The Rooted Athlete Podcast
by Megan Reuter | Former Athlete
The Rooted Athlete Podcast shines light on athletes as they transition into life after sports. Hosted by Megan Reuter, former D1 swimmer . It’s said that an athlete dies twice: first at retirement, then at the end of life. Here, we dive into the challenges associated with this transition and how you can use your athletic roots in your day-to-day life! Through featured guests that have navigated this transition, across all sports and industries, sharing their journey, our goal is to empower you to grow beyond sport! Join us every Monday! Follow us on IG: @therootedathlete.
Episodes
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Next Chapter Athletes Podcast - Navigating ALL Life Transitions | Megan Reuter + Nico Russillio
This collaboration with Next Chapter Athletes was so valuable I had to share my interview on Nico's podcast. Throughout this episode, I chat all about the different life transitions I have gone through in the last few years and key takeaways to overcome different challenges. This was such a…
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68. You Relied On Your Sport For More Than You Thought | Whitney Miller, Former Swimmer
Have you ever thought about the amount of benefits we received from our sport? It was our outlet, our form of exercise, our form of community, our passion, our identity. We often don't think about all that it provided for us until it's gone. In today's episode, Whitney Miller is here to chat all...
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67. Cultivate Radical Belief In Yourself To Get What You Want In Your Career | Nico Russolillo, Next Chapter Athletes
We all have an inflection point in our life. That point where there was nothing left to give in one direction you had NO choice but to pivot and go a different way. In today's episode, Nico with Next Chapter Athletes, discusses that point in his life. Where he literally chose life or death....
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Soccer Caused A Life Altering Traumatic Brain Injury, Here's What She Learned | Mary Grayson Nix, Former Soccer Player
Injuries, especially concussions are pretty customary in sports. While we may think that we're unstoppable out there on the field, the reality is, nothing is guaranteed. Today's episode is a testament to exactly that. Mary Grayson Nix was no stranger to concussions, suffering a total of SIX...
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EP65 - Confidence Does Not Equal Self-Worth | Hanna Hall, Former Pro Basketball Player
Hanna dreamt about being on the National Team for Canada. After years and years of hard work, dedication, blood, sweat, tears, she did it!!! Yet, she made the decision a few years back to hang up the jersey. Over these last three years she has done a lot of reflecting and unwinding of her habits...
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EP64 - My First Public Speech & What I Learned - SOLO, Megan Reuter
Different seasons of life may take us along scary, new, exciting, and sad paths. This season of my life is allowing me to conquer one of the worlds number one fears: Public Speaking!! It has been a dream of mine for about 3 years now to get in front of an audience and give a prepared speech, and...
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The MOST Important Question We Need To Ask Ourself When Retiring | Zach Turnure, Founder Of Everyday Athlete
Once our sport is over, it can be hard to discover what we like to do outside of compete. We may find ourselves in a job that we hate and missing the days of our athlete life. In today's episode, Zach Turnure and I dive into an honest conversation about the reality of life after sports, his...
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"Progress Over Perfection" | Nowoola Awopetu, Founder of Pressing Forward
Pressing Forward, what does that mean to you? Probably something along the lines of always growing, pushing through adversity and overcoming challenges. Today's episode talks all about those concepts. We dive into how these experiences as athletes have shaped us into who we are today and how we…
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Why Athletes Struggle With "Self-Love" And How To Change That | Dominic Johnson, Former Football Pro, Life Coach
Why is it so hard for athletes to love themselves? Well, there's a LOT of pressure that athletes have and put on themselves. This can cause us to "doubt' our abilities when things don't go as planned. Do you ever find it hard to give yourself credit where it's due but you have no problem hyping…
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60. The FINE Line Between Standards And Expectations, Mental SHIFTS To Achieve Your Goals | Emily Esposito, Em-Powerment, Former Basketball Player
Can you write down 5 standards you have for yourself? You may come to realize that this question can be tough to answer. Today, we dive into a conversation all about standards, expectations and knowing the difference between the two. Emily also touches on her goal setting practices and how we can...
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From The Field To The Altar | Nick & Madison Swan, FAU Athlete Alumni
Nick & Madison Swan are here to talk all things relationship and navigating all mindset changes post sport. As a financial advisor, Nick has navigated a new path which he has found success. As a Med School student, Madison has had to navigate the challenges associated with getting into Med School...
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Finding Friends + Navigating Growing Pains Post Sport | Alyssa + Alyssa, Hosts of So You're A Former Athlete And
Once sport is over, our friends are no longer handed to us. We don't have a team filled with like minded individuals waiting for us in life after sport. So, we have to bear the responsibility of meeting new people! This episode dives all into how we can lean into the relationship we have with...
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These TOOLS Separate The Good From Great | Sarah Sutin, Mental Performance Coach
Have you ever watched a sports competition where one team and one player is going off the walls? They're yelling at their coach, yelling at their teammates, yelling at the referee. Then there's the other team or the other player that is acting like nothing's happening. Like they've done this...
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Curating a WORLD RECORD Mindset | Brittney Sullivan, Guinness World Record Holder
Do you remember the Guinness Book of World Records? I remember reading it in elementary school thinking, "Wow, how cool would it be to achieve one of these?". While I never ended up going after one, it still felt that it takes a very specific person to achieve one. That's why I brought Brittney...
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The RAW Emotions Behind Sport Retirement, How To Find Your Authentic Self | Jess McAuley, Retiring High Diver, Authenticity Coach
Jess McAuley, a truly authentic human, and badass life athlete, is at the end of her athletic career. Her career consisted of 22 YEARS of diving and will end as a professional high diver for Team Canada. In this episode, Jess opens up about the raw emotions she is feeling during this transition,...
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The FUTURE of Athlete Mental Health | Emily Perrin, Former Soccer Player, Mental Health Therapist
Today we’re speaking with Emily Perrin. Emily played soccer at UVA, then spent time coaching athletes, giving back to the sport that gave her so much. And after realizing how big the void is for mental health in athletics, she now spends her days as a mental health therapist, empowering athletes...
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Lean Into Your STRENGTHS As A Former Athlete In 2024 | Dr. Tyler Lee, Former Volleyball Player
Has anyone else experienced complete burnout or even resentment towards their sport? You wouldn't be the only one. Dr. Tyler Lee leans into a riveting conversation about overcoming the resentment towards his sport. After coping by deferment for three years, he finally came to terms by learning…
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#52 - Using MOMENTUM To Reach Peak Fitness | Will Marshall, Former Goalkeeper
When working towards a new goal, they say the hardest part is starting. This couldn't be further from the truth, because once you start then you ride on MOMENTUM. But you don't get to ride momentum if you don't start. Today, Will Marshall dives into his experience with helping dozens of former...
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The BIGGEST Misconception About The Fitness Industry | Kate Steller, Former Soccer Player
In today's episode, Kate and I dive into a conversation about the fitness industry and how we are wired to think exercise is only about performance as athletes. Once our sport is no longer there, the "next" reason to exercise becomes LOOKS. There are many shifts to make as we leave sports since...
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Feel The Fear Of Judgement... And Do It Anyway | SOLO EP 50
When is the last time you made a decision based on what others would think versus what you truly wanted to do? Society has a interesting way of making us feel like we HAVE to do certain things. Today, I dive into how we can all take inventory of our lives and start living in true authenticity....
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Navigating The Long Term Pains From Sport | Tori Williams DPT, Founder of Finding Fortitude
Any athlete is no stranger to overtraining. We put ourselves through the wringer on a daily basis in order to perform to the best of our ability. Pain is par for course during our sport. But what about the pains that linger even when your sport is over? Is there a way to fully heal from…
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From Soccer To Sorority To... Eating Disorder? | Liv Whalen, Former Soccer Player
Olivia transitioned from sports and was quickly taken over with the mentality of "I can't let myself go". With ringing comments in her head from close family, she developed an eating disorder. Through therapy and a lot of self work, she overcame the intrusive thoughts that come with an ED and now...
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Find The ROOT Of Health Through Your Hormones & Gut | Lyndsy Kinghorn, Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner
Did you know that the way we feel before, during and after a meal can tell us a LOT about our health? Specifically our GUT. In this episode, Lyndsy gives us tons of insight towards our hormones and what symptoms are NOT normal to experience. After experiencing complete burn out as a competitive...
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Using Setbacks to Create Comebacks | Caitlin Eppley, Former Soccer Player
In this episode, Caitlin doesn't miss a detail regarding her transition as an injured player. After being told she would never play on the team again, she quickly learned her role, and it had nothing to do with performance. Caitlin also touches on her struggles throughout the transition to...
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Challenge Society's Beauty Standards | Coach Cindi, Former Volleyball Player
In today's episode, Coach Cindi is here to talk all about body changes in life after sport. As a former volleyball player who went directly into volleyball coaching, she had to spend time healing her relationship with exercise. Being on the 'other side' of the athletics field made her feel as if...
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Authenticity Over Achievements | Kelsey Davelaar, Former Gymnast
In this episode, Kelsey Davelaar is here to share her experience finding confidence throughout all of life's transitions. A short time after transitioning out of her sport, she also became a wife and a mother. When these transitions stacked on top of each other, she focused on her foundational...
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The Foundation Of Financial Freedom | Amobi Okugo, Former Pro Soccer Player
Did you know that 78% of professional athletes end up broke 3 years after retirement? Amobi knows the statistics were against him. He devoted his time to getting curious about the other 22% of athletes that aren't broke and what they did differently. This episode breaks down some key takeaways to...
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Exploring Curiosity And Finding The "And-Also" In Your Life | Cory Camp
Cory Camp brings us a unique perspective today. After learning we are basically related in the swimming community, we dive into an awesome conversation. Cory swam throughout college and realized quickly that he was filling the void of swimming with alcohol. He got curious and decided to take...
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41. Life Doesn't Happen TO You, It Happens FOR You | Rhonda Rajsich, Pro Racquetball Player, Speaker
We can all relate to having some scary experiences in our past. Most of the times, these experiences shape our perspective and make us grateful for things we often don't pay attention to. However, Rhonda's story is quite unique and almost quivering. If you thought being the most decorated...
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Sports Induced A DECADE Of Panic Attacks, Here's What She Learned | Leah Avery, Former Swimmer, Current Physical Therapist
Do you ever put more pressure on yourself than probably necessary? If you have, it's okay, you're human. Leah experienced this to an extreme that took over her entire world. Throughout her college experience AND after, the suppressed pressure was suffocating. Once her panic attacks started...
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Putting The Joy Back In Exercise - Katelyn Pennell, Former Soccer Player Turned Certified Personal Trainer
After sports, we all go through a phase of "disordered exercising". If you've experienced going to the gym to "work off the calories I ate" or "get a thigh gap" or "get that 6 pack for the summer". Then you've experienced disordered exercising. Today, Katelyn and I dive into a conversation on how...
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Build A Life & Business You Won't Want To Retire From | Kim Brady, Former Soccer Player, Cal Berkeley
Have you ever thought of starting your own business but feel like you have no idea where to start? Today, Kim Brady provides all of the clarity you need to taking that first step. As a former Collegiate Soccer player, former family therapist, 2x Author and 2x Business owner, she knows the ins and...
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The Responsibility We GAIN Once Retiring From Sports | SOLO
Freedom... it is a beautiful thing. When used effectively. Once we no longer have our sport to spend our time in, we have to CHOOSE where to spend our time. This comes with a lot of responsibility and often can feel overwhelming. Today I talk about when to step into opportunities that may put us...
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REWIRE Your Brain To Overcome Anxiety And Embrace Confidence | Lorrine Headrick, Former Cross Country Athlete
Our brain is wired to focus on negative thoughts, but did you know you can REWIRE your brain? As athletes, it can be easy for self-limiting beliefs to come into our mind. Confidence doesn't come naturally and often times, we need some support. Lorrine Headrick has spent years in this space, with…
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Nutrition Basics & Grocery HACKS To Feel Empowered Around Food | Molli Glickman, Nutritionist, Former Soccer Player
In a world of overwhelming nutrition advice out there. Molli's approach of "getting back to the basics" is SO valuable. Her business is a hands-on approach to nutrition and wellness. From grocery time to cooking classes with her clients, she understands the need for a well-rounded approach in...
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Shifting Your Focus From ME to WE | Sammi Card, Former Softball Player, University of Pittsburg
Sammi Card was an all-star Softball player, and that is all she thought she was. Until she channeled her athlete mentality and characteristics into her career. She quickly rose to the top of her industry and now has experience that sports could never give her. Throughout this grind, she realized...
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Debunk Nutrition Myths & Heal Your Relationship With Food | Katie Spada, Former Athlete Nutritionist
Life after sports brings so much change. One of the biggest changes is our relationship with food and exercise. As athletes, we are exercising and eating for performance. Once our sport ends, what are we doing that for? Today, Katie Spada, a former athlete nutritionist, gives us insight to how we...
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How To Be The TOP Recruit For Your Dream Job | Julia Rock, CEO Rock Career
Picture this. You just graduated and you're ready to land your 'dream career'. You start your resume and stumble over words to describe what you did as an athlete. You send your new resume to 100s of companies and land a few interviews! You answer all of the questions, yet never ask the company...
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How To Avoid BURNOUT In Life After Sports - Natalie Sawyer, Former Snowboarder
As athletes, we are prone to the "go-go-go" mentality. This is known to put us at a higher risk for burn out. Natalie spent decades as a snowboarder and took her athlete mentality to every goal she went after. From becoming a nurse to a firefighter to a new business. Head down until it's…
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MASTERCLASS: Training Effectively Post-Sport Retirement | Stefan Duvivier, Former Track + Basketball Player, Tufts University
As a DOUBLE SPORT collegiate athlete, Stefan knows the wear and tear our body and mind go through during sports. His original plan was to go into Medical School, yet he happily decided to take his love for science and learning to a different space. Now, he is working as a performance coach…
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Start Imagining Your Life In 2025 | Gabby DeLoof, Professional Swimmer, Team USA
How often do you think about what your life will be like in 2025? That's 2 years from now. I can answer for myself, not often, if ever. Today's episode, Gabby dives into her strategies behind preparing for life after sports all while going after one of the biggest goals in her life, making the…
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EP28 - From A Post-Sports Crisis To Running 100 Mile Races | Chris Tomshack, Former Baseball Player, Lake Erie College
We all have our tough moments after sports. At just 22 years old, we have to redefine what we want our life to look like. This can cause us to go down a path we may never thought possible. Chris's transition was no exception to this. Today, his vulnerability helps us all understand the...
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EP27 - Overcoming Top Struggles Just One Year Post-Sport | Hailee Trotter, Former D1 Swimmer, Florida Atlantic University
Hailee is just one-year retired from her collegiate sport. She has chosen time and time again to put herself in uncomfortable situations. Like moving from OH to FL for her sport as well as moving right up to PA after college to pursue a new career and life with her boyfriend. She has spent tons…
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How Is Your Sports Career Affecting You Now? | Jessica Eley, Former Volleyball Player, App State
Jessica Eley is a former App State Volleyball Player turned Mom, Sports Reporter and absolute badass. For over 5 years she has juggled her health, career all while raising a growing child! She has taken the time to reflect on her volleyball career and how it is currently affecting her in life…
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Why There Are NO Solutions In Life & How To Make Better Decisions - Megan Reuter | Solo Ep
As athletes, we chose our sport over everything. We chose it over family holidays, over going out with friends and sometimes, over school. (Guilty) What does this mean? Everything has a cost. Today we walk through seven tips to making better decisions in life after sports. It's crucial to...
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Discovering Self Awareness & Becoming A Better Corporate Teammate | Domenic Contrino, Former Hockey Player, Florida Junior Blades
As someone who Eat, Sleep & Sh!T hockey, life was unfathomable without his sport. Domenic graciously dives into the reality of life after sports and what the corporate world may bring you. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a written review as a free way to support us. It helps more than you...
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TOP 10 Action Items For A Retiring Athlete
Did you know at the end of every episode our guests give their top action items to the transitioning athlete? My favorite part is the guests never know this question is coming, these are off the cuff answers based on their experiences through this transition. Today - we compiled some of our...
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Optimizing Your Nutrition After Sports | Natalie Robertello, Sports Dietitian
Have you ever felt a dip in energy in the afternoon? It may be more common than you think. Today, we speak with Natalie Robertello, a former athlete turned sports dietitian. She shares her reservations towards diet culture in sports and what we can do to optimize our nutrition during and after…
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Why Athlete’s Aren’t Okay With Not Being Okay | Nikki Kett, Former Swimmer, Kenyon University
Do you struggle to embrace negative feelings? Are you OK with not being OK? On today's episode, we speak with Nikki Kett, a former D1 athlete and coach who now spends her time working directly with athletes as they transition out of sport. After assisting 1000's of former athletes, she has pin...
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What Can You Learn From Hiking 52 Miles In 2 Days? Solo with Megan Reuter
A few months ago, I decided to embark on a journey to hike from the south rim to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. This journey would consist of over 200 miles of run/walk training, tons of sauna sessions and thousands of stairs climbed. A few weeks ago, I completed not only south to north, but...
About this show
The Rooted Athlete Podcast shines light on athletes as they transition into life after sports. Hosted by Megan Reuter, former D1 swimmer . It’s said that an athlete dies twice: first at retirement, then at the end of life. Here, we dive into the challenges associated with this transition and how you can use your athletic roots in your day-to-day life! Through featured guests that have navigated this transition, across all sports and industries, sharing their journey, our goal is to empower you to grow beyond sport! Join us every Monday! Follow us on IG: @therootedathlete.
Hosted by
Megan Reuter | Former Athlete