Lae Kollasch is a former track and field athlete whose collegiate career took her from the University of Northern Iowa to the junior college level. As her priorities began to shift, Lae realized she could no longer give the sport everything it deserved, leading her to make the difficult decision to step away from competition and begin redefining her identity beyond athletics.

In this episode, Lae reflects on the emotional challenges of leaving behind the athlete identity she had carried for years, describing the transition as an "ego death" and opening up about the mental health struggles that followed. She shares how leaning on her support system, embracing uncertainty, and allowing herself the freedom to change directions helped her move forward.

Lae also shares how she built a career in the fitness industry from the g ...