The Turn Around Podcast: The True Life Basketball Story of Stewart "Squirt" Holley

In this powerful episode of The Turn Around Podcast, host Stewart "Squirt" Holley reconnects with childhood friend Steven Williams, a Durham native, Walltown community member, international business leader, and former mayoral candidate for the City of Durham. Together, they reflect on their early lives growing up in Walltown, the trials and triumphs of their shared environment, and how it shaped their paths as men, professionals, and community leaders. Steven shares: ▪️ His experience navigating college and international business ▪️ What it really means to serve your community, beyond politics ▪️ Reflections on Durham's past, present, and what's possible for its future ▪️ A call for Black men to show up for their children and lead with intention This episode is a heartfelt call to action for anyone who's rooted in Durham and committed to building strong communities from the ground up. 📍 Recorded in Tunes Recording Studio in Durham, NC  — 🔗 Follow & Connect: 📬 Book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for appearances: [email protected] 📱 Instagram: @theturnaround_podcast 🌐 Learn more: https://linktr.ee/theturnaround  

In this episode of The Turn Around Podcast, international pro-ballers Justin Lee Watts and host Stewart "Squirt" Holley reconnect for an honest conversation on basketball, identity, and mental wellness—all rooted in their hometown of Durham, North Carolina. From high school gyms in Bull City to courts around the globe, Justin and Stewart reflect on what it means to grow, pivot, and persevere as Black men in sports. They open up about the grind of overseas basketball, the pressures of performance, and the personal evolution that happens off the court. They speak candidly about: ▪️ Mental health and emotional self-awareness ▪️ People-first values in sports and life ▪️ Navigating social dilemmas as Black athletes ▪️ The impact of Durham and the 919 on their journeys This episode is for the basketball purists, the Black men doing the inner work, and anyone who's ever had to turn a setback into a setup for the next phase. 🎧 Stream it now and share with someone who knows what it means to bet on themselves. — 🔗 Follow & Connect: 📬 Book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for appearances: [email protected] 📱 Instagram: @theturnaround_podcast 🌐 All links: https://linktr.ee/theturnaround

Season 3 kicks off in Durham, NC, where host Stewart "Squirt" Holley sits down with Talib Jasir to reflect on The Turn Around Podcast's journey—from its early roots to what fans can expect this season. In this live interview recorded at Tunes Studio, Stewart reps hard for Bull City and the 252 (Edenton, NC), sharing how basketball remains a central force in his life. Whether it's pick-up games, pro-level readiness, or mentoring the next generation, he stays game-ready—mind, body, and soul. If you're a sports fanatic, hooper, or Black man navigating life with purpose, this conversation hits home. It's about more than basketball—it's about staying ready, no matter the season. Originally recorded January 20, 2023 Audio from Seasons 1 & 2 was recorded between 2018–2021 Last episode of Season 2 aired on February 19, 2023 Shout out to Tunes Recording Studio, Durham, NC. — Follow & Connect: Book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking or guest appearances: [email protected] Instagram: @theturnaround_podcast  More info & links: https://linktr.ee/theturnaround #TheTurnAroundPodcast #StewartHolley #DurhamNC #BullCityBasketball #252Pride #BlackMenInSports #BasketballCulture #BlackPodcasts #NCBasketball #HoopersUnite

In this last recorded episode of The Turn Around podcast, Stewart concludes the story of how he almost lost his freedom again and why a friend's advice to "reinvent himself" changed the direction of his life. Today, Stewart stays close to the game by coaching and officiating recreation and school leagues. From the womb to the tomb Stewart remains a basketball player and stays ready for the next opportunity to keep dribbling. After the episode, stay tuned for a special interview at timestamp 12:22. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram. Visit theturnaroundpod to learn more! Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley Music by Tunes Recording Studio  If you or someone you know struggles with alcohol addiction there are resources available and you don't have to try to figure out how to help them alone.  Stewart and Talib Jasir, the producer of the Turn Around Podcast talk briefly about the recording journey that started in 2018 and ended in 2021. Stewart reflects on how liberated he feels now that his story is out. Stewart and Talib are both grateful for the listeners and fans of the podcast. They ask that you continue to share it with your friends and family.  

In episode 13, "De Ja Vu", Stewart experiences all too familiar troubles as he continues to struggle with alcohol addiction. Squirt flirts with danger once more putting himself behind the wheel after a night of drinking, which results in a car accident. Back in the crosshairs of the local police, Squirt is placed on probation which makes him vulnerable to new charges that no one could've seen coming. This episode powerfully brings to life how challenging it can be to break a cycle and break free from the hauntings of our country's Prison Industrial Complex. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram. Visit theturnaroundpod to learn more! Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley Music by Tunes Recording Studio  If you or someone you know struggles with alcohol addiction there are resources available and you don't have to try to figure out how to help them alone.   

In this episode of the Turn Around Podcast, Stewart discusses the realities of relapsing into the negative patterns of disappointment, heartbreak, alcoholism, and despair. Holley's storytelling is at its finest in "Man Apart", an unflinchingly honest account of his second go-around with a broken heart and self-destructive habits. After three days in county jail, Squirt needs to figure out what he's going to do next with his basketball career and his life now that his run with the Bull City Legacy is coming to an end. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram. Visit theturnaroundpod to learn more! Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley Music by Tunes Recording Studio  If you or someone you know struggles with alcohol addiction there are resources available and you don't have to try to figure out how to help them alone.   

The 11th episode of season 2 of The Turn Around Podcast follows Stewart Holley and the Bull City Legacy as they compete in the Tobacco Road Basketball League. He has dedicated himself to the TRBL and continues to work toward his goal of making it to the NBA, but can he count on their support? After the excitement of playing for another hometown team in Durham wore off, Holley was left with a sense of déjà vu. A professional basketball player for 14 years, Squirt was tired of being undervalued and overlooked and is determined that this time, he wouldn't take it sitting down...on the bench.  To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram. Visit theturnaroundpod to learn more! Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley Music by Tunes Recording Studio 

Stewart "Squirt" Holley begins his career in the Tobacco Road Basketball League (TRBL) in Season 2, Episode 10, and for the first time in a long time, begins to enjoy playing professional basketball again. The TRBL provides him with another opportunity to represent his hometown of Durham as a member of the Bull City Legacy. Stewart takes tremendous pride in the possibilities he has to give back to the community through the league, to make his family proud, and to show his hometown fans the skills they had been waiting to see again since his street ball days. This time, Holley brings his professional basketball knowledge and wisdom to the court, while reppin' Durham on the front of his chest for all to see. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram. Visit theturnaroundpod to learn more! Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley Music by Tunes Recording Studio 

In Season 2, Episode 9, Stewart "Squirt" Holley reflects on his time spent with the Fayetteville Flight and Carolina Jaguars of the American Basketball Association (ABA) in North Carolina. Stewart returns to the court still dealing with the death of his Grandmother, the breakup, and the DUI charge. This time around he has a new outlook and is determined to take his life back with the help of his first love - basketball. While his time with the Flight and Jaguars was not without its share of challenges and setbacks, it did provide him with the outlet he needed to keep pushing forward and do what he does best: leave it all on the floor. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram. Visit theturnaroundpod to learn more! Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley Music by Tunes Recording Studio 

In this bonus episode of Season 2, Holley's friend and teammate at Rockingham Community College, Wallace Clayton, and another friend, 13-year NBA veteran Chucky Brown, share their memories and stories with Stewart "Squirt" Holley on and off the court.  To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram. Visit theturnaroundpod to learn more! Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley Music by Tunes Recording Studio 

Mental fortitude has been the theme of Stewart "Squirt" Holley's "turnaround". In this episode, Holley continues to pursue his basketball dreams while dealing with a series of setbacks and disappointments. In this episode Squirt is at it again, baring all as he makes a return from the depths of heartache to his refuge on the hardwood floors. Episode 7 deals honestly and openly with issues of mental and physical health, conquering "demons", and heartbreak.  To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram. Visit theturnaroundpod to learn more! Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley Music by Tunes Recording Studio 

In episode 6, Stewart "Squirt" Holley returns from Lithuania and begins looking for a Basketball team in the states to call home.  Squirt's life appears to be heading in the right direction when he is selected as the eighth draft pick in the WBA selection. A new love interest, a promising basketball offer, and being back in the US makes for a great welcome home. Unfortunately, it wouldn't last.  The combination of Stewart's personal life and a string of setbacks leads him down a new and unfamiliar path of depression. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram. Visit theturnaroundpod to learn more! Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley Music by Tunes Recording Studio 

In Episode 5, Holley shares his professional basketball experience in Joniskis, Lithuania. As the combo guard for Delikatesas 2004-2006, Squirt experienced the ups and downs of playing on a professional level and leading his team to countless victories. His leadership on the court was felt even in the losses and as a Black man in a city and country where he was outnumbered in representation, Holley recalls an abundance of respect and love from his teammates and fans. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram. Visit theturnaroundpod to learn more! Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley Music by Mack G Music Studio

In this episode, Squirt describes how it feels after realizing his lifelong dream of being a professional basketball star! In Lithuania the audiences go wild wherever he goes, the arena is filled, and everyone sees him for the talent that he is. Holley recounts his next-level training, the experienced player that took him under his wing and helped to enhance his skills, and how it felt to be the only Black person for months at a time. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram. Visit theturnaroundpod to learn more! Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley Music by Mack G Music Studio

In Episode 3, Holley confronts a new recruit on the court and decides that he's had enough of playing for a coach who doesn't recognize his value to the squad. In his final year at Rockingham Community College, Squirt is faced with an unbeatable challenge and a decision that will permanently alter the course of his Basketball career. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram. Visit theturnaroundpod to learn more! Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley Music by Mack G Music Studio

In the second episode of Season 2, Holley talks about his challenges with the coaching staff at Rockingham Community College and how it felt to not have the support of the head coach as he pursued his dreams of becoming a professional player. Squirt also talks about the love and respect he received from the student body which led to a surprise nomination and win off the court that he would've never expected! To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram. Visit theturnaroundpod to learn more! Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley Music by Mack G Music Studio

In the first episode of Season 2, Holley talks about his experiences as a college-level athlete, the trials and tribulations of basketball politics, and keeping his head up despite the challenges both on and off the court. True to form, Squirt's determination to play the sport he fell in love with as a child takes center stage as he navigates freedom outside of prison and being the new but seasoned kid on the Rockingham Community College campus. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram. Visit theturnaroundpod to learn more! Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley Music by Mack G Music Studio

This bonus episode was recorded three weeks after the tragic deaths of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and 7 others in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.  Holley shares how the death of the former LA Laker NBA icon impacted his life and those around him. Holley describes the day he learned that the world lost one of the greatest athletes of the 21st century and shares the impact Bryant made on his own life and basketball career. Squirt reflects on the work ethic that got him the name 'Workhorse" and why he relates his approach to training and conditioning to Kobe's "Black Mamba" mentality.  Squirt also shares the biggest lesson he learned from the tragedy that shook up the world over 2 years ago. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Music by Mack G Music Studio Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley

Trigger warning: If you or someone you know has experienced violence, survived a violent act, or lost someone to violence, please be aware that this episode describes a violent experience in the life of Stewart Holley and can trigger certain listeners. Please be advised.   Thank you for listening to season one of the Turn Around Podcast: The True Life Basketball Story of Stewart "Squirt" Holley. This podcast is less about the chronological order of Squirt's life but the impact of his cautionary tales. From being named "Dribble King" of Walltown Park to becoming the "Dunk King" of Polk Correctional Facility, Squirt has let the world in on his checkered past and bared it all in the hopes that it will help others.   In this final episode of Season 1, Squirt details the night he almost died by the sword he lived by. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Music by Mack G Music Studio Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley

In Episode 7 of the Turn Around Podcast, Holley recounts more stories of his time in lock-up and how he navigated the dangers of the prison system and being away from his family. Squirt lends insight on being institutionalized from a young age and how it still impacts him to this day. As always, Squirt's stories are raw and candid about the trials of a misguided young man who wasn't yet convinced of his potential or where his life would lead him. In his heart, basketball remains his saving grace and the way out - even if he didn't know it at the time. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Music by Mack G Music Studio Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley

In Episode 6, Squirt details the events that got him incarcerated as a teenager and the reasons he decided it was time for him to make a change in his life for the better. Squirt shares another cautionary tale of how making impulsive and immature decisions and being at the wrong place with the wrong people as a youth changed his life forever. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Music by Mack G Music Studio Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley

In this bonus episode 5 of The Turn Around podcast, Coach Ray Hartsfield, Head Men's Basketball Coach at East Chapel Hill High School and Owner-operator of Hoops at East Basketball Durham, North Carolina talks about his time mentoring and coaching Squirt as a High School Basketball player in the early 90s. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Music by Mack G Music Studio Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley

Squirts' raw and candid storytelling gives listeners rare insight into the mind of a young boy living a double life between home/school and the streets. In Episode 4, Holley weaves a cautionary tale of misguided decisions that eventually cost him his freedom as a teenager caught in the juvenile detention systems, jail, and prison. Despite the dangers of jail and the perils of confinement, basketball remains an undeniable talent and passion that helps him endure his time behind bars and develop into a basketball player that opponents would have to physically "deal with" on the court. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network (audio quality was produced by a landline and cell phone connection in early recordings). Music by Mack G Music Studio Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley

In Episode 3 of The Turn Around Podcast, Holley explains how his misguided behaviors turned an innocent kid who loved basketball into a juvenile offender. Squirt speaks about the coaches who tried to positively intercede in his life and reflects on the reality of not having a consistent male presence to hold him accountable for some of his choices and how that led him down a path of confusion and criminality as an adolescent. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network (audio quality was produced by a landline and cell phone connection in early recordings). Music by Mack G Music Studio Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley

"Family and Forgiveness" is the 2nd episode of The Turn Around Podcast, listen in as Holley tells different stories of how his upbringing shaped his misguided reactions to insecurity and not fitting in, and why forgiveness is oftentimes necessary to move forward in life. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Music by Mack G Music Studio Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley

In the first episode, we hear about Squirt's life as a young boy of a single mother who journies from the small country town of Edenton, NC to Bull City, Durham, NC. Holly reflects on how his tough beginnings and the unwanted attention of bullies helped shape him into the fighter he is today. To book Stewart "Squirt" Holley for speaking engagements or as a guest on your show, send an email to [email protected] and follow theturnaround_podcast on Instagram  Produced by Talib Jasir, Vanguard Podcast Network Music by Mack G Music Studio Voiced by Stewart "Squirt" Holley