The Injured Athletes Club

Latest Episodes:

140 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question from Ava: Coping with Loss and Confusion Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

" I tore my ACL last April; it's been very challenging. Do you have any ideas on how to make the recovery process fun? Also, why do I feel so lost and confused without my sport—what should I do with this feeling?

—Ava

In season 8 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast, mental skills coach Carrie Jackson answers a question every other week about the mental side of overcoming injuries.

This week, in response to Ava, she reiterates one of the key messages of The Injured Athletes Club: That you are still an athlete, and recovery is now your sport. And the first part of that recovery is feeling your feelings, not pushing them aside or denying they exist. To help, Coach Carrie recommends writing down your thoughts (in an Injured Athletes Club journal, if you like!).

As for adding fun to your routine, she suggests asking your PT if you mix up your exercises a bit. You can also set specific goals in rehab—ones that excite you—and plan celebrations for when you hit them. Finally, Coach Carrie suggests finding a goal buddy, who can make your journey both more exciting and more meaningful as you go through the tough stuff together.

Resources/links:

Order your Injured Athletes Club journal!

A huge thank you to LEVER Movement, the exclusive sponsor of season 8 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast! The LEVER system is an innovative way to reduce your body weight, and the impact on your joints, while exercising on a treadmill. Use the code "TIAC20" to get 20% off your purchase.

You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show.

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!

Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cards

Access webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work

Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates

Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie

Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes

Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.

139 | Professional Soccer Player Civana Kuhlmann: Strength in Vulnerability Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

" I don't really want to be who I was before I was injured. In a lot of ways, I'm thankful to a place that just completely broke me, just brought me to some really low points. That's when I was able to grasp my faith or what it was, which is my personal worth. It has absolutely nothing to do with a soccer field or anything of the sort. Just learning that my worth and my fulfillment comes solely through my faith has been something that will go so much farther through life than soccer ever could."

Civana Kuhlmann started playing soccer at a young age and quickly excelled, consistently playing on the youth national team beginning in eighth grade. From childhood through her sophomore year at Stanford, she faced no serious injuries.

But that all changed when she tore her ACL during preseason before her junior year. After surgery, she had to support the team in a whole different way as they reached, and then won, the NCAA championship.

After that, Civana went through several additional procedures for her meniscus and hips; she's now had a total of seven surgeries. Throughout, she faced pivotal moments of learning to advocate for herself in the face of physical pain. As skilled as they are, doctors aren't inside your body, she points out—athletes must trust their intuition and communicate their needs during recovery.

Through her physical and mental setbacks, including the emotional impact of losing her friend Katie Meyer to suicide, Civana learned to redefine herself on and off the pitch. But though she realized her worth had nothing to do with her skills as an athlete, her love for the game persisted. Ultimately, she was drafted into the National Women's Soccer League, where she's currently a free agent.

Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Resources/links:

Civana's Instagram and TikTok
The first annual Coalition of Athletic Communities for Mental Health conference on Feb. 26-27, which Civana is helping organize

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cards
Access webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

138 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question from Josée: Managing Jealousy and Burnout Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

" I have had the worst luck in the last two years. I had a knee replacement in April 2022 for a left knee that had at least 6 scopes over a 10-year + period and it was finally ready to be redone. At last, I would be pain-free. I worked extremely hard to rehab so I could get back on my mountain bike and on the ice. I did, eventually, but with a constant nagging pain. It turns out I had a fungal infection in the joint from the first surgery and now I am facing two major surgeries and possibly another knee replacement after that. I know you have a bunch of podcasts out there with athletes and their stories, but those types of stories don't make me feel better, they make me feel jealous of their teams of helpers and everything else I don't have. Maybe I am just so frustrated and tired of hearing about all the happy-ending stories. I know I have to keep positive and put in the work, I just feel exhausted. Rehab has been my sport for two years... any suggestions? I am open!"

—Josée

In season 8 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast, mental skills coach Carrie Jackson answers a question every other week about the mental side of overcoming injuries.

This week, we hear from listener Josée about struggling to absorb other athletes' success stories. Coach Carrie reassures Josée that all these feelings are valid and normal, even when it's no fun to go through them.

Taken the right way, these emotions can serve as messengers, Coach Carrie continues—pointing the way toward an area in which you need more support during your recovery. She also explains the concept of psychological flexibility and how accepting that you're not always supposed to feel positive can, somewhat paradoxically, make the harder times feel easier to bear.

Resources/links:

Navigating the Medical System webinar

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cards
Access webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

137 | Gymnast and Personal Trainer Mia Lazarewicz: On Identity, Hope, and Humanity Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

" Anybody I've met since I got hurt, I feel like they don't know me and that they can't know me. For people that I've become really close to since I got hurt—it almost hurts me to know that this person won't actually ever know who I am or who I was. They're meeting an entirely different person … there's a before and after, and a massive wall that separates them."

As a seasoned personal trainer and co-owner of Amplify Fitness, a gym in Boston, Mia Lazarewicz is used to helping athletes and adult fitness enthusiasts on the road back from injury. However, little could prepare the lifelong athlete for her own life-altering accident—breaking both legs in a gymnastics flip gone wrong in 2023.

In the immediate aftermath, Mia faced uncertainty and anxiety. As the days and weeks wore on, she struggled with shifts in her identity, not to mention the financial repercussions of medical bills and keeping a small business afloat.

But though there have been many dark moments, she found joy in striving, humor in her struggles, a deep sense of gratitude for her community, and fulfillment in unexpected endeavors—including writing a book, Becoming a Personal Trainer. And though she still isn't sure how much of her previous abilities she'll recover, she's never short of new goals that keep her striving (up next, maybe: a pull-up competition!).

Resources/links:

Mia's Instagram, website, and book
The Medium post referenced, about her accident: A Comprehensive Review of Shattering Both Legs

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cards
Access webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

136 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question from Olivia: Supporting Your Team While Healing Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

"I am a soccer player, and I tore my labrum in my right hip. After trying physical therapy for 4 months, I ended up needing surgery. I am a couple months post-op, feeling much better now, and can see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, however I am still having trouble being around soccer. Every time I go to support my team, it doesn't even feel like mine anymore. I'm very excited to play again, but I'm scared that I will have been left behind and scared I'm not going to be the player I was before. How can I cope with the fact that I'm most likely not going to be able to play for the next 6 months and how can I get to the point where I can be around soccer again without being heartbroken?"

—Olivia

In season 8 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast, mental skills coach Carrie Jackson answers a question every other week about the mental side of overcoming injuries.

This week, she addresses a dilemma faced by Olivia, a soccer player. Coach Carrie assures her—and all the listeners—that it's perfectly normal to feel both supportive of their team and heartbroken about being unable to participate fully in their sport. This duality of emotions is part of the journey, and understanding this can aid in emotional healing.

Coach Carrie urges athletes to remember that they are still an essential part of their team, even if their current role is different. As she explains, focusing on recovery is a vital contribution to the team. While it might feel like you're not contributing in the usual way, dedicating yourself to healing is indeed a critical and supportive part of team success.

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cards
Access webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

135 | Triathlete Lynn Rogers: Beyond the Finish Line Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

" I never lost my ability to breathe. I never lost completely my ability to swallow. We had to adjust things for a little while. But I am a huge believer that being as fit at that moment as I was going to be all year—I needed that to get through what I got through and to be able to get up and moving again so quickly."

Lynn Rogers had completed one IRONMAN triathlon and was training for another when her hands started to go numb. Next, it was her feet and her tongue. In the end, she'd be paralyzed from the chest down—the consequence of a progressive, chronic autoimmune disease called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP).

Lynn entered rehab at the very hospital where she was working as a brain scientist, and though she regained her ability to walk and eventually to run, that was just the first step along a very long and bumpy road.

Through it all—successful treatments and failed ones, daily symptoms like numb and tingling hands and feet interspersed with more serious flares—she's continued competing. But now, her training is infused with a far greater purpose. She credits the fitness and functionality she had when she got sick for facilitating her recovery, and the joy and community she finds in sport for making each day all the more meaningful.

Lynn is an ambassador for Athletic Brewing, which in 2024 released an incredible documentary called Inches to Miles that chronicles her journey (and that of two other amazing athletes) to IRONMAN Lake Placid. In this episode—and the film—you'll learn the meaning behind Lynn's powerful mantra, "This is what we're doing now" and truly understand how, when it comes to chronic illness, there's always another chapter to the story.

Resources/links:

Lynn's website, Instagram
Inches to Miles trailer and full movie
A Runner's World article Cindy wrote about Lynn in 2018

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cards
Access webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

134 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question from Laura: Juggling Work and Recovery Jan 16, 2025

Show notes

" My injuries led to major surgery, a hip replacement. I have really struggled with being on my feet all day, fatigue, and not feeling even close to 80 percent at work.

I just learned I will have two unrelated surgeries, and the thought of healing all over again in my stressful and physically demanding job has caused me to 100 percent regret coming back early from hip surgery. It seems hard to believe that being on my feet all day is harder than advanced physical therapy. Have you heard of athletes with this experience?"

—Laura

In season 8 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast, mental skills coach Carrie Jackson answers a question every other week about the mental side of overcoming injuries.

This week, she responds to athlete Laura, who is struggling with fatigue and regret after returning to work post-hip replacement. Coach Carrie explains the impact of work stress on recovery, emphasizing the importance of taking the necessary time off to heal properly.

She advises athletes to communicate with their healthcare teams and employers to make adjustments that support their recovery, highlighting the importance of self-care and managing expectations during the healing process.

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cards
Access webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

133 | Olympic Beach Volleyball Player Casey Patterson: New Ways to Win Jan 09, 2025

Show notes

" Now I have to take this as a challenge: How do I have this elite-level B game that is almost indestructible, where I know I can get the job done in a maybe a different way, but just as efficient … and that's where athletes get the most gain in their mental capacity and their ability to win and their consistency is understanding that they can have that elite-level B game. They can beat anyone without having to feel 100%. And so that's kind of where I would go."

Casey Patterson's journey through professional beach volleyball was marked by persistent injuries, most notably a left ankle that he estimates he sprained more than 50 times. Early in his career, while transferring to play at BYU, a meniscus tear threatened to derail his dreams—but contrasting experiences with different doctors taught him valuable lessons about the power of positive communication and hope in recovery.

Throughout his nearly 20-year career, including competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Casey developed a unique approach to managing injuries. Rather than letting them defeat him, he reframed them as challenges, pushing himself to excel even when things weren't perfect. With support from his family, including his wife and children who helped keep victories and defeats in perspective, he learned to adapt and find different paths to success.

Now retired from professional beach volleyball and serving as an AVP commentator, Casey shares his hard-earned wisdom about injury management and mental toughness with others, particularly his own children. As an ambassador for BetterGuards, he advocates for injury prevention while helping athletes understand that success isn't just about being at peak physical condition—it's about building a strong foundation and finding ways to maximize whatever percentage you have to give.

Resources/links:

Casey's Instagram and Twitter/X
BetterGuards website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X
Watch Casey play!

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cards
Access webinar videos, injury sources, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

132 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question: Bec's Rebound Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

" How does one find self-compassion when you've been through this too many times and understand the importance of the beginning phase while also itching to get out of it and back to the activities that bring me joy?

I know all the usual tactics: time with friends, using other activities (music, podcast, drawing), resting, lifting upper body and moving in whatever way I can that doesn't jeopardize the surgical area, reframing, CBT, DBT, etc. But I still feel a bit lost."

—Bec

It's our very last episode of the season—and a fitting Q&A to end on, as Coach Carrie fields a question from an athlete who's been through more than her fair share of surgeries (50, to be exact).

Coach Carrie uses a personal example to illustrate how even if you know all the tools to use, it's still important to be diligent in implementing them. She talks about one of the cornerstone lessons of her work with injured athletes—Go FAR. She delves deeper into exactly what self-compassion means, and how to truly turn your empathy and love back toward yourself when you're hurting.

There's also a surprising mention of frog legs and a special soup—and stick around till the end for a very special guest you won't want to miss!

Resources/links:

Episode 105: Carrie and Cindy Go FAR (Again)
MASH Morale Victory Left Hand (very special hat tip to Jeremy Noessel!)
Speaking of Jeremy Noessel, his website for audio coaching

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cards
Access webinar videos, injury sources, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

131 | Coach Carrie Answers (More of) Your Questions on Recovery, Cross-Training, and Moving On Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

"If one already has a good physical therapist, what are the benefits of a personal trainer when recovering from an injury or surgery? Is it just more money or can a personal trainer actually be a value add?"

"How do you balance being smart about prevention without letting worry of re-injury consume you?"

"What is the best way to recover from a VERY torturous PT session? Mental and physical. Also, more info on using blood flow restriction for recovery."

"How can I trust that my crosstraining really works? And how can I let go of the fear of not recovering? I struggle with the feeling that I have lost all the success that was coming for me."

"How many injuries do you incur and fight back from before you just give up?"

Coach Carrie has been tackling listener questions all season—and this week, she responds to not one, but four queries from Injured Athletes Club members out there.

She covers the best way to build confidence in your recovery, whether that's assembling a top-notch team or celebrating small steps. She discusses fear of re-injury and how to calm down your nervous system after a tough PT or training session.

And, she talks thoughtfully about the very hard decision some athletes eventually face: How to decide when it's time to move on. The answer involves getting deep about why you loved your sport in the first place, then giving yourself grace and patience as you work through whether you can fill your bucket with other options.

These questions come from five individuals but the answers have something for everyone—so don't miss this one!

Resources/links:

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cards
Access webinar videos, injury sources, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

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