Key Links:  Hope Sports Podcast Archive Laura Wilkinson Master Class ___ This week Laura chats with Hope Sports founder and host, Guy East, about the challenges and inspiration that came out of Season One of the show! Year about each of their favorite episodes, what the biggest take away was, and about how this season was especially meaningful to Laura. Don’t forget to subscribe for the release of Season Two!  For further information about trips with Hope Sports visit www.hopesports.org.    For more about our host, visit www.laurawilkinson.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.  ___ Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links:  Instagram: @wattwinston Twitter: @wwatt4 Facebook ___ Laura chats with four-time Olympic bobsledder from Jamaica, Winston Watts, on this week’s episode of the podcast. Not a far cry from “Cool Runnings”, Winston was recognized as a stellar athlete in the army and was given the opportunity to try out for the bobsled team. Shortly after excelling at all of the physical tests, he packed up and relocated to Wyoming where he experienced his first winter, first actual bobsled track, and first moments of considering giving up.  His determination to persevere led him to four Olympics and gave him the endurance to forge ahead even when all odds were against him. The spirit of the Jamaican bobsled team has been evident at the Olympics for several decades; the underdog story of a Caribbean team at the Winter Games with contagious positivity never gets old.  In 2010, Winston came out of retirement to help the struggling team return to the 2012 Games in Sochi after missing several years due to funding that inhibited their ability to qualify. He used personal money, favors from friends, and his charisma to spread the plight of the under-resourced team to the entire world. Their training, visas, equipment, flights, and experience was crowd-sourced from New York to Abu Dhabi. Winston has always been committed to spreading goodness and encouragement to whomever he meets and his story of commitment and optimism is a bright light in what can be a cut-throat industry.  Learn more here: http://www.hopesports.org/jamaican-olympic-bobsledder-winston-watts For further information about trips with Hope Sports visit www.hopesports.org.  For more about our host, visit www.laurawilkinson.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.  ___ Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links:  Instagram: @frankshamrock Twitter: @frankshamrock The Shamrock Way Charity Frank Shamrock Website Ted Talk - “Fear is an Illusion”  ___ This week Laura chats with legendary fighter Frank Shamrock. Frank shares about his childhood - one of foster homes, group homes, and quite a bit of trouble that eventually landed him in prison. But Bob Shamrock, one of his group home parents, didn’t ever lose hope in him and rather saw a kid who needed love and support. He visited him in prison and continued to speak encouragement and purpose over his life, giving him the confidence to focus on training. When Frank was released three years later it was with a new mission: to become a champion fighter.  Frank spent the next 16 years building a career that spanned three different fighting organizations, a myriad of titles, and that landed him the “Fighter of the Decade” honors for the 1990’s. He became a student of mixed martial arts, styles of wrestling, and of his opponents. Although he seems unbeatable, Frank shares about how he has always grappled with fear and insecurity and how his greatest opponent was actually retirement, learning to be “normal” and still find purpose and fulfillment. Despite being the greatest wrestler at the end of the last century, it has been through his charity, trips with Hope Sports, and time serving in his community that he has felt the most accomplished.  Learn more here: http://www.hopesports.org/ufc-champion-frank-shamrock For further information about trips with Hope Sports visit www.hopesports.org.    For more about our host, visit www.laurawilkinson.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.  ___ Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links:  Book: Real Joy Caritas Foundation ___ John Ashley Null is a renowned theologian and scholar, teaching around the world, researching in Europe, and simultaneously serving as the five time Olympic Chaplain. His work has brought him in contact with thousands of athletes - from those who have won big, to those who have failed epically. And his advice remains the save: Winning a medal will never change your life.  Ashley talks with Laura about how the human need for affirmation is magnified in athletics when an individual’s giftedness gets confused with their worth. In an effort to self preserve from the potential pain of loss or failure, many athletes dampen their emotional centers. With emotions at bay, the ability to relate, emote, empathize, and celebrate all become diminished as well. Rather than experiencing victory as fulfillment, it is only remembered as relief.  His work is to help reconnect athletes to their purpose, potential, and worthiness through helping them develop healthy relationships with themselves and others. His book “Real Joy” walks athletes through the formation of a mindset that will ensure their hearts don’t burn out before their talents do.  Learn more here: http://www.hopesports.org/olympic-chaplain-ashley-null For further information about trips with Hope Sports visit www.hopesports.org.    For more about our host, visit www.laurawilkinson.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.  ___ Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links: Instagram: @mc_driver Twitter: @mc_driver Facebook ___ From as early as he can remember, Michael McDowell was racing. He raced BMX at age three, go-carts through his childhood, and was on the national circuit by the time he was eight. He transitioned for Formula One and soon after had a Rookie of the Year premiere in NASCAR. A terrifying crash skyrocketed to fame and he found himself at a crossroads: who was he building a brand for? McDowell has always viewed his career as calling. Each step of the way he has chosen to hold it loosely and even considered walking away at one point, but has known that his sphere of influence is in NASCAR. His family is also passionate about adoption and orphan care and Michael shares their journey with Laura in this episode. Learn more here: http://www.hopesports.org/nascar-driver-michael-mcdowell For further information about trips with Hope Sports visit www.hopesports.org.   For more about our host, visit www.laurawilkinson.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram. ___ Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links: Instagram: @jhorton11 Twitter: @J_Horton11 Website Facebook Book: If I Had Known ___ Jonathan Horton joins Laura on this week’s episode to share about the ups and downs of his 28 year career in gymnastics. After being caught scaling support beams in Target, his exasperated parents enrolled him in gymnastics in hopes of channeling his propensity for acrobatics. Little did they know that their son would go on to represent his country in back-to-back Olympics, have two medals hung around his neck, and hold NCAA records that still stand today. Jonathan shares about the intense perspective shift he went through in college and what it was like to be a rising star that proceeded to make the most mistakes ever in the history of men’s gymnastics at a World Championship. Most powerful is his story of the 2008 Olympic Bronze Medal Men’s team - a group that was highly scrutinized and ridiculed for being “a joke.” He shares about how the men on the team rallied not through strategy or training, but through an evening of vulnerability and honesty that led to a sincere pact. The following day the US Men’s Gymnastics teams had the meet of their life, one that Horton is still most proud of to date. The Beijing Games were strongly juxtaposed by a disappointing performance four years later in London, as Horton shares about the pressure of entering a competition ranked #1 as opposed to an underdog. A series of injuries led Horton to ask himself hard questions about his next steps, how he wants to be remembered, and what he is doing to give back to the athletic community. Learn more here: http://www.hopesports.org/olympic-gymnast-jonathan-horton For further information about trips with Hope Sports visit www.hopesports.org.   For more about our host, visit www.laurawilkinson.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram. ___ Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links: Instagram: @abbey_dags Twitter: @abbey_dags Facebook ___ This week Laura chats with Olympic distance runner, Abbey Cooper (D’Agostino). Abbey graduated from Dartmouth as the most decorated Ivy League runner in history, sporting seven NCAA titles. Her principle race was the 5000m in which she narrowly missed qualifying for the 2012 Olympics. Her first few years running professionally for New Balance weren’t exactly smooth sailing as she began encountering one injury after another. The challenges she raced in recovery built in her a resilience and humility that would prepare her to handle an even bigger hurdle that was to come. She went into the 2016 Olympic trials battling a stress fracture in her shin, but still made the team. In the few weeks between the trials and the Games she suffered another stress fracture in her pelvis which restricted her to only non-weight bearing training; she was not allowed to run at all until she lined up for her preliminary event. The event wouldn’t go exactly as planned, but a fall, a split-second decision, and a forever memorable finish would eventually go viral and spread the goodwill of the Olympic around the world. Coined “The Most Beautiful Moment” of the Rio Games, Abbey’s choice catapulted her to a worldwide stage - a platform she holds with humility and for a purpose greater than herself. Learn more here: http://www.hopesports.org/olympic-runner-abbey-cooper For further information about trips with Hope Sports visit www.hopesports.org.   For more about our host, visit www.laurawilkinson.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram. ___ Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links: Instagram: @arnefriedrichofficial Twitter: @arnefriedrich Arne Friedrich Foundation ___ Laura chats with soccer player Arne Friedrich on this week’s episode of the Hope Sports Podcast. Arne grew up in Germany and began playing professionally at the age of 21. He was quickly catapulted into the public eye when he made the World Cup team in 2006 and stepped on the pitch in front of one billion fans. The series was marked by personal mistakes that the media relently scrutinized, forcing Arne to strongly hang on to what gave him purpose and identity in the midst of the criticism. Arne went on to play professionally in Germany for ten years, represent his home nation in two World Cups, and fulfill one of his dreams by playing for one year in the States with the Chicago Fire. His retirement was a result of a chronic back injury and following surgery Arne was faced with the question of “what now?” He shares about how he uncovered other passions, the Foundation he started to serve German youth, and the podcast he’s launching to help others navigate their purpose after they are “done.” Learn more here: http://www.hopesports.org/professional-soccer-player-arne-friedrich For further information about trips with Hope Sports visit www.hopesports.org.   For more about our host, visit www.laurawilkinson.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram. ___ Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links: Instagram: @sarahwells400mh Twitter: @sarahwells400mh Believe Initiative ___ Laura is joined this week by Canadian Olympic Hurdler Sarah Wells. Sarah stumbled upon track in high school as a last resort after being cut from multiple other sports teams. Her natural ability to pace herself and develop the appropriate cadence led her coach to strongly encourage her towards the 400 meter hurdles. Within a year she was ranked top ten nationally and the possibility of an Olympic spot began to materialize. During a training camp, she unfortunately suffered a stress fracture in her femur. The recovery required strict non weight bearing for three months, but for her, it took almost nine months to heal. Sarah shares about the emotional rollercoaster of recovery, the battle to stay optimistic, and the focus to be committed to her goals. Sarah made a miraculous comeback in just eight months to clinch a spot on the 2012 Olympic Team and was a semi-finalist at the games. She would go on to continue to fight injury after injury as she chased her Olympic dreams, but she never gave up hope. In 2017 Sarah founded the Believe Initiative which teaches young people about the importance of believing in themselves and their ideas. Sarah is training for the Olympics in 2020 and hopes to, yet again, see her belief in action. Learn more here: http://www.hopesports.org/olympic-hurdler-sarah-wells For further information about trips with Hope Sports visit www.hopesports.org.   For more about our host, visit www.laurawilkinson.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram. ___ Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links: Instagram: @swimmermichael Twitter: @swimmermichael Vlog Facebook ___ Laura is joined this week by swimmer Michael Andrew! Michael has always taken a nontraditional approach - from going pro at age 14, to building his own training pools, to being coached by his dad, to not logging the typically yardage of most of his competitors; but it has worked. He has broken over 100 National Age Group records and snagged seven national titles in 2018. His journey hasn’t been without hardships, however. The swimming world was immensely critical of his choice to go pro so young and once he did, the pressure to perform became almost intolerable. It wasn’t until he attended a retreat with an Olympic Chaplain that he realized his greatest victory wouldn’t be in the water, but in his own mindset. Shifting from a performance based identity to a purpose based one gave him the freedom to show up to a meet and know that he had worth and value despite the outcome. Learn more here: http://www.hopesports.org/professional-swimmer-michael-andrew For further information about trips with Hope Sports visit www.hopesports.org.   For more about our host, visit www.laurawilkinson.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram. ___ Produced by Simpler Media