In Episode 5 of After the Game, we dive into the tension between ego and humility, and how both shape leadership long after the final whistle blows. Featuring senior and former Piedmont University soccer player James Cooper, this conversation explores what it truly means to lead when the locker room is gone and the spotlight fades.

James reflects on his journey from being a competitive college athlete to preparing for life beyond the field. We talk about how ego can drive performance but also limit growth, why humility becomes essential in professional and personal spaces, and how accountability shifts when you’re no longer part of a team environment. From hard conversations in the locker room to redefining identity after sport, this episode unpacks the lessons athletics teaches us about responsibility, character, and growth.

In Episode 3 of After The Game, we sit down with former Piedmont basketball point guard, current grad student, and athletic trainer, Nae Nae Eades, for a real and reflective conversation about identity beyond performance.

As a former point guard, Nae Nae understands the pressure of leadership, expectations, and living game to game. Now stepping into new roles beyond the court, she shares what it looks like to separate who you are from what you do — and how to build confidence and purpose that aren’t tied to stats, wins, or recognition.

We talk about transitioning out of a playing career, navigating changing seasons of life, balancing ambition with self-worth, and discovering an identity that isn’t shaken by performance.

In Episode 4 of After the Game, we sit down with senior Bailee Nolan, former Piedmont University cheer alum, for a powerful conversation about the quiet build-up of burnout, and what happens when the warning signs go ignored.

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It builds in the early mornings, the pressure to perform, the injuries you push through, and the expectations you place on yourself. Bailee opens up about her journey as a student-athlete, the culture of constant commitment, and the subtle signals she overlooked along the way — exhaustion, loss of joy, and the feeling of running on empty.