In this deeply personal episode of Naked Sports, Cari starts by honoring her grandmother, the woman whose love shaped your life in ways words can barely hold. Her passing is fresh, and the grief? It’s heavy. This episode is for her. For you. For anyone who’s carried that weight and still found the courage to speak. Cari reflects on how this podcast has become a place where she can step away from the polished TV persona and speak honestly, with vulnerability and truth. And that’s exactly what she does in today’s episode.

With the grace of the community, a new connection was formed during Cari’s recent visit to the vineyard this summer. Dr. Akua Boateng is a licensed psychotherapist and emotional wellness coach who helps Cari to unpack the complexities of grief, especially for high-functioning individuals. She shares how grief looks different for everyone and reminds us that ambition doesn’t cancel out the need for emotional care.

Together, they touch on how collective traumas like COVID-19 reshaped us, how athletes and high achievers carry hidden weight, and why healing in community is everything. Dr. Boateng’s words land like balm:

“Grief is the body and mind’s way of responding to the absence of love.”
“We are hurt in relationship, and we heal in relationship.”

The conversation is layered, healing, and exactly the kind of dialogue that helps move through pain with purpose.

Connect: @CariChampion@DrAkuaBoateng

Learn More: DrAkuaBoateng.com

In this deeply personal episode of Naked Sports, Cari starts by honoring her grandmother, the woman whose love shaped your life in ways words can barely hold. Her passing is fresh, and the grief? It&rsquo;s heavy. This episode is for her. For you. For anyone who&rsquo;s carried that weight and still found the courage to speak. Cari reflects on how this podcast has become a place where she can step away from the polished TV persona and speak honestly, with vulnerability and truth. And that&rsquo;s exactly what she does in today&rsquo;s episode.
With the grace of the community, a new connection was formed during Cari&rsquo;s recent visit to the vineyard this summer. Dr. Akua Boateng is a licensed psychotherapist and emotional wellness coach who helps Cari to unpack the complexities of grief, especially for high-functioning individuals. She shares how grief looks different for everyone and reminds us that ambition doesn&rsquo;t cancel out the need for emotional care.
Together, they touch on how collective traumas like COVID-19 reshaped us, how athletes and high achievers carry hidden weight, and why healing in community is everything. Dr. Boateng&rsquo;s words land like balm:
&ldquo;Grief is the body and mind&rsquo;s way of responding to the absence of love.&rdquo; &ldquo;We are hurt in relationship, and we heal in relationship.&rdquo;
The conversation is layered, healing, and exactly the kind of dialogue that helps move through pain with purpose.
Connect: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carichampion/?hl=en" data-outlook-id="63aec26d-d988-48f4-9f00-59169ea00d09">@CariChampion</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drakuakboateng/" data-outlook-id="5171732f-5af8-4b3c-92f0-dc11ae837e51">@DrAkuaBoateng</a>
Learn More: <a href="https://www.drakuaboateng.com/" data-outlook-id="fd707b5a-a089-44d5-8a69-196098b6caa5">DrAkuaBoateng.com</a>

NAKED SPORTS lives at the intersection of sports, politics, and culture. It is a niche groundbreaking interview-based show that dives deep into the lives of the game-changers who have helped shape our world. We explore how sports are interwoven not only into their personal lives; but the role they play in the global experience.  NAKED SPORTS is hosted by Cari Champion, a trailblazing broadcast journalist and television personality renowned for her pioneering contributions to sports media for women.

In each episode, this distinguished host sits down with, a diverse array of athletes, politicians, and cultural innovators who have left an indelible mark on their fields. Through intimate, unfiltered conversations, the show reveals the raw and vulnerable sides of their journeys—peeling back the layers to explore the defining moments, personal struggles, and transformative experiences that live at the intersection of sports, culture, and politics.

These conversations are thematically linked to live at the intersection and on this new season of NAKED SPORTS, we begin with a six-part docu-series, The Making of a Rivalry: Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese, in which Cari questions how this “rivalry” started. Does the necessity for success depend on a foil? In a time of divisiveness, are sports—more specifically the WNBA—a reflection of our country? Or will the greatness of two supernovas unite this country and heal race relations?

NAKED SPORTS guests will span varied backgrounds, providing diverse perspectives as we examine how sports play a crucial role in nearly every aspect of life.

Connect: @CARICHAMPION 

NAKED SPORTS lives at the intersection of sports, politics, and culture. It is a niche groundbreaking interview-based show that dives deep into the lives of the game-changers who have helped shape our world. We explore how sports are interwoven not only into their personal lives; but the role they play in the global experience.&nbsp; NAKED SPORTS is hosted by Cari Champion, a trailblazing broadcast journalist and television personality renowned for her pioneering contributions to sports media for women.
In each episode, this distinguished host sits down with, a diverse array of athletes, politicians, and cultural innovators who have left an indelible mark on their fields. Through intimate, unfiltered conversations, the show reveals the raw and vulnerable sides of their journeys&mdash;peeling back the layers to explore the defining moments, personal struggles, and transformative experiences that live at the intersection of sports, culture, and politics.
These conversations are thematically linked to live at the intersection and on this new season of NAKED SPORTS, we begin with a six-part docu-series, The Making of a Rivalry: Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese, in which Cari questions how this &ldquo;rivalry&rdquo; started. Does the necessity for success depend on a foil? In a time of divisiveness, are sports&mdash;more specifically the WNBA&mdash;a reflection of our country? Or will the greatness of two supernovas unite this country and heal race relations?
NAKED SPORTS guests will span varied backgrounds, providing diverse perspectives as we examine how sports play a crucial role in nearly every aspect of life.
Connect: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carichampion/?hl=en">@CARICHAMPION&nbsp;</a>

Naked Sports with Cari Champion

NAKED SPORTS lives at the intersection of sports, politics, and culture. It is a niche groundbreaking interview-based show that dives deep into the lives of the game-changers who have helped shape our world. We explore how sports are interwoven not only into their personal lives; but the role they play in the global experience.  NAKED SPORTS is hosted by Cari Champion, a trailblazing broadcast journalist and television personality renowned for her pioneering contributions to sports media for women.
In each episode, this distinguished host sits down with, a diverse array of athletes, politicians, and cultural innovators who have left an indelible mark on their fields. Through intimate, unfiltered conversations, the show reveals the raw and vulnerable sides of their journeys—peeling back the layers to explore the defining moments, personal struggles, and transformative experiences that live at the intersection of sports, culture, and politics.
These conversations are thematically linked to live at the intersection and on this new season of NAKED SPORTS, we begin with a six-part docu-series, The Making of a Rivalry: Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese, in which Cari questions how this “rivalry” started. Does the necessity for success depend on a foil? In a time of divisiveness, are sports—more specifically the WNBA—a reflection of our country? Or will the greatness of two supernovas unite this country and heal race relations?
NAKED SPORTS guests will span varied backgrounds, providing diverse perspectives as we examine how sports play a crucial role in nearly every aspect of life.
Connect: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carichampion/?hl=en">@CARICHAMPION </a>

What Does Grief Look Like On and Off the Court? with Dr Akua Boateng

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3de0592d-42c6-4a30-9f14-b34a0104c528/transcript

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