Career Clarity with Athletes: A 2ndwind Podcast with Ryan Gonsalves

Send us Fan Mail In honor of LGBTQ History Month, Ryan is excited to speak with David Watters, an LGBTQ+ rugby player, innovation consultant, and business coach based in the UK. While many of our guests transition from sports to other fields, David's story is unique: he transitioned from the boardroom to the rugby pitch. Now playing for the Airmill Warriors, David is a strong advocate for LGB...

Send us Fan Mail What if the toughest streets of Stonebridge, Northwest London, were the unlikely training ground for a future Olympian and corporate leader? In this episode, Ryan dives deep into the life and career of Marilyn Okoro, a British track & field athlete, 800m specialist, and Athlete Welfare Change Maker. She represented Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she was part...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when an Olympian transitions from competing on the world stage to tackling global challenges like climate change? Join us as we welcome Hannah Campbell-Pegg, a former Australian Olympian in Luge, who shares her riveting journey from competing in the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympic Games to her current life balancing a PhD, motherhood, and a career in sustainability. Hann...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to skateboard at 100 kilometers per hour down treacherous terrains while breaking gender barriers? Join Ryan today as he sits down with Anna Pixner, Austria’s fastest woman on skateboards. Anna is a two-time world champion in downhill speed skateboarder, coach, writer, and advocate for greater recognition and equality for women in extreme sports. Known for her te...

Send us Fan Mail Staciana, a gold medalist from the Sydney 2000 Olympics, shares her journey from a determined young athlete to teaching, coaching and becoming an author of The Stolen Dance An Olympian’s Perpetual Search for Healing from Trauma and Grief. Staciana also opens up about the emotional rollercoaster following her Olympic triumphs. Learn about her struggles with depression and injury, a...

Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, Ryan dives deep with Jori Davis, a seasoned professional basketball player turned entrepreneur, whose journey spans over 13 years, nine countries, and four continents. From the early days in New Orleans, Davis realized the importance of independence and self-reliance, especially in the competitive world of sports that crafted her into a strong advocate for...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine having your dreams shattered by physical pain and emotional turmoil, only to find a new path that offers profound fulfillment. That's exactly what happened to our guest, Baden, a former professional rugby player whose career was marked by broken fingers, concussions, and the discovery of arthritis. Baden shares his compelling journey from the rugby fields to the class...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a career in professional sports comes to an abrupt end? Meet George Taylor, a retired Scottish rugby player who faced this exact dilemma. George shares his inspiring journey from the rugby field to the world of finance, detailing how he navigated this significant life transition. He talks about the lessons he learned from his athletic career, which unexpectedly e...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the 2ND Wind Academy podcast we welcome Will Hooley, who shares his journey from the rugby field to becoming a technical director for Major League Rugby in the United States. Will opens up about his reluctance to follow conventional career paths and how his passion for storytelling led him to this new and exciting profession. Listen in to gain insight on the importanc...

Send us Fan Mail Georgia, an outstanding netball player from New Zealand, transitioned from a mixed-sport upbringing to achieving International status at 24. She opens up about her journey, sharing the trials, triumphs, and the relentless perseverance that propelled her to where she is today. This episode offers a rare glimpse into the life of an athlete who found joy and fulfillment in playing fo...

Send us Fan Mail How does a college athlete pivot from sports to a successful career in IT and entrepreneurship? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Gage Yesbeck, a former college basketball player whose competitive spirit led him to an unexpected acting role on the Apple TV show "Swagger," produced by Kevin Durant. Gage offers invaluable advice for athletes contemplating life aft...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Andy Cramond, a former Scottish rugby player who turned his struggles with concussions into an early opportunity to plan for life after sports. In this episode, Andy opens up about his journey, sharing how he juggled late-night study sessions to earn online degrees in accountancy and business, all while pursuing his passion for property investment. Discover the strategies he...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how to balance multiple passions and career paths successfully? Featuring Rahhim Shillingford, this episode showcases his extraordinary journey from college football star to a licensed broker in New York. Rahhim dives deep into the invaluable lessons in accountability, goal-setting, and confidence that sports instilled in him, and how these have been pivotal in his t...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a seasoned rugby player takes on the challenging yet rewarding role of a coach? Join us as we welcome Simone Ragusi, an Italian rugby veteran who has transitioned from player to coach, bringing with him  years of experience and enthusiasm. With a career spanning 12 years, including stints in Wales and Ireland's elite Leinster environment, Simone's journ...

Send us Fan Mail Dorian Pickens, a former professional basketball player, transitioned from the court to a thriving career in the sports business world. How did Dorian weigh the uncertain prospects of the G League and overseas play against the opportunities in real estate? Join us as Dorian shares his transition story, emphasizing the pivotal role of mentorship and networking, and how experiences...

Send us Fan Mail From living on a friend's floor to conquering the world of professional cycling, Carla's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Join us as we uncover the sacrifices she made, including financial struggles and overcoming severe injuries, to achieve national championship status. You'll hear how Carla juggled her academic pursuits with her sporting ambitions, ultimatel...

Send us Fan Mail From the basketball court to the icy bobsled tracks, Alex's story isn't one you hear every day. Tune in as we traverse the thrilling and transformative journey with our guest, whose leap from dunking basketballs to steering sleds is a masterclass in grit and adaptability. The conversation delves into the depths of what it takes to rewire an athlete's body and mind f...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode marks our 101st episode of the podcast. So what's better than creating a 101 of Athletic Career Transition. In this episode, Ryan, along with Taj Dashaun, founder of Thrive After Sports Life, peel back the layers of the athletic mindset, sharing their own pivots from competitive play to carving out new professional identities. Their dialogue illuminates the cr...

Send us Fan Mail When the stadium lights dim and the roaring crowds become a memory, what's next for the athlete whose life was once defined by the game? Our 100th episode marks a celebration of such journeys, featuring Allana Ferguson, a former professional rugby league and rugby union player, now an Australian sports commentator, radio personality, and mom. Jeremy, who enjoyed an 11-year ca...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine stepping off the court for the last time, your identity as an athlete hanging up its jersey as you prepare for the 'real world.' Frances recounts this very passage, discussing the emotional toll and the resilience required to pivot from the structured life of an athlete to the unpredictability of the job market. Frances  is a former Division 1 volleyball athlete,...

Send us Fan Mail Stepping into the shoes of an elite athlete, few of us can grasp the sheer dedication it takes to excel, let alone pair it with the cunning of a sharp entrepreneur. On this episode, we bring you a session with Matt Mooney, the mastermind behind Athletic IQ and an international basketball player. Matt opens up about his extraordinary journey through the realms of professional sport...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode,  Abbie Wolf takes us on a riveting journey from basketball jerseys to boardroom battles. With her, we uncover the parallels between sports discipline and business acumen as she recounts the pivotal choices that propelled her from the collegiate courts of Northwestern to the strategic arena of Counterpart Ventures. Abbie's story is not just about career change...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how the grit of a sports field can pave the way for success in the corporate world? Join us as we sit down with James, whose journey from elite rugby to a vibrant career at Unity is nothing short of inspiring. Our conversation peels back the layers on the transformative power of opportunities, even those seeming miles away from the try line. James candidly shares the...

Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation as Ryan chats with the extraordinary Chandra Crawford, Olympic gold medalist turned inspiring life trailblazer. Chandra's journey from the snow-clad peaks of Canmore to the uncharted terrains of life beyond the podium is nothing short of awe-inspiring. As we navigate her story, you’ll be privy to an intimate discussion on the transformative power of pers...

Send us Fan Mail When the roar of the stadium fades into the quiet buzz of an office, life takes an unexpected scrum. Former rugby professional Jason joins Ryan to share his remarkable journey from scoring tries to advising on financial ties. An athlete's path is never linear, and Jason's tale is a testament to the tenacity required both on the field and in the world of finance. We trave...