Annika Lucas knows what it takes to perform at the highest level—on and off the snow. A former Olympic and World Cup cross-country skier for Team Great Britain, Annika has since built a remarkable second act as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Certified Dementia Practitioner, consultant, and more.
In this episode, Annika opens up about her journey from Olympic athlete to professional and entrepreneur. She shares what it was like to step away from competitive skiing, how she found purpose in supporting active aging, and why she’s passionate about helping athletes re-engage with their sport in new ways. Now, as she returns to the Olympic stage as a commentator, Annika reflects on the importance of identity, reinvention, and finding joy beyond her sport.
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Nicole Mendes has lived just about every athlete’s dream. She won national championships at Oklahoma, represented Team Mexico in the Olympics, competed professionally, and has had opportunities as a softball analyst for ESPN. But after a decorated softball career, she faced a new challenge: figuring out who she was once the game was no longer her whole world.
In this episode, Nicole opens up about her transition out of softball, finding purpose beyond the field, and building her business, Chalk Talks, to help other athletes strengthen their mental game. It’s a real and honest look at what happens when the game ends and how you can channel that same drive into whatever comes next.
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This week on After the Athlete, we’re joined by Sarah Lauren — a former Division II volleyball player who went from walk-on to earning a full-ride scholarship at Northwest Missouri State University. After graduation, Sarah faced the tough reality of life without sports, but found her way back through coaching, earning her Master’s in Sport and Performance Psychology, and ultimately launching her own consulting practice, now called EmpowerHER.
In this conversation, Sarah opens up about betting on yourself, building a business from the ground up, and how her experiences as an athlete shape the way she now supports both current and former athletes. We also dive into her transition from player to coach, her passion for helping athletes strengthen their mental game, and a lot more. Enjoy!
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Every former athlete has asked themselves this question (even if it’s just in the back of their mind): Did I peak in college? In this episode, we open up about what “peaking” looked like for us—the adrenaline of game day or competing, the identity that came with being D1 athletes, and the abrupt drop-off once the crowds and recognition disappeared. We talk about the identity gap that follows, the pressure of comparison, and what it felt like to wonder if our best years were already behind us.
But we’ve also learned that peaking doesn’t have to be one moment in time. We share the new “peaks” we’ve found since leaving sports—whether it’s career wins, building balance in our lives, or just enjoying moments with family and friends. This conversation is a reminder that your best years aren’t in the past—you get to choose what your next peak looks like.
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This week on After the Athlete, we sit down with Andy Ogide — former pro basketball player turned financial advisor. Andy played over a decade internationally, competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics with Team Nigeria, and was a standout at Colorado State University (go Rams!). Now, he’s helping athletes navigate their finances, NIL deals, and life beyond the game.
We dive into Andy’s journey from the court to the financial world, the cultural highs and challenges of playing overseas, and what he wishes today’s athletes knew about managing money. Plus, we get his unfiltered take on NIL, the biggest financial mistakes young athletes make, and the advice he has for preparing for life after sports.
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This week, we’re talking with legendary softball coach Kelly Ford and award-winning filmmaker Carolyn Coal about their powerful documentary Getting On Base. The film follows the Cal State Fullerton softball team through a season that highlights the pay gap, lack of media coverage, and limited professional opportunities for female athletes.
We dive into what’s changed — and what hasn’t — since Title IX, how storytelling can shift the conversation around women’s sports, and the movement this documentary is fueling for women’s professional softball. Enjoy!
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Watch Getting on Base on the Triple Crown Sports Network here.
It's just us two today! In this episode, we share our own perspectives of making the transition from being an athlete to working with athletes. We discuss why we chose to stay connected to the sports world, what we've learned, and how things have come full circle.
From the adrenaline of competing to the pride (and nerves!) of watching athletes we now coach or work with, we talk about the big differences on either side of the sidelines.
Whether you're a current athlete, a coach, or someone thinking about staying in sports in a new role—we hope you enjoy this conversation.
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From the tennis court to the pickleball court, Joey Farias has lived multiple athletic lives—and we’re diving into all of it on this episode of After the Athlete.
A former top-ranked junior tennis player, Joey once competed against legends like Novak Djokovic and Juan Martín del Potro. But after injuries forced him to step away from tennis, he discovered pickleball—and found not just a new sport, but a whole new purpose.
We talk about his early identity as a high-performance athlete, the emotional toll of career-ending injuries, and what it took to find joy in sport again. Joey shares how he’s redefined success, built a meaningful new career, and emerged as a leader in one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. He also talks about what excites him most about the future of the game and his work with our friends at Triple Crown Sports and PickleCon.
Listen now—we think you’re going to love this one.
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We are SO excited for you all to hear this one! In this episode, pro gymnast Gracie Kramer joins After the Athlete to share her journey from elite gymnast to global media host—while still “flipping for a living” on social media.
We talk about the pressure of earning a perfect 10, winning an NCAA Championship with UCLA, and navigating the transition out of college athletics while building a new identity beyond the mat.
We loved this conversation with Gracie so much, and we hope you do too! Also, stay tuned for more information about Lexi's big news and check out her website here.
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Today on After the Athlete, we’re joined by Dr. Kirsten Cooper—former U.S. Ski Team member, national champion with the University of Colorado, and now a clinical psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant.
After stepping away from elite alpine skiing, Kirsten earned her Master’s in Sport and Performance Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She’s worked with the USOPC and U.S. Ski Team, and now supports athletes, teams, and high performers in her private practice.
In this conversation, we dive into identity loss after sport, the mental health challenges many athletes face, and how to redefine success beyond competition. Enjoy!
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Today we’re joined by Casey Gutting, CMO of Triple Crown Sports—the company behind events like the WNIT, the Cancun Challenge, and a big reason we were able to bring After the Athlete back!
From college and pro basketball to working in TV and film (yes, including Hannah Montana), Casey’s post-sports path has taken some unexpected turns. He also has coached, worked in athletic departments, and now leads in sports marketing—bringing a full-circle perspective on life after athletics. We loved this conversation and think you will too!
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Lexi and Danika here! We’re BACK and have teamed up with the Triple Crown Sports Network to bring After the Athlete back to life, and we’re so stoked to tell you all about it.
In this first episode, we’re catching you up on everything that’s happened since we last hit record: moving states, new jobs, new coaching opportunities, and more. We’ve got an incredible lineup of guests coming your way soon—but for now... welcome back!
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In this episode, we are chatting about all of our favorite products, clothing brands, house items, and more! We love when we see others share their must-haves, so we wanted to do the same! Between our everyday workout gear, current favorite books, and can’t-live-without skincare items, we’re passionate about our recommendations. No gatekeeping around here! Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms.
To support us you can subscribe, rate, and review After the Athlete podcast on Apple and Spotify! And make sure to follow along with us on Instagram @aftertheathletepodcast :) We're also now on TikTok, follow us at @aftertheathlete P.S. some exciting news from Lexi in this one!
In this day and age, social media is huge! In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons as well as our thoughts on social media. We share some of our own experiences with all of the platforms and what we’ve learned from it. Listen now- link in bio!
To support us you can subscribe, rate, and review After the Athlete podcast on Apple and Spotify! And make sure to follow along with us on Instagram @aftertheathletepodcast :) We're also now on TikTok, follow us at @aftertheathlete
We're back with a fun one this week! In this episode we share our unpopular opinions that can be controversial, including food, activities, music, etc. We also have a very special guest, the other half of the Reed sister duo, Angi! Listen to this (what we think is) amusing episode now!
To support us you can subscribe, rate, and review After the Athlete podcast on Apple and Spotify! And make sure to follow along with us on Instagram @aftertheathletepodcast :) We're also now on TikTok, follow us at @aftertheathlete !
In this episode, we are talking about all things nutrition! We share each of our experiences and journeys when it comes to food, what we've learned, and what works for us now. Then we dive into what we think about all of the fad diets. From Keto to TikTok trends, we dish out all of our opinions!
To support us you can subscribe, rate, and review After the Athlete podcast on Apple and Spotify! And make sure to follow along with us on Instagram @aftertheathletepodcast :) #aftertheathlete
*Trigger Warning: Discussing food can be a sensitive topic for some*
*We are not licensed nutritionists and these are only our personal opinions and what works for us*
New year new us? We’re back and better and most exciting of all…WE’RE REVAMPING! On this episode of After the Athlete, we dive into our 2023 goals, mindset, and visions both individually and as a group. We also talk about our 2023 Bucket list that we are eager to complete! Big things are happening this year and we are so excited to share and for you all to follow along with us on the journey!
To support us you can subscribe, rate, and review After the Athlete podcast on Apple and Spotify! And make sure to follow along with us on Instagram @aftertheathletepodcast :) #AfterTheAthlete
In this episode, we chat about adjusting to new schedules post-athlete life and dealing with stress/being busy (which explains why it’s been a minute since our last episode)! We address the topics of creating new routines, time management, work-life balance, and more (and admit to not having completely figured it all out yet!) We also each share our tips and favorite ways to cope with and reduce stress. If you’re finding yourself feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and BUSY in your post-athlete life, this episode is for you!
To support us you can subscribe, rate, and review After the Athlete podcast on Apple and Spotify! And make sure to follow along with us on Instagram @aftertheathletepodcast :) #AfterTheAthlete