In the final episode of After the Game, the roles are reversed as Damyon Traylor steps in as host to interview the creator of the podcast, Jailyn Green. A former Piedmont competition cheerleader and sports communications major, Jailyn takes a seat on the other side of the mic to reflect on the journey that inspired the series and the reality of stepping into life after sports.

Centered around the theme “What’s Left: Legacy, Healing, and Moving Forward,” this episode dives into the identity shift that comes when the athlete role ends. Jailyn opens up about the emotional and mental challenges of leaving behind the structure, routine, and sense of purpose that once defined her, while also sharing how she’s learned to grow beyond it. From navigating uncertainty to redefining success, this conversation highlights the in-between moments that so many former athletes experience but rarely talk about.

Together, Damyon and Jailyn reflect on the impact of After the Game, the stories that shaped it, and the lessons carried forward from each conversation. As the series comes to a close, this episode serves as both a personal reflection and a message to current and former athletes: your identity is bigger than your sport, and what’s left after the game is where your next chapter truly begins.

In this episode of After the Game, I sit down with Kiki Howard, a graduate student at Piedmont University, former competition cheerleader, and now a first grade teacher, to talk about what it really looks like to step into the next chapter of life.

Kiki shares her journey from the structure and identity of being a collegiate athlete to navigating the uncertainty that comes when that chapter ends. We dive into the emotional side of transition, losing a routine, redefining purpose, and figuring out who you are beyond your sport.

Now in the classroom, Kiki opens up about how she found her passion for teaching, the challenges and rewards of working with first graders, and how her experience as an athlete still shows up in her life today.

This week, host Jailyn Green sits down with former Piedmont University competition cheerleaders, Gracie and Hannah Johnson, to talk about the pressure of performing under the spotlight, where every move is judged and every mistake feels magnified. They open up about what competition cheer is really like behind the scenes, the intensity, the mental preparation, and the weight of knowing you only get one shot.

The conversation goes deeper as they reflect on setbacks beyond the mat. Gracie shares her experience tearing her ACL during her senior year and the emotional challenge of being sidelined, while Hannah opens up about her decision to step away from the team, and what ultimately led her back. Together, they unpack the difference between physical and mental setbacks, and how both can reshape your identity as an athlete.

This episode is about more than losing, it’s about resilience, redefining yourself beyond your sport, and learning how to move forward when things don’t go as planned.