After the Gold

Susie Smithmyer-Kocan

What happens when the thing that defined you…ends? After the Gold is a podcast about identity, achievement, and the messy process of figuring out who you are when the thing you built your life around is no longer your whole life. Hosted by former elite athlete Susie Smithmyer-Kocan, each episode explores what happens after the medals, performances, titles, careers, and expectations—with honest conversations about success, burnout, purpose, nostalgia, and reinvention. Because maybe we should talk more about what happens after the gold.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    When the Applause Fades: The Psychology Behind Achievement

    What happens when you spend your childhood chasing extraordinary things, only to grow up and discover that everyday life feels a little… underwhelming? In this episode of After the Gold, we’re exploring the psychology behind achievement, identity, and the strange adjustment that comes with trading competition, recognition, and constant milestones for the quieter realities of adulthood. From winning a silver medal at the World Championships to wondering why buying toilet paper doesn’t feel nearly as exciting, I’m sharing personal stories alongside the psychology of athletic identity, self-worth, imposter syndrome, and our complicated relationships with success. It’s a conversation about the emotional aftermath of achievement, the expectations we carry into adulthood, and learning to find meaning in a life that no longer comes with medals, rankings, or a standing ovation.

  2. Oct 27

    From Gold Medals to Existential Crises

    At 22, I retired from competitive baton twirling, packed my bags, and moved to England to start a new chapter. Spoiler alert: adulthood was not what I expected. In Episode 2, we’re talking about moving abroad, finding purpose in teaching, eventually walking away from that career, and the messy reality of starting over (and over again). Because apparently, figuring out who you are is a lifelong project. 🫠

  3. Sep 17

    Who Are You When the Thing That Defined You Ends?

    What happens when the thing that shaped your entire identity suddenly ends? For me, that thing was baton twirling. From four to twenty-two, I knew exactly who I was, what I was working toward, and how success was measured. Then it ended—and regular adulthood hit me like a brick wall. In the first episode of After the Gold, I'm talking about what happens after the medals, rankings, performances, grades, titles, or achievements stop—and you're left trying to figure out who you are without them. Welcome to After the Gold: Stories Beyond Success.

  • 3 Episodes

About

What happens when the thing that defined you…ends? After the Gold is a podcast about identity, achievement, and the messy process of figuring out who you are when the thing you built your life around is no longer your whole life. Hosted by former elite athlete Susie Smithmyer-Kocan, each episode explores what happens after the medals, performances, titles, careers, and expectations—with honest conversations about success, burnout, purpose, nostalgia, and reinvention. Because maybe we should talk more about what happens after the gold.

Information

  • Creator
    Susie Smithmyer-Kocan
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Susie Smithmyer-Kocan
  • Show Website
    After the Gold