#32: Former WNBA player Chelsea Poppens spent years chasing her dream on the court. But like many athletes, the hardest transition came when the game ended.

In this episode of Changing the Game, Chelsea shares her journey from Iowa State to the WNBA, overcoming career-ending injuries, finding her identity beyond basketball, and building a new chapter as a COO, entrepreneur, broadcaster, investor, wife, and mother.

A powerful conversation about reinvention, resilience, and why your next chapter can be even bigger than your first.

In this episode:

• Chelsea's path from Iowa State to the WNBA
• Playing professionally around the world
• Recovering from multiple ACL injuries
• Becoming a broadcaster and podcast host
• Transitioning from athlete to business leader and COO
• Finding identity beyond sport
• Motherhood and redefining success
• Why athletes are built for reinvention

Follow Chelsea: @chelseapoppens

Listen to Champion This Podcast on Spotify!

#31: Follow Marina on Instagram: @marinapaul
Learn more: superhera.com

Former Georgetown soccer captain Marina Paul joins Changing the Game to talk about the realities many female athletes experience but rarely talk about openly.

We discuss the pressure women face around body image in sports, the identity shift that comes after athletics, and how Marina went from Division 1 soccer to a career at Accenture before founding SuperHera, a company redesigning sports apparel specifically for women’s bodies.

This conversation is honest, eye-opening, and an important look at the future of women’s sports.

Topics include:

•  D1 soccer at Georgetown 
•  Athlete identity after sport 
•  Body image & disordered eating in women’s athletics 
•  Leaving corporate life to become a founder 
•  Building SuperHera 
•  The future of women’s sports apparel

Dr. Jo Shattuck is a former world-ranked racquet sports pro who started at 17, climbed to No. 6 in the world, and later walked away mid-season the moment her intuition told her it was time. She shares what it felt like to quit suddenly, why she needed a full year to grieve, and how that decision reshaped her identity.

Now a neuroscientist and the founder of Panther Tec, Jo explains neuroplasticity, proprioception, and why real-time feedback helps athletes learn movement faster than watching film. This conversation is for anyone rebuilding after sport, chasing mastery, or learning to trust what their body already knows.

#29: Jaclyn Balben, COO at MD Ally and former college lacrosse player, shares how she built her career by focusing on self awareness and environment over titles. Her path spans startups and large companies, shaped by a clear understanding of how she works best.

This conversation covers career mapping without a perfect plan, the difference between startup and corporate environments, and how athletes can use their mindset to navigate uncertainty and make better career decisions.

#28: Nina Ligon is a former equestrian Olympian who competed in the London Games and went on to build products at companies like Headspace before deciding to create something of her own. In this episode, she shares the nonlinear path that led her from elite sport and Stanford engineering to entrepreneurship.

Nina breaks down why she founded Generation Sport, an athletic wear brand designed specifically for athletic bodies, and the gaps she saw in the industry that no one else was solving. This conversation covers identity shifts, trusting your gut, and what it really takes to move from high performer to builder and founder.

#27: Former Division I hockey player Katie Virtue shares how her athlete mindset fueled a fast climb in consulting and leadership, and how it eventually led to burnout. She breaks down her Sustainable Performance Playbook built on purpose, values, and behaviors, plus the energy habits that help high performers protect their sleep, set boundaries, and stop chasing productivity as a badge of honor.

#26: Jennifer Matthews is a former Division I volleyball player at Siena University who built an executive career shaping some of the biggest brands in sports and media, including Sports Illustrated, ESPN, NBC, and FanDuel. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Brand Strategy at FanDuel, helping build the brand during one of the fastest-growing eras in sports.

In this episode, Jennifer shares how her athlete mindset fueled her leadership, why she chose roles where she could build brands from the ground up, and how trusting a nonlinear career helped her grow with confidence. A must-listen for anyone navigating career transitions, leadership pressure, or building something without a playbook.

#25: Meredith Hudson is a former Division I field hockey player at Yale and the founder of Sideline Bags. After building a successful career in tech sales and advertising at companies like Snapchat and Roku, Meredith followed a long-held creative pull to build a physical product designed for female athletes.

In this episode, Meredith shares how two decades in corporate sales prepared her to launch Sideline Bags, why being comfortable with discomfort matters when starting something new, and how solving a real sideline problem turned into a fast-growing brand. This conversation is for anyone navigating identity beyond sport, feeling drawn to create, or wondering if it is ever the right time to take the leap.

#24: Paige Rose is a former D1 softball player and Marine helicopter pilot turned founder of Darkhorse Training Company. We talk leadership before you feel ready, earning respect every single day, and building resilience through the seasons of motherhood and career. Paige also breaks down her 5 pillars to help athletes win in sport and life.

Follow Darkhorse Training Co on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/train_darkhorse/?hl=en
Visit Darkhorse Training Co Online: https://traindarkhorse.com/ 

#23: Ann Ragan McGlone, founder of Medalist Skin, joins Changing the Game to share how her years as a D1 swimmer shaped the way she builds. We talk about the skincare gap female athletes deal with (chlorine, sweat, acne, dryness), how she obsessively researched and tested her products with athletes before launch, and the surprising truth about why retail can be a risky “made it” moment for brands. Plus, AnnRagan opens up about moving from NYC to small-town New Hampshire, regulating her nervous system, and trusting the process through messy transitions.

Shop Medalist Skin: www.medalistskin.com