Athletes Beyond the Game

Olivia Arizin, D1 Track: Overcoming Performance Anxiety

This week, Olivia Arizin shares her journey as a college athlete, discussing her experiences with performance anxiety, the importance of mental health in sports, and the support systems that helped her navigate challenges. She emphasizes the significance of having a balanced identity beyond athletics and offers advice for athletes facing similar struggles. She discusses the importance of finding a balance between fun and intensity in sports, the tools she learned to manage anxiety, and the self-discovery process during her athletic career.
 
 
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Healthy Competitiveness and Finding Identity Outside of Sport

This week Julia and Sara are solo! They chat about finding a healthy relationship with their sport post-retirement, struggling with motivation, and a big life update.

Same Sport, Different Journeys: D1 Track & Field Twins Izze & Sofia Calabrese

In Athletes Beyond the Game this week, Julia and Sara kick off season two with D1 track athletes and twins, Sofia and Izze Calabrese. During the episode, Sofia and Izze get real about the realities of being a female athlete in a sport that focuses on weight. They talk about growing up with a twin in the same sport, body image, overcoming an eating disorder, and finding your new identity after retirement.

A Look Back at Season 1!

To close out season 1, Julia and Sara sit down and go over their top three moments in 2025 and what episodes really resonated with each of them. The flow of this episode is extremely casual. We would love to hear your favorite episodes or moments this season!
 
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WNBA Professional Basketball Player, Chelsea Poppens: How to Advocate For Yourself & Find Your Next Goal After Sports

Sara is flying solo in this week’s episode! She sits down with retired WNBA professional basketball player, Chelsea Poppins. They get into some of Chelsea’s most memorable moments from her career and how she learned to advocate for herself while dealing with injuries throughout her career. Chelsea also talks about her retirement journey, and how she was able to find new passions and an identity outside of athletics that helped her move forward with confidence. Chelsea played Division 1 basketball at Iowa State before continuing her professional career in the WNBA and various overseas professional teams throughout her career. After retiring in 2019, she has been doing it all. She is the COO of the branding and digital agency, DayCloud Studios, an ESPN+ color analyst for her alma mater, co-host of Champion This podcast, and creator of CKP athletics – a youth program that provides basketball training, mentorship, and life-skills development.

Michele Lowry, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Athlete Development Manager: How to Prepare for a Career After Sports

On this week's episode, Julia and Sara sit down with Michele Lowry, former D1 swimmer and D1 college swim coach turned US Ski and Snowboard Team Athlete Professional Development Manager. In her current role, she works with the US team’s athletes on developing themselves off snow and making steps towards preparing for post-athletic careers. 
In the episode, Michele recounts how she went from swimming to snowboarding and details ways athletes can create career opportunities for themselves while they are still competing. She gives practical advice for athletes to thrive outside of sport and highlights the many valuable skills athletes inherently have that employers want, even if you’ve never held a job before.

Miranda Holder: Former Rower & D1 Coach, Navigating a Career Ending Diagnosis

Julia and Sara are joined this week by Miranda Holder. Miranda rowed at Wellesley prior to taking on the head coaching position at Georgetown University. Listen in as Miranda discusses the trials and tribulations of her athletic career, as she diagnosed with a genetic heart condition which forced her to retire at 25.
 
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Olympian and Record-Breaking Triple-Jumper, Keturah Orji: Navigating Toxic Coaching and Knowing When to Retire

This week Julia and Sara catch up with 3x Olympic triple jumper, Keturah Orji. They talk about the behind-the-scene experiences of athletes at the Olympics and how to navigate toxic coaching environments. They also get into Orji’s decision to retire early and how to know when it’s time to retire from your sport.  
Orji is the first American woman in history to qualify for 3 consecutive Olympic finals in the triple jump, including a 4th place finish in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. She is a 10x US champion and the first American since 1974 to win 6 consecutive US titles in the outdoor triple jump. As a collegiate athlete at the University of Georgia, she was an 8x NCAA champion in multiple field events and was named the NCAA woman of the year and collegiate women of the decade. After a decorated career, she retired in 2024 after the Paris Olympics.
 
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Emma Spence: D1 Gymnast, 2x Olympic Alternate, Overcoming Adversity in your Sport & Struggles with Body Image

Julia and Sara are back this week talking with Emma Spence, a former D1 Gymnast at the University of Nebraska, and member of the Canadian National Team. Emma had a decorated career, becoming an alternate at both the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the Paris Olympics in 2024.
 
Listen this week as we dive into topics surrounding what it's like being an alternate, toxic coaching environments, and struggling with body image from a young age.
 
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Riley Tejcek: From D1 Softball to Marine Corps and USA Bobsledder

Julia and Sara sit down with Riley Tejcek, former D1 Softball player from George Washington University. During her college years, Riley also decided to join the Marine Corps, on top of being a student and an athlete.
 
Upon graduating, she joined the Marine Corps and transitioned into Bobsledding where she is a member of the USA National Team. Listen in while we go through Riley's career and her new book!
 
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