Athletes Doing Good

In 2021, Kennedy Littledike flipped her car on an Idaho road and landed upside down on a 30-foot-high power line. She lives to tell this traumatic story, losing her limb, and the guilt and challenges she has overcome since this accident. 

Shannon Starr is the eldest granddaughter of the late Bart and Cherry Starr. Born in Birmingham, AL Shannon was raised in a loving and supportive household surrounded by the deep love her grandparents had for each other. Shannon became passionate about helping children receive the best possible medical care after her first-born child suffered a lengthy stay in a Florida hospital at the end of 2016. She is committed to helping all families receive superior quality of care during their stay for pediatric oncology treatments through Starr Children's Fund.Faith, family and living a healthy lifestyle are the top priorities in Shannon's life. She enjoys traveling, sports and cooking with her family. Shannon is very excited about this partnership with Children's Hospital and is looking forward to working with many families in need.

We sit down with AJ and Gabrielle Dillon to launch their campaign - Carry for a Cause presented by US Venture. Listen to what they all have to say about food, family and football in this fun, live chat with an interactive audience! 

Shaka Smart, former basketball player himself and now Men's Basketball Coach at Marquette Univeristy. Smart claimed national coach of the year honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches, United States Basketball Writer's Association and Associated Press because of his team's success in 2022-23, He also claimed unanimous BIG EAST Coach of the Year accolades. Aside from his great achievments, Shaka's impact with his athletes set him apart as a stand out coach and mentor. 

Shaka Smart, former basketball player himself and now Men's Basketball Coach at Marquette Univeristy. Smart claimed national coach of the year honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches, United States Basketball Writer's Association and Associated Press because of his team's success in 2022-23, He also claimed unanimous BIG EAST Coach of the Year accolades. Aside from his great achievments, Shaka's impact with his athletes set him apart as a stand out coach and mentor. 

Badger Football CB, Max Lofy's impact goes way beyond the field as he truly uses his platform in a positive fashion, and continuously strives to make an impact big or small. He has "found serving has helped me gain perspective on life and gratitude." 

NFL player and former Texas Longhorn, Adrian Philips joins us on the ADG podcast this week. Him and his family are dedicated to lifting up others and have established the L.A.K.E. Foundation. Adrian shares the primary areas of focus: education, minority communities, athletics, and food insecurities and why they are important to him. 

We welcomed CJ Ham to share more about The UNRL Celebrity Softball Game, raising funds to support two Minnesota youth focused organizations—former Vikings player Adam Thielen's Thielen Foundation and the Ham Family Scholarship Fund. Learn more about Cj's 'Why' and passion to give back. 

This week we welcome Travis Diener, who played at Marquette University with the most notable final four team in 2003 with Dwyane Wade and Steve Novak. From there he went onto the NBA and played at a very high level overseas for years. in just over a week we welcome him and Dwyane Wade back to Milwaukee for the Wade Vs. Diener weekend where they will be competing in multiple events over the weekend all while raising money for youth literacy. 

Professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) talks all things mental health, from playing at Stanford to now playing professionally with her role model. 

Professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) talks all things mental health, from playing at Stanford to now playing professionally with her role model. 

This week we welcomed Madison Mooney, an advisor on the Sarah Shulze Foundation, which supports mental health, advocates for student athletics and advances women's rights. As an all academic Big Ten and track and field athlete at the University of Wisconsin, Madison has dealt with the side affects of mental health, by first hand losing a teammate to the challenges of it. Because of her experiences, her main goal is normalizing mental health for student-athletes. Taking every opportunity to speak and share her story, trying to break the stigma. 

Coach Marisa Moseley was hired as the head coach of the Badgers in March 2021, and has made one of her top priorities creating a new culture for the program. She talks further on what it means to create a team of well rounded players, not just on the court but off the court as well.

Erin Monfre may be best known for being Wesley Matthews trainer, or being the owner of Black Box Gym 100, but she is also a huge mental health advocate. As a former basketball player from Marquette University, and facing adversities of her own throughought life, she understands the mental toughness that comes with being an athlete and overcoming obstacles. She Trains other individuals & athletes like NBA wives, atheltes oversees, and youmger athletes who are committed to playing at the collegiate level. 

You mostly hear from athletes themselves on this podcast, but today it's time to hear from Tony Turnquist, Creative Director at Capture. In honor of World Design day coming up we wanted to learn more from Tony on the creative process and all that goes into athletes personal and foundation brands. 

Meet Connie Watt, mother of JJ, TJ and Derek. We wanted to re-highlight this incredible mother as we look forward to the 2024 JJ Watt Charity Classic!

Brent is committed to using his Harvard University education and major league platform to make a difference. He shares with us how he rallied his teammates to support his Strike Out Waste Campaign and what we can all do to help. His enthusiasm, commitment, and voice impersonations will not only give you a glimpse of the player behind the jersey, but showcase another Athlete Doing Good.

Throwback to when we welcomed, sports media professional Jenny Fischer. Jenny has been a leader in breaking the silence of mental health and suicide prevention since her time in college and continues to help bring change.

We love reliving this episode with former Wisconsin Badger, and previous Las Vegas Raider, Alec Ingold. Ingold signed with the Raiders in 2019 and has since signed with the Miami dolphins on a three year extension. We are so proud of how much Alec has done and honored to have him as a now client. 

Meet Chellee Siewert, President of Capture Sports & Entertainment.  Take a dive into how Capture came to be. Learn about the Sports Marketing world. Find out what experts think of the industry and where it is headed. 

The name Lombardi is one of the most recognizable names in sports history, a name that has left a legacy in the NFL and the importance of giving back. John Lombardi, Coach Vince Lombardi's grandson, gives us stories from his childhood growing up with Coach Lombardi as his grandfather, his time working with Coach Belichick, and his experiences carrying on his grandfather's legacy. John's passion for the game of football and giving back to the cancer community is another example of an athlete doing good.

Montee Ball was a star running back for the Wisconsin Badgers; a Heisman finalist in 2011 who was setting records and getting drafted by the Denver Broncos. He opens up about his struggles, publishing a memoir and working in alcohol-addiction support, outreach programs and whats next. 

Daniel Gafford left a mark in Washington beyond just basketball with all he did for the community. We discuss his recent trade to the Mav's and what he is looking forward to in his new city. 

Megan is a former Marquette grad and now lawyer, who works with current and former professional athletes on a variety of matters, including real estate, business formation and transactions, and estate planning.  Learn more about  the legal department at Nike in Portland, Oregon, athlete endorsement contracts, special events, licensing and the change of the NIL landscape.

Jake Wood: Wisconsin football player. U.S. Marine. NGO founder. Author and entrepreneur. You may also see him writing and speaking frequently on topics of leadership, organizational culture, and social issues. When he's not chasing the loves of his life through the sand he is the founder and CEO of Groundswell, a new stealth startup. Additionally, he remains the Executive Chairman of Team Rubicon, a global nonprofit he co-founded in 2010.  

Women in Sports Day calls for honoring an influential woman in the sports field. Meet Amanda Braun Director of Athletics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The first-ever female to hold that position at Milwaukee, Braun was named the NCAA Division I Nike Executive of the Year and constitutes much more praise. Appointed as a member of the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee and was honored by the Milwaukee Business Journal as part of its 2019 Women of Influence Award winners. She boasts the impact UWM Athletics has made in the community. Learn more about her unique experience to get where she is today and the impact she is making in the name of sports. 

A woman who wears many hats, one being Bijan Robinson's Manager, meet Cleyrissa Robinson. Bijan also labels her, “coolest person he has ever met.” We dive into not only his extreme success on the field but also how he falls back on his values and what is important:  His relationship and trust he has in God & community involvement. Always striving to make a difference, he created the Bijan Robinson Foundation...tune in to learn more!   

Texas football mom, advocate and so much more. Meet mom of Colt's QB Sam Ehlinger and Jake Ehlinger who was known on the football field as “Fearless #48.” The UT linebacker unexpectedly died in May of 2021 from fentanyl poisoning. Now his mother is sharing his story to save other young people from accidentally overdosing.

2016 marked all new beginnings for Josh as he made his NASCAR debut at his home track, Road America. Since then, Bilicki has competed in almost 200 NASCAR National Races, including famed races such as the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600 and Southern 500. Josh often finds himself behind the wheel of a dirt sprint car, dirt midget, road racing car, or his shifter kart. And most importantly he is an avenue for so much good with his active work with Lemons of Love, Make a Wish, Susan G Komen and more. 

An author, motivational speaker, former NBA player and wellness advocate Chris has founded his own organizations that provide programs and services with a goal of overcoming setbacks and navigating life's challenges. Chris dives into his personal story with recovery and how he now dedicates his life to Herren Talks, Herren Project and Herren Wellness. He has spoken to over 1 million students nation wide through Herren talks on substance abuse, self-esteem and wellness. Hear more about his story...

Giving back has always been part of everyday life for Chargers Head Coach Anthony Lynn and news anchor Stacey Lynn. In 2019, the Lynn's took their passion for helping others to a new level and launched the Lynn Family Foundation with the help of their kids, Danielle and D'Anton. Each day, they work to help individuals recognize and achieve their potential in their personal and professional lives through mentorship, scholarships and experiences. Danielle and Stacey give us a glimpse at what it is like running a foundation and their work with Hugs Café and wells in Africa. The Lynn Family Foundation and the work they are doing is another example of Athletes Doing Good.

Many people recognize Brian Anderson, BA, as the Brewers play-by-play announcer on FSN Wisconsin. You may have also heard him as host of ‘The Match' with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, BA takes us behind the scenes of this $20 million fundraiser for COVID Relief. He reveals his passion for family, faith, his career, and for giving back. His beer bottle analogy for inside out thinking will entertain you while driving home an important message. So whether you're a professional athlete or a sports fan, he shares how to authentically give back and the impact we can all have when the camera is not rolling. An opportunity for all of us to be part of Athletes Doing Good.

We spoke to Indiana Pacers' Malcolm Brogdon about his true passions. While he loves the game of basketball – since his youth, he saw basketball as a means to his end goal: helping others.Over the years. he developed a passion for providing clean water to villages in Africa and educational opportunities to schools in Atlanta and Indiana.Today, Malcolm takes us to Africa and describes the joy and opportunities clean water brings and shares how he plans to grow his philanthropic efforts here and abroad, tenfold.

Being a multi-sport athlete, Pat dives into how continuing to pursue multiple sports has helped him and helps other athletes in general. He's passionate in sharing how sports teach you things far beyond the game. He hones in on how his college degree is what is most beneficial in the longevity of success aside from being a professional athlete. Aside from being a professional athlete, he knew he wanted to give back and started his own foundation. Learn more about Pat and how he got to where he is today. 

5x PGA tour winner, Mark Wilson breaks down the great game of golf, shares important traits passed down by his father and shares where he is now as a commentator. As important as golf is to him, it pales in comparison with the things of real substance in his life: his family and circle of friends, his charitable endeavors and his faith.

Even after almost two decades in the sports broadcasting industry, Erin Andrews is still expanding her brand. The FOX reporter launched a clothing line - WEAR by Erin Andrews. In part two of our conversation, Erin tells us why she was nervous about taking that leap but trusted her gut on the need for more sportswear for female fans. She's also working on showing the public more of her personality. Could a reality show be in her and her husband's future? Erin's authenticity and candor is so refreshing. And she's a great reminder that the famous people you see on your TVs are just normal men and women - who also rely on closed caption to understand their favorite shows.

Former NFL kicker, Matt Stover and philanthropy expert Seth McDonnell founded PPF in 2010 to make it easier for professional athletes to create and manage charitable foundations. Learn more about the transition from athlete to business man. Matt is a multi-faceted individual known for being a Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor Inductee, Co-Founder of Cobalt Management Services, creating the Matt Stover Foundation and being on the board for many notable profits. 

One of the most shocking resumes we have ever come across, Nate moved to Hollywood to start an acting career, shortly after that he became a relief worker in Sudan, building camps for refugees of the War in Darfur. After a short stunt there, he enlisted in the United States Army, training at Fort Benning, and later was accepted into the Green Berets. Nate was deployed with ODA 0324 10th Special Forces Group to Iraq and served his tour of duty.  He then served tours in Afghanistan (Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan) (ODA 3116 3rd Special Forces Group). And get this, despite never playing a game of organized football in his life, Boyer played for the University of Texas as a walk-on. He played there for 5 years in 39 games. You won't want to miss this episode! 

Erin Andrews is a broadcasting superstar. When she burst on the national scene nearly two decades ago, her popularity skyrocketed and she became one of the most recognizable sportscasters in the world. Today, you see her conducting sit-down interviews with some of the NFL's biggest names and patrolling the league's sidelines for FOX broadcasts. As if that didn't keep her busy enough, she just wrapped up a six year stretch as co-host of ABC's Dancing with the Stars. It all seems pretty glamorous but as Erin tells us - the spotlight can be a tough place to live. She talks about what she's learned about herself over the years, why she's opening up more now and how her experiences - like her cancer diagnosis & her father's health scare have influenced the causes she supports. Erin is thoughtful and real and - funny - did you know she is funny? And while she's not an athlete, she has definitely earned honorary Athlete Doing Good status.

Cherry shares everything from her life long love with Bart Starr, to her relationship with the Packers and legends Favre and Rodgers, to her and her husbands efforts to give back. Dive into the life of the legendary Starrs! 

A Milwaukee sports media legend, wrapped up his 35-year career, watching Milwaukee in the NBA Finals to top it off. With a court-side view, Jim talks about his relationship with the teams and players, especially his buddy Giannis! Learn more of what it takes to make it in the league from this seasoned professional. 

After officially retiring from the NFL, Kyle Rudolph embarks on his next journey as a Big Ten analyst for Peacock, and co-host a Sunday night show on Fox Sports Radio. He shares how his life is more busy then ever being a father and continuing to make huge waves of impact in the m=community with Alltroo and the Vikings foundations new endeavors. Learn about Kyle's heart for giving and his heartfelt tie to he University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital.

Wisconsin native Derek Watt talks what its like to grow up with strong family ties and now build a family in the same place he grew up. Hear more about his professional and personal career as we dive into a heart warming conversation with Derek and wife, Gabriella. 

Jordan Hicks is an inside linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings. Over his eight year career, he has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he won a Super Bowl ring in 2018, and the Arizona Cardinals. Aside from football, Jordan has a heart and passion for giving back. "When I think back on those times and being in the position that I'm at now, it's humbling and it's a reminder of where you come from." Learn more about where Jordan Hicks comes from in this insider episode. 

A story of true grit, Makayla was living a seemingly normal teenage life, excelling in cheer. When her family moves to Texas she cheered for some of the most elite teams in the world, but one accident changed her life as she knew it. Listen to Makayla's journey, where she's at now and what is in store for her. 

He played 16 seasons in the NBA, is a 3x NBA champ and 13x NBA all-star and recent hall of fame inductee. However, many of Wade's true accomplishments stand outside the court, like being an entrepreneur, dad, husband and giving back with the Wade Family Foundation. Take a peak inside Wade's multifaceted life. 

Get an inside look at the person behind the player and the people behind the team. Learn what drives the passion of these individuals beyond the court, field or arena in an authentic and heartfelt way. You may even discover good work being done in your community or be prompted to join a cause that touches you. Join us as we interview a plethora of name-dropping athletes and sports industry experts to highlight stories of how and why people in the sports industry are doing good. 

Today we welcome in former SMU Mustang, and all conference tight end, Kylen Granson. Although he was just recently selected in the 4th round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, he already has his own Foundation, KG's Kids, which focuses on the importance of reading. For more information on KG's Kids visit kgskids.com.

Today we welcome former Wisconsin Badger, and current Las Vegas Raider, Alec Ingold. Ingold signed with the Raiders in 2019 and has been the starting fullback for them ever since.

Today we welcome Olivia and Sam Dekker. Sam is just back from playing professional basketball in Turkey and Olivia reflects on her work for ESPN and the Big Ten Network.

Today, we welcome in sports media professional Jenny Fischer. Jenny has been a leader in breaking the silence of mental health and suicide prevention since her time in college and continues to help bring change.