Kendall Ryan is a former collegiate Athlete who suffered from multiple concussions that lead to him ultimately being medically disqualified from the sport he grew up playing and ultimately created his identity around. In part due to concussions and having to give up football for medical reasons, Kendall suffered from depression and anxiety in his day to day life through the latter half of his collegiate stint. After college Kendall found himself working in technology sales when he moved to Chicago and found his passion for travel. After about two years in Chicago, he found himself moving to Atlanta, Georgia to work for a new organization and explore a new city. He lived in Georgia for roughly half a year until COVID-19 hit. During Covid Kendall realized our own country has so much to offer from a learning standpoint thus pushing him to continue to travel and meet people across the US. Kendall now lives in Seattle, Washington and works for a global company where he works with hyper-growth companies to support their ambitious growth goals. Kendall is a lifelong traveller and is always looking for a new location to explore. He strives to live by the motto: "The only language all humans speak is emotion. If we can understand emotion, we can understand a person. If we can understand a person we can create a positive lasting impact."
In this episode, Kendall and I talk about his mental health journey with what playing football meant to him, the impact of leaving the sport after receiving multiple concussions, toxic masculinity, and so much more. It took a lot of bravery for Kendall to share this story, especially as one of the first personal stories on this platform, and I just wanted to take a second to acknowledge that and acknowledge his vulnerability in sharing. As men, it is not easy to share about mental health struggles and Kendall really stepped up as a leader in that regard. So thank you Kendall, I learned a lot from you during our time together. For more information on Kendall, check out his social media @kendall__ryan__. Follow me @joshkorac on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for video clips, podcast previews, and more mental health content.
Fact Check: Bipolar disorder is just as common with women and men, but for men, it can be harder to identify and therefore harder to treat.
Takeaways
Identity can become closely tied to sports and athletic achievements, leading to challenges when faced with injuries or the end of a sports career.
Mental health struggles, such as anxiety and depression, are common among athletes, but often go unnoticed or unaddressed.
Creating a supportive community and fostering open conversations about mental health is crucial for athletes and individuals in general.
Challenging societal expectations of masculinity and promoting vulnerability can help break the stigma surrounding mental health. Opening up about mental health struggles can be difficult, but it is important to find support.
Chosen family and close friendships can provide valuable support and understanding.
Sharing personal stories can have a profound impact on others and create a sense of community.
Finding purpose in life involves observing the passage of time and making the most of each moment.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:39 Personal Stories and Mental Health
04:36 Childhood and Identity
08:09 Sports as Identity
13:23 Concussions and Turmoil
20:45 Challenging Masculinity and Seeking Help
25:32 Importance of Community and Support
30:36 Creating a Supportive Environment
37:03 Using Personal Experiences to Connect
38:08 The Power of Vulnerability
39:32 Technical Difficulties
42:09 Opening Up to Family
45:12 Supportive Family
47:32 Chosen Family
49:00 Sharing Stories
51:23 Finding Purpose
53:19 Observing the Passage of Time
55:26 Expanding Perspectives
56:37 Growth and Celebration
57:04 The Power of Connection
57:44 Reconnecting and Reflecting
