🎧 About the Episode:

Rodney McLeod Jr. is a recently retired NFL safety, Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, and 2024 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominee. After going undrafted in 2012, Rodney built a 13-year career across four teams, earning recognition not only for his play but for his community service, including the NFLPA Alan Page Community Award. With his wife Erica, he co-founded the Change Our Future Foundation to empower youth through mentorship, education, and exposure.

In this episode, Rodney reflects on his journey from overlooked athlete to respected leader and how adversity, including multiple injuries and setbacks, shaped his resilience, discipline, and faith mindset.

He shares the story behind launching Change Our Future during 2020’s national reckoning, why programs like Next Man Up and the Youth Leadership Summit are transforming young men into leaders, and how exposure to STEM and higher education opens new doors for underserved youth

Alongside host Julia Healey, this conversation explores the power of mentorship, the courage to pivot when strategies aren’t working, and the role of faith and community in creating long-term change. Rodney also reveals how donors make a direct difference—from funding HBCU trips to equipping students with essential resources—and why he believes legacy is about being a symbol of hope and possibility.

Whether you’re an athlete, philanthropist, or changemaker, this episode offers a playbook for turning personal challenges into community impact.

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the Inspired Changemakers Podcast! Your support helps us continue bringing stories of leaders like Rodney McLeod, who are shaping the future through service, resilience, and hope.

🔗 Connect with Rodney:
Change Our Future Foundation: https://www.changeourfuture.org

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The Inspired Changemakers Podcast spotlights individuals who are making a difference in the world. Each episode features their journey, insights, and projects aimed at creating positive change in their communities and beyond. Tune in to be inspired—and to learn how you, too, can create impact where it matters most.

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🎧 About the Episode:

Dr. Natasha T. Brison, JD, PhD, is a tenured associate professor in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management at the University of South Carolina, an accomplished attorney, and a leading voice in sport and entertainment law. With professional experience in contracts, licensing, copyrights, trademarks, and sponsorship agreements, Natasha expanded her practice to focus on athlete branding and the legal aspects of marketing—bridging creativity and compliance to create opportunity.

In this episode, Natasha shares her journey from law to academia, and why she embraces being “comfortable being uncomfortable." She offers insights into athlete branding and why purpose and philanthropy should be embedded in every brand strategy. Natasha also reflects on her leadership in professional associations and the impact of her first textbook, Legal Liability in Recreation, Events, and Hospitality: A Risk Management Approach.

Alongside host Julia Healey, this conversation explores the power of “both/and” careers, resilience through rejection, and creating meaningful options for athletes, students, and changemakers alike. Whether you’re an athlete, educator, or purpose-driven professional, this episode will challenge you to see branding as more than image—it’s about creating options, impact, and legacy.

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the Inspired Changemakers Podcast! Your support helps us continue sharing the stories of individuals like Dr. Natasha Brison who are shaping the future of sports, education, and philanthropy.

🔗 Connect with Natasha:

Natasha's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-brison-jd-phd

Natasha's University of South Carolina Faculty Page: https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/hrsm/faculty-staff/brison_natasha.php

🎙️ Join our community of Inspired Changemakers!
The Inspired Changemakers Podcast is a platform that showcases inspiring individuals who are making a difference in the world. Each episode features a new guest, sharing their journey, insights, and projects aimed at creating positive change in their communities and beyond. Join us as we learn from these changemakers and get inspired to take action in our own lives!

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Stories That Spark Action: A Conversation With Jill Kubit

Don't forget to subscribe to the Inspired Changemakers Podcast to stay updated with the latest stories of visionaries transforming lives and shaping a better future. Your support helps us continue sharing inspiring stories like Jill’s!

About the Episode

Jill Kubit is a social entrepreneur, climate communicator, and the visionary behind DearTomorrow — a 10-year storytelling project that invites people to write letters to their loved ones about climate change and the future they hope to create. With over 7,000 letters submitted from over 50 countries, Jill’s work weaves together the personal and the political, using narrative to ignite global engagement and climate action.

In this episode, Jill shares how storytelling became her most powerful tool for building movements, shaping public discourse, and inspiring change. From her early days as a teacher in D.C. to speaking at the United Nations and partnering with the Museum of Modern Art, Jill reflects on the winding path that led her to climate leadership. She also opens up about burnout, resilience, and the importance of nurturing the next generation of changemakers.

Connect with DearTomorrow:

Website: www.deartomorrow.org
Instagram: @deartomorrow
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/deartomorrow

Join our community of Inspired Changemakers!
The Inspired Changemakers Podcast is a platform that showcases inspiring individuals who are making a difference in the world. Each episode features a new guest, sharing their journey, insights, and projects aimed at creating positive change in their communities and beyond. Join us as we learn from these changemakers and get inspired to take action in our own lives!

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About the Episode
Sophia Chang is a screenwriter, author, and music industry legend who has managed icons like RZA, GZA, and D’Angelo—and now she’s building something even bigger. As the founder of Unlock Her Potential, a mentorship program for women of color, Sophia is creating the kind of support system she never had.

In this episode, Sophia sits down with United Charitable CEO Julia Healey to share her journey from the hip hop clubs of 1980s New York to launching a charitable initiative. She opens up about navigating racism and sexism, being embraced by Wu-Tang Clan, and the power of being her authentic self in every room she enters.

Sophia also reflects on motherhood, reinvention at 50, and how building community means showing up—for yourself and for others. Whether you’re an artist, activist, or changemaker in the making, Sophia’s story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to unlock your potential—and help someone else do the same.

Connect with Unlock Her Potential:
Website: www.unlockherpotential.com
Instagram: @unlockherpotential
LinkedIn: Unlock Her Potential

Join our community of Inspired Changemakers!
The Inspired Changemakers Podcast is a platform that showcases inspiring individuals who are making a difference in the world. Each episode features a new guest, sharing their journey, insights, and projects aimed at creating positive change in their communities and beyond. Join us as we learn from these changemakers and get inspired to take action in our own lives!

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Building Community Through the Game | A Conversation with Mike Brown & Evan Makle

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About the Episode

In this episode, Julia Healey sits down with Evan Makle and Mike Brown, teammates on the Virginia Valley Vipers, to talk about how basketball has shaped their lives—and how they’re using the game to give back.

Evan Makle, a Shenandoah University graduate with a degree in media & communications and a minor in coaching, found his love for basketball as a toddler. Today, he channels that early passion into mentoring the next generation, from training kids during the week to coaching at local camps.

Mike Brown, a Winchester native and University of Mount Olive alum, is just as committed to community as he is to the game. A dedicated husband and father, Mike balances family, work, and professional basketball—all while staying focused on making an impact through youth engagement, charity events, and leading by example.

They open up about overcoming injuries, setbacks during COVID, and the mental discipline it takes to keep showing up — for themselves, their teammates, and their fans.

Connect with Mike, Evan, and the Virginia Valley Vipers:

Evan’s Instagram: @evanmakle

Mike’s Instagram: @_miikeb_

Website: https://virginiavalleyvipers.com/

Instagram: @va_viperstbl

Join our community of Inspired Changemakers!

The Inspired Changemakers Podcast is a platform that showcases inspiring individuals who are making a difference in the world. Each episode features a new guest, sharing their journey, insights, and projects aimed at creating positive change in their communities and beyond. Join us as we learn from these changemakers and get inspired to take action in our own lives!

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Leading with Action: A Conversation with Wayne Applewhite and Sheila Baerenz

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About the Episode

Leadership isn’t a title—it’s a practice, a mindset, and, according to this episode’s guests, a verb. Wayne Applewhite and Sheila Baerenz, co-hosts of the podcast 27 Minutes with Sheila and Wayne, join host Julia Healey to explore what leadership really looks like in action.

Drawing from decades of experience in education, military service, counseling, and business, they share powerful lessons on letting go, building self-efficacy, and the importance of listening and learning as a leader. With warmth and wit, this conversation invites us to rethink how small shifts in language—and mindset—can inspire big change.

Connect with Sheila and Wayne:

27 Minutes with Sheila and Wayne: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/27-minutes-with-sheila-and-wayne/id1660085600

Sheila on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheila-baerenz-11b33120/

Wayne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-applewhite-9660668/

🎙️ Join our community of Inspired Changemakers!

The Inspired Changemakers Podcast is a platform that showcases inspiring individuals who are making a difference in the world. Each episode features a new guest, sharing their journey, insights, and projects aimed at creating positive change in their communities and beyond. Join us as we learn from these changemakers and get inspired to take action in our own lives! You can find us on:

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From Adversity to Advocacy: A Conversation With John Heath

Don't forget to subscribe to the Inspired Changemakers Podcast to stay updated with the latest stories of visionaries transforming lives and shaping a better future. Your support helps us continue sharing inspiring stories like John’s!

About the Episode

John Heath, adaptive CrossFit athlete and Marine Corps veteran, turned a challenging childhood and life-changing injury into a mission for adaptive athletics. As the founder and CEO of the Adaptive Athletic Foundation of Maryland, he champions innovative adaptive fitness certifications, advocates for prosthetic policy change, and builds inclusive fitness communities. In this episode, John shares how resilience, self-care, and community empowerment have redefined his journey—and how they continue to inspire lasting change for individuals with disabilities.

Connect with John:

Instagram: carbonfiber_john_

Adaptive Athletics Foundation of MD’s Instagram: adaptiveathletics_md

🎙️ Join our community of Inspired Changemakers!

The Inspired Changemakers Podcast is a platform that showcases inspiring individuals who are making a difference in the world. Each episode features a new guest, sharing their journey, insights, and projects aimed at creating positive change in their communities and beyond. Join us as we learn from these changemakers and get inspired to take action in our own lives! You can find us on:

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Empowering Athletes Beyond the Game | A Conversation with Hannibal Navies

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🎧 About the Episode:

Hannibal Navies is a 9-year NFL veteran, social entrepreneur, and the Vice President of Development at Athletes Charitable, where he leads initiatives that create lasting change in underserved communities. As the founder of 360 Sports Academy and the Hannibal Navies Foundation, Hannibal has dedicated his career to empowering professional athletes and fostering their success beyond the field.

With an executive MBA and entrepreneurial certification from Harvard University, Hannibal brings unparalleled expertise to his philanthropic efforts. His tenure as the Director of Engagement & Outreach for The Trust, powered by the NFL Players Association, showcased his passion for guiding transitioning athletes with the tools and resources needed for life after football.

In this episode, Hannibal delves into his journey from the NFL to becoming a leader in social good, the vital role of mentorship, family, and entrepreneurship in his work, and the impact he’s made on athletes and communities alike. Hear his inspiring story and vision for creating meaningful opportunities for professional athletes to thrive beyond their sports careers.

Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment below to support Hannibal and his transformative efforts!

Connect with Hannibal:

Instagram: @bullnavies

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannibalnavies/

Athletes Charitable Website: https://athletescharitable.org/

Athletes Charitable LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/athletes-charitable/

Athletes Charitable Instagram: @athletescharitable

360 Sports Academy Instagram: @360sportsacademyfoundation

🎙️ Join our community of Inspired Changemakers!

The Inspired Changemakers Podcast is a platform that showcases inspiring individuals who are making a difference in the world. Each episode features a new guest, sharing their journey, insights, and projects aimed at creating positive change in their communities and beyond. Join us as we learn from these changemakers and get inspired to take action in our own lives! You can find us on:

Facebook

Instagram

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BuzzSprout

Support the show