Show Your Scars

Tevin Lucas grew up as a multi-sport athlete blessed with the size, speed and passion for basketball and football. After overcoming some injuries in high school, moving to a new state, and accepting a college scholarship for football, Devin believed he could play at even a higher level. The day he decided to transfer to San Diego was a day that changed his life forever.

We talk about the ACL injury he sustained and how the nerve damage left him wheelchair bound for months. Devin talks passionately about his faith and the hope and trust that he had, and still has, in God's plans for his life.

Tevin's faith and hope helped him learn how to walk again, he even climbed a 14er in Colorado just a year and a half post surgery!

Tevin talks to me about how he got through this difficult time, how building a team around him helped him thrive, and we talk in depth about breaking down what society thinks is 'strength' especially when it comes to men.

Tevin has since help create a non-profit called The Hope & Love which is reaching, changing, and saving lives by bringing a message of HOPE and LOVE to a desperate generation through addressing Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, and Anti-bullying.

You can read more about Tevin's story here:

https://tevinlucas.net/abouttevin/tevinstory/

The Hope & Love:

https://thehopeandlove.com

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/t1lucas/

https://www.instagram.com/thehopeandlove/

As humans, we are drawn to underdogs. I take on a solo podcast as I talk about how UMBC basketball and their underdog story made me think about injury recovery journey is your own underdog story.

Ian Warner is a Canadian who loves sports. Growing up playing football, track was his way of improving his football game in the offseason. He never knew track would take him to the 2012 Olympic games in London, England. Ian shares his story with us of the trials and triumphs throughout his life and career as an athlete. He talks about how he found ways to get through, how he learned to let things go and rest, that writing played a big role in his recoveries, and how he now uses reading as an outlet or a way of seeing that continuous growth even outside of sports (even reading 100 books last year).

Here is how you can connect with Ian:

Follow on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/kho_labs/

Download the app:

https://www.kholabs.com

Read Ian's book:

https://www.amazon.com/Ian-Warner/e/B00MEMCJMY

Read Ian's blog:

https://medium.com/better-than-yesterday/what-i-learned-reading-over-100-books-in-a-year-d1a5baf3bbe0

Wesley Wang, PT, DPT joins the podcast today talking about his journey from economics major to physical therapist.

How tearing his ACL changed the trajectory of his life and he realized what really mattered to him. His belief that everything happens for a reason and the benefits of that mindset when he was rehabbing and now.

We also talk about his physical therapy and sports performance gym in Rockville, MD. His approach to injury rehab and full recovery, and how he uses research and education to drive his actions.

Here is the ACL re-injury article he mentions:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4912389/

You can connect with Wesley at:

https://www.instagram.com/wesleywang.dpt/

http://www.healthyballer.com

Today's podcast is with a great friend and mentor Dr. Tiffany Jones. Dr. Tiff is a Sports Performance Psychology Consultant and has worked with numerous athletes from basketball, fencing, and hockey teams to the U-20 USA Women's World Cup Champion soccer team.

Dr. Tiff and I dive into a lot of topics surrounding injury recovery including:

- how getting a book from her Dad written by Dr Shane Murphy sparked her love for psychology

- how to handle the emotions around return to sport

- why EDUCATING people about injury recovery is so important including:

- the chemical withdrawal you go through post injury

- why words matter - pupp list

- and we have a very real conversation about alcohol and how it can effect your recovery - and how it impacted mine

- some good ways to deal with the pressure we put on ourselves or feel externally

- the positive benefits of staying engaged with your team during an injury and how a day off can mean various things

- why she doesn’t like the word potential

- why having some fierce conversations will be tough but it will never make it worse

- how it is so important to get sleep and feed your body right. Every little thing helps not only just physically but mentally too

- Control what you can control - manage your attitude and body language

For more information on Dr. Tiff, check out her website here:

http://www.xfactorperformance.com

In our 6th conversation with Joanna Lohman as she recovers from her ACL injury, we talk about the last steps in rehab during months 6-9, her traveling, and how she is prepping for preseason.

We also talk about:

- controlling what she can control

- giving herself grace in the return to preseason process

- clothing to reduce swelling on plane

- ice pack on plane - ask flight attendant to fill with ice

- what she did everyday (even traveling) to make sure she stayed in her rehab

- mini band, sliders, and a tennis ball

- the process can be a up and down roller coaster ride - moments of pain and fatigue - give yourself time to recover if you needed

- stay hopeful

- progression - always progress

- latch onto a teammate when coming back to training

reach out to Joanna - Instagram @joannalohman15

In our third episode with Stuart Singer, we start off talking about pain. The different types of pain and how we can differentiate between them. He leads into how mindfulness practice can help with dealing with pain.

As promised, Stu leads us through 8-9 minutes of mindfulness training. Although you can listen to it anywhere, we ask if you decide to participate, you are in a safe place and set up as Stu instructs in the podcast.

This will be an episode you can continue to go back to minute 17 to start your mindfulness training everyday.

For more training like this, check out Stuart's app DoSo below:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/doso/id1184944040?mt=8

Former professional soccer player and current Crossfit athlete extraordinaire, Jenn Dancer takes some time to talk to me about what her injuries as a soccer player taught her. She tore her ACL before entering her first season at the University of Missouri and says that the communication with her coach was key. We talk everything from her faith in God opening and closing doors to how she believes in writing down goals in order to work towards them daily. Overall, this is a great recap from Jen on what it means to be an athlete who perseveres through trials.

You can follow her @jenndancing on Instagram - Send her a DM, she will respond!

"Comparison is the thief of joy." We have all heard that quote before in our lives - and yet time and time again, I find myself falling into the trap of comparison. I talk about how a recent trip to the United Soccer Coaches Convention and being surrounded by my peers reminded me that I can only be me.

I love social media becuase you get to connect with really amazing athletes with interesting stories. Tash is a professional dancer from Australia and living in LA. She talks to me about her journey into dance, when she realized it was something she could do for a living, and how she got through her toughest journey yet: tearing her ACL.

We dive into:

- How she kept your mind right

- How a class she took with Tyce Diorio helped her continue to get back to 100% Natasha

- Airplane ride made her an ACL CLUB friend for life

- Her Nick Jonas performance that made her dreams come true

I hope you enjoy our conversation and find some strength within while you listen.

You can follow Tash here:

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/tashymarconi/

Blog: www.adaisychasingthesun.com

Video of Tash depicting what #showyourscars means to her in her journey coming soon!