Clean Play Podcast

When the game is on the line—fourth and one—you either play it safe or you go for it.

Athletes know that choice. So do people rebuilding life after sport or navigating sobriety. This episode breaks down what it really means to step into pressure moments and live with the outcome—win or lose.

Chris and Anne take the conversation from the NFL kickoff to Taylor Swift’s “Mamba Mentality” to personal stories of choosing risk in entrepren...

Stop Consuming. Start Creating.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, drained, or like life after sport has lost its spark, this one’s for you. Mark Cuban once said, “Humans were designed to create. This is why you get depressed when all you do is consume.” In this episode, Anne and Chris break down what that means for athletes, sober folks, and anyone trying to rebuild their identity beyond the scoreboard.

Instead of sitting on the sideline...

 In this episode of the Clean Play Podcast, Chris and Anne dive deep into the concept of “staying in the gym”—the discipline of showing up consistently for your growth, whether you’re training for a championship, building a sober life, or leading yourself through personal transformation.

From football season anticipation to obscure but entertaining sports (tortilla slapping, anyone?), the conversation flows into the parallels betwee...

Title: Slowing Down to Get Ahead

Description:
In this episode, Chris and I dive deep into a counterintuitive truth we’ve both lived in sports, sobriety, business, and life: sometimes the fastest way forward is to slow down. From the pace of an NBA Finals game to the lessons of a NASCAR track, we explore how intentional pacing builds clarity, confidence, and long-term success.

We share personal stories—like the time I learned to stop t...

Episode Title: Slowing Down to Get Ahead: The Power of Rest, Reflection, and Resetting Your Game Plan

Episode Summary:
In this episode of the Clean Play Podcast, Chris and I dive into a counterintuitive truth: sometimes the fastest way to move forward is to slow down. We explore why rest isn’t just a luxury—it’s a competitive advantage in sobriety, business, and life. From sports analogies to personal stories, we unpack how taking a ...

Why In-Person Connection Still Matters: Lessons from Our NYC Meetup

Episode Summary:
Sometimes the moments that change us the most aren’t about the place—they’re about the people. In this episode, Chris and I unpack our recent trip to New York: the energy, the unexpected lessons, and the way in-person connection can deepen relationships in a way no Zoom meeting ever could.

We share stories about seeing the city through fresh eyes, emb...

Why In-Person Connection Will Always Be Worth the Effort

Episode Summary:
Virtual connection is easy, but it can’t replace the magic of showing up in person. In this episode, Chris and I reflect on our recent trip to New York—our first live podcast recording together—and the lessons it taught us about community, courage, and letting people help you.

We share the moments that stuck with us most: hugging friends we’d only seen on screen...

 In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of the Clean Play Podcast, Anne and Chris sit down with returning guest—and now official “star player”—Jamie Magnet. Jamie is a writer, creator, entrepreneur, and sober queer human who has just celebrated a huge milestone: four years free from alcohol and cocaine, and nearly two years cannabis-free.

Jamie opens up about her path to sobriety, the role of harm reduction in her recovery, and how...

In this inspiring Season 2 premiere of the Clean Play Podcast, Anne and Chris sit down with bestselling author, speaker, and alcohol-free empowerment coach Karolina Rzadkowolska

 for a powerful conversation about courage, purpose, and what it really means to live an extraordinary life.

Karolina shares her journey from “weekend drinker” to seven years alcohol-free, revealing how Dry January sparked a transformation that went far beyon...

 In this episode of the Clean Play Podcast, Anne and Chris dig into a viral clip from Duke Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kara Lawson—one that flips the script on how we think about life’s challenges. The takeaway? Life doesn’t get easier. You get better at handling hard.

From the hardwood to the early days of sobriety, Anne and Chris share personal stories of seasons that felt impossible in the moment, but became the training ground...

 We’re back! In the Season 2 opener of the Clean Play Podcast, Anne and Chris return with fresh energy, new perspectives, and a game plan to expand the conversations at the intersection of sports, sobriety, and authentic living.

Anne shares what’s been happening in her “off-season”—from a big move to Tampa Bay to diving deep into a life coaching certification that’s stretching her skills and vision for Clean Play Coaching. Chris ope...

You don’t need perfect conditions to move—just a honest check-in and the next right play. If you’re an athlete (or former one) who’s sober curious and staring down a life transition, this season finale will feel like a huddle that actually helps.

We look back on Season 1 and get real about wins, setbacks, and what keeps us steady. Chris shares sober travel in Morocco—sports bars packed, zero booze, big community—and how sport still ...

Every athlete knows the importance of finishing strong—and this episode is exactly that. As we close out Season One of The Clean Play Podcast, Anne and Chris get real about what it takes to start something new, stay consistent when life gets messy, and keep showing up even when it’s far from perfect.

Episode Summary: From the first “record” button to the final whistle of Season One, this conversation looks back at how Clean Play fou...

If you’re an athlete (or former one) sitting at the start line of change, this episode is your pace car. We’re talking real-life tools to move from “maybe I should” to “I did”—on the road and in your alcohol-free life.

Distance runner Crystal Rosales joins us from Chicago to break down how she went from first 8K to her seventh marathon (Berlin), five-and-a-half years alcohol-free. We get into the marathon mindset, why community beat...

What do the Olympics, ballet, and sobriety have in common? More than you’d think. In this episode, Anne and Chris unpack their recent conversation with Houston legend Lauren Anderson—the first Black principal dancer for the Houston Ballet—and reflect on what her story reveals about discipline, identity, and freedom after sport.

Anne and Chris dive deep into what it means to live with “joyful rigor,” a term Lauren used to describe th...

What happens when one of America’s most celebrated ballerinas—someone who reached the absolute peak of her craft—finds herself starting over? In this episode, Lauren Anderson, the first Black principal dancer at the Houston Ballet, gets real about the highs of performance, the crash of addiction, and the discipline it takes to rebuild from the ground up.

Episode Summary:
Lauren joins Anne and Chris for a powerful conversation about l...

Ever hit a stretch in life—or sobriety—where nothing feels like it’s moving? That in-between space where the excitement fades, the grind feels endless, and you start wondering if you’ve lost your edge? This episode is all about that.

 Anne and Chris dive into what they call the doldrums—those flat, windless seasons where progress stalls and purpose feels fuzzy. Drawing lessons from both sports and recovery, they unpack how to keep f...

Ever missed an easy layup and felt like it was bigger than basketball? This week, Anne and Chris get real about what happens when performance, pressure, and perfectionism collide—on the court and in life after sport.

Summary:
In this episode of the Clean Play Podcast, Anne opens up about a tough rec-league loss and the emotions that came with it—frustration, shame, and self-doubt. Chris helps her slow down the moment and unpack w...