No Former Athlete cover art

No Former Athlete

No Former Athlete

By: No Former Athlete
Listen for free

About this listen

Welcome to the No Former Athlete Podcast, where we explore the challenges retired athletes face as they transition from sports to a new identity. Most athletes spend more time retired than playing, often feeling lost and confused. It's not about sports. Hosts Erin McGinnis and Alex Gasaway delve into the emotional hurdles of leaving competitive sports. Through personal stories and insights, they discuss the search for new validation and maintaining confidence and purpose. Tune in as we highlight these hidden challenges and reshape life after sports.No Former Athlete Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
activate_mytile_page_redirect_t1
Episodes
  • Hanging Up Cleats at 35: The Transition No One Prepares You For
    Apr 30 2025

    What does it mean to be an athlete—after the game ends?


    In this episode of No Former Athlete, we sit down with the one and only April “Scherm” Schermann: Division 1 softball player, award-winning educator, and legendary coach with over 21 years at the helm.


    Scherm shares her story of growing up as the only girl in a neighborhood full of boys, her competitive drive to play college ball, and the emotional transition that comes after the final whistle.


    💭 From athlete dreams that still haunt us at night to the grief no one talks about when you stop competing, this conversation is raw, reflective, and honestly? A love letter to the lifelong identity of an athlete.


    We talk about:

    -The moment she realized she’d grieved sports for over a decade

    -Why “mental toughness” needs to evolve alongside mental healthHow coaching became her new way to compete

    -And why there’s truly no such thing as a former athlete


    💬 If you’ve ever felt like your body moved on from the sport, but your soul never did—this episode is for you.


    👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments—do you still consider yourself an athlete?


    🔔 Subscribe for more real convos about identity, movement, and the athlete mindset that stays with us forever.

    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Coaching Girls Changed Everything I Thought I Knew
    Apr 14 2025

    What makes a great coach? In this episode, I sit down with my former high school soccer coach, Coach Walker—a man who didn’t just teach the game, but taught life through it.

    From growing up playing barefoot on the streets of Jamaica to coaching high school and club soccer in the U.S., Coach Walker shares the lessons he’s learned about leadership, resilience, culture, and community. We talk about the transition from athlete to coach, the challenges of coaching girls for the first time, and the evolution (and sometimes downfall) of youth sports in America.

    This episode is full of honest moments, laughs, and the kind of perspective you don’t get from the sidelines. Whether you’re a no former athlete, current coach, or just someone who believes in the power of sports to shape people—you’ll take something meaningful away from this conversation.

    🎧 Listen in as we unpack:

    – What sports really teach us

    – Why the best coaches lead with heart

    – How youth sports are changing

    – And how identity, culture, and empathy all play into the game

    Subscribe, rate, and share if this hit home.

    This is No Former Athlete.

    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • Staying Consistent After Sports: Why You Need an Accountability Partner
    Mar 20 2025

    What happens when the sport that shaped your entire identity suddenly ends? In this episode of No Former Athlete, I sit down with Logan, a former college volleyball player, lifelong athlete, and coach, who’s still pushing herself at 47 — even with a walking boot on her foot.

    We talk about the transition from being a competitive athlete to figuring out how to stay consistent without a team or a coach, the power of accountability partners, and how to redefine what being an athlete means as life changes.

    If you’ve ever struggled with motivation, missed the structure of practice, or wondered how to stay connected to that competitive fire — this episode is for you.

    🎧 In this episode:
    — Why the end of competitive sports can feel like an identity crisis
    — How accountability partners help you stay consistent (even when motivation fades)
    — Shifting from performance-based training to longevity and health
    — The emotional side of leaving sports behind
    — Why once an athlete… always an athlete (just in a different way)

    👉 Ready to feel less alone in your post-sports journey? Hit play.

    Follow @noformerathlete on Instagram for more.

    Show More Show Less
    41 mins

What listeners say about No Former Athlete

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.