She Walked Away from the Game — and Found Herself Again

In this episode of No Former Athlete, Jerrica Brooks keeps it real about what it’s like to grow up loving a sport that doesn’t always love you back.

We get into the highs of high school hoops, the pain of toxic coaching, and how stepping away from basketball for six years ended up being one of the most important moves of her life.

This episode includes:

– What happens when your identity is your sport

– The mental/emotional burnout no one warns you about

– Being Black, gay, and constantly underestimated

– Learning how to feel feelings (?!?) in your 30s

– Reconnecting with joy — on and off the court

This one’s for the athletes, the ex-athletes, and anyone out there trying to figure out who they are when the jersey comes off.

Make sure to follow, and tell us in the comments:

What did sport teach you about YOU?

Life After Pro Sports with AthletEX Founder: Taylor CohenWhat happens when the final whistle blows — and you’re not ready to stop playing? In this episode, we sit down with a former pro soccer player and founder of AthletEX, a community-driven platform helping athletes rediscover identity, purpose, and connection after competitive sports.She opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of retirement (twice!), playing overseas during COVID, returning to the field for one final gold-medal run, and ultimately transitioning into entrepreneurship. We dive into:✅ Coping with identity loss post-sport✅ Coming out of retirement on your terms✅ The power of athlete community after college✅ Starting AthletEX and redefining “retired”✅ Dealing with long-term injuries and navigating recovery✅ Why there's no such thing as a “former” athleteWhether you’re one season removed or a decade out, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating the afterlife of sport.

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.