CLSI’s Beyond The Game Podcast

“The main pressure is just making sure I’m happy.” Nyla Curry is already receiving the kind of attention most young basketball players dream about. A Class of 2029 guard/forward competing with The Potomac School and Fairfax Stars EYBL, Nyla has earned 15+ Division I offers while still navigating school, family, expectations, recruiting, and the pressure that comes with being a highly visible young...

"Something good came out of it in the end." Former D1 and pro basketball player Joel Barkers looked strongest on the outside while carrying the heaviest pressure on the inside — this is the story of how he came through it. On this episode of Beyond the Game, host Philip Reynolds speaks with Joel Barkers, founder of You Reach I Teach Basketball Academy and former Division I and professional player....

In this episode of Beyond the Game, host Philip Reynolds talks with Jonathan Carone, creator of Healthy Sports Parent, about shifting how parents view youth sports. They argue that our goal isn’t to produce elite athletes but to raise resilient adults — letting kids fail, learn, and grow so sports become training for life rather than a measure of identity. Jonathan and Philip cover practical advic...

In this episode of Beyond The Game, host Phillip Reynolds sits down with former Division I basketball player Toshay Harvey for a powerful conversation about resilience, identity, and the responsibility of giving back. Growing up in the projects and navigating the challenges that came with it, Toshay shares his journey to Division I basketball while carrying personal hardships, loss, and setbacks t...

Former D1 athlete and school counselor Shanay Howard discusses how academics, identity and mental health must be prioritized alongside athletic development. She breaks down the effects of NIL, social media, reclassification and coaching culture, and explains why parents and coaches should protect young athletes’ emotional safety. Key takeaways: build consistent habits early, define success beyond...

In this episode of Beyond The Game, former professional basketball player and U.S. Army veteran Aida Bakhos shares her extraordinary journey from Beirut to the United States in pursuit of basketball, purpose, and personal growth. After competing professionally and representing Lebanon on the international stage, Aida balanced the demanding worlds of elite athletics and eight years of military serv...

Coach Steve Turner joins CLSI's Beyond the Game to discuss the growing mental health challenges facing athletes and the responsibility of coaches, parents, and schools to develop the whole person—not just the player. They cover NIL, transfer portal pressures, family dynamics, and why winning alone can’t replace guidance, balance, and long-term development. Turner emphasizes listening, relationship...

Welcome back to Beyond The Game, where we go past the stats and scores to get real about what happens when the cheering stops. In this episode, Philip Reynolds sits down with former NFL player Stanley McClover for a raw and revealing journey far beyond the football field. From his days growing up in Fort Lauderdale, an unlikely start in the school band, and a rapid rise to the NFL, Stanley McClove...

Welcome to another episode of Beyond The Game, where mental wellness competes. In this episode, Phillip sits down with Johan Martinez-Khalilian, an internationally recognized mental performance coach working with elite athletes across the MLB, NBA, and NHL. But Johan Martinez-Khalilian's story goes far beyond the pro locker room—it begins in Chicago, where growing up as a self-described “kid from...

Welcome to a powerful new episode of Beyond The Game, where mental wellness competes and real stories reveal the pressures behind the performance. Joining Host Phillip, a licensed clinical social worker, is Grant H. Paulson, renowned DC sports journalist and co-host of the Grant and Danny Show, who opens up about his own journey as a child prodigy in sports media, the invisible weight of expectati...

In this episode, host Phillip sits down with special guest Travis Garrison, a former McDonald's All-American and standout at the University of Maryland who built a professional basketball career overseas. Together, they unpack Travis’s journey from high school prodigy to college athlete—exploring the unique pressures, resilience gaps, and unseen mental health hurdles that shaped his path. Travis s...

Welcome to another episode of Beyond The Game, where mental wellness meets real talk at the intersection of sports, performance, and life’s toughest moments. Host Phillip sits down with former NFL fullback, Super Bowl champion, author, and men’s health leader Heath Evans. Together, they dive deep into Heath’s journey from high school dreams to the relentless grind of the NFL, and the powerful life...

Welcome to another inspiring episode of Beyond The Game, where mental wellness takes center stage in the world of sports. Hosted by Phillip, a licensed clinical social worker, this episode dives deep into the resilience gap affecting athletes—the space between pushing through and breaking down where so many get stranded. Joining Phillip are Keandre Jones and Keandre Jones II, both seasoned athlete...

Former NFL First Round Draft Pick Marcus Smith II shares his raw story about mental health in sports, the pressure of professional football, and what athletes face behind the scenes that fans rarely see. In Episode 1 of Beyond The Game: Where Mental Wellness Competes, Marcus opens up about childhood anxiety, college football pressure, NFL expectations, identity loss after sports, and how untreated...