Today’s guest is Kota Umeda, whose journey is a powerful story of perseverance, faith, and finding an identity beyond sports.

Born in Tokyo, Kota moved to Cleveland at eight years old without speaking English. By age 12, he was translating for his parents while his family faced financial struggles, evictions, and his mother’s cancer diagnosis.

Soccer became his escape and purpose. Despite being told his dream was unrealistic, Kota became the top-ranked recruit in Ohio at his position and played Division I soccer at Louisville and Akron.

At 20, he left college to play professionally in Brazil after his father gave him life-changing advice: “Sometimes, if the fear doesn’t go away, you just have to do it afraid.”

Kota played six years of professional soccer across Brazil, Portugal, Hong Kong, and the United States. But after a devastating injury, he lost his athletic identity, battled depression, and reached the lowest point of his life.

With the support of his family, a sports psychologist, and his faith, Kota rebuilt his life and discovered a purpose beyond the game.

Today, he is an international keynote speaker, five-time author, and mental health advocate who speaks about resilience, leadership, discipline, faith, and mental wellness.

In this episode, we discuss Kota’s rise to professional soccer, his mental health journey, the dangers of tying your identity entirely to sports, and how he turned his pain into a purpose that now helps others.

Kota Umeda, welcome to the RU Strong Podcast.

#RUStrongPodcast #KotaUmeda #DoItAfraid #MentalHealthAwareness #AthleteMentalHealth #LifeAfterSports #AthleteIdentity #Resilience #Perseverance #Faith #ProfessionalSoccer #SoccerLife #MotivationalSpeaker #Leadership #MentalWellness #StudentAthlete #UniversityOfLouisville #UniversityOfAkron #Podcast

Welcome back to another episode of the RU Strong Podcast.

Today’s guest is Tracy Slusser, whose journey proves that some of life’s greatest challenges can become the foundation for extraordinary success.

Growing up with a learning disability, Tracy struggled in the classroom but found confidence, belonging, and purpose through sports.

At Purdue University, she became a three-time NCAA Championship qualifier, an honorable mention All-American, and the first swimmer in school history to break 23 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle.

Just as meaningful, she earned Academic All-Big Ten honors three times and graduated with honors, accomplishing something she once thought might be impossible.

Her coaching career took her to Texas A&M, the University of Arizona, and Stanford, where she served as associate head coach and helped build one of the most dominant programs in collegiate swimming.

At Stanford, Tracy contributed to three consecutive NCAA national championships, seven Pac-12 championships, and the development of 30 individual national champions and 18 national championship relay teams. She also helped recruit some of the biggest names in swimming, including Katie Ledecky.

But after reaching the highest levels of her profession, Tracy found herself asking an important question: Who is coaching the coaches?

That question inspired her next chapter as an executive leadership coach, helping coaches and high-performing leaders build confidence, strengthen team culture, prevent burnout, and lead with greater purpose.

In this episode, we discuss overcoming learning challenges, the power of coaches who believe in you, what it takes to build a championship culture, and why investing in yourself can change the direction of your life.

Please join me in welcoming Tracy Slusser to the RU Strong Podcast.

Welcome back to another episode of the RU Strong Podcast.

Today’s guest is Dr. Jen Fry, a former college volleyball player and coach whose journey proves that sometimes the most meaningful opportunities come from paths you never expected to take.

Jen began her education at a junior college before earning her bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees, and ultimately her PhD.

Her coaching career included stops at Norfolk State, Washington State, and the University of Illinois, where she helped coach a team that reached the national championship match.

But her story extends far beyond volleyball.

After experiencing the uncertainty and challenges of college coaching, Jen reinvented herself as an entrepreneur, speaker, author, and founder of multiple companies, including Jen Fry Talks and Cordel, a sports travel logistics platform.

Today, she helps athletes, coaches, and organizations navigate difficult conversations, strengthen relationships, and find the confidence to advocate for themselves.

In this episode, we discuss the risks she took throughout her coaching career, the power of asking better questions, why conflict can create opportunities for growth, and how athletes can build meaningful connections that prepare them for life beyond sports.

Jen also shares an important reminder that applies to all of us: You do not need every opportunity. You just need one.

Please welcome to the RU Strong Podcast, Dr. Jen Fry.

Welcome back to another episode of the RU Strong Podcast.

Today’s guest is Charlie Ruiz, whose journey proves that where you begin does not determine where you can go.

Charlie played only one healthy season of varsity baseball and received little attention from college recruiters. He began at Chabot College, earned a scholarship to Long Beach State, became an honorable mention All-Big West Conference closer, and was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 10th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.

After two years in professional baseball, Charlie faced one of the toughest challenges many athletes experience: figuring out who he was when the game was over.

That transition helped him discover that his greatest strengths were building relationships, connecting with people, and helping others recognize the value of their own stories.

Today, Charlie is the founder of CLR Connection, where he helps executives and organizations strengthen their leadership, communication, and identity.

In this episode, we discuss Charlie’s rise from an overlooked high school athlete to professional baseball, the challenges of transitioning out of sports, and why understanding your identity is essential for success in the next chapter of life.

Welcome to the RU Strong Podcast, Charlie Ruiz.

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast. Today, I’m joined by two remarkable leaders who are changing the way athletes, parents, and coaches think about success.

Erin Sarles Bowers is an executive and leadership coach, a former corporate leader, and the co-founder and CEO of Blueprint to Blue Chip. Drawing on her professional experience and her journey as the mother of two young athletes, Erin helps people develop the character, confidence, and identity needed to thrive far beyond the playing field.

Joining her is Thomas Roe, a former University of Arizona football player whose career-ending neck injury forced him to rebuild his identity at just 19 years old. Today, Thomas brings more than 25 years of experience in sports performance and rehabilitation to his work as co-creator and CEO of Blueprint to Blue Chip. He’s also an Ironman, a Route 66 endurance cyclist, and the author of Swim, Bike, Run, Date and F-Bombs: From Average to Asset.

Together, Erin and Thomas co-host The Standard Podcast and help athletes become not only bigger, faster, and stronger, but people of character, integrity, and discipline, with every step.

Today, we’ll talk about adversity, identity, parenting young athletes, and why preparing for life beyond sports may be the most important training of all.

Please welcome Thomas Roe and Erin Sarles Bowers to the RU Strong Podcast.

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast. I’m your host, Jeff Durr, and today we’re talking about what it means to develop the intentional edge.

My guest is Jeff Jones, the Head Football Athletic Performance Coach at the University of Northern Iowa and the author of The Intentional Edge: 10 Reps to Mental Toughness. Across more than 20 years in athletic performance, Jeff has coached at programs including Boise State, Arkansas State, Auburn, Appalachian State, Luther College, and Fairfield High School. Along the way, he has contributed to conference championships, Fiesta Bowl victories, and a BCS National Championship appearance.

But Jeff is much more than his résumé. He is a husband, father, mentor, and lifelong learner who cares deeply about continuous improvement and making a difference in the lives of others. His philosophy is simple but powerful: mental toughness isn’t something we merely talk about—it’s something we train through intentional reps.

In this conversation, Jeff shares how transformational coaches shaped his life, why relationships must come before results, and how gratitude, discipline, confidence, identity, and purpose help us respond to adversity. We also explore why training the mind matters far beyond sports—and how small, intentional choices can change the way we perform, lead, and live.

This episode is about building resilient people, not just stronger athletes. It is my honor to welcome Jeff Jones.

What happens when you're willing to bet on yourself?

This week on the RU Strong Podcast, I'm joined by former collegiate volleyball standout Kennedy Muff, and her journey is one every athlete, coach, parent, and leader needs to hear.

Kennedy went from being a four-time conference champion and All-American setter at Flagler College to taking one of the biggest risks of her career,walking on at the University of Florida. No guarantees. No promises. Just belief in herself. That leap of faith earned her a scholarship and a starting role on one of the nation's premier volleyball programs.

But this episode goes far beyond volleyball.

We dive into the mental and physical challenges of recovering from devastating injuries, the discipline it takes to rehab while everyone else is living life, and the emotional reality of having your athletic identity taken away sooner than expected. Kennedy shares what it's really like to battle through ACL, MCL, and meniscus injuries, the sacrifices required to return to competition, and the transition every athlete eventually faces when the game comes to an end.

We also discuss:

🏐 Why the setter is the "quarterback" of a volleyball team.

🏐 The recruiting process and how she found the right college fit.

🏐 Leadership, communication, and building trust with teammates.

🏐 Why investing in yourself is never a sacrifice.

🏐 How the lessons learned through athletics continue to shape success in business and life.

Kennedy's story is one of courage, resilience, humility, and relentless perseverance. If you've ever faced adversity, questioned your next step, or wondered who you are beyond your sport, this conversation will leave you inspired.

What does it really take to build a championship culture in today's ever-changing world of college football?

This week on the RU Strong Podcast, I sit down with Joe Adam, the all-time winningest head football coach in the history of Saint Anselm College. Coach Adam's journey is one of grit, perseverance, and leadership, from fighting for an opportunity as an overlooked player, to helping win two NCAA Division II National Championships at Grand Valley State, to learning under legendary coach Brian Kelly, and ultimately building a winning culture of his own.

In this powerful conversation, Joe shares:

• How being overlooked fueled his success.

• The lessons he learned from championship teams.

• The leadership principles that create winning cultures.

• His perspective on NIL, the transfer portal, and the future of college football.

• Why serving others and developing young people has become his life's mission.

Whether you're an athlete, coach, business leader, parent, or simply someone chasing excellence, this episode is packed with timeless lessons on resilience, leadership, and staying true to your values.

This isn't just a football conversation, it's a masterclass on building people, building teams, and building a legacy.

Every once in a while, I have a guest who completely changes the way I think about a topic. Sabrina Oostburg did exactly that.

When most people hear "NIL," they think about big contracts, endorsements, and college athletes making money. Sabrina sees something much bigger. She sees opportunities, personal branding, and preparing athletes for success long after their playing days are over.

Sabrina's story is incredible. She started as a Division I track and field athlete, earned her degree in Sports Administration from Belmont University, built a social media following of more than 150,000 people, founded NIL Roadmap, and has become one of the brightest young voices helping student athletes navigate the ever-changing world of NIL.

What I loved most about our conversation wasn't just her knowledge, it was her passion. She genuinely wants to help athletes avoid the mistakes she had to figure out on her own. We talked about building a personal brand, protecting your reputation, creating opportunities, preparing for life after sports, and why your name may be the most valuable asset you'll ever own.

Whether you're a student-athlete, coach, parent, athletic administrator, or just someone who wants to understand where college athletics is headed, this episode is full of practical advice and fresh perspectives.

I really enjoyed this conversation, and I think you will too.

If you enjoy the conversation, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who could benefit from Sabrina's story.

#RUStrong #NIL #StudentAthletes #PersonalBrand #Leadership #CollegeAthletics #SportsBusiness #AthleteDevelopment #Podcast

You know, occasionally, you meet someone whose story reminds you that success isn't built by taking the easy road, it's built by choosing challenges that most people would run from.

Today's guest is one of those people.

Stephen Bienko has spent his entire life pushing himself beyond what most people think is possible. As a young athlete, he earned the opportunity to attend the United States Air Force Academy, where he competed in Division I football, track and field, and even boxing, all while balancing one of the toughest academic and military environments in the country. Later, he transferred to Villanova, where he continued competing as a Division I athlete.

But athletics were just the beginning.

Stephen went on to build the Institute of Athletic Performance, where he's helped develop NFL, MLB, NBA, Olympic-level, and hundreds of collegiate athletes. Today, as the co-founder of 42U, he's helping student-athletes navigate the ever-changing world of NIL, personal branding, career development, and life beyond sports.

What I enjoyed most about this conversation wasn't just his accomplishments, it was his honesty.

We talk about what it feels like to be overwhelmed, leaving home at 18, struggling mentally at the Air Force Academy, making one of the toughest decisions of his life, and the lessons that shaped the man he is today. We also dive into leadership, fatherhood, resilience, and why he believes today's athletes have opportunities that previous generations never imagined.

So, sit back, enjoy the conversation, and as always

Be encouraged. Be inspired. And most importantly, Be RU Strong.

Please help me welcome my guest, Stephen Bienko.