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The Injured Athletes Club

The Injured Athletes Club

By: Carrie Jackson and Cindy Kuzma
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We're sorry you're here, but we're glad you're with us! If you're lucky enough to call yourself an athlete, chances are you've been injured. One of the biggest challenges of injury is facing recovery alone. Now, you don't have to. Mental skills coach Carrie Jackson and journalist Cindy Kuzma interview athletes about how they've coped with sports injuries and come out stronger on the other side. And, Carrie shares some of the mental skills and drills she teaches injured athletes—tools you can use to stay positive and resilient during your recovery. Not only can these strategies help you bounce back stronger from injury, you can use them to rebound from any setback in your sport—or in life. DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk. Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • 176 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question on Embracing Change as a Masters Athlete

    176 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question on Embracing Change as a Masters Athlete
    Jun 11 2026
    "How do I adjust my training mindset now that I'm a masters athlete? I have a hard time accepting that my body is no longer 20. I'm 35, about to turn 36." —Kelly Society often tells us that getting older is something to be feared and refused—think about the concept of anti-aging. For athletes, there's an added layer of performance changes as we move into the masters categories. The problem, Coach Carrie says in this week's Q&A episode, is that aging isn't an optional activity. By fighting against its reality, we often keep ourselves miserable and stuck. If instead, you accept that your body is shifting and has different needs and vulnerabilities, you can then take active steps to make the most of your current capabilities. Rather than comparing yourself to others or to a past version of the athlete you were, seek clarity. Then, the focus isn't on how you measure up, but on what you need to make meaning of your athletic experience. That choice—to define what success means to you, and celebrate it—is always yours to make, and gives you the freedom to enjoy new and glorious paths forward. Resources/links: Aging and Athletic Performance: Injured Athletes Club Webinar Recording Cindy's article in Runner's World: I Compared Myself to the Runner I Used to Be—I'm Learning to Let Go and Move Forward A huge thank you to LEVER Movement, the exclusive sponsor of season 9 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast! They're the creators of the LEVER system, a portable, lightweight device that attaches to a treadmill to reduce your body weight. Use the code INJURED20 to get 20% off your purchase here. You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show. To access more resources for injured athletes: Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cardsAccess webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our workJoin The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updatesJoin The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderieLike The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodesEmail us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.
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    14 mins
  • 175 | Elite Bench Presser Tony Carlino on Resilience, Recovery, and Raising the Bar

    175 | Elite Bench Presser Tony Carlino on Resilience, Recovery, and Raising the Bar
    Jun 4 2026
    "One thing that helped me—and I don't know if I really thought about doing this, I think I just did it when I was in the hospital—was just taking it a day at a time. Taking the day for what it is, not trying to look too far ahead. Obviously, you want to hit that goal of getting better, but take the day for what it is and what you can do that day." As one of the world's most accomplished equipped lifters, Tony Carlino is used to hoisting huge weights over his chest and on his back. But in 2019, he faced a challenge no gym session could have prepared him for: A bout of swine flu that led to a lengthy hospitalization and a 16-day medically induced coma. Afterward, with much of his muscle melted away, he had to relearn to walk before he could even contemplate lifting again. When he did go back, the bar alone felt heavy. He wasn't sure he'd get back to competing, but he did, within five months. And just two years later, he officially benched 1,000 pounds for the first time, a feat he's repeated several times since (including earlier this year at a meet called Holy Wars, where he also squatted more than 1,000 pounds—the second person ever to do both at the same equipped meet). Resources/links: Tony's Instagram and TikTokEverstrong, his clothing and supplement company A huge thank you to LEVER Movement, the exclusive sponsor of season 9 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast! They're the creators of the LEVER system, a portable, lightweight device that attaches to a treadmill to reduce your body weight. Use the code INJURED20 to get 20% off your purchase here. You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show. To access more resources for injured athletes: Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cardsAccess webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our workJoin The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updatesJoin The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderieLike The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodesEmail us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.
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    57 mins
  • 174 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question on Coping with Feeling Left Out

    174 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question on Coping with Feeling Left Out
    May 28 2026
    "I'm feeling left out, although I know it's not intentional. I joined a racing team this year, but have had to withdraw from several races already due to recovering from a bone stress injury. I did too much, too soon last year, and it finally caught me right after team training started—go figure! There's another race this weekend that most of the team is running, and I'm always happy to support them, but it also sucks feeling like a wasted spot on the roster and not being able to attend any group runs or races while I'm recovering. Do you have any advice on handling this?" —Jacob Even if your teammates are welcoming and supportive—which, Jacob told us in a follow-up message, his definitely are—it isn't easy to feel a part of things when you're sitting on the sidelines. In this week's listener Q&A, coach Carrie validates those feelings of anger, disappointment, and even guilt and shame. But as she reminds Jacob, being a good teammate is about far more than what you contribute to the race times or final scores. While you're healing, your role shifts from training and competition to taking care of your body. Often, there are ways to do that that deepen your connection rather than strain it—for instance, joining for the team warm-up, doing your rehab exercises alongside them at practice, or simply showing up to cheer and support when it counts. Resources/links: Episode 139 | Professional Soccer Player Civana Kuhlmann: Strength in Vulnerability A huge thank you to LEVER Movement, the exclusive sponsor of season 9 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast! They're the creators of the LEVER system, a portable, lightweight device that attaches to a treadmill to reduce your body weight. Use the code INJURED20 to get 20% off your purchase here. You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show. To access more resources for injured athletes: Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cardsAccess webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our workJoin The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updatesJoin The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderieLike The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodesEmail us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.
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    12 mins
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