Mika Mierzwa is a former collegiate volleyball player from Coastal Carolina, where she competed in both indoor and beach volleyball while pursuing a biology degree. Graduating early, Mika stepped away from sport sooner than expected — a transition that pushed her to confront how deeply her identity was tied to being an athlete. After college, she spent time living abroad in Thailand and later in Charleston, using that space to disconnect, reset, and rediscover who she was outside of volleyball.

Now a veterinary student at the University of Arizona, Mika shares how her experience as a college athlete prepared her for the intensity of vet school – from discipline and time management to resilience under pressure. She reflects on the challenge of no longer receiving external validation through sports, learning to build her own internal feedback loop, and embracing uncertainty in the seasons where there is no clear plan. This episode explores identity, transition, and trusting that sometimes not having a plan is exactly what you need.

Dr. Maddy Brill-Edwards is a former collegiate soccer player at the College of Charleston and a current general surgery resident navigating one of the most demanding training paths in medicine. In this episode, Maddy shares how a childhood plan to become a doctor, shaped by a family of physicians, evolved alongside a deep love for soccer that followed her from youth competition, to playing at a Division 1 level collegiately, and finally to playing professionally in Scotland after college.

Maddy reflects on choosing general surgery over more “glamorous” specialties, the realities of residency life, and why the intensity that once fueled her as an athlete eventually became unsustainable. She explores how stepping away from soccer during the pandemic helped her understand its role as an emotional outlet, and how returning to the game now serves as both joy and therapy. This conversation weaves together identity, discipline, mental health, and the value of having multiple dimensions beyond a single pursuit — in sport, medicine, and life.

Sarah is a former Division III basketball player whose college experience looked and felt much bigger than the label — intense time commitments, deep preparation, and three conference championships that shaped her identity and routine. After graduating, Sarah faced the familiar but often unspoken challenge of leaving sport, structure, and community all at once, while also navigating personal and family changes.

In this episode, Sarah opens up about the messy transition into the “real world,” the struggle to rebuild a sense of purpose, and the surprising role fitness played in her healing. After years of programmed training with teammates and a shared mission, she had to relearn how to move for herself — eventually finding spin, community, and joy again in Denver. Her journey led her to becoming a spin instructor, a vulnerable leap that restored routine, confidence, and a deeper focus on mental health.

Sarah reflects on redefining success beyond sport, making decisions for herself even when they’re uncomfortable, and trusting that purpose can evolve. This conversation is an honest look at life after athletics, the power of community, and learning to give yourself grace while your path unfolds.

Vivian Mroz is a former dual-sport athlete at Canisius College, where she competed in both diving and track. After graduating, Viv faced the challenge many college athletes experience — redefining her identity beyond sport while navigating multiple career moves and relocations. In this episode, she shares how her athletic journey evolved after college, eventually leading her to the world of swimrun, a sport she discovered by chance and now competes in at a world championship level.

Viv reflects on the uncertainty that followed her collegiate career, the importance of community, and how shifting her mindset toward health, longevity, and partnership helped her find fulfillment again through sport. She offers insight into embracing change, trusting the process, and carrying the lessons learned through athletics into life beyond competition.

Kyle Murphy grew up in upstate New York and played soccer at Clemson University before pursuing a professional career, with stops in Houston, Orlando, DC, Miami, and Memphis. In this episode, Kyle reflects on his decision to retire at age 31, the highs and challenges of competing at a professional level, and the lessons he’s carried into his next chapter in commercial real estate with CBRE in Jacksonville. He shares how preparing for life after sport, building supportive relationships, and pursuing personal interests have helped him transition successfully, while also reflecting on the aspects of professional soccer he misses most—competition, camaraderie, and the thrill of scoring in front of a crowd.

Khallil Stewart played soccer at George Washington, College of Charleston, and for the Jamaican National Team. Khallil has always had a fierce passion for creating, whether it was making poems, creativity with a ball at his feet, or writing and recording music, Khallil has made art in many forms, since he was young. This episode explores the unexpected end of his career, how he managed injuries throughout his time as a player, and how he has used art as a therapeutic tool through his life.

Check out his newest album, streaming on all platforms.

Dr. Casey Martinez is a former Duke and Arizona State soccer player, who competed for 5 years before deciding to go to medical school. During this episode, Casey shares her experience deciding to step away from sport, how she manages injuries, and her experience taking the leap to apply for med school. Life after soccer was filled with uncertainty for Casey. She shares the valuable insight of going for her dreams and utilizing the knowledge she already had from decades of competition, to apply to her life now.

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Gaby Vincent is a former professional soccer player who competed in the NWSL for four years after a successful collegiate career at the University of Louisville. In this episode, Gaby opens up about the emotional and mental challenges of stepping away from the game: from the loss of structure and identity to navigating injury, burnout, and imposter syndrome. She shares what it was like to “retire” on her own terms, the unexpected weight of redefining herself outside of sport. She speaks to the healing power of community, therapy, and slowly reconnecting with the game on her own terms. Now a community advocate and on-air analyst, Gaby reflects on how her experiences in sport continue to shape how she shows up today: in life, in work, and in purpose.