Amaya is an advocate in player and identity development, whose journey bridges elite athletic performance and transformative mentorship. As a captain, two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and AVCA All-American middle blocker, she led Louisville to the Final Four in 2022—where she received the Elite 90 Award for highest GPA at the NCAA National Championship Tournament. Despite pro volleyball opportunities, Amaya chose purpose over popularity and decide to walk away from her competitive c...

When Deon Reid was growing up in the sport of Diving, his eyes were focused on one thing: the Olympics. Dead-set on making it there, Deon sought out the right program, coach, culture, and training environment to support him on his path. That journey took him from Duke to USC, away from diving, and back to it again. This episode recounts all that he learned about himself as both an athlete and a person in the process. Fast-forward to today, Deon is a dedicated Spin Instructor at GritCycle, kn...

This episode features Mac and Erica as they dive into the sometimes confusing, and often overwhelming, world of therapy and mental health support. They cover why athletes can benefit from working with a therapist, the various approaches therapy can take, and tips to be sure the therapist you choose is the right fit. Erica Curry is a former D1 athlete and now licensed therapist. During her time as a springboard diver in college, she watched her teammates struggle with various mental health is...

On the second "Panel Perspective" style episode, Mac is joined by two guests, and former teammates who share their thoughts on the question: "Why have so many athletes taken up running in life after sport?" Each panelist comes from a different running background - from ultramarathon champion to just getting started. They delve into their reasons behind picking up running post-sports, and explore its dual nature as both a simple yet infinitely complex activity. The conversation touches on pe...

Tyler (or TC) is best known as the one-legged Captain America and valuing kindness above all else. He is a 3x Paralympian in the sport of alpine skiing and had the honor of being voted Opening Ceremony Flag bearer for Team USA during his last Winter Paralympic Games in 2022. TC is often the positive one and strives to help others discover their passion, while understanding that life is constant journey of peaks and valleys. His passion of helping others is eclipsed only by his love of ice cre...

This episode is a Story Session - where athletes who have written for The Sideline Perspective website read their reflection in their own words and reflect back on what it meant to process that time of transition and change in their lives. This episode features Violet Carroll's story. Violet is a 6th grader at the Richmond Middle School in Hanover, NH. She has been a hockey goalie for the past 4 seasons and currently plays for the Valley Junior Warriors. In addition to hockey, she runs...

"Are all of the things we take from sport positive?" --- That was the question that initiated this episode with Katie Alexander, Ph.D. student and founder of "The Dark Side of Sport." We chat about sporting environments, sport culture, and power dynamics while calling out the different types of abuse individuals in sport should be aware of and looking out for. Katherine "Katie" Alexander is a former competitive soccer player and current third-year Ph.D. at Utah State University. She primaril...

So much of success in sport comes from the people around us - whether teammates, coaches, family or friends, we rely on social support to get us to the top. So why would that change in life after sport? Truth is, it doesn't. This episode with Cory Camp dives into the ways athletes can build and benefit from a support system in life beyond competition. A former nationally ranked swimmer, Cory Camp is the founder of the Forever Athlete Social Club, an in-person and online network of likeminded...

Facing rehab and recovery? Then you won't want to miss this episode with Registered Dietician Emily Barnhart. Emily specializes in helping athletes and active individuals "fuel their comeback" to sport. As The Injury RD, Emily operates from a deep-seeded nutrition philosophy that food is more than fuel. Food is joy, celebration, community, and culture. She believes in a whole foods approach that prioritizes balance between foods that make you want to do a happy dance at the...

Ever heard of imposter syndrome? If you haven't heard the term, you've most likely felt it at some point if you've been a competitive athlete... Imposter syndrome is the sense that you don't belong at the level you're at or don't deserve the success you've found. It's a natural feeling to have when you're wired to be driven towards perfection but its also something that can block you from recognizing the great things you have earned from the work you did put in. In this quick 'Sideli...