What The Hell Do I Do Now? | Podcast on RSS.com

What The Hell Do I Do Now?

What The Hell Do I Do Now?

by Genevieve Henderson

98. Shahar Biran | From Competing Alone to Building a Team

Shahar Biran is a former collegiate tennis player competing at Old Dominion University for undergrad, and then completing her MBA while finishing her final year of eligibility at the University of South Carolina. Like many international athletes, her transition to college athletics required adjusting not only to a new country, but also to a completely different style of competition — trading the independence of individual tennis for the dynamics of being part of a team. After graduation, Shahar found herself navigating the uncertainty that often follows an athletic career. Inspired by her own experience of navigating the college recruiting process without much guidance, she now works with Momentum NYC, a recruiting agency that helps international junior tennis players pursue opportunities to compete and study in the U.S. Through her work, she now supports athletes through every step of the journey, from recruitment and academics to visas and settling into college life. In this episode, Shahar reflects on the challenges of leaving competitive tennis behind, the unexpected feeling of missing the pressure and adrenaline of competition more than the sport itself, and how she has found a new outlet for that competitive energy by helping the next generation of athletes. She also shares her perspective on navigating cultural transitions, embracing life beyond sport, and learning to let go of the "all or nothing" mindset that once defined her athletic career.

97. Brett Stern | From Elite Athlete to Entrepreneur

Brett Stern is a former collegiate tennis player whose life revolved around pursuing excellence on the court from a young age. After training at one of the country's most elite tennis academies and competing at both UC Irvine and the University of Florida, Brett faced a reality many athletes encounter: letting go of the dream that had defined so much of his identity. In this episode, Brett reflects on the difficult transition away from competitive sport, the loss of structure and purpose that followed, and the challenge of building a new life beyond athletics. He shares how the mindset that fueled his tennis career — resilience, problem-solving, discipline, and persistence — became the foundation for his success in business, where he has spent the last three decades working alongside his father in the family business. Brett also discusses the importance of finding fulfillment in new pursuits, and learning that purpose can evolve over time. Through honest reflection and hard-earned perspective, he offers reassurance to athletes navigating uncertainty and reminds us that growth often happens long after the final match is played.

96. Madeline Davis Tully | The Power of Choice

Madeline "Maddie" Davis Tully is a former collegiate rower at Princeton University whose athletic journey carried her from the Ivy League to the U23 U.S. National Team and the World Rowing Championships. After stepping away from elite competition on her own terms, Maddy transitioned into coaching, where she spent over two decades developing athletes and helping to build championship programs at Stanford, Ohio State, and Boston University. In this episode, Maddy reflects on the two major transitions that shaped her life: retiring from competition and, years later, leaving a coaching career that had defined her identity. She shares how each transition required letting go of a role she deeply loved while trusting that something meaningful could exist on the other side. Now the founder of her own leadership and performance coaching practice, Maddy works with high-achieving professionals navigating seasons of growth and change. She discusses the importance of moving toward something—not simply away from something—the lessons athletics continue to teach long after competition ends, and how redefining success can create space for a more intentional and fulfilling life. This conversation is a thoughtful reflection on identity, leadership, purpose, and embracing the next chapter with confidence. Maddy's leadership and performance coaching practice can be found at https://www.mdtlead.com/

95. Lae Kollasch | Learning To Pivot

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 ground up after relocating to Phoenix, eventually launching Offsite Pilates, her own mobile fitness community. We talk about entrepreneurship, creating spaces where people feel connected, and how the lessons she learned as an athlete continue to shape the way she coaches today. This conversation is an honest reminder that leaving sport doesn't mean leaving behind everything it taught you.

94. Dillon Schoen Toohill | A Journey Through Grief and Athletics

Dillon Schoen Toohill is a former Stanford lacrosse player and team captain whose transition out of athletics unfolded alongside one of the most challenging seasons of her life. After losing her father just before her senior year, Dillon found herself navigating both the emotional weight of grief and the identity shift that comes with stepping away from a sport that shaped her for years. In this episode, Dillon reflects on her decision to pursue a career beyond lacrosse, earning a master’s degree at Stanford before building a career in finance and strategy with roles at Apple and in the digital health space. She shares how athletics prepared her for the demands of professional life while also opening up about the uncertainty that followed the end of her playing career. Dillon discusses the ways she has stayed connected to sport through endurance challenges that honor her father’s memory, including half-Ironman races and fundraising efforts for cancer research. Additionally, she offers a unique perspective on supporting her husband through his own transition out of professional football, as they navigate the opportunities and unknowns that come with life after sport together. This conversation explores identity, grief, resilience, and the reality that growth often happens in the seasons when life doesn't go according to plan.

93. Brandyn Curry | From Recovery to Reinvention

Brandyn Curry is a former Harvard basketball player whose athletic journey took him from the Ivy League to professional basketball overseas. After graduating, Brandyn spent several seasons playing professionally in Europe before a devastating knee injury in Romania ended his playing career and forced him to confront life beyond the game sooner than expected. Now serving as Program Director for The SHIELD Foundation, Brandyn helps former athletes navigate the often-overlooked challenges of transitioning out of sport. In this episode, he shares the realities of a career-ending injury, the emotional and physical toll of losing the game he loved, and how that experience ultimately led him to a new purpose. Brandyn reflects on the importance of advocating for your own health, building meaningful relationships before, during, and after your athletic career, and why the lessons learned through sport can continue to shape life long after competition ends. This conversation explores identity, resilience, and what it means to turn one of life's hardest setbacks into an opportunity to help others find their next chapter.

92. Aubrey Peterson | Once an Athlete, Always an Athlete

Aubrey Peterson is a former Division I softball player at the University of Utah and a longtime member of the Great Britain national softball team. Competing internationally for seven years, Aubrey traveled the world while balancing the transition from collegiate athletics to the reality of becoming an independent athlete — navigating sponsorships, training, and life beyond the structure of college sports. In this episode, Aubrey reflects on the unexpected turns that shaped her transition out of elite competition. After COVID paused international play at the height of her career and injuries shifted her perspective on returning to the game, she began building a new life rooted in community, outdoor adventure, and coaching. Now based in Bozeman, Montana, Aubrey owns and operates a batting cage facility while staying connected to sport in a new way. She shares honest insight into athlete identity, burnout, retirement, and the importance of separating who you are from what you play. This conversation explores trusting yourself through uncertainty, finding purpose after sport, and redefining what it means to stay competitive long after the game ends.

91. Ed Lubowicki | Reconstructing What was Best about Sport

Ed Lubowicki is a former Division 1 lacrosse athlete at Notre Dame who now works at the intersection of athlete transition, identity, and professional development. In this episode, Ed joins Genevieve to unpack the often overlooked reality of life after sports — from the identity shifts that follow retirement to the challenge of building structure and purpose in a completely different environment. Ed shares his personal journey from college athletics into the corporate world, including his time in cybersecurity consulting at Deloitte, where a demanding, travel-heavy lifestyle led him to reevaluate what he truly wanted. Now finishing his master’s thesis on athletic identity foreclosure, he brings both lived experience and academic insight into how athletes navigate transition. The conversation explores the parallels between sport and entrepreneurship. Ed also shares how reflective practices, philosophy, and intentional community-building have helped him rebuild a sense of identity beyond sport. This episode dives into the gap between athletic excellence and real-world structure, and what it looks like to intentionally design a life after the game.

90. Haley Paez | It’s not Failure, It’s Feedback

Haley Paez is a Denver-based food content creator and former Division I soccer player at the University of Denver. In this episode, Haley shares her journey through college athletics — from navigating multiple coaching changes and transferring schools, to facing the intense internal and external pressures that came with competing at a high level. She opens up about her experience with disordered eating, the physical and mental toll of injuries, and the difficult decision to step away from the sport before she felt ready. Haley reflects on the identity loss that followed and how therapy helped her reframe her past, adopting the mindset that “failure is feedback.” Now a full-time content creator, Haley shares how she’s applied the discipline and work ethic she developed as an athlete to build a career in the digital space. She also talks about rediscovering her love for soccer in a low-pressure environment and learning to define herself beyond sport. This episode explores transition, healing, and what it means to rebuild your identity on your own terms. If you or someone you know is struggling, Visit the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) to learn about eating disorders, find help, and how you can take action to raise awareness.

89. Chris Duvall | Redirecting Work Ethic after Sports

Chris Duvall is a former professional soccer player who spent eight seasons competing in Major League Soccer, playing for multiple clubs including the New York Red Bulls, Montreal Impact, Houston Dynamo, Portland Timbers, and FC Cincinnati. After retiring from professional soccer, Chris faced the transition many athletes experience — figuring out how to redirect the intensity, discipline, and identity that come with competing at the highest level. In this episode, Chris opens up about a pivotal moment in his career when a serious leg injury forced him to confront the mental and emotional challenges of being sidelined. Initially skeptical of therapy, he eventually sought help after experiencing symptoms of PTSD following the injury — a decision that ultimately reshaped his perspective on mental health and personal growth. Chris shares what it looked like to rebuild his life after sport: finishing his graduate degree while still playing, briefly coaching, and eventually stepping into a new career as a mortgage lender in St. Louis. He reflects on the difficulty of shifting from constantly proving yourself as an athlete, to building a sustainable life where your worth isn’t defined by performance. This conversation explores identity beyond sport, the power of mental health support, and the challenge of learning where to place your energy after leaving a career built on giving everything to the game.

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