Episode Details

Self-doubt will keep you waiting for permission that is never coming.

She was cut late in her sport. Many said she couldn't do it. Then she ended up at her dream school. How did she do it?

In this episode of Twenty Something, Olivia sits down with Eliza Smith, a D1 soccer player at the University of Utah, to talk about what it actually takes to build confidence, chase big goals, and become the kind of person who follows through.

Eliza shares her journey from getting cut, switching teams, showing up to ID camps, advocating for herself, and eventually earning the opportunity to play college soccer. But this conversation goes far beyond sports. It is about discipline, pressure, identity, resilience, and learning how to bet on yourself before anyone else does.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How to stop letting self-doubt control your decisions
• Why confidence is built by keeping promises to yourself
• What athletes understand about discipline, pressure, and resilience
• How to chase a dream without letting it define your worth
• Why rejection is not the end of the story
• How to become the kind of person people want to bet on

Whether you’re an athlete, a former athlete, or someone trying to build the confidence to go after something bigger, this episode will remind you that you do not need the perfect path to become who you are meant to be.

Connect with Eliza:

Instagram: @elizajsmith11

TikTok: @eliza.smith7

Connect with Olivia:

Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast

TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast

YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett