What happens when the sport that shaped so much of your life is no longer the center of it? Rachel Blogg sits down with her son, Cole Whipple, for a personal conversation about growing up as an athlete, playing college basketball, and realizing that walking away from competition didn’t mean losing who he was. Instead, Cole found relief, rediscovered his love for basketball, and learned that the sport could remain part of his life without defining his identity. Now 22 and preparing to move across the country to begin a career working with UFC athletes, Cole reflects on transitioning from college basketball player to team manager, building meaningful relationships, and learning to embrace change without obsessing over the outcome. Rachel and Cole also get candid about what it was like growing up with a therapist and performance coach as a mom, what parents of athletes sometimes get wrong, and why moving forward doesn’t require having your entire future figured out.

Connect with Cole: LinkedIn, Instagram Stay connected with Rachel: LinkedIn, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok

ℹ️ The podcast content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.

What happens when you finally reach the level you worked so hard for, only to realize the pressure is just beginning? Rachel Blogg sits down with NFL player Tyron Herring for an honest conversation about chasing a professional football career, getting cut, changing teams, managing expectations, and learning to separate who you are from how you perform. Tyron shares the mental pressure of knowing every practice could affect your future, the sacrifices people never see, and how faith, mantras, and a commitment to the process have helped him navigate the uncertainty of professional sports. He also opens up about writing his book after being cut, finding value beyond football, and why athletes need interests, relationships, and purpose outside their sport. Together, Rachel and Tyron explore an important truth for athletes at every level: you can want the dream with everything you have while still knowing you'll be okay if the dream changes.

Connect with Tyron: Instagram, Tiktok Stay connected with Rachel: LinkedIn, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok

ℹ️ The podcast content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.

What happens when the thing you love most becomes inseparable from who you are? Rachel Blogg sits down with professional MMA fighter and former UFC fighter Charles Rosa for an honest conversation about athlete identity, pressure, mental health, trauma, and the complicated reality of imagining life after fighting.

Charles opens up about losing his two older brothers, finding an outlet through MMA, battling depression when fighting is absent, and the devastating neck injury that doctors said gave him less than a 1% chance of returning to the cage. He shares how he fought his way back, what losses have taught him about separating performance from self-worth, and how becoming a father is changing the way he thinks about risk, family, and his future. As he prepares for his first bare-knuckle boxing fight at Fenway Park, Charles reflects on a question many athletes eventually face: Who am I when I can no longer do the thing that has defined me?

Connect with Charles: https://www.instagram.com/charlesrosamma

Stay connected with Rachel: LinkedIn, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok

ℹ️ The podcast content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.