Haley Paez is a Denver-based food content creator and former Division I soccer player at the University of Denver. In this episode, Haley shares her journey through college athletics — from navigating multiple coaching changes and transferring schools, to facing the intense internal and external pressures that came with competing at a high level.

She opens up about her experience with disordered eating, the physical and mental toll of injuries, and the difficult decision to step away from the sport before she felt ready. Haley reflects on the identity loss that followed and how therapy helped her reframe her past, adopting the mindset that “failure is feedback.”

Now a full-time content creator, Haley shares how she’s applied the discipline and work ethic she developed as an athlete to build a career in the digital space. She also talks about rediscovering her love for soccer in a low-pressure environment and learning to define herself beyond sport. This episode explores transition, healing, and what it means to rebuild your identity on your own terms.

If you or someone you know is struggling, Visit the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) to learn about eating disorders, find help, and how you can take action to raise awareness.