034 | Dr. Julie Partridge Talks Overcoming Setbacks: From Athlete to Academic and Advocate

About the Guest

Dr. Julie Partridge is a distinguished professor and sports psychologist currently serving as the graduate program director and a professor of sport and exercise psychology at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Dr. Partridge transitioned from her early aspirations of becoming a professional musician to a career in sports, earning both a master’s and doctoral degree in sports psychology. In addition to her academic role, she is also an advocate for the National Blood Clot Alliance following her personal health scare with a pulmonary embolism.

Episode Summary

In this enlightening episode of Becoming UnDone, host Toby Brooks invites Dr. Julie Partridge to share her compelling journey from a small-town girl in Kansas with dreams of classical music, to a notable sports psychologist and academic leader. Dr. Partridge discusses her transformative experiences in sports, her eventual path into academia, and the unexpected health scare that redirected her professional and personal focus. This episode provides a deep dive into the challenges faced during transitions, the resilience required to navigate academia, and how life-altering experiences can shape professional paths and personal growth.

The conversation delves into how Dr. Partridge tackled the challenging transition from being an athlete to an academic, and the lessons she learned about failure and perseverance, enriched within her graduate experiences. The narrative takes a poignant turn as she recounts her battle with a pulmonary embolism, which not only tested her resilience but also fueled her advocacy and research in thrombosis and exercise recovery. This episode, rich with keywords like sports psychology, academic challenges, pulmonary embolism, and resilience, is a compelling testament to overcoming adversity and embracing new directions with an open heart and mind.

Key Takeaways

• Dr. Julie Partridge transitioned from dreaming of a music career to excelling in sports psychology, reflecting adaptability and exploration of passion.
• Academic struggles and mentorship can profoundly reshape professional pursuits, with the journey offering many critical lessons in resilience and confidence building.
• An unexpected diagnosis with a pulmonary embolism catalyzed Dr. Partridge’s advocacy in thrombosis awareness and influenced her research path.
• This episode emphasizes the importance of understanding identity beyond professional achievements and the necessity of balancing self-worth with personal and professional endeavors.
• Dr. Partridge’s experiences highlight the power of connecting lived experiences with professional knowledge for meaningful advocacy and community support.

Notable Quotes

1. “I do always encourage people to think about, what else do you do? Who else are you besides this?” – Dr. Julie Partridge
2. “I can’t just roll out the ball and be good at this. I have to work harder than what I was doing before.” – Dr. Julie Partridge
3. “It’s not like I’m saying you could die, that could be worse, but it’s that sense of like, all right, let’s try to keep things in perspective.” – Dr. Julie Partridge
4. “It is important to take time off and to do the things that you love to do.” – Dr. Julie Partridge
5. “I wish I had never have had to meet the NBCA, but they are an awesome group of people.” – Dr. Julie Partridge

Resources

• Follow Dr. Julie Partridge on Twitter: @JulieAPartridge
• Learn more about the National Blood Clot Alliance: Stop The Clot
• Discover more insightful stories on Becoming Undone Podcast: Becoming Undone

Tune in to this episode to gain deeper insights into resilience in the face of adversity, the power of pursuing diverse passions, and the importance of balancing personal identity with professional achievements. Stay connected with future episodes as Toby Brooks continues to explore captivating stories of transformation and relentless growth.