Blue Skies

Taylor McLaughlin graduated from the University of Michigan in 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. During his time at Michigan, he was the recipient of a full athletic scholarship for Track & Field, showcasing his dedication to both academics and athletics. As an athlete, he was a 4x All-American in the NCAA, a testament to his consistent excellence on the track. Additionally, he secured the title of 2x conference champion in his individual event. He lead the track and field team as a team captain for three consecutive years, guiding and motivating his teammates to achieve their best. Presently, Taylor McLaughlin is pursuing a Master's degree online at the University of Southern California (USC) while continuing his athletic career as a professional track and field athlete. His dedication to both his education and athletic pursuits continues to inspire those around him, making Taylor an amazing and multifaceted individual. He shares his journey as a STEM student athlete at every level, his mental health challenges, and his perpective on what makes him successful. Taylor's personal mission is to leave a mark on all fields he pursues to compete in, both athletic and academic. Taylor's Social Media Instagram _______________________________________ Natalia Ojeda's Social Media and Website Links Website | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn

I'm honored to feature our first STEM Student Athlete, Kwesi Rutledge. He's a researcher at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, focusing on safe robot control. Kwesi holds a PhD from the University of Michigan, where he was also a member of the Varsity Track and Field Team while pursuing his undergraduate degree. He talks about his journey balancing sports and academics, offering advice to students in similar situations. Kwesi also discusses his post-sports life and shares his latest ambitious goals. Kwesi's Social Media Platforms and Website Links Twitter | Website _______________________________________ Natalia Ojeda's Social Media and Website Links Website | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn

"Gil Acevedo, a talented software engineer, and Gina D'Andrea-Penna, a dedicated Neuroscience Ph.D. candidate, found themselves constantly overwhelmed by the demands of their high-pressure careers. Despite their successes, they realized that something was missing in their lives - a sense of balance and well-being.Through their shared passion for personal development, they discovered the transformative power of strength training and the importance of a balanced lifestyle. They experienced firsthand how integrating physical fitness, nutrition, stress management, and mindset coaching could revolutionize their lives, and they became determined to share their newfound knowledge with others.Drawing on Gina's expertise in neuroscience and the mind-body connection, as well as Gil's problem-solving skills and drive for efficiency, they developed a comprehensive wellness program tailored to the needs of busy professionals. Their unique approach addresses every aspect of health and fitness, unlocking the full potential of their clients and empowering them to lead happier, healthier lives." Nexus Social Media Platforms and Website Nexus Website | Nexus Instagram | Nexus Youtube | Nexus Facebook | Nexus TikTok Gina's Social Media Platforms Instagram | Facebook | Website Gil's Social Media Platforms Facebook | Instagram | LinkeIn ____________________________________________________ Natalia Ojeda's Social Media Platforms and Website Website | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn

Being multifaceted is not easy when you are in school, involved in extracurriculars, and any other passion you have outside of that. This series of podcasts will include my story as a stem student-athlete and the struggles I faced in the unforeseen circumstances I've been through ever since I put a pause on the podcast. It'll also include interviews with guests ranging from mental health professionals to professionals in STEM and previous STEM student-athletes. If you're looking for a sense of community, are interested in STEM, or need mental health resources and guidance, this podcast is for you. Links Personal Website Instagram Tik Tok LinkedIn

I've realized that what causes my high functioning anxiety is not necessarily the fear of failure because I have failed and persevered plenty of times but it's a fear of being mediocre. I've always had high expectations for myself and if I don't see the results or feel that I'm doing enough I get in my head. I cope with this fear by filling my plate which gives me the feeling that I am doing enough to accomplish my goals. I reflect on how social media comes I to play when striving for success. Do you use social media as a tool or has it become a distraction? How can we better use social media to serve as a source of positivity in our life and as a tool to help us steer away from mediocracy?

Reconnect with your younger self and let them guide you to your passions. Something I learned from Jay Shetty's meditation series. This lead me to the question, “Would I be someone my younger self would look up to?”. Reflecting on that has helped me recognize the progress I've made in my self help and mental health journey and the accomplishments I've had in life.

Season 2 is all about reflecting and becoming self aware. Just like most people I'm trying to figure myself out, figure out what I want to do, and figure out what type of impact I want to make. It can all seem overwhelming but it's important to consider how beautiful and enjoyable this process can be. I'm just a STEM student athlete in her early 20s trying to make sense of it all.

Change may seem scary at first and it may be intimidating but it gives us opportunities to grow. It's not always easy and it's not always comfortable but it is necessary. If you aren't changing, you aren't evolving. Embrace change and stay adaptable because on the other side of change there's probably something greater than what you ever imagined for yourself.

Welcome back! This episode I touch on what I think being confident looks like. I reference Jay Shetty's podcast episode titled “7 Habits of Highly Confident People and 7 Ways to Build Self Confidence” throughout this episode and I highly recommend checking it out. I explore how and why confidence cultivates respect. I share my experience with my confidence or lack thereof. I share what I've learned about generational trauma and how it along with other insecurities has affected my confidence. It's amazing how much we inherit from past generations without realizing. The biggest take away this episode is to kill them with confidence. I'm excited to start sharing more episodes. I hope you all enjoy this one, and if you do, share this episode with someone you think will enjoy it too!

Curveballs will always come up in life. How do you deal with them and move past them? It's so important to not let them get in the way of your ultimate goal. The road to success is not a straight line. There will always be detours and that's okay! I share my internal battles I face. I struggle with being confident versus being humble and I struggle with overthinking. Or better said, worrying too much.

It's important to be goal oriented so that we do not stay stagnant. You should always be working on a goal, even if that goal is to develop new ones. I share how my goals have evolved throughout the years and how I've handled the changes.

If you are able to see the bigger picture and perservere through the toughest moments it will help when sacrificing for your future. Nothing worth having is handed to you. Do not compare your journey to other's because they might be at a different point in life. People only post what they want you to see on social media, so you might even be comparing yourself to a person who only appears to be successful. Remember who you are doing all of this for and refuse to not accomplish your goals.

We're diving into why it's important to have an optimistic mindset. By reflecting on my own mindset, I hope it sparks curiosity within you to reflect on yours. Are you more pessimistic or optimistic? How do you change your self talk or that inner critic? I've learned, this year more than ever, that your mental is important and it's what's going to allow for growth.

The first episode of my podcast will be published Friday, March 12th. The title is “Glass half empty or glass half full”. I'm excited to see where it goes. Topics include STEM, self-care, reaching goals, motivation for your journey in life, and fitness. Episodes will be released every 3 weeks!