Brain on Sports Podcast: Tony Gonzalez on family dynamics in sports

Brain on Sports podcast co-host Jon Wertheim talks with former NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez about his family, brother Chris Gonzalez, the documentary "Play it Forward" and more.

“This is Your Brain on Sports” is a new podcast from Sports Illustrated in which SI executive editor Jon Wertheim and Tufts University psychology professor Sam Sommers explore the intersection of sports and human nature—what the world of sports has to teach us about who we are, what we care about and the forces that shape our behavior. In this week's episode, Wertheim talks with former NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez about family dynamics in sports through his own personal experiences and new Showtime documentary, "Play it Forward," which airs Friday, Oct. 16 at 9 p.m. ET (click here to view the trailer, or watch it below).

The documentary features the story of Gonzalez and his older brother, Chris, who taught Tony how to play and shared the same NFL aspirations. On the podcast, Gonzalez discusses the film and gives more intimate details about his relationship with his brother and the role of family dynamics in sports. Is there some sort of guilt felt after one sibling makes it to the NFL and the other doesn't? Tony talks about the emotional impact his successful career had on him and his bond with his brother and more. 

Gonzalez also discusses the importance of his stepfather, Michael "Pop" Saltzman and reveals what happened to his relationship with Chris after the cameras stopped rolling. 

Listen below or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, and check back every week for a new episode.

And for your viewing pleasure, here is a trailer of the Showtime documentary.