Hey guys, it's Belicia! On this week's episode I thought I'd introduce myself formally and tell you guys about my background in aesthetic sports and why I started this podcast. 

Connect with me on Instagram: @belicia.tang 

---

Stay connected with Athlete Voices!

Instagram: @athletevoices

Website: https://athletevoices.net/

Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support

Natalie McGiffert is a former USA national team rhythmic gymnast. A Southern California native, she made history as a member of the 2016 rhythmic group gymnastics team that gave Team USA its first ever earned Olympic spot for RG group. She was also a member of the 2015 Pan American Games team that won two silvers and one gold medal. Natalie was a competitive gymnast for nearly 13 years and now works as a full time employee at LA28, which is the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee for the 2028 Games.

Connect with Natalie: https://www.instagram.com/natmcgiffert/

---

Stay connected with Athlete Voices!

Instagram: @athletevoices

Website: https://athletevoices.net/

Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support

Andrew Escolme is a professional ballroom dancer. He began his career dancing in the Latin category, and later pivoted to American Rhythm. He recently debuted a new dance partnership with Asta Sigvaldadottir and hopes to continue bringing authenticity to his dancing while competing at the highest level.

Andrew's competitive accolades include:

- World Rhythm Finalist 

- World Salsa Champion  

- United States Rising Star Rhythm Champion  

- British National Champion

Connect with Andrew: @andrewaescolme

---

Stay connected with Athlete Voices!

Instagram: @athletevoices

Website: https://athletevoices.net/

Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support

Julie Zetlin is a retired American rhythmic gymnast. She is the 2010 U.S. Senior National Champion in Rhythmic Gymnastics and represented the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games. In 2015, she was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame. In this interview Julie and I talk about her experience competing with a broken foot at the Olympics, the importance of mental performance training as an athlete, her transition out of gymnastics and her current role as a fitness industry specialist.

Connect with Julie: https://www.instagram.com/julcool/

---

Stay connected with Athlete Voices!

Instagram: @athletevoices

Website: https://athletevoices.net/

Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support

Autumn Steed is from Downers Grove, IL and began her pre-professional ballet training at the Academy of Dance Arts under the direction of Sherry Moray. She is a 2015 National YoungArts Winner and a graduate of Miami City Ballet School’s Pre-Professional Division. At Miami City Ballet, she performed with the company in George Balanchine’s Walpurgisnacht Ballet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In 2017, she joined Alabama Ballet as an Apprentice, where she performed multiple soloist roles. In 2019, she joined Chicago’s A&A Ballet and was a guest artist with Chicago Opera Theater in Aleko at the Harris Theater. Autumn joined Kansas City Ballet’s KCB II in 2020 and she was promoted to Company Apprentice in 2022. At KCB, she has performed works including Balanchine’s Serenade, Pink’s Dracula, Webre’s The Wizard of Oz, and Carney’s Giselle and The Nutcracker. Additionally, Autumn holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Sport & Performance Psychology and is a Pilates instructor.

Connect with Autumn: @autumnhsteed

---

Stay connected with Athlete Voices!

Instagram: @athletevoices

Website: https://athletevoices.net/

Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support

Jonas Woolverton is a cirque performer and specialist in the Cyr Wheel. He ran away to the circus at age 25 and performed with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas for 11 years. He now performs independently as a wheel artist, actor and filmmaker. Jonas has performed on 5 continents, in over 5,000 shows, in front of over 500,000 spectators. 

Connect with Jonas: @zupunkcirque

---

Stay connected with Athlete Voices!

Instagram: @athletevoices

Website: https://athletevoices.net/

Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support

Follow along as I guide you through 3 types of breathing techniques to release performance anxiety. Do not practice these exercises while operating a moving vehicle. 

Timestamps:

1:2 Ratio Breathing 1:16 - 2:30

Rhythmic Breathing 2:32 - 3:43

Sighing With Exhalation 3:46 - 5:30

References: Williams, J. M., & Krane, V. (2021). Applied Sport Psychology: Personal Growth To Peak Performance. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

---

Stay connected with Athlete Voices!

Instagram: @athletevoices

Website: https://athletevoices.net/

Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support

Pamela Tang is a 26 year-old former competitive rhythmic gymnast. After competing in the sport from age 10 to 21 and making Level 10 Elite, she is now the head coach at Tampa Bay Rhythmics.

In this interview, Pamela discusses how her positive experiences in the sport have informed her coaching philosophy. She advocates for safe, nurturing, and positive coaching methods to shape not only high-performing athletes, but holistic, well-adjusted human beings.

Connect with Pamela:

Instagram: @pam_xoxx

---

Stay connected with Athlete Voices!

Instagram: @athletevoices

Website: https://athletevoices.net/

Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support

Welcome to season 2 of the podcast! 

We have several guests lined up, dancers, gymnasts, Cirque du Soleil artists, and more. This season we will also focus more on sport psychology and feature things like guided meditations, episodes on how to practice imagery, progressive muscle relaxation techniques, and many more strategies to boost your mental performance game. We will interview sport psychologists and mental performance coaches as well to hear their perspectives.

Happy New Year, and see you all in 2023! 

---

Stay connected with Athlete Voices!

Instagram: @athletevoices

Website: https://athletevoices.net/

Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support

Tori Kubick, aka, conTORItion, is a professional contortionist, calmness connoisseur, world class performer, TEDx speaker, writer, and world traveler. Growing up as an award winning dancer, she later found her true love, the antiquated art form of Mongolian contortion. She kept pushing the odds, and now she tours the world and performs contortion and acrobatics in various theatres, cruise ships, and the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil. Tori recently published an article in SUP International and is fusing her performance with water. Tori has opened for Miley Cyrus, was featured on The Tonight Show, Ripley's Believe it Or Not, NYFW, RHONY, and performed for TEAM USA.

Connect with Tori:

Instagram: @con_tori_tion

Watch Tori's TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJZM04Kxd_E&t=425s

---

Stay connected with Athlete Voices!

Instagram: @athletevoices

Website: https://athletevoices.net/

Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support