Why I’m Done Working Hard (And You Should Be Too)

We grew up believing that hard work was the ultimate badge of honor — especially as athletes. Hustle harder. Push through. No excuses. But what happens when you hit your 30s and realize… maybe that kind of grind isn’t it anymore?

In this episode, we unpack the moment Erin said, “I’m not a hard worker anymore. I’m a soft worker.” And something about that phrase broke us open.

This convo dives into:

• What it means to become a “soft worker” in a world that worships burnout

• Why rest isn’t laziness — it’s a strategy

• How athlete conditioning screws with our relationship to ease, effort, and worth

• Flow state, perfectionism, and redefining success in real life

• Napping as productivity (yep, we went there)

• And the hilarious core memory of being complimented for hard work… in a failed teenage flirt attempt

If you’ve ever felt guilty for not grinding 24/7 — this one’s for you.

Hit play, let it soften your day, and join us in rewriting the rules of “working hard.”

Are you still an athlete if you're not competing anymore?
In this episode of No Former Athlete, I sit down with one of my best friends and former college basketball teammates, Allie Ross, for a raw and honest conversation about what happens after sports end.

We talk about the identity crisis that hits when the season’s over, how external validation shaped our entire self-worth, why we both shoved our "athlete selves" into a box and hid it under the bed — and how we’re slowly learning to reclaim that identity on our own terms.

This conversation is about more than sports — it’s about grief, transition, healing, and the complicated journey of figuring out who you are when the jersey comes off.

👉 Topics We Cover:

• Athlete identity after college

• The emotional fallout of “the last game”

• Compartmentalization and emotional regulation

• The pressure to always have a goal

• Using fitness (like triathlon) to feel “valid” again

• Learning to feel without performance

Whether you’re a former athlete or just someone who’s ever asked, “Who am I now?” — this one’s for you.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Jax—athlete, entrepreneur, and founder of California’s first sports bar dedicated to women’s sports, Watch Me. Jax opens up about reclaiming her athlete identity, navigating identity shifts post-sport, and the fire that fueled her journey from JV standout to community trailblazer. We talk about what it means to start before you’re ready, building safe spaces, and how sports continue to shape our drive, self-worth, and vision. This one’s for anyone who’s ever struggled to find their place after the final whistle.

She Walked Away from the Game — and Found Herself Again

In this episode of No Former Athlete, Jerrica Brooks keeps it real about what it’s like to grow up loving a sport that doesn’t always love you back.

We get into the highs of high school hoops, the pain of toxic coaching, and how stepping away from basketball for six years ended up being one of the most important moves of her life.

This episode includes:

– What happens when your identity is your sport

– The mental/emotional burnout no one warns you about

– Being Black, gay, and constantly underestimated

– Learning how to feel feelings (?!?) in your 30s

– Reconnecting with joy — on and off the court

This one’s for the athletes, the ex-athletes, and anyone out there trying to figure out who they are when the jersey comes off.

Make sure to follow, and tell us in the comments:

What did sport teach you about YOU?

Life After Pro Sports with AthletEX Founder: Taylor CohenWhat happens when the final whistle blows — and you’re not ready to stop playing? In this episode, we sit down with a former pro soccer player and founder of AthletEX, a community-driven platform helping athletes rediscover identity, purpose, and connection after competitive sports.She opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of retirement (twice!), playing overseas during COVID, returning to the field for one final gold-medal run, and ultimately transitioning into entrepreneurship. We dive into:✅ Coping with identity loss post-sport✅ Coming out of retirement on your terms✅ The power of athlete community after college✅ Starting AthletEX and redefining “retired”✅ Dealing with long-term injuries and navigating recovery✅ Why there's no such thing as a “former” athleteWhether you’re one season removed or a decade out, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating the afterlife of sport.

What does it mean to be an athlete—after the game ends?

In this episode of No Former Athlete, we sit down with the one and only April “Scherm” Schermann: Division 1 softball player, award-winning educator, and legendary coach with over 21 years at the helm.

Scherm shares her story of growing up as the only girl in a neighborhood full of boys, her competitive drive to play college ball, and the emotional transition that comes after the final whistle.

💭 From athlete dreams that still haunt us at night to the grief no one talks about when you stop competing, this conversation is raw, reflective, and honestly? A love letter to the lifelong identity of an athlete.

We talk about:

-The moment she realized she’d grieved sports for over a decade

-Why “mental toughness” needs to evolve alongside mental healthHow coaching became her new way to compete

-And why there’s truly no such thing as a former athlete

💬 If you’ve ever felt like your body moved on from the sport, but your soul never did—this episode is for you.

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments—do you still consider yourself an athlete?

🔔 Subscribe for more real convos about identity, movement, and the athlete mindset that stays with us forever.

What makes a great coach? In this episode, I sit down with my former high school soccer coach, Coach Walker—a man who didn’t just teach the game, but taught life through it.

From growing up playing barefoot on the streets of Jamaica to coaching high school and club soccer in the U.S., Coach Walker shares the lessons he’s learned about leadership, resilience, culture, and community. We talk about the transition from athlete to coach, the challenges of coaching girls for the first time, and the evolution (and sometimes downfall) of youth sports in America.

This episode is full of honest moments, laughs, and the kind of perspective you don’t get from the sidelines. Whether you’re a no former athlete, current coach, or just someone who believes in the power of sports to shape people—you’ll take something meaningful away from this conversation.

🎧 Listen in as we unpack:

– What sports really teach us

– Why the best coaches lead with heart

– How youth sports are changing

– And how identity, culture, and empathy all play into the game

Subscribe, rate, and share if this hit home.

This is No Former Athlete.

What happens when the sport that shaped your entire identity suddenly ends? In this episode of No Former Athlete, I sit down with Logan, a former college volleyball player, lifelong athlete, and coach, who’s still pushing herself at 47 — even with a walking boot on her foot.

We talk about the transition from being a competitive athlete to figuring out how to stay consistent without a team or a coach, the power of accountability partners, and how to redefine what being an athlete means as life changes.

If you’ve ever struggled with motivation, missed the structure of practice, or wondered how to stay connected to that competitive fire — this episode is for you.

🎧 In this episode:
— Why the end of competitive sports can feel like an identity crisis
— How accountability partners help you stay consistent (even when motivation fades)
— Shifting from performance-based training to longevity and health
— The emotional side of leaving sports behind
— Why once an athlete… always an athlete (just in a different way)

👉 Ready to feel less alone in your post-sports journey? Hit play.

Follow @noformerathlete on Instagram for more.

Imagine grinding your whole life to play at the D1 level—only to have it all taken away by injuries. That’s exactly what happened to Natalie Freeman, a former college soccer player whose career was full of unexpected twists, surgeries, and one brutal conversation that changed everything.But here’s the thing: When sports end, your identity doesn’t just disappear. So what happens next?In this episode of No Former Athlete, we get real about:- The highs and lows of Natalie’s D1 soccer career- Tearing an ACL right before signing a scholarship- The identity crisis athletes face when the game is over- The weird feeling of having free time for the first time ever- Learning to fill that competitive void (hello, golf)- The emotions that hit after sports are goneIf you’ve ever struggled with what comes after competitive sports, this one’s for you.

In this episode of No Former Athlete, we explore the journey athletes face when their competitive careers come to an end. What happens when you’re no longer defined by your sport? As a retired National Champion, NFA host, Erin McGinnis, turns into the guest for this episode and opens up about the emotional and mental challenges of transitioning from the structured world of athletics to everyday life.

We dive into topics like grieving the loss of an athletic identity, finding a new sense of purpose, and how the discipline and mindset built through years of training continue to influence life long after the final game. Whether you're a former athlete or simply navigating a life transition, this episode offers valuable insights into rediscovering who you are when the game is over.

Tune in for an honest and reflective conversation that will resonate with anyone who has ever wondered, "What comes next after sports?"