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Jimmy Gavin’s path took him from crushing self-doubt and a life-changing health diagnosis in high school to seven seasons of pro basketball across Europe, through a humbling tech-sales gig, and now into a leadership role directing sports initiatives. Along the way, he discovered that raw honesty, relentless hustle, and a tight-knit support crew can flip every “end” into the start of something even bigger.

In this episode, we talk about:

- Ego vs. Teammate: Why Jimmy’s drive to build himself up sometimes clashed with coaches and peers, and how he learned leadership by first becoming a follower

- Early Adversity: How Crohn’s diagnosis and a family tragedy wiped out his high-school basketball dreams, then sparked a comeback that led him to JUCO, Division I, and NBA workouts

- Pro Life Abroad: Rookie jitters in Lithuania, adapting to European training (yes, judo at dawn), and finding his true role by leaning into his strengths

- End of the Court: Health complications that forced him to hang up his sneakers, and the therapeutic 50,000-word manuscript he penned to capture that “roar of the crowd” feeling

- Tech Sales Wake-Up Call: What it’s like to swap the hardwood for CRM dashboards, discover you’re not great at it, and question your sense of self all over again

- Friends as Coaches: How three brothers who trained alongside him helped Jimmy rediscover his passion, with one impromptu coaching gig reigniting his energy and sense of purpose

- New Venture: From late-night book drafts to joining Goldfinch Capital as Director of Sport Initiatives, and why relationships, responsiveness, and being the best follower can unlock unexpected doors

- Career-Transition Advice: The single most practical tip Jimmy offers young athletes, show up, stay responsive (yes, reply to that coach’s text), and treat every next thing as the most important thing you have

💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:

"Give it everything you’ve got, even if you’re ‘the least qualified person in the room’—that irrational belief will at least get you through the door.”

Loved the episode? Drop us a review & share your biggest takeaway!

Ready to explore your own second act after sport? Connect with Ryan Gonsalves and the 2NDWind Academy to discover how your athletic experience can become your professional advantage here: www.2ndwind.io

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In this episode Ryan sits down with Lexi Chambers, an adaptive athlete who has shattered expectations and set multiple world records—all while using a standard NHS wheelchair. After a below-the-knee amputation due to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Lexi refused to let disability define her. Instead, she turned to endurance sports, becoming the first person to wheel from John O’Groats to Land’s End (1,500km) in an everyday wheelchair. Now, she’s preparing for 10 ultramarathons in 10 days (50km/day) and an even bigger challenge: wheeling coast-to-coast across the USA (5,000km) in 2027.

Lexi shares her journey of resilience, how sport became her therapy, and her mission to inspire others to embrace movement—no matter their circumstances.

What You’ll Hear

- Lexi’s life-changing CRPS diagnosis, amputation, and why she refused to hang up her athletic dreams

- How a kitchen “test spin” led to her first world record and eventually wheeling John O’Groats → Land’s End in a standard NHS chair

- The surprising role of extreme training as pain therapy and mental escape

- Balancing a punishing training schedule, gruelling winds, and 4 am starts—plus the “test weeks” that make or break prep

- Building and motivating a novice event-planning crew to pull off “impossible” challenges

- Lessons learned fundraising hundreds of thousands, nailing keynote speeches, and embracing vulnerability on stage

- Upcoming feats: 10×50 km ultramarathons in 10 days for Rugby World Cup charity, then a 5 000 km coast-to-coast across the U.S.

- Lexi’s simple message to anyone doubting themselves: you never know what you can do until you try

Ready to rethink your limits? Tune in and get inspired to take that first (or next) rotation.

💎 Memorable Quotes:

• "The NHS told me I’d ‘grow into’ my wheelchair. I decided to prove them wrong."
• "Pain is my constant companion, but it doesn’t get to dictate my life."
• "Nobody believed a standard wheelchair could do these distances. Now they know it can."
• "If you wait for the ‘perfect’ conditions, you’ll never start. Just go."

Need career clarity?

Connect with Ryan Gonsalves and the 2NDWind Academy to discover how your athletic experience can become your professional advantage here: www.2ndwind.io

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What happens when an 8-year-old’s Olympic dream doesn’t pan out? For Jess, a former elite taekwondo and boxing athlete, it meant reinventing herself—twice—while battling concussions, identity crises, and the harsh realities of transitioning out of sports.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

- How a diagnosis of low muscle tone led her to taekwondo, and why she became the kid opponents feared
- The brutal truth about combat sports: why concussions in taekwondo went unchecked for years
- Her shocking career pivot: from taekwondo to boxing (and why she almost became the first Aussie to compete in both at the highest level)
- Why she traded kicks for contracts: how a law degree became her backup plan (and turned into a passion)
- The loneliness of elite sports: missing friendships, "normal" uni life, and why athletes struggle post-retirement
- Her new mission: building "Next," a platform helping athletes navigate life after sports

💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:
"It’s okay to grieve your sport. It’s a loss. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise." – Jess

WHO SHOULD LISTEN?
✔ Athletes thinking about life after sports
✔ Anyone facing a major career pivot
✔ Coaches/parents supporting young competitors
✔ Fans of underdog stories & personal reinvention

Loved the episode? Drop us a review & share your biggest takeaway!

Ready to explore your own second act after sport? Connect with Ryan Gonsalves and the 2NDWind Academy to discover how your athletic experience can become your professional advantage here: www.2ndwind.io