WEBVTT 00:00:09.520 --> 00:00:23.395 This is father Charles Sikorsky, president of Divine Mercy University, and, the pleasure to be joined by Samantha Kelly, who is the founder and president of a wonderful, possibly called Fierce Athlete. 00:00:24.095 --> 00:00:26.495 So thank you for joining us, Samantha. 00:00:26.495 --> 00:00:26.735 Yeah. 00:00:26.735 --> 00:00:27.215 Absolutely. 00:00:27.215 --> 00:00:28.355 Thanks for having me. 00:00:28.930 --> 00:00:38.710 So do I well, I think this is an important I've also you know, the the topic of women's sports, is is in the news these days. 00:00:39.410 --> 00:00:40.450 And A lot. 00:00:40.530 --> 00:00:44.150 Samantha was a graduate of our MSP, our master's in psych program. 00:00:44.985 --> 00:00:48.825 She's been at this a long time before it became such a hot topic. 00:00:48.825 --> 00:00:58.205 Maybe she saw the signs of this coming, but, tell us a little bit about your background and and why you decided to start this organization. 00:00:58.910 --> 00:00:59.230 Sure. 00:00:59.230 --> 00:00:59.310 Yeah. 00:00:59.310 --> 00:01:02.770 So I was a college athlete, played soccer at the University of Connecticut. 00:01:03.790 --> 00:01:08.510 And while I was there, I just saw a lot of brokenness in the athlete world. 00:01:08.510 --> 00:01:17.345 It's very hidden, but specifically with women, there's a lot of brokenness, a lot of mental health issues, a lot of eating disorders, a lot of sexual confusion. 00:01:19.405 --> 00:01:26.170 And, you know, post I kinda had a encounter with Jesus in college and and then went on to to mentor women. 00:01:26.170 --> 00:01:27.630 I became a missionary with Focus. 00:01:28.330 --> 00:01:29.950 That's where I first heard about DMU. 00:01:31.530 --> 00:01:38.990 And, there was just this deeper call in my heart, to help that population specifically. 00:01:39.370 --> 00:01:39.530 Mhmm. 00:01:39.770 --> 00:01:44.735 There are a lot of great Christian and Catholic organizations out there for athletes, but none for women specific. 00:01:45.275 --> 00:02:02.250 None with, I think, just under understanding or maybe their ethos was the integration of the body, mind, and soul, theology of the body, what I learned from DMU, and also just the transparency, the willingness to, like, go there and talk about the issues that women athletes are struggling with. 00:02:02.870 --> 00:02:06.630 And like you said, I mean, that was, you know, eight years ago. 00:02:06.630 --> 00:02:12.615 And now the issues are a little bit different, but the roots, you know, the roots still the same. 00:02:12.615 --> 00:02:14.135 So The root is the same, man. 00:02:14.135 --> 00:02:20.575 It just it just a almost a natural conclusion of some of the things that were the ideas and Yeah. 00:02:20.775 --> 00:02:22.695 Behaviors that were going on. 00:02:22.695 --> 00:02:23.195 Right? 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:24.560 Well, tell us a little bit. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:26.640 What does the the apostolic do? 00:02:26.640 --> 00:02:28.640 What kinds of things do you do Yep. 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:32.960 To serve and you serve women, athletes, study with high school, college level? 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:33.280 Yep. 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:34.160 And also, go ahead. 00:02:34.160 --> 00:02:35.120 Tell a little bit about the Yeah. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:35.440 Sure. 00:02:35.440 --> 00:02:40.325 So so our so our mission is to promote true identity and femininity in female athletics. 00:02:40.785 --> 00:02:42.385 So, you know, who am I? 00:02:42.385 --> 00:02:51.105 My core identity is not that I'm a great athlete or I have, you know, I'm the leading scorer or my dad thinks I'm awesome because I play sports. 00:02:51.105 --> 00:03:05.810 You know, like, my core identity is that I'm a daughter of God and, when we help women realize that, then those symptoms, the mental health issues, the eating disorders, we can really start addressing those from that place of understanding of who I am. 00:03:07.265 --> 00:03:08.225 So we we yeah. 00:03:08.225 --> 00:03:09.425 We do a lot of different things. 00:03:09.425 --> 00:03:17.685 We travel around the country working with different high schools, colleges, even professional athletes, doing retreats, talks, mentorship. 00:03:18.305 --> 00:03:19.205 I have a podcast. 00:03:19.265 --> 00:03:19.985 I wrote a book. 00:03:19.985 --> 00:03:26.700 And then most recently, we launched Fierce Coach, which is working with coaches of female athletes. 00:03:27.080 --> 00:03:28.120 I actually this is funny. 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:33.240 I was talking to a Fierce coach just kinda strikes me for some reason. 00:03:33.240 --> 00:03:33.640 Yeah. 00:03:33.640 --> 00:03:34.200 I've had some. 00:03:34.200 --> 00:03:35.080 But anyway Yeah. 00:03:35.080 --> 00:03:35.580 Alright. 00:03:35.885 --> 00:03:40.945 I mean, I was talking to a coach and, you know, it was like it was an airport, secular conversation. 00:03:41.245 --> 00:03:44.525 And I just said, how much of your job is coaching versus counseling? 00:03:44.525 --> 00:03:46.385 And he goes, oh, 80% counseling. 00:03:47.005 --> 00:03:49.580 You know, they they are who these athletes come to. 00:03:49.580 --> 00:03:59.360 And so if we can support them as they're on the front lines working with these young women, and then also kinda help them understand the proper dignity of the human person. 00:04:00.285 --> 00:04:00.605 Yeah. 00:04:00.605 --> 00:04:01.405 Found that important. 00:04:01.405 --> 00:04:07.265 So you have retreats, you do one on one coaching, you do, podcasts in your book. 00:04:07.325 --> 00:04:08.945 What what's the podcast called? 00:04:09.325 --> 00:04:10.545 Fierce Athlete Podcast. 00:04:10.605 --> 00:04:11.565 Fierce Athlete Podcast. 00:04:11.565 --> 00:04:12.865 And the book is called? 00:04:13.005 --> 00:04:17.360 Be Fierce, The athlete's guide to growing physically, mentally, and spiritually. 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:18.000 Yeah. 00:04:18.140 --> 00:04:21.280 Now, that's kind of a scary what made you call it fierce? 00:04:22.140 --> 00:04:22.540 I know. 00:04:22.540 --> 00:04:23.740 Well, the Lord gave it to me. 00:04:23.740 --> 00:04:25.840 I think we're trying to reclaim the word. 00:04:25.980 --> 00:04:28.700 I think, well, it's also an acronym. 00:04:28.700 --> 00:04:33.605 But, I think there was a lot there's, like, a lot of tension of within athletic women. 00:04:33.605 --> 00:04:37.145 Like, can I be both feminine and athletic? 00:04:37.205 --> 00:04:42.505 Can I be and I saw it as, like, we're called to be fierce, but we're actually also called to be tender as women? 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:48.180 So it's this balance of, yes, you can and but you you're called to be both. 00:04:49.440 --> 00:04:50.880 And then the acronym, they're big words. 00:04:50.880 --> 00:04:52.740 It's kind of our pillars, but it's femininity. 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:54.580 So what does it mean to be a woman? 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:57.155 Identity, you start with who am I? 00:04:57.215 --> 00:04:57.695 Embodiment. 00:04:57.695 --> 00:04:59.635 So we talk a lot about the body, soul, union. 00:05:00.255 --> 00:05:02.195 Receptivity, which is the height of my femininity. 00:05:02.575 --> 00:05:03.075 Catholicism. 00:05:03.375 --> 00:05:09.235 So we reach people of all phase, but, like, everything we preach and teach is rooted in the church. 00:05:09.570 --> 00:05:14.230 And then encounters, we empower women to go out and help others. 00:05:15.010 --> 00:05:17.890 So you mentioned some of the issues that are out there now. 00:05:18.690 --> 00:05:23.835 I you know, and what what what is, like, well, so what what's the reaction? 00:05:23.835 --> 00:05:29.775 How successful have you been with some of your, those you coach? 00:05:30.075 --> 00:05:31.295 Kinda like yeah. 00:05:31.435 --> 00:05:31.675 Yeah. 00:05:31.675 --> 00:05:33.135 How do you address some of those? 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:34.580 How do I what? 00:05:34.640 --> 00:05:36.560 How do you address some of these physician? 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:39.120 Or what are the what are the things that are most frequently popping up? 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:39.440 Yeah. 00:05:39.440 --> 00:05:47.860 Oh, I mean, I mean, kind of the things I've alluded to, sexual confusion, same sex attraction, eating disorders, mental health. 00:05:49.475 --> 00:05:56.535 You know, it's again, when we approach these issues, it has to be with such sensitivity and such tenderness, but also with truth. 00:05:57.235 --> 00:05:59.795 You you you know, you wanna read what's the setting I'm in. 00:05:59.795 --> 00:06:00.270 Right? 00:06:00.510 --> 00:06:03.230 I joke I have, like, three versions of every talk I give. 00:06:03.230 --> 00:06:06.830 It's like, I'm in a place where we are all like mine and it's gonna be received. 00:06:06.830 --> 00:06:10.910 I'm in a place where I have to be I have to kind of say these things with some tenders. 00:06:10.910 --> 00:06:16.005 And then I'm in a place where I just have to start with the truth of the human person and we go from there. 00:06:16.005 --> 00:06:16.565 You know? 00:06:16.565 --> 00:06:24.905 So I definitely had some pushback and, you know, some crazy things happen, but it's par for the course. 00:06:25.045 --> 00:06:28.485 So we're we're actually this, we're doing this interview. 00:06:28.485 --> 00:06:30.585 We're at the, National University of Congress. 00:06:30.840 --> 00:06:31.080 Yep. 00:06:31.080 --> 00:06:31.740 In Indianapolis. 00:06:32.280 --> 00:06:35.080 Indianapolis now is the home of Caitlin Clark. 00:06:35.080 --> 00:06:35.980 Caitlin Clark. 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:37.680 All kinds of attention Yep. 00:06:37.960 --> 00:06:44.855 For different reasons and or, well, for reasons that are different people have different perspectives on why. 00:06:44.855 --> 00:06:45.355 Yeah. 00:06:46.135 --> 00:06:52.315 What are your thoughts about her, and and why is she getting so much attention and attraction in kind? 00:06:52.375 --> 00:06:52.695 Yeah. 00:06:52.695 --> 00:06:53.915 I really like her. 00:06:54.215 --> 00:06:59.040 There's been this really interesting kind of division amongst people. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:06.240 You know, you kinda saw a couple years ago, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese play in the, you know, in the finals and her in the final four. 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:13.255 And, you know, I think what what is attractive about Caitlin is I mean, one, she's an incredible basketball player. 00:07:13.255 --> 00:07:15.995 She's fun to watch, but she's actually really humble. 00:07:16.855 --> 00:07:23.175 Her answers to questions, you know, you hear other people answer, and it's like, well, it's all about me or I'm making this statement or I'm this. 00:07:23.175 --> 00:07:27.500 And it's always like like the other night, she set a record, and she's like, well, it was all my teammates. 00:07:28.360 --> 00:07:37.580 And I think there's, like, something in the heart of people that, like, admire her humility, admire just, like, her talent. 00:07:39.455 --> 00:07:40.655 I think that she does it well. 00:07:40.655 --> 00:07:45.375 And then the other thing is, like, I mean, everybody wants time with Caitlin Clark. 00:07:45.375 --> 00:07:49.315 And I heard her say, like, you know, I realized this is your six seconds with me. 00:07:49.535 --> 00:07:51.315 I have to be on and intentional. 00:07:51.855 --> 00:07:54.620 Like, she it's almost like she she she understands the dignity of the person. 00:07:54.620 --> 00:07:59.200 Like, when these little girls come up to her, she's very intentional about giving them her time. 00:07:59.660 --> 00:08:01.740 And I think that speaks into her character. 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:02.240 Yeah. 00:08:03.020 --> 00:08:04.080 That's been impressive. 00:08:04.540 --> 00:08:10.025 Also, you know, that you you mentioned the humility, and she's really good at de escalation. 00:08:11.365 --> 00:08:16.985 Some of the media is, you know, they're trying to push a certain, viewpoint, and some of the other players even. 00:08:17.205 --> 00:08:17.605 Yeah. 00:08:17.605 --> 00:08:28.740 And she's been remarkable and and and not, and not taking the bait and sort of well, it's just part of the game, and we're all playing hard. 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:35.220 And, you know, I think she's I, I guess her her family's because her dad seems to be coaching her. 00:08:35.220 --> 00:08:35.620 I don't know. 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:41.425 She's maybe she's one of your clients, but but anyway, it's a really great example of of how to handle that situation. 00:08:41.565 --> 00:08:42.445 Those Bubble headed. 00:08:42.445 --> 00:08:42.945 Yeah. 00:08:43.485 --> 00:08:43.725 Yeah. 00:08:43.725 --> 00:08:44.685 You see the virtue. 00:08:44.685 --> 00:08:46.525 I mean Yeah. 00:08:46.525 --> 00:08:47.025 Yeah. 00:08:47.165 --> 00:08:54.440 So, so you you studied at Divine Mercy University and did our online master's degree in psychology. 00:08:56.020 --> 00:08:59.560 How has that helped you in your work and how and if so, how? 00:08:59.620 --> 00:09:00.420 Oh, my goodness. 00:09:00.420 --> 00:09:00.660 Yes. 00:09:00.660 --> 00:09:01.540 It absolutely has. 00:09:01.540 --> 00:09:08.665 So I actually started the program when I was still a FOCUS missionary, and then I continued on after I left FOCUS and was starting to do this work. 00:09:09.365 --> 00:09:15.125 And I I just think it's so the understanding of the the integrated approach to the human person. 00:09:15.125 --> 00:09:26.670 I was studying at Divine Mercy the same time I was discovering theology of the body And a lot of what we what we preach and what we help women do is grow physically, mentally, and spiritually, and they all relate to one another. 00:09:26.670 --> 00:09:27.170 Mhmm. 00:09:27.230 --> 00:09:44.765 And so I think my education at DMU, what, it just gave me that that frame of mind, that way of of viewing the person as as an integrated being, with, you know, innate dignity, but also that they that they need help in their minds. 00:09:44.765 --> 00:09:46.285 They need help with the help in their bodies. 00:09:46.285 --> 00:09:47.460 They need spiritual health. 00:09:48.820 --> 00:09:54.120 And I'd say the other thing is, you know, I deal with a lot of very intense things. 00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:57.480 Like, very women open their hearts up to me. 00:09:57.860 --> 00:10:03.400 And what DMU taught me to do was really help discern, like, what does this person need? 00:10:03.675 --> 00:10:05.775 Do they need to go see a counselor? 00:10:05.995 --> 00:10:10.315 Do they need to, you know, go see a spiritual director? 00:10:10.315 --> 00:10:11.755 Do they just need some prayer? 00:10:11.755 --> 00:10:17.215 I one of the the really cool parts of that program was, like, learning when to refer. 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:24.700 And so I just have this team of people around me now that I that I can refer my athletes to get deeper help. 00:10:25.160 --> 00:10:31.800 Because you're not a licensed professional, but you do coaching, but you kinda know where what you can do and what you can't do. 00:10:31.800 --> 00:10:32.300 Exactly. 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:32.940 Yeah. 00:10:33.160 --> 00:10:33.660 Yeah. 00:10:33.915 --> 00:10:34.655 Very good. 00:10:36.395 --> 00:10:41.915 So moving forward, what are you do you have what are the plans for the fierce, athlete, Abaso? 00:10:41.915 --> 00:10:45.055 Do you have any ideas of what your dreams for taking to the next level? 00:10:45.275 --> 00:10:49.455 So, I mean, we kinda have it branded out, but so right now, we have fierce athlete and fierce coach. 00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:49.960 K. 00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:52.220 So current athletes and coaches. 00:10:52.280 --> 00:10:52.760 Mhmm. 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:56.700 We're actually about to launch fierce forever, which is for former athletes. 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:01.640 So just resources, community, a retirement course for them. 00:11:01.640 --> 00:11:03.180 Eventually, we want parents resources. 00:11:03.795 --> 00:11:11.635 You know, we think sports is so influential in our culture that if you can if you can change women's sports, you actually will I mean, as we're seeing Caitlin Clark do. 00:11:11.635 --> 00:11:13.255 Like, you'll actually change the culture. 00:11:13.635 --> 00:11:16.935 And so we just wanna journey with people through every stage of that. 00:11:16.995 --> 00:11:17.495 Yeah. 00:11:17.990 --> 00:11:18.230 Yeah. 00:11:18.230 --> 00:11:19.830 Now you're gonna hate me for saying that. 00:11:19.830 --> 00:11:24.870 I I would not have believed that a year ago, but, you can see it happening in front of our very eyes. 00:11:24.870 --> 00:11:25.270 Yeah. 00:11:25.750 --> 00:11:33.725 You know, the you think I'm a whatever the showman is, but, the sport certainly does have a lot of importance. 00:11:33.725 --> 00:11:44.845 But it actually get the attention of the entire culture, I think and it really did unfortunately, too many men I mean, they're really hard to find good examples out there, and I think that's part of it as well. 00:11:44.845 --> 00:11:45.085 Yeah. 00:11:45.085 --> 00:11:46.145 It's a good point. 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:48.600 Pro sports these days, it's yeah. 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:51.560 It's all about money and me, and then there are a lot of great guys. 00:11:51.560 --> 00:11:52.840 There's no question about it. 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:53.340 Sure. 00:11:53.400 --> 00:11:59.880 But, Ally, this month, she she's really the biggest story right now. 00:11:59.880 --> 00:12:00.200 Right? 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:01.320 I think that will. 00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:01.820 Yeah. 00:12:02.165 --> 00:12:04.965 Well, then so, well, thank you for your time. 00:12:04.965 --> 00:12:05.925 Appreciate this interview. 00:12:05.925 --> 00:12:06.605 I'm really Absolutely. 00:12:06.805 --> 00:12:07.925 Such fierce athletes. 00:12:07.925 --> 00:12:16.400 So if you're, if you're a young athlete or a female athlete or you have a daughter or granddaughter or you're a coach, you need to check it out. 00:12:16.400 --> 00:12:20.400 Is it is it website is fierceathlete.org or fierce.org. 00:12:20.400 --> 00:12:21.440 We'll get you both of those. 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:21.680 Yeah. 00:12:21.680 --> 00:12:22.320 Fierce.org. 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:22.640 Okay. 00:12:22.640 --> 00:12:22.960 Yeah. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:23.520 Well, check that out. 00:12:23.520 --> 00:12:24.560 Well, thank you, Samantha. 00:12:24.560 --> 00:12:26.320 God bless you for Appreciate it. 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:26.820 Okay. 00:12:27.665 --> 00:12:27.825 Alright. 00:12:27.825 --> 00:12:28.065 Good. 00:12:28.065 --> 00:12:28.465 Good. 00:12:28.465 --> 00:12:28.945 They go. 00:12:28.945 --> 00:12:29.185 Yeah. 00:12:29.185 --> 00:12:29.665 That was great. 00:12:29.665 --> 00:12:30.165 Okay. 00:12:30.385 --> 00:12:30.885 Good.