In Episode 7 of After the Game, host Jailyn Green sits down with Emma Scroggs, a senior at Piedmont University, former Piedmont competition cheerleader, and biology major. This episode centers around the theme “The Injuries Nobody Sees,” focusing on the mental and emotional challenges that often go unnoticed in athletics.

Emma reflects on her journey as a college cheerleader and shares what it was really like balancing the demands of competition, academics, and personal life. While many people see the performances, routines, and excitement of cheer, Emma opens up about the pressure, burnout, and emotional struggles that athletes sometimes face behind the scenes.

Through an honest and thoughtful conversation, Emma highlights the importance of mental health in sports and the lessons she learned during her time as an athlete. This episode offers a deeper look at the side of athletics that people don’t always see—and reminds listeners that some of the most difficult injuries aren’t always physical.

In Episode 6 of After the Game, host Jailyn Green sits down with Silas Sandles- former Piedmont mens tennis player and currently an undergraduate admissions adviser at Piedmont, for an honest conversation about the reality of life after college athletics. Centered around the theme “Winning Didn’t Change Anything,” the episode explores the pressure athletes feel to succeed and the realization that reaching those goals doesn’t always change everything the way we expect.

Silas keeps it real as he reflects on his experiences as a college athlete, sharing the highs of competition and the challenges that come once the season, and eventually the career, comes to an end. The conversation dives into identity, expectations, and the emotional side of sports that people often overlook.

Through his perspective, Silas offers an authentic look at what it means to move forward after athletics and how athletes can begin to redefine themselves beyond the game.

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 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.

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 2 of After the Game, host Jailyn Green sits down with Julia Ludwick to talk about the mental weight athletes carry and how expectations can shape, and strain, identity.

Julia shares her experience transitioning from Division I at Cincinnati to Division III at Piedmont University, opening up about the anxiety, pressure, and mental adjustments that came with the shift. Together, they unpack what it means to navigate change, manage mental health, and redefine yourself when the game starts to look different.

Join Jailyn Green in the very first episode of After the Game as she sits down with junior Sarah Crook for an honest conversation about life after putting her cheer shoes away. From identity shifts to navigating what comes next, this episode dives into what happens when the game ends, but the journey continues.