Champions of Change: The RISE Podcast

We were thrilled to welcome an array of outstanding guests on the Champions of Change: The RISE Podcast during the Super Bowl, and to honor Black History Month, we are excited to present a two-part series. In this second part, we had the honor of engaging with former player Picasso Nelson Jr., Antoine Wesley of the Cardinals, and Dakoda Martin of the Saints. Each interview was impactful, bringing a unique perspective and inspiring insights. Our discussions ranged from strategies for building success to the importance of community and allyship, and why representation matters. Our aim was to celebrate African Americans and allies who are making a significant impact in our communities and shine a light on their inspiring stories.

While the Chiefs and the Eagles were making history on the field, we had the opportunity to connect with leading figures in the NFL community to discuss how they are making history off the field. In the first part of a two-part series, we sat down with former NFLPA Lawyer, Joe Briggs, to discuss the impact the NFLPA has on all aspects of player development and his thoughts on how we can move forward. Next, we interviewed former NFL commissioner, Paul Tagliabue, and former player turned entrepreneur, Ryan Munday, to discuss the importance of community building, mental health, and strong leadership. Lastly, we engaged with Sheldon Day of the Minnesota Vikings and discussed how he is doing his part to support athletes and his community. At RISE, we believe there is no better way to celebrate Black History Month than by highlighting leaders who are creating history now and changing the narratives of their communities.

On MLK Day, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his impact on civil rights. Please tune in to the Champions of Change podcast where we explore how to carry on his work through sports and the sports community. With guests Jesse Luketa, outside linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals and Shaun Mayo, the Chief People Officer for the Arizona Cardinals, we delve into athlete activism, promoting safe spaces for dialogue, and fostering community. Get a unique perspective on how civil rights and sports intersect and discover how each of us can make a meaningful impact on society.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 through October 15, highlighting the many contributions made by those with Hispanic heritage. During this month, many Latin American countries also celebrate their independence. The month is marked by the celebration of history, culture and contributions of generations of Hispanic and Latinx people that have shaped and influenced society. In this conversation, RISE's Scarlen Martinez speaks with Jhoancy Zapata, a Latina who co-owns Z-Axis Sports Management, a boutique marketing and sports agency representing clients across multiple sports.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 through October 15, highlighting the many contributions made by those with Hispanic heritage. During this month, many Latin American countries also celebrate their independence. The month is marked by the celebration of history, culture and contributions of generations of Hispanic and Latinx people that have shaped and influenced society. In this conversation, RISE's Scarlen Martinez speaks with CJ Perez of U.S. SailGP, a Latina athlete...

How equal is the playing field in sports, especially for women of color? Gwen Berry, a U.S. Olympic Hammer Thrower and social justice activist, shares her experience facing racial and gender discrimination on and off the field, and discusses the motivation for and impact of her national anthem protests for racial justice on the international stage. RISE Sr. Director of Empowerment Scarlen Martinez co-hosts her first episode alongside Ian Cutler.

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX, we speak with Sarah Axelson, Vice President of Advocacy at the Women’s Sports Foundation. Sarah joins RISE's Ian Cutler and Natalia Chino to discuss the impact of Title IX and the significance of this anniversary, assessing the landscape of women’s sports today and the progress made in respect to equality and inclusivity. She also discusses the additional barriers faced by girls and women of color and the deeper disparities that...

As we approach Juneteenth, the celebration of the end of slavery in this country, we share this RISE critical Conversation from the recently held University of Maryland Sports Business Conference. With lawmakers across the country seeking to restrict the way issues of race, diversity and inclusion are discussed and taught in schools and places of work, this conversation addresses how we talk, teach and tackle racism in the collegiate space, particularly in athletics. With such legislative...

During the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020, Denver Broncos all-pro safety Justin Simmons began joining weekly virtual sessions of a RISE multi-week leadership program with youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. The program provided a safe space for teens to learn about diversity and inclusion related topics, and discuss what it means to be a champion of change for addressing racism and injustice in their communities. The impact of those sessions resonate today. Two teens...

The Intercollegiate Sailing Association Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity Task Force - otherwise known as ICSA TIDE - is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive sailing community. Four of its student-athlete leaders – Lily Allen, University of Michigan; Preston Anderson, Bowdoin College; Michelle Lahrkamp, Stanford University; and Emi Ruth, Brown University – join us to discuss the experiences of women and athletes of color in this majority-white sport, the barriers they need to...

When Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color barrier on April 15, 1947, it was as a seminal moment in the fight for racial justice that changed our country forever. But 75 years later, we must ask if we have made enough progress since. What can we learn from Robinson’s life and legacy to continue that fight both within sport and in society? As we celebrate Jackie Robinson Day and the 75th anniversary of his groundbreaking achievements, we speak with Nichol Whiteman, the CEO of the Los Angeles...

In the height of March Madness, RISE’s Dr. Andrew Mac Intosh leads this conversation with Omar Brown (BIG TEN, Senior Vice President, People & Culture Officer), Felicia Martin (NCAA Senior Vice President of Inclusion, Education, and Community Engagement) and Bill Shelton (Group 1001 Chief Marketing Officer), as they discuss addressing challenges of racism, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and ways to create more inclusive cultures within college athletics and beyond. This RISE...

Washington Commanders Head Coach Ron Rivera and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mel Blount join us from Radio Row at Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles to discuss issues of race, diversity and inclusion within the NFL and society. They also speak to their own experiences with racism and leveraging the platform of sport to advance racial equity and social justice.

RISE Chief Program Officer Dr. Andrew Mac Intosh leads this conversation with Dasha Smith, NFL Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer; Jim Rooney, Pittsburgh Steelers, the son of late Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney, the namesake of the NFL’s Rooney Rule; Professor N. Jeremi Duru, Professor of Sports Law at American University and author of Advancing The Ball: Race, Reformation, and the Quest for Equal Coaching Opportunity in the NFL; and Diahann Billings-Burford, RISE CEO. The...

What does it mean to be an ally in the fight against racism? In this conversation, we explore the meaning of the term allyship, the challenges that come with being an ally and ways to make college athletics a more inclusive space. Megan Skaggs and Mary Korlin-Downs, two All-American gymnasts who are both white, are spearheading separate efforts to promote racial equity and inclusion. Skaggs, a student-athlete at the University of Florida, created a cause-based campaign, the Tiny Bow Project,...

RISE’s Peyton Finley and Kim Miller host this conversation with Olympic Gold Medalist Benita Fitzgerald Mosley to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day (Feb. 2) and the start of Black History Month. Fitzgerald Mosley is Vice President of Community & Impact at LeagueApps and President of Fundplay, an initiative that supports sports-based youth development organizations in underserved communities across the country. Fitzgerald Mosley discusses the challenges that girls and women,...

Formed jointly by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association in 2020, the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization that leads the NBA family’s collaborative efforts to address racial inequality and advance social justice. James Cadogan is the Coalition’s first Executive Director, a post he has held since April 2021. Cadogan previously served as the inaugural director of the Thurgood Marshall Institute at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and...

Professional sailing is often associated with privilege and exclusivity, but the U.S. SailGP Team is committed to making their sport more inclusive, and is taking the necessary steps to do just that. In June 2021, they launched “Foiling First,” an initiative aimed at creating opportunities for diverse youth to pursue sailing and educating and empowering the entire sailing community to address matters of racism, discrimination and inclusivity through a partnership with RISE. RISE's Ian Cutler...

When RISE educates on how sport can be a vehicle for change we often explore the different ways athletes and teams can leverage their platforms to raise awareness around critical issues, and one powerful example is by wearing special apparel. This season, select players and staff from the Los Angeles Rams are wearing custom-made RISE cleats during the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats campaign to raise awareness for our mission to end racism and champion social justice. The driving force behind the...

On Election Day 2021, we speak with Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball Associate Head Coach Eric Reveno, who has played an integral in helping to create the student-athlete-inspired #AllVoteNoPlay initiative taking place today across the NCAA, where coaches and student-athletes are required to pause from practice to focus on civic engagement and community action. Coach Rev joins RISE's Ian Cutler and Jared Shanker to talk about this initiative and how coaches and student-athletes can take action...