Summary

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On this episode, Bishoy has an open conversation with Ethan Zohn, the winner of the reality TV series, Survivor: Africa. Ethan is a soccer enthusiast who has played, coached, and managed across the globe and he is also most notably, a cancer survivor who bravely fought against two diagnoses within a short span of time. Ethan describes what it is like to have a survivor mindset and what kept him going in the face of life's most adverse moments. He talks not only about the physical toll of competing on the show and the years of treatment in his fight against Lymphoma, Ethan gets vulnerable in sharing the pits of his journey both mentally and emotionally and the toll of being in the public eye. Despite everything, Ethan survived by turning his woes into a source of positivity, he used his winnings from Survivor to fund Grassroot Soccer, an organization which has raised over $120 Million to date in efforts to support at-risk youth in developing countries. 

Ethan Zohn is a humanitarian, inspirational speaker and television host; former professional soccer player; cancer survivor and advocate; winner of the hit reality television show, CBS’s Survivor: Africa; contestant on season 40 of Survivor: Winners at War, author and inventor; and co-founder of the global non-profit, Grassroot Soccer. He has found purpose through his humanitarian work and community involvement, and believes that a better and healthier world can be achieved through education, advocacy and inspiration.

In 2002, Ethan used a portion of his Survivor: Africa winnings to help found Grassroot Soccer (GRS), an adolescent health organization that leverages the power of soccer to educate, inspire, and mobilize at-risk youth in developing countries to overcome their greatest health challenges, live healthier, more productive lives, and be agents for change in their communities. To date, the organization has reached over 18 million youth in over 60 countries with critical health information, access to health services, and mentorship. Ever the tireless and creative promoter, in 2008, Ethan embarked on a record-breaking 550-mile journey on foot, from Boston, MA to Washington, D.C., dribbling a soccer ball the entire route, to raise money and build awareness for GRS.

In 2009, as a fit, active, 35-year-old former professional soccer player who had traveled the world on behalf of the international health community through Grassroot Soccer, Ethan became an unlikely face of cancer. Diagnosed not once but twice with CD20+ Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in the span of several years, Ethan endured years of aggressive treatment, including two stem cell transplants. Never losing optimism, spirit, or humor despite extraordinary rigors and setbacks, Ethan used his journey and considerable platform to connect with others – young adults in particular – and offer much-needed inspiration, advice, and comfort. 

As demonstrated by his charitable work with various global and domestic health and wellness organizations, and community involvement Ethan believes his inspiration to help heal the world stems from being taught at an early age the importance of kindness, community and a connection to social goodness.

Ethan is a graduate of Vassar College, and he has played and coached soccer professionally in Zimbabwe, the United States, and as a member of the US National team for the 1997, 2001 and 2022 Maccabi Games in Israel and 2004 Pan-American Maccabi Games in Chile.

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