16. From Foster Care to Pro Athlete with Steven Benedict

I’m joined by Steven Benedict, a professional track and field athlete and Olympic Trials Qualifier, to discuss his unique and inspiring story. There are over 400,000 children in the foster care system, and at just a few months old, Steven became part of that statistic. At eight years old, he and his younger brother were adopted by a supportive and loving family who encouraged him to try out every sport that sparked his interest.  Though he was involved in all different after-school activities growing up, Steven felt naturally inclined and interested in track and field. Since then, he’s done consistent work to build internal confidence and become a world-class athlete. In addition to competing in the Adidas Classic Diamond League and US Nationals, he ran for Nike for 2 years and was a Penn Relays Champion. Off the track, Steven is the founder of Empowering Movement, a coaching business that offers tailored programs to elite and up-and-coming athletes that utilizes his signature Performance Coaching Method. He’s also the founder of a non-profit organization called Fostering Success, which pairs professional athletes with foster kids to create awareness, offer mentorship, and support ongoing opportunities for fostered and adopted children nationwide. Listen to today’s episode to learn more about Steven’s incredible story and how he’s working to create sustainable change in the foster care system.  Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Simplecast, or on your favorite podcast platform.  Topics Covered: How being exposed to different activities and communities as a child added up and expanded Steven’s track and field skill set  What Steven means when he calls running a ’soul sport’  How Steven has worked to develop his mental, physical, spiritual, and situational awareness  The reality of what it takes to be a professional athlete  Steven’s vision for Fostering Success and how he plans to move the needle in the foster care system  About our guest:  Steven's Website Fostering Success Website Special Offers:  If there’s a topic or charity you want me to highlight on the podcast, DM it to me on Instagram @getbusylivin_pod Follow Us: Get Busy Livin’ Podcast Website Get Busy Livin’ Podcast Instagram  Get Busy Livin’ Podcast Twitter Anne’s Website  Anne’s LinkedIn Anne’s Instagram Anne’s Twitter