The Giving Game

Sophia Whitesell
  • 3.7 (6)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

No stats. No highlights. No sports talk. Just what athletes are doing when the cameras are off. Host Sophia Whitesell, a night-shift nurse and single mom known as "the Giving Gangster," sits down with athletes from every level of the game to talk about the one thing nobody asks them about: the causes they've built foundations to fight for. Ben Zobrist. Sergio Garcia. Martin Gramatica. Dave Dravecky. Kareem Rush. They've all played the game. Here, they play a different one. You'll hear the real stories behind building homes for wounded veterans, supporting kids who need a shot, and what it actually takes to make a difference. Then you'll find out exactly how you can be part of it, no gala ticket or silent auction required. Because giving back shouldn't be exclusive. It should be trendy. New episodes weekly. #MakeGivingTrendy

  1. 2d ago

    Bite Like A Man: The Olympic Boxer Who Fought the Scale and Won | Danny O'Connor

    Episode DescriptionWhat happens when the discipline that built a champion becomes the thing that nearly kills him? Danny O'Connor opens up about a 20-year battle with eating disorders, the brutal reality of weight-class sports, and the moment his career nearly ended in an ICU bed hours before a world title fight.Sophia Whitesell leads a deeply honest conversation with Danny about the hidden toll of wrestling and boxing, the dangers of aggressive weight cutting, and why so many men suffer in silence without a community or a language for what they're experiencing. This is not a story about vanity or control - it's about survival, secrecy, shame, and what it takes to rebuild a relationship with food after years of self-destruction. You'll discover:Why Danny says eating disorders in men are vastly misunderstoodHow extreme weight cuts, starvation, dehydration, and laxative abuse shaped his careerThe difference between disordered eating, binge eating, and the full psychological trap of an eating disorderWhy he believes early intervention could save lives in combat sportsHow he rebuilt his life through outpatient treatment, mindfulness, therapy, and relentless self-workSophia also pulls back the curtain on the broader cultural pressure around body image, especially for women, and the two compare how shame around weight can quietly shape identity from childhood into adulthood. The result is a conversation that lands far beyond sports - into parenting, mental health, self-worth, and the way we talk to ourselves and each other.Danny shares what finally changed after years of thinking he could "beat it overnight," why growth is rarely linear, and how he turned pain into purpose through his book, his community, and his foundation supporting adolescent mental health. Essential listening if you care about mental health, combat sports, recovery, body image, or the hidden cost of chasing perfection.Danny O'Connor is a former boxer and author of Weight Class: A Fighter's Life or Death Battle with an Eating Disorder. He is also the founder of the O'Connor Foundation and Bite Like a Man, a community for men navigating eating disorders and recovery.Sophia Whitesell is the host of the show and guides the conversation with empathy, candor, and a strong focus on breaking cycles of shame and silence.

  2. Oct 16

    Every Stage Is A Platform: B. Taylor On Sports, Service and Music

    This week on The Giving Game, I sit down with B. Taylor, a former D1 athlete at Mizzou who went on to become a multi-platinum recording artist, decorated U.S. Navy veteran, Goodwill Global Ambassador, and founder of the L1FE Organization and 1 Life Productions Group. We talk about his journey from college athletics to the music industry and military service, and how the discipline and teamwork he learned as an athlete shaped everything that came after. Today, he uses his music and platform to champion veterans, service members, and first responders throughout the United States. Giving back isn't reserved for galas and silent auctions. It's for all of us. #TheGivingGame #MakeGivingTrendy #L1FE #Mizzou #VeteransSupport

  3. Oct 9

    Rescue Dogs, Second Chances & #LovePup with Jess McClain | The Giving Game Ep. 23

    Episode 23 is here. 🐾 Jess McClain sat down with me to talk about how the #LovePup Foundation changed her life, and why rescuing dogs ended up rescuing her too. We get into what it really looks like behind the scenes of animal rescue, what keeps her going, and how anyone can get involved. No gala tickets required. If you've ever loved a dog, this one's for you. 🐶❤️ 🎧 Full episode on The Giving Game. Link in bio. #TheGivingGame #LovePup #DogRescue #AdoptDontShop #RescueDogs #GivingBack #Philanthropy #NonprofitPodcast #AnimalRescue #PodcastEpisode

  4. Oct 2

    Love Makes Room: Anthony Trucks on Foster Care, Identity & Becoming More

    Anthony Trucks’ story is one of resilience, identity, foster care, and turning adversity into purpose. A former NFL player, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and foster care advocate, Anthony opens up about growing up in the foster care system, finding a sense of belonging, rebuilding his identity, and using his platform to create better outcomes for kids facing similar challenges. He also shares why serving on the board of a foster care organization matters so deeply to him and how his own experience continues to shape the work he does today. This episode of The Giving Game is a powerful conversation about foster care, overcoming adversity, second chances, personal growth, and what it means to create a life and legacy that is bigger than your past.

  5. Sep 25

    Former NBA Point Guard C.J. Watson on Family, Legacy & the Quiet Storm Foundation

    Former NBA point guard C.J. Watson joins The Giving Game to talk about the Quiet Storm Foundation, the family-run nonprofit he co-founded in 2009 with his parents and brother to support underprivileged youth in his hometown of Las Vegas. C.J. walks through the foundation's three core programs: a free summer basketball camp with a parent workshop component, a Black History essay contest each February that sends winning students and their families to Washington, D.C. for a Black History Museum tour and an HBCU tour (a tradition that used to mean flying kids to C.J.'s NBA road games instead), and a twice-monthly out-of-school program built around field trips and health and wellness activities. He shares the deeply personal reason the essay contest matters to him — his grandmother helped desegregate an all-white school in Nashville, and his father's family was threatened over it — and reflects candidly on what still needs to change in how society talks about race, the value of "having the tough conversations," and what allyship looks like in practice. The conversation also covers C.J.'s path from a childhood in Las Vegas's inner city to a 10-year NBA career, his post-retirement pivot into being a children's book author (C.J.'s Big Dream, C.J.'s Big Project, C.J.'s Big Moment, and C.J. and His Magic Socks), and life as a father of three daughters, including his oldest, a Division I volleyball recruit at the University of Pittsburgh. He and Sophie wrap with a broader conversation about the state of youth sports — travel team costs, pay-to-play culture, and why the life lessons sports teach matter more than the scoreboard. If C.J.'s story moved you, you can support the Quiet Storm Foundation using the link below. What We Cover(01:46) What is the Quiet Storm Foundation, and how C.J.'s whole family got involved(03:13) Why empowering youth became C.J.'s mission(04:08) Growing up in the inner city of Las Vegas(05:04) Education first: how C.J.'s parents kept sports in perspective(05:50) From basketball to becoming a children's book author(07:13) The hardest part of transitioning out of a long pro career(08:22) The historical significance of Las Vegas's West Side(09:20) The story behind the Black History essay contest: C.J.'s grandmother and the fight to desegregate a Nashville school(12:06) What needs to change: allyship, tough conversations, and representation in sports(20:35) Fatherhood: raising three daughters and being a "strict dad"(21:31) His oldest daughter's path to a full volleyball scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh(23:50) What makes a good dad, in C.J.'s words(26:08) Learning things the hard way vs. having a strict upbringing(42:13) The state of youth sports: pay-to-play culture, private equity, and losing the fun(45:35) Why the life lessons sports teach matter more than the sport itself(47:44) Where to donate to the Quiet Storm Foundation(48:04) What C.J. wants his legacy to be, outside of basketballSupport the Quiet Storm Foundation👉 Website: quietstormfoundation.org 👉 Instagram: @QS_Foundation One-time and recurring donations are accepted via credit card, Zelle, and Venmo, and all gifts are tax-deductible.

  6. Sep 18

    "We Don't Cure Cancer, We Cure Bad Days": Kelyn Rowe & Erik Rees on the Jessie Rees Foundation

    This is a special two-guest episode. Former professional soccer player Kelyn Rowe joins The Giving Game alongside a very special bonus guest, Erik Rees, founder of the Jessie Rees Foundation (NEGU — Never Ever Give Up), to tell the story behind one of the most moving nonprofits to appear on the show. Erik shares the story of his daughter Jessie, diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor called DIPG at age 11 in 2011. During treatment, Jessie noticed other kids in the hospital who couldn't go home, and asked her parents, "How can we help them?" That question led her to create Joy Jars — 64-ounce jars filled with toys, games, and activities for kids fighting cancer, which she made by hand in the family garage. Jessie passed away 10 months and two days after her diagnosis, but her family chose to continue her mission. The Jessie Rees Foundation has since sent out more than 600,000 Joy Jars to children in all 50 states and 53 countries, alongside programs supporting siblings, financial assistance for families (including $3.5 million distributed through their Hope for the Holidays program), self-care support for mothers, and grief support for bereaved families. Kelyn explains how he got connected to the foundation and created Kelyn's NEGU Crew, a program bringing courageous kids and their families to professional soccer games to be celebrated by the team and the crowd — including the story of David, a young cancer patient from Brazil who Kelyn stayed connected with for years and later saw cancer-free as a high schooler. Kelyn has since passed the torch of hosting NEGU Crew events to current players, while staying involved himself. The conversation also touches on host Sophie's own experience with her son's serious health scare in the hospital, why the foundation intentionally supports the whole family and not just the sick child, and Kelyn's post-soccer life running Vino FC, a community-driven wine business built around in-person tastings rather than shipped subscriptions. If this story moved you, you can support the Jessie Rees Foundation using the link below. This episode includes discussion of childhood cancer, terminal illness, and the loss of a child. If this topic is difficult for you, please take care while listening. What We Cover(00:02:01) Erik shares Jessie's diagnosis and the question that started it all: "How can we help them?"(00:03:53) Jessie's passing and the family's decision to continue her mission(00:05:01) The Jessie Rees Foundation's full range of programs, from diagnosis through bereavement(00:06:06) How Kelyn got connected and created Kelyn's NEGU Crew(00:07:15) What drew Kelyn to this cause over other children's charities(00:08:00) David's story: a young cancer patient turned lasting friendship(00:09:56) Finding families to help while respecting hospital privacy rules(00:13:41) Turning tragedy into purpose: "Jessie is living on through this"(00:15:53) Sophie shares her own family's hospital experience(00:43:25) Life after pro soccer: corporate insurance broker by day(00:44:09) Vino FC: Kelyn's community-driven, pickup-only wine business(00:59:02) Advice for anyone who feels discouraged when their giving isn't immediately appreciated(01:01:43) Where to donate and get involved with the Jessie Rees FoundationSupport the Jessie Rees Foundation👉 Website: NEGU.org Community members can also volunteer at Joy Jar stuffing events or cheer on courageous kids at sporting events near them.

  7. Sep 11

    Former NFL Running Back Terron Ward on Mentorship, Scholarships & the Wardboy Project

    Former NFL running back Terron Ward joins The Giving Game to talk about the Wardboy Project, the foundation he co-founded with his brother to support underprivileged youth in the East Bay Area — the pocket of cities east of Oakland including Antioch, Pittsburg, Concord, and Brentwood that Terron and his brother call home. Terron breaks down the foundation's three main pillars: DRAW, a mentorship program pairing middle schoolers with dedicated mentors for weekly check-ins, tutoring, and guidance; the TK Scholarship Program, named in memory of Terrence Kelly, a standout De La Salle student-athlete and family friend who was shot and killed in 2004 before he could start college, which now covers private school tuition for kids who couldn't otherwise afford it; and the Bay Area Skills Academy, a free annual football camp that just wrapped its tenth year with roughly 200 kids in attendance. The foundation also recently held its first Student Athlete Summit, a full day of programming with 20 speakers ranging from college coaches to financial experts covering everything a student-athlete needs to know, including NIL. The conversation moves into the harder-to-talk-about parts of life after football: the identity crisis that hits when the structure of a 20-year athletic regimen disappears overnight, why confidence-building is one of the most important things a coach or mentor can give a kid, and how coaching philosophy has shifted away from the "screaming coach" model of Terron's father's era. Terron also shares a piece of advice from an unexpected source — a billionaire he met at a bar who told him to stop chasing his dreams and start chasing his talents — and reflects on fatherhood, raising two daughters, and why he believes real growth is never linear. If Terron's story moved you, you can support the Wardboy Project using the link below. What We Cover(00:02:19) What the Wardboy Project is, and why Terron and his brother started it(00:03:44) Inside the DRAW mentorship program for middle schoolers(00:04:43) The TK Scholarship Program, named for Terrence Kelly(00:05:37) The Bay Area Skills Academy: 10 years of free football camps(00:06:08) The foundation's first Student Athlete Summit(00:09:11) The identity crisis that hits after leaving pro sports(00:11:28) His father's coaching legacy and the "domino effect" of mentorship(00:13:52) Why instilling confidence is top of the list for coaching kids(00:15:12) How coaching philosophy has changed since his father's era(00:32:03) "Chase your talents, not your dreams": advice from a chance encounter(00:36:21) Why Terron has always been process-oriented, not just goal-oriented(00:38:26) Fatherhood and raising two daughters(01:00:39) Why "they're famous, they can't have money problems" is a myth(01:04:11) How to support the Wardboy Project without giving money(01:03:36) Where to donate and follow the Wardboy ProjectSupport the Wardboy Project👉 Website: wardboyproject.org 👉 Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok: @wardboyproject Can't give financially? The Wardboy Project is always looking for mentors and event volunteers — or connections to others who might be able to support the mission.

  8. Sep 4

    Former NBA Player Kareem Rush on Building University Heritage Group and Giving Back to NIL Athletes

    Recorded in-person in Kansas City, former NBA player Kareem Rush joins The Giving Game to talk about University Heritage Group (UHG), the exclusive alumni membership brand he built to reconnect former college athletes with the schools that shaped them — and to give current student-athletes a cut of the profits. Kareem breaks down the concept: each university's membership club is capped at the number tied to that school's founding year (Missouri's is 1839, KU's 1865, Georgetown's 1789), creating built-in scarcity similar to a private club like Soho House. Members get access to Kareem's growing product line — starting with a bourbon brand and expanding into coffee and more — with 5% of membership revenue funneled into an NIL fund supporting underserved sports like volleyball, soccer, and baseball at each school, since football and basketball typically absorb most NIL dollars. Kareem's own daughter, a senior on Mizzou's volleyball team, is part of why that focus is personal. The conversation ranges from Kareem's read on NIL and why he believes players deserved compensation all along, to his NBA career — playing alongside Shaq, Kobe, and Phil Jackson, facing Michael Jordan in his rookie year, and the ACL microfracture injury at 29 that ended his career years earlier than he expected. He also opens up about a parallel life in music: a Billboard Top 40 single, a performance at the ESPYs, an appearance on 106 & Park, and an almost-audition for The Voice. Kareem closes with a message for the next generation of athletes: don't put yourself in a box, because you are more than the game. If Kareem's story moved you, check out University Heritage Group using the link below. What We Cover(01:46) What Kareem's building with University Heritage Group (UHG)(02:52) How the exclusive, founding-year-based membership model works(04:41) The first five schools: Missouri, KU, Maryland, Georgetown, and UCLA(04:48) Scaling to 120+ university label designs and the PAC athlete network(05:53) Why 5% of membership revenue funds NIL support for underserved sports(06:59) Kareem's take on NIL: "It's only right that some of it trickles down"(10:25) What Kareem would tell his younger self about basketball and beyond(11:40) "Inherited fandom": why college loyalty outlasts pro team loyalty(17:38) The ACL microfracture injury at 29 that ended his NBA career early(17:59) A parallel career in music: a Billboard Top 40 single and an ESPYs performance(18:31) Rap and singing battles on the team bus with Shaq(42:13) Who Kareem looks up to in athlete-turned-business: Jordan, LeBron, Steph Curry(43:44) Why athletes give back even when it's not broadcast(45:14) Kareem's message to the next generation: "You are more than the game"About Kareem RushKareem Rush is a former NBA player who starred at the University of Missouri before being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, going on to play alongside Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and under head coach Phil Jackson. After an ACL microfracture injury ended his playing career at 29, Kareem built a career as an entrepreneur and recording artist, and is the founder of University Heritage Group, an exclusive membership brand connecting former college athletes with their alma maters while funding NIL support for underserved college sports. Check Out University Heritage Group👉 Website: https://universityheritage.club

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No stats. No highlights. No sports talk. Just what athletes are doing when the cameras are off. Host Sophia Whitesell, a night-shift nurse and single mom known as "the Giving Gangster," sits down with athletes from every level of the game to talk about the one thing nobody asks them about: the causes they've built foundations to fight for. Ben Zobrist. Sergio Garcia. Martin Gramatica. Dave Dravecky. Kareem Rush. They've all played the game. Here, they play a different one. You'll hear the real stories behind building homes for wounded veterans, supporting kids who need a shot, and what it actually takes to make a difference. Then you'll find out exactly how you can be part of it, no gala ticket or silent auction required. Because giving back shouldn't be exclusive. It should be trendy. New episodes weekly. #MakeGivingTrendy

Information

  • Creator
    Sophia Whitesell
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sophia Whitesell
  • Show Website
    The Giving Game