Learn 2 Listen

This week we are joined by Sam Manfreda, former D1 Rower at the University of Notre Dame (‘21) and current Software Engineer at Google. Sam is one of Mariah’s very best friends (if you couldn’t tell from the many laughs) and trusted confidant. In this episode, you’ll hear them discuss what it’s like to transition away from higher education and the service industry to a full time position at one of the biggest tech companies, the idea that there is plenty of space for emotion and empathy in our world, different methods of coping with stress and expressing vulnerability, as well as the interesting relationship one can have with working out and guilt. That’s a lot of stuff to cover, but lucky for us, we recorded it all ;).

On this episode of Learn 2 Listen we’re joined by Allison Allyn, MA LICSW, a licensed social worker in the state of Massachusetts and Co-Founder of Ehrhart Singer Therapy Group. Allison tells us all about what therapy is actually like, the difference between sport psychology and clinical therapy, the negative connotation between vulnerability and weakness, the difference between process and progress, and more!

This episode of Learn 2 Listen is a tad bit different in that my lovely friend and Orr Fellow, Devon Ngo, is interviewing our host, Mariah Parsons, on why she started Learn 2 Listen. Devon attended the University of Notre Dame (Class of 2021), is currently in the Orr Fellowship, and is also an Operations Analyst and Photographer. He is currently building out his photography portfolio and asked Mariah if she would be featured. The mission of Devon’s project is to capture people in their element, doing what they are passionate about, and for Mariah, that’s podcasting! If you’re in the Indianapolis area and are looking to get involved with Devon and his photography, please check him out via his website!

On this Episode of Learn 2 Listen, we’re joined by Monroe Olsen, former D1 Volleyball player at Notre Dame. Monroe shares about her opinions on spirituality and religion and how they influence her perspective. Mariah and Monroe discuss their different narratives as it pertains to being injured and stepping away from sport, wading through the waters of being sent home during the COVID pandemic, and transitioning out of our careers in athletics to intentionally slow down.

On this episode of Learn 2 Listen, we’re joined by Beverly Yanez. She is an American soccer coach and former professional player who is currently the assistant coach of Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She’s also a loving wife and mother of a little 1 and a half year old. She shares about what it was like to step away from being a player into a coach and how that reshaped her identity. Bev and Mariah also chat about what it's like to push down and hide anxiety when you're in athletics which flows into a conversation around coaching and mental health.

Listen to Bev and Mariah's previous conversation on AFH Presents: Conversations on Sports and Mental Health.

Today we are joined by Sophie Wang and Lexi Andrie, two Orr Fellows and founders and CEO and COO of the non-profit LUMA Galleries. We talk about their personal journeys and what they’ve learned through founding a non-profit that illuminates different narratives. In this episode you’ll hear about how and when we started to become aware of our own individual needs, shame around injury, painful experiences bringing out growth, amplifying the voices of others, the importance of human connection, how to avoid negative self-talk, and so much more.

Get your tickets to LUMA Volume I: https://www.lumagalleries.org/event-details/luma-vol-i

On this episode of Learn 2 Listen, we’re joined by Cory Camp, a phenomenal human being and expert in helping athletes find their flow state. He’s a swimmer, coach, author, podcaster, and founder of Forever Athlete. He takes personal development and trains others on how to be successful in it. In this episode we talk about the struggle to label yourself with an intro and on social media, content creation, making lifestyle and personal development easy and sustainable, the Psychophysiological window of tolerance of stress, flow state psychology, intermediately challenging yourself, imposter syndrome and so much.

We’re joined by LaVonne Idlette, Olympic track star, lawyer and investment coach, and contestant on The Amazing Race. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, she competed in the Women's 100 meters hurdles as well as attending Hampton University to compete in the heptathlon. She also competed on The Amazing Race in 2020 for season 32. LaVonne now spends her time helping high achievers, such as professional athletes, lawyers, and doctors, invest in commercial real estate to educate on financial fitness and create passive income.

There’s so many great take-a-ways but we’ve taken to highlighting a few:

• The mental shift necessary to go from being good at many things to becoming great at one

• Why it’s important to surround yourself with other high achieving people

• Unlearning stereotypes (for example: that athletes aren’t intelligent)

• How to stay aware from those who try to keep you in the dark by keeping you uneducated

• The buckets you should keep you money in and why you should diversify your financial profile

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On this episode we’re joined by YouTuber and content creator Brooke Sabey. In this episode you’ll hear how Brooke and Mariah relate over their college experience being disrupted and being sucked back into hometown life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Have you ever felt like you regressed into the person you used to be? Brooke tells the story of how she convinced her parents to let her have social media and a Youtube channel at 12 and how her main friend group she met through the Internet when she wasn’t accepted by middle schoolers. Brooke and Mariah relate over seeing their role models succeed and relate to being bullied and made fun of but to then to pay it back and hopefully be that person for someone else. Are you your own boss? Have you learned your boundaries? Or, do you want to know the time sink and the behind-the-scenes that goes into content creation? Listen to hear it all & be sure to subscribe.

This week, we are joined by Alea Rashid, current Orr Fellow and graduate of Butler University. one of my closest friends here in Indy and there’s so much we go into. Have you ever thought through how your past experiences impact the person you've become? In this episode you'll learn about how Alea’s life was impacted by having all brothers growing up and how joining a sorority taught her a different perspective. Mariah shares her mirrored version of that where rowing taught her to embrace her athleticism and confront her fear of being ‘too masculine’. You’ll also learn about the international trips Alea and Mariah have been fortunate enough to go on and what they both learned and took home with them. Do you know what etymology is? What about barracudas? Do you know why this podcast was founded? All the answers lie ahead…