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May 28, 2025 37 mins

She Walked Away from the Game — and Found Herself Again


In this episode of No Former Athlete, Jerrica Brooks keeps it real about what it’s like to grow up loving a sport that doesn’t always love you back.


We get into the highs of high school hoops, the pain of toxic coaching, and how stepping away from basketball for six years ended up being one of the most important moves of her life.


This episode includes:

– What happens when your identity is your sport

– The mental/emotional burnout no one warns you about

– Being Black, gay, and constantly underestimated

– Learning how to feel feelings (?!?) in your 30s

– Reconnecting with joy — on and off the court

This one’s for the athletes, the ex-athletes, and anyone out there trying to figure out who they are when the jersey comes off.


Make sure to follow, and tell us in the comments:

What did sport teach you about YOU?

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