The Giving Game

In this episode, Sophia Whitesell interviews Ben Zobrist about his journey through sports, mental health, and his charity Champion Forward. They explore the importance of emotional wellness, authenticity, and redefining success beyond achievements.

Former baseball player, police officer, and Playin Thru host Matt Stone joins The Giving Game for a powerful conversation about mental health, vulnerability, and why so many men suffer in silence.Having spent years in both baseball and law enforcement, Matt has seen firsthand that some of the strongest people on the outside are often fighting battles nobody else can see. Together, we discuss the challenges of accessing mental health resources, the stigma surrounding asking for help, and why changing the conversation could save lives.This episode isn’t about sports—it’s about the people behind the uniforms and the importance of reminding others that they don’t have to face life’s toughest moments alone.

What happens when your entire future changes overnight?In this episode of The Giving Game, Griffin Pinkow opens up about vision loss, resilience, identity, and why blindness didn’t stop him from building a life centered around purpose and impact. Through The Foreseeable Future Foundation, Griffin is working to create support, awareness, and opportunity for individuals navigating blindness and visual impairment while challenging the way the world views disability altogether.This conversation is honest, emotional, inspiring, and surprisingly funny at times — not about limitation, but about perspective, adaptability, and refusing to let hardship define your future.No sports talk. No filters. Just real conversations that matter.

Main topics:Isaac’s childhood and early entrepreneurship in UgandaThe transformative power of gratitude and humilityBuilding a social impact foundation for African childrenOvercoming hardship and faith in life’s purposeThe role of love and forgiveness in personal growthCultural differences in dating and marriage expectationsThe importance of community and mentorship in life and sportIsaac’s aspirations to inspire worldwide and connect with global golf eventsHow generosity and intentionality can change destinies#InspireChange#GolfForGood#ResilienceJourney#PurposeDriven#LoveAndImpact#FaithInAction#EmpowerYouth#GratitudeGoals#CommunityStrength#TransformLives

Former MLB pitcher Tyson Ross joins The Giving Game to talk about why youth sports are becoming inaccessible for everyday families — and what he’s doing to change that. Tyson opens up about growing up in Oakland, the life-changing impact of community baseball, and how his nonprofit, Loyal to My Soil, is working to bring free camps, equipment, and coaching resources back to underserved communities.The conversation goes far beyond baseball. Tyson and Sophia talk parenting in the age of screens, raising grounded kids while living around professional sports, balancing competition with fun, and how modern youth sports culture puts pressure on families financially and emotionally.Tyson also shares hilarious stories from his childhood, college life at Berkeley, his first car, staying on the family phone plan, and the realities of parenting as a former professional athlete. Most importantly, he explains why community matters more than trophies — and how even a simple social media share can help grow the mission.Loyal to My SoilLoyal to My Soil provides:Free youth baseball campsEquipment donationsCoaching clinicsCommunity outreach programsOpportunities for underserved kids to access sportsDONATE HEREGUEST SOCIALInstagram: @tysonross_38

In this powerful and often hilarious episode of The Giving Game, host Sophia Whitesell sits down with Nate Boyer—a former Green Beret, Seattle Seahawks long snapper, filmmaker, and founder of Merging Vets and Players (MVP).What starts with a mix-up about his identity quickly turns into a deep conversation about life after elite environments—whether that’s the military or professional sports. Nate shares how both veterans and athletes struggle with identity and purpose once the “uniform” comes off.He explains how MVP creates a community where former athletes and veterans come together, train, and open up through peer-led “huddles,” helping each other navigate mental health, transition, and purpose.The conversation also explores:The realities of military life vs. civilian lifeThe importance of mental health for veteransNIL money and young athletesNate’s journey into filmmaking, including his movie MVP (now on Netflix)And a mission-driven fundraiser to support veterans and athletesThis episode blends humor, honesty, and impact—while ultimately challenging listeners to give back and support a meaningful cause.Donation link: http://Donorbox.org/wegotyourback

What happens when you take sports away from athletes?You find out who they really are.Hosted by Sophie, The Giving Game is a one-of-a-kind podcast where athletes step out of the game and into something bigger. No stats. No scores. No surface-level interviews.Each episode is tied to a real, 7-day fundraising challenge—supporting causes that matter to the guests and giving listeners a chance to be part of something meaningful.You’ll hear raw conversations, unexpected stories, and a side of athletes the world rarely sees.This isn’t about sports.It’s about impact.And the real question is… do you want to play?