No Struggle No Story

In Episode 41, former UCLA Tennis Player and Kalamazoo Champion Max Wild and Pat deeply dive into what matters in life. Genuine conversations surrounding health & wellness, yoga, and the effects of social media on society deliver a special episode that can help anyone listening. Max's unique perspective on the world, love for others, and deep understanding of who he is can change the lives of anyone he surrounds when paired with the techniques the boys get into in this conversation. Diet, yoga, and breathwork can change your life. Learn about the positive influence of nature, meditation, and how to face transition and change in another epic pod with an incredible human.

The podcast is BACK! We bring on UNC tennis player, Nike Intern, and NCAA Sweet 16 participant Anuj Watane to talk about his journey through life and the change in perspective he has had on what life is about. After believing tennis defined his self-worth, Anuj had the best season of his career this past year yet was still having trouble with his happiness. Through this process, he learned the power of being present, enjoying the small things in life, and getting off the phone and social media to focus more on his beliefs. We dive into ways that you can improve your self-growth such as meditation, journaling, spending time with your thoughts, and being with your loved ones. Along with this, Anuj talks about the incredible change he has seen from daily affirmations in all aspects of his life. An incredibly powerful episode with so many things to learn, listen NOW on all platforms!

Willie Miklus is a 4x All-American wrestler out of Iowa State University and the University of Missouri. In this episode, Willie tells an inspirational story about how to overcome injury, fight through adversity with a positive attitude, and the importance of your support system during tough times. Miklus provides some incredible insight on ways to maintain positivity and inspiration on normal days and what kind of fortitude it takes. Don't miss out on this amazing conversation!

Mental health has begun to enter the forefront of common topics among elite athletics in recent years. Numerous professional and collegiate athletes such as Naomi Osaka, Demar DeRozan, Kevin Love, Hayden Hurst, and countless others have started prioritizing their mental health and speaking out about it to the public. In Episode 38, Former Washington State University and Cal-Berkeley cross country runner and SAAC President Andrew Cooper shares his journey with mental health. He focuses on the importance of sharing your story, how social media has affected overall mental health among athletes, and the struggles with body image that so many continue to face. This is one of the most powerful episodes I have been a part of and a must-listen for all athletes. Tune in!

Episode 37 dives into a powerful conversation with Two-Time March Madness participant and Abilene Christian University basketball player Paul Hiepler. Paul talks about the importance of finding your self-worth in more than your playing time, the impact you can have on your teammates or peers on and off the court, and the role his faith has played in his journey and the community he surrounds himself with. Hiepler brings amazing energy and excitement about life that is a must-listen for any person. Listen in to this great journey about finding your purpose!

WE ARE BACK! Listen in to Episode 36 with B1G medalist, Former National Team member, and Husker gymnast Sam Phillips. We dig into the power of self-talk, surrounding yourself with the right community and energy to build yourself, and how to build your confidence through more than just your sport. Sam brings amazing energy and view on his life and talks about powerful events that inspired him to grow as a person and athlete. Don't miss out on this amazing conversation with one of the best gymnasts in the NCAA!

Adversity, gratitude, and self-belief. Each of them is so important but how can you grow each of them and face adversity with the attitude and inspiration you need? For Junior Wimbledon champion and U.S. Open Women's Tennis participant Abbey Forbes, it is all about being appreciative for what you have been given and doing things for the child in you who fell in love with what you do. In this riveting episode, Forbes talks in-depth about how much each of these topics can mean to not only athletes but people as well and how important it is to give back to those who have supported you. Don't miss out on this amazing conversation!

Husker Men's golfer and SAAC President Daniel Pearson has taken a long and winding journey with mental health through his college years. Without having much experience with the topic, he wasn't sure what these feelings of sadness, anxiety, and anger about his golf game were. Until now. Pearson has found that your identity as a person is so much more than your achievements in the athletic realm. Daniel has found his purpose in helping others, creating a better athletic community, and throwing himself head-first into everything he does with his heart and passion for people. These discoveries helped his golf game improve in turn and shape who he is today. Listen in to hear ways that DP has been able to reach this point and the exercises he puts himself through to help him become the best version of himself. Invaluable advice from an incredible person.

Professional soccer player and member of the Union Omaha USL League One team Elma N'For joins the episode to talk about how important your "why" is and the idea of inspiration over motivation. Elma uses his platform to inspire younger kids and talk about the power of what you surround yourself with and how much of an impact your self-talk can have on your confidence and identity. N'For gives incredible advice on these topics and will help viewers gain a better perspective on their self-worth. Listen in to this incredible conversation!

Junior Wimbledon Finalist, ATP career-high #550, and University of Kentucky #1 tennis player joins the podcast for an amazing episode about how to adjust to new environments, ways to maintain your confidence through difficult times, and the importance of your surroundings and who you associate yourself with. Liam has a great perspective on life and simplifies the times that can get so muddy for many. Listen in to this awesome episode!

Former Iowa State baseball player Ty Henry has faced many hardships throughout his life. From the loss of his aunt during his college years to the uncertainty of when his last game would be, he stayed strong through it all. In this episode of NSNS, Ty talks about how important his faith in who he was, in his identity, and in God helped him face whatever came his way and thrive under the conditions. Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation with a story that every person needs to hear!

Mental health matters. Former University of Michigan Volleyball OH B1G Sportsmanship Award recipient and current Florida State University Beach Volleyball player Sydney Wetterstrom joins us on this episode to talk about what led her to become a major advocate for mental health, ways to cope with performance and life anxiety, and resources that student-athletes and people alike need to build and take advantage of. In an eye-opening conversation, Sydney's passion for mental health and validation of feelings shines through from her own personal struggles. This is a must-listen episode for any person that has or is experiencing adversity! Tune in!

Everything is never as it seems. CAA Tournament MVP and JMU Women's Tennis Player Amanda Nord joins the show to share her journey with mental health and the never-ending fight against depression, anxiety, and body image. It rings true that even when a person seems to be okay, it is not always the case. Amanda talks about ways she has learned to cope with these demons and what the idea of accepting the fact that these emotions will come has meant to her. Through counseling, an immense support system, and learned techniques that have helped her grow Nord has found the strength to share her story in hopes of inspiring many. Listen in!

One brain tumor and two surgeries later yet volleyball was still what was on her mind. Hawaii State and Female Volleyball Player of The Year and Nebraska Volleyball player Kaylei Akana faced this shocking experience in her early high school years but didn't let it derail her dreams. In fact, it led her to be the athlete and person she is today. Kaylei used this adversity to learn to never take anything for granted, find her identity in Kaylei the person over Kaylei the volleyball player, and found that you can achieve anything you set your heart to regardless of how tough it may seem. Don't miss this incredible story and an amazing lesson on how each experience is truly what you make of it.

Former Hawaii Beach Volleyball player and Western Kentucky Indoor Volleyball player Heather Friesen looked death in the face just a few short years ago. After falling down a 50-foot waterfall, she was on the brink of survival and had frail hopes of ever competing in the sport she had built her life around again. Yet through an unwavering determination, a beautiful experience that brought her closer to God, and a mentality to always grow from every situation, Heather now competes on the professional beach volleyball circuit. Heather learned to never hold your sport as an idol and that you are worth so much more than just your status as an athlete. Tune in to hear this incredible story and how much these values can help you face struggles and adversities in your life!

It's not about the size of the dog in the fight, it's about the size of the fight in the dog. Episode 26 brings on First Team All-B1G and ATP #690 Illini tennis player Zeke Clark to talk about his experiences breaking the expectations put on him due to his physical stature and the ways he has learned to grow from every experience. Known as one of the toughest competitors in college tennis, listen in to hear about the incredible ways Zeke has learned to take every experience as an opportunity to grow and maximize his potential.

Georgia Tech NCAA All-American and Junior Wimbledon participant Vicky Flores speaks on Episode 25 about her dark experiences with depression and anxiety and how they have helped shape her into the person she is today. Through her strong Christian faith, a sense of gratefulness for living out each day, and a newfound routine that allowed her to see the truths in who she is Vicky began to learn how to use this experience to change her life for the better. You will undoubtedly find ways to help uplift your life and gain confidence in who YOU are in this riveting episode!

Coming in ready to receive playing time his true freshman year, University of Nebraska Defensive End Tate Wildeman faced a heartbreaking injury when he tore his ACL one day before the Huskers' game against Colorado. Facing what Tate described as the first serious adversity in his life piled on with a new position coach, he wasn't sure what the future held. But through this struggle, Wildeman credits his blossoming relationship with God, a strong support system, and his belief that everything happens for a reason as ways that helped him learn and grow each day from this event. An inspiring story about the strength of community and how to find your identity in something that can't be taken away from you, Episode 24 is not one to miss!

National Gatorade Player of The Year, AVCA All-American, Nebraska Outside Hitter. All of these accolades describe Lexi Sun, but they do not define her. In an incredible episode 23, Lexi joins the podcast to talk about the struggles of dealing with expectations, how she has handled the coronavirus crisis, and how her love for Jesus has become the most important aspect of her life. Each of these topics encompasses Sun's belief that she is more than just Lexi Sun the volleyball player. She is Lexi Sun the person above all else. Listen to her inspiring story!

Episode 22 brings on Under Armour All-American and Nebraska Volleyball outside hitter Riley Zuhn to talk about her experiences coming into college as one of the best volleyball players in the country to join a perennial powerhouse program at the University of Nebraska. Through this process, Riley learns that no matter what role you are in, if you do it to the best of your abilities and come into each day with a "sell the fuck out" attitude, you can go to bed knowing you are improving not only as an athlete but a person as well. Finally, Zuhn reflects on her faith and how it has led her to realize that it is okay to not be okay. To her, you are not supposed to understand many things as a person, but that is the beauty of life. This episode provides inspiring advice from not only an amazing athlete but an even better person. Listen in!

National Steeplechase Champion, Leader of the Minority Student Athlete Collective, and Nebraska Track and Field and Cross Country runner Sadio Fenner joins the show for Episode 21 of our series. Sadio talks about the importance of how he defines his success every day and the experience of being able to create community around him as a minority in his environment. Sadio shares an unrelenting belief in helping others, making a difference in his community, and above all else never giving up on people. These traits are what have helped him get through the biggest struggles in his life and learn that every day is not a test, but an opportunity to grow.

Olympic Gold Medalist. 2x NCAA Champion. 3x World Champion. Episode 20 digs deep into the career of wrestling legend Jordan Burroughs as he speaks about the adversities and struggles he faced in his many years on the mat. Through relentless work ethic, a great support system, and an understanding that the toughest losses turn you into a better champion he was able to transform the adversities into opportunities to grow. Burroughs explains that all of the accolades mean nothing in comparison to the man he is becoming in the process. A truly inspirational person with enough knowledge about facing struggles to last a lifetime. Don't hesitate to listen in!

In an eye-opening Episode 19 of No Struggle No Story, former South Carolina Beach Volleyball player and current Duke Volleyball outside hitter Franky Harrison talks about her journey with mental health throughout her life. After years of struggles in her later high school and early college years, speaking with a psychologist and realizing it's okay to not be okay allowed Franky to learn each day from these experiences and turn them into an opportunity to grow. This journey led her to be a huge advocate for mental health, create her own podcast her senior year, and truly enjoy every aspect of her life as it comes. Listen in to one of the most relatable episodes yet!

Episode 18 digs into an incredible conversation with former All-B1G Husker soccer player and current player for the NWSL Orlando Pride, Savanah Uveges. Savanah faced a daunting couple of years highlighted by four ACL surgeries. Through all of the pain and the struggle, she was able to find strength in her faith, her family, and her growth mindset that allowed her to learn from each of these experiences and become not only a better athlete but a better person as well. This story is a must-listen surrounded by positivity, resilience, and faith in what you believe in. Don't miss out!   

Episode 17 brings on All-B1G Freshman Honorable Mention, Defensive Player of the Game against Ohio State, and Freshman starting DB for the Indiana Hoosiers. Riggins delivers an incredibly inspiring story about his struggles with mental health and how he was able to turn his own struggles into a platform to help others. After suffering from severe depression and anxiety, A'shon eventually faced a failed suicide attempt later into his Indiana career. This experience propelled him to become one of the B1G's leading mental health advocates and a man trying to help others cope with the same struggles he faced. Riggins' story is a must-listen, and will help many realize that they are not alone.

Episode 16 takes a different perspective as we bring on No Struggle No Story podcast host, Boyd Epley Award winner, ITA Scholar-Athlete, and Nebraska Men's Tennis player Patrick Cacciatore. Many people over the past few months have asked, why did you start the podcast? And the answer is this: after a long period of suffering from depression and anxiety that I finally began to understand last summer, I wanted to find a way to impact and inspire others who were dealing with similar struggles. I wanted to help other people find a platform that helped them realize they are not alone, and there are thousands of other people facing the same adversities they were. I wanted people to realize that it's okay to not be okay. And with my podcast, No Struggle No Story, I have attempted to do just that. Through the help of an incredible support system, a newfound perspective to judge myself off of who I am rather than what I do, and an understanding of my calling in life I was able to learn how to better cope with my struggles. I hope that this episode can shine light on my story and the reason I do what I do today. A special thank you to Husker Sports Psych for having me on and interviewing me as well!

On Episode 15, ATP Career-High #129, winner of 25 professional level doubles titles, and Philippines Davis Cup member Ruben Gonzales joins the show. Ruben shares his inspiring story about dealing with financial struggles at the beginning of his professional career but fighting on to pursue his dream of playing on the world's biggest stage by coaching and competing at the same time. Ruben puts a huge emphasis on how much having a strong support system, a growth mindset, and a clear purpose can lead to true happiness and content in your heart. He has learned that each and every step of the journey are equally important as the last and that doing what you love will always be a guiding light. Listen in to this incredible story and remember that with no struggle, there is no story.

In Episode 14, listen to former ATP #48 and 3rd round competitor of both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open Jared Donaldson dig into the adversities he faced with his tennis career and how these shaped his view on how he would judge himself. After a brief period of quitting the sport, Donaldson refound his love for tennis through competing and soon learned that what really mattered was if he was a better version of himself than he was yesterday. With this newfound perspective, Jared combined it with his relentless pursuit of putting his all into anything he does to turn this struggle into one incredible story. Tune in!

On Episode 13, 8x All-American, ACC Player of the Year, and 3x UNC Men's Tennis team Captain Will Blumberg delivers a vital message about the struggles he faced throughout his tennis career and the ways he was able to rebuild his confidence from a time of self-doubt. Surrounding himself with a great support system, Blumberg was able to put a focus on the small victories each day and putting an emphasis on gratitude for the opportunities he's been given to become one of the greatest players in college tennis history. His humble attitude and balanced lifestyle make you realize that life is not all about your sport, your job, or your career. It's about self-improvement and being the best version of yourself. Listen in to hear this illuminating episode!

Episode 12 brings on 3x All-American, ATP Number 66, and 2019 US Open Quarterfinalist Jackson Withrow to the podcast. Jackson gives incredible insight into how losing tennis for 22 months in a row due to surgeries changed his perspective on the game and how he viewed his success. His perseverance, attitude, and effort to be great deliver an incredible energy that exemplifies the way he's been able to overcome adversity and become one of the best doubles players in the world. His story is one to hear and a great listen for all viewers alike!

In Episode 11, 2x All-Big 12 First Team member, 2017 Big 12 Volleyball Scholar Athlete of the Year, and 2020 Finnish Cup Champion and MVP Alexis Conaway talks about the struggle of fighting expectations as she entered into a new environment, taking time away from the sport she once used to define herself, and how these experiences allowed her to become the person and volleyball player she is today. Alexis puts a huge emphasis on learning to embrace failure as an opportunity to grow, learning her identity as a person rather than an athlete, and how beneficial it was to step outside her comfort zone. An amazing story for everyone to hear!

On Episode 10, 3-Time NCAA Champion, 3-Time World Team member, and 2017 World Championship Bronze Medal gymnast Yul Molduaer discusses the stereotypes he fought as an adopted child from South Korea and how he used these to fuel him in his quest for excellence. Moldauer goes into detail about the importance of his "why" and the tools he uses to turn every experience he faces into an opportunity to grow as a person and gymnast. With his infectious energy, professional poise, and easy-going nature this episode is not one to miss!

On Episode 9 of No Struggle No Story, 2x All-American, ITA #1 Doubles Player, and NCAA Top 25 Singles Player Mia Horvit discusses the struggles of entering a new environment at the University of South Carolina. Mia talks about the importance of building relationships to create a strong support system, understanding your own identity, and creating a culture of people around you who are like-minded and want to see you succeed. Each of these topics helped Mia navigate through a series of tough experiences and grow as a person and tennis player along the way. After all; with no struggle, there is no story!

This week, 2019 NCAA Champion, ATP 519, and 2019 Wimbledon participant Paul Jubb discusses the effect that losing both of his parents at a young age had on his attitude towards life and his pursuit of excellence. Jubb talks intently about his process of learning how to not be sorry for himself and accept every situation in his life as an opportunity to grow and better himself. His positive outlook and motivational drive are inspirational to any person listening and provide an incredible look into the mind of one of the greatest stories in tennis.

In Episode 7, 2015 NCAA Wrestling Champion, 2013 BIG 12 Champion, and 2x US Open Wrestling Champion Kyven Gadson shares his inspiring story about the struggles he faced throughout his high school and collegiate career. In the midst of an illustrious collegiate wrestling campaign, Gadson is faced with five separate surgeries, the death of his grandmother and father, and a battle with substance abuse. Listen in on how he has learned from each of these experiences and how his faith has helped him find his true self and confidence.

Listen to former Nebraska Volleyball Defensive Specialist and current Northwestern Wildcat player talk about her adversities and struggles with confidence. Megan digs in to the mechanisms she used to rebuild it and how she learned that she is more than just a volleyball player, but a great person as well. Through a great support system, a positive mindset, and a renewed love for the sport of volleyball Megan has grown tremendously through her struggles.

On Episode 5, University of Nebraska starting quarterback and HS Under Armour All-American Adrian Martinez digs in to how he dealt with the series of setbacks he faced his senior year of high school and the high expectations placed on him his sophomore season at Nebraska. Adrian shares how he learned to be grateful for the game he loves and realized that he is not identified by football, but by his character and his faith. This episode is an inspiring story and a must listen from one of College Football's best and brightest stars!

In this episode, Big 12 Freshman of the Year and ITA Top 50 tennis player Jake Van Emburgh speaks about the struggles he faced with a serious wrist injury and how he maintained confidence in himself through the process. He speaks about the importance of a great support system around you and having gratitude for what you have, as some others aren't given the same opportunities. Jake's attitude and perspective on life are things to admire and this is a must listen for anybody looking to get through a tough time!

In this episode, B1G Freshman of the Year and AVCA Honorable Mention All American Nebraska outside hitter Madi Kubik talks about how her journey dealing with high expectations and anxiety. Kubik uses her experience as a freshman at Nebraska to learn how to judge her performance as a person rather than a volleyball player, and ultimately grow exponentially throughout the season.

In this episode, 2-Time NCAA Champion and WTA 51 tennis player Danielle Collins gives insight into the adversities she faced in her college years and how they molded her into the person and player she is today. Without the struggles she faced at this time in her life, Danielle believes she would not be the same person she is today. After all, with no struggle, there is no story!

The introduction to No Struggle No Story, a podcast speaking with the most successful athletes in the world and how their adversities helped breed success.