More Than Soccer: Identity Beyond The Pitch.
Episode: #043.
Leeann Passaro.Athlete: Soccer.
Industry Expert: Athlete Mental Health Support.
What happens when the sport that has shaped so much of who you are is no longer the only thing defining you?
In this episode of Almost Pro, we sit down with Leeann Passaro, Executive Director of The Hidden Opponent, to explore a journey through soccer, college, mental health, leadership, and ultimately, identity beyond the pitch.
Leeann grew up competing in one of America’s strongest soccer pathways, with ambitions of playing at an elite college level. But as those opportunities became more real, she began asking a different question: What kind of person do I actually want to become?
That question would follow Leeann through some of the most defining experiences of her life.
She shares how the devastating loss of former teammate Madison Holleran changed the way she viewed success and perfectionism, how concussions affected her own mental health, and why she ultimately chose a different college pathway than the one she had once imagined.
We also talk about the realities of playing in a toxic college soccer environment, the unexpected lacrosse opportunity that showed her what healthy coaching could look like, and how a college classroom project eventually helped lead her to The Hidden Opponent.
Today, Leeann is helping change the conversation around student-athlete mental health on a global scale.
This isn't a story about giving up on sport.
It's about realizing that sport can be an incredibly important part of who you are — without having to be all that you are.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 - What defines an athlete?
01:40 – Growing up in New Jersey soccer
04:45 – Becoming a goalkeeper
07:10 – The pressure — and thrill — of penalty kicks
11:00 – Early specialization & boarding school
14:00 – The loss that changed Leeann's perspective
18:15 – Letting go of the Princeton dream
20:30 – Concussions & mental health
26:00 – Choosing the right college experience
31:30 – A toxic college soccer environment
35:50 – Finding a different side of college sport through lacrosse
40:30 – The project that started something bigger
43:40 – Building The Hidden Opponent
48:20 – Becoming Executive Director
51:35 – This or That with Leeann
🔗 CONNECT
The Hidden Opponent: https://thehiddenopponent.org
Instagram: @thehiddenopponent
Stream Episode. 54:39mins.
