With new episodes every other Tuesday, Champions of Change: The RISE Podcast gives athletes and leaders in sports a platform to tell their stories and share their perspectives on issues of athlete activism, social justice and diversity in sports. Hosted by Ian Cutler, our podcast features interviews on how athletes are making a difference in their communities, and the power of sports to bring people together, improve race relations and promote understanding, respect and equality. Champions of Change: The RISE Podcast is a product of the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality.Read more »
With new episodes every other Tuesday, Champions of Change: The RISE Podcast gives athletes and leaders in sports a platform to tell their stories and share their perspectives on issues of athlete activism, social justice and diversity in sports. Hosted by Ian Cutler, our podcast features interviews on how athletes are making a difference in their communities, and the power of sports to bring people together, improve race relations and promote understanding, respect and equality. Champions of Change: The RISE Podcast is a product of the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality.Read Less
Cappie Pondexter retired from the WNBA just before the start of the 2019 season as one of the league’s greatest players of all time. A two-time league champion, 7-time all-star and Olympic gold medalist, Cappie's influence on the court is well-documented, but her bold voice and fashion statements have impacted so many players off the court, as well. Cappie was a featured panelist at an event hosted by RISE and The Shadow League in New York City entitled, The Vocal Black Athlete, where she discussed topics like identity and the evolution of athlete activism. In this episode, Cappie dives deeper into these subjects, talks about how she found her voice to advance her own advocacy work playing under legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer at Rutgers University and shares how she broke the mold of what it means to be a successful female athlete. She also discusses her career, saying there's no better duo in league history than she and Diana Taurasi from the Phoenix Mercury and shares fun insights from the 2008 Olympics, like winning a gold medal, bonding with Dwight Howard and eating private meals prepared by LeBron James' personal chef.