Carrying a hockey stick is a massive burden when you are also pretending to be someone you are not.

In this episode of No Striving, Brad sits down with premier hockey player Eliana Heard. She knows exactly what it feels like to step into a top level environment and feel completely scared out of her shoes. For a long time, Eliana chose the quiet route. She softened her edges and hid her faith. She believed that fitting in and gaining the applause of her teammates required her to bury her authentic self. The fear of being looked down upon was incredibly heavy.

But conformity is an exhausting burden for a young athlete to carry.

Eliana shares the exact turning point when she decided to stop conforming to the patterns of the world and start owning her true identity. She reveals the messy, entirely real process of figuring out who you are when the uniform comes off. Listeners will hear how she navigates harsh coaching feedback, the natural trap of comparison, and the intense pressure of tournament party culture.

More importantly, she explains what she’s learnt about the quiet power of authenticity. Teammates are naturally drawn to people who are simply not afraid to be themselves. Eliana proves that you do not need the constant affirmation of the squad to solidify your spot. You just need to be secure in yourself. You have to lead yourself before you can ever lead others.

Join Across Athlete Development for a deeply honest conversation about faith, pressure, and the courage it takes to bring your authentic self to the turf.