The Power Play Podcast

As many of you know, I worked in professional sports for 13 seasons. I stood nearly courtside, in the visiting team’s tunnel within the historic Oracle Arena and was part of a team of people that managed the entertainment experience of the game. It was an amazing vantage point. Not only did I get to see the plays that happened on the court, I was also a piece of the Power Plays that happen off the court or field.

It was a privilege to see and be a part of the lifestyle movement of sport. In particular, the entrepreneurial side of athletics is booming. Power Players are using sport to take their careers to new heights, create change, innovate and build ventures that will outlast the shine of any season. While there are Power Players making these moves every single day, their stories are seldom told…until now.

Listen to The Power Play Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher. Join 500,000 people and subscribe to The Athletic for the full casts including bonus footage of the Power Play podcast, exclusive content and in-depth coverage of all teams.

I have partnered with The Athletic to bring you the real stories of the Power Players of sport in The Power Play Podcast. Through dynamic interviews, I will show you a side of sports you have never seen before. I have an amazing lineup and I can’t wait to share it with you. As a matter of fact, I don’t have to because the first episode is here!

Derrick Robinson, aka the Golden State Warriors official DJ, D-Sharp, is the epitome of a Power Player. I could rattle off all of his amazing accomplishments but why do that when we have this amazing podcast? The debut of the official Power Play intro that was created by Derrick and Oakland artist Kev Choice is also in the episode. Clearly, there are so many reasons to press play.

Listen to Episode 1 | DJ D Sharp of The Power Play Podcast with Alicia Jay.

I am incredibly grateful to Taneka Smothers, Brian Smith and the entire team at The Athletic for giving me this incredible opportunity to share this remarkable view of sports. I would also like to give a huge thanks to all of my guests and future guests on The Power Play Podcast. Last but certainly not least, I will be forever appreciative to Marcus Thompson for bringing my name to the table, for his mentorship and his continuous belief in me. Thank you, Marcus.

And as with every single thing that I do, thank you God. Literally nothing is possible without you.

And now. The debut of The Power Play Podcast…

Photographer Ariel Nava took the amazing photos for The Power Play launch. Check out his outstanding work HERE.

Listen to the first episode of The Power Play Podcast HERE.

Make it Plain

How in the world do you pronounce Habakkuk?

Image via BreatheConference.com

I was going to come on here and talk Tall style.

Yes. I am still passionate about it.

Yes. I will still share about it in every way.

But right now I am smack in the middle of a very amazing period of growth and I would be remiss if I didn’t share what was actually going on in my life.

I am in a season of building. Building my faith, my brand, my ideas, my personal life, my circle and my health (both metal and physical). You see, when you work somewhere for 13 years straight, you get comfortable in a lot of areas. As you know, nothing ever grows in prolonged comfort. Thus, a lot of the facets of my life had been stunted right under my nose. Once I took the leap, the ugly parts swam to the surface and waved at me. They are being addressed and it has been nothing short of beautiful. Painfully gorgeous.

Working through the muck is taxing but the worst thing that could ever happen to you is making a home in it. Kicking back in rubbish isn’t cute. I shutter at the thought of remaining the person that I was a little under 8 months ago. The Alicia you are listening to right now, is not the same one that you have known. She is far better, far stronger and a heck of a lot wiser. She knows who she is and what she brings to the table. She knows what she deserves and more importantly what God wants for her life. She is ready to actualize all of the purpose He has placed in her heart.

I am changing and that means that TallSWAG will be changing too. I am working behind the scenes on so many things that I can’t wait to share with you but know this…

we are going to work this out together.

I am not on this journey alone. God has built me to share my story and I will. I will reveal this portrait not at once, yet stoke by stoke of the brush.

Right now the color is named vision. We are going to be talking a lot about her. We can’t accomplish anything without it being in the forefront. God literally gives us a vision for our life in different ways. It’s our job to recognize it, write it down and move our feet so vigorously that there is no question that we will catch it at the exact right moment.

Mine is on paper in permanent ink. I recite them every morning. Speak them into existence every day. Work on them in complete faith that they will come to fruition in the exact way that they should. It’s a process that takes patience, prayer and persistence. You are not seeing what God is doing but please believe your works are seen, heard and used all up and through His plan for your life.

Sounds overwhelming right? It can be but His promises supersede any doubt that you could ever muster up to block it. Breathe. Get out a piece of paper and physically write down the vision. Make a word map of what you are going to accomplish and get ta following it.

No like I’m serious. Get out a piece of paper right now and write those bad boys out. I will wait. As a matter of fact, everyone who is depending on you to actualize the vision are currently waiting too. Don’t disappoint them.

WRITE THE VISION and make it plain, so that he who reads it may run. [Habakkuk 2:2]

My Self-Love Story

I am a creator on GoInspo and recently I had the opportunity to tell my Self-Love story. It is always a blessing to be able to share my path. I truly believe that the more we tell our stories, the more we change ourselves and more importantly, the lives of others. 

Self-love is so incredibly important. It all starts with the love that you have for yourself. It took me a long time to get to where I am today and I am blessed to share it once again in this video. Thanks in advance for watching!

No Purchase Necessary

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas filled with light and love! I know I was blessed to be surrounded by my loved ones. We laughed, lounged, ate amazing food and opened gifts. While gift giving is wonderful, did you know that there are many gifts that you can give all year long that require no purchase?

Find out exactly what I mean on my first post as a creator on goInspo! Hint: You get just as much as you give.

What is goInspo? Check it out! I am so thankful for the opportunity...more to come!

One Giant Night

Photo by Nikki Notarte

Today is a GIANT day for many reasons..

1. Season 3 of My Giant Life on TLC premieres TONIGHT at 10/9c! I am blessed to have been added to the cast. I am proud to be the first African American cast member and hope that ALL women find inspiration through the lives of the women on the show.

2. I am stepping ALL THE WAY outside my comfort zone. Listen, putting your story in the hands of someone else is completely uncomfortable. It has stretched me and in turn I have grown in ways that I never would have. I now see the beauty in being uncomfortable and I know that no matter what comes out of this show, that I will be better in the end and God will ultimately use it for my good. It certainly will not look that way that I think it should, but I rest in the fact that it will be exactly what it needs to be.

3. I get to share my story on a major level. I was built to tell my story. It's part of my purpose. This opportunity was mapped out for me before I was even born. Having the faith to be so vulnerable in front of hundreds of thousands of people is a step of obedience. I am blessed to have been given this responsibility. If I inspire just one person from this show, my transparency will have been worth it.

4. This is a huge step in loving myself completely. Man...when ya girl saw the trailer I was like ummmm that's not the way I look! I freaked out. I wasn't used to seeing myself with natural hair (as I stopped wearing a weave a short time before the filming), the angles aren't the most flattering and I indeed look taller than everyone else. Well Alicia, I hate to break it to you (in my sarcastic voice) but you are. See, we tend to only show the world our best angles. We can scream we love ourselves from the mountain tops until the perspective changes. Can your confidence remain strong despite an unsavory viewpoint? Will you continue to stay resilient despite what others think and say? Without a doubt, this is a test of self-love and I'm here to pass it.

5. It's an accomplishment. It took a lot of work to get to this point and really, this is just the beginning. I'm going to work harder than ever but tomorrow is a time to celebrate this milestone in my journey.

6. I get to share this win with all of you. God has given me a community that I share every accomplishment with. I am honored to be on this journey with friends and family which includes you. We are standing Talll every day, in every way together and today is no different. Thank you for your support. It means the world to me!

Those are just some of the many reasons that today is truly a giant of a day. Check out the preview below as well as a segment that I did with Right this minute previewing tonight's premiere. I am blessed to have had many opportunities to tell my story which I will share with you soon!

See you tonight at 10/9c...it's going to be a wild ride!

Click for a preview of season 3 of My Giant Life

I had so much fun with the Right This Minute Crew. Click to check out my segment on RTM!

Busy Becoming Me

I'm busy yo. 

My busy has increased ten fold over the last 3 months. I'm blessed. It's what I have been praying for and please believe that I will move my feet right to the promises that God has for me. I'm listening and more importantly acting on the last thing God told me to do.

With that busy, comes a craving for a streamlined look. I need it to be easy, chic and reflect me. 

Enter neutral pieces like this versatile skirt. Long Tall Sally killed it with this one. Love the length, the color and shape. I can wear this with anything and I do. I often wear it more than once a week and dare someone to say something. Who cares?

Now, I am sure that this hits some type of trend, but this is also something that I no longer care about. In the past I picked things to fulfill a style quota of sorts. I would comb the Internets looking for the next big thing. What a waste of time. Style is a reflection of you. I love a good fashion show just like the next person but never should a runway dictate what you put on your body. 

Tall Tie Waist Skirt - Long Tall Sally/Sheer Top - Long Tall Sally/Earrings - Candid Art/Pumps - Calvin Klein via Nordstrom Rack (size 12)

Photo Credit: Ashdav Photography

I must say, shedding strongholds is hard work. From style to love letting go of things that no longer serve you is uncomfortable but it's necessary to get closer to who we are and who we need to be. God cannot give you anything new if you are constantly holding on to things He didn't give you in the first place. Society is good for telling you who you should be but God set you apart. He created you specifically and you must walk the path He tailored for you. It's the best, most beautiful place to be.

This really got deep. I was talking about a skirt and went in lol. Probably because this is where I'm at. Everything is deep. I'm changing and moving closer to God every single day. I am right smack dab in the middle of a refinement period and I'm thankful.

Where are you at? Wherever it is, know that it is making you stronger. We are all learning and growing. There is no time like the present to stand tall in your truth and let God do His best, most formative work on YOU.