Joanne P. McCallie - Former Head Women's Basketball Coach at Duke, Michigan State and Maine and Mental Health Virago

Joanne P. McCallie, (CoachP4Life.org) is one of the most inspiring and incredible people I've ever met on this show or in real life. She joined Coach Val (Whiting) and I for this polarizing and powerful episode to discuss her journey from when she was a young brat cussing up a storm when she would miss jump shots while her dad, a navy pilot would rebound for her while in Coach K's gym, illegally. She shares how she went to Auburn University as a Graduate Assistant sight unseen and how at age 26, became one of the youngest head women's basketball coaches at the Division I level in the history of the United States. But it was four years into her Maine journey where today you will find out the rest of her story about her initial diagnosis and denial of bi-polar disorder to where she is today as an incredible,  inspiring, and courageous firestarter, author, mental health leader, speaker, cancer survivor and virago; a true warrior in every sense of the word. I cannot thank Coach Val enough for her endless love and support and for also being so transparent about her own journey navigating bi-polar disorder and thoughts of suicide. Remember, you are not alone when it comes to mental health. There's no difference as to whether you need blood pressure medication or high-cholesterol medication or medicine because you are bi-polar to help balance out the chemicals in your brain. We need to continue to normalize mental health and demystify the stigmas that accompany them on and off the court, especially in the black and brown community. If you are feeling like you want to end your life or know someone else who is talking about it, even in what may appear to be in a joking manner, you or your friend or family members can always call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, the suicide prevention hotline at, 800.273.8255.  #MentalHealth #BiPolar #Maine #MichiganState #MichiganStateSpartans #Duke #DukeBlueDevils #ESPNW #Nike #SecretWarrior #Big10 #MarchMadness #ACC #CollegeBasketball #NorthwesternUniversity #AuburnUniversity  Check it out where ever you listen to your audio and video podcasts! (Now on) AUDIBLE: https://lnkd.in/gXAwci_9 Google: https://lnkd.in/gDN-XnKU iHeart: https://lnkd.in/e8SzqHz Apple: https://lnkd.in/gDdqxh8b Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gzR3peVj Check out the Video Podcast at: YOUTUBE: https://lnkd.in/gdUy4iH Instagram: @MikeHootner https://www.instagram.com/mikehootner/ Tik Tok: @MikeHootner https://lnkd.in/gc_dyuwX  Twitter: @MikeHootner https://twitter.com/MikeHootner  LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/gnFZGVfH Snapchat: https://lnkd.in/eNdH-YN6