In this episode of Athletes After Hours, I sit down with legendary former UCLA Gymnastics head coach, Pac-12 Coach of the Century, and keynote speaker Valorie Kondos Field, better known to so many of us as Miss Val.

This conversation is especially meaningful to me because Miss Val wasn’t just one of the most influential coaches in college gymnastics, she was my coach at UCLA. She played such a significant role in my experience as a student-athlete and helped shape me into the person I am today. So getting to sit across from her years later, outside of the gym and in a completely different chapter of both of our lives, made this conversation incredibly special.

Over the course of her 34-year career at UCLA, Miss Val helped build one of the most successful and recognizable programs in college gymnastics, but her impact has always extended far beyond wins, championships, and trophies. We talk about what it was like leading generations of young women, how her approach to coaching and leadership evolved throughout her career, and the lessons she learned from more than three decades at the helm of UCLA Gymnastics.

Miss Val also opens up about one of the most difficult chapters of her life: being diagnosed with breast cancer while still coaching her team. She shares how that experience changed her perspective on life, success, and the way she showed up for the people around her.

We also dive into her decision to walk away from coaching while she was still at the peak of her career and why knowing when to leave can sometimes be just as powerful as knowing when to keep going. After spending 34 years with such a clear role and purpose, we talk about what it looked like to build a new identity outside of coaching, step into her next chapter as a keynote speaker and leader, and discover purpose beyond the thing she had dedicated so much of her life to.

This conversation is about so much more than gymnastics. It’s about leadership, resilience, identity, navigating change, and learning that sometimes your greatest chapter can begin when you’re willing to close another one.

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What does it really take to chase perfection in one of the world's most judged sports? This week, I'm joined by Olympic bronze medalist, 3x Olympian, 5x Canadian National Champion, and World Championship medalist Piper Gilles for an incredibly honest conversation about the highs and lows of elite ice dancing.

We talk about the pressure of performing a sport where every tiny detail is scrutinized, what it takes to find the right partner both on and off the ice, and the years of trust it takes to build one of the most successful partnerships in figure skating. Piper also opens up about being diagnosed with Stage I ovarian cancer just before the Olympics, how she fought her way back to competition, and what it meant to stand on the Olympic podium and win bronze after everything she'd been through.

Beyond the medals, this episode is about perspective. We dive into finding joy outside of sport, separating self-worth from results, and why some of life's biggest challenges can completely change the way you approach your dreams. Whether you're an athlete or simply navigating your own next chapter, Piper's resilience, humility, and outlook on life make this a conversation you won't forget.

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This week's episode of Athletes After Hours features keynote speaker, former minor league baseball player, and author Chris Cullen for a conversation that goes far beyond the game. After seeing his lifelong dream of playing professional baseball come to an unexpected end, Chris was forced to confront one of the hardest questions every athlete eventually faces: Who am I without my sport?

Together, we dive into identity beyond athletics, navigating career transitions, finding purpose after setbacks, and the mindset shifts that helped Chris turn one chapter closing into the beginning of something even greater. We also talk about resilience, personal growth, and why some of life's biggest challenges often become our greatest opportunities.

Whether you're an athlete, chasing a dream, or simply navigating a season of change, this conversation is packed with perspective and practical wisdom that will leave you feeling inspired to embrace whatever comes next.

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There are some conversations that just feel like looking in a mirror, and this was one of them. This week, I'm joined by UCLA gymnast Katelyn Rosen, someone I lovingly call my mini me. We dive into what it's really like to compete at the highest level of collegiate gymnastics, navigate the pressure that comes with wearing the UCLA leotard, and fight your way back through the mental struggles that so many athletes experience but so few openly talk about.

We also have a big sister/little sister conversation about life after sport, the emotions that come with entering your final year of college gymnastics, and the uncertainty of what's next when the sport you've dedicated your life to begins to wind down. As two floor performers who approach performance in such a similar way, we also geek out over artistry, performance quality, and what it feels like to truly connect with an audience beyond just the gymnastics.

Whether you're an athlete navigating pressure, someone approaching a big life transition, or just love hearing honest conversations about the highs and lows that come with chasing excellence, I think you're really going to love this one.

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Former U.S. Men’s National Team defender, 2010 FIFA World Cup veteran, MLS Cup champion, and one of soccer’s most recognizable broadcasters, Heath Pearce joins me for an honest conversation about life on and off the pitch.

With the FIFA World Cup in full swing, Heath shares his perspective on what makes this tournament so special, the moments fans don’t always get to see, and what it’s really like to experience the biggest stage in sports as a player. We also dive into the transition out of professional soccer, navigating the loss of an athletic identity, and how he found a new purpose behind the microphone as a sports broadcaster and television analyst.

Whether you’re a lifelong soccer fan or simply curious about what happens after the final whistle, this episode is a conversation about reinvention, perspective, and finding fulfillment long after your playing career comes to an end.

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Tisha Alyn joins me on Athletes After Hours for an honest conversation about embracing change, navigating life's unexpected twists, and what it looks like to keep showing up for yourself through every season. From growing a business to moving through a very public breakup, Tisha shares the lessons she's learned about resilience, friendship, and building a life that feels true to who you are.

A former professional golfer, entrepreneur, CEO of Alyn Golf, and content creator, Tisha shares how she transformed her career beyond competition while building a brand in a man's world. We also dive into the realities of social media, betting on yourself, embracing change, and why your identity doesn't have to be tied to just one chapter of your life.

Whether you're an athlete, creator, entrepreneur, or simply figuring out your next step, this episode is packed with honest conversations, perspective, and reminders that some of life's greatest opportunities come from having the courage to start over.

Shop ALYN GOLF: https://alyngolf.com/

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Former Division I USC volleyball player, TEDx speaker, and mental health advocate Victoria Garrick Browne joins me for a conversation every athlete and every woman needs to hear. After turning her own struggles with perfectionism, anxiety, and body image into a mission to help others, Victoria founded The Hidden Opponent and has become one of the leading voices changing the conversation around mental health in sports.

In this episode, we dive into the impossible beauty standards women are facing today, the rise of weight loss drugs, social media's impact on body image, and why so many of us feel like we're constantly chasing an unattainable version of ourselves. We also talk about athlete identity, confidence, and how we can start unlearning the toxic messages we've been taught about our worth and appearance.

This is an honest, empowering conversation that will leave you questioning the standards we've normalized and remind you that your value was never meant to be measured by how you look.

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Olympic bronze medalist, Canadian record holder, and three time Olympian Alysha Newman joins me for one of the most honest conversations we've had on Athletes After Hours. We talk about the incredible high of finally standing on an Olympic podium after years of setbacks, heartbreak, and self-doubt, as well as the mental blocks that once left her questioning whether she'd ever reach her full potential. Alysha opens up about working with an EMDR specialist to heal from past trauma, rebuild her confidence, and unlock a version of herself she didn't know was possible.

She also shares the story behind the two year ban that changed the trajectory of her career, the emotional toll it took on her identity, and how she found the strength to keep showing up when walking away would've been easier. At its core, this is a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and what happens when you're forced to bet on yourself. Now, with her eyes set on LA28, Alysha is chasing the biggest comeback of her career, and proving that sometimes the greatest victories come long after you've been counted out.

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This week's episode of Athletes After Hours is a special one because I'm sitting down with someone who has shaped nearly every part of my journey: my dad. As an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine professional who has worked with some of the world's top athletes through organizations like the World Surf League, he's spent his career helping people get back to doing what they love.
But beyond the accolades and accomplishments, he's also the person who raised me to value movement, prioritize my health, chase excellence, and develop a deep appreciation for what the human body is capable of. In this Father's Day episode, we talk about everything from sports injuries and recovery to parenting, purpose, resilience, and the lessons he's learned from a lifetime spent caring for athletes. Whether you're an athlete, a parent, or someone simply trying to live a healthier life, this conversation is packed with wisdom, perspective, and a lot of heart.

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In this episode of Athletes After Hours, I am so honored to sit down with ultrarunner and physical therapist Rachel Entrekin fresh off one of the most remarkable performances in endurance sports history. Rachel opens up about what it was really like to run 250 miles across the Arizona desert, endure extreme sleep deprivation, battle through unimaginable physical and mental challenges, and ultimately become the first woman ever to win the Cocodona 250 outright, crossing the finish line ahead of all the men and women in the field.

But this conversation goes far beyond running. Rachel shares her deeply personal journey recovering from an eating disorder, including the difficult reality of going to rehab twice and rebuilding her relationship with food, exercise, and herself. Together, we explore how healing, not restriction, became the foundation that allowed her to perform at the highest level and how learning to properly fuel her body ultimately helped her accomplish what once seemed impossible. This episode is a powerful conversation about resilience, recovery, self worth, and the incredible things that can happen when we stop fighting our bodies and start working with them. Whether you're an athlete or simply navigating your own challenges, Rachel's story is one you won't forget.

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