"Give it Context" Podcast by “Jovi Nation‪”‬ Jovan Miller

From my 7th Grade Social Studies teacher to one of the most important men in my life, this man saved me from a lot of worst thoughts and fears! Throughout my lacrosse career, Mr. Sparks stayed in touch with me and I made it a point to see him whenever I came home to visit. A lot has changed since 7th grade and in the episode we do a quick recap of the last 17 years to where we are today. We address the #BlackLivesMatter Movement, athlete activism, and a new topic of serious consideration, a revised version of the American Textbook! I encourage all of my new activists to listen to his unique perspective on where he sees US as a country headed and how we can use the current state in society as a springboard to true CHANGE!

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Hello beautiful people! It’s been too long since I’ve recorded an episode. Unfortunately I was tending to my ailing father who recently passed away, but it was just his time to go and he is in a much better place now. Now to business! In the episode, I speak with a good friend of mine and former professional teammate, Martin Bowes. Martin is an indefinitely retired (concussions) lacrosse player but has stayed active in the lacrosse world through training young athletes at his facility and online. We take an in-depth look into the “Black Lives Matter” movement and the next step for the game of lacrosse as well as how activism will form the next generation. This is a can’t miss conversation. I hope that the lacrosse world gives a serious listen! It’s nice to be back, please TUNE IN!

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NEWS FLASH: Athletes are NOT robots! They have feelings like normal human beings. The stressors of your “9 to 5” job differ depending on the occupation; and more importantly, the levels of stress. Although shooting a basketball, or throwing a football are activities we may have all enjoyed as kids, the stakes grow with every DOLLAR you make doing so. In this episode, I discuss some of the more notable cases of athletes sharing their battles with anxiety, depression, and coping with stress in their respective jobs. Fans of the world, Just remember: The game you pay a ticket to see, isn’t as easy WE (athletes) make it seem, nor as simple to perform as YOU believe it appears. ENJOY!

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Due to the continued spread of the #CoronaVirus, sports as a whole have been put on pause. Professional leagues around the world have ceased all activities while demonstrating some valiant gestures to the workers who have been unable to do their jobs. No NCAA basketball tournament, and the cancellation of ALL spring sports have been the most discussed stories in the sporting world to date...until the NCAA’s decision to give ALL student-athletes currently in school on scholarship the opportunity to return to school for the following year, including graduating seniors! Sounds amazing right? I beg to differ. In this episode, I explain why I believe this is a tactical decision by the NCAA to deflect the most prevalent blame pointed in their direction, and put the onus on the colleges and universities that will be forever changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of student-athletes, both for the good and most importantly the bad. There’s a lot to unpack, ENJOY!

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Social Activism in sports is not a new concept for an athlete. From the 1960’s when the likes of Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali, and Jim Brown gathered at the White House to persuade Americans of all colors and creeds to come together than to live apart (Segregation). That legacy of not “sticking to sports” continues today with some of the most polarizing figures such as Lebron James and Colin Kaepernick starting foundations and even media platforms to show the world that athletes’ have passions outside their respective sports. Unfortunately, even with “noble” causes, athletes can use their platforms and causes as a way to do some very shady activities; on the surface looking like heroes but behind closed doors, carrying out hidden (or sometimes blatant) agendas, sounds like politics right? 🤔🤷🏿‍♂️ In this episode, I break down some of the do’s and don’ts attached with an athlete joining or starting a foundation, some advice of how to navigate activism for current aspiring athletes, and some examples of what happens when things go wrong. Enjoy! It’s so good to be back!!

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Since 2016-2019 has been quite the whirlwind in sports. From President Trump to Barack Obama, Colin Kaepernick to the NFL; everyone has an opinion on the idea of athlete activism, but this episode asks a different question: What have YOU learned in the last three years since Kap’s initial protest? Have you thought of the overall impact of the issue? Has it actually been addressed? Where are we in regard to the issue he was bringing to light? Sidenote: Remember my main objective is to challenge you to think beyond your understanding, and ensure you are open to ALL possibilities.

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