Peep the DIGIM bag, what camera we on?

What camera we on?

- All of 'em.

- Well, all of 'em.

- All of them, man.

- Look, bag.

So you got that.

- Okay.

Some trinkets in here.

A little pen and stuff, I love that.

Look at this.

- We got you a DIGIM Yeti.

- [Both] Whoo!

- Okay.

- Ooh.

- Awesome, man.

- Add this to the view.

- Whoa.

- Bang, you already got a book, but add it to the view.

- I'll read it again.

I'll read it again.

- Read it twice.

- The second ones better, that book's better than the first one.

- You came bearing gifts.

- Yep, and then, ah.

- What do we got?

This is a Bundt.

- Just a whole cake, man.

- Holy smokes.

- A whole cake.

- Holy smokes.

We gotta get, I don't know how to get.

- I don't how to open it.

- We're not gonna break the box.

- All I did was bring it.

- Folks, it looks incredible.

It looks incredible.

You are one of a kind, man.

- Yes, sir.

- Thank you for everything you do in our region, you're the man.

- Yes, sir.

- Thank you.

- Appreciate you, brother, appreciate you.

(audience applauding) - Marc Supreme, AKA DeMarcus, dedicates his book to several people, including his mother, his Pops, who's here tonight with us, his sons Carter and Sebastian, one of them's asleep back there.

A couple friends, an old professor.

But here's my favorite.

"This is for my younger self.

The person who pounded the streets of Los Angeles without a clue, scrubbed toilets at a gym in Atlanta, trying to make a dollar to stay afloat, and went through every emotion, trial, error, and let down in pursuit to make something of myself."

When I read this book over the weekend, I got chills when I read that part, and I smiled, and I'm smiling now because how many people have dreams but never move on 'em?

Or maybe they try a little, hit a couple roadblocks, then quit.

I know I'm guilty of that.

Listen, when I grew up in West Peoria, a lot of people, there was chatter that I was gonna make it to the NBA, be the next best point guard, and while most of that chatter was from my mom, (audience laughing) I still believed it.

Fast forward to freshman year, I'm 110 pounds, I'm 5'2", I got cut.

Decided that was enough, I quit on my dream.

Didn't try out the next year or the year after that.

I did try out my senior year, they cut me again, so then I knew my dream was over, I'm not going to the NBA.

But DeMarcus refused to quit.

He was determined to make something of himself.

He moved to big cities, worked on jobs, and talked his way into rooms he wasn't invited into just for the possibility of creating an opportunity for himself.

That's freaking admirable, man.

It really is.

I also appreciate how he shows his younger self love.

It's easy to look at our past as a list of failures, instead of what it really is, which is a series of brave attempts.

Attempts to find yourself, to find your thing, your way to make an impact.

That whole stretch of life is basically an internship or an apprenticeship.

It's where you learn how you work, what sticks, what doesn't.

You build instincts, you figure yourself out in real time.

I respect that DeMarcus doesn't shy away from that phase of his life.

He names it, he thanks it and he's proud of it.

He understands he wouldn't be where he is today without scrubbing those toilets in Hotlanta.

Most of us are powered by years we don't give ourselves credit for.

We're too hard on ourselves for past decisions, don't give ourselves enough grace.

That's not the embarrassing part of your story, that's the foundation of it and that's the part worth honoring.

And that's my take.

So thanks for tuning in, ladies and gentlemen.

It has most definitely been a vibe.

(audience cheering) (upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (keyboard tapping)