Life Beyond Labels

In this episode of Life Beyond Labels, Kelsey sits down with entrepreneur, gym design expert, trainer, and overall top-tier human, John Damon, to explore what it truly means to pursue excellence in every area of life. From his journey of leaving a traditional career path to building high-performance gyms and training elite clients, John shares how intentionality, courage, and consistency have shap...

In this episode of Life Beyond Labels , Kelsey talks with Dr. Scott Lynch, a former Director of Athletic Medicine at Penn State, who shares his story of advocating for athlete safety. Dr. Lynch discusses the challenges he faced in prioritizing player health over coaching pressures and the systemic issues in college sports. He emphasizes the importance of speaking up against unethical practices and...

In this episode of Life Beyond Labels , Kelsey sits down with photographer Steve Whitsitt, who shares how his shyness inspired him to challenge himself and pursue photography as a way to connect with others. Steve reflects on his time in the military, the path that brought him into photography, and the personal growth he’s experienced along the way. Though he is often recognized for photographing...

In this episode of Life Beyond Labels , Kelsey sits down with Brenda K. Reynolds—international coach, TEDx speaker, and author—about navigating major life transitions and building resilience in uncertain times. Brenda shares how various life events (an unexpected divorce, the 2008 financial crisis, sending children off the college, and others) were the catalyst for her work on “transition fog.” Sh...

In this episode of Life Beyond Labels , Kelsey sits down with Tom Smalley, MS, CMPC, for a candid conversation about mental health, OCD, and turning pain into purpose. Tom opens up about his diagnosis with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and the impact it’s had on his life, including a time when he faced a toxic environment and bullying from coaches. Tom shares how he took that struggle and tu...

In this deeply heartfelt episode of Life Beyond Labels, host Kelsey O’Connor sits down with longtime family friend, Michele Doty. Michele shares how her world shifted when she was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer, but how she continues to show up with honesty, gratitude, and joy. Rather than being defined by her diagnosis, she talks about holding onto her identity, finding meaning (and mov...

Just because it ended differently than you expected doesn’t mean you failed. In this episode, we’re diving into navigating unexpected endings, especially when the ending feels like a failure. It’s hard to talk about what happens when the door shuts on a dream, goal, career, or relationship. What happens when you’ve done everything you can, but there’s no more pushing to be done? There is shame tha...

You know that feeling when you kick off the New Year with ambitious goals and an endless to-do list? Everything feels possible until life happens. One skipped step turns into two, and suddenly, you’re off track, wondering where the spark went. In this episode, Kelsey shares her personal New Year’s Eve practices, including TWO types of resolutions: writing vision letters to herself and creating ‘to...

In this episode of the Life Beyond Labels podcast, host Kelsey O'Connor interviews Rob Finkelstein, CEO and founder of Alumni Direct. Rob shares his journey from being a collegiate athlete to an entrepreneur, the challenges of transition when your kids no longer play sports, and the importance of building community through alumni connections. Rob shares insights on networking, the value of relatio...

Hi friends, in this episode, we will talk about a common topic that sounds easy and seems simple but can be hard to implement into our lives: staying present. In this episode, I’ll share personal anecdotes and strategies I use to appreciate the moment and incorporate mindfulness into my day when life seems to race by me. Categorizing these into 8 specific practices, I encourage you to listen, try...

The internet is filled with “how to” guides, but what if it isn’t that simple? In this episode, we’ll talk about why it’s important not to be discouraged by how-to advice that seems to hand all the answers on a silver platter. We’ll discuss the importance of recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to personal growth and success. Through a few personal examples, we’ll highlight the...

In this episode, Kelsey sits down with Sydney Supple. Sydney is infectiously energetic, strong, committed, and generously kind. She empowers others through her work in sports and storytelling.   Sydney Supple is a former D1 Softball player at Northwestern University and a current sports broadcaster. Kelsey and Sydney talk about Sydney's journey in sports, the importance of community and giving bac...

In this episode, Kelsey sits down with Marques Ogden. Marques is hardworking and motivated — he strives to inspire people through his positive mindset and powerful story. Marques Ogden shares how he went from living the dream as an NFL player and building a multimillion-dollar business to losing it all and rebuilding his identity and career. After overcoming failure and ego, Marques learned to emb...

In this episode, we dive into the idea that labeling our experiences can sometimes make us wonder if our best days are behind us. We challenge the whole concept of "the best years" by chatting about how we can look at our lives through a more balanced lens rather than just a lowlight or highlight reel. Your best days are not behind you, and, no, you’re not missing them! What to Expect: The expecta...

In this episode of Life Beyond Labels, we’ll talk about 10 practical ways to be kind to your mind, let go of the need for external validation, and improve your self-talk to improve your life. What to Expect: 10 ways to improve not only how you talk to yourself, but how you see yourself. The voice you will have to listen to the most throughout your life is your own. 10 Tips to Improve Self Talk Sta...

Welcome to Life Beyond Labels In our VERY first episode of Life Beyond Labels, we’ll explore what it truly means to be defined by more than just our external accomplishments, roles, jobs, or titles. While we often find ourselves influenced by things like our careers or relationships, this episode will focus on embracing our authentic selves and building our identity from the inside. What to Expect...