What does it look like to lead boldly in a space that wasn't built for you?

This week on Sports Will Save Us All, Sasha sits down with Toni Will—general manager and governor of the Kalamazoo Wings—who is redefining leadership in professional hockey.

As the first female GM in franchise history and the first woman ever appointed to the ECHL Board of Governors, Toni is not just breaking barriers—she's rebuilding the culture of the game from the inside out.

Under her leadership, the K-Wings have seen seven straight seasons of attendance growth, groundbreaking community initiatives, and one of the most talked-about promotions in sports: Rainbow Ice—a powerful, visual statement of inclusion that's as meaningful as it is unforgettable.

You can find Toni on Instagram @iamtoniwill and online @ ToniWill.com. Her TEDx talk, "Female Leaders in a Male-Dominated Professional Sports Industry," is on YouTube, and her book, Rebellious Success, is available for pre-order now. We have linked to it on our website, SportsWillSaveUsAll.com.

About Sports Will Save Us All podcast

Sports Will Save Us All is an inspirational sports podcast hosted by Sasha Graham, featuring powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, and changemakers about how sports shape mental health, resilience, leadership, and personal growth. Through real-life stories of women in sports, inclusive and adaptive athletics, and athletes overcoming adversity, the show explores how sports change lives—on and off the field.

On Instagram @SportsWillSaveUsAll

Online at www.SportsWillSaveUsAll.com

To be a guest: Contact us on Podmatch or Via email at SportsWillSaveUsAll@gmail.com

March Madness is here. But the future of college sports may be hanging by a thread.

For years, fans have debated whether college athletes should be paid. With the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal, it seemed like the system was finally correcting a long-standing injustice.

But what if the next step—professionalizing college sports—doesn't fix the system… and actually breaks it completely?

In this eye-opening episode, Sasha sits down with tax and policy expert Thomas A. McGovern, author of Road to the Final Hour, to unpack a looming crisis most fans don't even know exists.

According to McGovern, if college athletes become employees of their schools, the consequences could be catastrophic:

• Colleges could lose their nonprofit status
• Billions in tax-deductible donations could disappear
• Athletic departments could face massive new tax burdens
• The financial ecosystem that supports hundreds of non-revenue sports could collapse

And that means the fallout wouldn't just affect football and basketball.

It could wipe out opportunities for swimmers, volleyball players, runners, gymnasts, and thousands of other student athletes across the country.

With March Madness tipping off today, this conversation couldn't be more timely. Because the decisions being debated in Congress and the courts right now could fundamentally reshape—or even dismantle—the college sports system as we know it.

Thomas McGovern

LinkedIn

Road the Final Hour

About Sports Will Save Us All podcast

Sports Will Save Us All is an inspirational sports podcast hosted by Sasha Graham, featuring powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, and changemakers about how sports shape mental health, resilience, leadership, and personal growth. Through real-life stories of women in sports, inclusive and adaptive athletics, and athletes overcoming adversity, the show explores how sports change lives—on and off the field.

On Instagram @SportsWillSaveUsAll

Online at www.SportsWillSaveUsAll.com

To be a guest: Contact us on Podmatch or Via email at SportsWillSaveUsAll@gmail.com

What was it like to fight in the very first Ultimate Fighting Championship—before weight classes, before gloves, before rules?

In this unforgettable episode of Sports Will Save Us All, host Sasha Graham sits down with Zane Frazier, one of the original eight fighters who competed in UFC 1—the tournament that launched modern MMA.

But Zane's story goes far beyond the Octagon.

Growing up in Los Angeles during the turbulent 1960s and 70s, Zane was surrounded by history, activism, martial arts culture, and larger-than-life figures. His mother trained in karate and even served as a bodyguard for civil rights icon Angela Davis, while his extended family helped shape the early Black Karate Federation that influenced legends like Bruce Lee.

Along the way, Zane crossed paths with icons—from Muhammad Ali giving him fighting advice as a kid to working security for music legends like Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson, and Michael Jackson.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Zane shares:

• What it was really like to fight in UFC 1 when almost anything went
• The chaos surrounding UFC 9 during the sport's legal battles
• The moment he realized the difference between being good and being great
• The brutal training methods of MMA pioneer Ken Shamrock
• How a college basketball career led him to martial arts and eventually the Octagon
• Why discovering your purpose matters more than talent

Today, Zane channels decades of combat experience into mentoring others as the owner of Title Boxing Club Arcadia in Phoenix, helping everyday athletes build strength, discipline, and confidence.

His message is simple but powerful: greatness isn't just about skill—it's about discovering your gift and refusing to quit.

About Sports Will Save Us All podcast

Sports Will Save Us All is an inspirational sports podcast hosted by Sasha Graham, featuring powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, and changemakers about how sports shape mental health, resilience, leadership, and personal growth. Through real-life stories of women in sports, inclusive and adaptive athletics, and athletes overcoming adversity, the show explores how sports change lives—on and off the field.

On Instagram @SportsWillSaveUsAll

Online at www.SportsWillSaveUsAll.com

To be a guest: Contact us on Podmatch or Via email at SportsWillSaveUsAll@gmail.com