What does it really take to balance athletics, academics, and life beyond sports?

In the final part of this three-part series, the conversation continues to shift as they talk about the realities of managing life as a student-athlete, both during competition and after the final season ends.

From traveling for games and managing demanding schedules to maintaining a social life and preparing for life after sport, student-athletes often juggle far more than what happens on the field or court.

In this episode, the group explores:

• How student-athletes manage demanding academic schedules alongside practices and travel• The role of discipline, time management, and team support in balancing responsibilities• Why developing identities outside of athletics can be critical for long-term wellbeing• The emotional transition athletes experience when injury, graduation, or retirement ends a season or career• How the lessons learned through sports like resilience, coping with failure, and teamwork carry into life beyond athletics• The resources available to support student-athletes’ wellbeing, academics, and career development

The conversation highlights both the challenges and the lifelong strengths that come from competing at a high level and how the lessons learned in sports can shape the way athletes navigate life long after the game ends.

Athletes practice failure every day and through it, they learn how to succeed.

For more resources check out our website at ⁠⁠Good Sex @NYU

Listen now!

Need mental health support? Call NYU’s Wellness Exchange at (212) 443-9999, available 24/7.

What happens when athletic performance is constantly visible — not just on the scoreboard, but across social media?

In Part 2 of this three-part series, Danielle Elleman continues the conversation with NYU athletics leader, former athletes, and current NCAA champion about how visibility and social media shape the student-athlete experience.

Today’s athletes compete in an environment where performances, statistics, and commentary are often publicly visible, and widely shared. We explore how that visibility can amplify pressure, fuel perfectionism, and sometimes make it harder for athletes to ask for help.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The “push through it” mindset that is common in sports culture

• The growing role of mental performance coaching in athletics

• How teammates and staff help shape team cultures that support mental health

• How athletes navigate expectations while protecting their wellbeing

For more resources check out our website at ⁠Good Sex @NYU

What does it really mean to be a student-athlete?

Balancing academics and competition can bring incredible growth, but also real pressure.

In Part 1 of this three-part series, Danielle Elleman sits down with NYU Assistant Athletic Director (and former NYU soccer coach and Seton Hall soccer player) Michele Canning, mental health counseling intern and former NYU soccer player Maddie Schier, and current NCAA Division III national champion Serenity McNair to talk about the realities of student-athlete life.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How sports create an instant community and support network at a large university

• Why athletics is often described as a “microcosm of life”

• The perfectionism and stigma athletes can face around asking for help

• The unique pressure of maintaining a 75+ game winning streak

• How coaches shape team culture and support mental health

• Why many coaches emphasize process over outcome, even when the world focuses on winning

• How the transfer portal is changing team dynamics and recruitment

• How success can bring both exhilaration and a new level of visibility for athletes

This episode explores the space where performance, identity, and growth collide, and what student-athletes learn about resilience, pressure, and teamwork along the way.

For more resources check out our website at Good Sex @NYU