You Created Champions, Not Politicians | Episode 440

You Created Champions, Not Politicians | Episode 440

The brightest moments in sport are built in the dark: early alarms, empty rinks, and the thousandth run-through no one sees. That’s why the first words after an Olympic performance matter. We open up about what belongs on the mic—craft, gratitude, and the story of how you got there—and how to honor personal beliefs without letting them eclipse the reason the world is listening.

We share a ground-level view of practice that reshaped our respect for the Games, from figure skaters drilling sequences to athletes managing nerves between sessions. Then we tackle the tension many feel at the podium: represent your country with pride while holding complex views about it. Our take is simple and firm. Lead with the event, the team, the coaches, the support system, and the mental health tools that kept you steady. If you have a cause, signal where the deeper conversation will live—long-form interviews, pressers, or your own platform—so the message finds its audience without shrinking the shared moment.

You’ll hear why gratitude is powerful PR and good citizenship, how to turn a thirty-second interview into a masterclass on preparation, and why unity belongs on a stage designed to bring rivals together. We draw on perspectives from past champions and our own mission around mental health to map a path that respects athletes, fans, and the flag they carry. It’s not about silence; it’s about sequence and respect for the arena that gave you the mic.

If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more conversations that put craft and care first, and leave a review telling us what you think belongs in those first few words after the finish.

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Chapter Markers

0:00 Welcome And Mission

0:34 Support And Global Reach

1:57 Setting Up The Olympics Topic

3:04 What Interviews Should Center On

6:47 Seeing The Grind Behind The Games

8:23 Stay On Topic At The Mic

12:10 Oksana Baiul’s Perspective

13:40 Time And Place For Issues

16:06 Gratitude To Country And Team

18:34 Uniting Over Division

20:27 Closing Thanks And Donation Info

#ChampionsNotPoliticians #LeadershipDevelopment #Empowerment #InspireChange #ChampionMindset #TransformativeLeadership #PositiveInfluence #justiceforsurvivors #VoicesforVoices #VoicesforVoicesPodcast #JustinAlanHayes #JustinHayes #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #VoicesForVoices440

Transcript

Welcome And Mission

Justin Alan Hayes, Voices for Voices 0:02

Hi everyone, it's Justin here, Voices for Voices. Thank you so much for joining us on today's show. We're grateful to have you with us on this, and our over 430 episodes in our catalog, in our portfolio of the Voices for Voices TV show and podcast. Thank you so much for being with us. You can do us a big favor, give us a big thumbs up, like, follow, subscribe, share. Those are all free things to do. And if you can do this, this would also be fantastic if you can reach out to 25 of your uh contacts in your phone and let them know about the voices for voices TV show and podcast. We're number three only to the Joe Rogan experience and the Dan Bongino show. Uh, so we're quickly rising. Uh, and we're just very grateful to be where we're at with a uh a small staff, uh, but we have big messages and uh helping people uh help us reach people and help people in over 300 countries, we're over 100 countries and over 3,000 cities, we're already over a thousand cities, and then the huge overarching goal is to uh reach and help at least 3 billion people over the course of my lifetime and beyond. Uh so welcome, whether you're here in the United States or you're somewhere uh outside the United States across the world. Thank you so much for being with us today. So, today's show uh we're going to be talking a little bit about the Olympics. Uh, we had a previous show about the Olympics, but uh this one is uh is a little bit different. Uh this really gets to the heart of competition, it gets to the heart of uh all right, let's just jump in. I I I I need to just say it. Uh so if if you're an athlete, you go to the Olympics. You that means you and others, even if you don't make it to the Olympics, you've poured your heart and soul and your whole being into trying to make it to the Olympics over the course of years and hours and hours and hours of training. And then you finally you make it to the Olympics to compete against the best in the world based off of qualifications, and then you win a medal, and you are asked questions and interviews, and this is really kind of a two-parter here. We're gonna talk about so you ask questions, so you're in interviews, so that's nothing new. Now, what you say or what a person may say, that's what we're talking about. Okay, we're not here to we're not here to judge, we're just here to bring up conversational pieces that might resonate with individuals. The first is you bring up, you're being interviewed, and I say you, I don't mean you specifically. The individual individuals who uh made it to the Olympics, earned a medal, maybe didn't earn a medal, maybe just about participating and making it. And you're being asked questions about how it feels to be an Olympian, to represent your country, and the first thing that comes up, and this is just this is just my opinion, this is our opinion. You know, thanking God should be one of the first things that is said uh when somebody asks questions. We've seen Drake May from the New England Patriots, although they lost the Super Bowl, still gave gave the glory to God for making it to the Super Bowl, for just making it in general. And then the winning coach from the Seattle Seahawks and American Football League, uh head coach American football, uh, when he was being interviewed after the Super Bowl, that's what he said. He said, you know, God put me here to do this thing, and I'm doing this, and I did this, and I'm gonna continue. Those are big things. So I would juxtapose, which basically just means alternatively, we have the Olympics, and we have people being asked questions. And the first thing that comes to mind is somebody's agenda. Meaning the athlete you know has an agenda, what they want to talk about. Now, I'm not saying you can't you can't talk and share about what just occurred, whether that was earning a medal or not, or just being an Olympian. Being an Olympian, this year I think it really struck me more than others of how much how much work and how much practice goes into being an Olympian. For instance, I was watching, I was flipping the channels, and these are individuals that already made it to the Olympics. And so not every channel is a specific and a specific event. Some of it is practice, and so figure skating was one of the uh one of the events being being practiced. Uh for what I saw, it was uh you know, individuals that were, you know, because they can do you know, couples and uh and that. And so what I saw were individuals and they were going through their routines over and over and over and over again. So it's not like those individuals made it to the Olympics, and then they're like, all right, I'm here, and then I do my event. Yeah, that that's what it looks like to the to the world, to the general public and dignitaries. Because that's usually what we just see on on TV or we hear on the radio. Uh so that was that caught me off guard just a little bit because I I didn't realize I I thought that somebody qualifies to make it to the Olympics. I knew there was probably some practicing going on, but I actually got to see it this time. So I have a whole new perspective on that of how much work that goes into it. So let's skip back to the post. Let's go back to the interview room. And questions are being asked of how's it feel, and the first thing comes to mind is an athlete's agenda. Now, I'm not saying we can't talk about it, that's not at all what I'm saying. That would be the opposite of voices for voices. What I'm saying, and what we're recommending, is the reason that you're on, not you, but you get what I'm where I'm going. The reason why that individual is being asked those questions at the Olympics is for the work that they've done for the event or events. So they could be in one event, they could be in many events. So it's that hard work that got them there. And so when they're being asked a question, it should have everything to do with that event, the preparation, uh how it felt to finally make it, and then individuals decide to toss in politics, toss in their own agendas on other areas. Again, I'm not against any of that, but there's a time and a place. And well, I'm we're human. But I mean, I remember growing up and just being taught like what like what are you working on? It's like it's like growing up and going to school and uh getting a hundred percent on on an exam, and the next best highest grade was like an 80%. And so maybe maybe the teacher, maybe the professor, maybe somebody asked, like, how'd you do it? Like, is there is there something you could share um with the class? And I'm not gonna go and just start talking about my agenda about politics and all that. Doesn't make sense. I'm gonna talk about how I got how not how I got 100%, but how I performed at the level that I did, or that you did. And a lot of that's probably gonna have to do with well, I studied and I did this and I did that. You're not gonna bring bring up politics and you know other social issues to use the uh use use your platform for for that. And I read and saw a post by one of our past guests, Oksana Bayul, uh, gold medalist figure skating, and that was what she brought up. She said, the reason the reason you're actually at that interview table or you're on that podium has very little at that moment to do with politics or other issues, that all can come later, that all can come later. But if an event like skiing or figure skating, I mean, if the event is mental health, well, of course you're gonna talk about mental health. If the event is um political science or you know, debating on you know political topics or other social issues, that's one thing, of course you're gonna talk about those issues, those topics. That just is bonkers to think that you wouldn't in that case, however, when you or I are at an event or the Olympics, and the first thing that comes out of our mouth is, well, I'm not really sure how I feel about wearing this flag on my jacket, on my clothing, or to represent this country this country, or to bring up social issues. You didn't get there because of social issues. Did they play a part? Maybe not saying they didn't play a part, but there's a time and a place. There's a time and a place, and that's the part that we're really trying to just share that this is next level, okay? So a lot of what we talk about is it's all next level, but this is just another half a level above that. So a lot of what we talk about is next level, is we're bringing in things that have helped us and or hurt us, and and we're trying to make amends and and and talk about this topic and that topic. But we're about mental health. Voices for voices is about mental health. So if I get asked a question, I'm most likely gonna bring up mental health because that's what I'm doing, that's what we're doing. Whether it's a book, whether it's a TV show, whether it's a podcast, whether it's a movie, whether it's a song, whatever it may be, I'm probably gonna bring up mental health. Because that's what I'm known for. That's what voices for voices is known for. And if people aren't sure, well, that's what voices for voices is known for. The main foundation is mental health, mental illness. Full stop. So it makes sense in those cases to share and talk about mental health, mental illness, how'd you get started? Why'd you get started? It's all gonna reverberate and it's all gonna go back to mental health. Now at the Olympics, when the whole reason that you're even being asked a question instead of sitting at home, like 99.999999% of people that you qualified against, and you're gonna sit or stand and talk about the politics and social issues. How about just talking about make it to making it to the Olympics? How about talking about how your practice has gone or how how your your event has gone, you know, if it's a team sport, if it's uh an individual sport, it makes sense to talk about those things. But to bring up politics like, well, I'm not really sure how how I feel, that's okay. A lot of us don't know how we feel about certain certain things, but I'd also add in who paid for your flights, who paid for your hotel, who paid for your food? It's the country. And I bring this up, and this is I think one of the reasons why we're so popular is b across the world, and that is I've been to a lot of countries, I've been to a lot of different areas across the world, and every single country, territory, city I've been to, there's a sense of happiness of being of locals being a part of that community or that country. Doesn't mean they have to agree with things politically and social agendas and all doesn't mean that doesn't mean that they can't have thoughts and ideas not at all at the end of the day though, they're representing their home country, their home city, their home state, territory, province. And so when we come when we're talking about the Olympics and these athletes who want to use, you know, this pedestal and spout off about things that like they didn't get to the Olympics because they were they were experts in politics and experts in social issues. They got there because of how well and how they competed and how they qualified for a particular event or events, and so I think it's important for all of us to think about that. I know you most of us were I'll speak for myself. Oh my god, speak for ambush. I'm probably never gonna make it to an Olympics, okay? But if I'm asked the question, if I'm being interviewed as I have been hundreds of times, a lot of what I'm gonna talk about is mental health, and that's because that's what's really just saved me. God saved me for some reason, and that's what we're doing. We're talking, we're sharing. We're not saying you can't have a voice about political issues, social issues, but I go back to the a theme of there's a time and there's a place when you're at the Olympics because you made it all the way through qualifications for an event or many events, and when you're being asked questions, you answer. Based off of again the practice, how happy you are to be afforded the opportunity to compete at the Olympics. You don't have to say a whole lot. Nobody says you have to go on and on and on and on and on. If you do that, you just gotta make sure what you're saying, and this is also a public relations issue that we're talking about. We talk about the topic that's being like why we're here. I'm not talking like why God has us here. I'm talking like, why am I sitting at this table being asked questions in Milan, Italy, Cortina, Italy, at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Why am I here? Is it because I again I'm an expert in politics and so that's what this show's about. Be gracious. Show some gratitude for the country that you're representing. If you want to talk about other things, talk about other things at other times. You don't talk about social issues, and mental health can be huge. You can touch on it, but you don't have to you don't have to get into the whole whole thing. And just say, you know, hey, that you know, there's more to come. I'm gonna be sharing more on areas that I felt help me at a different time. It you're you're you're there. These athletes are coached to to on how to speak publicly. And like Oksana Bayol said, I I agree with the reason you're at the Olympics as an athlete is because of your athletic ability, and you're there to represent a country. So if you're not happy representing a particular country, then move. Move to a different country, then if it's that big of a if it's that big of a deal that you gotta bring it up and you can't, you just can't wait to say your bit, then move. Very similar to shows. If you don't like a show, turn on a different one. You don't like a movie, turn on a different one. You don't like the country that you're living in, move to a different country. We love you still the same. We still give you the opportunity to share your voice. But at that very moment when you're being interviewed at the Olympics after an event, we talk about the event, we talk about representing whichever country we're representing. And if we don't we don't think that that's we don't feel that way, then again, move. Move somewhere where you're happier. We want people to be happy, we don't want people to be sad, we don't want people to be upset. Because all that all that's doing is rallying up people. And voices for voices, as you know, unites people. We bring people together, togetherness. We don't divide. So if you're gonna use a stage that big at the Olympics, should be about uniting. Countries that don't get along, they get along for the most part at the Olympic Games. Because it's not about the politics at the Games, it's about performing. That's what they're there for. They're there to perform in their events or event and they're representing their country. If they don't they don't like that country, then they they have all the all the things that they don't like, then they can they can move. So thank you, Oksana, for that that quote. Uh it's a heavy topic to talk about. On the surface, it seems easy, but it's really a hard topic to really really go after. But it is a it is a topic. Uh nonetheless. And so that's why we felt and feel the importance of doing a show on it. So thank you for joining us. If you're able to give us a big thumbs up, like, follow, subscribe, share, reach out to 25 contacts on your phone, share the Voices for Voices TV show and podcast with them, let them know over 430 episodes. There's at least 30 or 40 or 50 episodes, at least, that you and your contacts and your social media following will find enjoyable. And if you're able to, we are a 501c3 nonprofit charity. You can donate all your donations in the United States. You'll have to check your own country's uh stance on donating to charities. I just don't know because we have so many countries that are following us. Um I just don't I don't know every single country's what their code is. Uh but in the United States, we're able to, if we donate, all of your donations are 100% tax deductible federally. If you're able to, you can head on over to lovevoices.org, lovevoices.org, lovevoices.org. That's spelled out l-o-v-e v o i c e s dot or g. We thank you for being with us. If this is your first show, or you've been with us from the beginning, we're sending support, love your way. You don't have to be a believer like we are, but we're still gonna send good vibes your way. You can never have too many good vibes, and so I'm Justin Alan Hayes, Voices for Voices. Let's celebrate all the voices in the right arenas, and let's be a voice for not only ourselves, but somebody else in need. Take care, we love you.