Identity is such a struggle for so many athletes, and many do not know who they are outside of their sport.  Identification with sport can come at a cost, especially when athletes start to look for a direction to go in when their sport is done.  Even when athletes turn pro in their sport, that professional career will end at some point and athletes then will look to what else they can do.  Dr. Brad Hambric discusses an array of aspects to an athlete’s identity and how to go about exploring other areas of identity on this episode of Unit3d.

During the months of June, July and early August, the Unit3d team is taking a break.  We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time.  It's Love:Mark and Kym Hilinski is Ryan Hilinski's pick.  Mark and Kym Hilinski share what’s going on with Hilinsk’'s Hope: the 3 for 3 challenge, Kym climbing mountains, and Mark looking at ways to bring innovation to the mission of Hilinski’s Hope. They share important messages around healing, finding ways to keep going, and knowing that whatever you are doing to share the message that mental health matters, it makes a difference.   

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break.  We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time.  The Best Version of Me:Teddy Britt is Brian Simmons' pick.  Teddy Britt has a smile that lifts up those around her. Because of that, she used to believe that she always had to smile so that others could benefit from her energy. She has now learned that it's ok to show up authentically, no matter how she is feeling. Teddy joins us at Unit3d and to discuss vulnerability and the advantages of showing up authentically. She also explains that there are times when she feels like her performance has not earned the love of those around her. She takes us through her journey as an Ole Miss Track & Field thrower, and coming to the understanding that love is not dependent on her performance or athletic ability. 

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break.  We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time.  Thrive or Bust:Ryan Leaf is John Cooke's pick.  Many are familiar with former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf and his story of achieving the dream of being a first round draft pick only to fall hard and become touted as the “biggest bust in NFL history” by some.  Ryan Leaf shared insight into his journey as well as a powerful and unique perspective on working to come back to yourself after falling in to dark places. 

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break.  We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time.  Sweet Sleep is Graham Doty's pick.  Sleep is so important to our mental health but it is something we often don’t prioritize, especially during stressful times. Getting better sleep is sometimes difficult, and we often don’t know as much about sleep as we need to.

Sleep researcher Dr. Michael Grandner starts this three-part series in sleep helping us understand more about how to get more and better sleep.

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break.  We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time.  Identity Back on Track is Chelsi Battle's pick.  Dr. Dwight Hollier played in the NFL for 9 years before beginning his career as a mental health professional. Having lined up a career for post-football life, it seemed like his transition out of sport could have been smooth. His identity, however, was firmly rooted in being a football player. Having a plan for a career after football was helpful, but not having a plan for transitioning his identity away from football and to his new role left him feeling lost. Counseling helped him get back on track.

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break.  We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time.  Closing A Chapter is Drew Lombardi's pick.  Throughout our life we all experience a number of transitions.  Closing the chapter of playing collegiate sports can bring up identity struggles for many, as well as a feeling of being lost or unsure as to what’s next.  In this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Bassey Akpan discusses the transition for athletes from collegiate sports into the next chapter and how being an athlete has offered preparation one may not realize.

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break.  We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time.  Get Your Bounce Back is Aidan Lombardi's pick.  We all seem to agree that resilience is an important trait to have as an athlete, but few can say exactly what resilience is or how to build it.  We know that bouncing back after setbacks, as well as overcoming obstacles, are important on the path to success.  Yet again, few can explain why some are able to do this more than others. Dr. Eric Martin of Boise State University has researched resilience and has worked with athletes to help build their ability to be resilient.  He offers insight into how to define resilience, how it impacts the life of an athlete, and practical ways to build resilience in our lives.

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break.  We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time.  Authentic Storytelling:Nia Symone is Josie Nicholson's pick.  Nia Symone knew from an early age that she wanted to be involved in entertainment and sports media.  She pursued a communications degree while playing basketball at Alabama State University.  Since graduating, Nia has created content for brands like Nike, Hibbett Sports, and Overtime, and she was named the host of Nike’s first-ever digital show, Come Thru.  Nia is also the CEO and founder of Purpose To Be Heard Productions, a creative production company with a mission of changing the way society views athletes through authentic storytelling and which offers a platform for athletes to have their voices heard. Nia shares a powerful story with Unit3d that many other athletes will be able to relate to. Oh, and wait until you hear how she came up with the name for her company!

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break.  We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time.  The Magic Portal is Mark Hilinski's pick.  At the end of a season many athletes decide they need a change and enter the transfer portal.  Established in 2018, the portal became much more popular when, in 2021, the NCAA passed regulations that allowed athletes in many sports a “one-time transfer” without having to sit out a year. This has opened the portal for many more athletes than before, but it has not been the magic remedy that many hoped it would be.  With so many athletes entering the portal, many are left without a new team.  Dr. Joey Case, Assistant Athletic Director/Counseling and Sport Psychology for Mississippi State University talks about the implications of the portal for student athlete mental health as well as how to navigate the emotional process of transferring.