Transition Talks Series
Watch our latest interviews with former Olympic athletes as we get closer to the stat of the Paris Olympics!
A series of Zoom interviews with former Olympian, professional and collegiate athletes to learn about their transition from sports and what the transition has taught them about themselves and life outside of sports.
Bill Schuffenhauer, Bobsled
Jill Craybas, Tennis
Sammy Girma, Basketball
Marga Crespi, Artistic Swimming
Malia Metella, Swimming
Chloe Isaac, Synchronized Swimming
Former Olympic synchronized swimmer, Chloe Isaac talks about her retirement from athletics and her personal mental health struggles. She also discusses the design work she has done for Athletes Soul, helping create the new logo and brand identity to be released January 2024.
Alejandro Bisogno, Tennis
Check out this really interesting Transition Talks with Alejandro Bisogno, former tennis player. Originally from Venezuela, Alejandro played collegiate tennis in the US before starting a successful career in the corporate world. In this interview, he really dives into the athlete mindset, the transferable skills, and how what he learned as an athlete still serves him today in his professional career.
Joanne Wallen, Tennis
Joanne Wallen enjoyed a 14-year professional tennis career on the International Tennis Federation and WTA tours before switching to the coaching and administration side of the sport. She worked in various positions for the US Tennis Association, successfully using the many skills she developed as a player in her new positions. In this interview, Joanne Wallen talks about the soft skills that make athletes great hires and how to utilize them in life beyond sports.
Sabine Hazboun, Swimming
Our latest transition talks interview was with former Olympic swimmer Sabine Hazboun. Originally from Palestine, Sabine received a scholarship from the IOC to train in Spain. She competed in many international events including the London Olympics. In this interview, she talks about the uncertainty of her situation and the various transitions she's had throughout her career. She currently lives in Switzerland and works for FINA (the international Swimming Federation).
Robert Parisien, Football
Discover Robert Parisien's incredible story from collegiate football to orthopedic surgeon. Robert has a truly unique path filled with many transitions. He played and competed in multiple sports growing up and eventually ended up playing collegiate football and studying economics at Brown University. He then moved to India to work for an engineering company, then in the arts and entertainment in California, before returning to school to become a sport surgeon.
Rachael Flatt, Figure Skating
Former US figure skater, Rachael Flatt talks about the end of her career, how she ended with her “imperfect” performances but was ok with it. She also talks about her personal search and struggle post athletics even though she chose when to retire and had a successful academic path.
Richard Adams, Track & Field
In this Transition Talk, Richard Adams, former collegiate superstar track athlete, talks about his sporting career, his transition and his experiences post-sports. He insists on living your truth and staying authentic and the importance of embracing the opportunities that present themselves to you. He also talks about transferable skills and his current work with Pay Your Tuition.
Luis Hernandez, Figure Skating
Luis Hernandez talks about his incredibly long figure skating career, how he reached a low point at 18 years old dealing with eating disorders, depression and suicidal thoughts and how he was able to overcome his challenges leading him to a path of personal discovery and growth in and outside of sports. He describes the second part of his career as "magical".
Ali Meeks, Swimming
Former swimmer Ali Meeks discusses her choice to end her collegiate career and her personal identity search during that time. She also shares her struggles with body image and unhealthy eating behaviors. Her story is a great example of an unconventional path that eventually led her right back to her passion for water and the swimming world.
Whitney Jones, Basketball
Whitney Jones shares about the multiple injuries that led to her retirement and the emotions that followed. She explains her feeling of loss and lack of purpose and how it affected her relationship with her husband who was then playing a professional football player in the NFL. She outlines the necessity to own your transition process in order to be able to move forward.
Tyree Washington, Track and Field
Tyree Washington talks about his passion for football, some of the challenges he faced and the mindset that helped him overcome adversity. With incredible enthusiasm, he outlines the importance of finding your purpose, setting new goals and attaching yourself to good people in order to continue to move forward.
Apolo Ohno, Speed Skating
Olympic Gold medalist speed skater, Apolo Ohno shares his story of transition from sports and the lessons he has learned along the way:
- The power of the mind
- Surrounding yourself with the right people
- The need for guidance and accountability as you transition
- The importance of your routine and self-care
- Transferable skills: resiliency, coachability, adaptability
- The need to be curious and to continuously learn
... and that it is ok to fail.
Nick Taylor, Paralympic Tennis
Paralympic Tennis Player Nick Taylor talks to Athletes Soul about his athletic career, his retirement from tennis and his transition to Boccia. This is a really interesting interview which provides insights into Paralympic Sports and helps us understand the impact of rule changes on athletes' sporting career. Nick also talks about the perseverance and obsessional behaviors that make elite athletes exceptional individuals.
Tracy Almeda-Singian, Tennis
Tracy Almeda-Singian played professional tennis on the professional tour for many years before retiring due to injury. Following her athletic career, she went into coaching and eventually in marketing and branding working for Red Bull and now for Citi. In this interview, Tracy shares the struggles of her retirement, the process it took to figure out what was next and her decision not to go back to college against the advice of her family and friends.
Canyon Ceman, Volleyball
Canyon Ceman had a successful 15-year professional beach volleyball career that allowed him to travel the world and made a living from his sport. During his transition from sports, he faced an incredibly difficult economy (2008) and the loss of identity that lots of retired athletes experience. Now with perspective and experience, he shares some great advice on how to manage that period of uncertainty.
Connor Dietz, Football
Connor Dietz, former collegiate football player, is the co-founder of GMTM, a platform that connects athletes with opportunities. In this Transition Talk, he talks about community and the importance of developing and maintaining relationships with inspiring individuals to move you forward. He also talks about the character traits and lessons sport taught him and that he uses every day in life and work.
Kristen Rasmussen, Basketball
Kristen speaks of her journey, from being drafted and playing 13 seasons in the WNBA to coaching to working for Nike. She explains how she saw an opportunity to make a bigger impact on a larger scale. With her new career, she speaks of her drive to be known for something other than basketball, adjusting to the pace of the corporate world, and the tools she brings from her sport to help her navigate this new role. She reflects on her frustration in feeling late to the game but how her athletic spirit is pushing her to pursue her dreams off of the court.
David Karasek, Swimming
In this Transition Talk, Christos Papadimitriou talks with David Karasek, former Olympic swimmer for the Swiss National Team. After a successful career in finance, David redirected his path to personal coaching. For several years, he has trained on mental strength. He now shares his knowledge with others. For him it is about constantly seeking to be the best version of yourself and in this search it is important not to compare yourself to others.
Neha Uberoi, Tennis
Discover Neha Uberoi's early path to academic and athletic success. She joined Princeton University as a tennis student-athlete at 15 years old and the Women professional tennis circuit a year later. After five years on the Tour, she found herself isolated, depressed and battling an eating disorder which eventually led her to early retirement. She shares details of what happens and how she felt in this intense interview.
Michael Thwait, Soccer
Australian professional soccer Michael Thwaite has had a full career playing overseas on multiple continents and in Australia. He speaks with fellow soccer player Christos Papadimitriou and reflect on his journey and learnings. He insists on the importance of believing in yourself and focusing on the controllables. Michael has started his own mentoring company helping people transition into and out of a profession.
Richie Shaffer, Baseball
In this Transition Talks, current baseball player and intern of Athletes Soul, Tyler Keysor speaks with former professional baseball player Richie Shaffer. Richie talks candidly about the rapid change his sporting career took and how, after being a free agent in 2019, he eventually retired. Richie is still going through his transition but now has more clarity about who he is without baseball and where he is going. A great interview with an athlete who is still exploring and trying to figure what his next passion and moves are.
Gary Hall Jr, Swimming
Gary Hall Jr insists on the importance of developing interests outside of sports but also remembering that sports is about having fun.
He also shares how his personal challenge with diabetes ultimately helped him sustain his sporting career but also transition into a field he is incredibly passionate about.
Miko Fogarty, Ballet
Former professional ballet dancer Miko Fogarty explains how voicing and sharing your challenges can help you overcome them. It took her over a year to decide to leave her professional ballet career. She also talks about her eating disorder and body image struggles and how attending college helped her ease back into "normal" life.
Miko Fogarty is a former professional ballet dancer with the Birmingham Royal Ballet and is a current Senior at UC Berkeley.
Katrina Adams, Tennis
Following a successful professional tennis career with the WTA, Katrina Adams was the first African American to lead the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and to hold that position for two terms. In this interview, Katrina Adams talks about the character traits - determination, confidence, careful planning - that helped her be successful in her athletic and after in her professional endeavors.
Megan Rose, Tennis
Our latest interview is with Megan Rose, former professional tennis player. Megan talks about the difficulty of knowing her worth and how to interact in the world outside of sports, when tennis is all you have ever known. She also recommends to athletes to expand their life outside of sport and start planning before the end of their career, when they have access to people and organizations.
Jill Craybas, Tennis
Jill Craybas played on the professional tennis tour for 17 years and played in all major tournaments. Her career highlights include the 2005 Wimbledon tournament where she beat Marion Bartoli and Serena Williams reaching the fourth round and playing at the 2008 Olympic Games. Since her retirement, Jill has worked as a commentator and also started her own chocolate making company. In this interview with Donna Kelso, she shares about her experiences post-tennis.
Megan Parker, Diving
Former international diver for Canada, Megan Parker (nee Gordon) talks about her athletic journey and her retirement from sport. Megan missed her ticket to the Olympics twice and suffered multiple injuries the years prior to retiring. She talks about the difficulty of not achieving your dream goal, the wear and tear on her body, and her relationship with her sister who was her competitor too.
Chandler Gull, Soccer
This is an inspiring talk from Chandler Gull, former collegiate soccer player and founder of the MindPower Foundation and Athlete Mentor. In this Transition Talks, he speaks about his personal transition from soccer but also his philanthropic drive and efforts related to mental health and community. Chandler leads and inspires other athletes with a refreshing personal, quiet, kind, and compassionate touch.
Victoria Garrick, Volleyball
Former collegiate volleyball player Victoria Garrick talks about her positive experience of athletic retirement and how she used her platform as a collegiate athlete to transition to being a full-time advocate, influencer and public speaker. Victoria is the founder of The Hidden Opponent which provides mental health support to student-athletes on college campuses. She also delivered a great Ted Talks on her own struggles with mental health as a collegiate athlete.
Marga Crespi, Artistic Swimming
Former Olympic, world and European medalist and world champion, Marga Crespi speaks to Olympic gymnast Victor Cano about her multiple life transitions: from elite sport to performer to business. Throughout her life, Marga had to re-invent herself and her advice is to seek help from others through the process and not be afraid to try new things.
=> Interview in Spanish, subtitles in English.
Mark Hunter, Rowing
Christos Papadimitriou interviews multiple British Olympian and Olympic gold medalist Mark Hunter about his transition to life after sport. Mark talks about career preparation and taking steps to facilitate your future transition. He touches on the need to mitigate the impact of the "Olympic Blues" especially when it is combined with athletic retirement.
Abbie Fish, Swimming
Founder of Swim like a Fish and former collegiate swimmer, Abbie Fish speaks about her injury-related retirement and her transition to becoming a coach. She shares the wave of emotions she felt, how she dealt with them and the importance of spending time talking with others about how you feel and seeking help if you need it. She also talks about the amount of personal growth she has experienced since retiring.
Taj Dashaun, Football
In this interview, Taj and Christos talk about taking the time to celebrate your career and defining your goals and what you want. to do after sports. Taj also insists on the importance of execution. It is one thing to accumulate knowledge but you need to implement what you learn. Finally, Taj encourages athletes to find role models and mentors who can inspire them. Use the power of virtual networks to connect with successful people and try to emulate their work and success.
Lashinda Demus, Track and Field
Lashinda Demus retired from track and field in 2017 and talks about her challenges as she tries to figure out what's next for her. She insists on the importance of having a coach or mentor, being more thoughtful about class selection in college and taking care of your body while competing. She also shares her the difficulty of starting from scratch especially in the corporate world when you have been an expert in your field for so long. Finally, she admits that being a mother distracts her from her retirement but is also a challenge with employers as there is still a stigma around work performance and availability.
Than Merill, Football
Former professional football player Than Merrill talks about learning from his setbacks and the importance of education.
He outlines the necessity to follow the same process athletes used to become great in their field. This is the process of learning and hard working to support your professional endeavors and to constantly set up high standards for yourself.