FIERCE Athlete Podcast
Religion & Spirituality
About
The FIERCE Athlete Podcast is here to empower female athletes to thrive in their God given Identity and femininity. You are a Daughter of God. Fully feminine. Fully strong. We’re here to help you own that truth — and transform how you compete, lead, and live as a FIERCE athlete.
Episodes
- Femininity | "The Pace of Grace" with the Sisters of Life
Sister Mary Grace and Sister Zion Joy from the Sisters of Life join the FIERCE Athlete podcast to discuss the intersection of athletics, femininity, and faith. In Part 1 of a 2-part series, both sisters share how their backgrounds in sport…
- Femininity | The Courage to Will the Good
In this episode of the Fierce Athlete Podcast, Sam Kelley and Juliana Dalton delve into the practical application of true femininity within the world of sports. Building on their previous foundational discussion, they explore the dichotomy…
- Femininity | Today’s View vs. God’s Plan
Can femininity and competitiveness and faithfulness co-exist? Co-hosts Sam and Julianna explore this question as they shift to a conversation about femininity in sport. Today they explore the ways the feminist movement has shifted our view…
- Identity | "Competing Free" with Rachel Zilinskas
We all want to compete more freely. In this episode, host Samantha Kelley welcomes back FIERCE coworker who is a former All-American swimmer and professional distance triathlete Rachel Zilinskas to delve into the concept of "running free".…
- Identity | “I Know Who I Am” with Rachel Zilinskas
Professional triathlete Rachel Zilinskas joins the FIERCE Podcast to share a gripping story about the core of athlete identity. She recounts her journey from being a two-time national champion swimmer at Georgia to navigating the brutal ph…
- Identity | Above Others’ Opinions
How do the opinions of others—coaches, teammates, fans, and parents—shape who we think we are? In this episode, Sam and Julianna explore the dangerous temptation to define one’s self-worth based on external feedback rather than a God-given…
- Identity | Beyond Performance
Episode Summary: Identity | Beyond Performance This is where we must begin. Who am I beyond my athleticism? In the season premiere of the revamped FIERCE Athlete Podcast 2.0, hosts Sam Kelley and Julianna Dalton dive deep into the concept…
- Welcome Back to the FIERCE Athlete Podcast
The FIERCE Athlete Podcast is back - BETTER THAN EVER! With a FIERCE new studio, high quality video, new hosts, dynamic guests, wider content, and episodes dropping every week, FIERCE is here to walk alongside you in your athletic journey.…
- Exposing Truth with Jennifer Sey
“Sport is a means to develop the whole person”, and when coaches abuse this it can lead to long term trauma and effects. This is the story of Jennifer Sey, former national champion gymnast, who was the first to expose the wide spread abuse…
- Leadership
Last episode of the FIERCE Athlete Toolbox, and all other episodes and growth lead to this one- Leadership. Sam, Danae, and Angel challenge you to take what you've learned and positively impact those around you. They discuss different lead…
- Being Coachable
“How we receive feedback can be empowering.” This week Sam, Danae, and Angel talk about a tool that can not only set you apart as an athlete, but lead to growth in all areas of your life- “being coachable”. We discuss, learning how to prop…
- Communication
Communication îs an art. Whether with a coach, teammate, parent, friend, or in the media, the way we communicate through our tone, body language, and words, reveals a lot. As athletes, we need to hone this skill. Sam, Danae, and Angel disc…
- Ownership
Ownership is essential not only to personal success, but also team success. This week we begin talking about elements of our toolbox that affect and involve others. Sam, Angel, and Danae discuss the importance of ownership to create a cult…
- Focus
"If I have a peaceful, quiet soul, it is going to allow the rest of my life to be balanced and focus." When the game gets heated or comes down to the wire...how do we stay focused on the task at hand? Angel, Sam, and Danae discuss the best…
- Work Ethic
Join us as we jump back into our Athlete Toolbox- the attitudes and characteristics that will distinguish you as a player and person. While internal drive may get you out of bed in the morning, today we're talking about HOW you approach th…
- Don't Let the Ball Drop with Macy Petty
Macy Petty was forced to play against a man in high school club girls volleyball back in 2019. Since then she has found herself becoming a leading advocate to protect women's sports. In continuing our mini-series on Fighting for Women in S…
- Unsilenced with Paula Scanlan
Paula Scanlan, former Penn swimmer and teammate of Lia Thomas, speaks to Sam about faith, courage, friendships, and what led her to come out as a public advocate. Given her unique and personal experience, she is currently fighting against…
- Women Only with Riley Gaines
Fighting for Women in Sport Podcast Series This SPECIAL Edition episode is a dialogue with decorated former collegiate athlete and women in sport advocate, Riley Gaines . Riley shares her personal experience of having to compete against a…
- Toughness
Dive back into our FIERCE Athlete toolbox with us – listen to our dialog on the essential characteristics that make individuals & teams successful .....What is toughness? Can we increase our capacity for being tough? Can I be Tough AND Fem…
- Self-Confidence
Join us as we continue to unpack these FIERCE Athlete tools that aren’t found on the stat sheets…. the skills that are helping the individuals reach new heights on the athletic field/court AND also propels teams to success. Self-Confidence…
- Attitude
Many moments during the game, race, or match are out of our control. When in the heat of competition… What DO we as athletes have control & choice over? Digging into the FIERCE Athlete Toolbox; Sam, Angelina, & Danae discuss the essential…
- Internal Drive
Summer workouts, 6am weights, long road trips, and countless hours in the gym…Why do we do what we do? What do we need to be “successful” athletes and people… and what does success really mean? The FACT is that we were CHOSEN by God to be…
- Title IX: Then & Now
Carol Marquardt played amateur tennis (only because they didn't have pro back then) in the 1960s against the likes of Margaret Court and Billie Jean King. In the pre-Title IX era, Carol expresses she felt like she had to "apologize for lik…
- You are more than...Your Talents
Sam and Britt offer their commentary on the new hit movie, Encanto. There are so many gems that we as athletes can relate to. Like many of us, the characters are solely defined by their talents, and have fears of appearing weak or vulnerab…
- You are more than...What the Culture Says About Women
Our culture has a certain definition about what it means to be a woman....and the athlete culture seems to have a different one. So what does it mean to be a woman? A MUST LISTEN! Sam and Britt speak into their own experiences of trying to…
- You are more than...Your Own Opinion of You
As athletes, often times we are our own toughest critics. Britt and Sam wrap up the "opinions" mini-series by talking about the standards we set for ourselves as athletes. We dive into perfectionism, pride, and what true humility is. Join…
- You are more than…Your Teammates' Opinions of You
Whether it’s peer pressure, comparison, trying to fit in and be accepted, or changing who we are, we often give others, especially our teammates, power over us. We need to have confidence in who we are because being authentic is what allow…
- You are more than...Your Coach's Opinion of You
We are continuing with our "opinion of others" mini series in Season 3. This week Britt and Sam talk about how our coaches affect us as athletes. They break down the things we can control in regards to our coaches and those we can't. They…
- You are more than...Your Parent's Opinion of You
For many of us, our parents are the reason we’ve been given the opportunity to play our sport. They can be our biggest fan, but sometimes we can feel a lot of pressure from our parents to perform, win the race, or earn a scholarship. Britt…
- Athlete Mental Health
Athlete Mental Health is at the forefront of the media right now, and yet it has been a struggle for many athletes for a long time. Sam, joined by her friend and former college rower Angelina Heyse, seek to bring much needed light to the r…
- You are more than...Your Past Self (Part 2)
Perhaps our MOST IMPORTANT episode yet! You are more than your past self...part 2. This week we get deep, and real, hoping to offer consolation to all our listeners' hearts. You are more than your past sins, mistakes, failures, hurts, woun…
- You are more than...Your Past Self (Part 1)
You are more than...your past self. This week we dive into our GLORY DAYS (cue Springsteen)! As athletes it is really easy to compare ourselves to what we used to be: before we were injured, when we had a different coach, or when we were o…
- You are more than...an Athlete
You are more than an Athlete...you are LIMITLESS! Growing up, and even today, many of us are labeled as "an athlete", and while we are so proud of this, there is so much more to us than what we do on a track, or field, or in a pool; maybe…
- You are more than...your weight
You are more than a number on a scale, a body fat %, or your eating habits. As women, and especially as athletes, we are hyper aware of our weight and body make up. We struggle with over eating, under eating, comparison, and false standard…
- You are more than...your mistakes & failures
Failure is a natural, but brutal part of sport. Ultimately, it helps us get better, but it definitely hurts in the process. This week, we talk about the times in sport and life we have faced failure. We hope to provide you with some advice…
- You are more than... a highlight reel
While once reserved for athlete's sporting accomplishments, everyone has access to a highlight reel today through social media. Britt and Sam dive into the world of social media and how it affects our performance, self image, and view of o…
- You are more than...your injury
You are more than your injury. Injury can be one of the toughest and yet most common realities of women's sports. Whether it be a concussion, sprained ankle, tendinitis, or a torn ACL, most of us have experienced injury. Between the two of…
- You are more than...Your view of your body
You are more than your view of your body. As athletes our bodies come in all shapes and sizes, often times reflecting our sport; whether it be soccer thighs, swimming shoulders, or runners legs. However, our views of our bodies range from…
- You are more than...Your Performance
You are more than your performance. Everything we do as athletes comes down to performance- whether its wins or losses, time clocked, our play at practice, how much we lift, or what we do off the field. As such, we can easily get caught up…
- Uncertainty
We are living, playing, and competing in interesting times. Whether your season has been cancelled, changed, modified, or put on hold due to COVID, injury, or other unforeseen circumstances, this podcast is for you. Erin Yenney, current pr…
- Confidence
Confidence is something that every athlete needs in order to be at the top of their game, and yet it is something that we all seem to struggle with. Former Notre Dame and 7 time professional soccer player, Brittany Bock, joins us to talk a…
- The Female Fertility Cycle + Sport Performance
"Ugh its that time of the month again" is our usual reaction to our periods, but what if coming to understand our fertility cycles as women can not only help us appreciate how our bodies were designed but also help us with our sport traini…
- Failure
"The biggest difference between you being good and you being great is how you handle failure." In today's episode, we have Coach Alyson Habetz, Associate Head Coach of Alabama Softball, teach us how to "fail". Failure, frustration, and los…
- True Friendship in Women's Sports
Part 2 of our opening podcast of Season 2 on Relationships in Women's Sports. In follow-up to the discussion about same-sex attraction, Sam and Angela desire to answer the deeper question: how to enter into true, real, honest and healthy f…
- Same-Sex Attraction in Women's Sports
Join Sam and Angela in an important conversation about a common reality in the female sports world: same-sex attraction. In Part 1 of our Season 2 opener on Relationships in Women's Sports, we want to begin the conversation, offer insights…
- Krista Ingrilli: Built STRONG
Former College Tennis player, now avid Crossfitter, Krista Ingrilli, gets real with us about the mental and physical game surrounding competing! With "For the Glory of God Always" inscribed on her barbell, Krista seeks to lift and compete…
- Bailey Landry Domangue: Playing Graceful
Bailey Landry Domangue, an LSU Alumni, two-time NCAA D1 All American, and now professional softball player, joins us to discuss her journey through sport. She discusses how to prepare yourself mentally to compete at the highest level, how…
- Jennifer Finegan: Living the Gift
Former professional basketball player and NCAA National Defensive Player of the Year, Jennifer Finegan, discusses how life can be a gift, when we look to make it one. She discusses the importance of good mentors and coaches, a proper persp…
- Kerri Gallagher: Running on Faith
Kerri Gallagher is a former professional runner who represented the US at the World Championships in 2015, and currently coaches D1 Cross Country and Track at Manhattan College. She talks about how we “are not in the business of feeling go…
- Sr. M. Xavier: All in: Basketball to the Convent
Have you ever talked to a nun? How about one who was a star basketball player at a top Division 1 program? On this episode, Sr. M. Xavier of the Franciscan Sisters of the Martyr St. George shares how she went from being all in as a Ohio St…