The Abstract Athlete

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode fourteen of season five with four year letterman in lacrosse at the United States Military Academy, Green Beret Veteran, he had both legs amputated above the knee from an IED explosion in Afghanistan, he has been awarded 3 Bronze Stars a Purple Heart. He is currently the President at PAMjets, a true survivor and ins...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode twelve of season five with former competitive athlete and Licensed Clinical Social Worker and mental health and sports performance specialist, Lisa Bonta Sumii. Together they will discuss all of the incredible work she is doing with athletes in the field of mental health and sports performance. This episode will dis...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode twelve of season five with actor, writer, creator and recently retired 8 year professional soccer goalkeeper, Patrick McLain. Together they will discuss his recent retirement and his beautiful, vulnerable way of articulating his transition from being a professional athlete. This episode will discuss his life after s...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode eleven of season five with author, speaker, consultant, abuse survivor and former Kansas State and NFL linebacker, Reggie Walker. Together they will discuss his life journey and his rise to becoming a college and NFL linebacker. This episode will discuss his new book "The game within the game: Master yourself, win t...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode ten of season five with artist, creative, former women's college lacrosse player and a former student of mine! Nico Morris. Together they will discuss her amazing journey as a college athlete and how embracing creativity changed her path. This episode will discuss her her creative visions and projects and her plans...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode nine of season five with United States Marine Veteran, freelance artist and a self described cardio addict, Elize McKelvey. Together they will discuss her incredible story and how she became interested in serving and how she became a Marine. This episode will discuss her interests as a person, what she sees in her f...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode eight of season five with former University of Virginia and NFL Offensive lineman, painter and muralist, Will Barker. Together they will discuss is athletic background and his journey to the playing foot at UVA and the NFL. This episode will discuss his incredible rise as an artist, his amazing paintings and murals...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode seven of season five with entrepreneur, co-founder of the football parents association at The Ohio State University, Speaker, author, educator, former spokesperson for Campbell's soup, minister and much more DJ the sports mom, Deborah Johnson. Together they will discuss her entrepreneurial spirit, how she co-founded...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode six of season five with volunteer and outreach coordinator for Sportable, wheelchair rugby player and movie enthusiast Josh Sloan. Together they will discuss all of the amazing work he and Sportable are doing in the world with Adaptive sports. This episode will discuss his his love of travel and movies and how he in...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode five of season five with Leadership & Culture Expert, Author, Entrepreneur, Motivation Enthusiast, and Army Ranger, JB Spisso. Together they will discuss his distinguished and incredible military career. This episode will discuss his move into motivational and leadership roles as well as his recently published b...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode four of season five with two-time All-Star and seven year MLB vet, real estate entrepreneur, and straight up motivator, Shea Hillenbrand. Together they will discuss his rise to becoming an All-Star Major League Baseball player and his vulnerable and difficult transition out of baseball. This episode will also discus...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode three of season five with former Professional Windsurfer, entrepreneur, mentor and coach Kasten Spethmann. Together they will discuss her amazing athletic trajectory and her windsurfing career as well as her struggles post career. This episode will also discuss her life as an entrepreneur and love of helping other a...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode two of season five with former National Champion for The Ohio State Buckeyes, NFL vet, podcaster, tv personality and entrepreneur Jay Richardson. Together they will discuss his incredible journey as a football player, how he got into football and his influences. This episode will discuss his post football caree...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode one of season five with former college soccer star and current Women's Head Soccer Coach at the University of Houston, Diego Bocanegra. Going to talk about Diego's amazing history, his incredible family and his love of sports. Also going to talk about his coaching career and his goals for the future including his ow...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode twenty of season four with Bioanalytical Research Associate and Professional Hockey Player and Isobel Cup Champion for the Boston Pride, Mallory Souliotis. Together they will discuss her incredible journey as an athlete growing up, her time at Yale and her life as a Professional Hockey Player, including her most rec...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode nineteen of season four with incredible artist and former Navy Seal, Justin Hughes. Together they will discuss his journey into becoming an artist, and what the future holds for him and his creative pursuits. This episode will discuss his military background and what it was like to be a Navy Seal.. For information o...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode eighteen of season four with artist, entrepreneur, Stanford graduate and former ranked squash player, Julia Gillette. Together they will discuss her passion for art and creating and how it inspired her to establish her incredible non-for-profit, Art empowerment for life, something that she started in high school&nbs...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode seventeen of season four with amazing human former world class snowboarder and 2-time X Games Gold Medalist, entrepreneur and real estate agent, Steve Fisher. Together they will discuss his amazing snowboarding career and how he was really a part of the explosion of extreme sports. This episode will discuss his post...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode sixteen of season four Tracy Akers, a Creative Director who explores her relationship with life and death. Tracy is an artist who heals through self-expression and realizes the self-love that is necessary to feel and to let go of pain from traumatic past experiences. She is an entrepreneur as well as a model, dancer...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode fifteen of season four with musician, Fox Sports baseball announcer, New York Yankee Special Assistant, World Series Champion, All-star, and 12 year MLB vet, Nick Swisher. Together they will discuss his incredible baseball career and all of the amazing things he is doing since his retirement. This episode will discu...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode fourteen of season four with artist, former competitive Nordic skier and Harvard graduate, Hannah Hardenbergh. Together they will discuss her her amazing journey with her art and how it is truly flourishing. This episode will discuss her her competitive Nordic skiing career including her time at Harvard. For informa...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode six of season thirteen with Active Duty Marine and Designated Combat Artist, C.J. Baumann. Together they will discuss his incredible creative journey and how art is such an important part of his life. This episode will discuss his active military career and what the future holds. For information on C.J. Baumann plea...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode twelve of season four with an incredible artist and former Maryland and NFL Defensive back, Kevin Barnes. Together they will discuss his amazing artwork, how he got into his creative pursuits and what inspires him. This episode will discuss his incredible football career, including his time at the university of Mary...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode eleven of season four with author, motivational speaker, host of the Speak Your Success Podcast and former college basketball player, Jonathan Jones. Together they will discuss the incredible work he is doing with student athletes while helping them to develop life skills. This episode will also discuss his time as...

Join the art professor, Ron Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University) for episode ten of season four with artist, Executive Director of the NFLPA Professional Athlete Foundation, former All-American and National Champion LB for Penn State, 10 year NFL vet and Super Bowl Champion with the Washington Football Team, Andre Collins. Together they will discuss his amazing paintings, how he reconnected...