Hoops & Health

Tara VanDerveer & Karlie Samuelson: The Importance of Holistic Health in Women’s Basketball | EP04

2026-10-2047:37

In this episode of the Hoops and Health podcast, the focus shifts to the women’s game, connecting the medical clinic to the basketball court. Host Dani Langford is joined by one of the most influential figures in basketball history, Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer. Retiring in 2024 as the winningest coach in basketball history, Tara spent nearly four decades at Stanford University, leading teams to three national championships and 14 Final Fours.Joining Tara is her former player, Stanford alumna and current WNBA player Karlie Samuelson. Together, they explore the renowned “sisterhood” culture built at Stanford, the intense mental and physical challenges of catastrophic athletic injuries, and the profound importance of medical staffs prioritizing an athlete’s holistic health.

Kevin Loopeker & Kait Jackson: Vision, Biomechanics, And Sensory Systems | EP03

2026-10-2041:09

In this episode of Hoops and Health, we go far beyond the box score to explore the complex, real-time systems that drive athletic performance. We are joined by two incredible experts who study performance from distinct but overlapping perspectives: Kevin Loopeker, a sports optometrist from Vancouver, and Kait Jackson, a biomechanist currently researching at the University of Texas in Austin.Together, they bridge the gap between vision and biomechanics. From the autonomic nervous system’s impact on a late-game free throw to how eye dominance dictates shooting mechanics, this conversation is a must-listen for players, coaches, and practitioners who want to understand the true science behind a basketball shot.

Shaun Livingston & Tommy Sheppard: Resilience, Elite Rehab, and the Business of Basketball | EP02

2026-10-2001:04:24

In this deeply inspiring episode of Hoops and Health, we bridge the gap between the front office, the training room, and the court. Dani sits down with three-time NBA Champion Shaun Livingston and veteran NBA executive Tommy Sheppard.Tommy kicks off the episode by sharing his unique front-office journey—spanning over three decades from the Denver Nuggets to General Manager of the Washington Wizards—and explains why building "relationship equity" is the most crucial skill in the league.The conversation then shifts to Shaun Livingston’s incredible story. Shaun takes us back to being drafted fourth overall out of high school in 2004, the mentorship he received from league veterans, and the devastating, career-altering knee injury he suffered in 2007. Shaun provides an incredibly raw look at the mental toll of rehabilitation, the challenge of competing in a "1-on-0" battle against his own body, and what it took to finally feel 100% again six years later. The episode wraps with a legendary story about a 1-on-1 game against Sam Cassell that saved Shaun's career, and essential advice for the next generation of athletes navigating the business of basketball.

Enda King: Decoding Anterior Knee Pain, Elite Rehab And The "20% Outliers" | EP01

2026-10-1951:43

In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome one of the absolute GOATs in the sports medical community, Enda King. Recorded just as Enda was wrapping up his incredible tenure at Aspetar in Doha, this conversation is packed with clinical pearls for physical therapists, athletic trainers, and sports medicine professionals.Dani and Enda swap stories about their shared educational roots in the grueling (but highly rewarding) master’s program at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and how the “Curtin Way” shaped their clinical reasoning. Enda also gives us a sneak peek into his upcoming keynote presentation at the Summer League Sports Medicine Series in Las Vegas.The core of this episode is a masterclass in differential diagnosis and treatment of anterior knee pain in elite athletes. Enda breaks down exactly how he approaches patellofemoral, patellar tendon, and quadriceps tendon pain, why you should care about the “20% outliers,” and how to navigate the intense schedules of professional basketball players.

Enda King: Decoding Anterior Knee Pain, Elite Rehab And The “20% Outliers” [Ep.01]

2026-08-1451:42

In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome one of the absolute GOATs in the sports medical community, Enda King. Recorded just as Enda was wrapping up his incredible tenure at Aspetar in Doha, this conversation is packed with clinical pearls for physical therapists, athletic trainers, and sports medicine professionals.Dani and Enda swap stories about their shared educational roots in the grueling (but highly rewarding) master’s program at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and how the “Curtin Way” shaped their clinical reasoning. Enda also gives us a sneak peek into his upcoming keynote presentation at the Summer League Sports Medicine Series in Las Vegas.The core of this episode is a masterclass in differential diagnosis and treatment of anterior knee pain in elite athletes. Enda breaks down exactly how he approaches patellofemoral, patellar tendon, and quadriceps tendon pain, why you should care about the “20% outliers,” and how to navigate the intense schedules of professional basketball players.

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