Game Changers: Incredible Stories of Resilience in Sports

This week's Game Changer has an impressive résumé—but what interests me most is the struggle behind the success. Stephen Bienko’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and discovering who you are beyond your sport.

As a young Division I athlete at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Stephen found himself overwhelmed, far from home, and questioning his identity. At just 18 years old, he made the difficult decision to leave. But that decision was far from the end of his story. Stephen went on to compete at Villanova University, becoming a decathlete and record-setting discus thrower. From there, his journey took some remarkable turns.

He became a New Jersey State Trooper, built a multimillion-dollar franchise business spanning 16 territories across four states, earned recognition as an NJBIZ Forty Under 40 honoree, and worked in sports marketing alongside Olympic champions.

Today, he's the Co-Founder and CEO of 42U, helping college athletes navigate NIL, build their personal brands, and develop an identity and purpose beyond athletics.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Game Changers. We hope you found inspiration and motivation in the stories of resilience and adversity shared by our incredible guests. Remember, no matter what challenges you face, your ability to overcome them lies within. Stay resilient and keep pushing forward towards your goals. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with others who may benefit from these powerful stories. 

Today’s guest is really wise beyond his years. Alex Stoddard is a filmmaker, platinum-certified music producer, and former college basketball player from Wellesley, Massachusetts where his dream was to play in the NBA and his filmmaking career started in his basement.  

After some injuries and set-backs, Alex went on to play at Williams College, where he balanced basketball with an impressive creative career, producing music that earned both gold and platinum certifications and producing a documentary about his college season when he was sidelined with another injury.  I guess when life gives your lemons, you turn on your camera. 

Today, Alex is channeling that same passion into a deeply personal project: The Kid From Boston, a feature-length documentary about Boston basketball star Terrence Clarke. Through conversations with Terrence's family, friends, teammates, and coaches, Alex is working to tell the story behind the headlines and celebrate the life, impact, and legacy of one of Boston's most beloved young basketball players.

Today we'll talk about basketball, filmmaking, resilience, purpose, and what it means to preserve someone's legacy through the power of storytelling.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Game Changers. We hope you found inspiration and motivation in the stories of resilience and adversity shared by our incredible guests. Remember, no matter what challenges you face, your ability to overcome them lies within. Stay resilient and keep pushing forward towards your goals. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with others who may benefit from these powerful stories. 

This week on Game Changers, I welcome an athlete whose story is the definition of resilience. This summer, Sue Curtin earned her place in the 2026 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship, winning her qualifier in a thrilling four-hole playoff—with Grammy-nominated artist Noah Kahan watching the dramatic finish unfold. But as remarkable as that victory was, it may not be her greatest triumph. Sue also overcame a serious medical condition that nearly took away not only her golf career, but the life she had always known. Her journey back is one of grit, courage, and an unwavering belief that your biggest setbacks don't have to define your future.

In this episode, we talk about competition, resilience, overcoming adversity, and what it takes to keep chasing excellence at every stage of life. 

Thank you again to our NEW Season Four sponsor, NDUR.  We appreciate your help in allowing the Game Changers podcast share the important sports stories of our guests. Thank you for your commitment to helping athletes, coaches and families build stronger Mental Fitness.  For more information, please visit:  https://www.ndurforathletes.health/

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Game Changers. We hope you found inspiration and motivation in the stories of resilience and adversity shared by our incredible guests. Remember, no matter what challenges you face, your ability to overcome them lies within. Stay resilient and keep pushing forward towards your goals. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with others who may benefit from these powerful stories. 

Today’s guest has a story about what happens when the path you planned suddenly disappears — and whether you have the mindset to build another one.

At just 15 years old, John-Howard Bobo committed to UNLV on a full baseball scholarship. His future seemed set. But one poor decision cost him that scholarship and every other offer he had.

Instead of letting that mistake define him, John-Howard kept going. He played at the College of Southern Nevada before earning his way back to Division I baseball at the University of the Pacific. Despite battling numerous injuries, he finished his college career earning All-WCC Honorable Mention and WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention.

But his journey was far from over.  Determined to play Banana Ball, John-Howard went through the tryout process, only to watch the draft come and go without hearing his name called.

Once again, the answer was no. And once again, he refused to quit.

He kept training, creating music, and showing the organization what he could bring to the game. Eventually, the call came. Today, number 999 is a proud member of the Party Animals, combining baseball, music, and entertainment on one of the most unique stages in sports.

What stands out to me most about John-Howard isn’t his baseball accomplishments. It’s his mindset.

His story is about owning your mistakes without allowing them to define you, responding to rejection without losing belief in yourself, and recognizing that the road to your dreams rarely looks the way you imagined.

And that is exactly why I wanted him on Game Changers.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Game Changers. We hope you found inspiration and motivation in the stories of resilience and adversity shared by our incredible guests. Remember, no matter what challenges you face, your ability to overcome them lies within. Stay resilient and keep pushing forward towards your goals. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with others who may benefit from these powerful stories. 

I knew Jay Chaudhry was an award-winning filmmaker, producer, and digital media executive. What I didn't know was that storytelling is part of who he is. Growing up in Toronto, Jay spent countless hours watching his father produce television, sitting in editing rooms where he began to understand that great stories aren't just told—they're discovered.

What makes Jay exceptional isn't just his technical skill behind the camera. It's his ability to find the heart of a person, a moment, or a journey, and bring it to life in a way that makes you feel something long after the credits roll. That's Jay's gift.

 Today, we'll talk about his remarkable career, and his latest work on the documentary, Still Standing, which follows former world champion boxer Billy Dib through one of the most inspiring chapters of his life.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Game Changers. We hope you found inspiration and motivation in the stories of resilience and adversity shared by our incredible guests. Remember, no matter what challenges you face, your ability to overcome them lies within. Stay resilient and keep pushing forward towards your goals. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with others who may benefit from these powerful stories. 

This week on Game Changers, I am joined by someone whose impact in sports deserves far more recognition than it gets — Marykristin “M” Haskell comes from a remarkable basketball family deeply rooted in the history of Philadelphia and college basketball. Her father, Don DiJulia, coached at Fairfield, George Washington, and American University before becoming the longtime Athletic Director at Saint Joseph’s University. Her Uncle, Jim Lynam, went on to become a legendary college and NBA coach, including serving as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. Basketball has always been woven into the fabric of her life. 

But what makes “M” truly special is that she quietly chose a different path — one focused less on spotlight and status, and more on service, connection, mentorship, and inclusion. From coaching her son’s AAU basketball teams to developing impactful Unified Sports programs that bring athletes of all abilities together, “M” has become an exceptional coach, mentor, and advocate for what sports are supposed to be about: belonging, confidence, joy, resilience, and human connection. 

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Game Changers. We hope you found inspiration and motivation in the stories of resilience and adversity shared by our incredible guests. Remember, no matter what challenges you face, your ability to overcome them lies within. Stay resilient and keep pushing forward towards your goals. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with others who may benefit from these powerful stories. 

This week's guest is the definition of a true Game Changer, a warrior, a bad ass, an incredible human and one of the more courageous athletes I’ve ever talked to.  She faces fear with a mindset that I wish I had.  Chante Bonds is an athlete, coach, leader, and teacher who has refused to let anyone define what she's capable of.

Chanté starred on the basketball team at Bentley University, where she was a two-time captain, the Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year, helped lead the Falcons to two conference championships and a Final Four, and was later recognized as a finalist for the V Foundation Comeback Award.

She then spent seven seasons coaching Division I basketball then becoming a standout defensive back and captain for the Boston Renegades women’s tackle football team. In tackle football, Chanté went on to win multiple national championships, earn a gold medal with Team USA at the IFAF Women's World Championship, and have her incredible football journey featured in the inspiring Prime Video documentary Born to Play.

From basketball to coaching to the world stage in tackle football, Chanté's story is one of resilience, reinvention, and fearless determination.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Game Changers. We hope you found inspiration and motivation in the stories of resilience and adversity shared by our incredible guests. Remember, no matter what challenges you face, your ability to overcome them lies within. Stay resilient and keep pushing forward towards your goals. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with others who may benefit from these powerful stories. 

Kyle Casey is arguably one of the best basketball players ever to play at Harvard University.  He won the Ivy League Championship every one of his four years playing.  He was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2010. He was also a two-time All-Ivy League selection.  He ranked 13th in program history for career points (1,242).  But his story is all about how he handled the hard things that came his way.  When he was suspended from Harvard for a year, he spent his year making a difference on young people's lives through the 3 Point Foundation.

After graduating, Kyle played in the NBA's G League for the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns.  Then he played professionally in Slovenia, Mexico and Tokyo.  Listen in as he tells his story and the important lessons learned along the way and check him out in the movie, Marty Supreme where he plays a Harlem Globetrotter!

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Game Changers. We hope you found inspiration and motivation in the stories of resilience and adversity shared by our incredible guests. Remember, no matter what challenges you face, your ability to overcome them lies within. Stay resilient and keep pushing forward towards your goals. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with others who may benefit from these powerful stories. 

I am re-releasing this episode to honor Keith Mitchell's incredible legacy.  Keith passed away on July 2nd, 2026.  I only had the opportunity to speak to him once but his story had a profound effect on me.  I hope you are as inspired by him and I was. His journey is one of the most powerful reminders that greatness doesn’t end when the game does and you can always reinvent yourself and following your true calling.

A standout linebacker at Texas A&M University and in the National Football League (NFL) with the New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars, Keith recorded 400+ tackles and earned a 2000 Pro Bowl selection. Then, at just 31 years old, a career-ending spinal injury left him paralyzed and forced into early retirement.

What happened next is the real story.

Instead of letting tragedy define him, Keith found healing through yoga, meditation, and mindfulness—and in the process, discovered a new purpose. Today, he’s a Master Certified Yoga Instructor, a global wellness leader, and a pioneer helping people reframe adversity and reclaim their power.

Keith has been featured in USA TODAY, Sports Illustrated, Yoga Journal, Men’s Health, Essence Magazine, and appeared on CNN, BBC, Fox News TV, The Dr. Oz Show, and more. He’s partnered with brands like Lululemon, Champion, The Four Seasons, and taught yoga to everyone from Tyler Perry to Paris Hilton. He’s spoken at the United Nations, co-founded the Congressional Yoga Association, and helped lead the Just Breathe initiative supporting veterans with PTSD.

Now, he’s sharing his wisdom in his new book,

The Mindfulness Playbook: 8 Championship Strategies for Life.

This episode is about resilience, reinvention, and redefining what a championship mindset really means.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Game Changers. We hope you found inspiration and motivation in the stories of resilience and adversity shared by our incredible guests. Remember, no matter what challenges you face, your ability to overcome them lies within. Stay resilient and keep pushing forward towards your goals. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with others who may benefit from these powerful stories. 

I genuinely cannot imagine a more powerful, jaw-dropping, perspective-shifting way to have a Finale of Season 3.  Today’s guest doesn’t just inspire you—he completely resets what you believe is possible. Hari Budha Magar’s story begins in a remote village in Nepal, where he walked 45 minutes to school barefoot, He eventually joins the British after beating out hundreds of candidates and flies to the UK for training. You can image what it was like to get on that plane having never flown before and actually never even using a fork or knife. But it’s what happened next that makes his story almost impossible to comprehend. While serving in Afghanistan, Hari was hit by a roadside bomb and lost both of his legs above the knee. What followed was not immediate triumph. It was darkness. Rock bottom. Numbing the pain. Questioning whether life was worth living at all.

And then—everything changed.

Because Hari didn’t just choose to keep living… he chose to live in a way that would challenge the limits of human potential itself. He set out on a mission not just to rebuild his life, but to redefine how the world sees disability. He threw himself into adaptive sport—relentlessly, fearlessly—taking on challenges most able-bodied people wouldn’t dare attempt.

And then, in 2023, he did something that had never been done before. He became the first double above-the-knee amputee to summit Mount Everest.

Let that sink in.

Not hike. Not climb in ideal conditions. He crawled—step by brutal step—through one of the harshest environments on earth to stand on top of the world. Hari’s story is not just about mountains. It’s about identity, resilience, courage, and the refusal to accept limits—especially the ones society tries to place on us. He is living proof that the greatest barriers we face are often not physical… they’re the ones we believe.

This conversation will stay with you.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Game Changers. We hope you found inspiration and motivation in the stories of resilience and adversity shared by our incredible guests. Remember, no matter what challenges you face, your ability to overcome them lies within. Stay resilient and keep pushing forward towards your goals. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with others who may benefit from these powerful stories.