Impact Play with Dr. J explores the inspiring journey of entrepreneurs Curtis Williams and Candace Maiden, founders of Squash the Beef, a Northeast Ohio vegan comfort food brand. This episode highlights their story of faith, perseverance, community impact, and innovative food solutions that resonate beyond just food — they serve healing and cultural representation.

If this episode motivated you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone passionate about community impact through entrepreneurship. Join us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite platform. Follow Impact Play with Dr. J to stay inspired and informed on purpose-driven leadership and community transformation. Remember, impact starts with a single idea, meal, or act of service — and the real legacy is in how we serve and uplift our communities. Curtis and Candace exemplify that by transforming food and faith into powerful tools for healing, representation, and sustainable growth.  https://youtu.be/a3UrpCFdZoA

What happens when an athlete decides their greatest victory isn't on the court—but in the community? This week on Impact Play with Dr. J, we're joined by Danaea "Coach Nae" Benton—former professional basketball player, Hall of Fame athlete, entrepreneur, mentor, and founder of YES Enrichment Services, Naetivate Sportswear, and Naetivate Training. After being inducted into the Central State University Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Danaea discovered a renewed purpose: investing in the next generation. Today, she uses basketball as a platform to develop confidence, leadership, discipline, and life skills in young people.

In this episode we discuss:
● Turning athletic success into lasting community impact 
● Why mentorship matters just as much as skill development
● Building a purpose-driven business from the ground up 
● Entrepreneurship in youth sports
● Empowering young girls through Naetivate Sportswear 
● The importance of representation, leadership, and giving back
● How free camps, reading initiatives, and shoe drives are changing lives

Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, coach, parent, educator, or community leader, this conversation is packed with inspiration and practical leadership lessons. Leadership. Legacy. Community. That's what Impact Play is all about.

Connect with Danaea "Coach Nae"
🌐 www.Naetivate.com
Instagram: @naetivate_
Founder of:
 • YES Enrichment Services
 • Naetivate Sportswear
 • Naetivate Training

About Impact Play with Dr. J Impact Play with Dr. J is a multimedia platform amplifying voices that create meaningful impact across sports, leadership, business, education, faith, culture, and community. Every conversation is designed to move beyond accomplishments and uncover the stories that inspire change. Watch. Listen. Connect.  

Danaea Benton
Coach Nae
Naetivate
Naetivate Training
Naetivate Sportswear
Women's Basketball
Youth Basketball
Basketball Training
Sports Leadership
Female Entrepreneur
Women in Sports
Community Leadership
Mentorship
Leadership Podcast
Youth Development
Athlete Success
Entrepreneur Podcast
Impact Play
Impact Play with Dr J
Sports Podcast
Ohio Podcast
Community Impact
Women Business Owners

*A story of promise, tragedy, accountability, and the journey toward redemption.*  

On this episode of Impact Play with Dr. J, I sit down with Ray Williams, the former Ohio Mr. Football whose life story is featured in the documentary “Mr. Football: A Tale of Tragedy and Triumph.”

Ray was one of the most talented football players to come out of Northeast Ohio — a standout athlete from Benedictine High School with a future full of possibilities. But in 2004, a tragic incident involving Ray and several teammates resulted in the death of their teammate, forever changing the lives of everyone involved.   Years later, the documentary *Mr. Football* creates space for Ray and those closest to the story to reflect on what happened, the lives impacted, the lessons learned, and the journey forward.  

In this conversation, Ray opens up about:

• The pressure and expectations of being “Mr. Football” Brotherhood and relationships built through the game
• The night that changed everything
• Facing consequences and personal growth
• Healing, forgiveness, and accountability
• Rebuilding life beyond mistakes
• Turning pain into purpose

This episode is a reminder that every person has a story beyond their biggest success — and beyond their hardest moment.   Legacy is not only about where you start. It is also about who you choose to become.   Welcome to *Impact Play.* 

Learn more about: *Mr. Football: A Tale of Tragedy and Triumph* https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/mr-foot...

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Connect with Dr. Franceska Jones  
Instagram: @franceskajones   All Links: https://linktr.ee/DrJImpact

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#ImpactPlay #RayWilliams #MrFootball #Redemption #OhioFootball

As co-founder of the Make Them Know Your Name Foundation, Nicole Ward is leading the charge to improve heart health education, expand access to AEDs, and save lives across Ohio. On this episode of Impact Play with Dr. J, Nicole shares her story of purpose, advocacy, and building lasting change from personal tragedy.

Doran Grant’s story isn’t just about football — it’s about showing up with your full self, every single time. From winning a national championship at Ohio State to playing in the NFL, and now leading young men as head coach at St. Vincent–St. Mary, Doran has stayed rooted in purpose. On this episode of Impact Play with Dr. J, he opens up about the mindset that carried him through the highs and lows of pro sports, why he came back to Akron, and how he’s using his platform to build more than just athletes. This one’s about legacy, leadership, and living with intention.

In this episode of Impact Play with Dr. J, we sit down with Mekka Don — former Ohio State football player, attorney-turned-artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist — to explore how he’s redefining success beyond the spotlight. Known for his dynamic career pivot from law to music, Mekka Don has built a brand rooted in culture, empowerment, and giving back. He shares his journey of creating opportunities for others, using music as a platform for change, and why community impact will always be part of his game plan.

On this episode of Impact Play with Dr. J, we step up to the plate with Rafael Collins, Assistant Director of Community Impact and Diversity Initiatives for the Cleveland Guardians. Rafael shares how Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program is changing lives, opening doors, and creating opportunities for young athletes in underserved communities. From developing leadership skills to promoting diversity in the game, this conversation goes beyond baseball to explore what it really means to invest in the next generation.