After the Game

In the final episode of After the Game, the roles are reversed as Damyon Traylor steps in as host to interview the creator of the podcast, Jailyn Green. A former Piedmont competition cheerleader and sports communications major, Jailyn takes a seat on the other side of the mic to reflect on the journey that inspired the series and the reality of stepping into life after sports. Centered around the...

In this episode of After the Game, I sit down with Kiki Howard, a graduate student at Piedmont University, former competition cheerleader, and now a first grade teacher, to talk about what it really looks like to step into the next chapter of life. Kiki shares her journey from the structure and identity of being a collegiate athlete to navigating the uncertainty that comes when that chapter ends....

This week, host Jailyn Green sits down with former Piedmont University competition cheerleaders, Gracie and Hannah Johnson, to talk about the pressure of performing under the spotlight, where every move is judged and every mistake feels magnified. They open up about what competition cheer is really like behind the scenes, the intensity, the mental preparation, and the weight of knowing you only ge...

In episode 9 of After the Game , I sit down with Brook Patton, a graduate student at Piedmont University and former collegiate tennis player, to talk about what happens when the recognition fades and the routine of being an athlete comes to an end. We dive into the reality of transitioning out of college sports, the loss of structure, the shift in identity, and the emotional side of no longer comp...

In Episode 8 of After the Game, I sat down with Christopher Belin, a senior at Piedmont University, a former Piedmont men’s soccer player, and a film production major for a conversation about identity beyond athletics.  Together, they discuss the transition many athletes face when their playing career ends and the routines, roles, and identity tied to sports begin to change. Christopher shares his...

In Episode 7 of After the Game , host Jailyn Green sits down with Emma Scroggs, a senior at Piedmont University, former Piedmont competition cheerleader, and biology major. This episode centers around the theme “The Injuries Nobody Sees,” focusing on the mental and emotional challenges that often go unnoticed in athletics. Emma reflects on her journey as a college cheerleader and shares what it wa...

In Episode 6 of After the Game , host Jailyn Green sits down with Silas Sandles- former Piedmont mens tennis player and currently an undergraduate admissions adviser at Piedmont, for an honest conversation about the reality of life after college athletics. Centered around the theme “Winning Didn’t Change Anything,” the episode explores the pressure athletes feel to succeed and the realization that...

In Episode 5 of After the Game , we dive into the tension between ego and humility, and how both shape leadership long after the final whistle blows. Featuring senior and former Piedmont University soccer player James Cooper, this conversation explores what it truly means to lead when the locker room is gone and the spotlight fades. James reflects on his journey from being a competitive college at...

In Episode 3 of After The Game , we sit down with former Piedmont basketball point guard, current grad student, and athletic trainer, Nae Nae Eades, for a real and reflective conversation about identity beyond performance. As a former point guard, Nae Nae understands the pressure of leadership, expectations, and living game to game. Now stepping into new roles beyond the court, she shares what it...

In Episode 4 of After the Game , we sit down with senior Bailee Nolan, former Piedmont University cheer alum, for a powerful conversation about the quiet build-up of burnout, and what happens when the warning signs go ignored. Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It builds in the early mornings, the pressure to perform, the injuries you push through, and the expectations you place on yourself. Bailee...

In Episode 2 of After the Game , host Jailyn Green sits down with Julia Ludwick to talk about the mental weight athletes carry and how expectations can shape, and strain, identity. Julia shares her experience transitioning from Division I at Cincinnati to Division III at Piedmont University, opening up about the anxiety, pressure, and mental adjustments that came with the shift. Together, they unp...

Join Jailyn Green in the very first episode of After the Game as she sits down with junior Sarah Crook for an honest conversation about life after putting her cheer shoes away. From identity shifts to navigating what comes next, this episode dives into what happens when the game ends, but the journey continues.