Episodes

  • Ep 35 - From Olympic Waters to Entrepreneurial Waves: Jennifer Casson on Resilience, Mental Health & Reinventing Bras

    Ep 35 - From Olympic Waters to Entrepreneurial Waves: Jennifer Casson on Resilience, Mental Health & Reinventing Bras
    Sep 30 2025

    Episode Summary:

    What does it take to transition from Olympic rowing tobuilding a disruptive start-up? In this episode of Define Your Success, host Abigail Irozuru speaks with Olympian and Daylilies co-founder Jennifer Casson about resilience, mental health, and innovation.

    Jennifer shares her unexpected Tokyo 2021 Olympic qualification story, the lessons learned from supportinga teammate through anxiety, and the reality of navigating life after elite sport. She also reveals how frustration with traditional bras inspired Daylilies, a brand on a mission to revolutionise bras for modern, athletic women. From patenting and 3D printing to building in public and joining the IOC Business Accelerator, Jennifer reveals the transferable skills that fuel her journey and why failure is never the end.

    If you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or anyone curious about turning setbacks into stepping stones or how to leverage your network for new opportunities, this episode is packed with insights on failure, adaptability, and defining success on your own terms.

    🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite platform.

    What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    ✔ The highs and lows ofJennifer’s Olympic journey and what it taught her about resilience
    ✔ How to support teammates through mental healthchallenges in high-pressure environments
    ✔ The challenges of transitioning out of elite sportand finding a new identity
    ✔ Why Daylilie is disrupting the bra industry forathletic women
    ✔ Transferable skills from sport to entrepreneurship – and why feedback is your friend
    ✔ The power of networking and partnerships inbuilding a business
    ✔ Jennifer’s definition ofresilience and success


    Connect with Jennifer & Daylilie:

    • Instagram: @Daylilie_bras
    • Website: https://www.daylilie.com/
    • LinkedIn: Jennifer Casson

    Listen & Subscribe:

    🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.
    👉Don’t forget to rate, review, and share if you enjoyed this episode!


    Connect with Abigail and the podcast:

    Send us a voice message - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message

    Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk

    Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/

    Twitter: @DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK

    Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/ // Twitter - @airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru

    Show Notes

    Hot Pepper by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/

    Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

    Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License(CC BY 3.0)

    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
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    53 mins
  • Ep 34 - Inside the BEAA: Kelly Sotherton on Navigating High Performance and Post-Athlete Life

    Ep 34 - Inside the BEAA: Kelly Sotherton on Navigating High Performance and Post-Athlete Life
    Aug 19 2025

    A compelling conversation hosted by Olympian, Abigail Irozuru, with Team GB and British athletics trailblazer, Kelly Sotherton MBE, a triple Olympic medallist and CEO of the British Elite Athletes Association (BEAA).

    Key takeaways from the conversation include:

    1. Reshaping the Athlete Journey: Kelly's mission is to make the athlete's path smoother and more pleasant, ensuring they gain crucial life skills that extend beyond sport.

    2. The BEAA's Vital Role: As CEO, Kelly oversees the British Elite Athletes Association (BEAA), which offers essential support (for issues like selection, safeguarding), athlete representation, and fosters a strong athlete community.

    3. Addressing Modern Sport Challenges: Kelly highlights social media as a primary challenge for athletes, stressing the importance of authentic communication and directing concerns to the "right people" for impactful change, rather than just social media.

    4. Athlete Identity & Transition Advice: For developing athletes, Kelly advises fostering "dual identities" to prevent post-sport identity loss and building "good links" (networking) for smoother career transitions.

    5. Defining Success Beyond Medals: Kelly defines personal success not solely by achievements, but fundamentally by health (mental and physical), integrity, honesty, and authenticity – values that shape daily behavior and personal growth.


    British Elite Athletes Association BEAA - https://www.britisheliteathletes.org/

    Instagram: @KellySotherton https://www.instagram.com/kellysotherton/?hl=en

    Send us a voice message - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message

    Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk

    Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/

    Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/

    Hot Pepper by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/

    Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

    Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

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    55 mins
  • Ep 33 - The Medallist's Method: Lewis J. Richardson on Crafting a Career in the Business of Professional Boxing

    Ep 33 - The Medallist's Method: Lewis J. Richardson on Crafting a Career in the Business of Professional Boxing
    Jul 29 2025
    Welcome to the loooong-awaited Season 4 premiere of Define Your Success! We kick off this new season with an incredibly inspiring conversation with Lewis J. Richardson, an Olympian who medalled at the 2024 Paris Games and recently made his pro debut (June 2025). Lewis takes us on a raw, honest, and truly profound journey, offering a rare glimpse into the complex world of professional boxing and the personal battles fought outside the ring.In this episode, Lewis delves into:The Transformative Leap from Amateur to Pro: Discover the dramatic differences between amateur and professional boxing, not just in terms of round duration (from 3 to 4-12 rounds), but especially the business aspect. Lewis likens the transition from being "employed" by GB Boxing (funded by the National Lottery and offering a holistic program) to becoming "self-employed" and building your entire support team from scratch.The Unforgettable Moment of Olympic Qualification: Hear the goosebump-inducing story of Lewis's "absolute highlight" – securing his Olympic qualification on May 31st, 2024. He reveals why this moment meant more to him than even an Olympic medal, highlighting the notoriously difficult qualification process in boxing where only one person per country can qualify per weight category, and his light middleweight division was the most highly contested.Overcoming Adversity and Silencing the Naysayers: Lewis transparently shares the relentless doubts he faced throughout his career – "He's not strong enough. He's not big enough. He's not fit enough. He's not good enough". He details significant challenges, including a bad back injury in 2018 and the difficult Tokyo Olympic cycle where he faced the world number one on his 23rd birthday.The Gut-Wrenching Weight Category Dilemma: Learn about the crushing blow when his long-standing 75kg Olympic weight category was removed, forcing him to consider moving up or down. Having boxed at 75kg since he was 16, the decision to drop to 71kg seemed nearly impossible, sparking widespread disbelief. Lewis shares how he defied these expectations, proving his doubters wrong at every step.Rediscovering Purpose in the Crossroads: Lewis openly discusses the "lack of direction" and "lack of purpose" he felt in 2022-2023 when his Olympic dream seemed over and the professional path wasn't aligning. He credits working with a clinical psychiatrist and taking a "Powered by Purpose" course and the True Athlete Project with helping him "look within" and "rediscover himself".The Power of a Trustworthy Team and Loyal Sponsors: Lewis emphasises the critical importance of surrounding yourself with "people you trust" in the "shark's business" of boxing. He outlines the essential team members, from a good coach, manager, promoter, and lawyer to a nutritionist and psychologist. He also passionately highlights the vital role of loyal sponsors like Maldon Demolition (since 2016) and Datum Group (since 2017), emphasising the importance of deep, non-transactional relationships.Beyond the Ring: Life, Hobbies, and Humility: Get to know Lewis beyond his athletic prowess and his commitment to being a positive role model for the next generation.Post-Paris Highlights of a Hometown Hero: Lewis gushes about his incredible experiences since Paris, including turning on the Christmas lights in Colchester (his hometown) and meeting King Charles at Buckingham Palace.This episode is a masterclass in resilience – defined by Lewis as "being able to grow, being able to come back from adversity, and being a better person off the back of it". Lewis' story is a testament to the power of unwavering self-belief and the profound impact of having the right support system when defining your own success.Connect with Lewis:Instagram: @LewisJRichardsonTikTok: @LewisJRichWebsite - https://lewisrichardson.org/ Email the podcast at info@defineyoursuccess.uk
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    41 mins
  • Ep 32 - Winning On and Off the Field: Athletes' Guide to Sports Law with Imani

    Ep 32 - Winning On and Off the Field: Athletes' Guide to Sports Law with Imani
    Jun 25 2024

    🚀 We delve into the world of sports law, anti-doping, selection policies, commercial contracts for athletes and the journey of athletes navigating these challenging arenas. 🎙️


    In this episode, Olympian Abigail Irozuru has the pleasure of speaking with Imani, a dedicated athlete and aspiring sports lawyer. We cover:


    🔹 How We Met: Training after an injury led to deep conversations and mutual respect.

    🔹 Imani's Journey into Law: From her love of sports to understanding the impact of sports lawyers on athletes and teams.

    🔹 Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs): Discussing notable cases like Diane Modahl's and CJ Ujah's, and the principle of strict liability.

    🔹 Balancing Motherhood and Career: Unique challenges and opportunities in sports law.

    🔹 Selection Policies: Insights on fair criteria for the Paris Olympic Games.

    🔹 Commercial Contracts: Key tips for navigating kit contracts.

    🔹 What Sports Law Encompasses: From endorsements to regulatory compliance and transfer agreements.


    Imani's journey from a what she refers to as a "mid-level athlete" to a sports lawyer provides invaluable insights and inspiration. Her definition of success? Wait to the end to find out. 🌟


    #SportsLaw #AthleteJourney #AntiDoping #LegalInsights #PodcastEpisode #ImaniSpeaks
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    48 mins
  • Ep 31 - The Battle for Women's Sport: Transgender Athlete Inclusion & Fairness

    Ep 31 - The Battle for Women's Sport: Transgender Athlete Inclusion & Fairness
    May 27 2024

    Transgender women's inclusion in women's sport has been a contentious, divisive issue for several years. Listen to an expert's perspective on this episode hosted by Abigail Irozuru with Sharron Davies - a broadcaster, author, former ITV Gladiator and Olympic swimmer who is passionate about fair sport.

    During Sharron’s swimming career, she and her colleagues personally experienced the damaging effects of unfair sport through East Germany's dominant era, as a result of their state-sponsored doping regime. Sharron ultimately sees transgender inclusion in the women’s category as another example of unfair sport, which she also expresses in her most recent book - Unfair Sport, the battle for Women’s sport, co-authored with Craig Lord.

    This is a conversation in 3-parts

    1. The East German era of doping and its impact of which Sharron was personally victim to

    2. Women’s sport - it’s growth and transgender inclusion

    3. Perspective and predictions for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in track and field and swimming

    https://www.sharrondavies.com/

    Podcast Link - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success // Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7ntkYxL444R6mOtlyQmcYn // Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/define-your-success/id1595377040

    Send us a voice message - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message

    Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk

    Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/

    Twitter: @DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK

    Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/ // Twitter - @airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru

    Hot Pepper by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/

    Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

    Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)

    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

    Connect with Sharron Social Media / Email Connect with Abigail and the podcast:
    Show Notes
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    56 mins
  • Ep 30 - Olympic Confidence & Climate Advocacy: Tackling Imposter Syndrome and Global Inclusion with Danielle Alakija

    Ep 30 - Olympic Confidence & Climate Advocacy: Tackling Imposter Syndrome and Global Inclusion with Danielle Alakija
    Apr 9 2024

    A captivating conversation with Team Fiji Olympic athlete Danielle Alakija, as she shares her remarkable journey from childhood running superstar to becoming an Olympian at just 16 years old. Beyond the track, we delve into Danni’s passion for climate advocacy, particularly her efforts to amplify the voices of the Global South in discussions around climate change solutions. She's reimagining the UN Sustainable Development Goals to ensure inclusivity and fair representation, addressing historical inequalities and uplifting marginalised communities through her passion project - SOLI.

    And here’s our call to action for athletes and listeners passionate about climate advocacy - you can get involved with her latest project - SOLI - by sharing letters and information about personal experiences of climate change.

    Email: danielle@soli.earth

    Social Media (Instagram, etc): @daniellealakija

    Web: www.soli.earth

    Throughout our discussion, Danielle's creativity, resilience, and commitment to making a difference shine through, inspiring us all to pursue our dreams and create positive change in the world.

    And, of course, stay tuned until the end to hear Danni’s definition of success and personal experiences of resilience in her own world. 🌍✨

    Send us a voice message - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message

    Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk

    Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/

    Twitter: @DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK

    Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/ // Twitter - @airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru

    Hot Pepper by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/

    Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

    Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)

    Connect with Abigail and the podcast:
    Show Noteshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

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    1 hr
  • Ep 29 - Beyond the Podium: The Untapped Power of Performance Lifestyle Coaching with Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson

    Ep 29 - Beyond the Podium: The Untapped Power of Performance Lifestyle Coaching with Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson
    Mar 26 2024
    Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson is a Canadian Olympian and a Performance Lifestyle Advisor with the UK Institute of Sport, working with British Athletics and British Shooting World Class Performance Program athletes. The second key conversation of the 2024 season with Define Your Success is between host Abigail Irozuru and Erika, a member of the elite high performance team. Key Discussion Points: Athlete and Sport Engagement with Performance Lifestyle Teams: Delving into the significance of athlete engagement with Performance Lifestyle Teams, Erika sheds light on how these teams play a crucial role in supporting athletes throughout their careers. Transition and Mental Health Support: Drawing from her own experiences transitioning from elite sport, Erika compares the support systems in the UK and Canada, highlighting the need for robust mental health resources tailored to athletes' diverse needs. Six Pillars of High Performance: Erika outlines the six pillars integral to developing a well-rounded, high-performance athlete, emphasizing the importance of addressing various facets of athletes' lives beyond their athletic endeavours. Transitions Beyond Retirement: The conversation expands to encompass transitions beyond retirement, demonstrating that transitions are not limited to exiting the sport but encompass various life changes. Personal Journey with Mental Health Advocacy: Erika shares her personal journey with mental health challenges, which spurred her advocacy efforts and led her to pursue a Psychology degree, ultimately shaping her current work at the UK Institute of Sport. Self-Directed Development Strategies: Offering valuable insights, Erika discusses self-directed personal development and transition support strategies for athletes who may not have direct access to elite programs, catering to both developing athletes and those at higher levels. Coaching and Mentoring Models: Exploring coaching and mentoring models, the discussion underscores the importance of athlete buy-in when collaborating with Performance Lifestyle practitioners. Useful Resources Discussed: More To Me Initiative: https://uksportsinstitute.co.uk/article/eis-helps-athletes-expand-coaching-skills-through-more2me-initiative/ A program aimed at expanding athletes' skills. UKSI (UK Sports Institute): https://uksportsinstitute.co.uk/ Providing comprehensive support for elite athletes. TASS (Talented Athlete Support Scheme): https://www.tass.gov.uk/ Supporting young, developing athletes. NGB (National Governing Body) - UK Sport: https://www.uksport.gov.uk/ Focusing on Olympic and Paralympic high-performance goals. --- Social Media / Email Podcast Link - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success // Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7ntkYxL444R6mOtlyQmcYn // Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/define-your-success/id1595377040 Send us a voice message - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/ Twitter: @DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/ // Twitter - @airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru Credits Hot Pepper by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
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    47 mins
  • Ep 28 - Rhythmic Resilience: Building MIC Gymnastics with Mimi Cesar

    Ep 28 - Rhythmic Resilience: Building MIC Gymnastics with Mimi Cesar
    Mar 19 2024

    Second of the two-part conversation hosted by Olympian, Abigail Irozuru with Team England Commonwealth Games' rhythmic gymnast, coach and business-owner Mimi-Isabella Cesar.

    Key takeaways from the conversation include:

    1. Aesthetic sports like gymnastics involve subjective judging based on the athletes' appearance and execution.

    2. Collaboration with experts in various fields is crucial for athletes' holistic development.

    3. MIC Gymnastics offers tailored training programs and a supportive community for athletes of all ages and levels.

    4. Mimi's multifaceted career includes coaching, commentating, and aspirations in media, property, and investment.

    5. Embracing challenges and using personal experiences to drive positive change is essential for growth and success.


    Connect with Abigail and the podcast:

    Send us a voice message - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message

    Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk

    Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/

    Twitter: @DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK

    Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/ // Twitter - @airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru

    Hot Pepper by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/

    Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

    Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)

    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US


    Show Notes
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    37 mins