The Balanced Athlete Car Convos; About Purpose, Balance and Play!

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that is centuries old and it is a holistic way of uncovering your life's meaning or purpose by tapping into what you love, what this world needs that only you can give in your uniqueness, what you are good at, and what you can get paid for. In today's episode we dig a bit deeper into this concept and how to apply it to your life. After all, it is easy to fall into the idea that you are your title, whether that be the title of an athlete in a specific sport or whether your job title. We are all human beings, and we are not limited to our titles that only tell you what we do, we are much more than that! Uncovering your unique purpose frees you up to live a life full of purposeful meaning that is tailored to who you are and what you can contribute to the world around you on and off the field, court, classroom or job!
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Tiffany Bankston is my dear friend a fellow volleyball mom and main character in my self-help book Journey of a Volleyball Mom: Surviving the First Club Season - You can do it! She is a reinvention and identity coach, speaker and founder of ThriveOLOGY Health and Wellness, LLC. As a practicing Physician Assistant of 20 years, Tiffany felt God calling her to help powerhouse, high-functioning women break free from burnout and rediscover who they are beyond their titles, to-do lists and perfectionism. 
Through her signature faith-based transformational coaching experiences, THE R.O.O.M (Release ->Open->Own->Move) and BecomingHER (Healed. Empowered. Restored.), Tiffany helps women detox from performance pressure, rest their identity in Christ, and step into a more peaceful, purpose-filled rhythm of life. She's passionate about helping women stop striving and start surrendering by creating lives that are both wildly productive and deeply aligned with who God designed them to be. 
When she's not coaching, Tiffany is a wife and proud mom of two teen athletes, and a fur mom to two dogs that think they're human! 
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Jonathan Carone is the creator of Healthy Sports Parents, a podcast and social platform helping parents lead their kids through youth sports without losing their minds. With a background in sport management, coaching, and student ministry, Jonathan brings 20 years of experience across all levels of youth sports. From rec leagues to Division I athletics, he has seen how the right kind of support can shape a kid’s experience and strengthen the parent–child relationship. Today, he helps parents focus less on raising great athletes and more on raising great humans.
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This is a continuation of my interview with Lauren Whalley Adventure Therapist and my sister! We had such a great conversation about purpose, balance and play that we split it into two parts. I always end each podcast with asking questions that are the four pillars of the Japanese concept called Ikigai - a holistic way of uncovering and incorporating your purpose into your life, and it is always the richest part of the conversation! If you haven't listened to part 1, I highly recommend listening to that first. Then drop into this conversation to hear what she has to say about the best way to connect and support your teen athlete through the pain points of life/sports and performance anxiety. 
p.s. the word we couldn't remember in this episode is biophilia!
Lauren Smith (Whalley) 
Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Lauren is Jessie's sister, an Oklahoma native who spent time in Kentucky for graduate school to become a psychotherapist before moving to Canada in 2012 to pursue her dream job as a wilderness therapist. She’s lived in Ottawa since 2015 with her husband, their 10-month-old daughter, and their dog. Lauren currently runs a private psychotherapy practice, providing therapy to individuals, couples, and families, including walk-and-talk sessions that integrate the outdoors. She takes a curious and compassionate approach, helping people understand their emotions, even the uncomfortable ones, and connect more deeply with themselves. Lauren is also the founder of the Ottawa Adventure Therapy Networking Group and continues to explore creative ways to bring nature and adventure into her work.
Lauren Smith (Whalley)
Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Danny Brown is a firefighter/paramedic in the Oklahoma City metro, where he's served for 13 years. He's also a devoted husband and father- his son Zac plays varsity tennis, and his daughter Ashley is a competitive dancer. Away from the firehouse, Danny is the host of The Pretend Painters' Show and Podcast, a unique project where painting becomes the backdrop for powerful conversations. Through art and storytelling, he helps guests share their journeys while raising awareness and funds for meaningful causes. Danny believes in turning struggle into strength and creating community through creativity, hope and love. 
Buckle up and take a listen! 
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My purpose is to help parents and teen athletes uncover their purpose by discovering their gifts and strengths and then putting them on paper to create their personal mission statement. In this episode, I talk about why that can be such a life changing event and why I believe it is so important for curating the life that you want and the life that makes room for purpose, balance and play!
Buckle up and enjoy the ride! 
The Balanced Athlete

Why set a New Year's Resolution when statistics show that only 1% of people who set one, follow through reaching their goals 12 months later?
Instead, uncover your personal mission statement so you can thrive on and off the field, court, classroom or job! Take a deep dive into who you are, what your unique strengths and gifts are and craft a personal mission statement to live by, starting each day in 2026 you can reflect on that mission statement and use it to catapult you towards a life that is in alignment with where you are wanting to go and how you want to live! Join me on Dec. 20th in my workshop! It's on sale now through Nov. 30 for only $11!!! Hope to see you there! 
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Today’s episode is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and radical self-belief.
Our guest, Emma Naylor-Weston, is a powerhouse coach and global 9-to-5 exit strategist who’s redefining what it means to build a life—and a business—on your own terms. Originally from London and now based in Miami with her husband and three beloved animals, Emma’s journey is anything but linear. From cold-calling 120 times a day to leading high-performing sales teams and consulting CEOs, she’s lived the grind—and chosen to rise above it.
After hitting rock bottom in 2017, Emma embarked on a transformative journey of sobriety, self-discovery, and entrepreneurship. Today, she runs a thriving six-figure coaching practice helping women break free from corporate burnout and build businesses that align with their values, their purpose, and their dreams.
Emma’s story is one of grit, grace, and growth—and whether you’re a parent, an athlete, or someone standing at a crossroads, her insights will inspire you to play bigger, live freer, and lead with intention.
So buckle up—this car convo is about to get real. Let’s dive in.
Emma Naylor Weston
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My personal mission statement is to help others find purpose, balance and play through leading a life of wellbeing and longevity by using my gifts of creating things (like this podcast), moving physically, empowering others and shaping environments. This podcast is a vehicle (pun intended) to help me live out my purpose by helping parents and teen athletes find connection and experience lives of purpose, balance and play while connecting to a sense of meaning, while contributing to the world around them.
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