Episode 360: Olivia Foli’s Life Updates as a College Student Athlete, Part I
Episode Notes
Today’s Special Guest Mentor is our daughter Olivia Foli (2nd seat in the picture). Last January, we aired our first two podcast conversations. Olivia talked about graduating high school during the COVID-19 pandemic and entering UW-Madison as a freshman. The school was in lockdown. Everything was restricted, and classes were online. Olivia described the degree of isolation she felt living in the dorms and the anxiety and depression that accompanied it. I thought it important to discuss the mental health challenges of our youth that we are hearing so much about.
In the 2nd podcast conversation, we discussed adulting and self-reliance. This included discussing how Olivia met the seven Universal Human Needs: connection, honesty, physical well-being, play, peace, autonomy, and meaning. Both episodes can be found in this episode’s resource section.
The upside of the COVID-19 pandemic is a new appreciation for our emotional and social well-being. Olivia said she used the time during covid to get to know herself better and continue learning while some dreams of playing violin in the orchestra and joining the rowing team were put on hold.
Olivia’s sophomore year provided new opportunities. She joined the orchestra as a violinist and was able to join UW-Madison’s Women’s Rowing Team. Socially, she was able to meet tons of people and begin forming long-term friendships.
Our first two podcast conversations aired in January 2022. Olivia was about to enter the official start of UW-Madison’s rowing season.
In this conversation, you will hear what Olivia experienced:
- Starting and competing in a new sport at the college level,
- Choosing the lightweight team vs. the open-weight team,
- Team travel out of state and competing in Regatas,
- Team dynamics and overcoming negativity at Cocoa Beach training last year and changes this year,
- Leading as an upper-level student-athlete,
- A day in the life of a student-athlete,
- Roommate dilemmas, dynamics, and changes from one year to the next,
- Giving roommates room to grow and become adults, and
- Coursework for her majors in psychology and Spanish with a minor in women and gender studies.
I’m encouraged to see the resilience in our youth as they work through the aftermath of the pandemic. Enjoy. DOWNLOAD
NEXT STEP After Listening: Challenge yourself and do the Conscious Attentive Leadership Mentoring (C.A.L.M.) Activities, below. 
Conscious Attentive Leadership Mentoring
After listening, do these three C.A.L.M. Activities:
- Take this risk or do this adventurous task: Write down the sidelined activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Decide if you are going to let those activities go or whether achieving them is still important. Create a new priority list. I missed socially gathering with family, friends, and clients so I am expanding my social activities. It feels wonderful.
- Apply Self-Compassion: I attended a self-compassion workshop with author and teacher Kristin Neff. She says one easy way to care for ourselves is through touch. Physical touch provides a sense of security and can increase your level of oxytocin; a hormone that helps to soothe distressing emotions. I find it comforting to gently massage each hand and forearm after completing a writing exercise. I suggest giving yourself a gentle hand and forearm massage after you complete the adventurous task above.
- Welcome Appreciation: “I appreciate the person Olivia is becoming as an adult. I appreciate how she learns from her mistakes, follows through on commitments, and weighs each decision that has led to more decision-making and risk-taking. This year Olivia’s confidence increased as she has taken charge of her mental and physical health. I continue to appreciate her joy, spunk, and commitment to meeting her needs and living courageously. Meeting your needs inspires hopefulness and a zest for life like nothing else. Olivia is cherished, seen, heard, and deeply loved. Thank you, Olivia, for being you and taking risks to become a beautiful, wise, and compassionate human being.”
Your Turn. Start with, “I appreciate what I heard from today’s Guest Mentor, Olivia Foli. I appreciate this week’s adventurous task because….”
Welcome Appreciation: Say to yourself, “I am
“Most of the problems in our lives and world are caused by relational dysfunction, a dysfunction in how we relate: as social groups, as individuals, to animals and the environment, and even to ourselves. Therefore, developing relational literacy—the understanding of and ability to practice healthy ways of relating—is essential for personal, social, and ecological transformation.” —Melanie Joy, psychologist, author, theorist, educator
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Podcast Guest Mentor
Olivia Foli.
Olivia Foli is the daughter of Nancy Meyer and Matthew Foli. She is in her junior year of college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying psychology and Spanish with a minor in women and gender studies. Outside of her commitments at school, she loves reading, playing violin, running, nordic skiing, and using her Spanish.
Olivia is in her 2nd year with the Women’s Lightweight Crew team. She joined the University Orchestra for one year. She is also a research assistant in the Learning and Transfer Psychology Lab on campus.
Olivia spent that last two summers working at Mis Amigos Spanish Immersion Preschool in Golden Valley, MN. She worked with the executive team and in the classroom. She hopes to pursue an internship in Spain through the study abroad program.
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Episode 360: Olivia Foli’s Life Updates as a College Student Athlete, Part I
Author: Nancy A. Meyer, M.A.
Nancy A. Meyer, M.A., is a seasoned entrepreneurial leader, business and life mentor/coach/teacher, podcaster, author, and certified mindfulness yoga and meditation integrator (she integrates those skill sets into everything). Nancy’s compassionate and collaborative approach reinforces resilience while maintaining accountable conversations supporting how you redefine your lead while redesigning your business. Nancy calls this “Dual Innovation Leadership.” Nancy founded WeMentor, inc. in 1992 to change the leadership in our country by providing emerging and existing business owners with mentoring in Dual Innovation Leadership. She has mentored thousands and is eager to work with you! Assert self-leadership and get started today! Clients say, “Nancy is a compelling, engaging, and ‘decipher the trees from the forest’ kind of mentor, speaker, and leader. A dedicated entrepreneurial leader and mentor who role models what she preaches. Her style and candor enrich the content she delivers and the results clients experience.” Nancy accepts people where they are while inspiring them to breakthrough into new dimensions: As an Entrepreneurial Leader (Innovator), As a Competent Business Owner (Practitioner) As a Mentor (Role Model) As a Spiritual Being and Self-Leadership Master! Start by subscribing to WeMentor Mondays with Nancy PODCAST. Join your peers and...
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