At just 22, Alli Schroeder has already blazed trails most wouldn't dare to walk. As the first woman to play in the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Conference and a 2X bronze medalist with Team Canada's national baseball team, she's no stranger to being the only woman on the field. But perhaps even more impressively, when she's not commanding the pitcher's mound, she's battling wildfires in British Columbia's challenging terrain.

Growing up in the small town of Fruitvale, BC (population: roughly 1,000), Alli learned early that resilience isn't just about individual strength – it's about creating positive change for others. Inspired by her mother, who also works in the male-dominated wildfire industry, Alli developed a unique approach to handling adversity: stay emotionless in the face of challenge but let your passion fuel your purpose.

Today, Alli's impact reaches far beyond the baseball diamond. When she returns to her hometown, she sees young girls playing baseball without hesitation – a stark contrast to her early days as the only female player. Her story is now featured in See Her, Be Her, a documentary chronicling seven remarkable women in baseball worldwide, which premiered on MLB Network last week.

5 Key Uplifting Lessons from Alli's Journey:

1. Turn Criticism into Purpose: Instead of letting negative voices derail you, use them as motivation to create better opportunities for those who follow. Alli transformed the challenges she faced into a determination to make baseball more accessible for future female players.

2. Redefine Work Ethic: True work ethic isn't about going hard 100% of the time – it's about strategic thinking, knowing when to rest, and understanding what you need in each moment to perform at your best long-term.

3. Lead with Resilience: Sometimes, showing no emotion is a form of strength. As Alli learned on the pitcher's mound, maintaining composure under pressure isn't about suppressing feelings – it's about channeling them productively.

4. Find Your Team: Whether on a baseball field or fighting fires, success comes from working within your strengths while supporting others. Recognize that some days, you'll operate at 30%, and that's when your team lifts you up.

5. Prioritize Recovery: The highest performers understand that rest isn't weakness – it's strategic. Taking time to recover, whether through cold water therapy, family time, or simply sleeping well, is crucial for sustained excellence.

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The Uplifters’ Web

Alli was nominated by Tammie Meaks, a wonderful member of our production partners at Produce Your Podcast.

This week’s opening is by the wonderful Lisa Crozier whose story was featured in episode 13.