Game Changers: Incredible Stories of Resilience in Sports

Susan's journey from a basketball-loving kid in Minnesota to a standout point guard at Stanford University is nothing short of inspiring. Following her collegiate career, she took her basketball skills to the WNBA, playing for the Minnesota Lynx. Susan’s husband Curtis played for the Utah Jazz making them the first married couple to ever play in the NBA and WNBA. Today, Susan and Curtis founded the Athlete Blueprint, where they specialize in enhancing sports performance across all fronts, including strength, agility, energy system development, and recovery strategies for elite athletes. Susan also lends her expertise as a performance coach and consultant for both the Women’s National Basketball Team (heading to the Paris Olympics) and several WNBA teams. 
Listen in as she shares her incredible story and also some of her wisdom about how to maximize performance.

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. 

Jeff Nelligan is the father of three boys and a well-known commentator in the world of American parenting. His book, Four Lessons From My Three Sons: How You Can Raise Resilient Kids, details how he helped guide his sons through childhood and adolescence learning a lot of lessons through sports. His perspective on the importance of good coaching resonates with all parents who spend a lot of time on the field, at the rink, on the court and at the pool. His sons played competitive sports (including a National Championship) and went to the U.S. Naval Academy, Williams College, and West Point.

Four Lessons spent four months on the top-20 Amazon’s Parenting Best Sellers list and was the subject of feature stories on NPR and in dozens of parenting publications, including Parents Magazine. Listen in as Jeff tells about the ups and downs of raising three incredible sons.

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. 

Cheer and Dance are often perceived as purely performative arts, but behind the amazing routines and team spirit is a world of intense competition, rigorous training, and unwavering commitment.  Nina Fernandez is a guest that offers a unique perspective into the world of College and NFL Cheer.

Nina shares her journey from childhood dance to feeling burn-out to heartbreak after failing to make the squad then to excelling in college and the NFL.  She talks about the mental demands of cheer including the early morning practices, late-night rehearsals and every step of the discipline and perseverance that it takes to succeed.  Tune in to get inspired and go after your own dreams that sometimes feel out of reach.

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 personifies what Resilience and a Comeback Story really means.  Ryan Scoble is one of the USA Lacrosse Comeback Stories of 2023.  He was a college lacrosse player at Mercyhurst University and played in the Div. 2 National Championship game in 2023.  That, in itself, is incredible but the fact that he had a heart transplant in May of 2021 makes him truly remarkable.  

Ryan’s story of hitting rock bottom in the hospital waiting for a new heart and then bouncing back into his own greatness on the lacrosse field will leave you speechless and inspired to face anything difficult in your life. His grit, determination and winning mindset is exceptional.  

Ryan is now the founder of Lax for Life, a nonprofit organization committed to bringing life-changing opportunities through active participation and awareness around organ donation.  

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 podcast is about the incredible transformation of an athlete that found that Mental Fitness coaching was exactly what she needed to maximize her performance and soar to exceptional heights in her sport, volleyball. When Mandy found herself on the bench at Holy Cross, she hired a Mental Fitness coach and turned things around. Through her grit, tenacity and determination, she went on to become the first hitter in Holy Cross history to have more than 400 kills in a season.

Sifferlen's incredible story into professional volleyball overseas will remind you that nothing is impossible when you put your mind to it (quite literally).  This year, Sifferlen will be inducted into the College of the Holy Cross Hall of Fame.  We can't think of a more deserving athlete!  Listen in as she tell the story of her journey and how she overcome doubt and become the remarkable athlete she dreamed of becoming.

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 episode features Mr. Basketball in Nebraska, Donovan Williams.

Williams, an ESPN and Rivals four-star recruit, led all Nebraska high school players with 28.3 points per game. No slouch in the rebounding department, he also hauled in a team-high 8.1 boards per game, and added 1.6 steals and 1.4 assists per game.  Rivals listed Williams as the nation's 128th ranked recruit in 2020, while 247Sports also listed him among the top 150 recruits in the country and the No. 28 shooting guard.

Williams played two years at Oklahoma State, then University of Pacific and now Western Michigan University.  Like most athletes, his story is not a straight line - listen in as Donovan talks about his journey through multiple injuries, the recruiting process, transferring schools and how he coped to find his way through without breaking his spirit and love for the game.

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 episode follows the amazing basketball career of Luke Avdalovic as he develops from a walk-on basketball player at Northern Arizona University, to a full scholarship player at The University of the Pacific to playing for the Austin Spurs in the G League of the National Basketball Association.  

Luke is arguably one of the top shooters to ever play in the NCAA.  In his final season at University of Pacific he shot 68 for 133 (51 percent) which was the 4th best in the NCAA in 2023. His work ethic, discipline and determination are unmatched and his story is inspiring and a must-listen for anyone with lofty dreams.

Luke is also the host of his own podcast called “The Walk On”.  

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 episode follows the incredible story of Ednaija Lassiter, also known as Nay-Nay as she navigates the complicated path from AAU to college basketball and then into coaching and becoming a founder of Heavy Hearted Convos. Nay-Nay hails from Dorchester, MA. She honed her basketball skills under the guidance of her Uncle Clinton Lassiter with his AAU team, The Showstoppers. Nay's talent on the court led her to play college basketball at the University of Rhode Island and Southern Connecticut State University, where she earned a degree in Sociology. Her coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Northeastern University, followed by an assistant coaching position at The College of Charleston. Currently, she is the head coach at Governors Academy in Byfield, MA. In addition to her coaching roles, Nay is the founder and CEO of Heavy Hearted Convos, a non-profit organization dedicated to mental wellness and fostering open discussions about emotionally challenging topics. Her journey through the sports world inspired her to focus on coaching, mentoring, and creating a supportive platform for athletes to build self-esteem and improve their mental 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. 

This week's episode is my All-Time favorite - and I'm not just saying that because Jayden Hibbert is my nephew.  He is truly exceptional and shares his wisdom (at such a young age) of what it takes to live your dreams and be drafted in the MLS at only 19 years old,  Listen in as he talks about his journey and what it takes to perform at such an elite level and maintain your composure and mental fitness.

Jayden's athletic prowess is one thing but his uncanny ability to let go of mistakes quickly and completely re-set is one of the traits that makes him stand out in a very competitive and packed field of players.  Only 1.4% of high school soccer players make it to play college soccer.  Only 0.08% of those make it to the MLS.  

Tune in to this week's episode to hear first hand what it takes to find soccer greatness.  You will be inspired, amazed and entertained listening to Jayden's incredible soccer journey.

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. 

Join us for a captivating episode featuring Jaida Nyby, former University of Pacific soccer captain turned professional soccer player in the Czech Republic. In this exclusive interview, Jaida shares her remarkable journey from leading her collegiate team to pursuing her dreams on the international stage.

With insightful anecdotes and firsthand experiences, Jaida offers a candid glimpse into the world of professional soccer, from the challenges of adapting to a new country and culture to the exhilaration of competing at the highest level. As a fierce competitor in women's soccer, Jaida's story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of chasing your dreams against all odds.

From the highs of scoring game-winning goals to the lows of facing adversity and setbacks, Jaida's journey is filled with valuable lessons and inspiring moments. Whether you're a soccer enthusiast, aspiring athlete, or simply passionate about personal growth and perseverance, this episode is sure to leave you feeling inspired and motivated to pursue your own goals.

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.