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.

Join us this week as Michael and Charles talk sports - Woo Sox, Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, and Revolution, Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games Experience, and interview Lumene "Lightning" Montissol with a "live" Lightning Round. 

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.

Join us for the Play Unified Podcast as Mike and Charles talk sports, Special Olympics and share an interview with Mark Fleming of Equally Fit in Tampa Florida. 

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.

Please allow Mike and Charles to reintroduce themselves. Join us for the Play Unified Podcast as we sit down with Auburn's Anita Griffin. 

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.

Please allow Mike and Charles to reintroduce themselves. Join us for the relaunch of the Play Unified Podcast. 

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. 

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!

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. 

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.

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?

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  

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.

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.

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. 

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/ 

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/ 

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!!

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!

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.

Matt Grimes and his coach Jennifer Walsh stop by for the Special Olympics Massachusetts Podcast re-boot and discuss their time spent at the 2016 NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified game which took place during the NBA All Star weekend in Toronto, Canada. You’ll never guess who recognizes Matt in the hotel lobby after the game and gives him a huge shout out! Matt recounts the selection process and why this experience was so important to him. 

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.

In Episode 5, we get to speak with Susan Senaor, a writer, activist, and the mother of three boys. Her oldest son Nat was diagnosed with autism at the age of three in January 1993. Nat is a Special Olympics Massachusetts athlete.

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.

In Episode 4, we speak with Katie Pratt, who is running the 2014 Boston Marathon with Team Special Olympics Massachusetts. She was injured in the marathon bombings of 2013, and like many who were affected that day, she's showing the world at this year race what it means to be Boston Strong.