Ep. 35: The Cliff Effect episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 18, 2026 · 56 MIN

Ep. 35: The Cliff Effect

from Mental Playbook · host Maliya Saphia Patel

In this episode of the Mental Playbook, Emily Huston, former volleyball player and founder of HomeTeam, joins the show to talk about life after sport. Emily shares her athletic journey, why she retired, and the mental health challenges injured and retired athletes often face, such as isolation.She introduces the “cliff effect,” where athletes spend their lives building toward their sport, only to lose structure and control once it ends.​ This often leads to unhealthy coping habits like substance abuse or depression. With suicide now the second leading cause of death among athletes, Emily explains why she created HomeTeam: a space for athletes to reconnect, feel supported, and navigate the transition together.Join HomeTeam: https://www.hometeamgo.com/

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 18, 2026

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Ep. 35: The Cliff Effect

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