In this episode of Project Unlaced, Mia Lerner interviews Christie Dondero Bettwy, the executive director of Rock Recovery, who shares her personal journey through eating disorders and recovery. Christie discusses the complexities of eating disorders, the importance of seeking help, and the mission of Rock Recovery to provide accessible treatment. The conversation also touches on leadership challenges in nonprofits, misconceptions about eating disorders, and practical advice for those struggling with recovery. Christie emphasizes the importance of community support and the need to redefine what recovery means.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Recovery Journeys

02:38 Understanding Eating Disorders

06:21 The Turning Point: Seeking Help

09:33 Rock Recovery: Mission and Impact

11:45 Leadership Challenges in Nonprofit Work

14:34 Defining Recovery and Freedom

20:05 Misconceptions About Eating Disorders

23:13 Advice for Overcoming Recovery Overwhelm

26:36 Supporting Loved Ones in Recovery

Find out more about Rock Recovery at rockrecoveryed.org

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In this conversation, Diya Mankotia, founder of EDSA, shares her personal journey with eating disorders and how it inspired her to advocate for mental health awareness among youth. She discusses the challenges of starting a youth-led organization, the importance of outreach, and the need for more support in schools. Diya emphasizes the significance of relationships in recovery and offers valuable advice for aspiring advocates. She also shares her future plans for EDSA and her goals in public health, highlighting the need for prevention programs in mental health.

Learn more about Project Unlaced at projectunlaced.org

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In this episode of Project Unlaced, we’re joined by Erica Mulholland, a certified speed, agility, and strength coach and former Hall of Fame soccer player. Erica shares how her journey from elite athlete to coach shaped her mission to help young female athletes train smarter, stay healthy, and build confidence.

Erica’s Athletic Journey

Erica reflects on her path from youth soccer to semi-professional play in the U.S. and Brazil, and how passion, discipline, and resilience shaped her approach to both sport and life.

Strength Training for Female Athletes

We dive into common myths around girls lifting weights, why strength training is essential for performance and injury prevention, and how consistency—not overtraining—makes the biggest difference.

Injury Prevention & ACL Rehab

Erica explains why ACL and meniscus injuries are so common in soccer, what traditional rehab often gets wrong, and how proper return-to-play training builds both physical readiness and mental confidence.

Coaching the Whole Athlete

From body awareness and movement fundamentals to confidence-building and fun, competitive training environments, Erica shares how she supports athletes through growth, setbacks, and success.

Advice for Young Athletes

Erica closes with a powerful reminder: trust the process, embrace the highs and lows, and know that every part of the journey is shaping who you’ll become.