Athletes Beyond the Game

Olivia Arizin, D1 Track: Overcoming Performance Anxiety

This week, Olivia Arizin shares her journey as a college athlete, discussing her experiences with performance anxiety, the importance of mental health in sports, and the support systems that helped her navigate challenges. She emphasizes the significance of having a balanced identity beyond athletics and offers advice for athletes facing similar struggles. She discusses the importance of finding a balance between fun and intensity in sports, the tools she learned to manage anxiety, and the self-discovery process during her athletic career.     athletesbeyondthegame.com social handles: @athletesbeyondthegame

Healthy Competitiveness and Finding Identity Outside of Sport

This week Julia and Sara are solo! They chat about finding a healthy relationship with their sport post-retirement, struggling with motivation, and a big life update.

Same Sport, Different Journeys: D1 Track & Field Twins Izze & Sofia Calabrese

In Athletes Beyond the Game this week, Julia and Sara kick off season two with D1 track athletes and twins, Sofia and Izze Calabrese. During the episode, Sofia and Izze get real about the realities of being a female athlete in a sport that focuses on weight. They talk about growing up with a twin in the same sport, body image, overcoming an eating disorder, and finding your new identity after retirement.

A Look Back at Season 1!

To close out season 1, Julia and Sara sit down and go over their top three moments in 2025 and what episodes really resonated with each of them. The flow of this episode is extremely casual. We would love to hear your favorite episodes or moments this season!   Visit our website at athletesbeyondthegame.com   Instagram: @athletesbeyondthegame

WNBA Professional Basketball Player, Chelsea Poppens: How to Advocate For Yourself & Find Your Next Goal After Sports

Sara is flying solo in this week’s episode! She sits down with retired WNBA professional basketball player, Chelsea Poppins. They get into some of Chelsea’s most memorable moments from her career and how she learned to advocate for herself while dealing with injuries throughout her career. Chelsea also talks about her retirement journey, and how she was able to find new passions and an identity outside of athletics that helped her move forward with confidence.   Chelsea played Division 1 basketball at Iowa State before continuing her professional career in the WNBA and various overseas professional teams throughout her career. After retiring in 2019, she has been doing it all. She is the COO of the branding and digital agency, DayCloud Studios, an ESPN+ color analyst for her alma mater, co-host of Champion This podcast, and creator of CKP athletics – a youth program that provides basketball training, mentorship, and life-skills development.