Episode 107: What happens to athletes when the cheering stops?
Two-time Olympian, three-time Olympic medalist, and eight-time World Champion Katie Hoff joins The Lost & Found Podcast with Amanda Powers to talk about the highs of Olympic glory, the lows of identity loss, and the radical honesty it takes to rebuild your life after the shine of winning medals fades.
In this powerful conversation, Katie opens up about imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and the “I’m Due" mindset that helped her transform pain into purpose. From battling a life-threatening pulmonary embolism to launching her own business and podcast (Unfiltered Waters), Katie shares how she learned to redefine success, embrace vulnerability, and become bulletproof to failure.
If you’ve ever wondered how to start again after life doesn’t go as planned — this episode will remind you that you’re never behind, you’re just being redirected.
Topics Covered:
The mindset behind Olympic-level performance
Overcoming imposter syndrome and public comparison
Finding identity and purpose beyond achievement
Entrepreneurship, IVF, and building a new chapter
Vulnerability, marriage, and redefining success in your 30s
This episode is great for any athlete, high achiever, entrepreneur, or someone navigating reinvention and identity loss after a major life pivot.
Chapters:
00:00 Introducing World Champion & Olympic Medalist Katie Hoff!
02:12 What It Was Like Joining the 2004 Olympics at 15-years-old
08:47 Competition and the 2008 Olympics
11:00 The Female Michael Phelps
16:05 I Found a Pulmonary Embolism in My Lung
18:49 Katie Hoff’s TEDx Talk Experience
22:53 Founding Synergy Dryland
26:56 Unfiltered Waters Podcast with Missy Franklin
31:07 Lessons in Vulnerability
33:47 Living My Olympic Standards
35:22 The “I’m Due” Mentality
37:24 Staying for the Breakthrough
40:09 How to Become Bulletproof to Failure
41:18 Recovering Perfectionist and Affirmation Addict
45:33 Evolution of Success and Failure
50:43 Our IVF Process
1:00:24 Advice for People Feeling Lost or Stuck In Life
Connect with Katie:
Website - https://www.kthoff.com/
Book - Blueprint: An Olympian's Story of Striving, Adapting, and Embracing the Suck
Instagram - @kthoff7
Podcast - Unfiltered Waters
Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly conversations on identity, healing, purpose, and becoming your future self.
Connect with Amanda:
Want to share your story or ask a question for an upcoming Wanderer Wisdom episode? Email us at hello@podcastforthelost.com or send an anonymous message: ngl.link/akpowers__
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