Chelsea Poppens on Retirement, Reinvention, and Finding Purpose After Pro Basketball

Chelsea Poppens on Retirement, Reinvention, and Finding Purpose After Pro Basketball

#32: Former WNBA player Chelsea Poppens spent years chasing her dream on the court. But like many athletes, the hardest transition came when the game ended. In this episode of Changing the Game, Chelsea shares her journey from Iowa State to the WNBA, overcoming career-ending injuries, finding her identity beyond basketball, and building a new chapter as a COO, entrepreneur, broadcaster, investor, wife, and mother. A powerful conversation about reinvention, resilience, and why your next chapter can be even bigger than your first. In this episode: * Chelsea's path from Iowa State to the WNBA * Playing professionally around the world * Recovering from multiple ACL injuries * Becoming a broadcaster and podcast host * Transitioning from athlete to business leader and COO * Finding identity beyond sport * Motherhood and redefining success * Why athletes are built for reinvention Follow Chelsea: @chelseapoppens [https://www.instagram.com/chelseapoppens/] Listen to Champion This Podcast on Spotify! [https://open.spotify.com/show/5rwpfWyCNOk9eTvxtCCKfV?si=WeWmeNOST2itljq2r1jLvg&nd=1&dlsi=d2f553c506144c31]

The Hidden Pressure Female Athletes Face | Marina Paul, Founder of SuperHera

#31: Follow Marina on Instagram: @marinapaul [https://www.instagram.com/marinapaul/] Learn more: superhera.com [https://superhera.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnilPUdg194gIken4wuhW9u8jdLdtHTXUY8YUD5lklel2S7ycq-HCDb-ogtYs_aem_HKh90Vf2AxYxMa5FPF9UMA] Former Georgetown soccer captain Marina Paul joins Changing the Game to talk about the realities many female athletes experience but rarely talk about openly. We discuss the pressure women face around body image in sports, the identity shift that comes after athletics, and how Marina went from Division 1 soccer to a career at Accenture before founding SuperHera, a company redesigning sports apparel specifically for women’s bodies. This conversation is honest, eye-opening, and an important look at the future of women’s sports. Topics include: *  D1 soccer at Georgetown  *  Athlete identity after sport  *  Body image & disordered eating in women’s athletics  *  Leaving corporate life to become a founder  *  Building SuperHera  *  The future of women’s sports apparel

Dr. Jo Shattuck on Trusting Your Gut and Rewiring Movement with PantherTec

Dr. Jo Shattuck is a former world-ranked racquet sports pro who started at 17, climbed to No. 6 in the world, and later walked away mid-season the moment her intuition told her it was time. She shares what it felt like to quit suddenly, why she needed a full year to grieve, and how that decision reshaped her identity. Now a neuroscientist and the founder of Panther Tec, Jo explains neuroplasticity, proprioception, and why real-time feedback helps athletes learn movement faster than watching film. This conversation is for anyone rebuilding after sport, chasing mastery, or learning to trust what their body already knows.

From Athlete to COO Jaclyn Balben on Finding the Right Fit

#29: Jaclyn Balben, COO at MD Ally and former college lacrosse player, shares how she built her career by focusing on self awareness and environment over titles. Her path spans startups and large companies, shaped by a clear understanding of how she works best. This conversation covers career mapping without a perfect plan, the difference between startup and corporate environments, and how athletes can use their mindset to navigate uncertainty and make better career decisions.

Former Olympian Nina Ligon on Trusting Her Gut, Growing Headspace, and Building Generation Sport

#28: Nina Ligon is a former equestrian Olympian who competed in the London Games and went on to build products at companies like Headspace before deciding to create something of her own. In this episode, she shares the nonlinear path that led her from elite sport and Stanford engineering to entrepreneurship. Nina breaks down why she founded Generation Sport, an athletic wear brand designed specifically for athletic bodies, and the gaps she saw in the industry that no one else was solving. This conversation covers identity shifts, trusting your gut, and what it really takes to move from high performer to builder and founder.