Game Changers: Incredible Stories of Resilience in Sports

Linda Martindale
  • 5.0 (55)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

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. 5d ago

    Sports Filmmaker Jay Chaudhry S4 - Episode 3

    I knew Jay Chaudhry was an award-winning filmmaker, producer, and digital media executive. What I didn't know was that storytelling is part of who he is. Growing up in Toronto, Jay spent countless hours watching his father produce television, sitting in editing rooms where he began to understand that great stories aren't just told—they're discovered. What makes Jay exceptional isn't just his technical skill behind the camera. It's his ability to find the heart of a person, a moment, or a journey, and bring it to life in a way that makes you feel something long after the credits roll. That's Jay's gift.  Today, we'll talk about his remarkable career, and his latest work on the documentary, Still Standing, which follows former world champion boxer Billy Dib through one of the most inspiring chapters of his life. 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.

  2. Sep 6

    Coach M Boys Basketball Coach & Unified Basketball Founder S4 - Episode 2

    This week on Game Changers, I am joined by someone whose impact in sports deserves far more recognition than it gets — Marykristin “M” Haskell comes from a remarkable basketball family deeply rooted in the history of Philadelphia and college basketball. Her father, Don DiJulia, coached at Fairfield, George Washington, and American University before becoming the longtime Athletic Director at Saint Joseph’s University. Her Uncle, Jim Lynam, went on to become a legendary college and NBA coach, including serving as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. Basketball has always been woven into the fabric of her life.  But what makes “M” truly special is that she quietly chose a different path — one focused less on spotlight and status, and more on service, connection, mentorship, and inclusion. From coaching her son’s AAU basketball teams to developing impactful Unified Sports programs that bring athletes of all abilities together, “M” has become an exceptional coach, mentor, and advocate for what sports are supposed to be about: belonging, confidence, joy, resilience, and human connection.  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.

  3. Aug 30

    Fearless Tackle Football & College Basketball Player Chante Bonds S4 - Episode 1

    This week's guest is the definition of a true Game Changer, a warrior, a bad ass, an incredible human and one of the more courageous athletes I’ve ever talked to.  She faces fear with a mindset that I wish I had.  Chante Bonds is an athlete, coach, leader, and teacher who has refused to let anyone define what she's capable of. Chanté starred on the basketball team at Bentley University, where she was a two-time captain, the Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year, helped lead the Falcons to two conference championships and a Final Four, and was later recognized as a finalist for the V Foundation Comeback Award. She then spent seven seasons coaching Division I basketball then becoming a standout defensive back and captain for the Boston Renegades women’s tackle football team. In tackle football, Chanté went on to win multiple national championships, earn a gold medal with Team USA at the IFAF Women's World Championship, and have her incredible football journey featured in the inspiring Prime Video documentary Born to Play. From basketball to coaching to the world stage in tackle football, Chanté's story is one of resilience, reinvention, and fearless determination. 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.

  4. Jul 23

    Kyle Casey - Harvard Basketball - Episode 18

    Kyle Casey is arguably one of the best basketball players ever to play at Harvard University.  He won the Ivy League Championship every one of his four years playing.  He was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2010. He was also a two-time All-Ivy League selection.  He ranked 13th in program history for career points (1,242).  But his story is all about how he handled the hard things that came his way.  When he was suspended from Harvard for a year, he spent his year making a difference on young people's lives through the 3 Point Foundation. After graduating, Kyle played in the NBA's G League for the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns.  Then he played professionally in Slovenia, Mexico and Tokyo.  Listen in as he tells his story and the important lessons learned along the way and check him out in the movie, Marty Supreme where he plays a Harlem Globetrotter! 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.

  5. Jul 21

    NFL Football Player, Author, Yoga Master Keith Mitchell S3 Episode 17

    I am re-releasing this episode to honor Keith Mitchell's incredible legacy.  Keith passed away on July 2nd, 2026.  I only had the opportunity to speak to him once but his story had a profound effect on me.  I hope you are as inspired by him and I was. His journey is one of the most powerful reminders that greatness doesn’t end when the game does and you can always reinvent yourself and following your true calling. A standout linebacker at Texas A&M University and in the National Football League (NFL) with the New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars, Keith recorded 400+ tackles and earned a 2000 Pro Bowl selection. Then, at just 31 years old, a career-ending spinal injury left him paralyzed and forced into early retirement. What happened next is the real story. Instead of letting tragedy define him, Keith found healing through yoga, meditation, and mindfulness—and in the process, discovered a new purpose. Today, he’s a Master Certified Yoga Instructor, a global wellness leader, and a pioneer helping people reframe adversity and reclaim their power. Keith has been featured in USA TODAY, Sports Illustrated, Yoga Journal, Men’s Health, Essence Magazine, and appeared on CNN, BBC, Fox News TV, The Dr. Oz Show, and more. He’s partnered with brands like Lululemon, Champion, The Four Seasons, and taught yoga to everyone from Tyler Perry to Paris Hilton. He’s spoken at the United Nations, co-founded the Congressional Yoga Association, and helped lead the Just Breathe initiative supporting veterans with PTSD. Now, he’s sharing his wisdom in his new book, The Mindfulness Playbook: 8 Championship Strategies for Life. This episode is about resilience, reinvention, and redefining what a championship mindset really means. 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.

  6. Apr 26

    Double Amputee - Seven Summits. Author Hari Budha Magar S3 - Episode 32

    I genuinely cannot imagine a more powerful, jaw-dropping, perspective-shifting way to have a Finale of Season 3.  Today’s guest doesn’t just inspire you—he completely resets what you believe is possible. Hari Budha Magar’s story begins in a remote village in Nepal, where he walked 45 minutes to school barefoot, He eventually joins the British after beating out hundreds of candidates and flies to the UK for training. You can image what it was like to get on that plane having never flown before and actually never even using a fork or knife. But it’s what happened next that makes his story almost impossible to comprehend. While serving in Afghanistan, Hari was hit by a roadside bomb and lost both of his legs above the knee. What followed was not immediate triumph. It was darkness. Rock bottom. Numbing the pain. Questioning whether life was worth living at all. And then—everything changed. Because Hari didn’t just choose to keep living… he chose to live in a way that would challenge the limits of human potential itself. He set out on a mission not just to rebuild his life, but to redefine how the world sees disability. He threw himself into adaptive sport—relentlessly, fearlessly—taking on challenges most able-bodied people wouldn’t dare attempt. And then, in 2023, he did something that had never been done before. He became the first double above-the-knee amputee to summit Mount Everest. Let that sink in. Not hike. Not climb in ideal conditions. He crawled—step by brutal step—through one of the harshest environments on earth to stand on top of the world. Hari’s story is not just about mountains. It’s about identity, resilience, courage, and the refusal to accept limits—especially the ones society tries to place on us. He is living proof that the greatest barriers we face are often not physical… they’re the ones we believe. This conversation will stay with you. 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.

  7. Apr 19

    Sports Reporter and Cancer Survivor Laura Behnke S3 - Episode 31

    This week, I’m joined by Laura Behnke—who spent 16 years as a TV sports anchor and reporter with ABC7 New York, ESPN, NBC Sports in the Bay Area and others, telling the biggest stories in sports.   But today, she’s telling a different kind of story—her own—and it’s making people stop and think.  If you’ve seen her Instagram, you know Laura doesn’t just share—she challenges perspectives. Her latest post increased her IG followers by 130,000 and provoked more than 700 comments!  Through honesty and vulnerability, she’s creating conversations that push people to reflect on what really matters.  After stepping away from TV in 2017, she leaned into more authentic storytelling, launching The Life Actually Company. Then in 2022, everything changed—she was diagnosed with stage 3B rectal cancer at just 42, with a seven-month-old daughter at home.  What’s powerful is this—she didn’t just face that fight, she’s bringing others along with her, helping people see strength, perspective, and themselves a little differently. 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.

  8. Apr 12

    MLS and Bolivian Soccer Player Efrain Morales S3 - Episode 30

    Excited to welcome Efraín Morales to the Game Changers podcast. Efraín is one of the rising young defenders in Major League Soccer, currently playing center back for CF Montréal and building a reputation as a fearless competitor with global roots. Born in Georgia to a Puerto Rican mother and Bolivian father, he came up through the Atlanta United FC, signing a Homegrown contract at just 16 years old and quickly making his mark in the professional ranks. Now continuing his MLS career in Montréal, Morales has also stepped onto the international stage—making his senior debut for the Bolivia national team during a 2024 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. Morales is a player whose story—and ceiling—are just getting started. Listen in as he talks about growing up in professional football. 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.

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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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