What The Hell Do I Do Now?

Suzi Vallez Sheldon is a former College of Charleston Cougar who reflects on her experience finishing collegiate soccer. Suzi speaks to the importance of putting your eggs in multiple baskets, and the power of exploring other identities. She highlights the value that each individual adds to a team, and that no matter how you get somewhere, it is important that you are there. Suzi currently resides...

This week on the podcast, Sarah Cardamone joins us to share her journey after leaving collegiate soccer. After completing her fifth year at the College of Charleston, she stayed in the sports industry, working in public relations for a professional soccer team. During COVID, she transitioned out of sports to become a financial advisor. Sarah reflects on how leaving collegiate athletics impacted he...

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Chelsea Gamble Hoffman! As a former lacrosse player, coach, mom, entrepreneur, and mentor, Chelsea shares her personal journey of transitioning out of competitive sports. She offers valuable insights and practical advice for student-athletes navigating life beyond the game—covering everything from entering the job market, to self-compassion, to leveraging...

This week on the podcast, we're thrilled to welcome Elle Truax! Elle joins us from Hood River, OR, to share her journey of retiring from competitive freeride skiing and discovering a new passion. Elle discusses how competition made a lasting impact on developing and refining her values. After stepping away from the sport, she channeled her creativity into hat-making—ultimately founding Björkstam H...

Dr. Bitsy Cairns joins us this week and discusses her journey leaving Rugby. After a stint with the US Women's National Team, Bitsy decided to hang the cleats up. She is now a chiropractor and living in Denver, CO with her husband. Bitsy is candid in sharing her experience leaving rugby, and how this has impacted her relationship with herself, her body, and her mind over the past couple of years.

Sarah Meister joins the podcast this week to share her experience leaving collegiate volleyball. After leaving Mizzou, Sarah pursued a career in public relations. Sarah talks about her decision to leave PR and in turn, pursue mental health counseling and become a therapist. Sarah lives and works in Chicago, IL, working with student athletes daily and helping to support their experience during coll...

Kelsey, former goalkeeper at the University of Mount Olive, joins the podcast this week!! Kels finished her soccer career and immediately went into graduate school to study athletic training. After an unexpected shift in her career expectations, Kels found herself in Crested Butte, CO. An avid snowboarder and worldwide traveler, Kels shares her experience leaving sport as well as the lessons that...

This week we are joined by Shawn McKinney, former Collegiate Offensive Lineman at the University of North Texas. Shawn is the current VP of Growth at Influxer , where he works with collegiate athletes on a daily basis, helping them navigate NIL contracts and deals while providing mentorship and support. In this episode, Shawn shares his experience leaving football, and the things that he wished he...

Allie Dacar is a former Stanford Women's Lacrosse Goalie who joins the podcast this week to share how she experienced her transition out of sports. Allie is a California native, but currently lives in Denver and enjoys all of the things Colorado has to offer. In this episode, Allie shares the lessons that she learned while playing lacrosse, what she did when she finished college, and how she conti...

Jill Ferraro joins the podcast this week. She is a Virginia native and former Tarheel and Duke Blue Devil. Jill has a unique story, one filled with massive change during her softball career. During this episode, Jill describes her experience starting her career at UNC Chapel Hill, and later transferring to Duke and finishing her career there. Jill discusses the role that her family as well as prev...

Christian Michner has been the head coach at the College of Charleston since 2010, where he returned to his alma mater. After retiring from professional soccer, mich jumped in head first into coaching. He has coached at University of Oklahoma and the University of Illinois before he found his way back to Charleston. During this episode, Mich provides insight about his experience following his play...

Isabelle Germano, originally from Saratoga Springs, New York, is a former coxswain for Northeastern University's women's rowing team. She graduated from Northeastern University in 2018. Izzy then decided to attend graduate school to become a therapist, now providing vital support to individuals navigating mental health challenges. In this episode, we explore Isabelle’s evolving relationship with h...

Sara Deutsch and Leah Sack (formerly Deutsch) are former collegiate athletes and sisters who played soccer at the College of Charleston, where Sara competed from 2015 to 2018 and Leah from 2017 to 2021. Known for their skill, leadership, and versatility on the field, they have since transitioned into impactful professional careers—Sara in marketing and communications and Leah in healthcare, focusi...

Shanna Caldwell is an accomplished soccer coach and former collegiate goalkeeper with over 15 years of coaching experience. Currently, she serves as the Associate Head Coach for the College of Charleston women's soccer program. Shanna previously led Texas A&M-Corpus Christi as the inaugural head coach, where she built the program from the ground up, and has held coaching roles at several unive...

Gianna Salanitro, a former collegiate swimmer at Colorado State University, brings her inspiring story to the podcast this week. As an athlete, Gianna experienced the rigorous structure and discipline that swimming provided, which became a foundation for her personal and professional life. Now a Real Estate Agent in Denver, CO, Gianna opens up about the challenges of navigating major life transiti...

Mary Rounce is a dedicated educator and former collegiate athlete with a passion for fitness, teaching, and community. She currently serves as a Physical Education teacher in Illinois, where she provides support and encouragement to both the students she works with as well as the teachers she works with. Mary’s athletic journey began on the soccer field. She started her collegiate soccer career at...

Andie Creel is a passionate advocate for the environment and a leader in fostering community connections. She began her collegiate journey as a cross-country athlete at Montana State University but decided after her freshman year to step away from the sport to pursue her deep love for the outdoors. During the spring of her freshman year, Andie co-founded Backcountry Squatters alongside her classma...

Chandler Frisbie is a former collegiate athlete who played softball at the College of Charleston, excelling as an infielder and bringing energy and skill to her team during her years on the field. Beyond her athletic accomplishments, Chandler has emerged as an advocate for mental health and self-discovery, using her experiences to help others navigate life beyond sports. Chandler discusses her cha...

Kooba Pardo, formerly known as Kooba Richard, is a former collegiate soccer player turned influencer and creative. She played soccer at Belmont Abbey College, where she made significant contributions to her team as a midfielder. She later pursued a master’s degree in Education at The Citadel, where she continued her soccer career. Kooba now channels her creativity through lifestyle and fashion con...

Nancy Creel is a dedicated dog trainer, outdoor enthusiast, and former collegiate athlete with a lifelong passion for animals and nature. A cross-country runner during her time at Bowling Green State University, Nancy's love for the outdoors has remained central to her life. As a mother of two, Nancy seamlessly blends her nurturing spirit with her expertise as a dog whisperer, specializing in herd...

Hannah Singer is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist who supports individuals facing eating disorders, body image issues, and mental health challenges. A former collegiate diver at Northwestern University, Hannah combines her athletic background with her expertise in mental health to offer a unique perspective on the intersection of sports, mental wellness, and recovery. As an advocate...

Kelly Siewers Paone, studied and played soccer for Elon University. Her career is shaped by resilience, adaptability, and growth. Facing the challenges of injuries, Kelly developed a deep sense of perseverance that guided her both on and off the field. Following her choice to medically retire, Kelly transitioned from player to coach. She embraced new leadership responsibilities, fostering teamwork...

Marie Zimmerman is a former NCAA Division I volleyball player who began her athletic and academic journey at Sacred Heart University before transferring to the University of Colorado Boulder. Now a corporate attorney based in Denver, she brings the same dedication and competitive edge from her sports career to her legal practice. As an attorney at Buchalter, Marie focuses on corporate transactions...

P.J. Rosowski is a former University of Wisconsin football player, where he contributed as a punter. After his athletic career, PJ transitioned into engineering, earning professional certifications as a P.E. (Professional Engineer) and CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management). He has since built a career in engineering and project management, bringing a disciplined, team-oriented mindset f...

Julia Dorsey began her athletic journey as a competitive volleyball player, playing at Sierra College and then Metropolitan State University of Denver. Now, she channels her passion for sports into coaching fitness classes where she inspires others on their fitness journeys. Outside the gym, Julia is an avid trail runner and outdoor enthusiast, finding joy in nature and the meaningful connections...