In this episode of Cultivate Talk, Emily sits down with Dr. Lilly Feder to explore how communication shapes the experiences of athletes in public-facing and high-pressure environments.

A former collegiate basketball player and now Assistant Professor of Sports Communication, Lilly studies the intersection of sport, public relations, and organizational behavior. Her research centers on athlete empowerment, identity, activism, crisis communication, and resilience-building within athletic organizations.

Together, they discuss how intersectional identities shape the communication challenges athletes face, why underperformance should be understood as a form of crisis, and what organizations often fail to communicate when athletes become the “face” of controversy or scrutiny. The conversation also examines athlete activism, team resilience, and the difficult identity transitions athletes experience when leaving competitive sport.

Grounded in both scholarship and lived experience, this episode offers insight into how communication can either reinforce pressure and silence — or create healthier, more supportive athletic environments.