In this episode of Sports Will Save Us All, host Sasha Graham interviews Josh Copeland, a former Division 1 football player who faced significant challenges after his sports career ended. Josh shares his journey from being a celebrated athlete to struggling with identity, mental health issues, and alcoholism. He discusses the impact of sports on his self-worth and the difficulties he faced when transitioning to life after sports. Ultimately, Josh reveals his turning point and how he rebuilt his life, focusing on mental health advocacy and personal growth through his company, Learning to Cope. In this conversation, Josh Copeland shares his journey from being a community service leader and athlete to launching his company, Learn to Cope, which focuses on mental health awareness. He discusses the importance of authenticity, the challenges athletes face after their careers, and the need for open conversations about mental health. Josh emphasizes the significance of bridging generational gaps in understanding mental health and offers practical advice for both athletes and professionals on prioritizing self-care and coping strategies.

Interested in learning more? Visit Josh Copeland Speaks or find Josh on Instagram @Learn2Cope.

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Instagram: @sportswillsaveusall

Website: www.SportsWillSaveUsAll.com

Want to be a guest on Sports Will Save Us All? Send Sasha Graham a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/16966997407772582e273f473

Mary Ann Kluge played basketball and lacrosse at University of Rhode Island and rose to the top of the field in both. She has a Masters in Adapted Physical Education and a Doctorate in Gerontology and has coached everything from middle school boys basketball and girls softball to soccer & basketball for Special Olympics. She was the head softball coach and assistant basketball coach at Idaho State, and head women's basketball coach at Pacific Lutheran university for 17 years. More recently, she founded and coached a women's age 65+ volleyball team. Through it all, a love of movement has brought her the joy that she shares with the world.

Today's episode is brought to you by P3 Built construction services. You can find P3 online at www.P3Built.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

Sasha is joined in studio this week by her Sports on Screen co-host, Steve Bollinger, and they're diving into a beloved sports classic; the rebellious, high-energy gymnastics movie Stick It!

Join them as they hilariously break down the film's anti-establishment vibe, memorable cast—featuring Missy Peregrym, Jeff Bridges, and Vanessa Lengies—and those unforgettable one-liners that still have us laughing. They'll dig into what makes this movie more than just a sports film, from its themes of girl power and friendship to its clever cinematography and bold social commentary. Stick around to hear fun behind-the-scenes facts, like Missy Peregrym's journey to landing the lead role, and of course, their final verdict: Does Stick It! make the cut?

Stick It! is available on streaming platforms like AppleTV—don't miss out! And if you have a sports movie suggestion for the next Sports on Screen review, hit us up at sportswillsaveusall@gmail.com or on our socials @sportswillsaveusall. Join our Sports Fam online!

About Sports on Screen

Sports on Screen is the recurring sports movie review series from Sports Will Save Us All, featuring host Sasha Graham and co-host Steve Bollinger. In each episode, Sasha and Steve review classic sports movies, cult favorites, and unforgettable sports films with humor, sharp commentary, and lively banter. From iconic underdog stories to wildly unrealistic game-day moments, Sports on Screen explores how sports movies reflect competition, culture, and the human spirit. If you love sports films, funny movie reviews, and smart sports storytelling, this series is for you. 🎬🏆

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

It's the NBA playoffs so who better to talk to than Lionel Hollins who brought home championships with the Trail Blazers in 1976 as their point guard and again in 2020 as an assistant coach for the Lakers? Hollins has served as head coach of both the Memphis Grizzlies and the Brooklyn Nets and in this episode talks about being raised by his grandmother, what drove him to be great, what it was like playing with legends like Bill Walton and Dr. J, and what it takes to build a team.

This episode brought to you by iConnect Fundraising. From charitable contributions to corporate sponsorships, iConnect pairs organizations with donors who don't just give to their cause, they get it. www.iConnectFundraising.com

This week on Sports Will Save Us All, Sasha sits down with longtime sportswriter and first-time novelist Steve Hare for a conversation about high school sports, community, loss, and the stories that stay with us long after the final whistle.

As the founder of Ohio Varsity, Steve has spent nearly three decades covering high school athletics across Northeast Ohio. From football fields to wrestling mats to girls flag football sidelines, he has witnessed the evolution of youth sports firsthand — and what he's learned has very little to do with championships.

The conversation also dives into Steve's debut novel, The Turkey Bowl: What We Carried Forward — a thoughtful, emotionally layered story about friendship, grief, memory, and the invisible ways sports shape our lives. What begins as an annual pickup football game becomes something much deeper: a meditation on loss, healing, and the relationships we carry forward.

Steve opens up about writing through cancer treatment, the personal experiences woven into the novel, and why he intentionally leaves space for readers to bring their own stories into the book.

This episode is ultimately about the people behind the games — the teammates, parents, coaches, spectators, and friends who become part of the fabric of our lives.

You can find The Turkey Bowl: What We Carried Forward on Amazon or through the Books on the Show tab at Sports Will Save Us All.

Hey Sports Fam,

A big announcement in today's episode! And please enjoy this early episode with Major League Baseball's Bruce Chen. From growing up in Panama with Chinese heritage, to being discovered as a teenager, to pitching in over 400 Major League games across 11 teams—Bruce's story is anything but ordinary.

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

About SNAPkids

On Instagram: @SwimSnapKids

Online: www.SnapKids.org

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

This episode takes a turn you won't see coming.

Sasha sits down with former Division I basketball player, coach, and broadcaster Peter Young—a man whose life reads like two completely different stories unfolding at once. On the surface: a career in sports, from George Washington University to coaching at the University of Colorado and calling games for major networks. But behind the scenes? A slow, disorienting descent into a controlling religious cult that would ultimately dismantle his marriage and reshape his life.

Peter shares how it happened—not all at once, but gradually—through trust, love, and subtle manipulation. He opens up about the warning signs he missed, the mental tug-of-war that defined years of his life, and the moment everything finally unraveled.

Along the way, this conversation delivers plenty of unexpected moments—from bizarre sports broadcasting stories (including a legendary Oprah-worthy blooper) to a rodeo ride gone horribly wrong. But at its core, this is a story about identity, resilience, and the power of reclaiming your own mind.

We also dive into Peter's novels—The Blue Team and Wardrobe of the Wolf—and how his experiences in sports and life shaped the themes of identity, pressure, and self-worth that run through his writing.

Peter Young

You can find Peter online at wwwww.AuthorPeterYoung.com and on Instagram @PeterBYoung

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