Donnell Whittenburg was born to be a gymnast. He grew up doing back flips, tucks and handstand walks in his backyard. To help him avoid injury, his mother enrolled him into formal gymnastics classes. The ability to learn new and more challenging skills, share experiences with teammates and focus on the process of improving laid a foundation where he has competed  on the international level for over 12 years including multiple world championships, Pan American Games. He was an Olympic alternate in 2016 and even has a skill  named after him, “The Whittenburg.” Despite all these accomplishments, his biggest obstacle is not competing at the Olympic Games. Donnell shares his motivation to keep competing including unfinished business, growing the sport on the men’s side, inspiring others to create opportunities to expand their cultural experiences and investing further in lifelong friendships and bonds. He teaches us that, “it doesn’t matter how long it takes; as long as we keep trying, we always have a chance.” @donnell_whittenburg

Former soccer player Nikita Ducarroz battled severe anxiety, found solace in BMX, and now thrives as a top female BMX rider. She shares her journey from feeling stuck in a room to experiencing the freedom of riding. The podcast discusses the importance of mental training for athletes, overcoming anxiety through sports, and promoting open dialogue on mental health struggles.

Born into a hockey family, Hayley Scamurra wanted to compete just like her brothers and father who had played in the NHL . While she fell in love with the sport herself, she also felt the need to always be the best and live up to her father’s expectations. This pressure began to manifest in severe anxiety for which she sought out therapy. Through this process, she learned to focus on what she could control including being physical, controlling the puck and having fun. She also empowered herself to redefine her relationship with her father, set boundaries and help him treat her like his daughter not just a hockey player. Hayley has won a championship for the Buffalo Beauts of the NWHL, finally made the team USA roster and ultimately won 2 gold and 2 silver medals in world championships. She is also a 2022 Olympic Silver Medalist. She reminds us that this has been the dream the whole time. As the competition grew more intense, she needed to maintain the mindset to remember how fun it was as a little girl when she skated in her backyard ice rink as fast as she could until she jumped into the snow along the rink!   @hayleyscamurra  

As a high schooler, Catie Lang’s identity was embedded in being an athlete to the point that she even loved the ideas of being tough, not quitting and “walking off” any pain or suffering. She had no real concept, awareness, or education of mental health despite having severe anxiety herself. Even after experiencing major panic attacks that were terrifying, she brushed them off and told herself that she was just being dramatic. As a member of an NCAA Division 1 lacrosse team, her program lacked the culture and resources necessary to promote health, wellness and happiness but instead reinforced the antiquated narratives about strength and toughness. This flawed mindset and approach exacerbated her own challenges and resulted in multiple players walking away from the team. This story has made national headlines. Catie shares her personal story of struggle including near suicide to both spread awareness but also spark action in addressing this epidemic of mental illness and suicide in college athletics. WARNING: This episode contains emotionally sensitive material including discussion surrounding suicide that may be triggering or disturbing to some listeners. If any of the content in this podcast has brought anything up for you, please reach out or speak to someone you trust. @catielang

Kim Zmeskal, a gymnastics champion, shares her journey from aspiring to excellence. She emphasizes the importance of dreaming big over perfection, teamwork, and trust. The podcast highlights the balance between routine and creativity in gymnastics, the evolution of coaching techniques, and the value of embracing challenges for personal growth.

Former NCAA D1 football player, Matt Choi, shares his journey of maintaining physical and mental wellbeing through extreme challenges like the Murph Challenge and running marathons. He emphasizes the importance of discipline, consistency, and gratitude in shaping personal growth and achieving contentment. Choi's mantra of believing in oneself and continuously improving highlights the transformative power of pushing past limits to live a fulfilling life.

Dr. Madeline Barlow, former collegiate swimmer and mental performance coach, discusses the emotional complexities of transitioning out of competitive sports. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, grieving the end of a sports career, personalized coaching approaches, and enhancing athlete performance through mindfulness and breathwork.

Former NCAA D1 football player Donald Stewart shares his journey of overcoming challenges and transitioning to Stanford University. He discusses the importance of family support, building confidence, and exploring passions outside of sports to find happiness. Stewart also emphasizes the impact of mentorship on high school athletes.

Former 6x All-American gymnast Olivia Karas shares her journey of overcoming 'rushy-itis' through imperfect moments. She reflects on the mental toughness displayed by Olympic champion Kerri Strug and emphasizes being comfortable with discomfort. Olivia highlights the importance of controlling controllables, resilience in the face of adversity, and embracing discomfort for personal growth in gymnastics and life.

Kate Parker is a mother, wife, former NCAA D1 athlete, Ironman, TEDx speaker, professional photographer and New York Times bestselling author whose first book “Strong is the New Pretty” garnered support from the Spice Girls, David Beckham, Drew Barrymore, Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman and Emma Watson. Her work has been featured in several major magazines and her clients include REI, Verizon, Athleta and American Express.   Growing up, she was known for being loud, driven and perfectionistic which might be associated with “being strong” but typically not “pretty.” Like many female athletes, as she became more competitive in her sport, she started emphasizing being skinnier. However, a coach helped her reframe her body image and in turn her internal view of strength and beauty.  As a mother and photographer, she uses her critical eye to point out perception vs reality while capturing powerful emotions to help us realize that exuberance needs no apology. In her newest book, “Force of Nature” she shows us why “too much” is actually the right amount.  @katetparker, katetparker.com