Bob Skinstad is a former South African rugby captain whose journey from amateur to professional athlete reveals profound wisdom about parenting, cultural diversity, and what actually creates "overnight" success.

He explains:

- How his father's concept of "hybrid vigor" reveals why cultural diversity is a superpower for individuals and organizations

- What your father says at 8 will shape your entire life - how childhood expectations evolve into adult success

- "It's my first time too" - the four words that transform parent-child relationships and build deeper connections

- Why true "overnight success" actually requires two decades of preparation and the chaos behind rugby's professional transformation

- How "too old and slow" became the challenge that reignited his competitive fire and led to glory

Chapters:

(00:34) Discussing Rudy as a Favorite Sports Movie

(03:19) How Bob's Father's Medical Work Shaped Him

(05:55) Hybrid Vigor: The Cultural Superpower Nobody Discusses

(09:28) The Eight Words At Age 8 That Changed Everything

(10:28) "Enthusiasm Is The Yeast That Makes Your Hopes Shine" – Henry Ford

(14:16) It's My First Time Too: The Vulnerability Most Parents Never Show

(16:46) The Chaos When Amateur Becomes Professional Overnight

(19:33) The Camaraderie of Rugby Culture

(21:13) Tag Frisbee In The Park: The $100 Million Problem Nobody Was Ready For

(24:08) From Farm School To International Star: The Breyton Paulse Story

(26:32) Why I Put My Negative Feelings Down To My Own Immaturity

(29:20) Tiny Drops Of You In Their Subconscious: The Hidden Cost Of Fame

(30:21) The Mental Health Crisis In Sports Nobody Addressed

(34:27) Building A Sports Marketing Agency

(37:44) "Too Old and Slow" – The Challenge That Led to a Comeback

Join the Beyond Limits newsletter: https://united-after-sport.kit.com

An athlete’s reflections on life after sport. Curated wisdom for those becoming more - beyond the game.

Follow Bob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-skinstad/

Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/utdaftersport

Tom Fisher discusses navigating life with diabetes during his athletic career, highlighting the emotional challenges, support systems, and mindset shift from being a "diabetic" to a "person with diabetes." He shares insights on managing diabetes while playing college soccer, the importance of community, and how his athletic experiences shaped his professional life. Fisher emphasizes leadership, listening, and continuous learning, offering advice to young athletes and professionals on embracing their journeys and building connections.

Join our knowledge hub and community.

Want more wisdom and inspiration from former athletes who have come before you? Come join our knowledge hub and community, giving you access to 3,000+ curated videos, social media posts, and more—all at your fingertips.

Check us out here:

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Adversity: Tom's Diabetes Journey

03:09 The Challenge of College Soccer with Diabetes

05:55 Mindset Shift: From Diabetic to Person with Diabetes

08:52 Managing Diabetes During Athletic Competition

11:51 Empowerment Through Community and Support

15:13 Career Transition: From Athlete to Professional

18:05 Leadership Lessons from Sports

20:55 The Importance of Listening and Learning

24:05 Advice for Young Athletes and Professionals

My Links

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@unitedaftersport

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@utdaftersport

Website: https://www.unitedaftersport.com

We are on a mission to support 1 million former athletes worldwide in their life after sport journeys. Thanks for standing united with us!

In this conversation, Lindsey Zeltwanger discusses her experience choosing a college and university, her journey with a new lacrosse program, the growth and change in the team, transitioning to life after sports, finding passion and purpose, and the need for scaling support for athletes. She emphasizes the importance of athletes understanding the skills they learn from their sport and finding ways to apply them in their daily lives. Lindsey also highlights the challenges athletes face in transitioning to life after sports and the need for more support and resources in this area.

Join our knowledge hub and community.

Want more wisdom and inspiration from former athletes who have come before you? Come join our knowledge hub and community, giving you access to 3,000+ curated videos, social media posts, and more—all at your fingertips.

Check us out here:

Time Stamps:

00:00 Start

00:00:02 Lindsey's College Decision

00:00:39 Discovering Mercer

00:03:01 Joining a New Program

00:07:37 Challenges in Freshman Year

00:09:48 Team Growth and Transformation

00:10:26 Mindset Shift and Motivation

00:12:21 Adapting to Structure and Challenges

00:15:12 The athlete's mindset

00:16:32 The transferable skills

00:17:33 Transitioning out of sports

00:19:02 Realizing passion and purpose

00:21:11 Connecting skills to passion

00:27:15 Challenging career choices

00:29:37 Pursuing passion with purpose

00:31:37 The importance of perspective

00:33:08 Athletic identity and transition

00:35:34 Struggling as an athlete

00:40:16 The resilience and vulnerability balance

00:43:19 Advice for transitioning athletes

My Links

My Links

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@unitedaftersport

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@utdaftersport

Website: https://www.unitedaftersport.com

We are on a mission to support 1 million former athletes worldwide in their life after sport journeys. Thanks for standing united with us!

In this episode, Andrew discusses his journey from being a standout soccer player to becoming a placekicker on his high school football team. We explore every aspect of his transition, from his successful experience as an Ivy League placekicker at Penn to his thriving career as a marketing executive, working with renowned sports brands like Gatorade and Nike. Andrew talks about the significance of perseverance, self-motivation, and calculated risk-taking. His insights on nurturing valuable relationships, seeking guidance, and excelling as a young professional are truly inspiring.

Join our knowledge hub and community.

Want more wisdom and inspiration from former athletes who have come before you? Come join our knowledge hub and community, giving you access to 3,000+ curated videos, social media posts, and more—all at your fingertips.

Check us out here:

Time Stamps:

(00:00) Start

(00:08) Andrew's soccer background and high school football offer

(02:40) Andrew's first game as a placekicker and former NFL Coach Steve Mariucci's comment

(06:06) Andrew's mindset during his first game as a placekicker

(07:15) The mental aspect of being a placekicker

(08:02) Development as a placekicker in high school and college

(09:35) Competition for the placekicker position in college

(14:12) The lows of freshman year

(16:02) Transformational sophomore year

(17:46) Accomplishments at Penn

(21:57) Landing a marquee internship

(23:34) The lockout and pursuing a career in the NFL

(25:54) Working at Gatorade and career after football

(31:30) Working with some of the most talented marketers in the industry

(37:09) The Nike Opportunity

(38:03) Working at Nike

(41:42) Navigating the Nike Culture

(44:27) Nike's Athlete Mindset

(45:10) Elevating Marketing Work

(47:43) Moving to Los Angeles

(52:40) Taking Time Off to Be a Dad

(54:27) Joining Hyperice

(57:15) Shifting Brand Focus

(01:00:12) The mindset of taking risks

(01:05:06) The importance of a personal board of directors

(01:05:51) Maintaining relationships and leveraging network

(01:07:03) The leadership style of a former Nike executive

(01:08:07) The importance of appreciating and emulating good leadership

(01:09:41) Qualities of successful young talent

My Links

My Links

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@unitedaftersport

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@utdaftersport

Website: https://www.unitedaftersport.com

We are on a mission to support 1 million former athletes worldwide in their life after sport journeys. Thanks for standing united with us!

In our first ever UAS podcast episode, Sarah Nicholson shares her journey to discovering her love for running in high school. She talks about the rivalry she had with a teammate during high school and how it pushed them both to improve, highlighting the transformative power of rivalry in fostering growth. Sarah also discusses the importance of considering the bigger picture when choosing a college, not just based on sports but also for overall growth and opportunities. She opens up about maintaining a positive mindset during challenging times, such as the abrupt end of her senior year due to COVID-19, showcasing resilience and the healing power of sports. Additionally, Sarah discusses how therapy helped her transition from being a college athlete to adulthood, emphasizing the importance of mental health in sports and life.

Join our knowledge hub and community.

Want more wisdom and inspiration from former athletes who have come before you? Come join our knowledge hub and community, giving you access to 3,000+ curated videos, social media posts, and more—all at your fingertips.

Check us out here:

Time Stamps:

(00:00) Start

(00:21) The earliest memory of participating in sports

(00:57) Transition into running

(02:11) Starting to take running seriously

(10:41) The competitive environment

(11:48) Balancing friendship and competition

(14:52) Choosing a college

(21:48) The transition to college

(23:50) The influence of parents and coaches

(29:06) Growth and stress management in college

(37:10) The transition moment

(41:20) Processing the loss

(43:23) Balancing life and opening new doors

(45:23) The transition from running every day to running less

(46:16) Exploring other ways to exercise

(51:36) Reframing the mindset around running

(57:05) The transition into adulthood

(57:44) Seeking help and therapy

(01:00:08) The importance of a neutral perspective

My Links

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@unitedaftersport

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@utdaftersport

Website: https://www.unitedaftersport.com

We are on a mission to support 1 million former athletes worldwide in their life after sport journeys. Thanks for standing united with us!