Game Changers: Incredible Stories of Resilience in Sports

Sherry Levin is a true game changer in basketball, coaching, and leadership. Her journey began as a great player at Newton North high school with lots of college options and then as one of the most decorated players in Holy Cross women’s basketball history — the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,253 points, a four-time First Team Jewish All-American, and a player whose influence runs so deep that her number was retired and the women’s locker room now bears her name. That alone tells you everything you need to know about the legacy she built at Holy Cross.

After her playing career, Sherry transitioned into working as a women’s college basketball analyst and learning from some of the greatest minds in the game. She then took the reins at Worcester Academy, where in just her first three years she led her teams to three NEPSAC Championship appearances, including an undefeated NEPSAC Class A championship season in 2006.

And her influence didn’t stop there. On the international stage, Sherry has coached Maccabi USA teams at the Maccabiah Games, Pan American Maccabi Games, and European Maccabi Games — winning multiple gold medals.

Now, Sherry is channeling decades of leadership, experience, and unforgettable locker-room moments into a powerful new book called, Pre-Game: A Winning Mindset, focused on the power of words — the speeches that shape culture, define teams, and inspire athletes long after the final buzzer.  

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. 

Do not rush through this episode. My guest this week will absolutely blow you away with her courage, tenacity, and unreal perseverance. Madison (Madi) Hoffman is a total badass.  She started skiing as a little girl in Australia to do something fun with her family. Fast forward through thousands of brutal hours on icy mountains around the world and…

She was selected for Team Australia for the 2022 Beijing Olympics.  Sadly a few days after the announcement, Madi crashed and ACL tear ended her Olympic dream. Then she pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks in college sports — returning the next season to sweep both NCAA alpine titles – GS and Slalom. Since then, she is a 4 time first team All-American from the University of Utah and has raced on the World Cup circuit, earning multiple starts and a top-25 slalom finish in Levi, Finland.

Now she’s rebuilding again after a crash in Italy last December injured both knees. She’s been rehabbing and now she is heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.  Listen in as we break down her insane mental approach to high-pressure racing, how she rebuilt confidence after major injuries, her performance cues, her pre-race rituals, and so much more. 

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. 

If you’re like me, you don’t fully understand the ins and outs of Name, Image and Likeness in college and high school sports.  That’s why I’m excited to talk to my guest this week.  You see, my guest is redefining the NIL landscape by focusing on what most people overlook: education, empowerment, and long-term personal branding. Stephanie Grady — founder of The Influential Athlete and The NIL School — is equipping athletes, especially young women, with the knowledge and confidence to understand their value, share their story, and build influence with integrity.

A former competitive figure skater whose career ended abruptly due to injury, Stephanie understands firsthand the pressure, identity challenges, and ambition that come with being an athlete. She went on to become an Emmy-winning journalist, and with her husband — a longtime Athletic Director — she brings a rare 360° perspective to the evolving NIL world.

Together, their company partners directly with high schools, state athletic associations, and elite development programs to help entire communities navigate NIL responsibly. With her unique blend of athletic discipline, newsroom polish, and CEO-level strategy, Stephanie Grady isn’t just joining the NIL conversation — she’s transforming it and reshaping athlete development for the next decade.

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, Jenny (Joan) Casson, is a two-time Olympian who competed in the lightweight double sculls at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games — and she’s a two-time world-record holder on the ergometer. Her event, the two-person lightweight sculling race, has been described as “one of the most physically demanding and technically precise disciplines in all of rowing.”

But what makes Jenny’s story truly remarkable is everything she endured — and everything she chose to fight for — on her way to the top. Jenny is a warrior, an advocate, and a reminder of what it looks like to pursue excellence while navigating immense adversity. She speaks with raw honesty about her battle with an eating disorder, the toll of multiple surgeries, and her determination to ensure an abusive coach was stopped from harming others. Her journey is one of courage, conviction, and the relentless pursuit of something better.

And now, after closing the chapter on her Olympic career, Jenny is candid about the challenge of “being done” and finding purpose beyond rowing. She’s also turned her lived experience into innovation, co-founding Daylilie Bras, an apparel company filling a void in the market. 

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. 

My guest this week is Claudia Longo.  She isn't just an exceptional athlete, she’s an advocate and philanthropist who is making a difference outside of sports.  Claudia was a top high-school soccer player in Washington and helped lead her HS team win the state championships in 2015 and 2017 when she she was named the King Co-Offensive Player of the Year, first-team all-state and competed in the WA High School All-American game. 

She then played soccer at UW where she earned Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll status and received the Wayne Gittinger Inspirational Award. When she was 18, Claudia was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and she was an inspiration to so many when she fought hard to return to collegiate soccer. 

Claudia founded the nonprofit MS, I’mpossible to empower those affected by MS and provide programs in community connection, financial aid, and resources for navigating life with MS.  

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. 

Jack Curtis was a quarterback at Carleton College who after being diagnosed with cancer in his senior year, refused to step down — but instead chose to lead his team, break records, and fight through adversity with courage and determination.

In June 2025, Jack was diagnosed with late-stage II “unfavorable” Hodgkin's lymphoma. The cancer had spread through his chest and near his heart — a daunting diagnosis for anyone, let alone a college athlete. 

Many expected that treatment would sideline his final season. But Jack had a different plan: he returned to the field to start every game. He balanced chemotherapy with rigorous academic work (he’s a physics major), team responsibilities, and demanding game-day performances. 

Despite the physical toll — fatigue, uncertainty, limited practice days — Jack threw for over 3,100 yards and 29 touchdowns breaking Carleton College single-season records for completions, completion percentage, and passing yards. 

He also tied a conference-wide record (in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference — MIAC) with seven 300-yard passing games in conference play. 

His resilience, on-field excellence, academic dedication, and community service have earned him selection as a semifinalist for the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy — the highest honor in Division III football, awarded annually to the most outstanding student-athlete for excellence in athletics, academics, and service. 

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. 

Anthony Tucker, like most basketball players, had a basketball journey with a lot of ups and downs.  Anthony was standout shooting guard at Minnetonka High School (finalist for Minnesota Mr. Basketball). After extensive recruiting and offers out of high school, he chose the University of Iowa in the Big Ten.  After some ups and downs including some legal troubles, Anthony left Iowa and red-shirted at Div 2 Minnesota State University – Moorhead.  The red shirt year provided Anthony a total re-set and a greater appreciation for basketball and he went on to earn All-Conference and All-Region honors and led his team in scoring. 

Tucker’s professional basketball career spanned more than 10 years across nine countries, including an MVP award, scoring title, and multiple assist titles. He also coached briefly in Taiwan and then played in the NBA G League for the Windy City Bulls. He is now the founder of Hoop Habits and the Head Varsity Girls Coach at Holy Family Catholic High School.   

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. 

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 basketball lifer: Brittany Brown.

With 25 years on the court (yep, she picked up a ball at age five), Britt’s story is powered by pure passion—and maybe a little destiny. When both of your parents are your high school coaches (sounds familiar) and you’ve had that “dog mentality” since day one… greatness feels inevitable.

And greatness is exactly what she delivered.

 🏀 Top-ranked high school player in Florida and nationally

 🏆 Led her team to the state championship game

 🍟 Named a McDonald’s All-American finalist

At Florida State, Britt became a record-breaker and a culture-setter—still holding program records for most steals, games played, and games started. She helped elevate the Seminoles to new heights with two Elite Eight runs and three Sweet Sixteen appearances.

Then she took her talents worldwide.

From Turkey, Germany, Spain, Israel, China, to the WNBA, Britt has built a global career marked by relentless competitiveness, discipline, and leadership. Brittany Brown isn’t just a player—she’s a force. And her journey is one you don’t want to miss.

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’m thrilled to welcome Brad Ring to the show — a guest whose story embodies discipline, belief, and relentless pursuit.

Brad knew at five years old that he wanted to be a professional soccer player. How do we know? Because he wrote it down and put it into the universe — a strategy he continued to lean on throughout his career.

At Indiana University, he was a four-year starter, a two-time MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, an All-American, and an Academic All–Big Ten honoree. And when adversity hit? He responded with intention.

• Moved to the scout team? He wrote “T2” on his cleats to remind himself to earn his spot back.
• Chasing a national title? He wrote “Q-4-8” on his wrist every game — Quest for the 8th Championship.

Brad proved that writing down your goals isn’t just symbolic — it’s a roadmap.

He went on to be drafted 17th in the MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes, played for the Portland Timbers, and ultimately returned home to become a fan favorite and leader with Indy Eleven.

From early dreams to professional comebacks, Brad Ring’s journey is a masterclass in clarity, grit, and going after what you want.

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.