Sport: It is about so much more than just physical fitness. It is also excellent for your mental health and can provide you with a sense of belonging and community through being part of a team. This is why is it important that everyone has access to being able to play a sport, regardless of their gender or sexuality. In today’s episode we will delve into the benefits of playing a sport, but also what we can do to make it more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community.

Our guest today is Jason ball, one of the first openly gay Aussie Rules players in Australia which was a game changer in this hyper-masculine sport. He’s been named Young Australian of the Year for his advocacy work in promoting equality for LGBTQ+ players, and has undertaken ambassador roles with Beyond Blue, the Safe Schools Coalition, the Victorian Pride Centre, and the Human Rights Arts & Film Festival, just to name a few! In this episode, he will share with us why it was initially difficult to accept his sexuality and his journey of coming out, and what we can do to make it easier for others to share their true identity both at home and at work.

In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions:

0:00 - Intro
2:10 - How Jason Ball got started in playing professional sport
3:55 - The benefits of playing sport on your mental health 
6:50 - The role of diet on your physical and mental health 
8:10 - How to deal with pressure when playing professional sport 
10:30 - Why Jason's sexuality initially caused him to leave his sporting career 
14:30 - What made Jason finally come out with his true identity 
20:55 - How to deal with a negative response when coming out
23:35 - The unique mental health challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community 
25:30 - How to reduce discrimination towards the LGBTQ+ community
28:35 - What is needed to create a more inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community 
33:04 - How can one be an ally? 
36:15 - How do we know we have created an inclusive society?
38:55 - Why is representation important?
41:30 - What is toxic masculinity?
45:00 - How to challenge gender stereotypes
47:06 - When should LGBTQ people seek professional help and what are available services in Australia?
50:30 - What has Jason learnt about managing stress and negative emotions?
52:45 - What is Jason's one message to those who are questioning their identity and their allies
54:00 - What is Jason's one wellbeing practice

Learn more about Jason here:
https://jasonball.com.au/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjasonball/

Learn more about Clearhead:
https://www.myclearhead.com/