The Athlete Effect™ with Bonnie Bernstein

Athletes Unlimited Softball Commissioner Kim Ng learned everything she needed to become a trailblazing sports executive in two places:The softball diamond and the tennis court.A 4-year starting infielder for the University of Chicago, Kim graduated with a master's degree in dedication, grit, perseverance and the willingness to fail, DESPITE a fear of failure.(Say that last part out loud, and sit with it for a moment.)Perseverance? Critical, as Kim made history as Major League Baseball's first female general manager. Grit? Essential, when she left her dream job as the Miami Marlins' GM, because the fit was no longer right.In this candid conversation, Kim discusses what it took to stand her ground as often the only woman in the room, how she battled an identity crisis during a critical chapter in her career (and won), and her resilience after a gut-wrenching decision that, ultimately, led her back to her softball roots, where Kim is now paving a powerful future for the AUSL.If anyone's ever made you feel like you don't belong. If you've ever questioned whether your dream is worth the fight. This episode is for you.                     _________________________________________________                         ***FOLLOW @THE_ATHLETE_EFFECT ON INSTAGRAM                            TO ENTER OUR UPCOMING AUSL VIP SWEEPSTAKES                                                           Grand prize:              ► Two (2) tickets to an AUSL 2027 regular season game of your choice                                            ► On-field access for batting practice                              ►AUSL swag bag with autographed Kim Ng softball                    ___________________________________________________TOPICS COVERED:Kim Ng, Athletes Unlimited Softball League, AUSL, professional softball, growth of softball, women's sports, investment in women's sports, MLB, first female GM, Miami Marlins, Yankees, Dodgers, White Sox, leadership, coachability, resilience, courage, grit, reflection, fear of failure, trusting your voice, breaking barriers, imposter syndrome, Joe Torre, Derek Jeter, Title IX, Women's Sports Foundation, University of Chicago.AUSL LEAGUE SITE & HANDLES: ► AUSL Site: https://theausl.com/► Instagram: @theauslofficial► X (Twitter): @theAUSLofficial BONNIE BERNSTEIN SOCIALS:► Instagram: https://instagram.com/BonnieBernstein► X: https://x.com/BonnieBernstein► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernsteinTHE ATHLETE EFFECT™ SOCIALS: ► Instagram: https://instagram.com/the_athlete_effect► TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@TheAthleteEffect► Subscribe on YouTube:  https://youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect/?sub_confirmation=1

Kit Hoover doesn’t sugarcoat it: she was in way over her head at ESPN. First time doing live TV. First time reading a teleprompter. All while navigating postpartum depression with two young daughters. The UNC track and cross-country athlete reveals how the sports mindset she mastered on the course helped her find her stride and thrive in broadcasting.In this candid conversation with Bonnie Bernstein, Kit opens up about the “coachability” that has been a throughline in her career, from MTV’s Road Rules and Fox News to ESPN’s Cold Pizza  and 16 years hosting Access Hollywood. She also gets vulnerable about motherhood, career pivots, loss, grief and change—and the male champions who've empowered her along the way.As Kit turns the page on her career and becomes an empty nester, running has taken on a greater purpose. For athletes dreaming of broadcasting, parents stuck on the work-life hamster wheel, or anyone contemplating a pivot, Kit’s story offers hard-earned wisdom on fearlessness and a road map for moving forward when life makes an unexpected turn. Topics Covered:Access Hollywood, MTV Road Rules, ESPN, reality TV, grief, failure, community, resilience, fearlessness, discipline, pivot, Live Like Braun Foundation, raising good humans, teamwork, and reinvention.Show Notes and Kit Hoover Socials: https://www.instagram.com/kithoover/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kit-hoover-0a5a90302/https://www.tiktok.com/@kithooverhttps://x.com/KitHoover?lang=enTo Learn More about the Live Like Braun Foundation: https://livelikebraunfoundation.org/The Athlete Effect™:instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:instagram.com/BonnieBernsteinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/https://www.tiktok.com/discover/bonnie-bernstein     twitter.com/BonnieBernstein

She walked onto two teams at Hampton University and nearly got kicked off one of ’em for bad grades.Could anyone have predicted then that Jacqie McWilliams Parker would one day become the first Black woman to lead an NCAA athletic conference, in any division? Probably not.That’s how stories become fairy tales.Since 2012, “The Commish” has led the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the nation’s oldest conference for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In this candid conversation, Jacqie shares how the confidence she developed through basketball and volleyball helped her squash the self-doubt that crept in early in her tenure.Jacqie reflects on the instability of growing up as a military kid and the sense of belonging she found on the court when she struggled to feel comfortable off it. She offers candid advice to high school athletes pursuing the next level and opens up about the deeper work of learning to love the person she sees in the mirror.In one of the most emotional moments of the conversation, Jacqie shares her journey to “locking” her hair, the boundary she drew when others challenged that choice, and the strength she found on the other side.This episode may change how you see leadership, confidence, legacy, and what it really means to earn your power.Topics covered: Jacqie McWilliams Parker, CIAA Commissioner, HBCU, D1, D2, D3, leadership, relationships, conflict management, being a good teammate, spirituality, transitions, confidence, letting go, vunerability, compassion, the joy and innocence of sport.Show Notes and Socials: CIAA:  https://theciaa.com/Insta - https://www.instagram.com/ciaasports/?hl=enJacquie McWilliams-Parker:Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqie-mcwilliams-parker-7ab5551/Insta -  https://www.instagram.com/ciaacommish/?hl=enThe Athlete Effect™:instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:instagram.com/BonnieBernstein  https://www.tiktok.com/discover/bonnie-bernstein     twitter.com/BonnieBernstein     https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/

Slumps happen. Keep shooting.A lesson State Farm CMO Kristyn Cook learned from her high school basketball coach and one she’s carried with her from her days as a Syracuse hoops player throughout her 25+ year career in the insurance industry.In this episode, Kristyn joins Bonnie to talk about a pivotal decision she faced when her family moved during her sophomore year of high school and how that moment shaped the way she approaches life, sports and career. A Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year, senior captain and member of Cuse’s 1995-96 Big East Co-Championship team, she also speaks candidly about balancing academics and athletics at a major university and the role her parents played in empowering her and her two sisters to pursue college sports.Kristyn has been a State Farm “lifer,” but her career hasn’t been without its slumps. She shares how her athlete mindset helped her navigate challenges early in her career as an insurance agent, giving her the confidence and moxie to take on new roles and responsibilities along the way.Whether you’re an athlete, coach, sports parent or young professional, Kristyn’s story is a powerful reminder that the mindset you build through sports can serve you long after the final buzzer.Topics covered: Kristyn Cook CMO State Farm, Syracuse basketball, betting on yourself, women's team sports leadership, NIL, vulnerability in leadership, personal branding, authenticity, perseverance.Show Notes and Socials: Drive by Daniel K Pink - Leadership Book   https://www.danpink.com/books/drive/Kristyn Cook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyncookturner/The Athlete Effect™:instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:instagram.com/BonnieBernstein  https://www.tiktok.com/discover/bonnie-bernstein     twitter.com/BonnieBernstein     https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/

Inner City Arts CEO Shelby Williams-González believes her leadership philosophy was forged on the taekwondo mat.A first-degree black belt at age 12. A silver medalist at the National Collegiate Taekwondo Championships her freshman year at UC Berkeley. A career that, until college, entailed training and competing primarily against boys and men.Shelby's never been afraid of getting kicked in the face, literally or figuratively.During this week's conversation with Bonnie, Shelby shares how martial arts and professional dance shaped the resilience, discipline, and confidence that now define her leadership as a nonprofit CEO. She reflects on a childhood where sports were a way of life, sparks a lively debate over whether dancers are athletes or artists (or both!), and explains what it feels like to be in the zone as a dancer, known as "catching the ghost."Shelby also reflects on a mental health challenge during the pandemic that crystallized the importance of staying active long after competition ends, and offers thoughtful advice for athletes who are contemplating stepping away from sports. Whether you're an athlete entering your next chapter, a nonprofit leader building resilience, or someone balancing multiple passions, this episode is a reminder that the life skills developed through sports can become the foundation for lifelong leadership.Topics covered:Shelby Williams-González, CEO of Inner City ArtsLeadership lessons from taekwondo and martial artsBecoming a black belt at age 12National Collegiate Taekwondo ChampionshipsAthlete-to-artist career transitionDefining dancers as athletes or artists"Catching the ghost" and being in the zone as a dancerNonprofit leadership and arts educationMental health, resilience, and staying activeShow Notes and Socials:Donate to Inner City Arts: https://inner-cityarts.org/donate/Inner City Arts: https://inner-cityarts.org/staff/shelby-williams-gonzalez/[email protected] Williams-González:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelby-williams-gonz%C3%A1lez-4490a352/@shelbywillgonzThe Athlete Effect™:instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:instagram.com/BonnieBernstein  https://www.tiktok.com/discover/bonnie-bernstein     twitter.com/BonnieBernstein     https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/

Marketing executive Vanessa Wallace has run point for Nike’s Jordan Brand, Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty, and GLD, which counts Jay-Z as a major investor.How'd she prepare for those high-pressure roles? Playing hoops for the Texas Longhorns.Vanessa dishes on how her four years as a starter on The Forty Acres equipped her with the team-building skills, preparation and discipline necessary to mobilize and lead elite teams in her career and bring out the best in each colleague. She reflects on the courage it took to leave Nike after nearly two decades, the impact of Hall of Fame coach Jody Conradt, and how she learned to balance the toughness of an elite athlete with vulnerability, after losing her father and brother.Whether you work in marketing, aspire to enter the field, are navigating a career transition, or want to apply athlete leadership principles to your professional life, this episode offers powerful lessons on executive leadership, brand building, and personal growth.Topics covered: Vanessa Wallace CMO, Nike marketing career, Savage X Fenty, GLD, life skills from sports, preparation, intention, authenticity in leadership, grief, calculated risk-taking, career reinvention.Show notes and Socials: GLD:https://www.gld.com/https://www.instagram.com/shopgld/https://www.tiktok.com/@shopgld?lang=enVanessa Wallace:https://www.instagram.com/vdub14/https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-wallace/The Athlete Effect™:instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:instagram.com/BonnieBernstein  https://www.tiktok.com/discover/bonnie-bernstein     twitter.com/BonnieBernstein     https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/

At 23, Erin Matson became the youngest Division I head coach to win an NCAA championship. Less than two months after graduating from the University of North Carolina, and after capturing four national titles as a Tar Heels player, Erin faced her next big test: taking the reins from Hall of Fame coach Karen Shelton.In this episode, Erin shares how the preparation and attention to detail she mastered on the field helped her earn one of the most prestigious jobs in college field hockey, and how she's evolved her communication style with players and assistants to build trust and keep her team aligned. Erin reflects on the pivotal role her family played in her development as an athlete, opens up about her Olympic aspirations, and shares her unique perspective on how student-athletes can approach NIL opportunities while intentionally building their personal brands.Whether you're a student-athlete, aspiring or current leader, parent, or coach, Erin's wisdom in this episode will resonate far beyond the game.Topics covered: Erin Matson, UNC field hockey, NCAA national championship, leadership, confidence, personal branding, NIL, coaching, young leaders, earning trust.Show notes and Socials: UNC Field Hockey:https://www.instagram.com/uncfieldhockey/?hl=enhttps://www.tiktok.com/@carolinafieldhockeyhttps://goheels.com/sports/field-hockeyErin Matson: https://www.instagram.com/erin_matson/https://www.tiktok.com/@erin_matsonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/erinsmatson/The Athlete Effect™:instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:instagram.com/BonnieBernstein  https://www.tiktok.com/discover/bonnie-bernstein     twitter.com/BonnieBernstein     https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/

"You can't have 'amazing' without hard." It's the mantra Donna Lamar learned on the track and the leadership philosophy that's guided her entire career.The former Texas Tech sprinter has built an award-winning creative and production career, leading teams at Spotify and Twitter while shaping campaigns for iconic brands like Nike and Gatorade. One of the biggest influences on her success? A winding journey as a student-athlete that took an unexpected turn.In this week's conversation with Bonnie Bernstein, Donna explores how sports gave her the confidence to take risks, the resilience to reinvent herself, and the empathy to bring out the best in every colleague. Candidly reflecting on the end of her track career, she reveals why the moments that don't go according to plan often become the ones that shape us most.Whether you're transitioning out of sports, navigating a career pivot, leading a team, or simply wondering if the hard work is worth it, this episode is your reminder that resilience isn't built when everything goes right, it's forged in the moments that challenge who you are.Show Notes and Socials: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-lamar-0160875/https://www.instagram.com/donnamuses/https://x.com/StalkingMusesAd Campaigns Highlighted  by Donna Lamar: First Wieden+Kennedy "Just Do It" - https://youtu.be/0yO7xLAGugQ?si=758xSS5qAVHIWngHW+K "If you let me play" - https://youtu.be/AQ_XSHpIbZE?si=i8KPV24Fe2m4pCjbThe Secret Tournament: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN8kTFPhQToThe Athlete Effect™ :instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/twitter.com/BonnieBernsteininstagram.com/BonnieBernstein

As a field hockey goalie at Babson College, Elissa Kalver knew every move she made... mattered. Little did she know then that an athlete mindset built on resilience, perseverance, and the ability to "control the controllables" would one day help her navigate profound loss, entrepreneurship, and a Stage 4 HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer diagnosis just days before her daughter's first birthday.At Babson, Elissa refused to lower either her academic or competitive standards. When a torn ACL and a dislocated shoulder ended her playing career, she immediately sought a replacement for the adrenaline rush of athletic competition. She quickly found it: sales. That same drive has powered every aspect of Elissa's life after college sports: a record-breaking run in financial services, a stint as a gym owner, the loss of her brother, her terminal breast cancer diagnosis and her mission to turn pain into purpose with her nonprofit WeGotThis.org, the first gift registry for cancer patients.  Elissa joins Bonnie Bernstein to discuss the athlete's instinct to push through pain, why that mindset can become dangerous when it comes to your health, and how her mission to help others has been such a meaningful part of her cancer journey. Elissa is an author, sought-after speaker, wife and mother thriving with cancer, inspiring others to find joy each day, even amidst challenges. Whether you're an athlete, parent, coach, entrepreneur, or navigating cancer, this conversation explores athlete mindset, resilience, leadership, early detection, and the power of showing up when life doesn't go according to plan.Connect with Elissa Kalver, Live Like it Matters and WeGotThis.Orghttps://www.instagram.com/elissakalver/https://www.linkedin.com/in/elissakalver/https://www.youtube.com/@livelikeitmatterspod?si=99Cip0ECRoaxLmHNhttps://www.tiktok.com/@elissakalverhttps://www.instagram.com/wegotthisorg?utm_source=qrThe Athlete Effect™ :instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/twitter.com/BonnieBernsteininstagram.com/BonnieBernstein

NCAA sports aren’t the only path to executive leadership, just ask former Sun Bum CEO Cynthia Herrera.Cynthia spent more than 20 years in executive sales and marketing roles at global consumer goods giant SC Johnson (think Windex, Pledge, Raid, and Method), including a six-year stint leading Sun Bum.In this conversation with Bonnie Bernstein, she shares how her club volleyball experience at Western Michigan helped shape the leadership style that propelled her into the C-suite centered on communication, quick, clear decision-making, and building trust through inclusion.With more than 2 million college club athletes in the U.S. each year, about four times the number of NCAA athletes, Cynthia’s story highlights an often-overlooked path beyond high school sports, where athletes can continue developing real-world skills that translate directly into career success.But this episode goes beyond milestones. Cynthia opens up about vulnerability, imposter syndrome, and setting boundaries, and shares stories highlighting why the strongest teams are built on trust, honesty, and real human connection.If you’re a student-athlete, or a parent of one, contemplating life after high school sports, this episode is for you. Especially if the NCAA route isn’t in the cards.Follow Cynthia Herrera on...Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiamherrera/Instagram: @cmh929The Athlete Effect™:instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:twitter.com/BonnieBernsteininstagram.com/BonnieBernsteinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/

Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes joins the podcast to discuss life after sports, overcoming identity crisis and a perfectionist mindset, and thriving as an entrepreneur, team owner, and mother of four. A three-time Olympian, Dawes was a member of the 1996 Magnificent Seven squad that secured Team USA's first Olympic gold in women's gymnastics. Today, she's the founder of the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics Academy, a sought-after speaker, and a minority owner of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and the NWSL's Washington Spirit. Dominique shares lessons on resilience, turning personal pain into purpose, leadership, and balancing ambition with realistic expectations.In this vulnerable conversation with Bonnie Bernstein, Dominique speaks candidly about healing from the home and gym environments of her youth she describes as "toxic," and the a-ha moment, in the wake of the Larry Nassar abuse scandal, that compelled her to build gymnastics facilities focused more on raising healthy, well-rounded kids than just elite competitors. Dominique also opens up about the challenges of being a female founder -- her fame and Olympic medals, notwithstanding -- and the critical roles grit and work ethic mastered in the gym have played in positioning Dominique to bring on private equity investors for her Academy. Above all, Dominique has found a way to prioritize her four children, and husband, Jeff, while still building her sports empire. For anyone struggling to achieve work-life balance... this one will hit hard. Connect with Dominique Dawes on Social below. Dominique Dawes Gymnastic Academies: https://www.dominiquedawesgymnasticsacademy.com/Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominique-dawes/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominiquedawesofficial/, https://www.instagram.com/dominiquedawesacademy/, Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dominiquedawesThe Athlete Effect™ :instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  

Female Quotient CEO Shelley Zalis proudly wears the title "Chief Troublemaker." An award-winning tech entrepreneur, the first female CEO of a Top 25 market research firm, and a fearless champion for workplace equality, she didn't just shatter the glass ceiling, she made her own rules.Shelley shares with Bonnie Bernstein how teamwork learned through tennis has informed her "Power of the Pack" leadership mantra, recounting the peaks and valleys of her career: from a crushing performance review in her early 20's, to the day she sold her groundbreaking online research company OTX to industry giant Ipsos. Today, as the founder of The Female Quotient, Shelley oversees a global media and events company that mobilizes businesswomen, virtually and in-person, across more than 100 countries.Shelley showcases how women in business can successfully balance candor and fierceness with empathy and a commitment to mentor and pay it forward.Because backing the pack is the only way forward.Connect with Shelley Zalis on social: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shelleyzalis/LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/shelleyzalisTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/search?q=Shelley%20Zalis&t=1781593282434X / Twitter - @ShelleyZalis x.com/ShelleyZalisFacebook - facebook.com/shelleyzalisYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Shelley+ZaliasConnect with The Female Quotient Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/femalequotientLinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/femalequotientTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/search?q=Female%20Quotient&t=1781593328199YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFemaleQuotientThe Athlete Effect™ :instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:twitter.com/BonnieBernsteininstagram.com/BonnieBernstein       https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert was a two-sport athlete at Lehigh and became Deloitte’s first female CEO. Today, she’s one of the most powerful women in sports.Engelbert joins Bonnie Bernstein on The Athlete Effect™ for a conversation focused on her journey from athlete to WNBA Commissioner, and the defining moments that have forged her path. She reflects on the evolution of her leadership style, a wake-up call that reshaped her approach to work-life balance and transparency, and how discipline, curiosity, and resilience from basketball and lacrosse have influenced her career. For Engelbert, “taking your shot” isn’t just a theme, it’s her life’s throughline.The daughter of an NBA player and one of eight siblings, the South Jersey native was raised in a competitive, sports-driven environment. At Lehigh University, she played basketball under Hall of Fame coach Muffet McGraw and served as senior captain of both basketball and lacrosse, learning that consistency in ordinary moments separates good from great.After 33 years at Deloitte, where she became the first woman to lead a Big Four professional services firm's US division, she made a historic leap into sports as the WNBA’s first Commissioner. In that role, she led a $75 million capital raise and helped engineer a collective bargaining agreement that delivered historic increases in player salaries and benefits.Connect with Cathy Engelbert: Instagram: @wnbacommish Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/cathyengelbertX: @CathyEngelbertLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-engelbert-75400618/The Athlete Effect™ :instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:instagram.com/BonnieBernstein      https://www.tiktok.com/discover/bonnie-bernstein https://x.com/BonnieBernstein  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/The Champions Edge: https://www.instagram.com/championsedgetvhttps://www.tiktok.com/@championsedgetvhttps://www.facebook.com/championsedgetv

Jessica Mendoza is the first woman to call a World Series for a national network. Now she's paving the way for women in sports broadcasting.A two-time softball Olympian, Stanford All-American, groundbreaking ESPN MLB analyst, and one of the most influential Latina women in sports, Jessica joins Bonnie Bernstein to explore how the laser focus and poise under pressure honed as an athlete has kept her calm and on-point during her biggest TV moments. She reflects on the family values and mentors who shaped her journey, the responsibility she feels to create more room at the table for girls in sports and women in sports media, and her foray into product development to help softball players channel their "superpowers." For Mendoza, leadership and living with purpose entail leveraging her platform to make a difference, in the US and around the world.With softball returning to the Olympic stage at LA28, Jessica Mendoza's story has never felt more timely or more necessary.Connect with Jessica Mendoza:Instagram: @jessmendoza2TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessmendozaespnX: https://x.com/jessmendozaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicamendozaespnLuccini Gloves, Jessica Mendoza Signature Series: LINK TO GLOVES and USE PROMO CODE ATHLETE10 for 10% off your purchaseThere's No Base Like Home: https://www.leeandlow.com/books/theres-no-base-like-home/The Athlete Effect™ :instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:twitter.com/BonnieBernsteininstagram.com/BonnieBernstein       https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/The Champions Edge: https://www.instagram.com/championsedgetvhttps://www.tiktok.com/@championsedgetvhttps://www.facebook.com/championsedgetv

Dr. Seun Adigun, 2x Olympian, CEO and biomechanist, shares how her competitive sports mindset fuels her success in medicine, business, and leadership.A first-generation Nigerian-American, Dr. Adigun earned a full track scholarship to the University of Houston and represented Nigeria in the 100m hurdles at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She later made history as the founder and pilot of Nigeria’s first Olympic bobsled team, becoming the first African athlete to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.Today, as a sports medicine physician and CEO of Extra Wellness Center, she works with elite athletes across the NFL, MLB, NCAA, and Olympic programs.In this conversation with Emmy Award-winning sports journalist Bonnie Bernstein, Dr. Adigun reveals how multiple heart surgeries and personal loss shaped her path to the Olympics and how elite-level resilience continues to drive her work in medicine, business, and philanthropy.Show Notes: Dr. Seun Adigun: https://extrawellnesscenter.com/meet-dr-seun%2C-d-chttps://www.instagram.com/seun_msamazing/https://www.linkedin.com/in/drseun/https://www.facebook.com/drseunmsamazing/https://x.com/Seun_MsAmazingThe Special Olympics: Dr. Seun Adigun serves as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador, using sport to promote inclusion, empowerment, and opportunity for athletes with intellectual disabilities around the world.https://www.specialolympics.org/get-involved/volunteer?source=ISgrant&subsource=Volunteer-Brand&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=836680271&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Fx63oUJEElpUeVuiMLdkS-4SP_&gclid=CjwKCAjw5s_QBhAdEiwADD_gBmEKzFr8qOQCd-YVfIK2t9UkcCtb7BN2fk71qNES4CMhsYyp_qNihxoCfYwQAvD_BwEhttps://www.specialolympics.org/about/ambassadors/seun-adigunThe Athlete Effect™ :instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:twitter.com/BonnieBernsteininstagram.com/BonnieBernstein       https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/The Champions Edge: https://www.instagram.com/championsedgetvhttps://www.tiktok.com/@championsedgetvhttps://www.facebook.com/championsedgetv

One of only 33 Black female neurosurgeons in the U.S., Dr. Theresa Williamson joins Bonnie Bernstein to reveal how her Yale soccer experience shaped her path to the operating room.Williamson currently serves as the Director of Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Surgery at Brown University Health. She explains how sports shaped her ability to perform under pressure, communicate effectively, make critical decisions, and harness the resilience required to thrive as a brain and spine surgeon.Williamson and Bernstein discuss research illustrating how athletes often outperform their peers in medical training, surgical precision, leadership, grit, and mental toughness throughout medical school and residency.Dr. Williamson also opens up about the challenges of facing down skeptics early in her career, and becoming a fierce patient advocate after witnessing her family's struggles with the healthcare system.This conversation explores high performance, women in STEM, sports psychology, leadership, resilience, patient trust, and the powerful connection between athletics and excellence in medicine.Show Notes:   This episode is dedicated to Karenna Groff: 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year, gifted student, all conference, MIT soccer player, aspiring neurosurgeon studying at NYU. Gone too soon. Research Karenna shared with Bonnie discussed in this episode:  https://journals.lww.com/jbjsjournal/fulltext/2009/11000/factors_associated_with_successful_performance_in.34.aspxAdditional Research: From Athlete to Surgeon Examining Sports and Grit Among General Surgery Residents https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1931720424003313Dr. Theresa Williamson:https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresa-williamson-2a416710/https://www.instagram.com/docterwilli/The Athlete Effect™ :instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:twitter.com/BonnieBernsteininstagram.com/BonnieBernstein       https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/The Champions Edge: https://www.instagram.com/championsedgetvhttps://www.tiktok.com/@championsedgetvhttps://www.facebook.com/championsedgetv

Ginger Zee, ABC News Chief Meteorologist, Good Morning America co-host, and New York Times bestselling author joins veteran sports journalist and host Bonnie Bernstein on The Athlete Effect™ to explore how her experience as a multisport athlete shaped her career in meteorology and broadcast journalism.She reflects on how sports built confidence, discipline, and mental toughness, and the parallel journey of earning credibility in both competitive cheerleading and science-based weather reporting.Ginger also opens up about her mental health journey, and how embracing vulnerability has become a strength. Running, which once supported her athletic training, is now a core part of her mental wellness routine.Show Notes:  Ginger Zee, The Athlete Effect™ , Bonnie Bernstein, The Champions Edge on ABChttps://www.ginger-zee.com/bookshttps://www.instagram.com/explore/search/keyword/?q=%23gingerzeehttps://www.danharris.com/instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein handles:twitter.com/BonnieBernsteininstagram.com/BonnieBernstein       https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/The Champions Edge: https://www.instagram.com/championsedgetvhttps://www.tiktok.com/@championsedgetvhttps://www.facebook.com/championsedgetv

Once an athlete, always an athlete. Did you know that 94% of female C-suite executives played sports? The Athlete Effect™ leadership and career development podcast explores the powerful connection between sports participation and professional achievement, delivering actionable insights for anyone striving to be a high performer, long after the final whistle. Emmy-winning sports journalist and former D1 gymnast Bonnie Bernstein takes you inside the minds of athletes-turned-senior executives, entrepreneurs and newsmakers, from Fortune 500 heavyweights and thriving female founders to powerbrokers in law, medicine, entertainment, media, tech, and beyond.Each week, guests share real-world stories of how they’ve harnessed life skills honed through sports like teamwork, resilience, discipline and confidence to thrive in their careers. The show offers perspective for athletes and working professionals, as well as parents and coaches of female athletes.Guests include:Cathy Engelbert: WNBA CommissionerDominique Dawes (Olympian): Entrepreneur/investorGinger Zee: ABC News chief meteorologistJessica Mendoza (Olympian): ESPN baseball analystKit Hoover: Entertainment host, Access HollywoodKristyn Cook: State Farm CMOMolly Battin: Home Depot CMODr. Theresa Williamson: Groundbreaking neurosurgeonVernice “Fly Girl” Armour: U.S. military's first Black female combat pilotThe Athlete Effect™ is the companion podcast to The Champion’s Edge on ABC, where Bonnie Bernstein serves as creator, host, and executive producer.Download and follow The Athlete Effect™ for more.