Gracie & Will Blackmon on Pro Football, Winning a Super Bowl, & Surviving the NFL

It's time for a much-needed life update! This week on Athletes After Hours, I'm taking you behind the scenes of the last two months, and let's just say there's been a little bit of everything & a whole lot of chaos. From a chaotic girls' trip to Las Vegas and wakeboarding with Red Bull in Philadelphia to reuniting with my UCLA gymnastics girls, coaching young gymnasts in Wyoming, and getting the opportunity to train with the LA Kings, life has been moving FAST. I'm sharing some of my favorite memories, unexpected challenges, hilarious moments, and a few experiences that reminded me why I love what I do. But beyond all the travel and exciting opportunities, I'm also opening up about the emotional side of building something from scratch. When I launched this podcast back in March, I had no idea what I was doing, a makeshift studio in my living room, and a whole lot of anxiety about whether anyone would even listen. Fast-forward to today, and we've recorded over 35 episodes, signed with a production company, been selected for Spotify's RADAR Creators Program, and officially moved into a brand-new podcast studio! This episode is a reminder to celebrate the little wins, appreciate the people who show up for you, and recognize just how far you've come, even when you're too busy chasing the next big thing to notice. As always, thank you for being part of this journey. This is just the beginning🤍 New episodes every Wednesday!

This week on Athletes After Hours, I'm sitting down with professional volleyball player and Olympian TJ DeFalco to talk about his journey from a young kid chasing a dream to becoming one of the biggest names in professional volleyball. TJ opens up about making the decision to move away from his family at a young age to pursue volleyball in California, getting recruited by one of the top collegiate programs in the nation, and what it took to win multiple national championships. We dive into the pressure of competing at the highest level, earning a spot in the Hall of Fame, and learning how to navigate team dynamics when you're surrounded by big personalities, strong opinions, and athletes who all want to win. We also get into the realities of playing professionally overseas, the sacrifices that come with living thousands of miles away from home, and the challenges of maintaining a personal life while balancing a long-distance relationship. TJ shares what it's like to chase a career that takes you around the world while trying to stay connected to the people who matter most. From experiencing the unique challenges of competing at the Tokyo Olympics during COVID to now setting his sights on LA 2028, TJ reflects on representing Team USA on the world's biggest stage, the pressure of competing at the highest level, and what continues to motivate him as he prepares for another Olympic run on home soil. This conversation is a reminder that even at the highest level of sport, success comes with sacrifices, and sometimes the biggest challenges happen far beyond the court. New episodes every Wednesday! CONTACT ME FOR BUSINESS INQUIRIES 💌: [email protected] MORE OF AAH: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAqmszrKB9tGT2cLtCruLHGYJGHxFdA1M LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/1tMu2BlIgGVUYLLkES4VDo?si=23a99e4d67934ea9 LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/athletes-after-hours-with-gracie-kramer/id1882423066 FOLLOW ME ON SOCIALS —INSTAGRAM: @gracie.kramer (https://www.instagram.com/gracie.kramer?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr) TIKTOK: @graciekramer8 (https://www.tiktok.com/@graciekramer8?_r=1&_t=ZT-94nOAG8Efr3) YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@graciekramer14?si=F28A5yWoqUu0DRPv FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011384569631

This week, I'm sitting down with professional softball player Keirstin Roose for a conversation about everything that happens beyond the field. We talk about growing up as a strong female athlete, navigating body image and the pressure to look a certain way, learning how to properly fuel your body, and handling the mental pressure that comes with competing at such a high level. Keirstin also opens up about competing while living with Type 1 diabetes, overcoming four surgeries, and learning to trust her body through it all. We also dive into the impact she hopes to have on the next generation of athletes and why being a role model for young athletes living with diabetes has become such an important part of her journey. This episode is a reminder that the challenges you face don't have to limit where you can go and sometimes your story can become the reason someone else believes they can do it too. CONTACT ME FOR BUSINESS INQUIRIES 💌: [email protected] WATCH MORE OF AAH: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAqmszrKB9tGT2cLtCruLHGYJGHxFdA1M LISTEN/WATCH ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/1tMu2BlIgGVUYLLkES4VDo?si=23a99e4d67934ea9 LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/athletes-after-hours-with-gracie-kramer/id1882423066 FOLLOW ME ON SOCIALS — INSTAGRAM: @gracie.kramer (https://www.instagram.com/gracie.kramer?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr) TIKTOK: @graciekramer8 (https://www.tiktok.com/@graciekramer8?_r=1&_t=ZT-94nOAG8Efr3) YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@graciekramer14?si=F28A5yWoqUu0DRPv FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011384569631

What does it take to run 13 marathons in 13 days, swim the Catalina Channel for nearly 10 hours straight in shark infested waters, and still be searching for the next big challenge? This week, I sit down with endurance athlete and former collegiate pole vaulter Seth Wilmoth to talk about what drives him to keep testing his limits. Seth takes us inside his Gold Rush challenge, where he ran 13 marathons in 13 days across California's 13 eco-regions, and his nearly 10-hour swim across the Catalina Channel. But beyond the miles and crazy accomplishments, we get into the mindset behind doing hard things, what happens when your body is telling you to stop, finding purpose through pushing yourself, and why the next challenge always seems to be calling. We also talk about his journey from competitive pole vaulting to endurance sports and what these extreme experiences have taught him about who he is when things get uncomfortable. This episode is about finding out what you're capable of, embracing the unknown, and realizing that sometimes the biggest challenge isn't the finish line — it's figuring out what comes next. CONTACT ME FOR BUSINESS INQUIRIES 💌: [email protected] WATCH MORE OF AAH: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAqmszrKB9tGT2cLtCruLHGYJGHxFdA1M LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/1tMu2BlIgGVUYLLkES4VDo?si=23a99e4d67934ea9 LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/athletes-after-hours-with-gracie-kramer/id1882423066 FOLLOW ME ON SOCIALS — INSTAGRAM: @gracie.kramer (https://www.instagram.com/gracie.kramer?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr) TIKTOK: @graciekramer8 (https://www.tiktok.com/@graciekramer8?_r=1&_t=ZT-94nOAG8Efr3) YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@graciekramer14?si=F28A5yWoqUu0DRPv FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011384569631

What does it really take to handle the pressure of being the last line of defense? This week, I sit down with LA Galaxy goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski for an honest conversation about the highs and lows of life in professional soccer. We talk about the pressure that comes with competing at the highest level, stepping into the legacy of the LA Galaxy, and carrying the weight of a position where one mistake can change an entire game. JT opens up about battling injuries and surgeries, losing confidence in his body, and the mental process of trusting himself enough to compete again. We also dive into how he rebuilt that confidence, found his footing in a new chapter of his career, and what it feels like to be playing some of his best soccer as the Galaxy build momentum with the playoffs around the corner. CONTACT ME FOR BUSINESS INQUIRIES 💌: [email protected] WATCH MORE OF AAH: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAqmszrKB9tGT2cLtCruLHGYJGHxFdA1M LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/1tMu2BlIgGVUYLLkES4VDo?si=23a99e4d67934ea9 LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/athletes-after-hours-with-gracie-kramer/id1882423066 FOLLOW ME ON SOCIALS — INSTAGRAM: @gracie.kramer (https://www.instagram.com/gracie.kramer?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr) TIKTOK: @graciekramer8 (https://www.tiktok.com/@graciekramer8?_r=1&_t=ZT-94nOAG8Efr3) YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@graciekramer14?si=F28A5yWoqUu0DRPv FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011384569631