Sports on the Spectrum

My guest today is Jamal Hill. When Jamal was ten, he was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a hereditary neurological condition that can result in progressive loss of muscle tissue and touch sensation in the body. Despite this severe medical challenge, Jamal has persevered to become one of the top Paralympic swimmers in the world today and is now a Speedo sponsored, ten-time national champion and Paralympic medalist, winning bronze in the men's S9 50 meter freestyle event at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. Out of the pool, Jamal founded Swim Up Hill, which works to provide swim instruction to middle and low-income people around the world to help lower the risk of drowning, with the goal of teaching one million people how to swim annually by 2028. This initiative has earned Jamal much recognition, including being nominated for the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award at the 2023 ESPYs. Please join me in welcoming Jamal Hill to Sports on the Spectrum.

My guest today is Steve Hodge.Steve played basketball collegiately and professionally around the world for many years before becoming a FIBA-certified referee and then later going into coaching.After tenures at places such as the LA Clippers and Caltech, Steve became the Varsity Boys’ Basketball Head Coach at Pacifica Christian High School as I entered my senior year there. And while I wasn’t the star player and didn’t play for many minutes that year, Steve was humble enough to name me as one of three team captains, instilling a sense of value and leadership that I still hold dear.Additionally, Steve is the Chief Operations Officer of Breakthrough Sports, an award-winning youth sports program for kids playing sports like basketball, volleyball, and baseball throughout Southern California.Please join me in welcoming Steve Hodge to Sports on the Spectrum.

My guest today is Eric Reveno. Eric is currently the Associate Head Coach of the Men’s Basketball Team at Oregon State University. Eric has 25 years of college coaching experience, previously coaching at the University of Portland, Georgia Tech, and Stanford.During his coaching career, Eric was named the West Coast Conference Coach of the Year and a Top 25 Recruiter in the nation by Rivals.com. Eric was also at the forefront of a movement that led to the NCAA mandating National Election Days as a day off for student-athletes.Please join me in welcoming Eric Reveno to Sports on the Spectrum.

My guest today is Jason Crandell. Jason is a yoga teacher and author with more than 20 years of experience. His classes are known for integrating the best elements of power yoga, anatomical precision and mindfulness teachings. Named "one of the teachers shaping the future of yoga" by Yoga Journal, Jason has been one of the most in-demand teachers at conferences around the world for over a decade. Jason has taught on countless teacher-training faculties, leads trainings globally, and regularly presents teacher-training content at esteemed conferences. Jason is a contributing editor for Yoga Journal Magazine, where he has published over 25 articles. In addition, Jason is co-host of the "Yogaland" podcast with his wife Andrea Ferretti.

My guest today is Devon Slack. Devon is currently a lifeguard and swim teacher at the Santa Monica YMCA, teaching swimming skills to children ages 3-12 as well as adults. Devon was a gymnast for several years, first participating with and then coaching the Intermediate Girls Competition team at JAG Gym in Culver City, CA. Devon also played volleyball for many years, first serving as a captain of her high school volleyball team and then receiving a scholarship to play for a club volleyball team. Devon was recently diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD.

My guest today is Matt Steinhaus. Matt is currently in his ninth year as the Athletic Director at New Roads School in Santa Monica, where he has also served as the Varsity Baseball Head Coach. Matt coached, umpired and served on the Board of Directors of Santa Monica Little League for over 20 years.  He has also coached a summer travel baseball team that competed in seven foreign countries. While in high school, Matt was a member of his school’s water polo and swim teams.  

Chris Fajardo is Chief Program Officer at Coaching Corps, a national nonprofit that provides volunteer coach recruitment, professional development for coaches through training, and mentorship support for active coaches, all free of charge to youth sports programs impacting under-resourced communities.Chris previously spent seven years in education, teaching marine mammal conservation and physiology as a dolphin trainer in Santa Cruz California and Belize, Central America. He then continued his career in education as a high school science teacher in Palo Alto, California. Chris lives in Los Angeles where he enjoys playing beach volleyball and continues to coach youth and play soccer.

Dr. Kathleen Donohue is a clinical psychologist who works with children, adolescents, and adults in her independent practice in San Mateo, California. She has taught at UC Berkeley in the Department of Psychology and the Graduate School of Education and has published on peer rejection among schoolchildren, training issues for psychologists, and the research-practice divide.