My College Soccer Trauma

TL;DR

  • Alex Cooper opens up about her Division 1 soccer experience at Boston University for the first time on the podcast
  • She shares the trauma and difficult experiences she endured while playing college soccer
  • Alex discusses how Call Her Daddy has become a vehicle for her own healing journey
  • The episode marks a vulnerable moment where the host becomes the subject of her own show
  • Ten years after her college athletic career, Alex reflects on the impact those experiences had on her life
  • The conversation connects to her larger mission of creating safe spaces for honest dialogue through the podcast

Key Moments

0:00

Alex introduces the solo episode topic

5:30

First time opening up about Boston University soccer experience

15:45

Detailing the specific traumas from Division 1 athletics

35:20

How Call Her Daddy became her healing mechanism

52:10

Reflection on personal growth and moving forward

Episode Recap

In this raw and deeply personal solo episode of Call Her Daddy, Alex Cooper breaks her silence about one of the most formative and traumatic periods of her life. For the first time publicly, the podcast host opens up about her experience playing Division 1 soccer at Boston University, an era she has largely kept private despite building a platform centered on vulnerability and authentic conversation. This episode represents a significant moment for Alex, as she becomes the subject of her own show, stepping into the role of storyteller rather than interviewer.

Throughout the episode, Alex reflects on the challenges, pressures, and emotional toll of competing at the collegiate level. Division 1 athletics demands immense physical and mental strength, but behind the scenes, many athletes face untold struggles that shape their mental health and personal development. Alex's experience was no exception, and she details the specific traumas that marked her time as a student athlete at Boston University. Rather than glossing over these difficult moments, she confronts them head-on, examining how they impacted her trajectory and sense of self.

What makes this episode particularly poignant is Alex's recognition that Call Her Daddy itself has become a healing mechanism for her. Over the course of ten years, she has built a podcast empire on the foundation of creating spaces where people feel comfortable sharing their deepest truths about relationships, sexuality, and mental health. In doing so, she has inadvertently created a pathway for her own healing. By interviewing countless guests and hearing their stories of resilience and recovery, Alex has been able to process her own experiences and find meaning in the platform she has created.

This vulnerable confession demonstrates the interconnectedness of her journey as a host and as a person. The same skills she uses to put guests at ease and draw out their authentic stories have become tools for her own self-discovery. The episode serves as a reminder that even those who appear confident and successful on the surface often carry hidden wounds from their past.

Alex's willingness to be transparent about her college soccer trauma sends a powerful message to her listeners, many of whom may be struggling with their own athletic or academic experiences. Her story validates the pain that comes with high-pressure environments and emphasizes the importance of seeking healing and support. By sharing her journey, she continues the mission of Call Her Daddy: to normalize conversations around difficult topics and empower people to confront their own pain.

The episode also highlights the evolution Alex has undergone in the ten years since her time at Boston University. Rather than being defined by her trauma, she has channeled those experiences into creating something meaningful and impactful. Call Her Daddy has become not just a podcast, but a cultural phenomenon that has changed how people talk about intimacy, relationships, and mental health. For Alex, discussing her past represents the ultimate full circle moment, using her platform to heal both herself and her audience.

Notable Quotes

For the first time, I'm opening up about what I endured while playing Division 1 soccer at Boston University

Call Her Daddy has become the space where I've found my own healing

Ten years later, I'm finally ready to confront those experiences

Creating this podcast forced me to look inward at my own pain

Vulnerability is the currency of real connection and real growth