Ep 39: Whitney Lauenstein: Stepping Into Happy Valley, Reclaiming the Joy, and the Reality of Being a D1 Super-Mom

Listener’s Note: This episode contains references to suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available 24/7. Please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or check the resources listed at the bottom of these show notes.

In this episode of the Side Out Society Podcast, we sit down with Penn State’s graduate outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein for an incredibly honest conversation about resilience, self-advocacy, and growth. Whitney pulls back the curtain on her highly publicized collegiate journey from Nebraska to Texas, sharing the immense courage it took to step away from the sport to properly process personal grief after losing her dad to suicide. She breaks down how the arrival of her daughter, Layla, completely transformed her relationship with volleyball, shifting her focus from social media speculation to the beautifully hectic reality of being a D1 student-athlete and a mom.

Whitney takes us behind the scenes of her new life in Happy Valley, explaining how a search on Zillow and a profound desire to play for an all-woman coaching staff led her straight to Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley. She opens up about the logistical grind of balancing peak physical training with parenting, and how her fiancé, Luke, stepped up as a stay-at-home dad so she could fearlessly chase her final collegiate chapter.

If you or someone you know is going through a difficult time or experiencing a mental health crisis, please know that support is available 24/7. You are not alone.

The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US & Canada): Call or text 988 to speak with a trained counselor. It is free, confidential, and available 24/7. Website: 988lifeline.org

The Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor via text. Website: crisistextline.org

The Trevor Project (For LGBTQ youth): Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678. Website: thetrevorproject.org

Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255. Website: veteranscrisisline.net

International Resources: If you are listening outside the United States, please find a helpline in your country at findahelpline.com or befrienders.org.