Athletes & Artists: Are you overwhelmed, burnt out, and tired of feeling tired? Do you find yourself wishing you had the confidence to pursue your goals, but are held back by insecurities, performance anxiety, and self-doubt? As a Mental Performance Consultant and a fellow performer, I'm here to reassure you - it doesn't have to stay that way. Whether it's baseball, football, dance, or cheer, mental skills and strategies have the power to give you the confidence and resilience you need to rise to any occasion that comes your way. It's time to take your performance career to the next level!
Mental performance consultant Demi Agaiby sits down with Cindy Kuzma and Carrie Jackson to unpack the emotional toll of athletic injuries. From fear of falling behind to the comparison trap, they explore how athletes can reframe recovery as its own form of performance. With insights from their book Rebound, they share strategies for advocating for yourself, maintaining team identity, and building resilience during setbacks. Tune in for empowering tools and perspectives on returning stronger, mentally and physically.
Want more support during recovery? Visit injuredathletesclub.com (https://injuredathletesclub.com/about) for community, resources, and more from Carrie and Cindy.
29 Sept 2025
Coaching with Intention and Inclusivity | Emma Desiderio
Emma Desiderio shares her evolution from collegiate athlete to coach, reflecting on how connection, intentional leadership, and inclusive environments drive high-level performance. From navigating COVID-era setbacks to creating student-led structure and tackling tension between teammates, Emma reveals strategies for fostering trust and resilience on and off the floor. Tune in for a grounded, inspiring look at what it really takes to lead and unify a team.
@emmadesiderio
@gvsu_lakerdanceteam
4 Aug 2025
Prototyping Your Life: Purpose, Passion & Pivoting | Deb Giunta
In this episode, Demi sits down with Deb, a dynamic entrepreneur and former dancer turned educator and nonprofit leader. Together, they explore what it means to "prototype your life"—testing ideas, pursuing passions, and shifting identities as performers transition into new chapters.
Deb opens up about her early journey in dance, the creation of her first company Design Dance, and how her lived experiences led to founding The Brainchild Collective and Prismatic, two organizations dedicated to social-emotional learning and future-readiness.
This is a must-listen for athletes, performers, and coaches navigating identity shifts, burnout, career transitions, or the intimidating moment of starting over.
Topics Covered
From dancer to entrepreneur: How Deb followed her instincts and built a mission-driven business
Creating arts-based educational spaces focused on healing, not competition
Navigating confusion, burnout, and loss of direction after performance ends
The importance of transferable skills from dance, sports, and the arts
Redefining career success beyond traditional majors or job paths
How to prototype your life and test your passions in small, meaningful ways
The mental toll of being a beginner again—and how to push through
Advice for college-aged performers figuring out their next chapter
Boundaries, burnout, and deciding what passions to protect vs. pursue professionally
Resources & Mentions
The Brainchild Collective – A hub for student enrichment and social-emotional learning
https://www.brainchildcollective.co/ (https://www.brainchildcollective.co/)
Prismatic – A nonprofit advancing future-readiness and employability through SEL
Design Dance – Deb’s original arts education company supporting identity and creative expression
Keep Up on Instagram: @beyondhorizonsperformance
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 59 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
86
Social presence
94
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Performers on the Rise
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Performers on the Rise?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
