CLSI’s Beyond The Game Podcast

In this episode, host Phillip sits down with special guest Travis Garrison, a former McDonald's All-American and standout at the University of Maryland who built a professional basketball career overseas. Together, they unpack Travis’s journey from high school prodigy to college athlete—exploring the unique pressures, resilience gaps, and unseen mental health hurdles that shaped his path. Travis shares candid reflections on academic struggles, social anxiety, and the hidden cost of athletic success, revealing how those challenges influenced his story both on and off the court.
The conversation dives into Travis’s work with Think First Global, a nonprofit he founded to empower youth through basketball, life skills, and mental health awareness. As Phillip and Travis Garrison explore the intersection of performance and personal growth, they highlight the need for honest mental health conversations in the athletic ecosystem—reminding listeners that athletes are more than their stats, and that confidence on the outside doesn’t always mean confidence within.
If you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or fan, get ready for real stories, practical takeaways, and inspiration to help close the resilience gap for the next generation. This is Beyond the Game.
00:00 "Beyond the Game: Mental Wellness"
04:43 "Eye-Opening Gym and School Experience"
07:44 "Proving Myself Beyond the DMV"
11:39 "Regretting High School Spanish"
16:13 "Schoolwork: Key to Success"
18:51 "SAT Struggles and Prom Sacrifice"
22:29 "Freshmen's Eye-Opening Gym Lesson"
24:31 "Fame's Unexpected Burden"
28:22 "Drinking to Cope with Crowds"
32:01 "Finding Belonging Through Reflection"
35:46 Disconnecting Mental Health from Sports
39:31 "Missed Opportunities Through Choices"
43:14 "Reflection on Athletic Underachievement"
46:42 "Resilience Gaps in Athletes"
48:31 "Think First Global Overview"
52:23 "Practice Leads to Improvement"
55:27 "Anxiety and Disconnection in Sports"

Welcome to another episode of Beyond The Game, where mental wellness meets real talk at the intersection of sports, performance, and life’s toughest moments. Host Phillip sits down with former NFL fullback, Super Bowl champion, author, and men’s health leader Heath Evans. Together, they dive deep into Heath’s journey from high school dreams to the relentless grind of the NFL, and the powerful life lessons he discovered along the way.
Heath Evans opens up about finding identity beyond the field, the power of asking for help, and why true strength isn’t just about winning championships but serving others and honoring your purpose.
They also explore the pressures facing today’s athletes—including the realities of NIL deals, the transfer portal, and the dangers of a quit-first mentality. Beyond football, Heath Evans shares how hitting rock bottom led to deep personal transformation, a renewed faith, and his commitment to supporting the fatherless through adoption and advocacy.
Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or just someone looking for inspiration on pushing through life’s hard seasons, this episode offers profound wisdom on resilience, mental health, purpose, and what it truly means to be built ready for life beyond the game.
00:00 "Keith Evans: Built for Purpose"
06:00 "Opportunity and Accountability for Men"
07:21 "Commitment Over Comfort in Sports"
11:12 "Impact of NIL on Coaching"
15:33 "Hard Builds Resilience"
18:02 "Purposeful Work and Worship"
20:10 "Struggles and Growth in Football"
24:23 "Team First, Self Second"
26:19 "Teamwork Over Individual Ambition"
32:13 "Redemption Through Hardship"
34:21 "Arrogance, Divorce, and Financial Reality"
38:23 Athlete Identity and Grief
40:46 Achievements Don't Satisfy Fulfillment
44:26 "Run to Jesus Together"
45:26 "Vulnerability and Support for Men"
50:07 "Built Ready & Life's Joys"
54:18 "Prioritizing Athlete Mental Health"
55:10 "Building Athletes Beyond Sports"

Welcome to another inspiring episode of Beyond The Game, where mental wellness takes center stage in the world of sports. Hosted by Phillip, a licensed clinical social worker, this episode dives deep into the resilience gap affecting athletes—the space between pushing through and breaking down where so many get stranded.
Joining Phillip are Keandre Jones and Keandre Jones II, both seasoned athletes and leaders who share compelling stories from their journeys—starting in high school, navigating the complexities of college athletics at powerhouse programs like Ohio State and Maryland, and exploring the emotional challenges faced during transitions to and from professional sports. Together, they tackle the importance of mental health, mentorship, and the power of community in shaping young athletes.
This episode features candid conversations about overcoming adversity, embracing vulnerability, and redefining what success means, on and off the field. Whether you’re an athlete, parent, coach, or anyone invested in the well-being of young performers, you’ll find thoughtful insights and practical takeaways to help close the resilience gap and foster lasting, positive change.
Tune in and discover why every athlete’s story is not just a part of their identity—it’s their superpower.

Former NFL First Round Draft Pick Marcus Smith II shares his raw story about mental health in sports, the pressure of professional football, and what athletes face behind the scenes that fans rarely see. In Episode 1 of Beyond The Game: Where Mental Wellness Competes, Marcus opens up about childhood anxiety, college football pressure, NFL expectations, identity loss after sports, and how untreated mental health struggles nearly cost him everything. This episode explores the growing crisis of athlete mental health, including anxiety, depression, burnout, and performance pressure at the high school, college, and professional levels. If you are an athlete, parent, coach, or sports professional, this conversation will challenge how you think about performance, toughness, and resilience.Topics Covered: Mental health in the NFL Anxiety and depression in athletes Performance pressure and burnout Identity crisis after sports Mental wellness and recovery Why the sports system must changeAbout Beyond The Game Podcast Beyond The Game is hosted by Phillip Reynolds, LCSW and powered by Copious Life Sports Initiative (CLSI). CLSI exists to close the resilience gap in sports by integrating mental wellness into athlete development and performance culture. Guest Information Marcus Smith II Former NFL First Round Draft Pick Founder of Circle of M Follow Marcus Instagram: @moneymarc91 Website: https://circleofm.com Follow CLSI Instagram: @clsi.life Website: https://clsi.life Mental Health Support If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, help is available. Call or text 988 in the United States to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.