About Optimize Your Game, a Podcast from the University of Miami Sports Medicine Institute
The University of Miami Sports Medicine Institute is a trusted health care and research institution caring for active individuals, ranging from elite and youth athletes to weekend warriors. At the core, our mission is to help our patients perform at their best.
The Optimize Your Game podcast features conversations between the Sports Medicine Institute’s leader – Dr. Lee Kaplan – and various guests discussing the latest treatments, innovations, research, technologies, and lifestyle practices that are igniting optimal performance among elite athletes and other high-performers in our sphere.
From Barefoot Dreams to World Cup Glory: Miami Host Committee Legend Gilberto Silva on Preparation, Pressure, and the Power of Football
On this episode of Optimize Your Game, Dr. Lee Kaplan sits down with Miami Host Committee Legend Gilberto Silva, World Cup Champion, former Brazil National Team midfielder, Arsenal great, and FIFA Technical Study Group analyst.
Gilberto shares his remarkable journey from playing barefoot in a small village in Brazil, to working in a factory to help support his family, to earning one final chance at professional soccer — a chance that ultimately led him to the World Cup, the Premier League, and one of the most respected careers in the sport. Together, Dr. Kaplan and Gilberto explore what separates elite performers, and Gilberto reflects on the evolution of modern soccer performance, and why the mental side of the game is now as essential as nutrition, recovery, tactics, and physical training.
The conversation also celebrates soccer’s unique power to unite people across countries, cultures, and generations — and the deep meaning of representing your family, your hometown, and your country on the world stage.
24 Apr 2026
Leading Through Change: Donna Shalala on Leadership, Healthcare & What Comes Next
In this episode of Optimize Your Game, Dr. Lee Kaplan sits down with Donna Shalala—former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and past President of the University of Miami—for a conversation on leadership, resilience, and impact.
Drawing from decades of experience across education, government, and healthcare, Dr. Shalala reflects on the realities of leading complex organizations, staying closely connected to the communities you serve, and navigating decisions that carry long-term consequences.
She also looks ahead to the evolving role of artificial intelligence in healthcare—particularly its potential to improve patient outcomes.
This conversation offers a rare look at leadership from someone who has operated at the highest levels—and what it takes to lead with purpose in moments that matter most.
20 Jan 2026
The Miami Standard: Greg Mark on Hurricanes Football, Leadership and Building Champions
In this episode, Dr. Lee Kaplan sits down with Greg Mark, former standout defensive lineman and a longtime coach for the Miami Hurricanes.
Greg shares what it takes to build champions the right way—developing young men, demanding accountability, and putting team before self. He reflects on the football culture he was raised in - earning your role on the team through patience, humility, and distinct contributions - not entitlement.
The conversation also explores what Miami football has meant to him across decades as both a player and defensive line coach - offering a timeless perspective on leadership, legacy, and culture that transcends the game.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
4.3 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
63
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
50
Contact Optimize Your Game, a Podcast from the University of Miami Sports Medicine Institute
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Optimize Your Game, a Podcast from the University of Miami Sports Medicine Institute?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
