Coaches, Competitions, and the Drama of Walking Away From Sports

This week on the RL, Rachel & Liv are taking it all the way back to their athletic roots—sharing the highs, lows, and deeply dramatic endings that came with growing up in sports. From the pressure of performance to the heartbreak of letting go, they open up about the emotional weight of walking away from something that once defined them. Liv shares the wild story of walking out of her last ever practice the day before a competition (yes, really), while Rachel reflects on what it was like to travel solo to Thailand to pursue Muay Thai, and compete in France with no idea what was ahead. There’s also a marathon in the mix, obviously. But this conversation isn’t just a trip down memory lane—it’s also a reflection on how their relationships with movement have evolved. They unpack the joy and struggle of finding athletic outlets in adulthood, the difference a good coach can make, and how learning to work with your body—especially in sync with your menstrual cycle—can completely unlock a new level of power and performance. Whether you’re deep in your fitness era or still trying to figure out how to move in a way that feels good, this one is for anyone who’s ever laced up their shoes and wondered who they were without the sport.