This week's episode of SportSquire is a special one as Brad interviews his older brother Steve Howell. Steve has an incredible story of triumph to speak about as he has learned to navigate his newly found diagnosis of Spasmodic Dysphonia. Spasmodic Dysphonia is a voice disorder that causes involuntary spasms of the voice box or larynx. Steve speaks at the end of the episode about his experiences with struggling with losing his voice and gives advice to others who are seeking representation and support with this neurological disorder. The episode does not start there however, it highlights Steve's unique story of being a Division 1 College Quarterback, to selling high end real estate, to transitioning into a full time acting pursuit of acting as a career.
Steve was a standout high school basketball and football player who turned down several division I scholarship basketball offers to pursue his dream of playing Division 1 football as a Quarterback. He began his college career at Montgomery College where he took over the starting spot as a Freshmen and helped turn the program into a top 3 school in the nation and led the Junior College Division in passing yards and touchdown passes his Sophomore year despite missing games at the end of the season after separating his shoulder and fracturing his clavicle. Before the injury he was being recruited by California, Auburn, Kansas State, and several other schools. He ended up going to the University of Massachusetts and celebrated in an Atlantic 10 Championship as a Junior. After his playing career was over he landed a job working in real estate in the Wilmington, North Carolina region. He speaks about how his transition into acting happened while in North Carolina and how he landed the series role of a highly touted Arkansas QB Troy Jameson who gets drafted in the TV Series, One Tree Hill. Steve speaks about his experiences with acting and how he poured everything into learning the craft and improving his skillset, presence, and artistry when on screen. Throughout his career his was featured in One Tree Hill, Criminal Minds, Bold and Beautiful (Still laugh about this one), Coors Light Commercial with Jim Mora (aired during entire NFL Season), and won several awards in his work in the short film arena. He speaks about how he was so close to landing so many lead roles during his time in Los Angeles but knows everything has led him to exactly where he was supposed to be. He met his wife Rohini in L.A. and they both decided to move to New York City to support Rohini's dream of realizing her unreal artistic talents at the New York Academy of Art and for Steve to pursue business interests.
This is a story of Triumph and hopefully and inspiration for those who listen that you should never settle! Steve has pivoted so many times in his life and everything he has done has been with intent focus and an unbelievably hard work ethic. His attitude, faith, and support from family/friends have really helped him through a challenging diagnosis. His words of encouragement to those going through the same or similar challenge as him is inspiring. Great story from a great individual!
In honor of raising awareness for Spasmodic Dysphonia, we will be editing/clipping the specific portion of this interview (and releasing in it's own segment) in which Steve talks specifically about his experiences and what he has learned through the process to help others who are struggling and seeking counsel as they navigate their new reality. His hope is that he can help bring HOPE to those who are struggling as he has been there. In this edited version, we will expand on useful tips that Steve has found helpful that can be pursued by individuals who are diagnosed with this neurological disorder. In the meantime, we pray for Steve, the physicians overseeing care of this diagnosis, and all individuals who are affected by this disorder that there may one day be a cure.