This season is about the coaches, the captains, the teammates, the business owners, the leaders in community, and everyone looking to step up into a leadership role. This season is about YOU.

Throughout this season, you'll hear from people with varying backgrounds and experiences eager to share with you their lives and their insight to leadership. 

This is about changing the culture and the landscape. We’re uplifting kings and queens. Welcome to Beyond the Game.

This is The Leadership Academy.

Motivation can come from many different places. How you find your motivation is up to you, but is it sustainable?

In a global climate such as ours, sometimes it can be easy to give up and let the world pass on by, but is that what you really want? Listen in as Marcus Smith (@ThatMotivatedKid) and I talk about our lives and the journeys that we've been on. By no means are we perfect or anywhere close to it, but through other people and through the lessons we've learned, we've found the MOTIVATION to keep going!

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is BEYOND MOTIVATED.

We have an agenda: to create MORE dialogue and uncomfortable discussions in order to formulate actionable steps towards healing and reconciliation.

Racism is alive and breathing around the world. It hasn't "gotten worse," it's been here, it's just being videotaped.

We at Beyond The Game will never choose to be silent when it comes to racism. We will ALWAYS stand up and fight against the oppression of people of colour. We will ALWAYS stand up and be educators. We will ALWAYS stand up and be allies.

This ain't for no trend. This isn't because it's cool to speak up now. This is our life. This is our community!

As promised, we will provide resources for you to take your action a step forward:

Children's book: https://www.amazon.ca/Skin-Im-First-Look-Racism/dp/0764124595

Article to help children, teenagers and educate parents to understand and reverse what's been said and seen about racism:

https://naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/may2018/teaching-learning-race-and-racism

Petitions, Donation Centres, More Resources:

https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co

Difficult Racial Conversations:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/05/how-to-thoughtfully-talk-about-racial-inequality-with-your-coworkers.html

Please DM us if you need any help having difficult conversations. We can do this together!

From the Holy Trinity Titans in Oakville, Ontario to completing his Senior year at Edgewood Academy in Alabama to Junior College, then the Ohio University Bobcats, Nathan Rourke has stepped into roles of leadership and has had to learn how to lead in each situation. As the 15th overall pick to the BC Lions in the 2020 CFL Draft, Nathan looks to take his work ethic, leadership, and skillset to the pros.

The  path to the professional leagues hasn't been easy for Nathan. Trials and tribulations stood in his way like any other athlete, but for a Canadian trying to make his mark on a sport that hasn't been so forgiving to the "Canadian Quarterback," all he can do is stand tall, work hard, and prove that he belongs. Through his journey, he has found his personal faith and identity in God and has gained a new perspective! 

This is a journey that will inspire and motivate. This is a story that shows leadership in patience and perseverance.

In a world where we are surrounded by the perception of progress, it can be difficult to slow down. We are so inundated with information that we can feel pressured to keep up. Quick word from the wise: We're not in a competition all the time.

It's important for us to to take time for ourselves and focus on what we have going on. Being still can be difficult, but spending the time to talk to BTG Coach, Ashley Noonan,  was great because she has so much insight into this. Meditation, stillness, and self-care are things that she places great importance in and she joins me to show us how we can do it ourselves.

One of the biggest aims of this podcast is to inspire, motivate, and elevate everyone. Sitting and talking with people like Orion Edwards not only does all of what we aim to do, but it also uplifts your spirit. He is so filled with love for people and for Jesus that it is radiant and so evident in our conversation and our friendship.

Through football at the University of Guelph, to Athletes in Action in Seattle, and now training to compete in Bobsled for CANADA at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, OE has been through so much and his story is still being written. Listen in as he reflects and shares his life with us.

Follow him on IG @o___eddy7

As always,

Peace & Love

Life is precious and we're not promised tomorrow. We all process someone passing differently. It is my prayer that this helps someone through a difficult time as well.

Let's love, laugh, & live to the ABSOLUTE fullest everyday. 

Rest in Peace Kobe Bryant

Rest in Peace Gianna Bryant

Rest in Peace Alyssa Altobelli

Rest in Peace John Altobelli

Rest in Peace Kerry Altobelli

Rest in Peace Christina Mauser

Rest in Peace Sara Chester

Rest in Peace Payton Chester

Rest in Peace Are Zobayan

A little while ago, we were able to sit down with Nathan Wilson Taylor, of the Canadian Major Football League Champion GTA All-Stars and talk about his life.

We talk a lIttle about his upbringing in Scarborough, Ontario, and his academic and athletic career thus far. What really was intriguing are his professional career choices - some being counter culture. Nonetheless, his journey is nothing short of motivating and inspiring to anyone who is willing to take the time to listen in.

Tune in. We promise you won't be disappointed.

Follow him on Instagram: @therealwillie2k

This episode is a little different than the others. 

I've done a lot of thinking and processing and I decided to bring y'all along for the journey because I know someone else might be going through it as well. To preface, I played another year of semi-professional football in Canada. This decision came after 3 years being "retired" already. I made the decision to come out of retirement because I wanted to play with some of my friends that I saw playing on the team. I also made the decision that it would most likely be my last season playing. This was for a multitude of reasons, but definitely not the one that I describe in the episode. I hope you enjoy this episode! I know it definitely helped me straighten out my thoughts and emotions. As always, please continue to follow our socials! 

Comment, like, and share with your friends. Subscribe to stay up to date with us! Peace & Blessings, Shaka