October 10, 2025 • 31 mins
Former NFL Cheerleader Hannah LaBeua joins Jazz to share her raw, authentic journey from the intense visibility of the spotlight to finding true fulfillment as a Mental Health Counselor.
This episode is for every entrepreneur, creator, or visionary who has tied their self-worth to their accomplishments, feared being perceived, or struggled to pivot away from a familiar identity. Hannah's story is a powerful lesson in navigating the internal conflict of shedding an old self while embracing a new, more aligned path.
In this episode, you will learn:
- Why the "cheerleader bubble" made the pressure of body image and performance burnout inevitable.
- The key lesson: separating your job from your identity to protect your well-being.
- How to give yourself permission to evolve even when you're still working in the old space.
- Hannah’s vision for sports counseling and providing mental health support to professional dance and cheer teams.
- A look at Project Sideline, her nonprofit offering mentorship to aspiring professional dancers while prioritizing mental health.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Are you sitting with thousands of hours of b-roll
(00:02):
content and telling yourself,I'll start posting tomorrow?
Are you in your head worriedabout your friends and family
thinking your friends werechoosing to be visible?
Are you chasing trends insteadof building influence?
Welcome to the VisibilityStandard, where the visionaries
of today are changing the rolesof their industries and letting
their voice be heard.
I'm your host, Jasmine, and weare setting the standard.
(00:42):
She also has a nonprofit, TheSideline Projects.
And so I'm so excited to sharemore of her story here, how she
got into mental health, how shepivoted.
So Hannah, thank you so much forjoining me today.
SPEAKER_01 (00:57):
Thank you for having me.
I'm happy to be here.
SPEAKER_00 (01:00):
So you started off as a cheerleader.
SPEAKER_01 (01:03):
I did.
Yep.
I made the team when I was 19years old.
It was about two years incollege and then two years out
of college by the time I wasdone.
So I was a full-time studentstudying psych.
So I was always interested inthe mental health field, but I
was also a competitive dancer mywhole life.
And I wanted to try to find abalance of like how can I pursue
(01:24):
the thing I've been working onfor so long and my passion and
still keep that going, but alsobeing able to pursue my
education for when I can't danceanymore because, you know, our
bodies aren't going to lastforever, especially, you know,
in like intense work like that.
So that really gave me theability to do both.
I mean, it was not easy, that'sfor sure, but I was able to do
(01:46):
both and set myself up forsuccess when I was done in the
NFL.
So that's how it all happened.
SPEAKER_00 (01:53):
I love that.
It's like forward planning,forward thinking, but also
allowing yourself to explore apassion that not a lot of people
like experience.
We see it on TV, we hear aboutit, and we know of like the
cheerleading side of football,but we never really get to hear
(02:15):
like a story from somebody inthat space, or it's not really
highlighted within media.
So what was it like to be inthat environment?
SPEAKER_01 (02:26):
It was a lot, and a lot of it isn't a lot of it
isn't highlighted because I'msure, you know, a lot of what
people see on media, there's notreally there's a lot of
positive, you know, things aboutbeing in there.
Like it's one of the bestchapters of my life, and I can't
talk as positively about it.
I love it.
Um, but like every job, there'snegatives and you know, what you
(02:48):
see on TV with like the bodyimage issues and the heightened
anxiety of trying to fit thisrole because if you don't fit
the role, then your dream getssnatched out from underneath
you.
So, like that pressure to be andact and present yourself as
exactly as the organizationwants you to be, it's really
(03:08):
stressful.
And it's not only you, but it'sall of the people surrounding
you that are also on the teamthat have this pressure on them.
So it's almost like you're, Ilike I call it like the
cheerleader bubble.
And we're in like this littlebubble, and then there's this
outside world, and what we dohere is so normal, and like we
don't realize how different andodd the things that we consider
(03:32):
to be normal are.
But if there's an outside personlooking in, they're like, what
the heck are they doing?
And why do they think this isnormal?
So the environment, like I said,it has its positives and
negatives.
But when I reflect on it now asa grown woman, because I was so
young when I was on the team, Ilook at it now and I just wish I
(03:53):
was able to see and do things alittle bit differently to
maintain my mental health and myphysical health and my
well-being, because I always saythat it takes a, it takes a lot
much more time to get yourselfout of the hole that you dug
yourself into.
Um so it took a while to kind ofrecover mentally and physically
(04:13):
from the intensity of thoseenvironments.
But again, would I do it allover again?
Probably not.
But I'm really thankful foreverything that I experienced
and learned because I took somuch with me now as a woman, and
I learned so many things on theteam that I apply to my everyday
life.
So it really is just a balanceand yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (04:37):
Yeah.
What would you say was the mostimpactful lesson that you
learned while being acheerleader?
SPEAKER_01 (04:43):
Oof, that's a heavy question.
There's so many lessons.
I guess I could do like aprofessional one and maybe a
personal one.
Professionally, I learnedeverything that you need to know
to be a functioning adult in aprofessional environment.
So, like I said, I was 19, so Ididn't know anything about
professionalism.
So I learned how to public speakand I learned time management
(05:05):
and organization and how tonetwork myself and how to
represent myself as aprofessional as well as like a
top-tier organization.
Because when I was cheering,that's when they were winning.
Luckily, I know they're notreally doing that so much now,
but when I was there, they weretop-notch and we were
unbeatable.
So we had to represent thembecause we were constantly in
(05:28):
the spotlight.
So just being able to maintainthat role to the best of my
ability, I learned so manythings about myself as a
professional and as a youngwoman and maturity.
Cause I mean, I grew up with asingle mom and she helped me do
everything and she loved helpingme do everything.
You know, we didn't have much,but she would do anything and
(05:50):
everything to get me to where Iwanted to go.
So being able to rely on myselfwas really difficult.
So that's definitely the biggestlesson I learned professionally.
And then the biggest lesson Ilearned personally, I think it
was really just like at the endof the day, a job is a job no
matter what it is.
And if you and if you don'tmaintain who you are within that
(06:15):
job, it's going to carry outlater because I was not going to
be an NFL cheerleader forever.
I knew that.
Probably not going to be acounselor forever or in this
environment.
I'm going to do other thingsbecause I am pursuing my LMHC.
So I'm going to be in a moreclinical, you know, setting.
Um, so you know, I knew thatwasn't going to last forever,
but I treated myself as if itwas.
(06:37):
And I I treated my personal lifeas if I would like I carried
what I was supposed to be as anNFL cheerleader into my personal
life, and I wasn't able to findthat balance.
I think the biggest lesson isthat like you have to be able to
separate the two.
And if you don't, there's gonnabe some pretty heavy overlaps
(06:58):
that can be detrimental to yourhealth and your well-being.
SPEAKER_00 (07:01):
Oh my goodness.
What you just spoke to is theimportance of maintaining your
own identity essentially and notallowing your work to consume
that.
And that is so important even inthe mental health field.
I think so many of us identifyas our jobs or our roles or the
(07:22):
populations that we serve or howmany clients we have on our
caseload, outcomes that we'reable to accomplish.
And we tie that so much to ouridentity and our self-worth.
And it is truly so detrimental.
And I think it's one of thehugest contributors to burnout.
And so I love that you bringthat point up, and I think
(07:45):
that's a perfect segue intotalking about your mental health
journey, like getting into thiswork.
And it sounds like you were ableto really learn a critical
lesson very early on.
SPEAKER_01 (07:57):
Yes, very early on.
And I mean, I wish I realized itsooner, but I think the
intensity of kind of losing myown personal identity.
I'm a competitive person.
So I was I was my biggestcompetitor.
So I was like, not only do Iwant to be on the team, but I
want to be a captain.
I want to go to Pro Bowl.
I want to, I want to accomplisheverything you can.
So I engulfed myself in thatidentity.
(08:19):
And I mean, like I said, I was19.
And those, I feel like 19 to 23,which was how old I was on the
team, those are prime years oflike cognitive development,
figuring out what you like, whatyou don't like, what your
genuine interests are, breakingout of your small town like
norms and really branching off.
And I didn't really have theability to do that.
(08:41):
I mean, I did, but I didn't.
So I think I wish I had learnedthat lesson early on.
But I mean, like, you know whatthey say, everything happens for
a reason, and like you gothrough stages of life to learn
certain lessons, and it took mea little bit longer, but I think
as far as timeline goes, Iwouldn't have changed a thing.
And I'm happy to, you know,understand the things that I
(09:02):
know now.
SPEAKER_00 (09:03):
Yeah.
19, I mean, gosh, at 19, wefirmly believe that where we are
is where we are going to be.
And it's so hard to see outsideof that bubble.
We're curating like thisenvironment and making it so
much of who we are.
And 19 is also just the agewhere we begin to learn who we
(09:25):
are in the world.
SPEAKER_01 (09:26):
Yes, exactly.
And I always think to myself,too, like, not only am I
engulfing this identity thatsomeone else wants me to be,
like, I'm changing my hair colorbecause someone because a person
told me to change it.
I'm losing weight becausesomeone told me to change it.
But on top of that, Instagramcame out in 2014.
So the first post I ever postedwas in my NFL cheerleader
(09:48):
uniform.
I was like at a promotionalappearance.
So even online, as an onlinepresence, I had never been
anything else except for an NFLcheerleader.
That is the identity that Ibuilt for others to see me.
So now as a 31-year-old woman,you know, I'm going out to like,
you know, a restaurant or a baror something like in my
(10:09):
hometown.
And I'll have people come up andbe like, Were you able to meet
the players?
And it's like, oh girl, likethis was 10 years ago.
But I also like that's theidentity that I carried, but I
also built and no one has everseen other than just NFL
cheerleading.
So it's like, I want to carrythis to represent myself and
(10:30):
it's what I love.
But now it's also I can't breakout of this because no one else
has seen me as just Hannah.
And it was really difficult.
And when you're 19, 20, 21, likethat external validation, like
you crave it, you know, you wantto fit in, you want community.
And so I think the combinationof that natural like need and
(10:52):
like want for externalvalidation, and then being in
the spotlight, and then alsoInstagram coming out, it was
just like a recipe for disasterfor me.
It's not everybody, but fittingin and community was something
that I really struggled with.
Like I was never bullied oranything to a large extent in
school, but I never really likeI didn't get invited to parties.
(11:15):
Like, I wasn't cool, you knowwhat I mean?
So I think like finally I havethis spotlight, and I was like,
oh my gosh.
So like that validation reallymessed with me a little bit for
sure.
SPEAKER_00 (11:26):
I mean, when I hear that, I just hear a lot of
pressure because the average19-year-old is like, okay, well,
what's my major?
What clubs am I gonna join incollege, or what trade am I
gonna do?
Like your experience is sounique at such a critical age,
and especially if you didn'tgrow up popular, if you didn't,
(11:48):
especially if you didn't havelike those typical high school
experiences that we see on TV.
It's like you're in a prime likeopportunity to literally like
experience a once-in-a-lifetime,like fame, and in some sense,
like notoriety, visibility, likeall of that at such a young age.
(12:12):
I'm thinking of like the19-year-old brain, it's like
it's a lot of pressure, that's alot of like self-image work,
that's a lot of identity work,and that's a lot of I mean, how
you blend in with yoursurrounding.
It's like so much happening atonce.
SPEAKER_01 (12:29):
Yeah, all at once.
And you even mentioned trying tofigure out your major or your
trade or, you know, like whatyou want to pursue at that age
because you're breaking out of,you know, what you learned in
high school.
A counselor that I know actuallymade a really good point.
Like, from the time you're bornuntil the time that you're 18,
you are following the timelineof not only yourself and like
(12:49):
what your parents or yourguardians like expect, but also
everyone around you.
You're all in the same timeline.
You're learning the same things,you're moving at the same pace.
And dance was my whole life.
So then by the time I got tocollege, dance was my major.
And I love my mom, mom, ifyou're watching this, I love you
so much.
Her and I have already talkedabout this, but I had a crazy
dance mom.
She was nuts, and she wanted meto dance so badly too.
(13:10):
So I knew I always wanted to dopsychology, but I went into
college as a dance major becauseI had this little extra pressure
to continue that identity, whichI already knew.
I'm already starting to fadeaway from the dancer that I've
always been.
So I did that for a year, andthe mental pressure of trying to
(13:32):
fulfill my needs and what I wantfor my future, and trying to
fulfill someone else's was sodifficult.
And even just letting go andletting myself choose to pursue
psychology, that in itself, Iwas 19 when I chose to break off
of my dance major route and gopsychology.
And then I make the team.
So now I make this likehigh-caliber dance team, but I'm
(13:53):
also letting go of it.
And it's like I think of it nowand I was like, my poor little
brain, like, what did I put herthrough?
SPEAKER_00 (14:00):
Well, you're literally like shedding the old
self and stepping into the newat the same time, and then not
even really shedding the oldself because you are now in the
environment of the dancer atsuch an intense rate.
And so it's like, oh, I'mholding on to this whole old
identity for a little bit whileI'm exploring the new identity.
(14:21):
And honestly, I think a lot ofus don't give ourselves
permission to do that.
I think when we have the newidentity, we feel this pressure
to try and embody it and live itout.
And uh the conflict, theinternal conflict that you're
discussing right now, I think isthe reality of a lot of it is
I'm still in this old space, oldidentity, old patterns, and I am
(14:47):
only figuring out what thisnewness looks like for me.
SPEAKER_01 (14:51):
Yes, yes.
I I couldn't have explained thatbetter myself, like stepping
into the new identity andletting go of the old one.
That external pressure of havingto have it figured out so early
on and needing to know yourroute.
Like, I can't even tell you howmany times I have my students
coming into my office and theytell me, you know, like my goal
(15:12):
is to make 100k a year by thetime I graduate college, or, you
know, like I want to do this andlike this is my route and this
is what I want to do.
I counseled a student, theywanted to go into finance
because they knew that the moneywas the best route or like
option for them, and that wasthe biggest like stability that
they could find.
But their heart was saying thatthey wanted to be a couples
(15:32):
counselor because they come froma divorced family.
And that is what, you know, whatthat's what their passion was.
That's what fueled them.
But they're choosing like thisis my safe option.
Like, I'm gonna choose this andI'm gonna hold on to it because
that's what I should be doing.
I have to have it all figuredout before 30, like all of those
things.
(15:53):
So you're totally right by likehaving to hold on to that
identity and the pressure oflike not giving yourself
permission to let it go.
And I think that's another one,one of the biggest lessons I
learned is that as difficult asit was to step into a bunch of
different identities, becauseeven after NFL cheerleading,
like I I made some crazydecisions, but I was I always
(16:17):
allowed myself to do itregardless of how difficult it
was going to be.
It's been a journey for sure.
So definitely.
SPEAKER_00 (16:26):
What is it like for you now in terms of perception?
Do people still see you as acheerleader?
Do you still find yourselfhaving to continue amplifying
that new voice?
What is it like?
SPEAKER_01 (16:40):
I definitely feel like I still have to amplify it
a little bit.
And I've just recently startedto be okay with showing up as
more authentic on like socialmedia and on TikTok and stuff,
because I got I gained a not abig following in comparison to
like the Alex Earls of theworld, but I gained a following
pretty early without reallytrying.
(17:03):
Like when things could go viraleasily, like back in like 2016,
2017, it kind of just stayedthere.
And I've been really afraid toshow up as just like this with
just my hair up or you know,just like being silly and
whatever.
But there was also a part of mewhere I'm like, I'm not getting
any views or anything like thatunless I'm talking about NFL
(17:23):
cheerleading.
Like I posted something theother day, and I think it was
like one of those littlequestion things on Instagram
asking people like, what type ofvideos?
Do you like long form content?
Do you like voiceovers?
And I had a person say, Okay, Ineed to know, is your experience
in the NFL the same as whatwe're watching on DCC making the
team?
And I was like, I'm asking ifyou like long form content.
(17:47):
That's not even what I wasasking.
It's like sometimes it's almostlike people find like gateways.
And like there was even this onetime I remember I was like out
at like a just like a small bar,like in my hometown.
Like everyone knows everyone.
And I didn't know this person,but they started chatting with
me and they were like, So, like,did you do any sports in high
(18:07):
school?
Like, were you a cheerleader oranything?
And I was like, Okay, so youclearly know this piece of
information about me, and you'retrying to find ways to get me to
talk about it.
So it's like it, I do feel likeI don't think I'll ever be fully
detached.
But it's I'm also okay with thatbecause it is a really large
(18:28):
part of my identity now, likenot necessarily the sparkly
uniform and the pom-poms, butthe things that I learned and
the things that I was able toovercome from that time period
is who I am now.
But again, like the balance oflike, can I just talk about
something else sometimes?
You know what I mean?
I think that's really it.
I guess like long story, butyeah.
SPEAKER_00 (18:50):
Yeah, I mean that totally makes sense.
You have a public image that'salready been created, and you
are essentially working to morphthose two identities together,
and that doesn't happenovernight.
And I I think even when peopleshift their content, even the
(19:13):
average person when they shifttheir content, people have an
expectation.
Oh, you used to talk aboutcheerleading and you talk used
to talk about sports, and nowyou're talking about business
and finance, and it's like,wait, you just switched up on
me.
And yeah, I think that is thereality of growth too, though.
(19:34):
I think that we get to giveourselves permission to say, I'm
gonna show up, and the peoplethat want to stay and see it
will stay and see it.
And then the authentic, alignedcommunity starts to grow from
there.
Um, but now you're transitioninginto clinical mental health.
(19:55):
So what has that journey beenlike?
SPEAKER_01 (19:59):
It I've never felt more like myself than I have
pursuing this, you know, career.
I've I told myself, I think Iwas 11 years old, that like I
knew I wanted to be a counselorto some capacity.
And I I thought that being in aschool setting was my dream and
(20:20):
my goal.
I idolized my middle schoolguidance counselor, Mrs.
Graves.
I like I credit her to anythingthat I ever loved about just
like community and doing thingsfor people, and like she just
handled things so gracefully.
So I idolized her at a veryyoung age, and I thought that
school setting was like mydream, summers off, like you
(20:41):
love it.
And I've been doing it for a fewyears, and I was kind of always
back and forth between clinicaland academic.
And, you know, after a couple ofyears, I said, I think I, you
know, I think clinical is alittle bit more of my path and
what I'm gravitating towards.
So I'm really glad I pursuedguidance counseling first and I
was able to get into thatacademic setting because now I'm
(21:03):
like, okay, like now mydecision's made.
Like I made the wrong one andthat's okay.
But now I'm able to go the routethat I was always kind of like,
am I sure I want to go overhere?
Like I think I want to go thisway, and now I am.
And like I said, I haven't feltmore like myself and so
comfortable in an environmentthan I think ever.
So it's it's been really greatso far.
(21:25):
I'm in like the I'm in the lastkind of leg of my program in my
internship right now, you know,the clinical hours and like all
of those things.
So I'm doing that.
I was at a dance competitionthis weekend because I'm also a
dance teacher.
So I got a dance competition allweek, but also doing like my
homework and my clinicaljournals like during breaks and
like at awards.
(21:45):
So I mean, you get it.
It's been busy, it's a reallybusy route to take, but I I love
it.
I wouldn't trade it foranything.
SPEAKER_00 (21:52):
Absolutely.
And I love that you've I mean,with teaching dance, you're able
to incorporate all the thingslike all of your journeys in
one, working with kids anddancing, and then you're
allowing yourself the space toexplore a new chapter, and I
think that's such a beautifulway to do it.
It's being able to hold on,figure out what it looks like in
(22:14):
your life to maintain it, andallowing it to still be this
thing that excites you andinterests you and breaks up a
lot of the monotony of clinicalwork.
SPEAKER_01 (22:25):
Yes, yes, exactly.
It's giving me purpose in abunch of different places and a
bunch of different settings.
I've really come to find outthat dance and mental health,
they go, they go hand in hand,especially high competitive
dance and just like even workingon like mental blocks with my
students and hearing the thingsthat they're saying, and I'm
(22:45):
able to kind of like reflectback and see, I'm like, ooh,
like I used to say this as a kidor while I was on the team, and
I'm like, I see so much ofmyself and all of the kids that
I teach, whether they're eightyears old or 18 years old, and
the way that they go hand inhand and the way that I'm able
to incorporate the things that Iknow and the things that I
(23:06):
learned within my classeswithout being like, this is a
therapy session.
You know what I mean?
Like it, it really is sointeresting to observe and put
yourself in after you've livedit and now understand it.
Because when I was living it, Ididn't get it.
I'm like, oh, like I'm justafraid of the pressure.
Like I just have mental blocksbecause I fell on this one
thing.
It's like, oh no, it likecognitively set you back.
(23:29):
It is really cool to be able tokind of mesh the two and excel
in both areas.
But yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (23:36):
What's your vision for clinical mental health work?
SPEAKER_01 (23:41):
My vision, I think I eventually want to go into
either like sports counseling tosome degree.
I mean, this is like kind of along shot, but I envision having
an office, but then also havinga dance studio kind of off of
it.
So if I'm working with like adance client, like we can do
(24:01):
half hour of like one-on-one andthen go do like mental block
work, like it just likesomething like that.
Like I can kind of, but I thinkof even, you know, kids who get
a full boat scholarship and thenthey end up getting like a DUI,
or there's a baseball playerthat, you know, gets like Tommy
John and he can't play baseballanymore.
Like I think of all of theidentity stuff that gets ripped
(24:23):
away from not just dancers, butit just athletes in general and
how much can change.
And I mean, if you get yourscholarship taken away and
you're not allowed to playanymore, like that happens
overnight.
And then, and then what?
Like you're just a like abusiness major?
Like you, like you're at theschool because you got a full
ride.
So, like I look at all thethings like that, or even
(24:44):
professionals who like getinjured on the team and they
can't play anymore, or they gettraded, or they're all of a
sudden just like a free agent.
Like, that's how I see myselfbecause I want to be someone
that can counsel them from aplace of saying, I understand
what you're saying.
But then I also, I don't know, Ifeel like I have so many ideas,
but that's like kind of the mainroute that I want to go.
(25:06):
Another route that I wouldreally want to go in is being
the mental health program forNFL and NBA dance and chair
teams because I think of theresources that we had.
We had a personal trainer, wehad a nutritionist, a lot of
other teams have those sameresources as well, but there was
never any mental health offeredto us, and it's so important.
(25:27):
And I would love to end up beinglike a professional program for
teams and even college danceteams.
I mean, they're prepping forthat type of stuff.
So um there's a lot ofopportunity.
I'm just not exactly sure whichone I want to go with yet.
SPEAKER_00 (25:42):
So and that's I mean, that's the beauty of this
field, is like you don't have toknow, and it gets to continue to
evolve.
And I I mean, hearing you talkabout it, I feel the excitement,
and so I have no doubt that youare going to be able to execute
whatever like route you chooseto go.
(26:03):
And I'm so excited for you.
SPEAKER_01 (26:06):
Thank you.
I appreciate that.
SPEAKER_00 (26:08):
So tell us about the sideline project.
SPEAKER_01 (26:10):
Ah, yes.
So I've had this idea in my headfor quite some time, and I was
just kind of looking for theright way to launch it or make
it happen.
And so I launched it on the wayhome from a road trip with my
boyfriend from Florida on like arandom, I think it was like a
random Sunday, and I was like,you know what?
(26:31):
I don't really have any plans,I'm just gonna go for it.
I create a project sideline formen and women who are interested
in auditioning for NFL and NBAteams.
Right now, that's the niche, butI plan to branch out, and it's a
mentorship, a one-on-onementorship for men and women who
want to audition, but who alsoreally want to find the balance
of mental health and how it canimpact their performance.
(26:54):
So I've I've been really luckyto work with some amazing people
so far because I launched itlike right before audition
season, which was unintentional,honestly.
I didn't even really think aboutthat.
I was like, I just want to do itright now.
And then in a couple months,people were like, I'm
auditioning, I need some help.
But I kind of just I navigate itthrough like kind of a
(27:16):
week-to-week process, and I docheck-in calls or I'll do like
dance privates.
It's really depending on theperson.
I see that there's so manytraining programs out there that
are just giving them what theygive everybody else.
And it's like, well, what thisperson needs is not necessarily
what this person needs.
And their lack of confidence orsomething along those lines can
(27:39):
stem from so many differentareas.
So you can't just hand someone aprogram and be like, this is
gonna get you to where you needto go.
And I've been seeing so much ofthat with, you know, without
experience and without knowledgeand without depth of really what
the industry brings.
So I was like, I know that Ihave a lot of those tools and a
(28:00):
lot of that knowledge because Iwas in it for a long time and I
also put myself really throughthe ringer while I was there.
So that's what I'm doing rightnow.
It's still very early.
So kind of working out like thelittle kinks here and there of
what works and what doesn't.
But it's been working because Ifeel like I'm just catering it
to whoever comes to me.
(28:20):
I tell them right when I likeboard them on with me, is that
I'm not gonna hand you apamphlet and tell you to follow
this.
We're gonna talk it out for acouple of weeks and now we're
gonna identify what you need,and then I'll start giving you
resources.
So I feel like it's been prettysuccessful so far, and we'll see
where it goes.
(28:40):
If I was auditioning back thenand I was able to have a mentor,
you know, to kind of guide methrough not just what you need
to be a successful dancer, butwhat you need to be a successful
human in the dance industry, Iwould have grabbed it in a
second because she sure neededit.
SPEAKER_00 (28:59):
Is there a way that people can support or get
involved?
SPEAKER_01 (29:03):
Yeah.
So I do have an Instagramaccount for it.
It's project sidelineunderscore.
And then I also have a TikTok,it's the same project sideline
underscore.
So I'm there was a little pauseon content that I just had from,
you know, I was just at a dancecompetition with my students and
school transitions and thingslike that.
I just moved, but I'm reallystarting to amplify it again.
I have a ton of ideas.
(29:24):
That's really the main likesource of knowledge and stuff
that I have right now.
But hopefully want to have awebsite within a couple of
months or a couple of notmonths, a couple of weeks.
I have a lot of ideas.
So yeah, if you just want tolike follow my socials, that'd
be cool.
But that's really a good idea.
SPEAKER_00 (29:39):
Absolutely.
Everything will be linked in theshow notes for people to uh
check it out, follow along,reach out if they're interested.
Hannah, this was such an amazingconversation.
I think so many people canrelate to just transitions and
shifting into new roles, newidentities, and finding ways.
(30:00):
To maintain the past becausethat also makes us who we are
today.
As a closing question for all ofmy guests, I'm asking, what is
your commitment to yourself for2025?
SPEAKER_01 (30:12):
Oof, what is my commitment to myself for 2025?
I think my commitment to myselfwould be just giving myself a
little bit more understandingwhen my structure doesn't always
happen the way that I want it tohappen.
And I'm I'm such a perfectionistand I want things to go as
(30:34):
planned, and I'm really hard onmyself when it doesn't, even if
it's not in my control.
So I think my commitment is justallowing myself to navigate
those tougher areas, but getback to it slowly and understand
that I have the ability to getback to it when it's not always
the way that I had planned it tobe.
SPEAKER_00 (30:56):
That is a word I could even take a note from that
as well.
Thank you so much again forjoining me.
SPEAKER_01 (31:04):
Thank you for having me.
This is awesome.
Are you sitting with thousands of hours of b-roll
(00:02):
content and telling yourself,I'll start posting tomorrow?
Are you in your head worriedabout your friends and family
thinking your friends werechoosing to be visible?
Are you chasing trends insteadof building influence?
Welcome to the VisibilityStandard, where the visionaries
of today are changing the rolesof their industries and letting
their voice be heard.
I'm your host, Jasmine, and weare setting the standard.
(00:42):
She also has a nonprofit, TheSideline Projects.
And so I'm so excited to sharemore of her story here, how she
got into mental health, how shepivoted.
So Hannah, thank you so much forjoining me today.
SPEAKER_01 (00:57):
Thank you for having me.
I'm happy to be here.
SPEAKER_00 (01:00):
So you started off as a cheerleader.
SPEAKER_01 (01:03):
I did.
Yep.
I made the team when I was 19years old.
It was about two years incollege and then two years out
of college by the time I wasdone.
So I was a full-time studentstudying psych.
So I was always interested inthe mental health field, but I
was also a competitive dancer mywhole life.
And I wanted to try to find abalance of like how can I pursue
(01:24):
the thing I've been working onfor so long and my passion and
still keep that going, but alsobeing able to pursue my
education for when I can't danceanymore because, you know, our
bodies aren't going to lastforever, especially, you know,
in like intense work like that.
So that really gave me theability to do both.
I mean, it was not easy, that'sfor sure, but I was able to do
(01:46):
both and set myself up forsuccess when I was done in the
NFL.
So that's how it all happened.
SPEAKER_00 (01:53):
I love that.
It's like forward planning,forward thinking, but also
allowing yourself to explore apassion that not a lot of people
like experience.
We see it on TV, we hear aboutit, and we know of like the
cheerleading side of football,but we never really get to hear
(02:15):
like a story from somebody inthat space, or it's not really
highlighted within media.
So what was it like to be inthat environment?
SPEAKER_01 (02:26):
It was a lot, and a lot of it isn't a lot of it
isn't highlighted because I'msure, you know, a lot of what
people see on media, there's notreally there's a lot of
positive, you know, things aboutbeing in there.
Like it's one of the bestchapters of my life, and I can't
talk as positively about it.
I love it.
Um, but like every job, there'snegatives and you know, what you
(02:48):
see on TV with like the bodyimage issues and the heightened
anxiety of trying to fit thisrole because if you don't fit
the role, then your dream getssnatched out from underneath
you.
So, like that pressure to be andact and present yourself as
exactly as the organizationwants you to be, it's really
(03:08):
stressful.
And it's not only you, but it'sall of the people surrounding
you that are also on the teamthat have this pressure on them.
So it's almost like you're, Ilike I call it like the
cheerleader bubble.
And we're in like this littlebubble, and then there's this
outside world, and what we dohere is so normal, and like we
don't realize how different andodd the things that we consider
(03:32):
to be normal are.
But if there's an outside personlooking in, they're like, what
the heck are they doing?
And why do they think this isnormal?
So the environment, like I said,it has its positives and
negatives.
But when I reflect on it now asa grown woman, because I was so
young when I was on the team, Ilook at it now and I just wish I
(03:53):
was able to see and do things alittle bit differently to
maintain my mental health and myphysical health and my
well-being, because I always saythat it takes a, it takes a lot
much more time to get yourselfout of the hole that you dug
yourself into.
Um so it took a while to kind ofrecover mentally and physically
(04:13):
from the intensity of thoseenvironments.
But again, would I do it allover again?
Probably not.
But I'm really thankful foreverything that I experienced
and learned because I took somuch with me now as a woman, and
I learned so many things on theteam that I apply to my everyday
life.
So it really is just a balanceand yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (04:37):
Yeah.
What would you say was the mostimpactful lesson that you
learned while being acheerleader?
SPEAKER_01 (04:43):
Oof, that's a heavy question.
There's so many lessons.
I guess I could do like aprofessional one and maybe a
personal one.
Professionally, I learnedeverything that you need to know
to be a functioning adult in aprofessional environment.
So, like I said, I was 19, so Ididn't know anything about
professionalism.
So I learned how to public speakand I learned time management
(05:05):
and organization and how tonetwork myself and how to
represent myself as aprofessional as well as like a
top-tier organization.
Because when I was cheering,that's when they were winning.
Luckily, I know they're notreally doing that so much now,
but when I was there, they weretop-notch and we were
unbeatable.
So we had to represent thembecause we were constantly in
(05:28):
the spotlight.
So just being able to maintainthat role to the best of my
ability, I learned so manythings about myself as a
professional and as a youngwoman and maturity.
Cause I mean, I grew up with asingle mom and she helped me do
everything and she loved helpingme do everything.
You know, we didn't have much,but she would do anything and
(05:50):
everything to get me to where Iwanted to go.
So being able to rely on myselfwas really difficult.
So that's definitely the biggestlesson I learned professionally.
And then the biggest lesson Ilearned personally, I think it
was really just like at the endof the day, a job is a job no
matter what it is.
And if you and if you don'tmaintain who you are within that
(06:15):
job, it's going to carry outlater because I was not going to
be an NFL cheerleader forever.
I knew that.
Probably not going to be acounselor forever or in this
environment.
I'm going to do other thingsbecause I am pursuing my LMHC.
So I'm going to be in a moreclinical, you know, setting.
Um, so you know, I knew thatwasn't going to last forever,
but I treated myself as if itwas.
(06:37):
And I I treated my personal lifeas if I would like I carried
what I was supposed to be as anNFL cheerleader into my personal
life, and I wasn't able to findthat balance.
I think the biggest lesson isthat like you have to be able to
separate the two.
And if you don't, there's gonnabe some pretty heavy overlaps
(06:58):
that can be detrimental to yourhealth and your well-being.
SPEAKER_00 (07:01):
Oh my goodness.
What you just spoke to is theimportance of maintaining your
own identity essentially and notallowing your work to consume
that.
And that is so important even inthe mental health field.
I think so many of us identifyas our jobs or our roles or the
(07:22):
populations that we serve or howmany clients we have on our
caseload, outcomes that we'reable to accomplish.
And we tie that so much to ouridentity and our self-worth.
And it is truly so detrimental.
And I think it's one of thehugest contributors to burnout.
And so I love that you bringthat point up, and I think
(07:45):
that's a perfect segue intotalking about your mental health
journey, like getting into thiswork.
And it sounds like you were ableto really learn a critical
lesson very early on.
SPEAKER_01 (07:57):
Yes, very early on.
And I mean, I wish I realized itsooner, but I think the
intensity of kind of losing myown personal identity.
I'm a competitive person.
So I was I was my biggestcompetitor.
So I was like, not only do Iwant to be on the team, but I
want to be a captain.
I want to go to Pro Bowl.
I want to, I want to accomplisheverything you can.
So I engulfed myself in thatidentity.
(08:19):
And I mean, like I said, I was19.
And those, I feel like 19 to 23,which was how old I was on the
team, those are prime years oflike cognitive development,
figuring out what you like, whatyou don't like, what your
genuine interests are, breakingout of your small town like
norms and really branching off.
And I didn't really have theability to do that.
(08:41):
I mean, I did, but I didn't.
So I think I wish I had learnedthat lesson early on.
But I mean, like, you know whatthey say, everything happens for
a reason, and like you gothrough stages of life to learn
certain lessons, and it took mea little bit longer, but I think
as far as timeline goes, Iwouldn't have changed a thing.
And I'm happy to, you know,understand the things that I
(09:02):
know now.
SPEAKER_00 (09:03):
Yeah.
19, I mean, gosh, at 19, wefirmly believe that where we are
is where we are going to be.
And it's so hard to see outsideof that bubble.
We're curating like thisenvironment and making it so
much of who we are.
And 19 is also just the agewhere we begin to learn who we
(09:25):
are in the world.
SPEAKER_01 (09:26):
Yes, exactly.
And I always think to myself,too, like, not only am I
engulfing this identity thatsomeone else wants me to be,
like, I'm changing my hair colorbecause someone because a person
told me to change it.
I'm losing weight becausesomeone told me to change it.
But on top of that, Instagramcame out in 2014.
So the first post I ever postedwas in my NFL cheerleader
(09:48):
uniform.
I was like at a promotionalappearance.
So even online, as an onlinepresence, I had never been
anything else except for an NFLcheerleader.
That is the identity that Ibuilt for others to see me.
So now as a 31-year-old woman,you know, I'm going out to like,
you know, a restaurant or a baror something like in my
(10:09):
hometown.
And I'll have people come up andbe like, Were you able to meet
the players?
And it's like, oh girl, likethis was 10 years ago.
But I also like that's theidentity that I carried, but I
also built and no one has everseen other than just NFL
cheerleading.
So it's like, I want to carrythis to represent myself and
(10:30):
it's what I love.
But now it's also I can't breakout of this because no one else
has seen me as just Hannah.
And it was really difficult.
And when you're 19, 20, 21, likethat external validation, like
you crave it, you know, you wantto fit in, you want community.
And so I think the combinationof that natural like need and
(10:52):
like want for externalvalidation, and then being in
the spotlight, and then alsoInstagram coming out, it was
just like a recipe for disasterfor me.
It's not everybody, but fittingin and community was something
that I really struggled with.
Like I was never bullied oranything to a large extent in
school, but I never really likeI didn't get invited to parties.
(11:15):
Like, I wasn't cool, you knowwhat I mean?
So I think like finally I havethis spotlight, and I was like,
oh my gosh.
So like that validation reallymessed with me a little bit for
sure.
SPEAKER_00 (11:26):
I mean, when I hear that, I just hear a lot of
pressure because the average19-year-old is like, okay, well,
what's my major?
What clubs am I gonna join incollege, or what trade am I
gonna do?
Like your experience is sounique at such a critical age,
and especially if you didn'tgrow up popular, if you didn't,
(11:48):
especially if you didn't havelike those typical high school
experiences that we see on TV.
It's like you're in a prime likeopportunity to literally like
experience a once-in-a-lifetime,like fame, and in some sense,
like notoriety, visibility, likeall of that at such a young age.
(12:12):
I'm thinking of like the19-year-old brain, it's like
it's a lot of pressure, that's alot of like self-image work,
that's a lot of identity work,and that's a lot of I mean, how
you blend in with yoursurrounding.
It's like so much happening atonce.
SPEAKER_01 (12:29):
Yeah, all at once.
And you even mentioned trying tofigure out your major or your
trade or, you know, like whatyou want to pursue at that age
because you're breaking out of,you know, what you learned in
high school.
A counselor that I know actuallymade a really good point.
Like, from the time you're bornuntil the time that you're 18,
you are following the timelineof not only yourself and like
(12:49):
what your parents or yourguardians like expect, but also
everyone around you.
You're all in the same timeline.
You're learning the same things,you're moving at the same pace.
And dance was my whole life.
So then by the time I got tocollege, dance was my major.
And I love my mom, mom, ifyou're watching this, I love you
so much.
Her and I have already talkedabout this, but I had a crazy
dance mom.
She was nuts, and she wanted meto dance so badly too.
(13:10):
So I knew I always wanted to dopsychology, but I went into
college as a dance major becauseI had this little extra pressure
to continue that identity, whichI already knew.
I'm already starting to fadeaway from the dancer that I've
always been.
So I did that for a year, andthe mental pressure of trying to
(13:32):
fulfill my needs and what I wantfor my future, and trying to
fulfill someone else's was sodifficult.
And even just letting go andletting myself choose to pursue
psychology, that in itself, Iwas 19 when I chose to break off
of my dance major route and gopsychology.
And then I make the team.
So now I make this likehigh-caliber dance team, but I'm
(13:53):
also letting go of it.
And it's like I think of it nowand I was like, my poor little
brain, like, what did I put herthrough?
SPEAKER_00 (14:00):
Well, you're literally like shedding the old
self and stepping into the newat the same time, and then not
even really shedding the oldself because you are now in the
environment of the dancer atsuch an intense rate.
And so it's like, oh, I'mholding on to this whole old
identity for a little bit whileI'm exploring the new identity.
(14:21):
And honestly, I think a lot ofus don't give ourselves
permission to do that.
I think when we have the newidentity, we feel this pressure
to try and embody it and live itout.
And uh the conflict, theinternal conflict that you're
discussing right now, I think isthe reality of a lot of it is
I'm still in this old space, oldidentity, old patterns, and I am
(14:47):
only figuring out what thisnewness looks like for me.
SPEAKER_01 (14:51):
Yes, yes.
I I couldn't have explained thatbetter myself, like stepping
into the new identity andletting go of the old one.
That external pressure of havingto have it figured out so early
on and needing to know yourroute.
Like, I can't even tell you howmany times I have my students
coming into my office and theytell me, you know, like my goal
(15:12):
is to make 100k a year by thetime I graduate college, or, you
know, like I want to do this andlike this is my route and this
is what I want to do.
I counseled a student, theywanted to go into finance
because they knew that the moneywas the best route or like
option for them, and that wasthe biggest like stability that
they could find.
But their heart was saying thatthey wanted to be a couples
(15:32):
counselor because they come froma divorced family.
And that is what, you know, whatthat's what their passion was.
That's what fueled them.
But they're choosing like thisis my safe option.
Like, I'm gonna choose this andI'm gonna hold on to it because
that's what I should be doing.
I have to have it all figuredout before 30, like all of those
things.
(15:53):
So you're totally right by likehaving to hold on to that
identity and the pressure oflike not giving yourself
permission to let it go.
And I think that's another one,one of the biggest lessons I
learned is that as difficult asit was to step into a bunch of
different identities, becauseeven after NFL cheerleading,
like I I made some crazydecisions, but I was I always
(16:17):
allowed myself to do itregardless of how difficult it
was going to be.
It's been a journey for sure.
So definitely.
SPEAKER_00 (16:26):
What is it like for you now in terms of perception?
Do people still see you as acheerleader?
Do you still find yourselfhaving to continue amplifying
that new voice?
What is it like?
SPEAKER_01 (16:40):
I definitely feel like I still have to amplify it
a little bit.
And I've just recently startedto be okay with showing up as
more authentic on like socialmedia and on TikTok and stuff,
because I got I gained a not abig following in comparison to
like the Alex Earls of theworld, but I gained a following
pretty early without reallytrying.
(17:03):
Like when things could go viraleasily, like back in like 2016,
2017, it kind of just stayedthere.
And I've been really afraid toshow up as just like this with
just my hair up or you know,just like being silly and
whatever.
But there was also a part of mewhere I'm like, I'm not getting
any views or anything like thatunless I'm talking about NFL
(17:23):
cheerleading.
Like I posted something theother day, and I think it was
like one of those littlequestion things on Instagram
asking people like, what type ofvideos?
Do you like long form content?
Do you like voiceovers?
And I had a person say, Okay, Ineed to know, is your experience
in the NFL the same as whatwe're watching on DCC making the
team?
And I was like, I'm asking ifyou like long form content.
(17:47):
That's not even what I wasasking.
It's like sometimes it's almostlike people find like gateways.
And like there was even this onetime I remember I was like out
at like a just like a small bar,like in my hometown.
Like everyone knows everyone.
And I didn't know this person,but they started chatting with
me and they were like, So, like,did you do any sports in high
(18:07):
school?
Like, were you a cheerleader oranything?
And I was like, Okay, so youclearly know this piece of
information about me, and you'retrying to find ways to get me to
talk about it.
So it's like it, I do feel likeI don't think I'll ever be fully
detached.
But it's I'm also okay with thatbecause it is a really large
(18:28):
part of my identity now, likenot necessarily the sparkly
uniform and the pom-poms, butthe things that I learned and
the things that I was able toovercome from that time period
is who I am now.
But again, like the balance oflike, can I just talk about
something else sometimes?
You know what I mean?
I think that's really it.
I guess like long story, butyeah.
SPEAKER_00 (18:50):
Yeah, I mean that totally makes sense.
You have a public image that'salready been created, and you
are essentially working to morphthose two identities together,
and that doesn't happenovernight.
And I I think even when peopleshift their content, even the
(19:13):
average person when they shifttheir content, people have an
expectation.
Oh, you used to talk aboutcheerleading and you talk used
to talk about sports, and nowyou're talking about business
and finance, and it's like,wait, you just switched up on
me.
And yeah, I think that is thereality of growth too, though.
(19:34):
I think that we get to giveourselves permission to say, I'm
gonna show up, and the peoplethat want to stay and see it
will stay and see it.
And then the authentic, alignedcommunity starts to grow from
there.
Um, but now you're transitioninginto clinical mental health.
(19:55):
So what has that journey beenlike?
SPEAKER_01 (19:59):
It I've never felt more like myself than I have
pursuing this, you know, career.
I've I told myself, I think Iwas 11 years old, that like I
knew I wanted to be a counselorto some capacity.
And I I thought that being in aschool setting was my dream and
(20:20):
my goal.
I idolized my middle schoolguidance counselor, Mrs.
Graves.
I like I credit her to anythingthat I ever loved about just
like community and doing thingsfor people, and like she just
handled things so gracefully.
So I idolized her at a veryyoung age, and I thought that
school setting was like mydream, summers off, like you
(20:41):
love it.
And I've been doing it for a fewyears, and I was kind of always
back and forth between clinicaland academic.
And, you know, after a couple ofyears, I said, I think I, you
know, I think clinical is alittle bit more of my path and
what I'm gravitating towards.
So I'm really glad I pursuedguidance counseling first and I
was able to get into thatacademic setting because now I'm
(21:03):
like, okay, like now mydecision's made.
Like I made the wrong one andthat's okay.
But now I'm able to go the routethat I was always kind of like,
am I sure I want to go overhere?
Like I think I want to go thisway, and now I am.
And like I said, I haven't feltmore like myself and so
comfortable in an environmentthan I think ever.
So it's it's been really greatso far.
(21:25):
I'm in like the I'm in the lastkind of leg of my program in my
internship right now, you know,the clinical hours and like all
of those things.
So I'm doing that.
I was at a dance competitionthis weekend because I'm also a
dance teacher.
So I got a dance competition allweek, but also doing like my
homework and my clinicaljournals like during breaks and
like at awards.
(21:45):
So I mean, you get it.
It's been busy, it's a reallybusy route to take, but I I love
it.
I wouldn't trade it foranything.
SPEAKER_00 (21:52):
Absolutely.
And I love that you've I mean,with teaching dance, you're able
to incorporate all the thingslike all of your journeys in
one, working with kids anddancing, and then you're
allowing yourself the space toexplore a new chapter, and I
think that's such a beautifulway to do it.
It's being able to hold on,figure out what it looks like in
(22:14):
your life to maintain it, andallowing it to still be this
thing that excites you andinterests you and breaks up a
lot of the monotony of clinicalwork.
SPEAKER_01 (22:25):
Yes, yes, exactly.
It's giving me purpose in abunch of different places and a
bunch of different settings.
I've really come to find outthat dance and mental health,
they go, they go hand in hand,especially high competitive
dance and just like even workingon like mental blocks with my
students and hearing the thingsthat they're saying, and I'm
(22:45):
able to kind of like reflectback and see, I'm like, ooh,
like I used to say this as a kidor while I was on the team, and
I'm like, I see so much ofmyself and all of the kids that
I teach, whether they're eightyears old or 18 years old, and
the way that they go hand inhand and the way that I'm able
to incorporate the things that Iknow and the things that I
(23:06):
learned within my classeswithout being like, this is a
therapy session.
You know what I mean?
Like it, it really is sointeresting to observe and put
yourself in after you've livedit and now understand it.
Because when I was living it, Ididn't get it.
I'm like, oh, like I'm justafraid of the pressure.
Like I just have mental blocksbecause I fell on this one
thing.
It's like, oh no, it likecognitively set you back.
(23:29):
It is really cool to be able tokind of mesh the two and excel
in both areas.
But yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (23:36):
What's your vision for clinical mental health work?
SPEAKER_01 (23:41):
My vision, I think I eventually want to go into
either like sports counseling tosome degree.
I mean, this is like kind of along shot, but I envision having
an office, but then also havinga dance studio kind of off of
it.
So if I'm working with like adance client, like we can do
(24:01):
half hour of like one-on-one andthen go do like mental block
work, like it just likesomething like that.
Like I can kind of, but I thinkof even, you know, kids who get
a full boat scholarship and thenthey end up getting like a DUI,
or there's a baseball playerthat, you know, gets like Tommy
John and he can't play baseballanymore.
Like I think of all of theidentity stuff that gets ripped
(24:23):
away from not just dancers, butit just athletes in general and
how much can change.
And I mean, if you get yourscholarship taken away and
you're not allowed to playanymore, like that happens
overnight.
And then, and then what?
Like you're just a like abusiness major?
Like you, like you're at theschool because you got a full
ride.
So, like I look at all thethings like that, or even
(24:44):
professionals who like getinjured on the team and they
can't play anymore, or they gettraded, or they're all of a
sudden just like a free agent.
Like, that's how I see myselfbecause I want to be someone
that can counsel them from aplace of saying, I understand
what you're saying.
But then I also, I don't know, Ifeel like I have so many ideas,
but that's like kind of the mainroute that I want to go.
(25:06):
Another route that I wouldreally want to go in is being
the mental health program forNFL and NBA dance and chair
teams because I think of theresources that we had.
We had a personal trainer, wehad a nutritionist, a lot of
other teams have those sameresources as well, but there was
never any mental health offeredto us, and it's so important.
(25:27):
And I would love to end up beinglike a professional program for
teams and even college danceteams.
I mean, they're prepping forthat type of stuff.
So um there's a lot ofopportunity.
I'm just not exactly sure whichone I want to go with yet.
SPEAKER_00 (25:42):
So and that's I mean, that's the beauty of this
field, is like you don't have toknow, and it gets to continue to
evolve.
And I I mean, hearing you talkabout it, I feel the excitement,
and so I have no doubt that youare going to be able to execute
whatever like route you chooseto go.
(26:03):
And I'm so excited for you.
SPEAKER_01 (26:06):
Thank you.
I appreciate that.
SPEAKER_00 (26:08):
So tell us about the sideline project.
SPEAKER_01 (26:10):
Ah, yes.
So I've had this idea in my headfor quite some time, and I was
just kind of looking for theright way to launch it or make
it happen.
And so I launched it on the wayhome from a road trip with my
boyfriend from Florida on like arandom, I think it was like a
random Sunday, and I was like,you know what?
(26:31):
I don't really have any plans,I'm just gonna go for it.
I create a project sideline formen and women who are interested
in auditioning for NFL and NBAteams.
Right now, that's the niche, butI plan to branch out, and it's a
mentorship, a one-on-onementorship for men and women who
want to audition, but who alsoreally want to find the balance
of mental health and how it canimpact their performance.
(26:54):
So I've I've been really luckyto work with some amazing people
so far because I launched itlike right before audition
season, which was unintentional,honestly.
I didn't even really think aboutthat.
I was like, I just want to do itright now.
And then in a couple months,people were like, I'm
auditioning, I need some help.
But I kind of just I navigate itthrough like kind of a
(27:16):
week-to-week process, and I docheck-in calls or I'll do like
dance privates.
It's really depending on theperson.
I see that there's so manytraining programs out there that
are just giving them what theygive everybody else.
And it's like, well, what thisperson needs is not necessarily
what this person needs.
And their lack of confidence orsomething along those lines can
(27:39):
stem from so many differentareas.
So you can't just hand someone aprogram and be like, this is
gonna get you to where you needto go.
And I've been seeing so much ofthat with, you know, without
experience and without knowledgeand without depth of really what
the industry brings.
So I was like, I know that Ihave a lot of those tools and a
(28:00):
lot of that knowledge because Iwas in it for a long time and I
also put myself really throughthe ringer while I was there.
So that's what I'm doing rightnow.
It's still very early.
So kind of working out like thelittle kinks here and there of
what works and what doesn't.
But it's been working because Ifeel like I'm just catering it
to whoever comes to me.
(28:20):
I tell them right when I likeboard them on with me, is that
I'm not gonna hand you apamphlet and tell you to follow
this.
We're gonna talk it out for acouple of weeks and now we're
gonna identify what you need,and then I'll start giving you
resources.
So I feel like it's been prettysuccessful so far, and we'll see
where it goes.
(28:40):
If I was auditioning back thenand I was able to have a mentor,
you know, to kind of guide methrough not just what you need
to be a successful dancer, butwhat you need to be a successful
human in the dance industry, Iwould have grabbed it in a
second because she sure neededit.
SPEAKER_00 (28:59):
Is there a way that people can support or get
involved?
SPEAKER_01 (29:03):
Yeah.
So I do have an Instagramaccount for it.
It's project sidelineunderscore.
And then I also have a TikTok,it's the same project sideline
underscore.
So I'm there was a little pauseon content that I just had from,
you know, I was just at a dancecompetition with my students and
school transitions and thingslike that.
I just moved, but I'm reallystarting to amplify it again.
I have a ton of ideas.
(29:24):
That's really the main likesource of knowledge and stuff
that I have right now.
But hopefully want to have awebsite within a couple of
months or a couple of notmonths, a couple of weeks.
I have a lot of ideas.
So yeah, if you just want tolike follow my socials, that'd
be cool.
But that's really a good idea.
SPEAKER_00 (29:39):
Absolutely.
Everything will be linked in theshow notes for people to uh
check it out, follow along,reach out if they're interested.
Hannah, this was such an amazingconversation.
I think so many people canrelate to just transitions and
shifting into new roles, newidentities, and finding ways.
(30:00):
To maintain the past becausethat also makes us who we are
today.
As a closing question for all ofmy guests, I'm asking, what is
your commitment to yourself for2025?
SPEAKER_01 (30:12):
Oof, what is my commitment to myself for 2025?
I think my commitment to myselfwould be just giving myself a
little bit more understandingwhen my structure doesn't always
happen the way that I want it tohappen.
And I'm I'm such a perfectionistand I want things to go as
(30:34):
planned, and I'm really hard onmyself when it doesn't, even if
it's not in my control.
So I think my commitment is justallowing myself to navigate
those tougher areas, but getback to it slowly and understand
that I have the ability to getback to it when it's not always
the way that I had planned it tobe.
SPEAKER_00 (30:56):
That is a word I could even take a note from that
as well.
Thank you so much again forjoining me.
SPEAKER_01 (31:04):
Thank you for having me.
This is awesome.
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