TRAINED

Born with spina bifida and without the use of her legs, Tatyana McFadden spent her early childhood in an orphanage, learning about self-reliance and inner strength while walking on her hands. Encouraged to participate in athletics by her adoptive American parents, Tatyana would ultimately grow up to dominate wheelchair racing, thus far winning 20 Paralympic medals and 24 major marathons. Throughout her racing career, and during her fight for equality in sport, Tatyana has relied on her mental strength to overcome challenges—a high-pressure lawsuit, a career-threatening condition—establishing herself as a leader as both athlete and advocate. In this inspiring, singular conversation with Crisis Text Line’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shairi Turner, Tatyana reflects on the foundations of her mental health, who she turns to for support and what strategies she’s established to get to the starting line with confidence, clarity and perspective.

Amanda Beard grew up in the spotlight. She graced the Olympic podium by 14, racked up eight USA Swimming national titles and appeared on the covers of numerous sports and lifestyle magazines. But with the glamour and glory came intense media scrutiny that led her to struggle with body dysmorphia, depression and self-harm. On this episode, Amanda shares her coming-of-age story as a young woman in professional sports. She speaks about pressures specific to female athletes and explains why they can be so harmful. Having found confidence and happiness since her early days in the pool, she also tells us how athletes and their support systems can prioritize self-worth and well-being. Learn MoreGet the full story from Amanda’s book, In the Water They Can’t See You Cry.Check out ESPN’s full study on body image and confidence in Division I athletes.Hear sport psychologist Dr Jim Taylor talk about young girls in sport on this Trained episode.

A gifted runner raised in a remote Kenyan village, Marko Cheseto earned a scholarship to race for an American university and moved to Alaska in 2008. As his star rose on the track, Marko began to feel increasingly pressured and displaced, struggling with his own mental health. The struggle worsened when Marko’s cousin and teammate died by suicide in 2011. Later that year, Marko went for a run having taken too many antidepressants. He lost consciousness in the snow for 3 days. Somehow, he survived, but his frostbitten feet were soon amputated. From his hospital bed, Marko didn’t know if he would ever run again. In this episode of No Off-Season, Marko shares his harrowing story with Crisis Text Line’s Natalia Dayan, a licensed social worker and therapist. He explains why mental health care needs more cultural sensitivity, the importance of spreading a message of hope, and what he’s determined to achieve—beyond smashing records as a Para athlete—by sharing the most difficult details of his own experience.

Having witnessed domestic abuse as a child, Raven Saunders got strong with the hopes of protecting her family. Her newly developed power also revealed her athletic talent, and the ability to become one of the best shot-putters in the world. But no matter how many victories she amassed, Raven’s trauma was unrelenting and lead to bouts of severe depression and suicidal ideation. In bravely sharing the nuances of her story with Dr. Shairi Turner, Crisis Text Line's Chief Medical Officer, and examining the moment that saved her own life, Raven advocates for more transparency in discussing mental health and shows why she’s becoming one of the most compelling voices in sports talking about mental health today.

Tunde Oyeneyin’s reputation as a fitness icon has been 36 years in the making. And according to the personal trainer and cycling instructor, all of her highs wouldn’t have been possible without the lows. On this episode, Tunde tells us about the ups and downs of her life and career. We’ll hear how losing her mom helped her step into the greatest version of herself, why self-doubt is a catalyst for change and how missed opportunities can shift you in the right direction. Tunde’s story is one of grace, gratitude and realizing your dreams.Learn MoreWant more of Tunde’s wisdom? Order her book, Speak. Download the Nike Run Club and Nike Training Club apps for workouts of all lengths and levels. Head to the Nike Journal for more in-depth advice on grabbing your goals. 

By the time gymnast Laurie Hernandez turned 16, she’d reached the peak of her sport. But success came at a cost and her mental health suffered. In this honest and intimate conversation with Crisis Text Line’s Natalia Dayan, a licensed social worker and therapist, Laurie shares what she endured, how she found the resolve to recover, and the profound therapeutic steps she has taken to heal.

With the loss of several family members to COVID-19, including his beloved mother, and getting sick with the virus himself, NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns has been forced to examine mortality and grief in all new ways. On this debut episode of No Off-Season, Karl joins Crisis Text Line's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shairi Turner, to discuss what he's learned from dealing with loss, the ways he manages his own self-worth and how he hopes to enhance the mental health of his entire community.

Trained's Jac Byrer introduces Nike's new podcast, a limited series called No Off-Season, and its hosts from Crisis Text Line, Dr. Shairi Turner and licensed social worker Natalia Dayan. Featuring in-depth, personal conversations about mental health with athletes like Karl-Anthony Towns, Laurie Hernandez, Raven Saunders, Tatyana McFadden and more, No Off-Season will run right here—Tuesdays on Trained's feed—for the next few months. In centering mental health, No Off-Season asserts that there is strength in asking for help, power in sharing our inner experiences, and healing in community. From dealing with loss to working through depression and anxiety to overcoming trauma, the stories presented on No Off-Season show those of us facing mental health challenges that we are not alone and serve to unite all of us around an issue with universal impact.   Crisis Text Line, a Nike nonprofit partner, provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need. At any time, texters in the U.S. can connect with volunteer Crisis Counselors by texting the word STRONG to 741741.

At Trained, we believe in the boundless capabilities of the body and mind. So as Nike celebrates its 50th anniversary, we dug through our archives to find our favorite informational and inspirational moments. Our guest athletes and experts have played key roles in helping us understand the five facets of fitness: mindset, movement, nutrition, recovery and sleep. As host Jaclyn Byrer walks us through guidance from Shalane Flanagan, Simon Sinek, Angela Manuel-Davis and others, we’ll revisit topics like the best training routine for long-term success, recap how to cope with anxiety by embracing it and recount the journeys of athletes who endured trauma and healed through sport. No one can say what the next 50 years will hold. But one thing we know for sure? You can count on Trained to continue keeping pace with the changes in science and the expanding needs of athletes all around the world.Learn MoreWant more than just a moment? We put together a playlist of every episode featured. Happy listening.

What do a top conservation biologist and a legendary marathoner have in common? Their passion for the environment. On this episode, two unique perspectives come together to tell the story of one goal: to preserve our planet so we can all thrive. First, scientist M. Sanjayan, the CEO of Conservation International, lays out the state of our climate. He explains why athletes — no matter what they play or where they train — are affected by environmental change, the impact of our food choices, and simple steps to take for a better future. Next, longtime Nike athlete Joan Benoit Samuelson details how decades of running have forced her to adapt to poor air quality and irregular weather patterns and inspired her to join local climate initiatives. Both share a hopeful look at how they continue to embrace the outdoors and the ways every one of us can lace up for the race against climate change. Learn MoreRead the full study on how endurance athletes are impacted by climate change. Want more stats on climate and sport? Get the data from Nike’s Move to Zero and dig even deeper with our Climate Impact Lab report.  Keep us in check — see how Nike’s investing in our planet.