Inspira | Erika Mueller Chen – Details, episodes & analysis

Erika speaks to Mercedes about her SDP insights across Latin America and the Middle East, and her goal as an IOC Young Leader to facilitate sports for protection activities for migrant children.

Elena Mercedes Haro is a former member of the Women’s Saber National Fencing Team of Guatemala. She holds a Master’s degree in Sports Management and a Bachelor’s in International Relations. Her goal is to generate transformative change in and through sports to accomplish both social and economic development goals in Latin America. Mercedes is currently an active IOC Young Leader, and works in the development sector in Jordan.

Through her IOCYL project, "Talento en Movmiento" (Talent on the Move), Mercedes aims to facilitate sports for protection activities for migrant children to support their psychosocial well-being, especially if they have suffered from family separation or have been returned abruptly to their home country. Additionally, these sports activities will support the inclusion of women or youth in income-generating opportunities.

Mercedes' LinkedIn, Instagram, IOCYL Profile

Erika’s LinkTree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/erikamchen⁠

Resources:

1. IOC Young Leaders Program
2. Right to Play in Jordan
3. Generations for Peace
4. Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
5. Fencing for inclusion in Singapore
6. Olympic Refugee Foundation
7. Rising Phoenix film
8. International Platform on Sport and Development aka Sportanddev
9. GIZ Resources & GIZ Learning Lab
10. German Sport University Cologne

Episode Info:

• Episode recording date: October 24, 2022.
• See Erika’s LinkTree for episode transcript.
• “The Podcast Intro” by “Music_Unlimited” was retrieved from Pixabay. ⁠Licensor's Username⁠ and Licensee Username - erika_mueller.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed by the Guests of the Inspira Podcast do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of any Agency of the United States Government, or any organization public or private.

Erika speaks to Pauline about her experiences as an IOC Young Leader, and how she founded Beyond Sport_Kenya - a youth-led project in Rift Valley part of Kenya that works towards advocating for and promoting gender equality in and through sports.

Pauline Msungu is a football player in the Kenyan Women Premier league and a youth ambassador for the Bundesliga Youth Ambassadors’ project in Kenya. She studied Bachelor of Commerce, Purchasing, Supplies Chain Management, and Procurement, from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. Pauline is passionate about football and gender equity and believes that sport is a powerful tool that creates positive social impact. Her ideal world is one where human rights are protected regardless of age, gender and sexual orientation. As an IOC Young Leader, Pauline founded Beyond Sport _Kenya, which is a youth-led project in Rift Valley part of Kenya that works towards advocating for and promoting gender equality in and through sports. Through football coaching mentorship, and community led development, the project aims to develop a more inclusive community where both genders are treated equally regardless of their social status, age, gender and/or sexual orientation.

Pauline’s LinkedIn & IOCYL Profile

Erika’s LinkTree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/erikamchen⁠

Resources:

1. Beyond Sport_Kenya Website, Instagram, Facebook
2. IOC Young Leaders Program
3. streetfootballworld now known as Common Goal

Episode Info:

• Episode recording date: March 16, 2023.
• See Erika’s LinkTree for episode transcript.
• “The Podcast Intro” by “Music_Unlimited” was retrieved from Pixabay. ⁠Licensor's Username⁠ and Licensee Username - erika_mueller.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed by the Guests of the Inspira Podcast do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of any Agency of the United States Government, or any organization public or private.

Erika speaks to Dr. Rochelle about her experience entering SDP from a Nursing and Development Studies background, the missing literature in SDP from and for indigenous voices, whose voice counts as knowledge, and how we can indigenize the sector.

Associate Professor Rochelle Stewart-Withers has tribal links to Ngāti Rāhiri Hapū o Te Ātiawa. Prior to academia she was a Registered Nurse for 16 years, holding a number of senior clinical, leadership and advisory positions at the District Health Board and Ministry of Health levels. She is also Deputy Chair of the Board of the New Zealand Mental Health Foundation. Rochelle is now Head of Programme for the Institute of Development Studies at Massey University. Development Studies at Massey is ranked in the Top 50 Development Studies Programmes globally according to QS Ranking. Rochelle's research focuses on the way sport is used in developing countries, and with Indigenous populations, to achieve social and economic goals and bring about social justice. She is interested in Indigenising this space. Outside of work she is mum to five young people. 

Rochelle's ⁠LinkedIn⁠  

Erika’s LinkTree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/erikamchen⁠

Resources:

1. Indigenous Sport for Development
2. Sport for Social Change With Aotearoa New Zealand Youth: Navigating the Theory–Practice Nexus Through Indigenous Principles (2019)
3. An examination of an Aotearoa/New Zealand plus-sport education partnership using livelihoods and capital analysis (2020)
4. Journal of Sport for Development - Indigenous Voices Special Issue coming soon
5. International Platform on Sport and Development aka Sportanddev

Episode Info:

• Episode recording date: March 7, 2023.
• See Erika’s LinkTree for episode transcript.
• “The Podcast Intro” by “Music_Unlimited” was retrieved from Pixabay. ⁠Licensor's Username⁠ and Licensee Username - erika_mueller.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed by the Guests of the Inspira Podcast do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of any Agency of the United States Government, or any organization public or private.

Erika speaks to Rahul about the importance of sustainable funding streams, social business, and enlisting leaders within the sector from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Rahul Bissoonauth is an experienced commercial director who has led strategy and fundraising projects for hundreds of diverse-led organizations and nonprofits across the UK and around the world. Clients have included the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, UEFA, Magic Bus, TAFISA, Beyond Sport, and several other award-winning organizations in sport and the wider charity sector. Rahul is currently the Chief Commercial Officer at Yunus Sports Hub, a Board member at the Football Foundation - the largest grant-maker in sport - and the Postcode Lottery Trust, and an Investment Committee member at UnLtd - the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs. Previously, Rahul spent 10.5 years as the Director of Business Development at Oaks Consultancy - a leading strategy and fundraising agency in sport for development. During that tenure, he also served as the Interim CEO at Magic Bus UK office for one year.

Rahul’s LinkedIn  

Erika’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/erikamchen

Resources:

1. Yunus Sports Hub
2. Global Esports Federation partners with Yunus Sports Hub
3. Oaks Consultancy
4. Fundraising in SFD State of the Sector Report by Oaks: Third Edition (2022-2023) & Second Edition (2021)
5. Oaks YouTube - “Fundraising in Sport for Development” series (2021-2022)
6. Football Foundation UK
7. People's Postcode Lottery
8. Magic Bus UK
9. Skateistan
10. KLABU
11. Kick4Life

Episode Info:

• Episode recording date: November 4, 2022.
• See Erika’s LinkTree for episode transcript.
• “The Podcast Intro” by “Music_Unlimited” was retrieved from Pixabay. Licensor's Username and Licensee Username - erika_mueller.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed by the Guests of the Inspira Podcast do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of any Agency of the United States Government, or any organization public or private.

Erika speaks to Suheil about creating the social enterprise Pro Sport Development, and how PSD has shifted mindsets in India through sport. 

Suheil F. Tandon is the Director-Founder of Pro Sport Development (PSD), an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to utilizing sport for the holistic development of young people. Suheil specializes in the sport and development field, with particular expertise of working with diverse groups of young persons. He has a professional background in sports management and coaching, with more than 12 years of professional experience. Suheil believes in the power of sport in catalyzing social transformation, and has led the conceptualization and initiation of several sport and development projects across India on behalf of Pro Sport Development. Suheil has an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Economics from McGill University, Canada and a postgraduate degree in Sport Management from Loughborough University, UK. He attributes developing a passion for sport while completing his schooling from the world-renowned Woodstock School in Mussoorie, India.

Suheil’s LinkedIn

Erika’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/erikamchen

Resources:

1. Pro Sport Development
2. Review of the Sport for Development Landscape in India (2022)

Episode Info:

• Episode recording date: March 13, 2023.
• See Erika’s LinkTree for episode transcript.
• “The Podcast Intro” by “Music_Unlimited” was retrieved from Pixabay. Licensor's Username and Licensee Username - erika_mueller.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed by the Guests of the Inspira Podcast do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of any Agency of the United States Government, or any organization public or private.

Erika speaks to Joanne about how she has nourished professional relationships to open doors, what it was like to be on the front lines when Colin Kaepernick took a knee, and the role of professional athletes' voices to advocate for social justice.

Joanne Pasternack is a philanthropic strategist who, over the past two decades, has galvanized community engagement with internationally recognized brands including the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, ServiceNow, City of Mountain View, and Special Olympics. As the President and CEO of Oliver+Rose and Co-Founder of Athletes’ Voices, Joanne works with professional athletes, entertainers, philanthropists, and executives to amplify impact and inspire change around their areas of passion.

Previously, Joanne spent twelve seasons leading philanthropic efforts for professional sports franchises, serving as Vice President, Philanthropy and Executive Director of the charitable foundations for the Golden State Warriors and the San Francisco 49ers. Joanne studied at the University of Pennsylvania (BA), Santa Clara University (JD), and Stanford GSB (EPNL) and is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown, University of San Francisco, and the SEIC program. Joanne is former professional ice skater, and a vocal advocate for gender parity, inclusion, LGBTQIA+, and, in memory of her father, Bruce Pasternack, research around younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Joanne’s LinkedIn & Instagram

Erika’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/erikamchen

Resources:

1. Oliver+Rose
2. Athletes' Voices, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Student Fellowship Program
3. Athletes in transition seek new purpose - The Atlantic (2023)
4. Sports & Entertainment Impact Certificate
5. Sport at the Service of Humanity
6. Special Olympics
7. Lakeshore Foundation
8. Positive Coaching Alliance
9. Figure Skating In Harlem
10. Angel City Sports
11. Patrick Willis

Episode Info:

• Episode recording date: September 20, 2022.
• See Erika’s LinkTree for episode transcript.
• “The Podcast Intro” by “Music_Unlimited” was retrieved from Pixabay. Licensor's Username and Licensee Username - erika_mueller.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed by the Guests of the Inspira Podcast do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of any Agency of the United States Government, or any organization public or private.

Erika speaks to Dr. Nico about becoming a SDP researcher when the sector was burgeoning, the importance of supporting students, benefits of co-design in programming, and the usefulness of events to achieve social development.

Dr. Nico Schulenkorf is a Professor of Sport Management at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. He is passionate about using sport as a vehicle for community development and his research focuses on the social, cultural and health-related outcomes of sport and event projects. For more than two decades, Nico has been leading sport-for-development and health promotion programs in countries such as Sri Lanka, Israel and the Pacific Islands. He is co-founder and past editor of the Journal of Sport for Development.

Nico’s LinkedIn

Erika’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/erikamchen

Resources:

1. Journal of Sport for Development
2. International Platform on Sport and Development aka Sportanddev
3. The Contributions of Special Events to Sport-for-Development Programs (2016)
4. Moving beyond disciplinary silos: The potential for transdisciplinary research in Sport for Development (2022)
5. Social Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Sport for Development and Peace (2022)
6. Innovations in 'Sport for Development and Peace' Research (2020)
7. SMAANZ Webinar Recording: Introduction to Sport for Development (2017)
8. Routledge Handbook of Sport and COVID-19 (2022)

Episode Info:

• Episode recording date: October 25, 2022.
• See Erika’s LinkTree for episode transcript.
• “The Podcast Intro” by “Music_Unlimited” was retrieved from Pixabay. Licensor's Username and Licensee Username - erika_mueller.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed by the Guests of the Inspira Podcast do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of any Agency of the United States Government, or any organization public or private.

Erika speaks to Dr. Lin about her experiences as a practitioner in Kenya, her global policy work, earning her Masters in Sustainable Peace through Sport in Monaco and her PhD in Preventing Violent Extremism Through Sport, and staying her authentic self whilst navigating these different spaces.

Dr. Lin Cherurbai Sambili-Gicheha is the Project Manager, Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) within the Commonwealth Secretariat and actively contributing to the research, design and development of practical, sport-based interventions and policies that promote sustainable peace, build resilient communities and create safe inclusive spaces for individuals and young people participating in sport.

Lin holds a PhD in Sociology of Sport from Loughborough University with a particular focus on Sport for Development in Preventing the spread of Violent Extremism (SDPVE). Lin graduated from the International University of Monaco (IUM) in 2013 with a Master’s degree in Sustainable Peace through Sport (MSPS). Prior to obtaining her Master’s degree, Lin worked with the United Nations in New York with the Department of Political Affairs (Electoral Assistance Division) and was a UN Volunteer with the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP) where she provided technical and operational support on various initiatives and high-level forums on sustainable development. Lin is also a director with Sports with a Goal Africa (SWAGA) that uses sport to reach, connect and empower.

Lin’s Linkedin & Twitter

Erika’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/erikamchen

Resources:

1. Sports With A Goal Africa (SWAGA) Facebook, LinkedIn, sportanddev
2. The Commonwealth Sport for Development
3. Peace and Sport
4. Massive Online Open Course (MOOC)
5. International Platform on Sport and Development aka Sportanddev
6. Measuring the contribution of sport: Commonwealth, Sportanddev, Toolkit & Model Indicators, Sport & SDG Indicators

Episode Info:

• Episode recording date: February 10, 2023.
• See Erika’s LinkTree for episode transcript.
• “The Podcast Intro” by “Music_Unlimited” was retrieved from Pixabay. Licensor's Username and Licensee Username - erika_mueller.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed by the Guests of the Inspira Podcast do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of any Agency of the United States Government, or any organization public or private.

Erika speaks to John Luke about the importance of MEL, migration and displaced populations, how sport has been used to traffic athletes, and reporting burdens in international aid.

John Luke Chua hails from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, and is currently a MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning) practitioner in the counter-trafficking field. His academic background is in sport science and sociology. John Luke is hugely interested in the realities of migrant and displaced populations in Southeast Asia, and its social and political dimensions. He has a great belief in the potential of sport as a holistic tool for social inclusion, and is passionate about bringing sport-based interventions and development initiatives closer together. John Luke serves as the Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace Network EXCO-Asia Regional Focal Point. He is also the Co-Host of the Sporting Spirit Podcast which examines current issues in sport that polarize public opinion, with a focus on its social and political dimensions.

John Luke’s LinkedIn

Erika’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/erikamchen

Resources:

1. The Sporting Spirit Podcast Website, Instagram, Twitter
2. Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace Working Group (CYSDP)
3. Mission 89
4. Winrock International
5. International Platform on Sport and Development aka Sportanddev
6. Loughborough University BSc Sport and Exercise Science
7. German Sport University Cologne MA in International Sport Development and Politics
8. University of Brighton
9. University of Malaya
10. Malaysia Tourism Board
11. Rhymes with Reason

Episode Info:

• Episode recording date: August 23, 2022.
• See Erika’s LinkTree for episode transcript.
• “The Podcast Intro” by “Music_Unlimited” was retrieved from Pixabay. Licensor's Username and Licensee Username - erika_mueller.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed by the Guests of the Inspira Podcast do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of any Agency of the United States Government, or any organization public or private.

Erika speaks to David about his experiences at the grassroots level in Africa and as a funder in Sweden, as well as what he views as the branding dilemma in the sector.

David Given-Sjölander is a freelance consultant and strategic advisor specializing in social impact and in particular the intersection between sport and social change. Originally from Ireland, David has collected over 15 years’ experience working with organizations ranging from grassroots organizations to international NGOs, from social enterprises to the United Nations, and has supported or directly worked with over 150 social impact projects around the world.

During a 7-year tenure at the Swedish Postcode Foundation he led the Foundation’s work within the sport for social change sector in both Sweden and globally, managing a funding portfolio totaling over €15 million. During that time, he led the creation of the Swedish Sport for Social Change Coalition and managed partnerships with global leaders in the sport for social change movement.

David’s LinkedIn & Twitter

Erika’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/erikamchen

Resources:

1. Swedish Postcode Foundation
2. Sport for One Humanity & UNAOC
3. International Platform on Sport and Development aka Sportanddev
4. Massive Online Open Course (MOOC)
5. GIZ Resources & GIZ Learning Lab
6. Sustainability Report
7. Newsletters from Laureus, Beyond Sport, Women Win, Common Goal, Skateistan, Sport for Development Coalition
8. UN General Assembly passes new resolution
9. UK Sport & IDEALS
10. Cruyff Institute
11. Comic Relief
12. Women Win Onside Fund

Episode Info:

• Episode recording date: December 8, 2022.
• See Erika’s LinkTree for episode transcript.
• “The Podcast Intro” by “Music_Unlimited” was retrieved from Pixabay. Licensor's Username and Licensee Username - erika_mueller.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed by the Guests of the Inspira Podcast do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of any Agency of the United States Government, or any organization public or private.