What if therapy didn't require sitting still? In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, host Kyle King sits down with Shanea Calhoun, founder of Therapy in Motion, an organization built on purposeful movement, human connection, and inclusive wellness. A Division I triathlete turned entrepreneur, Shanea shares how her love of movement became a model for meeting people exactly where they are — serving individuals with autism, Down syndrome, TBIs, and dementia through adaptive, creative, connection-first care.

The conversation goes beyond the work itself. Shanea opens up about the moment she went from being the resource to needing one, why healing is a slow and personal staircase, and how her own therapy is watching the people she serves thrive. It's a candid look at purpose, resilience, and taking care of yourself with the same rigor you pour into everyone else.

In this episode

• The origin of Therapy in Motion and why it looks beyond traditional therapy
• What makes the program unique: serving lower-functioning populations from age three to dementia care
• Behavior as communication — learning to listen to what someone can't say in words
• The early challenge of standing out, and the current challenge of finding staff with the heart for the work
• Shanae's background as a University of Pittsburgh triathlete and how sport shaped her leadership
• The story that keeps her going: moving to North Carolina and becoming the one in need of a resource
• Advice for entrepreneurs running low on passion — prayer, mentorship, and remembering your "why"
• How Shanea defines healing, and why it looks different for everyone
• Why the work is her own therapy
• What she's running toward vs. running from as a leader
• What's next: the nonprofit arm, Sports Motion in Learning

Key takeaways

• Meet people where they are — don't make them fit your program.
• Everyone can move, everyone can communicate something, and everyone needs connection.
• At any moment, the person serving can become the person in need. Lead with that awareness.
• Healing is a continual, step-by-step journey, not a quick fix.
• Take care of yourself with the same care you give others — you deserve it, and it's possible.

Memorable moment

"Life is a staircase… eventually you'll get to the top — not society's top, but their top."

About the guest

Shanea Calhoun is the founder of Therapy in Motion, which delivers therapeutic recreation, movement, cognitive activities, and purposeful connection for individuals with diverse needs. She is also building the organization's nonprofit arm, Sports Motion in Learning, aimed at expanding inclusive, adaptive wellness into sports and community settings.

Connect with Shanae

• Instagram: @therapyinmotion_LLC
• Facebook: Therapy in Motion
• Personal: Shanae Calhoun

Follow the show

If this episode moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it. And go support Therapy in Motion — be a supporter, not just a watcher.

The energy you bring is the culture you create.