In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete, Dana Jones sits down with Shamekka Marty, founder of Beyond the Game Health, to talk about the hidden side of athlete wellness, health equity, and what happens when the game ends but the body still carries the cost. Shamekka shares her personal journey living with lupus and multiple autoimmune conditions, her experience as a patient advocate, and how those challenges helped shape her mission to support athletes and high performers with better health education and resources. She also explains why so many athletes are dealing with invisible struggles behind the scenes, including physical pain, mental health pressure, and the stress of navigating the healthcare system.

The conversation digs into the gaps in athlete care, especially around college sports, NIL, transition planning, and the need for stronger support systems around healthcare literacy, mental health services, and financial preparedness. Shamekka makes the case that taking care of athletes means going beyond performance and creating real access to education, comprehensive physicals, wellness events, and practical planning for life after sports. She also shares why she believes every athlete should understand supplemental insurance, healthcare resources, and the importance of protecting both their body and their future.

About Shamekka:

Shamekka Marty is a globally recognized patient advocate, health equity leader, and Founder & CEO of Beyond the Game Health, a sports-anchored health equity consultancy and event platform. A kidney transplant recipient and caregiver to multiple family members with chronic kidney disease, she has dedicated her career to amplifying patient voices and creating community-driven solutions to improve healthcare outcomes.

Through Beyond the Game Health, Shamekka has built national partnerships with sports leagues, health organizations, and community groups to deliver impactful events—integrating health screenings, mental wellness resources, and education into major sporting stages such as the Super Bowl (NFL), NCAA Final Four, WNBA All Star Weekend, and upcoming FIFA 2026 activations.

Shamekka’s Links:

http://www.beyondthegamehealth.com/

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/prettysicklupuschick

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.