College Athlete Mental Health Podcast

Dragonfly Initiative followers put Jada on the spot with questions about her favorite class, the hardest thing about being a student-athlete, and even what's on her bucket list!

Jada welcomes Trinity Grimes, one of Dragonfly's own! Trinity talks about her own journey as a college student-athlete, the challenge of not getting play time, and the peer-to-peer approach that Dragonfly provides.

Let's dig deep into college athlete life, injuries/rehab, therapy, time management, and more. Jada compares her current out-of-season volleyball life with Avery's in-season softball experience.

Jada and her guest Sarah, volleyball player for NIU, discuss the emotional and mental ups and downs of the college recruiting process. From the sweaty-palmed coach calls to staying positive through rejection, these friends have been through it and share their truths to help others on the journey.

When male student athletes struggle with mental health, talking about it can be tough. Jalonnie, senior football player at NIU, shares how his perspective on mental health has shifted during his time in college and how he has learned to accept help from others.  

Leaving your sport behind is no easy task. Jada talks with former Lewis University soccer player Sam Abreu about the feelings of confusion and sadness, leaning on others for support, and a finding a new focus moving forward.  

Jada and her dad Mike, a former UW-Madison college hockey player and parent of two college athletes, discuss the pressures on current athletes and the challenges of parenting athletes. They dig deep into identity, transitions, hitting lows and finding support.