Hi Reader,
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Happy July! 🎉 I hope you had a chance to soak up a little Fourth of July joy, whether that looked like fireworks, time with friends, or just a quiet moment away from your training log.
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I’m writing to you with a pretty full heart this month!
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I just wrapped up an intense chapter of HRV & biofeedback training, followed by a trip to the Boundary Waters. And just last week, we opened the doors to something I’ve been dreaming about for a long time (the Skadi Community, more on that below).
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And if that’s not exciting enough, we've got some exciting team updates to share.

A heartfelt goodbye and a warm welcome 💙

This month, we’re saying goodbye to Hannah as she moves on to her next adventure. Hannah has been such an important part of the Skadi team, and we’re so grateful for the care and expertise she’s brought to the athletes she’s worked with. We wish her all the best during her next chapter as she pursues her passions while working in residential eating disorder treatment.
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At the same time, we’re thrilled to welcome Avery Nelson (he/him) to the team as the newest Skadi provider! 🎉
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I (Erin) am not even sure where to begin with respect to his resume. He is dually-trained in mental health therapy and performance coaching. Prior to pursuing his TWO masters degrees, he served as a research assistant at Texas Christian University, where he led child, parent, and multi-family groups to support positive youth development. And before that, he was Captain of the baseball team and 2x All-Conference athlete at Hamline, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude (no big deal).

Avery is a pre-licensed therapist and mental performance coach who brings something we’ve been missing: a male provider who specializes in working with boys, men, coaches, and parents.
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How many coaches, parents, and male athletes do you know who don’t have a hard time saying, “I’m struggling with XYZ and I need help”? More often than not, they’re expected to just…have it all figured out. And all too often, the athlete’s well-being comes before the parents or coaches.
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Avery creates space for those conversations. He loves working with male athletes navigating anxiety, ADHD, performance pressure, and identity. He also enjoys working directly with coaches who are navigating athlete mental health and team dynamics, and parents who want to support their kid without accidentally adding more pressure.
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In one of our meet-and-greets, Avery disclosed that he and his partner have a plant named Greg. As fellow plant aficionados, this was admittedly one of the reasons we were all thinking WE NEED TO HIRE HIM. (It’s important to note that Greg is thriving, which arguably says something important about Avery’s ability to nurture growth. 🌱)
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​Avery starts seeing clients July 20th. If you or someone you know could benefit from working with him, learn more and book a free consult here.​

Now, let's talk about something that's been on my mind lately: belonging.​
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You might scroll through Instagram and see the highlight reels, or join Facebook groups and leave after getting shamed for asking honest or vulnerable questions. You may attend sport events but never quite feel like you're on the inside.
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Maybe you're one of the only folks in your sport and constantly proving you belong in spaces that weren't built for you.
Maybe you're a recreational runner or cyclist who doesn't feel "fast enough" to call yourself an athlete.
Maybe you're managing perimenopause while training, and no one in your running club talks about it.
Maybe you're an athlete in a larger body who's tired of diet culture masquerading as performance optimization.
Maybe you're navigating disability accommodations and feeling like you're always explaining yourself.
Maybe you're a member of the LGBTQ+ community and exhausted by locker room conversations that assume everyone is straight.
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👉🏻and maybe, you simply want a space where you feel like you belong, yet you’ve realized finding genuine community as an athlete is HARD!
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When sport psychology research talks about "social support," it doesn't always capture how hard it is to actually find genuine belonging when your body, identity, or circumstances don't fit the traditional athlete mold.
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Genuine belonging requires spaces where:
✅ Shared values matter more than shared sport
✅ You can have honest conversations about the hard stuff
✅ Diverse experiences are centered, not just tolerated
✅ Structural barriers are acknowledged (not dismissed)
✅ Messy, imperfect growth is supported
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And you deserve a community where you can show up fully, grow genuinely, and know you belong.
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That’s why I wrote this week’s blog about Why Finding Community in Sport Feels Impossible (And Where to Start Looking).​
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In it, I break down:
✅ Why traditional sport spaces often fail at genuine inclusion
✅ The five characteristics of communities where belonging actually thrives
✅ How to identify spaces that center diverse experiences (not just tolerate them)
✅ Concrete places to start looking for your people
✅ What to do when the problem is structural, not just individual
​Read it here!​

Speaking of community…

This whole conversation about belonging is not just theoretical for us. Last week, we opened the doors to the Skadi Community, a space we've been building for athletes who are tired of searching for community and ready to co-create one instead.

It's a monthly membership where you build mental skills through hands-on workshops, practice them through challenges, and connect with others navigating similar experiences. Whether you're dealing with perimenopause and training, identity-related barriers, chronic health concerns, or just want to be in a space where you can ask the hard questions without judgment, you'll find your people there.

Our first challenge (Finding Your Why) kicked off yesterday, and honestly? Watching people show up authentically has been everything I hoped it would be. If you've been looking for your community, check it out here.​

🎙️ This Week on the Feisty Women’s Performance Podcast…
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​In this episode, Mireille Siné shows how a simple daily “readiness check” can spot early red‑flags and keep women with autoimmune conditions thriving in endurance sport. Learn her flexible periodization strategy that lets athletes scale intensity without guilt or flare‑risk.
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🎧Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

One thing to try this week:

Ask yourself: Where do I feel like I truly belong in sport? And if the answer is “nowhere yet,” what’s one small step I could take to find my people?
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​Maybe it’s joining the Skadi Community. Maybe it’s reaching out to one person who seems to get it. Maybe it's working with a Skadi provider 1:1 to build the skills and confidence you need to show up more authentically. Maybe it's setting a boundary in a space that doesn't feel safe. You deserve to find your people, and you deserve to feel like you belong.
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👉 Hit reply and let me know: Where do you feel most seen and supported as an athlete? I’d genuinely love to hear!
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Til next time,
Dr. A
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P.S. Laurie and Avery are both accepting new clients for 1:1 mental health therapy and performance coaching. If you're curious, start here.

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