The Athlete's Journey: Recent Episodes
Keith Sconiers
The Athlete's Journey is a podcast that showcases former athletes that have successfully transitioned to win their life's championship in business after sports.
In today’s episode, I have the pleasure of having Sam Taylor on the podcast to share his journey as an athlete that competed for University of Oregon.
What I appreciate most about our conversation is Sam’s honesty about his mindset in college and his advice to athletes about giving everything their best effort in life.
I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Sam Taylor!
Please subscribe to the podcast and the YouTube channel to be the first to hear of new releases and exclusive content.
To see the live interviews, follow The Athletes' Journey on YouTube: https://bit.ly/34Bg9ab
Subscribe to get my latest insights, interviews, and podcasts: https://bit.ly/46yNwWu
Welcome to another episode of the Athletes’ Journey Podcast where we share the stories of successful athletes and their transition to life after sports. Today I have the pleasure of having Diana Rutherford on the call to share about her journey of playing Division 1 softball for Iowa State Cyclones and becoming a real estate professional after finishing college.
What I appreciate most about Diana is her commitment to helping her community live better lives through her efforts volunteering, coaching, and financially supporting local organizations that are making a difference.
To learn more about Diana Rutherford:
LinkedIn: Diana on LinkedIn
Website: Realty By Rutherford
IG: Diana on Instagram
Facebook: Diana on Facebook
TikTok: Diana on TikTok
Please subscribe to the podcast and the YouTube channel to be the first to hear of new releases and exclusive content.
To see the live interviews, follow us on YouTube: https://bit.ly/34Bg9ab
In today’s episode, I’m talking with former athlete, professor, and business advisor Imran Haider about his journey as an athlete and how he transitioned into coaching at the Division 1 level, and later becoming a professor after playing one year in a semi-professional basketball league.
What I appreciate most about our conversation is Imran provides a tremendous perspective on life that benefits athletes, parents of athletes, and coaches help athletes build better careers inside and outside of the sport.
To learn more about Imran Haider:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imranshaider3/
Please subscribe to the podcast and the YouTube channel to be the first to hear of new releases and exclusive content.
To see the live interviews, follow us on YouTube: https://bit.ly/34Bg9ab
In today’s episode of the Athletes Journey Podcast, I am interviewing successful former collegiate athlete, podcaster, and insurance entrepreneur Cody Askins about his journey as an athlete and how he transitioned into the insurance sector while he was still a student-athlete.
What I appreciate most about our conversation is Cody is one of the best interviewers in podcasting and in our discussion, he provides a great amount of advice to athletes considering the insurance profession.
To learn more about Cody Askins:
YouTube: Cody Askins on YouTube
LinkedIn: Cody Askins on LinkedIn
Instagram: Cody Askins on Instagram
Website: Cody Askins
To see the live interview, go to our YouTube channel here: https://bit.ly/34Bg9ab
Subscribe to get our latest insights, interviews, and podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gZal0H
In today’s episode of the Athletes Journey Podcast, I interviewed successful former D1 athlete, senior banker, and podcaster Erik Selden about his journey as a student-athlete and how it prepared him for life after sports.
What I appreciate most about our conversation is Erik’s strategies on ways we can all be successful in our lives and careers as former athletes.
To learn more about Erik:
LinkedIn: Erik on LinkedIn
Website: Selden Smart
Instagram: Erik on IG
To see the live interview, go to our YouTube channel here: https://bit.ly/34Bg9ab
In today’s episode of The Athlete’s Journey, I have the pleasure of talking with Rob Finkelstein the Founder and CEO of Alumni Direct, a platform dedicated to helping universities foster better relationships with their current students and alumni to increase donor engagement, alumni success, and the overall impact of the university.
In my call with Rob, we discussed his journey as a student-athlete and some of the career successes that led him to launch Alumni Direct.
What I appreciate most about Rob, is his genuine heart to help universities and former athletes live better lives.
To learn more about Rob, connect with him online:
LinkedIn: Rob on LinkedIn
Website: Alumni Direct
To see the live interview, go to our YouTube channel here: https://bit.ly/34Bg9ab
Kyle Miller is the owner and creative director at TImber Reel Productions, a content creation company based in Portland, Oregon. Timber Reel produces consistent, purposeful photo and video content that represents a company's goals and target audience. The content produced consists of commercials, photography, scripts, informative and social videos, podcasts, and much more.
Kyle was a division 1 soccer player at College of the Holy Cross where he was a 4-year starter. After graduating he traveled around the country living in Colorado and then Maine, until landing back in NJ to start Timber Reel in 2014
He started Timber Reel with the goal of producing high-quality consistent content creation for small businesses and start-ups. Understanding that a brand is not built in a day or 1 video, Timber Reel develops long-term content strategies and works with companies to develop consistent content. Kyle develops a plan to maximize content deliverables for company's and help companies grow within their budget.
What I appreciate most about Kyle is his commitment to honoring his true interests and values as well as maintaining the drive he developed as an athlete and how he applies it to his profession.
Kyle parting advice to current and former athletes is:
1) Stay True To Yourself: Focus on creating content that aligns with who you truly are as a person. People like you for who you are, and they respect it.
2) Make A Plan: Know who you are and make a plan for your branding and content online.
3) Consistency Is Key: Consistently post content that is in alignment with who you are.
Learn more about Kyle at:
IG: Kyle on InstagramIG: Timber Reel on Instagram
Website: Kyle at Timber Reel
LinkedIn: Kyle on Instagram
In today's episode, I have the pleasure of having Brett Lorin on the show to discuss his journey of playing professional baseball and his transition into business and podcasting after his career ended.
Brett was born and raised in southern California where he was involved in multiple sports from an early age. He played baseball and basketball all the way through high school and considers himself a basketball guy at heart, even though he had to make the business decision to pursue baseball after high school.
What I appreciate most about Brett is his mindset that is rooted in betting on himself and being honest with the circumstances he was faced with along the way in his journey, and not only being honest but having the courage to pursue his dreams.
I am honored to introduce you to Brett Lorin.
Brett’s advice to athletes is:
1) Be Prepared: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
2) Ask For Help: You need to have coaches and mentors that can help you get where you want to go!
3) Don’t Be Afraid Of Rejection: You never know who is willing to help you.
To learn more about Brett, follow him:
LinkedIn: Brett on LinkedIn
Instagram: Brett on Instagram
To see the live interview, go to our YouTube channel here: https://bit.ly/34Bg9ab
In today’s episode, I sat down to talk with Alex Smagala, a former D1 baseball player turned entrepreneur to discuss his athletic journey and how, after a career-ending injury, shifted his mindset to focus on life after sports.
Alex is passionate about helping financial advisors understand how specialized mortgage products can help their clients expand their options in retirement and he is a great example of finding something you believe in after sports that allows you to have control over your lifestyle.
His advice for current and former athletes is:
1) Hard work can take you to heights you never imagined.
2) A growth mindset is key in all aspects of life, you should always be learning.
3) Network, Network, Network. Who you know not what you know rings true in life.
To learn more about Alex Smagala, make sure you follow him here:
Instagram: Alex on Instagram
LinkedIn: Alex on LinkedInTo see the live interview, go to our YouTube channel here: https://bit.ly/34Bg9ab
In today's episode, I sat down to talk with Audrey Grant, a former D1 athlete turned entrepreneur to discuss her athletic journey and the mindset athletes need to have when facing adversity during their sports careers.
Audrey majored in Communications in college and has found it to serve her well as an entrepreneur, podcast host, and voice actor.
Audrey is passionate about personal development and it is evident every time we spend time together. Her advice for current and former athletes is:
1) Never be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and leave your hometown.
2) Don't be afraid to bet on yourself, you'll be surprised how strong and capable you are.
3)Even if things don't seem to be working out right, believe it will always work out in the end in your favor. Life is happening FOR you, not TO you.
To learn more about Audrey Grant, make sure you follow her here:
Instagram: Audrey on Instagram
To see the live interview, go to our YouTube channel here: https://bit.ly/34Bg9ab
In today's episode, I sat down to talk with Aly Beebe, a former D1 athlete turned entrepreneur to discuss how athletes can discover and master their own unique emotional processes.
Aly Beebe is the Founder of The CourageGuide Platform and an emotional health coach. She works one-on-one with former competitive athletes to help them find clarity, and connect with the next big chapter in their life after competing in sports.
In high school, Aly was awarded the CIF Southern Section Division III MVP after averaging 20 points & 12 rebounds for the St. Joseph Knights. She then went on to participate in the USA Basketball U17 National Team Trials ahead of the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women and then went on to play basketball at Stanford where she earned her degree in human biology.
She is passionate about authenticity, self-honesty, and helping you find the courage to put yourself out there.
To learn more about Aly Beebe, make sure you follow her here:
Website: Aly Beebe
LinkedIn: Aly Beebe on LinkedIn
Instagram: Aly Beebe on Instagram
To see the live interview, go to our YouTube channel here: https://bit.ly/34Bg9ab
In today's episode, I sat down to talk with Roni Sasaki, a paralympic gold medalist, entrepreneur, and speaker, to discuss how athletes can prepare for life after sports. We also discuss how Roni went from being born with one leg and becoming a world-class paralympic skier.
Roni's story, including her transition into entrepreneurship after sports, is a MUST listen for anyone wanting to successfully overcome adversity and find success.
To learn more about Roni Sasaki, make sure you follow her here:
Website: Roni Sasaki
LinkedIn: Roni Sasaki on LinkedIn
To see the live interview, go to our YouTube channel here: https://bit.ly/34Bg9ab
In today's episode, I sat down to talk with Bill Dowd, a former professional hockey player, entrepreneur, and franchisor, to discuss how athletes can prepare for life after sports. We also discuss how Bill started his franchise, Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, and how what he learned as an athlete has helped him build an extremely successful franchise that is now expanding into the United States from Canada.
This is a MUST listen for any athlete that is considering their post-career options and might be considering the franchise route as a great path professionally.
To learn more about Bill Dowd, make sure you follow him and his work here:
Website: Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control
LinkedIn: Bill Dowd on LinkedIn
To see the live interview, go to our YouTube channel here: https://bit.ly/34Bg9ab
In today's episode, I sat down to talk with Martin Medeiros, an entrepreneur, corporate attorney, and negotiation expert, to discuss how athletes can prepare on and off of the field for the new era ushered in by the NCAA's recent ruling on Name, Image, and Likeness. We discuss what athletes can do to properly select representation, align themselves with the right partnerships, and how to handle themselves when negotiating opportunities.
This is a MUST listen for any athlete, parent of an athlete, or advisor looking to work on behalf of athletes needing to make quality business decisions in this new era.
To learn more about Martin Medeiros, make sure you follow him and his work here:
Website: Medeiros Law Group
Website: The Persuasion Lab
LinkedIn: Martin on LinkedIn
To see the live interview, go to our YouTube channel here: https://bit.ly/34Bg9ab
In today's episode, I sat down to talk with Antonio Jackson, a former Division 1 athlete turned entrepreneur, to discuss his journey from high school to college and how he successfully transitioned into business and making an impact with his nonprofit organization. We discuss his success secrets and the skills athletes can focus on while they are still playing sports so they can transition well and continue winning in life.
Today, Antonio is focused on helping children from underrepresented communities of color access opportunities and education in STEM so they can develop the fundamentals of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math through his nonprofit, Building Blocks 2 Success.
To learn more about Antonio Jackson, make sure you follow him and his nonprofit on:
Website: Antonio at Building Blocks 2 Success
LinkedIn: Antonio on LinkedIn
In today's episode, I sat down to talk with Ryan Groth, former professional baseball player turned entrepreneur, to discuss his journey from high school through the professional baseball ranks. We discuss his success secrets and the mindset athletes can deploy to build successful lives beyond sports and business.
Today, Ryan is focused on helping service-based entrepreneurs and contractors increase the value of their business through personal, leadership, and business development training via his company, Sales Transformation Group.
To learn more about Ryan Groth, make sure you follow him and his company on:
Website: Ryan at Sales Transformation Group
Instagram: Ryan on Instagram
LinkedIn: Ryan Groth on LinkedIn
In today's episode, I sat down to talk with Jeron Mastrud, a former NFL athlete turned entrepreneur, to discuss his journey from college to the NFL. We discuss his success secrets and the mindset athletes need to be successful on and off the field.
Today, Jeron is focused on helping people of all ages "Champion Their Body" through online and in-person physical fitness programs at APEX Performance, Wellness & Rehab.
To learn more about Jeron, or follow his work, connect with him online at:
Website: APEX Performance, Wellness & Rehab
Facebook: Jeron on Facebook
Twitter: Jeron on Twitter
LinkedIn: Jeron Mastrud on LinkedIn
In episode 3, I got the chance to talk with Robert about how he got started in basketball and the principles he learned along the way that allowed him to thrive in sports and now his professional life as a mortgage advisor.
Robert is passionate about helping people understand all the nuances related to personal finance and applies an educational and relational approach to helping his clients pick the proper mortgage for their primary or secondary home.
To learn more about Robert Day or his work in the mortgage industry, follow or connect with him online at:
Website: Robert Day @ Root Mortgage
LinkedIn: Robert Day's LinkedIn
In episode #2, I talk with my older brother Nathaniel Sconiers about what inspired him to start playing football.
Today, Nathaniel has converted his high school and collegiate football experiences into leading classrooms and his own real estate investment company, Sconiers Family Construction.
To learn more about or follow Sconiers Family Construction, follow:
YouTube: Sconiers Construction Services
LinkedIn: Nathaniel Sconiers LinkedIn
Welcome to The Athlete's Journey podcast.
In Episode #1, I talk about the purpose of this podcast, why I'm passionate about serving athletes, and what I hope to accomplish by showcasing former athletes.
Make sure you reach out to us at Catalyst Training & Development with any questions you have about the transition from sports to business and follow us on the following sites for the latest news:
website: catalystdevelopment.org
instagram: @catalystplatform