FIERCE Athlete Podcast

New month= new topic! On this episode of the Fierce Athlete Podcast, hosts Samantha Kelley and Julianna Dalton tackle the mental game. They explore how female athletes can harmonize their physical, mental, and spiritual health to fully embrace their God-given identity. Discover practical strategies to conquer failure, rewire negative thought patterns, and use body language to instantly boost your...

Time for a good film review session! This week we recap three months of life-changing insights on what it means to be a daughter of God in the world of sports. Moving beyond the "charge forward" mentality of an athlete, Sam dives back into the core pillars of identity, femininity, and the sacredness of the physical body. From the danger of defining yourself by your past to the "acti...

It's time to change. It's time to love our bodies. In this unique episode, host Sam Kelley gets practical and leads a transformative exercise aimed at healing self-image and overcoming the toxic cycle of body comparison and self-hatred. Designed specifically for female athletes, this "body scan" prayer is a tool Kelley has used for over a decade to shift her perception of her o...

Dealing with an injury is an inevitable, yet often ill-equipped, part of an athlete's journey. In this episode, host Sam Kelley shares seven transformative tips for those currently sidelined, drawing from her own experience of seven orthopedic surgeries. Whether you are facing physical injury, chronic pain, or even "injuries of the heart," this discussion offers a roadmap for integr...

Your body is not something to fix, you are someone to honor. Sam and Julianna continue talking about the Physical, and dive into exactly what that statement means and why. Reflecting on scripture and the nature of God dwelling in us, they give both theological and practical ways to honor the bodies that God gave us. If you struggle to treat your body well, if you struggle with stress, if you strug...

New Month = New Topic. The Physical. In this episode Sam and Julianna explore the intersection of physical identity and faith, focusing on how female athletes can integrate their physical, mental, and spiritual lives to honor God. They discuss the common struggles female athletes face, such as being reduced to physical measurements or facing pressure to conform to specific body types, which often...

Episode Summary: In this powerful follow-up conversation, Sr. Mary Grace and Sr. Zion Joy from the Sisters of Life return to explore the profound gift of femininity within the world of athletics. Often, female athletes struggle to reconcile their physical strength with their feminine identity, sometimes viewing the two as mutually exclusive. This episode deconstructs those misconceptions, illustra...

Sister Mary Grace and Sister Zion Joy from the Sisters of Life join the FIERCE Athlete podcast to discuss the intersection of athletics, femininity, and faith. In Part 1 of a 2-part series, both sisters share how their backgrounds in sports shaped their spiritual lives by teaching them the value of sacrifice, the drive for greatness, and the importance of having goals beyond worldly achievements....

In this episode of the Fierce Athlete Podcast, Sam Kelley and Juliana Dalton delve into the practical application of true femininity within the world of sports. Building on their previous foundational discussion, they explore the dichotomy between active receptivity and the "spirit of death" found in being closed off or self-focused. The conversation challenges common misconceptions abou...

Can femininity and competitiveness and faithfulness co-exist? Co-hosts Sam and Julianna explore this question as they shift to a conversation about femininity in sport. Today they explore the ways the feminist movement has shifted our view of women. They contrast the modern-day view and actions of women, to God’s actual design for women in our amazing femininity. They also discuss the need for tru...

We all want to compete more freely. In this episode, host Samantha Kelley welcomes back FIERCE coworker who is a former All-American swimmer and professional distance triathlete Rachel Zilinskas to delve into the concept of "running free". The discussion centers on a profound message Rachel previously wrote regarding true freedom, which she defines as being possible only when one allows...

Professional triathlete Rachel Zilinskas joins the FIERCE Podcast to share a gripping story about the core of athlete identity. She recounts her journey from being a two-time national champion swimmer at Georgia to navigating the brutal physical, mental, and spiritual demands of being an Ironman athlete. After overcoming a series of debilitating stress fractures just to make it to the starting lin...

How do the opinions of others—coaches, teammates, fans, and parents—shape who we think we are? In this episode, Sam and Julianna explore the dangerous temptation to define one’s self-worth based on external feedback rather than a God-given identity. They discuss the "fine line" between constructive athletic feedback and personal opinions that can destroy an athlete's confidence or w...

Episode Summary: Identity | Beyond Performance This is where we must begin. Who am I beyond my athleticism? In the season premiere of the revamped FIERCE Athlete Podcast 2.0, hosts Sam Kelley and Julianna Dalton dive deep into the concept of identity beyond the scoreboard.  Many athletes fall into the trap of defining their entire worth by performance, stats, or starting positions. But what happen...

The FIERCE Athlete Podcast is back - BETTER THAN EVER! With a FIERCE new studio, high quality video, new hosts, dynamic guests, wider content, and episodes dropping every week, FIERCE is here to walk alongside you in your athletic journey. If you are a female athlete, coach, parent, or fan- this podcast is for you- to help you THRIVE in your God-given Identity and Femininity. Meet your hosts Sam a...

“Sport is a means to develop the whole person”, and when coaches abuse this it can lead to long term trauma and effects. This is the story of Jennifer Sey, former national champion gymnast, who was the first to expose the wide spread abuse in women’s gymnastics. She joins Sam to discuss the lasting effects of abuse in sport, and also how we can fight against the current abuses in sport. You won’t...

Last episode of the FIERCE Athlete Toolbox, and all other episodes and growth lead to this one- Leadership. Sam, Danae, and Angel challenge you to take what you've learned and positively impact those around you. They discuss different leadership styles, what not to do, and make the point that living a Christian life allows you to embody all the  characteristics needed to lead. After all, Jesu...

“How we receive feedback can be empowering.” This week Sam, Danae, and Angel talk about a tool that can not only set you apart as an athlete, but lead to growth in all areas of your life- “being coachable”. We discuss, learning how to properly ask for feedback, how to graciously ignore bad feedback, and how to give feedback ourselves. Ultimately, this prepares our hearts to receive true coaching f...

Communication îs an art. Whether with a coach, teammate, parent, friend, or in the media, the way we communicate  through our tone, body language, and words, reveals a lot. As athletes, we need to hone this skill. Sam, Danae, and Angel discuss how our communication has the power to heal and make others feel like they belong and are worth listening to, but also how it has the power to be toxic when...

Ownership is essential not only to personal success, but also team success. This week we begin talking about elements of our toolbox that affect and involve others. Sam, Angel, and Danae discuss the importance of ownership to create a culture of trust, to navigate unforeseen circumstances, to discover your role, and to accept your reality. They get deep, warning us not to allow our ownership to im...

"If I have a peaceful, quiet soul, it is going to allow the rest of my life to be balanced and focus." When the game gets heated or comes down to the wire...how do we stay focused on the task at hand? Angel, Sam, and Danae discuss the best way to refocus our selves, our minds, and our tasks in order to reach our goals, especially amidst the many many distractions that vie for our attenti...

Join us as we jump back into our Athlete Toolbox- the attitudes and characteristics that will distinguish you as a player and person. While internal drive may get you out of bed in the morning, today we're talking about HOW you approach the workout, game, practice, and our sport. Yes- lets talk "Work Ethic". It is virtuous to work hard, to do everything in front of you to the best o...

Macy Petty was forced to play against a man in high school club girls volleyball back in 2019. Since then she has found herself becoming a leading advocate to protect women's sports. In continuing our mini-series on Fighting for Women in Sport, Sam and Macy discuss what has inspired her to step out in truth. You don't want to miss this very full and vibrant conversation that covers disce...

Paula Scanlan, former Penn swimmer and teammate of Lia Thomas, speaks to Sam about faith, courage, friendships, and what led her to come out as a public advocate. Given her unique and personal experience, she is currently fighting against biological men competing in women’s sports and violating women’s locker room spaces. Unique to this interview, Paula opens up about how she was let down by those...

Fighting for Women in Sport Podcast Series This SPECIAL Edition episode is a dialogue with decorated former collegiate athlete and women in sport advocate, Riley Gaines . Riley shares her personal experience of having to compete against a biological male, "transgender" individual, at the NCAA National Swimming Championships. Tune in to hear this riveting conversation about the hot button...