Purpose After Sports

Lawson Hall shares his journey from a young football enthusiast to a college athlete, and now an entrepreneur helping student-athletes transition into the workforce. Discover insights on athlete mindset, overcoming injuries, and leveraging sports skills for career success.

Barb Smith shares her journey from college athlete to coach and entrepreneur, highlighting the importance of self-awareness, fit, and strategic planning in the college recruiting process. Discover practical advice for athletes and families navigating the complex world of sports recruitment and college selection.

Kendall shares her journey from high-level soccer athlete to life after sports, highlighting the importance of identity, faith, and finding new passions. This episode offers insights into overcoming mental and physical challenges, leadership lessons, and embracing growth beyond athletics.

Bella shares her journey from college softball player to coach, highlighting the behind-the-scenes work, the importance of passion, and how athletes can navigate their sports careers and transitions effectively.

Former athlete Shawn Lee shares his journey from football to comedy, highlighting resilience, grit, and the importance of embracing change. Discover how he overcame adversity, shifted his mindset, and found purpose beyond sports.

In this inspiring interview, Grace Telepak shares her journey from college basketball to becoming a strength and conditioning coach, overcoming injury, and embracing her identity beyond sports. Discover her insights on resilience, mentorship, community, and redefining success in fitness and life.

In this episode of Purpose After Sports, Mikki O’Neal sits down with former professional basketball player Olivia Nash to talk honestly about the athlete journey, from early competition to college basketball, playing professionally overseas, and the emotional reality of stepping away from the game. Olivia opens up about her competitive nature, the highs and lows of college athletics, navigating pr...

Former Division I softball athlete Chanel Schweer joins Purpose After Sports to talk about life after competition, athlete identity, bodybuilding, mental health, and learning to find balance beyond sport. This episode is an honest conversation about pressure, purpose, and evolving as an athlete and a person.

Zach Cummings’ journey is the definition of perseverance. In this episode of the Purpose After Sports Podcast, Mikki O’Neal sits down with former college basketball player and creator Zach Cummings to unpack the real story behind the highlights. Zach opens up about losing his mother to cancer at 12 years old and how basketball became his therapy, the one place he could breathe when life felt too h...

In this episode of the Purpose After Sports podcast, Mikki O’Neal sits down with Tex McQuilkin, a former Division III lacrosse player turned strength and conditioning coach, speaker, and leadership educator. Tex shares his journey from athlete to transformational coach, breaking down lessons on leadership, self-discipline, and purpose beyond sports. He opens up about how relationships shape great...

In this episode of the PAS podcast, host Mikki O’Neal sits down with Erica Curry, a licensed therapist and former Division I athlete, to explore the often-overlooked side of the athletic journey, mental health and identity beyond sport. Erica shares her story of transitioning from gymnastics to diving after a career-ending injury and how that experience shaped her path toward becoming a therapist...

In this episode of the PAS Podcast, Mikki O’Neal sits down with Alan Stein Jr., former basketball performance coach, keynote speaker, and bestselling author — to unpack the mindset strategies that help athletes and leaders thrive. Alan shares lessons from working with some of the game’s best, from the power of discipline and repetition to seeing feedback as a gift. He breaks down the Next Play men...

In this episode of Purpose After Sports, Mikki O’Neal sits down with Bailey Ortega, former LSU volleyball player, to talk about her athlete journey, mental health, and what life looks like beyond the game. Bailey shares what it was like growing up in a sports family, her transition from basketball to volleyball, and the challenges of competing in college athletics. She opens up about the impact of...

In this episode of the Purpose After Sports podcast, we sit down with Addison Stoller, former Division I basketball player turned Functional Health and Human Performance Coach. Addison shares her journey of leaving the game, finding her voice, and the critical role of vulnerability in unlocking growth. She opens up about the challenges athletes face in transition, why being vulnerable is a strengt...

From playing Division 1 softball at Dartmouth to becoming a college strength & conditioning coach, Tessa Grossman shares her powerful journey of resilience, transition, and growth. She opens up about facing burnout, the impact of COVID-19 on her career, and the very real mental health struggles that athletes experience after leaving their sport. Tessa also reflects on building an intentional c...

In this episode, Nicolle Skoien shares her journey from being a Division 1 basketball player to becoming an academic advisor and counselor for student-athletes. She discusses the challenges faced during her athletic career, the importance of preparing for life after sports, and how the DISC assessment can enhance team dynamics. Nicolle also addresses current issues in the athlete community, includ...

In this episode, Mia shares her journey from being a Division I volleyball player at Ohio State University to transitioning into independent wrestling. She discusses her early love for volleyball, the challenges of injuries, and the mental resilience required to navigate life after sports. Mia emphasizes the importance of finding new passions, the unique bond with teammates, and how gratitude shap...

In this episode of Purpose After Sports, we sit down with Delaney Taylor — former softball player at Drake University and now Assistant Athletic Trainer at Bradley University. Delaney shares her path from being an All-MVC athlete to working behind the scenes to support today’s student-athletes. She opens up about how she found athletic training  and what advice she’d give to anyone interested in w...

In this episode of Coach Brigs shares his inspiring journey from JUCO athlete to D1 football player and now a coach and entrepreneur. He discusses the challenges faced during his JUCO years, including the struggle for food and the determination to succeed. Coach Brigs reflects on his experiences in the Cotton Bowl, the transition to life after football, and the importance of coaching youth. He emp...

In this conversation, Amy Morin, a licensed psychotherapist and bestselling author, shares her journey of personal loss and how it shaped her understanding of mental strength. She discusses the importance of vulnerability, the challenges of self-doubt, and the significance of having a purpose in life. Amy emphasizes the need for resilience in the face of change and the impact of comparison, especi...

This week on Purpose After Sports, we sit down with Iman Tucker, an award-winning DJ, former collegiate track athlete, and two-time cancer survivor whose story goes far beyond the turntables. 🎙 Who is Iman Tucker? Before becoming the official DJ for the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, and IU Athletics, Iman competed in track and field at the University of Indianapolis. But what truly sets him apart...

Season 2 Kickoff 🎙️Football player Jared Martino joins host Mikki O'Neal to talk about the challenges of college football, injury setbacks, mental resilience, and finding purpose beyond the game.

This week, we sat down with Jackie Carmichael to dive into his journey. From tough decisions to unexpected full-circle moments, his story is a testament to how life unfolds in its own way. Sports played a major role in his path, but he also shares wisdom on embracing the joys and possibilities that come after the game.

This week, we’re excited to welcome Bailey Coffman! She had an incredible athletic career and is now embracing life after sports head-on. While staying connected to the game, she’s navigating a completely new role. Tune in to this week’s episode to hear her story!

Welcome back! This week’s episode is all about answering your questions as a former athlete navigating the transition back into working out. Adjusting to life after sports can be challenging, but finding what works for you in the gym should be an exciting and empowering journey. We sat down with gym owner and trainer Chad Hobbs to dive into tips, strategies, and insights to help you rebuild confid...