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The Injured Athletes Club

The Injured Athletes Club

By: Carrie Jackson and Cindy Kuzma
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 We're sorry you're here, but we're glad you're with us! If you're lucky enough to call yourself an athlete, chances are you've been injured. One of the biggest challenges of injury is facing recovery alone. Now, you don't have to. Mental skills coach Carrie Jackson and journalist Cindy Kuzma interview athletes about how they've coped with sports injuries and come out stronger on the other side. And, Carrie shares some of the mental skills and drills she teaches injured athletes—tools you can use to stay positive and resilient during your recovery. Not only can these strategies help you bounce back stronger from injury, you can use them to rebound from any setback in your sport—or in life. DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk. Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • 159 | Paralympic Athlete and Mental Coach Lacey Jai Henderson on Grief, Retirement, and Growth

    159 | Paralympic Athlete and Mental Coach Lacey Jai Henderson on Grief, Retirement, and Growth
    Feb 12 2026
    " I think this is also what helps with the athlete transition—and even when you're dealing with injury and you're going to recover—is your relationship to the sport. Because that's what I realized: There's this feeling of loss and grief, and it's like somebody died, but at the same time, it doesn't really actually have to be like that. I've learned that sport's always gonna be in my life … but my relationship with it changes." For years, Lacey Jai Henderson found joy and purpose in sport. Not long after losing her leg to cancer at age 9, she was enthralled by the movie Bring It On, and her parents encouraged her to pursue her goals despite the obstacles. So she took gymnastics lessons, tried out for her high school cheerleading team, and made it, then continued to cheer at the collegiate level. After graduation, Lacey transitioned to para track & field, quickly setting records and making teams. Soon, she'd made a career out of elite sport. It took her all over the world—including to the Paralympics in Rio—and gave her a sense of purpose and identity. But eventually, the grind and the power struggles wore her down, and she knew it was time to move on. The retirement process was like an unraveling, she explains. On the other side, though, she's realizing just how much she learned along the way—lessons that serve her well now, in her career as a mental performance coach and a broadcaster covering the Paralympics for NBC. Resources/links: Lacey's InstagramVideo about Lacey from the Portland TimbersCindy's article in SELF about retiring Paralympians, featuring Lacey A huge thank you to LEVER Movement, the exclusive sponsor of season 9 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast! They're the creators of the LEVER system, a portable, lightweight device that attaches to a treadmill to reduce your body weight. Use the code INJURED20 to get 20% off your purchase here. You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show. To access more resources for injured athletes: Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cardsAccess webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our workJoin The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updatesJoin The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderieLike The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodesEmail us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • 158 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question: In It for the Long Haul

    158 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question: In It for the Long Haul
    Feb 5 2026
    " How can I be resilient in a long-term recovery program?" —Kim Recovery always takes longer than you want it to, because you don't want to be hurt in the first place. But some rehab periods are lengthier than others, and that can be physically and mentally exhausting. To cope, Coach Carrie stresses in this week's listener Q&A, remember that staying resilient isn't the same as being relentlessly positive. You'll have ups and downs, and times when you have to come to a newfound acceptance of the process. Luckily, she has tools for doing so, including using the three Rs ( regroup, reset, recommit); bringing some novelty into your routine; and creating reward loops. It's also helpful to periodically take a look back at how far you've come—it will remind you of how much progress you've already made and give you strength to keep going toward a brighter future. A huge thank you to LEVER Movement, the exclusive sponsor of season 9 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast! They're the creators of the LEVER system, a portable, lightweight device that attaches to a treadmill to reduce your body weight. Use the code INJURED20 to get 20% off your purchase here. You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show. To access more resources for injured athletes: Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cardsAccess webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our workJoin The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updatesJoin The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderieLike The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodesEmail us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.
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    12 mins
  • 157 | Coach and Elite Runner Laura Thweatt on Rebuilding and Reinvention

    157 | Coach and Elite Runner Laura Thweatt on Rebuilding and Reinvention
    Jan 29 2026
    "That injury was one of the most psychologically harrowing experiences of my career, just figuring out how to navigate that space, how to eventually see it as a superpower … if I hadn't gotten that injury, I wouldn't have been able to rebuild my body in a way that allowed me to come back a completely different athlete. I think because of all the work I had to do in the gym to address things I had never addressed my entire career, coming off of that gave me longevity." Elite runner Laura Thweatt had a lengthy career at the top level of the sport—while running for Saucony for more than a decade, the 2:25 marathoner finished fifth in the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials, earned three US cross country titles, and made five US teams. But she also had many injuries, including osteitis pubis, a painful inflammation in the joint between the pubic bones. Recovery was long and difficult, but ultimately remade her as an athlete. That journey—along with other setbacks she's faced—taught her about standing up for herself, adjusting training to her needs, and practicing patience in the process. Now, she's retired and embarking on the next phase of her career, coaching other pro runners (including New York City Marathon champion Hellen Obiri) with the On Athletics Club in Boulder. Her experiences give her credibility and competence with her athletes, helping her create a space for them to navigate injury and thrive. Looking back, she's grateful for all she went through, knowing that it brought her to a place where she can still play an important role in the sport and its future. Resources/links: Laura's InstagramWhy Do I Keep Getting Injured? Webinar Recording A huge thank you to LEVER Movement, the exclusive sponsor of season 9 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast! They're the creators of the LEVER system, a portable, lightweight device that attaches to a treadmill to reduce your body weight. Use the code INJURED20 to get 20% off your purchase here. You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show. To access more resources for injured athletes: Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cardsAccess webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our workJoin The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updatesJoin The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderieLike The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodesEmail us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.
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    1 hr and 13 mins
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