How Athletics Have Changed Since We Retired

After the Athlete · May 14, 2026 · 43m

In this solo episode, it’s just us, Lexi and Danika, talking through how much athletics have changed since we stepped away from competition.

We break it down across every level, from youth sports to college, diving into early specialization, increased pressure from parents and social media, and how kids are developing at a faster rate than ever before.

We also get into the biggest shifts at the high school and college levels, including recruiting, NIL, and the reality of the updated conferences.

Beyond structure, we talk about the cultural changes too, including body image, the shift from…