The Transition: A Podcast About Change

Ashley Henderson
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Weekly

WE ALL SHARE THIS ONE THING IN COMMON. Hosted by retired professional Track and Field athlete Ashley Henderson, explores the moments that change us and everything in between. Through honest conversations with athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, professionals, and everyday people. Exploring what happens when life doesn't go according to plan and how we navigate the space between who we were, who we are, and who we're becoming. Because sometimes we choose the transition and sometimes the transition chooses us. NEW EPISODES EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY!

Episodes

  1. Oct 28

    From Gymnastics to Track to Bobsled Olympian: Kaysha Love-Powell

    Ashley Henderson and Kaysha Love-Powell once raced against each other in the Mountain West Conference, but before Kaysha's sprinting days, she started in gymnastics at age 3, switched to track and field in high school, and sprinted at UNLV. At NCAA Nationals, right after her relay missed finals, Kaysha's coach told her she was in the wrong sport and should try bobsled. She went to a rookie camp in Lake Placid, and by her first race she felt like she'd been training for it for years.She went on to make the 2022 Winter Olympic team as a brakeman. Then she moved to pilot, finished dead last in her first North American Cup races, and nearly quit. She made her second Olympic team as a pilot and won the 2025 Monobob world title on her home track in Lake Placid.Kaysha and Ashley also talk about:1. How gymnastics, more than track, shaped her bobsled successIgnoring coaches who told her to wait until 20302. Who she is without the helmet, and how she's building a life outside sport3. Her work on the Salt Lake 2034 steering committee and her gymnastics coaching4. Living an 80/20 balance5. How Ashley knew she was done with trackThe episode ends with the question Ashley asks every guest: "My transition is teaching me…" And Kaysha’s answer truly captures the heart of this entire conversation. Kaysha's socials:https://www.instagram.com/kayshajlove/

  2. Oct 14

    Beyond the Scorecard: Blake Abercrombie

    Success in professional sports rarely follows a straight line. Blake Abercrombie joins Ashley Henderson for an honest conversation about the pressure, uncertainty, and mental demands of turning a college sport into a professional career. As San Diego State alumni and former collegiate athletes, Ashley and Blake compare the challenges of golf and track and field—from preparing for a defining performance to coping with setbacks and results that can feel tied to your identity. Blake shares what changed when he went pro: college had provided structure and support, while professional golf meant managing far more on his own. Together, they explore how to live with uncertainty, separate performance from self-worth, stay grounded through highs and lows, and keep going when the path ahead isn’t clear. Blake also reflects on learning to enjoy the process, surround himself with good people, and adapt as his goals and perspective evolve. Whether you’re an athlete facing your next transition or simply figuring out how to trust the process, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t need to have everything mapped out to keep building. Blake Abercrombie Socials:https://www.instagram.com/blakeabercrombie1/

    Beyond the Scorecard: Blake Abercrombie

  3. Oct 7

    Redefining the Finish Line: Deajah Stevens

    Deajah Stevens spent years being known for one thing: speed. But the more interesting story is what happened when she stepped away from the track, became a mother of two, and had to rebuild her identity from the inside out.In this powerful conversation with host Ashley Henderson, Deajah opens up about the pressure of going pro, the shock of making the Olympic team while still in college, and the breakdown that came when track stopped feeling fun. She shares the real reasons she walked away, the unexpected reset that changed everything, and why her return to sprinting feels less like a comeback and more like a breakthrough.You'll discover:How a year off after high school led to College of Sequoias and ultimately OregonWhat it was like going from collegiate standout to Olympian almost overnightWhy the move to LA, the whereabouts situation, and becoming a mom forced a hard resetHow she rebuilt trust with her body after pregnancy, childbirth, and years away from elite sprintingWhy success now looks like joy, small wins, and showing up without the old pressureAshley and Deajah also get honest about athlete identity, FOMO, motherhood, and the difference between chasing medals and choosing fulfillment. Deajah explains why she no longer compares herself to her younger self, how her coach helped her fall back in love with the sport, and why she believes this chapter is about resilience, not proving anything.This episode is for anyone navigating a major pivot, especially athletes, parents, and anyone wondering if they can start again after life changes them. Deajah's story is a reminder that stepping away does not mean the story is over. Sometimes it is exactly what makes the next chapter possible.Perfect for listeners who love comeback stories, honest conversations about identity, and reminders that growth is still possible after the spotlight shifts. Deajah's Social:https://www.instagram.com/deajah.ks/

    Redefining the Finish Line: Deajah Stevens

  4. Sep 30

    Athletics, Newsrooms, and Pageant Stages: Asia Smith

    What if the most painful shutdown of your career became the push that launched your next one? Ashley Henderson sits down with Asia Smith, a former San Diego State teammate turned Sports Director, broadcaster, and newly crowned Miss Kansas USA 2025, for a raw conversation about identity, reinvention, and refusing to stay stuck.Asia opens up about the moment COVID wiped out her biggest track-and-field opportunity, how a devastating injury in her final year at Florida forced her to rethink everything, and why leaving the familiar behind for a cross-country transfer changed her life. From competitive cheerleading to heptathlon, from the newsroom to the pageant stage, she shares how each chapter sharpened her confidence, discipline, and sense of purpose.You’ll discover:-How Asia went from cheerleading and high jump to becoming a Division I heptathlete-Why Florida pushed her to attack her weaknesses instead of hiding them-What it really took to move from athlete to broadcaster after an injury ended her final season-How pageantry taught her a completely different kind of confidence, branding, and presence-Why her platform, Girl Talk Game, is about mentoring young women who want to break into sports mediaAshley and Asia also unpack the mental toughness it takes to compete in the 800-meter race, perform under pressure on live TV, and keep showing up when the path keeps changing. If you’ve ever had to start over, outgrow an old version of yourself, or trust that a detour is actually direction, this conversation will hit home.Asia’s story is a reminder that transitions do not erase who you are—they reveal it. Essential listening for athletes, aspiring broadcasters, pageant fans, and anyone building a life across more than one dream.Asia's Social Handles: https://www.instagram.com/asiacymonetv/

    Athletics, Newsrooms, and Pageant Stages: Asia Smith

  5. Sep 23

    His Career, His Terms: Emmanuel Matadi

    He ran for Liberia at three Olympic Games, set a national record at 33, and still walked away on his own terms. Emmanuel Matadi, known to most as Matadi, breaks down the mindset, discipline, and resilience that carried him from a late start in Minnesota to the opening ceremony in Paris with Liberia’s flag in his hands.Ashley Henderson gets the real story behind the speed—from how a football practice race unlocked his track talent to why Rio, Tokyo, and Paris each marked a different version of who he was becoming. Matadi opens up about competing for a smaller nation, the pressure and pride of representing Liberia, and the moment he realized his impact was bigger than his own medals.You’ll hear how he ran 9.91 shortly before Paris, why recovery and rhythm became more important than grinding nonstop, and how the right coach-athlete chemistry with D2 helped extend his career. He also shares what changed when he stopped chasing just times and started building a future beyond the track.Ashley and Matadi also unpack the decision that made headlines—stepping into the Enhanced Games—and why he saw it as a separate chapter rather than a comeback. From modern enhancements and networking to the business side of sport, Matadi explains what drew him to the opportunity and why he’s focused now on ideas, not just competition.This conversation is also about legacy. Matadi reflects on what it means to inspire the next generation of Liberian athletes, why showing up matters, and how he helped open doors for Team Liberia’s visibility and brand partnerships. If you care about elite performance, reinvention, or what it really takes to choose your own transition, this one is essential listening.Featuring:Emmanuel Matadi — three-time Olympian, Liberian national record holder, and one of the country’s most recognizable sprinting figures, known for redefining what longevity and leadership can look like. Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/matadi/?hl=en

    His Career, His Terms: Emmanuel Matadi

  6. Sep 16

    Transitions She Chose & Transitions That Chose Her: Coach Mechelle Freeman

    What do you do when the relay baton drops, the career chapter ends unexpectedly, and you’re challenged to discover who you’re becoming next? Coach Mechelle Freeman has lived that question - and turned it into a playbook for winning, healing, and leading under pressure. Ashley Henderson sits down with the Olympian, world champion, former Team USA relay coach, and now athlete developer to trace the arc from “Fast Twins” in Prince George’s County to the University of South Carolina, the corporate world in New York, and back to the track in just nine months - all powered by faith, discipline, and a refusal to accept limits. Mechelle shares: -How a four-year break from the sport became the runway to a world championship team -What really happened in Beijing when Team USA’s women’s relay was disqualified, and how she carried her teammate off the track -Why relay success is about more than speed, including the three things she now measures: mark reading, acceleration patterns, and baton speed -The behind-the-scenes decision-making that helped shape Team USA’s relay system and challenge the “four fastest women” model -What it felt like to be let go after helping lead Team USA to Olympic gold, and why being "chosen" and how staying true to herself, grounded in faith, and trusting that she was "chosen" led her into her next chapter Ashley and Mechelle also get into the full-circle moments that defined her path - from Coca-Cola and athlete advisory work to coaching at the national level, to building the next generation through NSAF, the Nike Elite Program, and her nonprofit TrackGirlz. If you care about leadership, faith, resilience, women in sport, or the pressure of making high-stakes decisions when everything is on the line, this conversation will hit home. It is a sharp, honest look at how identity survives transition - and how the right system can turn potential into legacy. Perfect for anyone navigating change, rebuilding after disappointment, or learning how to lead without losing yourself. Mechelle Freeman's Socials:https://www.instagram.com/mechellelewisfreeman/https://www.instagram.com/trackgirlz/ Ashley Henderson's Socials: https://www.instagram.com/iamsimplyash/

    Transitions She Chose & Transitions That Chose Her: Coach Mechelle Freeman

  7. Sep 9

    Once an Olympian, always an Olympian: Teahna Daniels

    An Olympic silver medalist did not expect the hardest part of her career to begin after the podium. Teahna Daniels opens up about the brutal reality of walking away from elite track, rebuilding her identity, and learning how to make peace with a life that no longer revolves around the next race.Ashley Henderson sits down with Teahna Daniels, NCAA champion, U.S. champion, Olympian, and silver medalist, for a raw conversation about transition, pressure, grief, and what it really takes to move from athlete to everything that comes next. If you have ever wondered who you are without the title, this one will hit home.Teahna shares how she went from an eight-year-old with big Olympic dreams to making Team USA, navigating the jump from college to pro, and trying to hold onto her purpose when COVID, sponsorship changes, and personal loss forced a major reset. She also breaks down why the professional level demands a different kind of discipline, what she wishes younger athletes understood about money and support systems, and how rest became a non-negotiable part of her life.You’ll discover:-Why Teahna thought she would be in track for four Olympic cycles-How her junior year changed everything and made the sport feel real-The difference between collegiate and professional athletics-What it felt like to make the Olympic team after years of chasing it-Why stepping away from track created a deeper identity shift than she expectedAshley and Teahna also get into the overlooked side of athlete life: rebuilding after the structure disappears, finding new purpose, and learning to pursue opportunities without attaching your entire worth to performance. From yoga certification to coaching, mobility work, entrepreneurship, and even an attempted move into bobsled, Teahna shows what reinvention looks like when you refuse to stop growing.This episode matters if you’re an athlete, a former athlete, or anyone in the middle of a major life pivot. Teahna’s story is a reminder that the finish line is not the end of the story, and that patience, discipline, and self-trust are just as important as talent. Perfect for anyone figuring out what comes after success.Teahna Daniels is an Olympian, Olympic silver medalist, and former NCAA and U.S. champion sprinter from Orlando, Florida. She now coaches, trains athletes, and builds wellness-centered offerings, including yoga, mobility, and personal training through her work in Orlando. Teahna's Social Handle: https://www.instagram.com/_teahnad/

    Once an Olympian, always an Olympian: Teahna Daniels

  8. Sep 2

    Thriving Up The California Coast: Chimezie Ebiriekwe

    The version of you that gets comfortable is the version that gets left behind. Chimezie Ebiriekwe reveals how saying yes to uncomfortable rooms, unfamiliar cities, and unexpected opportunities took him from Inglewood and Carson to San Diego State student body vice president and president, then on to law school and a career in defense litigation. Ashley Henderson sits down with one of her longtime friends for a candid conversation about the transitions that shaped him, from growing up in a Nigerian community in Carson to arriving at San Diego State not knowing many people, stumbling into student government, and becoming a campus leader seen as a voice for Black students and students of color. Chimezie shares how he learned to move through fear, adapt fast, and keep showing up even when the path was anything but clear. You'll discover: why he chose San Diego State when the other schools didn't work out.how one unexpected orientation moment pulled him into student leadership.what "lift as we climb" means in real life, not just in theorywhy law school in foggy San Francisco felt like an entirely different world.how failing the bar, starting over, and landing in defense litigation shaped his outlook. Ashley and Chimezie also get real about what each city taught him - Inglewood, Carson, San Diego, and San Francisco - and why San Diego still has his heart. From fraternity life to campus leadership to the grind of law school, this episode is packed with honest lessons about growth, resilience, networking, and becoming the kind of person who keeps evolving instead of settling. This is essential listening if you're in the middle of a transition, questioning your next move, or trying to make sense of the chapter you're in right now. Chimezie's story is proof that you do not need a perfect blueprint to build a meaningful life - you just need the courage to keep moving. GuestsChimezie Ebiriekwe - Defense Litigation Attorney and former San Diego State student body Vice President and President, known for navigating multiple major transitions with grit, leadership, and consistency. Social Handle: @icepikkmezie

    Thriving Up The California Coast: Chimezie Ebiriekwe

  9. Aug 26

    From Olympic Gold to Business Owner: Michael Cherry

    Michael Cherry has lived the kind of athletic rise most people only dream about - Olympic gold, world medals, and a Diamond League title - but the hardest transition in his life was learning how to build something beyond the track. In this conversation, Cherry opens up about the injuries, culture shocks, financial pressure, and identity shift that pushed him from elite runner to business owner. Ashley sits down with Cherry, her first guest, to unpack the real story behind the medals. From being a first-generation college graduate to navigating collegiate transitions and the brutal jump from collegiate racing to the professional circuit, Cherry explains why talent alone is never enough once the sport becomes a business. He also gets honest about the mental toll of injuries, the pressure of contracts, and why a “one and done” mindset almost cost him everything. You'll discover: Why Cherry says his real turning point came when he stopped treating track like the only thing that defined himWhat changes when you go from team titles and NCAA races to Diamond League travel, jet lag, and living out of hotelsHow a new environment at LSU helped him lock in on training, academics, recovery, and healthWhy he chose business ownership as his next move and what made Painting with a Twist in Chesapeake, Virginia the right fitThe mindset shift required to stay competitive when your identity, income, and future are all on the line Cherry also talks through the practical side of transition - building a support network, learning patience, and realizing that athletic accomplishment alone doesn't automatically translate into life after sport. If you're an athlete thinking about what comes next, or anyone facing a major life pivot, this episode is a reminder that the same discipline that built your career can build your next chapter too. Essential listening if you care about sports, reinvention, entrepreneurship, or the messy middle of becoming someone new without losing who you are.

    From Olympic Gold to Business Owner: Michael Cherry

  10. Aug 18

    Welcome to The Transition: A Podcast About Change

    What if the thing you’re calling an ending is actually the beginning of your next best chapter? Ashley Henderson opens up about the disorienting reality of transition and why the moments that shake up your life - retirement, career changes, parenthood, moving, reinvention - are often the ones that reveal who you’re becoming. As a retired professional track and field athlete who spent nearly two decades chasing one goal, Ashley knows what it means to live with clarity, structure, and purpose - and then suddenly lose all three. She shares the emotional weight of stepping away from elite sport, the uncertainty of figuring out identity beyond performance, and the hard, messy process of rebuilding when the future no longer looks familiar. This episode sets the stage for The Transition: A Podcast About Change, built for anyone navigating change, whether it was chosen or forced. If you’ve ever outgrown a role, a goal, a relationship, or even an old version of yourself, this conversation will meet you right where you are. Essential listening if you’re in a season of uncertainty and need a reminder that transition is not the end of your story - it may be where the next best version of you begins. Because sometimes we choose the transition, and sometimes the transition chooses us.

  • 1 Trailer
    9 Episodes

Trailer

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

WE ALL SHARE THIS ONE THING IN COMMON. Hosted by retired professional Track and Field athlete Ashley Henderson, explores the moments that change us and everything in between. Through honest conversations with athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, professionals, and everyday people. Exploring what happens when life doesn't go according to plan and how we navigate the space between who we were, who we are, and who we're becoming. Because sometimes we choose the transition and sometimes the transition chooses us. NEW EPISODES EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY!

Information