Champion This

Join hosts Brianna Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens as they delve into the inspiring journey of Olympic boxing champion Cindy Ngamba. From her early childhood in Cameroon to moving to the UK and discovering her passion for boxing, Cindy shares her experiences overcoming obstacles as a refugee athlete. As the first refugee to win an Olympic medal, Cindy discusses the importance of self-belief, resilie...

Join Brianna Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens as they delve into the world of sustainability with former MLB star Hunter Pence and his wife, content creator Alexis Pence. Discover Hunter's journey from MLB stardom to environmental advocacy with the Healthy Planet Project and Alexis's passion for storytelling. Explore their commitment to creating a positive impact, from planting trees to promoting spe...

Athletes and entertainers inspire positive change on "Champion This with Briana Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens." Join them as they welcome professional soccer player Tommy Thompson, known for his decade-long career with the San Jose Earthquakes and his community-driven initiatives. Tommy shares insights from his soccer journey, international experiences, and the pivotal role of family in his career...

Join Briana Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens as they chat with former MLB All-Star Tyson Ross about his journey from youth baseball in Oakland to a professional career with teams including the Padres and A's. Tyson shares insights on navigating professional setbacks, the emphasis on mental health in sports, and finding purpose post-retirement. Discover Tyson's inspiring work founding "Loyal to My Soi...

Join professional soccer player Simone Charley as she shares her journey from college athlete to the NWSL, her battles with injury, and the mental health challenges athletes face. She discusses the rising popularity of women's soccer, the impact of league expansions, and the importance of identity beyond sports. Simone also highlights her faith, pivotal life moments, and her advocacy for mental health a...

Tiffany Bias Patmon, former WNBA star, co-founder of Camp Exposure, & founder of God Benefits Apparel, joins Briana Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens to discuss her journey from professional basketball to entrepreneurship. Tiffany highlights her experiences playing overseas and in the WNBA, including winning a championship with the Phoenix Mercury. She shares insights on managing mental health, th...

Canadian professional basketball player Kayla Alexander joins Brianna Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens on the Champion podcast to discuss her journey from childhood basketball tryouts to the WNBA and the Olympic stage. Kayla shares insights on overcoming setbacks, the role of faith in her life, and her entrepreneurial venture, Tall Size, which caters to the clothing needs of tall women. Alongside hum...

Join hosts Brianna Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens as they explore the journey of martial artist and actress Nelita Vellezon. Discover how Nelita's Filipino heritage and her father's teachings shaped her martial arts career, leading to roles in films and campaigns like Rihanna’s Fenty Savage Sport. Despite past challenges, including a negative coaching experience, Nelita emerged stronger, channeling...

Former MLB player turned artist, Micah Johnson, joins hosts Brianna Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens to discuss his journey from professional baseball to becoming a visual artist. Micah shares insights about his baseball career with teams like the Chicago White Sox, LA Dodgers, and Atlanta Braves, and the importance of confidence and mindset. He also delves into the inspiration behind creating the di...

Join hosts Brianna Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens as they sit down with former NBA and Euroleague star Bostjan Nachbar. Dive into Nachbar's basketball journey from Slovenia to the NBA, his reflections on playing alongside greats like Tracy McGrady and Jason Kidd, and his thoughts on the pressures of professional basketball. Beyond the court, discover his impactful work with the Euroleague Players A...

Former professional tennis player, Cici Bellis, joins Brianna Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens to discuss her meteoric rise in tennis, from playing at the US Open at 15 to her groundbreaking win at the Hawaii Open. Bellis candidly shares her journey through injuries, transitioning to venture capital, and founding Carton Capital. The conversation also covers her dedication to supporting female athlete...

Former NASA astronaut Steve Smith joins Brianna Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens to share his incredible journey of resilience and determination. From overcoming medical disqualifications to completing four space shuttle missions, Steve discusses the challenges, triumphs, and life-changing lessons from his time in space. He explores the importance of STEM education, balancing personal and professiona...

In this episode of Champion This, hosts Brianna Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens engage in an inspiring conversation with Adrianne Ross, touching on her multi-faceted career journey from professional basketball to entrepreneurship. Adrianne highlights the importance of staying true to oneself and finding purpose in every room you walk into, drawing insights from her basketball career and her role as ...

In this episode of "Champion This," hosts, Brianna Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens sit down with the multifaceted Cam Van. Cam’s journey, ranging from his accidental start in track and field to founding Couro, a platform supporting athletes with exclusive training content, is profoundly inspiring. He shares how perseverance through injuries and a strong mental game contributed to his sustained succe...

Join Brianna Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens as they dive into the inspiring journey of Kasra Mehdipournejad, an Olympic refugee Taekwondo athlete who escaped from Iran to find asylum in Germany. Hear about Kasra's challenges, the support of his wife, Parisa Farshidi, his unique perspective as a refugee athlete, and his dedication to advocating for human rights in Iran. Listen to how Kasra found his...

Fraser Grut, founder of the 10,000 Dreams project, joins Brianna Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens to discuss the power of dreams in building community and fostering change. From interviewing world leaders, celebrities like Ashton Kutcher and Tony Hawk, to everyday people, Grut collects and shares diverse dreams. Discover the lessons learned from these encounters, the importance of authentic dreams, a...

Season 1 ends with a bang on Champion this podcast! Join Chelsea Poppens and Brianna Salvatore Dueck as they reflect on the impactful stories shared by remarkable athletes and entertainers, such as Matt Scott, Julia Scholes, Audie Crooks, and more. Discover insights on faith, climate action, gender equity, and overcoming challenges. Get ready for season two with exciting guests lined up, including Olymp...

In this engaging episode of "Champion This Podcast," hosts Brianna Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens welcome pro beach volleyball player, Julia Scoles. She shares her inspiring journey from overcoming concussions to finding faith and purpose in her career. Julia discusses her transition to professional volleyball, Olympic aspirations, and the transformative power of faith. Additionally, she reflects o...

In this engaging episode of "Champion This Podcast," hosts Brianna Salvatore Dueck and Chelsea Poppens welcome Isaiah Weatherspoon, a professional drummer and music producer. Isaiah shares his inspiring journey into music, highlighting his early exposure to gospel music and his passion for the drums. He discusses his experience at the Berkeley College of Music, where he discovered the diverse opportunit...