Game Changers: Incredible Stories of Resilience in Sports

Linda Martindale
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The Game Changers Podcast includes conversations with athletes and coaches exploring the triumphs and tribulations in sports.  We uncover the untold stories of glory and defeat and how it defined our guests' journeys.  From overcoming setbacks to achieving extraordinary feats, each show will bring the listener inspiring tales of resilience that extends beyond the scoreboard.  Whether it's a comeback from injury, a stunning victory or the lessons learned in defeat, Game Changers is your front row seat to the indomitable human spirit in the arena of sports and performance.

  1. 3D AGO

    Race Around the World for Wishes Bill Murphy S3 - Episode 26

    I’m excited to talk to Bill Murphy this week, a man whose definition of endurance goes far beyond most peoples’ finish line. Bill has taken on some of the toughest challenges imaginable, including his incredible “Run the World for Wishes” mission—running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation!!  Read that sentence again, in case you missed it. Bill is a marathoner, ultrarunner, and Ironman finisher—but he proudly describes himself as a “back of the pack” runner. For Bill, racing has never been about the time on the clock. It’s about enjoying the journey. And what a journey it’s been. Beyond the miles, Bill is also an author and speaker, sharing powerful lessons on resilience, mindset, and perseverance in his book Thriving in the Storm: 9 Principles to Help You Overcome Any Adversity. His story isn’t about chasing finish lines. It’s about choosing to keep going when things get hard—and using personal challenges to create impact for others. 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.

    52 min

  2. MAR 8

    Cara Stawicki World Champion Rower and Performance Coach S3 - Episode 24

    How do you go from a college walk-on who had never rowed before to standing on the podium hearing the national anthem at the World Rowing Championships? This week on the Game Changers podcast, I talk with Cara Stawicki, and her story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to chase something big. Cara started rowing later than most elite athletes — but that didn’t stop her from reaching the very top of the sport. In 2019, racing for Team USA with her partner, she won gold at the World Rowing Championships in the Lightweight Women’s Pair, fulfilling a childhood dream. Over the course of her career, Cara earned a place on the U.S. Senior National Team in 2017, 2019, and 2022, competing at the highest level for her country. Today, Cara is a certified high-performance coach and founder of Be Brave High Performance, where she helps athletes, coaches, and leaders develop the same qualities that carried her to the top — mental grit, pressure management, and unwavering self-belief. Her journey proves something every athlete needs to hear: Your starting point doesn’t determine your ceiling.  Don’t miss this episode. It’s full of lessons on resilience, courage, and what it really takes to perform when it matters most.   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.

    46 min

  3. MAR 1

    BC Football, Personal Trainer and The Cave Founder, John Damon S3 - Episode 26

    We are going for a ride today because my guest has so many stories and is a powerful example of how the lessons learned through sport can shape a life far beyond the game. John Damon is a former Boston College football player from Abington, Massachusetts, who planned to play both baseball and football—but instead competed during one of the toughest football eras in BC history. As a defensive lineman under legendary head coach Tom Coughlin, John learned toughness, discipline, and accountability, all while navigating serious challenges at home that forced him to grow up fast. Under Coach Coughlin, details mattered—preparation, effort, and doing things the right way every single day. After football, John carried that same grit into the fitness world, training Hollywood stars, Fortune 500 executives, and former professional athletes, while designing innovative gym spaces. He believes deeply in leading with love and creating a safe space where people can become their best selves. Today, John is a highly respected trainer with decades of experience transforming not just bodies, but confidence, habits, and mindset. His work has been featured in Men’s Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Men’s Journal, Shape, US Weekly, the Boston Globe, LA Times, and E! News. He’s also the founder of The Cave, a private training and recovery sanctuary in Charlotte, North Carolina. John Damon is proof that the game never really ends—it just evolves.  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.

    1h 23m

  4. FEB 22

    College Lacrosse Coach Kathy Taylor - S3 Episode 24

    This week’s episode matters. I’ve always believed my role is to be a bridge — fiercely advocating for athletes and coaches — and that means doing the work to understand every side before forming an opinion. Before inviting my next guest on Game Changers, I spent real time researching, listening, and challenging my own assumptions — because some stories deserve more than headlines. Kathy Taylor is one of the most accomplished coaches in women’s lacrosse — a First-Team All-Ivy League player at Cornell and a veteran coach who has built winning programs across high school, Division III, Division II, and Division I. She led Le Moyne College to the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship and was National Coach of the Year, along with four straight Final Four appearances. She also served as head coach at SUNY Cortland and most recently at Colgate University. Her time at Colgate brought both success and controversy when former players filed allegations of mistreatment that drew national media attention. The university conducted a months-long investigation and ultimately renewed her contract, while many former players publicly voiced support — yet the public scrutiny took a heavy toll, and Taylor later stepped down before her contract ended. I’ll be honest: when I first saw the headlines and the New York post article, I believed them without question. But after digging deeper and hearing multiple perspectives, I realized the full story is more complex — and worth hearing directly.  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.

    1h 11m

  5. FEB 8

    Hall of Fame Basketball Player, Coach and Author Sherry Levin S3 - Episode 23

    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.

    1h 8m

  6. FEB 1

    Australian World Cup Ski Racer - Madi Hoffman S3 - Episode 22

    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.

    1h 9m

  7. JAN 25

    NIL Coach Stephanie Grady S3 - Episode 21

    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.

    1h 1m

  8. JAN 19

    Canadian Olympic Rower Jenny Casson S3 Episode 20

    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.

    58 min
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About

The Game Changers Podcast includes conversations with athletes and coaches exploring the triumphs and tribulations in sports.  We uncover the untold stories of glory and defeat and how it defined our guests' journeys.  From overcoming setbacks to achieving extraordinary feats, each show will bring the listener inspiring tales of resilience that extends beyond the scoreboard.  Whether it's a comeback from injury, a stunning victory or the lessons learned in defeat, Game Changers is your front row seat to the indomitable human spirit in the arena of sports and performance.

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