Nico Marley on Embracing Your Inner Lion
Life can change in an instant. An email can shift your mood, a smile can transform your day, one man’s death can shake the world.
For Nico Marley, the trajectory of his life pivoted in 2017 when he was signed and waived by the Washington Redskins within four months. It was his first professional football gig, after an impressive high school and college career; and an indelible legacy set by his father, Rohan Marley, who played for the University of Miami, and Rohan’s father, Bob Marley who had quite an affinity for football too (but we call it soccer).
Instead of languishing in “waived” purgatory, however, Nico walked — full circle into his own footsteps. He left the NFL and worked for his father’s Marley Coffee (organic and fairtrade — get you some), and in 2020, around what would have been his grandfather Bob’s 75th birthday, Nico launched Lion X Wellness, a collection of CBD products designed to empower restorative healing.
Restorative healing, for a society that is quite literally the most overworked population in the world, is a revolutionary vision.
His goal, he says, is to support people in presenting their best selves, to embrace their inner lion, to sleep like a king by night and exert the dedication, focus, and performance of an athlete by day.
We sat with Nico to learn more.
UWM: Favorite memory of growing up Marley -- knowingly, woke to the fact that y'all are famous?
Nico: One of my favorite memories growing up as a Marley was listening to people that didn't know my grandfather, Bob Marley, or did and would speak about how he changed their lives.
His impact was felt on a global scale, and people always had such great things to say about him. He started the Marley legend, and now every one of us aspires to add value to our name.
Respect. As a health & wellness "solider," have you integrated veganism into your lifestyle yet? It's inevitable to at least taste a meal.
No, I am currently not vegan. I'm definitely aspiring to continue to make more conscious decisions about my health and the sustainability of the world. I have tried before and am currently on a vegan meal plan, but I wouldn't say I classify as a vegan just yet.
Most labels are for haters, anyway. “Plant-based” is a good one. Favorite wellness icon?
Not all of them may be considered "Icons" to the public on a global scale, but many of these people inspire me every day to keep going. My dad, growing up, he always incorporated wellness, stability, fair wages, and high standards for his customers in every single business he created.
He's also someone who doesn't quit the second something doesn't work out. He finds solutions, creates new plans, and goes after what he wants. That's something I look up to and aspire to do as well.
My grandfather, of course, inspires me through music every day. His music helps me get up in the morning, gives me the strength before and after my football games, and even at night helps me unwind. Bob Marley was always an advocate for natural wellness, even before it became a globally practiced technique.
Lastly, Christine Del La Rosa also inspires me. After hearing her story about her transition from prescription medication to holistic wellness and how that wellness medication made her feel better than ever before profoundly moved me. It made me want to partner with her even more. Christine is highly intelligent in the CBD space, and I hope through our partnership and mentorship, I can learn even more.
Favorite West Indian dish?
A lot of my favorite food memories come from my culture. Being Haitian and Jamaican, my mom would make Mais Moulin, which is essentially cornmeal and is typically served at breakfast. She would make it fairly often, and having it now reminds me of my home so much.
Ackee was also a huge staple for me growing up. I remember being with my father, and we'd either dine-in or take out Ackee and Saltfish all the time. The smells and tastes of those dishes bring me back to my childhood.
Yeah, you put some saltfish in some bake, and you may never go vegan… Our ideas of wellness are ever-changing and sometimes merely trendy. Is there a wellness practice that you had — and changed — that you were surprised you had to let go of?
The way I work out has changed a lot. Back when I was playing football, I would lift heavy on the weights. Now, I'm more into running and conditioning my body in different ways. This way, I don't put too much strain on my body anymore and still receive great results.
Many athletic-minded people consider pain management a weakness, other than to "walk it off." What is your pain management philosophy?
CBD is something that helps me manage my pain. I've been using it for a while, even back when I was playing football. It helped me get focused as well as recover after games. After leaving the game, CBD still helped me keep my best foot forward. Whether it helped my post-workout regime or promoted clarity, it stayed a part of my routine. I use CBD every day.
The situation and the time of day encourage how I use it. In the morning, I take a capsule to start my day and promote focus to complete my daily tasks and goals.
After I workout, I use the cooling balm on my legs and sore spots to improve recovery. It's an instant relief.
Throughout the day, I'll get a gummy or two to maintain that focus. It's also a plus because they taste so good I actually have to keep them away from me.
Lastly, at night I use tinctures, which help promote my overall wellness and help me sleep better.
Self-care is real. What’s one of your favorite workout songs on your playlist rn?
Right now, one of my favorite workout songs is Lil' Wayne “I'm Me.” This song pumps me up and gets me ready to go each time it plays on my workout playlist. It definitely keeps me going.
Hip hop’s not for the tender-headed.
