On this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana is joined by Alexandra Winn-Marvin, LCSW, a Lexington-based therapist specializing in trauma, anxiety, life transitions, and athlete mental health. Drawing on her experience as a competitive dancer, longtime dance teacher, and therapist, Alexandra explains how a “push through the pain” culture can cause children to lose their love of sports—and carry unhealthy beliefs about performance into adulthood.

They discuss the early signs of burnout, why rest must be taught and modeled, and how over-scheduling can leave young athletes without the time to develop friendships or an identity away from competition. Alexandra also offers practical guidance for athletes learning to advocate for themselves, parents who recognize they may be adding to the pressure, and coaches who want to develop successful athletes without harming their well-being.

About Alexandra Winn-Marvin

Alexandra Winn-Marvin, LCSW, is a therapist based in Lexington, Kentucky. She specializes in trauma, anxiety, life transitions, and athlete mental health. A former competitive dancer and longtime dance teacher, Alexandra brings personal and professional insight to the pressures young athletes experience.

Connect With Alexandra

• Website: https://www.awmlcsw.com/
• Instagram: @its.giving.therapy

The Pain Free Athlete Podcast explores the physical and emotional realities of sports, helping athletes, parents, and coaches build healthier relationships with training, performance, recovery, and pain.

If this conversation resonated with you, consider contacting a licensed mental-health professional. If you are experiencing a mental-health crisis in the United States, call or text 988.

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

Former WNBA player and UCLA Hall of Famer Lisa Willis joins Dana Jones on the Pain Free Athlete Podcast for an honest conversation about career-ending injury, identity loss, and finding purpose beyond performance.

Lisa shares how a devastating knee injury ended her basketball career—and why filling her schedule with meaningful work couldn’t replace everything basketball had given her. She opens up about grieving the game, defining success on her own terms, and learning to acknowledge that she could love basketball while building a new life.

Dana and Lisa also explore mental performance training, staying connected to your team during injury, and finding your next step when life changes the plan.

About Lisa:

Lisa C. Willis spent her career performing under the most unforgiving pressure in professional sports, as a retired WNBA three-point leader, UCLA Hall of Famer, and USA Basketball Gold Medalist. Resilience wasn't a concept she learned. It was a survival skill she developed.

After making history as a trailblazer with the New York Knicks organization, the first woman to coach in that organization, Lisa C. Willis channeled a decade of elite performance experience into a mental performance coaching practice, and eventually, a speaking career built around one simple truth: resilience is not random. It is a repeatable system.

Her S.P.O.R.T. Method has helped Fortune 500 leaders, professional athletes, and high-stakes executives close the gap between pressure and performance, not by avoiding the heat, but by learning to transform inside of it.

Lisa’s Links:

https://lisacwillis.com/

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana Jones speaks with visionary alchemist, author, and aromatherapy expert Adora Winquist about using nature, scent, breath, and intentional practices to support nervous system regulation.Adora shares how nature became a sanctuary during her childhood and how her experiences with anxiety, depression, endometriosis, herbalism, essential oils, and energy medicine shaped her life’s work. She also explains how she adapted these practices for veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, and wounded-warrior athletes.

Together, Dana and Adora explore the parallels between athletes and military personnel—including discipline, hypervigilance, ignoring pain, and suffering in silence. They discuss why skills that help us perform under pressure can make it difficult to rest and recover once the mission, competition, or immediate threat has passed.

Adora introduces the idea of “training the transition”: helping the nervous system move intentionally between focus, energy, recovery, rest, and readiness. She explains how aroma and slow breathing can serve as sensory cues that interrupt familiar stress patterns and help create healthier habits through repetition.

In this episode

• How Adora’s childhood connection with nature inspired her work
• Her personal experiences with anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and endometriosis
• Why athletes and service members may become stuck in fight-or-flight mode
• The connection between scent, memory, mood, and emotion
• How essential oils can become cues for rest, focus, or recovery
• Why readiness includes patience, clarity, sleep, and restoration
• Adora’s work with veterans, active-duty personnel, and wounded-warrior athletes
• The role of repetition and neuroplasticity in creating new nervous-system patterns
• Why healing does not have to mean suffering in silence
• How to begin “training the transition” with breath and sensory awareness

Try the breathing practice

Inhale gently for a count of four, then exhale through the mouth for a count of six. Repeat at a comfortable pace and notice whether your body begins to soften or settle.

Connect with Adora Winquist

Website: https://adorawinquist.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/adoraOConnerWinquist/
https://www.facebook.com/adorawinquistmodernalchemist/

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

This episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast features Marissa Axel, founder of Action Fitness and Coaching, for an empowering conversation about helping women over 40 become stronger, faster, and more resilient athletes.Marissa explains why the training strategies that worked in our 20s and 30s may no longer produce the same results as our bodies and hormones change. She and Dana discuss the importance of moving beyond endurance-only training and building a foundation that includes strength, power, proper fueling, and intentional recovery.They also explore the warning signs of underfueling and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), including persistent fatigue, poor performance, frequent illness, injuries, and difficulty recovering. Marissa shares practical ways athletes can fuel before, during, and after training without making nutrition overly complicated.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why strength training becomes essential for women beginning around age 35How strength work supports cycling, triathlon performance, bone health, and longevityWhy fasted training may create additional stress for women over 40How to match carbohydrate intake to the length and intensity of a workoutWhy recovery nutrition should include both protein and carbohydratesHow underfueling can contribute to fatigue, injuries, illness, and declining performanceWhy the scale doesn’t tell the full story of your health or athletic potentialHow to shift your focus from becoming smaller to discovering what your body can doMarissa’s message is simple but powerful: stop chasing a number on the scale and start building a body that can support your goals and adventures for decades to come.About Marissa:Marissa Axell is the founder of AXN Fitness and Coaching and a coach for women over 40 who want to improve cycling performance through strength, power, skill, fueling, and recovery. Her work focuses on helping athletes move beyond endurance-only training and build the kind of resilience that supports speed, injury prevention, and long-term performance.Connect with Marissa:Instagram and Facebook: @marissa.axellWebsite: https://axnfitnessandcoaching.comDana’s Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Disclaimer:The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

This episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast features Marissa Axel, founder of Action Fitness and Coaching, for an empowering conversation about helping women over 40 become stronger, faster, and more resilient athletes.

Marissa explains why the training strategies that worked in our 20s and 30s may no longer produce the same results as our bodies and hormones change. She and Dana discuss the importance of moving beyond endurance-only training and building a foundation that includes strength, power, proper fueling, and intentional recovery.

They also explore the warning signs of underfueling and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), including persistent fatigue, poor performance, frequent illness, injuries, and difficulty recovering. Marissa shares practical ways athletes can fuel before, during, and after training without making nutrition overly complicated.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why strength training becomes essential for women beginning around age 35
• How strength work supports cycling, triathlon performance, bone health, and longevity
• Why fasted training may create additional stress for women over 40
• How to match carbohydrate intake to the length and intensity of a workout
• Why recovery nutrition should include both protein and carbohydrates
• How underfueling can contribute to fatigue, injuries, illness, and declining performance
• Why the scale doesn’t tell the full story of your health or athletic potential
• How to shift your focus from becoming smaller to discovering what your body can do

Marissa’s message is simple but powerful: stop chasing a number on the scale and start building a body that can support your goals and adventures for decades to come.

About Marissa:

Marissa Axell is the founder of AXN Fitness and Coaching and a coach for women over 40 who want to improve cycling performance through strength, power, skill, fueling, and recovery. Her work focuses on helping athletes move beyond endurance-only training and build the kind of resilience that supports speed, injury prevention, and long-term performance.

Connect with Marissa:

Instagram and Facebook: @marissa.axell
Website: https://axnfitnessandcoaching.com

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

On this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Ed Akay joins Dana Jones to share how he learned to work around limitations, why physical health and mental strength are deeply connected, and how he began competitive bodybuilding at age 40. He also discusses competing in both para and able-bodied divisions, training around injuries, and the discipline required to succeed naturally.

About Ed:

Ed Akay is a Natural Universe champion, speaker, model, entrepreneur, and bestselling author whose life has been defined by resilience. After recovering from paralysis at age three despite a poor prognosis, he built a diverse career spanning law, property development, writing, public speaking, modeling, and competitive bodybuilding. Ed has appeared on more than 60 magazine covers, published two poetry collections, and is featured in the Amazon bestselling biography From Darkness. In 2024, he won gold for the UK at the Natural Universe, the UK International Para Bodybuilding Championship, and silver at the World Natural Bodybuilding Championships. He added two more UK para bodybuilding titles in 2025. In 2026, Ed founded a public relations consultancy and helped his mother, author KJ Akay, achieve an Amazon number-one bestseller and national media recognition.

Ed's Links:

Web: www.edakay.com

www.kjakay.com (Ed’s mother’s site).

Instagram @edakaymodel

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana Jones talks with Albert, a Boise-based running coach, movement specialist, and MetFix coach. Albert explains why running should be treated as a skill, how poor mechanics can gradually contribute to pain and injury, and why adding more miles is not always the answer.

Albert also shares his journey from the medical device industry to opening a gym, why his coaching philosophy evolved beyond traditional CrossFit, and how he uses movement, breathing, body-composition, mobility, and flexibility assessments to help identify what may be contributing to an athlete’s pain.

Dana and Albert discuss the Pose Method of running, the problem with relying on shoes and braces to compensate for poor mechanics, and the importance of mastering foundational movements before adding load, speed, or distance. Albert also reveals the running cue he repeats most often—“pull”—and why athletes should focus on small, sustainable improvements rather than rushing toward the next milestone.

Albert’s Bio:

Albert found his calling for coaching and helping others improve after his attempted route into military service was cut short. He sought to continue his desire to serve and to help others through learning how to teach others what he has learned from my coaches. His mission is to help athletes get better in anything that they set their intention to.

MetFix Boise is serving as his vehicle to help others realize their true and independent selves through Nutrition and Movement.

He has planted his flag and has established this as one of many "Lifeboat[s] Against Chronic Disease," as Greg Glassman coined it.

Albert’s Links:

www.metfixboise.com/running

www.metfixboise.com

Subscribe to the Pain Free Athlete Podcast for more conversations about movement, recovery, performance, and building a healthier relationship with your body.

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.