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 who is fast becoming an icon in the sport of sailing and a shining example in the Latino community.

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 exist for them in comparison to white women and men in sports and beyond. Finally, Sarah talks about the efforts of the Women's Sports Foundation, how they are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX and the work that still needs to be done to achieve true equity and inclusion in sports.

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 efforts rising in various states, Juneteenth serves as a reminder for the need to acknowledge and learn from our history and continue to push in the modern day fight for racial and social justice. In this conversation, we tackle these issues head-on, addressing athlete activism, amateurism and racial equity in college sports and the importance of engaging in honest conversations around racism and inclusivity. Moderated by University of Maryland Assistant Athletic Director of Student-Athlete Development, Resa Lovelace, the conversation features RISE CEO Diahann Billings-Burford; Kevin Blackistone, Professor of the Practice at the Phillip Merrill College of Journalism, Washington Post columnist and ESPN Around The Horn panelist; Maryland Women's Volleyball Player Rainelle Jones; and Dr. Ronald Mower, Lecturer Kinesiology, Maryland School of Public Health.

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 from that program, Nashara and Ray Ray, have since established themselves as leaders within their community. Mentored by Simmons through the RISE program and other engagements at the Denver Broncos Boys & Girls Club, they've organized two Marches for Peace to remember those lost to violence and work towards a more equitable and safe future. They and Simmons are also back participating in this year's in-person RISE leadership program for youth at the BGCMD, engaging a new group of students from the Broncos Club and the Suncor Boys & Girls Club on critical topics of race, identity and community building. That program concludes on May 25, so in this conversation, we speak with Justin, Nashara, Ray Ray and Angel, another student from this year's program, to discuss the impact of these conversations and how to create more inclusive and equitable communities.

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 break to overcome the sport's perception of privilege and exclusivity and how they and TIDE are seeking to make the sport more inclusive at all levels.

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 Dodgers Foundation. Nichol shares her personal connection to Robinson and his family and tells us how the Dodgers Foundation honors his memory through its programs that empower youth, address social injustice and uplift underserved and underprivileged communities. We also discuss what it means to be a pioneer, asking Nichol how she has handled being the only woman or the only person of a color in a given professional space, and ask what she hopes others can learn from Jackie Robinson about the importance of representation and valuing diversity and inclusion.

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. The conversation was recorded in front of a live audience of college administrators and corporate sponsors at the 2022 BIG TEN Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis, and followed a workshop RISE led for that group focused on inclusive leadership. The program was organized by the Indiana Sports Corp.

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 conversation covers: What does it take to create an inclusive culture? What can be done to address racial disparities in the NFL? Where does systemic racism exist in sports and how do we address it? How can organizations enforce inclusivity and create more opportunities for diverse candidates? Are policies, such as the Rooney Rule, enough?

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, raising funds and awareness for different social issues during each week of her gymnastics season. Causes thus far have included human trafficking, LGBTQ+ rights and autism, and this week her cause is 'Allyship.' She is using her platform to support RISE's work and efforts to achieve racial justice. She'll be wearing matching bows in her hair to represent this cause during Florida's home meet on Feb. 11 against LSU and is getting teammates and opponents to do the same. Korlin-Downs, who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2021, has since created a new company, Our Colour Wrap, which designs inclusive athletic tape to match a wide spectrum of skin tones for athletes of all races and colors.

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, particularly those of color, face within the sports industry, from access at the youth level to overcoming biases and hiring hurdles at the professional ranks. She also shares how the sports industry can become more equitable and inclusive.

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 spent eight years in the administration of President Barack Obama, where he was a senior official at the United States Department of Justice. Cadogan joins RISE's Ian Cutler and Jared Shanker to discuss the Coalition's priorities and intentions for 2022 around policing, criminal justice reform and voting rights, and shares inspiring examples of athlete activism. We also discuss how the Coalition unites NBA players, executives, coaches and team governors, as well as the overall landscape of 2022 and how advocates for racial justice in sports and beyond can build on the momentum from the last two years to achieve real progress.

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 and Jared Shanker speak with two pro athletes from the U.S. SailGP Team who have taken different paths to reach the top of their sport but are both actively trying to make it more inclusive: Andrew Campbell is a veteran sailor who has competed for Team USA in the Olympics and participated in two America's Cup races. CJ Perez is the youngest and first Latina to compete for the U.S. SailGP Team in its history, debuting at age 18 at the Spain Sail Grand Prix in October 2021. CJ and Andrew discuss how the sport of sailing can overcome its diversity and inclusion challenges, the impact that Foiling First and RISE trainings can have for the future of the sport and the adversity they've seen and faced throughout their careers.

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 Rams support for RISE is our joint community leadership program, RISE with the Rams, which is running for the fourth consecutive year. RISE with the Rams brings together athletes and coaches from five Los Angeles area high school football teams that represent a cross section of racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. The goal of the program is to develop leadership, understanding, acceptance and cultural competence for high school athletes, coaches and Los Angeles Police Department officers. In this conversation, RISE's Dr. Collin Williams sits down with Rams defensive backs Robert Rochell and JuJu Hughes, who are wearing RISE cleats for My Cause My Cleats during the Rams home game on Sunday, December 5. They're joined by three high school football coaches who are part of this year's RISE with the Rams program: Cisco Saldana of MaCES, Jacob Ochoa of Glendale High School and Daniel Davidson of Western High School. Juju and Robert share their personal experiences dealing with racism and why they chose to support RISE and our mission through My Cause, My Cleats this season. The group also discusses topics such as bias and stereotypes, the importance of education around issues of racism and the impact RISE with the Rams is having by empowering young athletes to be leaders for racial justice and inclusion in their communities.

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 today to positively impact their communities. We define what it means to be civically engaged, discuss the importance of local elections, such as those happening across the country this year, and talk about the ties between voting and issues of systemic racism and social injustice.

RISE CEO Diahann Billings-Burford leads this conversation on inclusive leadership with NASCAR President Steve Phelps and NFL Executive Vice President, Football Operations, Troy Vincent. Both Phelps and Vincent are members of RISE's Board of Directors. This conversation was part of FRED, an invitation-only forum and high-level gathering of CEO and industry leaders to discuss the future of ethical and inclusive leadership. Billings-Burford, Phelps and Vincent discuss whether there are reasonable limits to inclusivity, NASCAR's decision to ban the Confederate flag, the NFL playing Lift Every Voice and Sing before games and share their advice to leaders aiming to build more inclusive organizations.

Gustavo Silva, Chicago Bears Manager of Youth Football & Community Programs, joins us to help celebrate Latinx Heritage Month. We discuss the importance of recognizing and celebrating diverse cultures for the sake of inclusion, equity and representation, and reflect on how such heritage months afford us the opportunity to examine the systems and structures of our society for the sake of understanding what's required to address racism. Gustavo also shares his personal connection to Latinx Heritage Month and discusses some of the Bears key community initiatives, including the Coaches Leadership Series that the Bears and RISE ran earlier this year equipping Illinois high school and youth coaches with the skills and knowledge to effectively discuss and address matters of racism and injustice with their teams, schools and communities. (Learn more about the coaches leadership series here: https://risetowin.org/stories/2021/7-15/rise-chicago-bears-empower-high-school-coaches-to-address-racism/index.html)

We celebrate our 100th episode of Champions of Change: The RISE Podcast with Morgan Tuck, the Connecticut Sun Director of Franchise Development, a 4-time NCAA champion with UConn and a 2020 WNBA champion with the Seattle Storm. Morgan discusses her transition from player to front office and her work leading the Sun's social justice initiatives. We also discuss the topic of bias, particularly when it comes to Black women athletes speaking out for issues of inequity, and what she learned about being an advocate from playing in the historic bubble season of 2020 when players across the WNBA united and elevated their platforms to address racial and social injustice like never before.

Anthony Pardo is Director of Partnership Activation for Major League Baseball and a leader of a Latinx Business Resource Group within MLB. Anthony just completed the Pro Sports Assembly + RISE Inclusive Leadership Course, which empowered sports industry professionals across the country to be leaders in discussing and addressing matters of racism, diversity, equity and inclusion through a 12-week course based in RISE's curriculum. Anthony speaks with RISE's Ian Cutler about inclusive leadership, how racism impacts his life, and the role and responsibility of sports organizations and professionals to lead on matters of diversity, equity inclusion and social justice. We also dive deeper into the concept of inclusive leadership, with RISE's Sr. Director of Curriculum Dr. Collin Williams Jr.

RISE's Sumer 2021 intern class takes over this episode. They reflect on their time with RISE and discuss how they will apply their learnings and experiences from this summer to create more inclusive cultures in their respective campuses and communities. Featuring RISE Summer 2021 interns: Diego Andrade-Cabrera, Morgan Chall, Alexis Cheatum, Marcus Davis, A'kiem Gardner, Bradley Polkowitz and Drew Schiffer. Episode Breakdown: Learning about identity, breaking down biases and connecting with diverse colleagues(3:45); Key diversity concepts and applying learnings to create change(17:03); Collegiate athlete activism (27:18); Defining leadership (39:05); Biggest takeaways (41:30).

A conversation on identity and activism with Schuyler Bailar, former Harvard men's swimmer and the first trans athlete to compete for an NCAA Division I men's team. Schuyler became the only trans athlete to compete on a Division I men's team for all four years, graduating in 2019. He has since become a leading advocate for trans rights, mental health and inclusion in sports, and is a motivational speaker, author and so much more. RISE's Ian Cutler and Jared Shanker speak with Schuyler about fighting against anti-trans legislation in states across the country and the ways he uses his platform to educate on the trans experience and the importance of inclusivity. That includes his appearance in RISE's Champions of Change virtual experience, which highlights Schuyler's story and was featured during the USA Swimming Olympic Trials leading up to Tokyo 2020. We also speak with Schuyler about identity and its multifaceted nature, covering his personal experience through his transition and as a Korean American. We later dive deeper into the subject of identity with RISE's Dr. Collin Williams Jr. in a new segment, “Let's Talk About,” where we feature RISE's definitions of key diversity concepts. Episode Breakdown: Background and Transitioning (2:00)Importance of a strong support system for LGBTQ Youth (5:26)Finding your true self – gains and losses (7:23)Trans men competing with cis men (9:42) Being the first (10:36)NCAA policy on trans athletes (12:15)How to build an inclusive culture and support trans athletes (17:56)Burden of being the first and inspiring others (20:14)“Let's Talk About: Identity” with RISE's Dr. Collin Williams Jr. (22:42)Identity and intersectionality – being trans and Korean American (24:08)Fighting anti-trans bills – learn more at pinkmantaray.com/transathlete (29:32) Athlete Activism and how he effectively uses his platform (34:50)Advice for young people struggling with identity (38:00)

The Denver Broncos accomplished something this year that no other organization in sports was able to achieve. They were nominated for the ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year Award in consecutive seasons. Allie Engelken, the team's Executive Director of Community Development, leads those efforts and joins us to discuss the impact the Broncos have had on the Denver community over the past year, from COVID relief to social justice work with RISE. Dr. China Jude is the Broncos first Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. She is one of only seven individuals working for an NFL team who is formally assigned to focus exclusively on DEI work. China discusses some of the challenges that the sports industry faces when it comes to issues of equity and diversity, and shares what it takes to build a more inclusive team and sport culture.

With the Tokyo Olympics beginning next week, Max Siegel and Renee Washington, the CEO and COO of USA Tack & Field, join RISE's Ian Cutler and Jared Shanker. They discuss the impact of COVID on the upcoming Olympic Games, the state of athlete activism at the Olympics and the recent decision to leave sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson off the U.S. Olympic roster. Max and Renee also discuss their role on RISE's Board of Directors and Max shares his view on the progress made by NASCAR from a diversity, equity and inclusion perspective as the owner of Rev Racing and executive manager of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program.

The American Ultimate Disc League, or AUDL, is the largest professional Ultimate league in North America. Like many organizations, the AUDL has deepened its social justice and DEI efforts over the last year, but for the league and the game of Ultimate, those efforts are critical to growing the sport and changing what players acknowledge is a culture that needs to be more diverse & inclusive. Part of that work includes a partnership with RISE and the new AUDL RISE & Lead Series, a 6-week virtual series where players, coaches, staff and owners are leading diversity, equity and inclusion workshops and discussions from RISE's curriculum with their peers across the country. Matt Smith, the AUDL Director of Player Relations and Youth Engagement, and Dr. Christina Chung, the AUDL Chief Medical Officer and Co-owner of the league's Philadelphia Phoenix franchise, co-chair the AUDL Inclusion Initiative, and join us to discuss the challenges facing the game of Ultimate and the league's efforts to grow and become a more inclusive sport.

Ten months ago, amidst the national reckoning on race that revealed visual and violent instances of racial inequity and injustice in our country, SB Nation and The Athletic reported stories on Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen that exposed a history of racism and what was described as a toxic work culture within the organization. Those revelations forced Hansen to put the team up for sale. Since Hansen has been away from the club, Real Salt Lake has genuinely embraced the need to address racism, diversity, equity and inclusion up and down the organization, be leaders in their community and advocate for those causes. They've worked closely with us at RISE and our Chief Program Officer Dr. Andrew Mac Intosh to hold multi-week leadership programs and trainings, from players and staff in their youth academy all the way up to senior staff and executives with their MLS club, and this week RISE will be onsite as Real Salt Lake is partnering with the Vancouver Whitecaps to celebrate Juneteenth when the two clubs resume their MLS season this Friday, June 18, at Rio Tinto Stadium outside Salt Lake City. Anthony Beltran, the team's Assistant General Manager, and Arnold Rijsenberg, RSL Academy's Director of Coaching, have been instrumental in bringing these DEI trainings to the organization in hopes of fostering a more inclusive culture from top to bottom. Tony and Arnold join us to discuss the progress made, the work that still needs to be done and the importance of this week's Juneteenth celebration in light of all they have been through as individuals and as an organization.

Akil Baddoo is the rookie outfielder for the Detroit Tigers who has hit the major leagues by storm both on and off the field. After not playing for two years due to injury and the pandemic, the 22-year-old homered off the first pitch he saw as a big-league player, hit a grand slam in his second game and a walk-off single in his third. But what’s more special about Akil is how he converted his early success into a fundraising campaign for social justice. Akil created an NFT series around his MLB debut with proceeds going to RISE and Detroit RBI. We speak with Akil about his journey to the big leagues, overcoming personal and professional adversity and what from his own life inspires him to be an advocate for racial equity and social justice.

Pittsburgh Steelers Director of Community Relations Blayre Holmes Davis and Youth Football and Player Relations Manager Mike Marchinsky discuss the ways the Steelers and their players are addressing social justice issues in their community. They also talk about the RISE Coaches Leadership Series that the Steelers hosted for top high school football coaches in the Pittsburgh area this spring, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to effectively discuss and address matters of racism and injustice with their teams, school and communities.

Ryan S. Clark, National NHL and Seattle Kraken reporter for The Athletic joins RISE's Ian Cutler and Jared Shanker to share insight and reporting on the NHL’s approach to addressing social justice and making the game of hockey more inclusive. Plus, we talk about diversity and inclusion and the importance of representation in sports media, and the responsibility journalists have in asking athletes questions around social justice issues. We also talk about the experiences of BIPOC players and journalists in hockey and Ryan's experience covering the Kraken, which will take the ice for the first time next season.

UCLA Women's Basketball players Michaela Onyenwere, Lauryn Miller, Camryn Brown and Charisma Osborne discuss More than a D.R.E.A.M., the social justice initiative they created this season in response to the events of 2020. As we celebrate National Student-Athlete Day, RISE's Ian Cutler and RISE Group 1001 Fellow Michelle Picard speak with these four young leaders about the inequities they face as young Black women and student-athletes, and what is required to address them. Plus, they share what they learned interviewing famous UCLA alums like Gabrielle Union, Cari Champion and Baron Davis as part of their social justice efforts, share their experiences from the NCAA Tournament amidst the pandemic and discuss the controversy around disparities between the men’s and women’s games that were exposed there last month.

RISE's Ian Cutler moderates a conversation on Culture, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Toronto Sports and Business Association’s 10th Annual Sports Industry Conference with Kim Davis, Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs for the NHL; Jason Sinnarajah, Senior Vice President of Business Administration for the Buffalo Bills; and Sam Toles, a media & technology executive who most recently served as Chief Content Officer at Bleacher Report. Learn more about the University of Toronto Sports and Business Association and find other panels and speakers from their annual conference at www.uoftsportsbusiness.com

Fresh off their historic "bubble" season in Lake Placid, New York, NWHL stars Tera Hofmann, Rebecca Morse, and Saroya Tinker of the Metropolitan Riveters and Briana Mastel of the Boston Pride, discuss gender equity in sports and their efforts to raise awareness around racial injustice. Joining RISE’s Peyton Finley and Michelle Picard, a RISE Group1001 Fellow and the NWHL Deputy Commissioner, the players share why they used their platform this season to fight racism and talk about the importance of taking risks and engaging in difficult conversations with teammates, family, friends and fans in order to create change. They share what they’ve learned about finding their voice as socially active athletes and how they overcome negative feedback to their activism to continue advancing equity and inclusion. (photo credit: Michelle Jay)

Trevor Baptiste is a professional lacrosse player for the Premier Lacrosse League’s Atlas LC, National Lacrosse League’s Philadelphia Wings and a U.S. men's national team gold medalist. Trevor joins RISE's Ian Cutler and Jared Shanker to talk about the newly formed Black Lacrosse Alliance, an organization of players who are determined to make the game more inclusive at the professional, collegiate, high school and youth levels. We speak with Trevor about his own experiences as a Black athlete in a majorty white sport, the encounter with police that motivated him to speak out for racial justice and steps the BLA, PLL and NLL are taking and should be taking to grow the game of lacrosse and make it more inclusive.

Part II of the Sixth Annual RISE Super Bowl Critical Conversation features a conversation with three Walter Payton Man of the Year nominees in Trey Flowers (Detroit Lions), Justin Simmons (Denver Broncos) and Andrew Whitworth (Los Angeles Rams). Tracy Wolfson (CBS Sports) moderates and is also joined by RISE CEO Diahann Billings-Burford.

Patrick Mahomes and Tyrann Mathieu of the Kansas City Cheifs join Tracy Wolfson of CBS Sports and Diahann Billings-Burford, RISE CEO, for Part I of RISE's Sixth Annual Super Bowl Critical Conversation.

At the start of the NFL season in September, Miami Dolphins players shared a powerful video in which they called for the league and team owners to go beyond the optics and statements of support for social justice, and follow the players lead in committing more resources to create real tangible change in our country. Dolphins running back Patrick Laird was one player featured in that video and played a key role in the Dolphins Social Impact Committee, which the team formed this season to effect change in areas of civic engagement, economic empowerment, education and community impact. We speak with Patrick about how the team found its voice and determined their key areas of focus, the specific initiatives they spearheaded and the experiences he’s had that inspire him, as a white athlete, to join the fight for racial equity and social justice.

When Jennifer King was named an assistant running backs coach for the Washington Football Team last month she became the first full-time Black female position coach in NFL history. Sam Rapoport, NFL Senior Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, has spearheaded a number of historic initiatives to create more opportunities for women in football, including one a few years back where King first met Ron Rivera, Head Coach of the Washington Football Team. King and Rapoport join this special Super Bowl episode to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and speak with RISE’s Erin Pellegrino, a former Special Teams coach at the University at Albany, about their football journeys, obstacles they’ve overcome, the importance of representation and how to create more opportunities for women in sports.

Paul Tagliabue talks about his tenure as NFL Commissioner and his role as co-chair of RISE. He shares his perspective on issues of race and diversity, and how sports are used to drive social change. Plus, how the NFL can build on the Rooney Rule, what it takes to be an inclusive leader and reflecting on his Super Bowl experiences.

Kirk Walker is an Assistant Softball Coach at UCLA and co-founder of the Sports Equality Foundation, a newly launched TikTok initiative that provides a space for LGBTQ student-athletes and coaches to be their authentic selves and advance inclusion and acceptance within the larger sports community. Kirk was considered the first openly gay NCAA Division I male coach when he came out publicly in 2007 while head coach of Oregon State’s Softball team, and recently was named the Outsports 2020 Male Hero of the Year for his role as a leader for LGBTQ coaches and student-athletes in college sports. We speak with Kirk about his personal journey, the issues facing LGBTQ athletes and coaches, the importance of intersectionality and addressing issues of race and equity in the larger discussion about inclusion and how coaches, athletes and administrators can create more inclusive cultures within their teams and athletics communities.

Torrey Smith and Joanne Pasternack discuss their involvement with a new initaitve, Atheltes' Voices, a program dedicated to providing tools, guidance, and mentorship for athletes to grow their social impact. Smith and Pasternack also share what it was like inside the San Francsico 49ers organization in 2016 when Collin Kaepernick first took a knee to protest racial injustice and discuss the growing influence athletes have to effect social change. We also discuss the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and how it will impact the way athletes continue to advocate for social justice.

Reagan Coleman left her high school cheerleading team in Daphne, Alabama, after several of her teammates posted a photo to social media while holding a shirt that read, “I love Redneck boys” and had an image of the Confederate Flag. Reagan and retired Rear Admiral Margaret Kibben, the US Navy’s 26th Chief Chaplain, join RISE's Dr. Andrew Mac Intosh to discuss the aftermath after participating in a RISE critical conversation to address the incident in the community.

Phaidra Knight is one of only two American women inducted in the World Rugby Hall of Fame and was USA Rugby's Player of the Decade, but now in her post-playing career, she will begin her term as president of the Women’s Sports Foundation in January 2021. She discusses her athletic career as a multi-sport star, upcoming role at the WSF and how our country can better support women athletes, experiences with an intersectional identity and serving as a role model for the LGTBQ+ community as a proudly gay woman.

Kalley Armstrong, a former captain for Harvard's women's hockey team, shares how her grandfather, Hockey Hall of Famer George Armstrong, who led the Toronto Maple Leafs to four Stanley Cups and was one of the first Indigenous players to play in the NHL, inspired her to reconnect with her roots and launch a hockey development and mentorship program for First Nations youth in Ontario, Canada. Co-hosting this episode with Ian Cutler is Michelle Picard, RISE's Group 1001 Fellow. Michelle is a former teammate of Kalley’s at Harvard and won a Silver Medal for Team USA at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Michelle is also the NWHL Deputy Commissioner and is a former player in the league.

Scott Pioli discusses the state of diversity and inclusion in the NFL, why he's personally given back to HBCU’s, the impact athletes and sports had leading up to the 2020 U.S. Election, and how athletes can continue growing their influence on issues beyond their sport.

Jen Bryant and Frank Morrison collaborated for a new book titled “Above the Rim” that looks at the life and career of Elgin Baylor, an NBA Hall of Famer as a player and former NBA Executive of the Year. The book focuses on a relatively lesser-known moment of athlete activism in the late 1950s. Baylor, then a player on the Minneapolis Lakers, took a stand by taking a seat and refusing to play after he was denied a room at a West Virginia hotel. It resulted in the NBA changing its rule, and it was among the earliest instances of activism in the NBA.

RISE recently led sessions with both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Michigan State football team as part of its nonpartisan voter education and registration initiative, RISE to Vote. In the first of two interviews in this episode, Jaguars WR Chris Conley sheds light on his family's connection to the civil rights movement and how discussions about voting is changing in NFL locker rooms. Then, the Spartans' head coach Mel Tucker discusses his response to the national reckoning on race as one of only a few Black FBS coaches, and he talks about why he's dedicated to educating his players about civic engagement and leaving an off-field legacy.

Alonzo Carter is an assistant football coach at San Jose State University and one of the most influential voices in college sports today. RISE’s Jared Shanker speaks with Carter about two initiatives that are helping re-examine and redefine the sports and coaching landscape – first, the West Coast Zoom Clinic, where Carter has hosted in excess of 7,000 coaches, many of color, to talk about several topics affecting them, including issues of race. And second, we discuss his role in the new National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches with Maryland’s Mike Locksley and some titans of the game like Ozzie Newsome, Doug Williams, Mike Tomlin, Debbie Yow and Nick Saban to promote more opportunities for coaches of color. We also discuss the suspension of San Jose State’s football season because of the COVID-19 pandemic and much more.