Run Along

In March 2019, Fraser Franks sat up in the middle of the night knowing he needed to go to the hospital. Over the following week, he’d undergo a number of tests that would soon reveal serious issues with his heart…the kind of issues that could kill him if he continued to play professional soccer. So, at the age of 28, Franks was told he’d need to walk away from his livelihood, his boyhood dream and the one thing that “made him interesting”. Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

What kind of toll does being an Olympian take on the body? How does the life span of Olympians compare to us average folks? That and more on this pre-Opening Ceremony mini show!

Abby Dunkin’s diagnosis in 2013 caused her to plummet into a deep depression. Her life had done a 180. She needed a wheelchair now and was told she’d never be able to play sports again. She turned to pills to cope. But then, while browsing YouTube one day, Abby discovered wheelchair basketball and knew right away this would be her new love. Through playing the sport, Abby found community and a comfort that encouraged her to embrace every aspect of who she was. In 2016, she won a gold medal in Rio. She had hopes of more success in Tokyo until she learned a decision was going to be made that barred her from competing. Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In 2003, Andrew Goldstein became the first American male team-sport professional athlete to come out as gay during his playing career. Being a star goalie helped give Andrew the confidence to tell his loved ones and step into the limelight as a trailblazer. After two seasons in Major League Lacrosse, he retired to get his PhD in molecular biology and embarked on the rest of his life of as a gay man without sport as a crutch. He now has his own lab prostate cancer research lab at UCLA. Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Justine Cherwink didn’t want to just excel as a student-athlete at Minnesota, she wanted to excel as a human. To do that, she pushed herself to the limit in the gym and pretty much everywhere else on campus. Several times through her college career, outside forces shook her to her core, forcing her to confront issues with intensity and her gymnastics identity.  Now retired, she still gets pangs of wanting to take things to the extreme, but has tools now to help her manage that desire and give herself more grace. Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

On March 20, the night before VCU men’s basketball’s first March Madness game, the Ram’s season was ended after several of the team’s COVID tests came back positive. Corey Douglas was a senior captain on the team. On today show, he talks about his basketball journey up until that moment, hearing the news and saying goodbye to the sport. Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

From a very young age, racehorses get used to strict schedules and keeping their body maintained for optimal performance. Like humans, transitioning out of sport can be pretty jarring for racehorses. Executive Director of the Retired Racehorse Project Jen Roytz explains the changes a horse undergoes during this time, how RRP raises awareness about the needs of these animals and what goes into figuring out which career they should be placed in next. Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

There’s a curious moment many have when meeting Ashton Pollard. You find out pretty quickly that she’s obsessed with Notre Dame athletics. It’s an eat, sleep, breathe kinda thing. But then...you find out she didn’t actually go to Notre Dame. This is the story of why, a look into her journey of pursuing a sport that defined who she was for over 15 years. Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

For 20 years, Paul Montague Jr. was a gymnast. A great gymnast. He trained at elite gyms, won state championships and competed at the Division 1 level. When his time at the University of Minnesota came to a close,  he was ready. He felt at peace with his athletic career. As a self-described “fidgety” guy, though, he immediately began to contemplate what he could throw himself into next. He turned to the outdoors. For the fun, adrenaline and ability to challenge himself at first...then a reality tv producer approached him. Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 

A look into Dr. Natalia Stambulova's 5 step career planning strategy for athletes in transition. Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.