Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include Special Olympics athletes, local sports figures, government officials, small business owners and figures within the Special Olympics movement. Charles and Mike discuss all things Unified Champion Schools with Patti Doherty and Kathy Lutz. They also check in on recent sports news including the Super Bowl and the passing of Kobe Bryant. 

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Episode 23 - Unified Champion Schools

Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include Special Olympics athletes, local sports figures, government officials, small business owners and figures within the Special Olympics movement. Charles welcomes Mike Kelley, a Special Olympics athlete from Auburn Massachusetts who will be co-hosting for a few months. Mike discusses his recent success at a local bowling qualifier and highlights some upcoming events. We are excited to being the Play Unified podcast back to our listeners after a long break!

Episode 22 - Welcome back! Featuring new co-host Mike Kelley

Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include local sports figures, government officials, small business owners and figures within the Special Olympics movement.   Greg Schwartz set himself a goal to finish the Boston Marathon in under 4 hours. Listen to this episode of the #PlayUnified Podcast to find out how he did! Greg and his om Patti stopped by the Yawkey Sports Training Center to share Greg's experiences from his 2nd Boston Marathon and touched on everything from training to race day memories from all 26.2 miles!  Nick and Charles talk about Unified soccer, partnerships and upcoming events. 

Episode 21 - Greg Schwartz Boston Marathon Recap & News of the Week

Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include local sports figures, government officials, small business owners and figures within the Special Olympics movement.   As the Special Olympics Movement reaches its 50th anniversary, Special Olympics Massachusetts Champions for 50 will be highlighting 50 partnerships between Special Olympics athletes and community leaders – including corporations, small businesses, financial institutions, and professional sports teams. Each Unified partnership will strengthen their legacy of building a more inclusive community with a commitment to raise critical funds and increase awareness of Special Olympics here in the commonwealth. John Hancock and Special Olympics athlete, Greg Schwartz are Champions for 50. Over the next two years, John Hancock has committed 50 Boston Marathon bibs to Special Olympics Massachusetts. Greg Schwartz has committed to running the 2017 Boston Marathon – a feat he accomplished in 2015. Together, John Hancock and Schwartz will raise critical funds to expand access to athletic training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities while increasing public awareness through the most prestigious running event in New England.

Episode 20 - 50th Anniversary kickoff with Greg Schwartz & Rachel Dill

Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include local sports figures, government officials, small business owners and figures within the Special Olympics movement. This week, Seekonk High School students, Daniel, Elizabeth, Kathleen, and Heather, discuss their time playing Unified Sports through the MIAA Unified Track & Field and Basketball programs. They were in the house for the 2017 Youth Leadership Conference. Nick and Charles go through a packed News of the Week, which included discussion around the 2017 World Winter Games in Austria, the final 2016/17 Special Olympics Massachusetts Basketball Power Rankings - who will finish on top?

Episode 19 - Seekonk Youth Leadership Team and News of the Week

Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include local sports figures, government officials, small business owners and figures within the Special Olympics movement. This week we have Gregg Gallant on the podcast talking about his experience as a Special Olympics athlete, staff member, fundraisers and all around athlete leader. Gregg also previews the state Winter Games. News of the week touches on the Polar Plunges, partnerships including bank of  

Episode 18 - Gregg Gallant and News of the Week

Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include local sports figures, government officials, small business owners and figures within the Special Olympics movement. George Kent stops into the Podcast to discuss (among other things) a brand new initiative here at SOMA - a Legislative Lobbying and Self-Advocacy group. The group was born out of a partnership with the Arc of Massachusetts and SOMA Unified Sports athlete Alex Trakadas from Grafton. Hosts, Nick and Charles get you caught up on some news from around Special Olympics. Nick unveils the updated SOMA Seniors Basketball power rankings.

Episode 17 - George Kent and News of the Week

Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include local sports figures, government officials, small business owners and figures within the Special Olympics movement. Lauren Hopper, a Special Olympics Athlete, Coach and Gloabal Messenger was visiting the Yawkey Sports Straining center to drop off paperwork and we were lucky enough to have her join this week's podcast. Lauren discusses the extended family that has grown from the Special Olympics program in Auburn, MA, super bowl predictions and the slam dunking athletes she coaches.  Hosts, Nick and Charles get you caught up on some news from around Special Olympics. Nick unveils the updated SOMA Unified Sports Basketball power rankings.

Episode 16 - Lauren Hopper and News of the Week

Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include local sports figures, government officials, small business owners and figures within the Special Olympics movement. Tyler Lagasse, Special Olympics golfer and Global Messenger discusses what makes someone great, why he focuses on character and how the local Boston sports teams are doing - including a Super Bowl prediction! Hosts, Nick and Charles get you caught up on some news from around Special Olympics (internationally and right here in Massachusetts). Nick unveils the first SOMA basketball power rankings of the 2016/17 season. 

Episode 15 - Tyler Lagasse and news of the week

  Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include local sports figures, government officials, small business owner and figures within the Special Olympics movement. Colin and Amanda Davidson discuss their involvement with Special Olympics as athletes and as a married couple. The two have represented Special Olympics USA at World Games and their home states at USA games in the past. They have some cool stories and ideas for how to make the movement event stronger!  

Episode 14 - Colin and Amanda Davidson

 Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include local sports figures, government officials, small business owner and figures within the Special Olympics movement. Beau Doherty (President  & CEO Special Olympics Connecticut), Scott Weaver (Sr. Manager Unified Sports & Sports Education with Special Olympics North America)  , Mandy Murphy (ESPN Partnership Director with Special Olympics Inc.) The three panelists discuss the history of Unified Sports within the Special Olympics Movement, Where Unified Sports is today including the ESPN Global Presenting Partnership,and where Special Olympics needs to position itself in a more inclusive world.    

Episode 13 - Unified Sports: Past, Present and Future

Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast – formerly known as “Sports is the Catalyst” – where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include local sports figures, government officials, small business owner and figures within the Special Olympics movement. James and Sarah are two of the Keith Kids who represented Special Olympics Massachusetts in San Jose, CA at the MLSWORKS Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Soccer Experience Presented by ESPN. You can see more about their experience on our blog at specialolympicsma.wordpress.com/ 

Episode 12 - James and Sarah Keith

Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast – formerly known as “Sports is the Catalyst” – where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include local sports figures, government officials, small business owner and figures within the Special Olympics movement. Alec has been advocating for individuals with disabilities since he was in elementary school! Listen to this episode of the podcast to learn how Alec went from a kid in Boulder Colorado trying to figure out his way through life to a seasoned advocate who has written legislation and runs his own advocacy group: Autistic Reality. You can learn more about Alec on his website: http://www.nothingaboutuswithoutus.net/ 

Episode 11 - Alec Frazier

Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast – formerly known as “Sports is the Catalyst” – where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include local sports figures, government officials, small business owner and figures within the Special Olympics movement. Loretta Claiborne was in Boston for a few speaking engagements and she was kind enough to stop by the Yawkey Sports Training Center to record this podcast. Loretta has been an inspirational leader in the Special Olympics movement for over 30 years! She started competing when she was a child and since then has finished 26 marathons, competed at World Games and spoken to the UN!!

Episode 10 - Loretta Claiborne

Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast – formerly known as “Sports is the Catalyst” – where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include local sports figures, government officials, small business owner and figures within the Special Olympics movement. Greg ran the 2015 Boston Marathon as part of the Special Olympics Massachusetts charity team with John Hancock. Greg had never run a marathon before, but since Patriots Day 2015, he has been planning his next race. After taking a year off from Boston, Greg will be running a full marathon this fall and then carry his training right into 2017 with hopes of returning to Heartbreak Hill and the rest of the Boston Marathon course!

Episode 9 - Greg Schwartz

Welcome to the #PlayUnified Podcast, where we meet at the intersection of sports, disability, philanthropy, entertainment and community building. Listen as we discuss why sports is such an important part of life, community and social change. Guests will include local sports figures, government officials, small business owner and figures within the Special Olympics movement.

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