Episode #203 - Patrick Devenny on Identity, Eating Disorders and Finding a Way Back
In this episode, Kat sits down with Patrick Devenny — former football player at the University of Colorado Boulder — for a raw conversation about what happens when the sport that defines you disappears.
In this episode:
How deeply his identity — and his parents' identities — were wrapped up in football
Going undrafted to the Seahawks, a career-ending wrist injury, and the jarring transition to working as a restaurant host with a cast on his hand
The unexpected loss of his mother and how it accelerated a downward spiral
How disordered eating became a way to reclaim control — and how it nearly cost him his life
The random podcast episode that became his lifeline
Why he decided to speak publicly about an issue so stigmatized in men's sports
His take on disordered eating rates among athletes and why so few talk about it
A broader conversation on college athletics, coaching turnover, and what support for student-athletes should actually look like
A note on this episode: This conversation includes discussion of eating disorders and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) are both available 24/7
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