No Struggle No Story
No Struggle No Story
Patrick Cacciatore
Athletes face adversity every day. Whether it be serious injuries, the loss of a family member, being taken out of the starting lineup, or an illness that keeps them from competing at their best, all athletes are forced to deal with stressful situations at some point. These events can be looked at in one of two ways: as a negative or as an opportunity to grow into something better than you were before. Many of the most successful athletes around the world use these times of struggle to learn and better themselves. Although this is not an easy task, every person uses different avenues to help pull themselves out of their emotions and continue to focus on improvement in the face of adversity. That is where our new platform, No Struggle No Story, is here to help. I will be speaking with highly successful athletes that have faced serious adversity in their life and finding out how they were able to use this event to learn and become a better athlete/person through it. The interviews will be completed in podcast form with the link to each podcast posted on our Instagram posts. We believe by sharing the stories of athletes who’ve overcome adversity; we can help others do the same. Because after all, with no struggle, there is no story.
Episode 41: Max Wild
In Episode 41, former UCLA Tennis Player and Kalamazoo Champion Max Wild and Pat deeply dive into what matters in life. Genuine conversations surrounding health & wellness, yoga, and the effects of social media on society deliver a special episode that can help anyone listening. Max's unique perspective on the world, love for others, and deep understanding of who he is can change the lives of anyone he surrounds when paired with the techniques the boys get into in this conversation. Diet, yoga, and breathwork can change your life. Learn about the positive influence of nature, meditation, and how to face transition and change in another epic pod with an incredible human.
Nov 8, 2022
49 min
Episode 40: Anuj Watane
The podcast is BACK! We bring on UNC tennis player, Nike Intern, and NCAA Sweet 16 participant Anuj Watane to talk about his journey through life and the change in perspective he has had on what life is about. After believing tennis defined his self-worth, Anuj had the best season of his career this past year yet was still having trouble with his happiness. Through this process, he learned the power of being present, enjoying the small things in life, and getting off the phone and social media to focus more on his beliefs. We dive into ways that you can improve your self-growth such as meditation, journaling, spending time with your thoughts, and being with your loved ones. Along with this, Anuj talks about the incredible change he has seen from daily affirmations in all aspects of his life. An incredibly powerful episode with so many things to learn, listen NOW on all platforms!
Jul 18, 2022
55 min
Episode 39: Willie Miklus
Willie Miklus is a 4x All-American wrestler out of Iowa State University and the University of Missouri. In this episode, Willie tells an inspirational story about how to overcome injury, fight through adversity with a positive attitude, and the importance of your support system during tough times. Miklus provides some incredible insight on ways to maintain positivity and inspiration on normal days and what kind of fortitude it takes. Don't miss out on this amazing conversation!
Jul 1, 2021
20 min
Episode 38: Andrew Cooper
Mental health has begun to enter the forefront of common topics among elite athletics in recent years. Numerous professional and collegiate athletes such as Naomi Osaka, Demar DeRozan, Kevin Love, Hayden Hurst, and countless others have started prioritizing their mental health and speaking out about it to the public. In Episode 38, Former Washington State University and Cal-Berkeley cross country runner and SAAC President Andrew Cooper shares his journey with mental health. He focuses on the importance of sharing your story, how social media has affected overall mental health among athletes, and the struggles with body image that so many continue to face. This is one of the most powerful episodes I have been a part of and a must-listen for all athletes. Tune in!
Jun 23, 2021
43 min
Episode 37: Paul Hiepler
Episode 37 dives into a powerful conversation with Two-Time March Madness participant and Abilene Christian University basketball player Paul Hiepler. Paul talks about the importance of finding your self-worth in more than your playing time, the impact you can have on your teammates or peers on and off the court, and the role his faith has played in his journey and the community he surrounds himself with. Hiepler brings amazing energy and excitement about life that is a must-listen for any person. Listen in to this great journey about finding your purpose!
Jun 16, 2021
31 min
Episode 36: Sam Phillips
WE ARE BACK! Listen in to Episode 36 with B1G medalist, Former National Team member, and Husker gymnast Sam Phillips. We dig into the power of self-talk, surrounding yourself with the right community and energy to build yourself, and how to build your confidence through more than just your sport. Sam brings amazing energy and view on his life and talks about powerful events that inspired him to grow as a person and athlete. Don't miss out on this amazing conversation with one of the best gymnasts in the NCAA!
Jun 9, 2021
36 min
Episode 35: Abbey Forbes
Adversity, gratitude, and self-belief. Each of them is so important but how can you grow each of them and face adversity with the attitude and inspiration you need? For Junior Wimbledon champion and U.S. Open Women's Tennis participant Abbey Forbes, it is all about being appreciative for what you have been given and doing things for the child in you who fell in love with what you do. In this riveting episode, Forbes talks in-depth about how much each of these topics can mean to not only athletes but people as well and how important it is to give back to those who have supported you. Don't miss out on this amazing conversation!
Feb 18, 2021
24 min
Episode 34: Daniel Pearson
Husker Men's golfer and SAAC President Daniel Pearson has taken a long and winding journey with mental health through his college years. Without having much experience with the topic, he wasn't sure what these feelings of sadness, anxiety, and anger about his golf game were. Until now. Pearson has found that your identity as a person is so much more than your achievements in the athletic realm. Daniel has found his purpose in helping others, creating a better athletic community, and throwing himself head-first into everything he does with his heart and passion for people. These discoveries helped his golf game improve in turn and shape who he is today. Listen in to hear ways that DP has been able to reach this point and the exercises he puts himself through to help him become the best version of himself. Invaluable advice from an incredible person.
Feb 11, 2021
36 min
Episode 33: Elma N'For
Professional soccer player and member of the Union Omaha USL League One team Elma N'For joins the episode to talk about how important your "why" is and the idea of inspiration over motivation. Elma uses his platform to inspire younger kids and talk about the power of what you surround yourself with and how much of an impact your self-talk can have on your confidence and identity. N'For gives incredible advice on these topics and will help viewers gain a better perspective on their self-worth. Listen in to this incredible conversation!
Feb 1, 2021
44 min
Episode 32: Liam Draxl
Junior Wimbledon Finalist, ATP career-high #550, and University of Kentucky #1 tennis player joins the podcast for an amazing episode about how to adjust to new environments, ways to maintain your confidence through difficult times, and the importance of your surroundings and who you associate yourself with. Liam has a great perspective on life and simplifies the times that can get so muddy for many. Listen in to this awesome episode!
Jan 20, 2021
18 min
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