Damien Mander is a former Iraq War veteran that used the skills he developed in the Australian Special Forces to found the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF) that provides training to local communities in Zimbabwe, and beyond, on how to protect and conserve the native animal population of Africa from poaching. Hosts Chinny and Emmett of the Play it Forward Podcast presented by PeacePlayers explore with Damien the moments where he realized this passion to conserve and protect the environment turned to purpose. And in one of Play It Forward’s more inspiring conversations, we also hear how the IAPF stumbled onto one of Africa’s most successful and sustainable community development programs to date; oh, and it’s also led by some of Africa’s most vulnerable population, women that have experienced great trauma. This program, and these women, are known as the Akashinga. Today’s episode features strong language and depictions of violence against women and animals, viewer discretion advided.

To learn more about the work Damien is doing visit the links below:

International Anti-Poaching Foundation - https://www.iapf.org/

National Geographic short on Akashinga - https://youtu.be/WUYQS40I9mw

Twitter: @IAPF

Instagram: @int.anti.poaching.foundation

Facebook: @iapf.org

Facebook - Akashinga: @Akashinga

Interested in learning more about PeacePlayers mission to build a more peaceful and equitable world? Visit our website https://peaceplayers.org/playitforwardpodcast/ and check out our social handles.

Twitter: @peaceplayers

Instagram: @peaceplayersintl and @playitforwardpodcast

Facebook: @peaceplayersintl

LinkedIn: PeacePlayers International

YouTube: PeacePlayers

The Play It Forward podcast is produced by:

Chinny Nwagbo

Emmett Shepard

Leif Frymire

The Play It Forward podcast audio engineering and editing

LeBaron Leath

Animation and music created and designed by

LeBaron Leath

Podcast Cover Art by:

Adam Hawkins

Marketing by:

Gabriella Mora

Sophie Kennedy

Bailee Rasmussen

As a part of PeacePlayers’ 20th Anniversary celebrating and highlighting former participants, coaches and staff, Chinny and Emmett of the Play it Forward Podcast sit down with former participant, and current PeacePlayers South Africa Executive Director, Nasiphi ‘Nas’ Khafu. This is a very special episode. Nasiphi was gracious enough to open up her personal journey from growing up in the mountains of the Eastern Cape to becoming the Executive Director of PeacePlayers in South Africa, in Durban. Through her story, we learn about resilience, the power of inside-out transformation, and how collaboration with friends and peers has helped her reach her goals. And in between, we also learn about the challenges South Africans’ are facing, and how PeacePlayers is working to address them.

CONTENT WARNING: In this episode, Nas shares about familial loss, and the challenges South African women face including but not limited to HIV/AIDS and rape. Viewer discretion advised.

Interested in learning more about PeacePlayers mission to build a more peaceful and equitable world? Visit our website https://peaceplayers.org/playitforwardpodcast/ and check out our social handles.

Twitter: @peaceplayers

Instagram: @peaceplayersintl and @playitforwardpodcast

Facebook: @peaceplayersintl

LinkedIn: PeacePlayers International

YouTube: PeacePlayers

The Play It Forward podcast is produced by:

Chinny Nwagbo

Emmett Shepard

Leif Frymire

The Play It Forward podcast audio engineering and editing

LeBaron Leath

Animation and music created and designed by

LeBaron Leath

Podcast Cover Art by:

Adam Hawkins

Marketing by:

Gabriella Mora

Sophie Kennedy

Bailee Rasmussen

Joanne Pasternack is the CEO of Oliver+Rose, and formerly  Vice President of Community Relations for the Golden State Warriors and the Executive Director of the Warriors Community Foundation. These are just a FEW of her credits. Her involvement in sports philanthropy is far reaching and speaks to her passion of helping others find their passions. Building off of Play it Forward’s previous season's conversations with the great Alana Beard who spoke on the transition from athlete to professional, and Alisha Greenberg's insight into holding charities accountable to the communities they serve, Joanne sheds light on what it means to support athletes and help them realize they are more than just athletes.

To learn more about her work and the opportunities Joanne mentioned in the show visit:

Athletes’ Voices - https://www.athletesvoices.org/

Oliver+Rose LLC - https://www.oliverrosellc.com/

Joanne’s Over-due Book Club - https://www.oliverrosellc.com/books

Interested in learning more about PeacePlayers mission of growing a youth-led movement to build a more peaceful and equitable world? Visit our website https://peaceplayers.org/playitforwardpodcast/ and check out our social handles.

Twitter: @peaceplayers

Instagram: @peaceplayersintl and @playitforwardpodcast

Facebook: @peaceplayersintl

LinkedIn: PeacePlayers International

YouTube: PeacePlayers

The Play It Forward podcast is produced by:

Chinny Nwagbo

Emmett Shepard

Leif Frymire

The Play It Forward podcast audio engineering and editing

LeBaron Leath

Animation and music created and designed by

LeBaron Leath

Podcast Cover Art by:

Adam Hawkins

Marketing by:

Gabriella Mora

Sophie Kennedy

Bailee Rasmussen

Dan Grunfeld is the son of famous NBA and USA Basketball legend Ernie Grunfeld, whose parents survived the Holocaust and fled Communist Romania to New York City when Ernie was 8; Ernie would go on to become one of the great basketball players of his generation. All of this and much much more is immortalized in Dan’s new book By the Grace of the Game: The Holocaust, A Basketball Legacy, and an Unprecedented American Dream.

Dan sits down with Chinny and Emmett on the Play It Forward podcast: presented by PeacePlayers to discuss the book, his inspiration for writing, why his Grandmother is THE goat, and reflects on his own experiences of living abroad and playing basketball professionally. Through it all, we come to understand the true power of seeing the humanity in others, and how sport can help us do that. This is a brilliant conversation that we hope you all enjoy! And don’t forget to buy Dan’s book by pre-ordering or purchasing from your local bookstore!

Follow Dan on twitter @Dan_Grunfeld

Interested in learning more about PeacePlayers mission to build a more peaceful and equitable world? Visit our website https://peaceplayers.org/playitforwardpodcast/ and check out our social handles.

Twitter: @peaceplayers

Instagram: @peaceplayersintl and @playitforwardpodcast

Facebook: @peaceplayersintl

LinkedIn: PeacePlayers International

YouTube: PeacePlayers

The Play It Forward podcast is produced by:

Chinny Nwagbo

Emmett Shepard

Leif Frymire

The Play It Forward podcast audio engineering and editing

LeBaron Leath

Animation and music created and designed by

LeBaron Leath

Podcast Cover Art by:

Adam Hawkins

Marketing by:

Gabriella Mora

Sophie Kennedy

Bailee Rasmussen

Do we have an episode for you! The Play it Forward Podcast’s Season 2 opener is an inspiring conversation with the former Vice President & Managing Director of NBA Africa, and the President of the Basketball Africa League, Mr. Amadou Gallo Fall. He speaks to Chinny and Emmett, hosts of the sport and social justice podcast, in-depth on the power of sport, in this particular case basketball, to transform people’s lives for the better. Through his story, we hear how basketball transformed his life, and how that motivated him to build Sport for Education and Economic Development (SEEDs), and how he is leveraging his network and contacts to build a better future for the young people of Africa. We also get to hear his answer to, “What message would you put on a billboard for millions of people to see?” We hope you leave today’s episode of the Play it Forward podcast feeling as energized and motivated to build a better, more peaceful and equitable world, as we did!

To learn more about SEEDs visit https://www.seedproject.org/new-page-10

For more information on the film, “Elevate”, visit https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1634138/

Interested in learning more about PeacePlayers mission to create a network of young leaders who are building a more peaceful and equitable world? Visit our website https://peaceplayers.org/playitforwardpodcast/ and check out our social handles.

Twitter: @peaceplayers

Instagram: @peaceplayersintl and @playitforwardpodcast

Facebook: @peaceplayersintl

LinkedIn: PeacePlayers International

YouTube: PeacePlayers

The Play It Forward podcast is produced by:

Chinny Nwagbo

Emmett Shepard

Leif Frymire

The Play It Forward podcast audio engineering and editing

LeBaron Leath

Animation and music created and designed by

LeBaron Leath

Podcast Cover Art by:

Adam Hawkins

Marketing by:

Gabriella Mora

Sophie Kennedy

Bailee Rasmussen

Hosts Chinny Nwagbo and Emmett Shepard are back for Season 2 of the Play It Forward Podcast: a social justice podcast presented by PeacePlayers where we are lifting up the voices and stories of those working in their communities and networks to promote peace and equity.

This season, we’ve got an all-star guest list that will have you asking and demanding for more. Join us each week as we dive deep into each guest’s personal journey in the world of peace, justice and equity. From the plains of Africa to the estates of Belfast, each guest brings a unique set of experiences that will demonstrate the power in seeing the humanity in others, learning to look inward when addressing conflict, and the power of collaborating with others to achieve your goals. Each guest is inspiring positive change in their networks and communities, and we are privileged to share their stories with you!

Interested in learning more about PeacePlayers mission of creating a network of youth leaders to build a more peaceful and equitable world? Visit our website https://peaceplayers.org/playitforwardpodcast/and check out our social handles.

Twitter: @peaceplayers

Instagram: @peaceplayersintl and @playitforwardpodcast

Facebook: @peaceplayersintl

LinkedIn: PeacePlayers International

YouTube: PeacePlayers

The Play It Forward podcast is produced by:

Chinny Nwagbo

Emmett Shepard

Leif Frymire

The Play It Forward podcast audio engineering and editing:

LeBaron Leath

Animation and music created and designed by:

LeBaron Leath

Podcast Cover Art by:

Adam Hawkins

And that’s a wrap! Season 1 is officially over and we sit down with a few people that have made the podcast possible. Chinny and Emmett are joined by Andrea Johnson of PeacePlayers Chicago; Dock Leath of PeacePlayers Detroit; and Leif Frymire with PeacePlayers Global Support Team. The team shared moments from season 1 that left them inspired, laughing and wanting more. They also give shout outs and high fives to each other and the other PeacePlayer staff that made the Play It Forward Podcast possible. Don’t forget to leave us a review on Apple and let us know what you thought of season 1 via social!

Interested in learning more about PeacePlayers mission to build a more peaceful and equitable world? Visit our website https://peaceplayers.org/play-it-forward-podcast/ and check out our social handles.

The Play It Forward podcast is produced by:

Chinny Nwagbo

Emmett Shepard

Leif Frymire

Rifka Miyara

The Play It Forward podcast is edited by

LeBaron Leath

Animation, music and sound effects created and designed by

LeBaron Leath

Podcast Cover Art by:

Adam Hawkins

Writer, teacher, facilitator and podcaster, Chad Ford, joins host Chinny Nwagbo and co-host Emmett Shepard for an all encompassing discussion on what it means to express the radical concept of ‘dangerous love’. The conversation ranges from uncomfortable conversations, conflict transformation, to the potential implications and challenges of ‘dangerous love’ for young people and people of color.

If you’d like to learn more about Chad Ford and the work he does, or are interested in purchasing his book “Dangerous Love”, visit his website https://dangerouslovebook.com/.

Interested in learning more about PeacePlayers mission to build a more peaceful and equitable world? Visit our website https://peaceplayers.org/play-it-forward-podcast/ and check out our social handles.

The Play It Forward podcast is produced by:

Chinny Nwagbo

Emmett Shepard

Leif Frymire

Rifka Miyara

The Play It Forward podcast is edited by

LeBaron Leath

Animation, music and sound effects created and designed by

LeBaron Leath

Podcast Cover Art by:

Adam Hawkins

Olympian and Doctor Sophia Papamichalopoulos joins Chinny and Emmett to discuss what it’s like to pursue sports as a career and achieve the ultimate goal of representing your nation at the Olympics, and what it’s like after you’ve reached that pinnacle. In this joyous episode we also learn about the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, its sporting culture, and how after reaching her first dream to represent Cyprus at the Olympics, Sophia’s new dream is to unite the nation through sport… Just like PeacePlayers!

To learn more about Sophia, follow her on instagram @spapamichalopoulos

Check out the IOC’s Young Leaders Program at https://olympics.com/ioc/sport-and-active-society/young-leaders

And be sure to follow PeacePlayers Cyprus on their instagram @peaceplayers_cy to learn more about the work they’re doing using basketball to unite Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

Interested in learning more about PeacePlayers mission to build a more peaceful and equitable world? Visit our website https://peaceplayers.org/play-it-forward-podcast/ and check out our social handles.

The Play It Forward podcast is produced by:

Chinny Nwagbo

Emmett Shepard

Leif Frymire

Rifka Miyara

The Play It Forward podcast is edited by

LeBaron Leath

Animation, music and sound effects created and designed by

LeBaron Leath

Podcast Cover Art by:

Adam Hawkins

Trailblazer Alisha Greenberg sits down with Chinny and Emmett to share her insights into the niche world of sports philanthropy. Together, they break down some of the misconceptions that come with sports philanthropy; and how it’s important to find a balance between listening to nonprofits and the communities they work while also holding those nonprofits accountable. This is a great one for all who want to learn more about the non-profit field and the work it takes to accomplish your mission!

To learn more about the organizations Alisha mention in the episode, visit the websites below:

Sports & Entertainment Impact Collective - https://www.seicollective.com/certification

Robert Wodd Johnson Foundation Sport Award - https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/features/sportsaward.html

Sports Philanthropy - https://www.sportsphilanthropy.com/

Check out the “JMB Sports Podcast for Kids” for your sports updates!

Interested in learning more about PeacePlayers mission to build a more peaceful and equitable world? Visit our website https://peaceplayers.org/play-it-forward-podcast/ and check out our social handles.

The Play It Forward podcast is produced by:

Chinny Nwagbo

Emmett Shepard

Leif Frymire

Rifka Miyara

The Play It Forward podcast is edited by

LeBaron Leath

Animation, music and sound effects created and designed by

LeBaron Leath

Podcast Cover Art by:

Adam Hawkins