What happens when the thing that defined you… ends?

In this episode of No Former Athlete, Brad Hauter opens up about life after sport — from being told he’d never play again, to playing professionally for 10 years, to chasing validation long after the crowd was gone.

We talk athlete identity, fake dopamine, ego, grief, and the emotional crash that comes when the season ends — sometimes over and over again. Brad shares what finally helped him find grounding, purpose, and relevance beyond the game.

If you’ve ever felt lost without the structure, validation, or identity of sport — you’re not alone.

In this episode of No Former Athlete, we sit down with Megan, a former D1 soccer player whose career ended suddenly after multiple concussions. What followed wasn’t just an exit from the game—it was a full identity reckoning.

We talk about control issues athletes carry into adulthood, why rest can feel like failure, and how so many no former athletes (NoFos) replace sport with work, productivity, or “impressive” job titles just to feel valuable again. Megan opens up about living with unfinished business, navigating invisible injuries, staying close to sport through her career, and learning how to ask a harder question: Who am I doing this for now?

This conversation explores:

• Losing sport before you’re ready
• Why athletes struggle with rest and free time
• Identity after injury and retirement
• The pressure to stay “impressive” post-sport
• Working in sports vs. healing from sport
• Learning to sit in success instead of chasing the next goal

If you’ve ever felt anxious without a schedule, uncomfortable slowing down, or unsure who you are outside performance—this one will hi

Ever look back at your high school athlete days and think, “Damn, who was that person?” Same. In this episode, Brandi takes us on a hilarious, honest, and nostalgic ride from being a basketball star to figuring out who she is after the final buzzer.

We talk college hoops drama, identity crises, career pivots, concussions, and why walking away from the game might’ve been the best move she ever made.

Now a director and creative entrepreneur, Brandi shares how her athlete mindset still drives her — just in a different arena. If you’ve ever felt lost after leaving something that defined you, this one’s for you.

In this episode:

– “I used to be an athlete” moments 😂

– Why college ball wasn’t it

– Career burnout & the pressure to “figure it out” by 30

– Turning creative hustle into a career

– Rebuilding identity after sport