The Athlete's Advocate

Welcome back to another episode of "The Pivot Portal," a series powered by The Athlete's Advocate that explores the incredible journeys of numerous professionals and how they successfully transitioned into new careers. Our guest today is an exceptional individual who has mastered the art of pivoting from the basketball court, to the world of tech. Courtney Hayes is an ex-athlete turned Account Manager of Venture Capital Partnerships at Meta, one of the leading companies at the forefront of technological innovation.

As the world continues to evolve, we often wonder what lies ahead for athletes once their competitive days are over. In each episode of "The Pivot Portal," we dive deep into the lives of these extraordinary individuals who have fearlessly embraced change, proving that there are endless opportunities awaiting them beyond sports.

In this episode, Courtney talks about her previous carer as a Division1 Athlete and Coach, the business side of sports, her transition into tech, and so much more! So, whether you're an athlete exploring post-sports opportunities, a professional navigating a career change, or simply someone seeking inspiration from extraordinary individuals who've redefined their own path, this episode is for you.

Welcome back to "The Pivot Portal," a series that explores the inspiring stories of individuals who have successfully transitioned and pivoted from various backgrounds into exciting new careers. On this episode, we have a special guest joining us from Microsoft, a leading tech company that has revolutionized the way we interact with technology. I'm thrilled to introduce our guest, a remarkable individual who has made a successful pivot into the tech industry, please welcome our featured guest, Ivens Applyrs. In this episode, Ivens discusses migrating from Haiti, finding himself within a new culture, his computer engineering background, his experince as a product manager in the Azure Cloud Space, ways to pivot into tech, and so much more! Through his own journey, he had discovered his life's purpose is to inspire the next generation of tech leaders to live fulfilled lives and [Apply]rs excellence daily.

Welcome back for another episode of ' The Pivot Portal' series powered by The Athlete's Advocate. Today, we are joined by Zuri Georgestone! As a strategic project specialist at Louis Vuitton, our guest plays a vital role in driving innovation, managing complex initiatives, and ensuring the seamless execution of strategic objectives. We'll delve into the intricacies of their work, exploring how they combine their expertise in project management, business strategy, and creative vision to contribute to the success of one of the world's most iconic fashion brands. Through this conversation, we aim to inspire athletes and listeners alike to broaden their horizons, embrace their passions beyond sports, and discover the endless opportunities that await them in various industries. Our guest's journey serves as a reminder that success is not confined to a single field but can be found by embracing curiosity, seizing new challenges, and channeling one's unique strengths and talents!

Curious to know who we have up next for the next episode? Follow us on all of our social media platforms and connect with us!

Welcome to a very special episode of "The Pivot Portal", a series powered by The Athlete's Advocate. This series explores the multifaceted lives of athletes and highlights their accomplishments beyond the sports arena. Today, we have a remarkable guest who exemplifies the power of pursuing diverse passions and finding success in unexpected places. Our guest is a true embodiment of the phrase “more than an athlete”. After a great college career at Elon University, they made a seamless transition into the world of finance and emerged as a highly accomplished investment banker. Join us as we delve into their unique journey and uncover the fascinating story of their evolution from the sports field to the world of finance. In this episode, we aim to shed light on the lesser-known aspects of our guest's life, focusing not only on their athletic achievements but also on the remarkable skills and qualities they possess that have propelled their success in the world of finance. We'll explore the transferable skills they acquired during their sports career, such as discipline, teamwork, and resilience, and how these traits have played a pivotal role in their current profession. Join us as we uncover the layers beneath the athlete, as we celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our guest both on and off the field. Through this enlightening conversation, we aim to inspire athletes and fans alike to embrace their diverse interests and pursue fulfilling careers beyond their initial passions. Follow us! Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acheil-ta... Instagram: @Theathleteadvocate Twitter: @Theathleteadvocate Tiktok: The athlete's advocate

Welcome Back to another season of the Athlete's advocate. Today, we are joined by current Brand Manager of UFC, Tiandra Williams. Tiandra has been working in the sports and entertainment industry for about 7 years. As a former DI women’s basketball player, arena football player, and enthusiast of the art, mindset, and storytelling behind sport; Tiandra knew she wanted to be in this industry after her career as an athlete. She began working in sports as a sports marketing intern, sports columnist, and broadcast producer while getting her undergraduate and Master’s Degree. She started her professional career from the grassroots as an adidas’ Field Marketer. Since then, she has consulted for and/or partnered with notable brands such as: PlayStation, MGM Resort International, Google, Mastercard, the National Women’s Soccer League, and ABinBev; all with the goal of connecting brands with their audiences through engaging experiences and media consulting. Listen to Tiandra's story and feel free to connect with her on Linkedin!

Follow us on all of our social media platforms and find the video interview on our youtube channel @ the Athlete's advocate.

Welcome back to another season of the Athlete's advocate. Today, we are joined by Former New York Magazine editor and Professor of Journalism at Syracuse University, Aileen Gallagher. Gallagher joined the Newhouse faculty in 2010. Her research interests are digital editorial and journalism education, and she publishes and speaks regularly on these topics. A nationally recognized expert on the magazine industry, she has been quoted by the New York Times, CNN, Marketplace, WWD, Bloomberg and the Associated Press, among others. She continues to work as a freelance editor and writer for national publications, including The Washington Post, Slate, New York Magazine, Vulture, Cosmo and Bust.

In this episode, Aileen gives a journalist perspective regarding WNBA Star Brittney Griner and the lack of coverage her story is getting in the news. Griner was detained at a Moscow-area airport in February after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridge containing hashish oil. As of now, there are no news updates regarding Brittney's detainment or whereabouts. 

Please share this as you learn more about Brittney Griner and her situation. Follow the Athlete advocate on all social media platforms for news and updates! 

On this episode of the Athlete's Advocate, we are joined by Founder of 'How To Move Without The Ball: The Positioning playbook', Dania Haughton. Dania currently works for IMG Academy and has published for major sports and media companies and outlets such as ESPN, NBC Sports, Sports Illustrated, IMG Academy, and more. She is a digital creator and through her experience being an athlete and working alongside them as a Women’s basketball manager at Villanova, she has since then developed a passion for empowering athletes and amplifying their voices. In this episode, Dania speaks on athletes taking control and narrating their own stories, how her perspective has enlightened her to find solutions on how athletes can navigate their careers and want more for themselves, the intersection of sports and society, being a Brown woman in the sports media industry, and so much more! Make sure to follow the Athlete's Advocate for more content and connect with Dania on all her social media platforms. @theathleteadvocate @daniahaughton

This week, we are joined by Professional basketball player and newest member of RISE Athletes, Devon Brookshire. Devon Graduated from Saint Mary's University where she got her degree in Psychology and a Masters in Kinesiology. After graduation, she started her professional career in Ireland and then went on to play in France, Spain, and is currently in Portugal. In this episode, Devon and I talk about her journey into the pro's and how that journey helped her understand the importance of the mental aspect of the game,  mentors and the importance of them, the difference between mental health and mental illness and how to regulate your mental health, and so much more! Beyond being an athlete, Devon is a current mentor and member of RISE Athletes. A team of world class Athletes on a mission to creating lasting, foundational change through their results-proven mindset development program. Connect with Devon on her social media platforms, subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode, and follow us on instagram for more content! 

In this week's episode, we are Joined by Career Development Coach and CEO of Rock Career Development, Julia Rock. Julia C. Rock is a career and leadership development coach who has helped hundreds of ambitious Black and POC professionals breakthrough career plateaus to secure 6-figure salaries and fulfilling job opportunities. Through her company Rock career Development, she now helps Black and POC former and transitioning basketball players at the professional and collegiate level translate their existing skills into high-paying in-demand careers. She has been featured in several major publications, including Fortune, Business Insider, Monster, and more! Connect with Julia using her social media platforms regarding any questions, inquiries, or network opportunities. 

Follow us on all of our Social Media Platforms @theathleteadvocate for episode updates and Live interviews. 

On this episode, we are joined by CEO of Rozaay Management and Athlete Tech Group, Randy Osei. Randy Osei is a former athletes turned entrepreneur. In 2015, he launched Rozaay Management, a creative marketing and branding agency that works with many professional athletes, influencers, and brands. Having success with his first venture, he then went on to create and launch the Athlete Technology Group. An events and media company focused on connecting and building athlete and tech entrepreneurs. Randy was also awarded The Ghanaian Entrepreneur of the Year and named a Brampton Top 40 under 40 recipient in 2019 for his work in building sustainable communities and he sits as a board member of Brampton Sports Hall of Fame Committee for term 2019-2022. During this episode, Randy discusses the importance of bridging athletes and tech, Athletes as investors, training ground and so much more! 

Instagram: @athletetechgroup, @randyrozaay, @Trainingground.app

Listen in Now and follow Sierra on Twitter at @sierra_joness12 and visit her Nonprofit https://youareredeemed.com/ 

Hello advocates! In this episode , we are joined by former professional European basketball player and coach, Sean J. McCaw. Sean grew up in Las Vegas, graduating from Western High school and from Southern Utah University where he was inducted into the athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. Professionally, he played for more than 12 years in 6 different countries including Austria, Switzerland, France, Portugal, England, and Germany. As a coach, he coached in Germany's first league and has coached from levels ranging from youth level to the professional level for over 9 years. In this episode, Sean discusses his journey into the pro's, forfeiting his American citizenship for a European one, taxes abroad, misconceptions of most overseas athletes, his newly published book about guiding athletes through their first rookie season, and much more! To connect with Sean, follow him on all his social media platforms at @same_name_different_game and visit his website at seanjmccaw.com to order his book!

Welcome back to another exciting season of the Athlete's Advocate! On this episode, we are joined by Marisa Robinson. Marisa is the wife of current professional basketball player, Justin "Scoop" Robinson who is currently playing professionally in Germany. During the episode, Marisa and I discuss the reality of marriage with a professional athlete who is overseas in Europe, keeping your individuality while being married to an athlete, missing important holidays and traveling back & forth throughout the year, "The Full Court Wife" and how it is helping other wives, girlfriends, and families going through the same journey by sharing stories, experiences, information, and so much more! To connect with Marisa, follow the Full court wife on instagram and follow them for all content related to being a basketball wife overseas. 

Our final episode of the season features a very special guest, King of New York, Jim Leyritz. Jim is a former Major League Baseball star (MLB) , winning 2 world series champions. He played for the Yankees, Angels, Rangers , Redsox, and Dodgers. Not only did Jim have an incredible 11 year career in the league and was a 2X World Series champion, but he was also one of the best postseason hitters in baseball history. He is the author of Catching Heat: The Jim Leyritz Story. Jim also demonstrated his versatility and knowledge of the game of baseball, by co-hosting a radio show with Vinny Micucci and Billy Sample called MLB Radio Daily on MLB Radio and many other.

After a successful 11 year career, Jim channeled his passion and commitment for helping others by raising money and awareness for numerous charitable organizations. With a deep-rooted connection to New York, Jim is involved in a myriad of causes and particularly enjoys working with charities dedicated to helping children and at-risk youth. His new show catching heat with Jim Leyritz , shares stories and insights from sports legends and celebrities. The show covers the stuff you don’t hear about in the media. Follow Jim on all his social media platforms at @therealjleyritz @catchingheat 

On today's episode , we are joined by former college athlete and professional athlete, Breana Bey. Breana grew up in Jersey City and graduated from Stetson University with a degree in digital arts. She started her pro journey in Ireland and is using her platform to inspire, educate and motivate athletes, especially girls from Jersey City. She is a role model and was honored by the City and lauded as a role model for countless young girls hoping to achieve their dreams. In this Episode , we discuss her growing up in Jersey City, Gun violence and the environment she grew up around, overcoming challenges, the importance of leadership and being a good role model, her journey into the professional league and more. Make sure to connect and follow Breana Bey at @breebey23

In this episode, we sit down with former college athlete and current professional athlete, Faatimah A. Faatimah has played in countries like El Salvador, France, Germany, Norway, Australia and Greece. She currently finished up her recent season in Egypt and is now pouring all of her energy and attention into the WUBA, as the Director of the Western Conference. During this episode, Faatimah talks about how life changed for her after 9/11, fighting and struggling with depression, the mental game of being a professional athlete abroad, how the WUBA was create, and much more. Faatimah is not just playing the sport of basketball, she is impacting lives and representing for all the Women hoopers. Check out this episode and make sure to follow and connect with Faatimah on all of her social media platforms at @faatimah_a

Today’s episode features former college athlete and CEO of LRT Sports , Keirsten sires. 

Keirsten is the founder and CEO of LRT Sports and also helps all athletes with Understanding College Athletes by writing for the Huddle. She Played college tennis and soccer for Skidmore College in New York. Though she got the opportunity to play college sports, her experience was less than ideal. Aside from playing sports and running LRT, Keirsten completed the Harvard Business Analytics Program and previously worked in finance before Fully committing to growing Her company. She has been featured in Forbes and through LRT Sports, is giving athletes, parents and coaches value information while making it all accessible to everyone. The unique thing about LRT Sports is their Coaches rating system. This system is designed to give athletes the Opportunity to rate their coaches so other athletes are able to use that as guidance for when going through their recruitment process! 

Listen now and make sure to follow Keirsten and LRT Sports on all their social media platforms. Also don't forget to access their website here at https://www.lrt-sports.com

On this episode, I sit down with Founders of Athlytic, Jared Eummer and Ashton Keys. 

Jared is the founder of Dream Marketing and Co-founder of Athlytic. He currently works in the NBA as Manger of Corporate Partnerships at the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ashton is a Product Manager and Co- Founder of Athlytic with expertise in UX design and growth marketing. Combining their professional career backgrounds and experience in sports, they formed Athlytic. 

Athlytic is is a fully integrated marketplace that will hep bridge the gap between brands and student-athletes. They will be one of the first platforms to help educate, support, and connect student-athletes to brand partners coming exactly at the right time. 

With NIL possibly creating a gold mine for new companies to jump ship in hopes of big profits, find out how athlytic and its founders are advocating for student-athletes in this space, staying authentic, and involving student-athletes biggest supporters.. their parents!

Follow Jared and Ashton on social media and check out Athlytic at https://www.athlytic.io/ 

On this bonus episode we sit down with Baylor National Champion , Tristan Clark. In this exclusive episode, Tristan talks about coming out of retirement and making his return to basketball, what it all means for his future, Transferring to SMU to take advantage of his additional year, and the hopes he has for his future in basketball after college. Make sure to follow Tristan in his journey and stay tuned for his debut return with his SMU mustangs. 

On this episode of Athlete's advocate, I sit down with former University of North Texas volleyball superstar and professional athlete, Amanda Chamberlain. While she had a stellar resume on the court, she had some concerns off the court with her academics and career after retirement. During this episode, Amanda talks about the importance of internships and the lack of opportunities there for athletes to get their foot in the door during their college athletic careers, how winning championships and conference titles is great, but doesn't equate to real work experience or help you get the job. How she has experienced programs take away scholarships from student-athletes that are realistic about their future's, the NCAA needing to get involved to help student-athletes, and how critical it is to advocate for yourself in this space at all levels. Make sure to connect and follow Amanda on all of her social media platforms @_amandaleeann

Welcome back advocates for another episode of the athlete's advocate. This episode, we sit down and talk to special guest, Stephanie Rosado. Stephanie is a former college and professional athlete who is now on a mission to advocate for and promote athlete wellbeing and social justice by utilizing unique skill sets and values of social work. she is a member of Alliance of social workers in sports and serves as the executive committees student at large. She is also a current PH.D student at the University of South Florida, school of social work to expand on sports social work research. In this episode, we talk about what sports social work is, the transition from sports to real life, and the importance of educating and advocating for yourself as an athlete. listen to Stephanie's story and Make sure to connect with her on Linkedin.

In this week's episode, I sit down and talk to Forbes 30 under 30 Honoree, WNBA Insider, and Founder of GirlsTalkSportsTv, Khristina Williams. As one of the leading voices of the WNBA, Khristina is giving us featured interviews, sports news and league updates. In this episode, Williams and I discuss her digital sports media platform GirlsTalkSportsTV ,how she is advocating and sharing stories of the Women in the W, the lack of coverage of the women's game, how she determines which stories to tell and which to leave up to the players to tell themselves, creating her own lane, and so much more. Make sure to follow GirlsTalkSportsTv on all social media platforms ahead of the historical 25th WNBA season. 

In this exciting episode, I sat down with Australian native, Former professional basketball player and Founder of Athletes2Business, Alex Opacic. During the episode, Alex and I discus his journey to America from Australia and the culture shock he experienced, His time at Furman University and playing against some legends of the game including NBA champion Stephen Curry, The brutal truth about valuing your education in college, Athletes2Business and how he is helping athletes transition into professional careers after sports, and the corporate world and how most athletes feel they do not belong. To connect with Alex or inquire about his services, Follow him on LinkedIn and Instagram at @Athletes2Business and check out their website at Athletes2Business.com.au

In this episode of the Athlete's advocate, I sit down with former elite volleyball player Jaila Tolbert to discuss her journey at Virginia Tech and her role on numerous NCAA committees and representing current and former student-athletes at the Division 1 level. During this episode, Jaila and I will talk about NIL (Name, Image, Likeness), the transfer portal and the buzz surrounding that, early signing, early recruiting, and more! To connect with Jaila, Please find her on Linkedin at Jaila Tolbert and on Instagram and twitter at @iamjailatolbert. 

Welcome to Season 2 of The Athlete's Advocate Podcast. In today's episode, I am joined by Professor Charles Grantham, M.B.A. 

Mr. Grantham is a former Executive Director of the NBA players' Association and Director of the center of sport Management in the Stillman school of business. Charles Grantham was also voted into the Cheyney University Hall of Fame in 1992. He has been featured in the Harvard Journal of sports and entertainment and media throughout the country including but not limited to USA Today, Sports Business Journal, CBS Sports Radio, and many more.  During this Episode, we discuss The fight for athlete's and their wellbeing, the unspoken problem facing the NCAA, Academic Fraud, ED 0 Bannon case, and more. To learn more about Mr. Grantham and how he played a pivotal role in the revitalization and advancement of the NBA, please check out and read his articles listed below. 

Make sure to follow and keep up at @Acheiltac @theathleteadvocate on Instagram and twitter. 

Professor Charles Grantham's Published articles: 

Harvard Journal of Sports & Entertainment Law: https://harvardjsel.com/2020/08/it-is-time-to-share-revenue-with-collegiate-athletes/

https://www.si.com/college/2015/05/19/ncaa-problems-race

https://www.shu.edu/business/news/charlie-grantham-change-agent.cfm

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/18/sports/basketball/nba-schedule-contract.html

In this episode of the athlete's advocate, we sit down with former college athlete and founder of the Playoff Dating App,  Amanda McGrew. During the episode, Amanda talks about traveling across the country to play at Rhode Island and the struggles she faced her senior season, what initially provoked her to create a dating app only designed for athletes, the concept behind "Playoff", and how it compares to other dating apps that are already operating in the dating world. Get a unique perspective and understanding behind playoff and how inclusive, but safe they are about creating a safe space for athletes to interact, connect, date and network! Follow our podcast page on social media at @theathleteadvocate and  connect with Amanda at @playoffdatingapp or on LinkedIn.  Also, download the app now which is available both for iPhone and Android users in the app store. We have the platform, so let's start using it !

For our ninth episode we decided to travel virtually to East Africa, Uganda to be exact! In this exciting episode, we interviewed former Ugandan National athlete and current Head Coach of the Ugandan National team, Mavita Ali. Mavita is a trailblazer and amongst Women who are making a difference through sports, especially in Africa. In this interview, Mavita discusses what it was like coming up as an athlete in Uganda, her organization "Score Beyond" and what they are accomplishing through the org, the buzz about African athletes and the possibility of exploitation, the important ages and stages of development for girls in sports, the lack of support for Women and Girls in sports in Africa due to cultural beliefs, and much more. Connect with Mavita on Social Media and check out Score Beyond and all the cool things they are doing to help Women and Girls in Uganda using sports. @score_beyond @Mavitamoses @theathleteadvocate

This episode features Stanford Women's basketball Forward, Maya Dodson. During this episode, Maya gives us the scoop on why she opted out of her senior season at Stanford, Covid-19 and it's impact on her and her family, what it is like being a Black Female athlete in the world of college athletics, creating her own engineering major, and the powerful statement and example she is setting for other athletes in the world  of college athletics. Also, get the scoop on if there will be a fifth year in store for Maya! Connect with Maya on social media and follow our podcast social media pages to get an exclusive look at our episodes before we air them. Our podcast Instagram and twitter account is @theathleteadvocate

Welcome to another episode of the athlete's advocate! Our guest this week is Former Clemson rowing star, Lydia Hanewich. In this episode Lydia discusses struggling to find her career path after graduation and eventually getting into sports technology, pursuing her MBA right after her undergrad, how she is changing the ratio by advocating for athletes and Women in sports tech, and the different unique opportunities Women in Sports tech provides for athletes and women looking to get their foot in the door for an exciting career in sports technology. Connect with Lydia on LinkedIn and check out WiST and Catapult for sports tech opportunities. 

Injuries are no fun and people tend to neglect and forget the fact that there is a process that athletes go through that the public do not get to see. There are stages in-between getting injured and rehabbing back to health and recovery that a lot of athletes do not willingly talk about or often expose. In this jam packed episode, Baylor elite athlete Tristan Clark and I sit down to dissect his most recent retirement letter and explore his mental and physical journey with an injury that recently drove him into early retirement.  Additionally , Tristan is unguarded and transparent as he authentically opens up about going through depression and how he was able to eventually pull himself out and into a positive mental space. Though the Baylor standout is retired from basketball physically , he is optimistic about his future away from the game and is looking forward  to using his experience to help athletes through sports psychology. Listen to his story here and keep with Tristan's journey on twitter at @Tristanclark25 . 

In this Episode, retired professional WNBL basketball player Jessica Kuster discusses her faith and finding her identity in Christ, leaving professional basketball for ministry, spiritually guiding athletes to a greater purpose, and how cruel and cold the world can be towards Women. Jessica is currently in ministry school and plans to plant a church somewhere around the world one day! She believes that the best way she can help support athletes and Women is through ministry and bringing people to God. Check out Jessica's story and journey here and connect with her on Instagram at @Kustakusta.  Make sure to follow us and connect with us on Instagram also at @theathleteadvocate and catch up on our other episodes. 

In this special episode, Ford dyke joins the show. Dr. Dyke is a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Kinesiology and also a Team USA Athlete. He specializes in performance and exercise psychophysiology and is a subject-matter expert in Mindfulness-Based Performance and health optimization. He is currently an Assistant clinical Professor in the school of Kinesiology at Auburn University. During the episode, Ford also discusses his journey with Team USA,  his company Perforhumance, and the 2021 Olympics! Connect with Ford on Instagram @Perforhumance and check out his podcast @preFORM on all major podcast platforms. 

In this episode, I am joined by Carlon Brown. A former Colorado and professional championship superstar. During the episode, Carlon talks about his journey to the Pro's and how a lingering injury ended up ending his professional career. Carlon is not just a talented basketball superstar, but also a talented creator as he uses his gift and talent in animation to bring information visually to life. As a retired veteran of the game, Carlon is giving back to the athletic community through Pointadvising. A consulting company dedicated to helping athletes with the transition from playing in college to playing professionally. To learn more about Carlon and pointadvising , follow him @pointadvising on social media and at https://www.pointadvising.com/

On this episode we have another special guests Jori Davis. Jori is a professional basketball player and athlete advocate.  During this episode, Jori and I talk about the lost community of overseas basketball, her Journey after Indiana and being drafted, the corruption in the agency world and wevolvsociety. Jori is big on athlete advocacy and Women advocacy. She believes that in order for global change to occur within the world of athletics, we need to stop competing with each other off the court and work together. For more information , follow her @joridavis32 on all social media platforms and check out Wevolvsociety and how they are impacting great change. 

On this episode we have a special guest Malcolm Lemmons. Malcolm is a former Professional Basketball Player, Bestselling author, Entrepreneur, and Athlete Advocate. During this episode, we discuss Malcolm's journey from being a pro athlete to discovering his talents as an author and how he is using his experience and expertise on brand development to educate athlete's on how to build their personal brands and monetize off of it. For more information follow him on twitter and Instagram @malcolmlemmons and check out his newly published book "Impact Beyond The Game."

The Athlete's Advocate is a podcast where you can hear from your favorite  Professional and College athlete's on how they are using their voices and platforms to challenge the athletic system and change the status quo! Every episode is a different athlete with a unique story and distinctive perspective. So join me and my guests as we talk sports and spark the curious minds of many.