Ephraim Salaam: Navigating Hollywood as a writer, Finding Bel-Air, the Amazing Race debacle

On the latest NFL Players: Second Acts podcast, former offensive tackle, and renaissance man Ephraim Salaam joins Peanut and Roman. Ephraim takes you on his journey from his days as a hoop star at San Diego St. University, to 13-year NFL veteran, to Hollywood writer and producer. He’s currently a staff writer on the hit Peacock show “Bel-Air” and Ephraim shares how his unusual path to that job started with something his wife gifted him. He also talks about how the topsy-turvy life in the NFL was great preparation for the unpredictable world of being a Hollywood writer. And Ephraim takes us inside his experience competing on the Amazing Race.

2:13 - Ephraim on his basketball career at San Diego St University
4:45 - Ephraim on how Draft status can outweigh performance in the NFL

7:50 - Ephraim on being a writer on the show Bel-Air and the importance of positive Black role models
15:14 - Ephraim on how his wife helped him get into how he got into writing
19:43 - Ephraim on how his NFL career prepared him for dealing with Hollywood rejection
27:37 - Ephraim gives career advice on the importance of adding value
32:14 - Ephraim on creating opportunities for Black people in Hollywood

34:48 - Ephraim on how he skipped two grades in elementary school

37:30 - Ephraim on his experience on the Amazing Race

42:00 - Ephriam on his wife’s career as a background dancer for Beyonce, Rihanna, and Usher
47:36 - Ephraim gives his personal Mount Rushmore

NOTE: Time codes are approximate

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