This week’s guest is Ashten Smith-Gooden, former collegiate volleyball player at UC Berkeley turned co-founder and COO of Swish Cultures. Despite facing the intense pressure of college volleyball and navigating a toxic team environment, Ashten emerged stronger, battling insecurities and multiple meniscus tears along the way. In this episode, she candidly shares her transition from the volleyball courts to athlete-driven media, teaming up with her brother to launch Swish Cultures. Tune in as we explore the mental challenges of athlete transition, the importance of support, and the drive behind their mission to showcase the beauty of basketball worldwide. D1 Volleyball to Athlete-Driven Media @ashten.jewell

(3:00) Navigating Life with Type 1 Diabetes

(16:20) Making others Feel SAFE & SEEN

(20:20) Why I HATED Volleyball

(23:00) The Need for Student-Athlete Career Support

(29:00) Why Athletes NEED Career Support

(36:00) Embracing Continuous Learning

(38:00) Beyond Your Profession: You Are More Than What You Do

(44:00) Exploring Intersectionality and Leadership

(47:00) Diving into the Unknown: Covering a Sport I Never Played

(49:00) Battling Imposter Syndrome

(53:00) Achieving Financial Freedom

(56:00) Overcoming Her Mind Bully

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