Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelli Tennant.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kelli. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
How did I get here? Where have I been? I’m so glad you asked.
I’ve spent the last 12 years covering sports. Inside locker rooms, standing on sidelines, sitting in studios, getting hit in the back of the head with a soccer ball — go ahead and google that — I’ve covered some of the best teams, athletes, and organizations in the entire world. I’ve had access to the best of the best.
But, there were always pieces missing for me. First, it was the ability to get to the real stuff. I could talk to them about the game, their performance, but when my 30 seconds of airtime was up, that was it. I didn’t get to ask them about their deepest fears, the things they cared about outside of their sport, what got them up in the morning, what brought them to their knees, which moments shaped them, and how they navigate perfectionism, criticism, success, and growth.
I wanted to, so badly, but those moments were all left for off camera… when out of nowhere, I would be standing in a locker room and a player would just start talking to me about life, their diet, health issues, fear of having to retire and the struggle of being constantly pulled in every direction. I lived for the conversations off camera, when we could just be two people, truly relating to the most common levels, in an authentic way. Those moments were magical.
The second thing missing was my ability to connect with women. I worked with almost all men in a male-dominated field. While that career had its’ countless obstacles I was forced to navigate, the biggest theme I began to see was my lack of interest in being surrounded by that energy all the time.
I had avoided women for much of my adult life because of my experience with them as a child was traumatic. They were mean bullies who manipulated me, cast me to the side and suggested I was not welcome or worthy. The competition and jealousy were through the roof from a very young age, and once I hit high school, I was already deeply scarred.
But over the past few years, I’ve had this desire to be covered in loving, supportive female energy. I wanted to find and create the tribe of powerful, enlightened women I never had and teach young girls that this type of environment and sisterhood is very possible.
Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention, I’ve spent the last 13 years in a painful health battle. At 17 my body began attacking itself with pneumonia, mononucleosis, Epstein Barr and a slew of other issues. While I was playing volleyball at USC as the captain of the team and starting middle blocker, my body completely shut down, and at 19, I was forced to retire. My left leg was completely numb, it dragged behind me, I was in a deep depression, with severe pain from head to toe, blurred vision, digestive issues, chronic, horrible fatigue and no end in sight. I’ve seen every type of doctor, been diagnosed with a multitude of issues, many of which were completely wrong, and experimented with every diet, pain pill, muscle relaxer, and antidepressant there is. You name it, they put me on it.
After years of running through conventional medicine, I had enough. I went the holistic route and it changed my life. I found a team to surround myself with self-care gurus, fascia specialists, functional medicine doctors, non-toxic brands, Ayurvedic practitioners, shamans, therapists, psychics, and reiki healers. (I know, that’s a lot!)
Now, at 30, with all the education and self-care I’ve accrued throughout this time, and with the support of an entourage of the best and brightest minds, I feel better than I have in I don’t know how long. I feel clear, I have better energy, I am vibrating at a different energetic frequency, and my spiritual path and consciousness have been blown wide open.
My journey is as much mine as it is yours now, as I do my best to share everything I’ve learned with you. I hope the lessons I’ve learned and the many seasons I’ve lived through giving you permission to grow and challenge yourself as well.
The platform podcast will be a place to support women through deep, thoughtful conversations with someone of the best and brightest minds I could find. It’s a place where we get real, so you can be well.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My advice to young women is to be true to who you are. It is so easy, especially today, to lose ourselves in other people’s expectations and what society tells us is right or wrong. At the end of the day, you can only answer to yourself and shine brightly in whatever that looks like.
Also, be kind to everyone. We all have our off days, but if we approach each situation with compassion and love, understanding we are all going through something, the world will be so much better. People deserve to be treated kindly, and that also goes for the way you treat yourself.
Say yes to opportunities, even when they’re not exactly in your wheelhouse. I was covering sports and would constantly get thrown into new, different situations. They weren’t ideal for the time, but in the long run, always taught me a really valuable lesson and led me to the next step.
Please tell us about the platform.
I am sort of an anomaly, leaving sports and jumping to create my own show and non-toxic retail website. My goal, however, has always been about helping others. I truly believe that creating communities is the best way to support people through health problems, body image issues, relationships, transitions and everything in between.
I am here to change the narrative around women supporting women, shift the mindset for the next generation, educate people about a clean, nontoxic lifestyle and empower women to be their most genuine, powerful selves.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
Finding a mentor is something I have aimed to teach young women for years now. It is one of the things I am best at and the women in my life that have stepped into this role for me have been absolutely critical in setting the stage for me to stay true to myself, find success and help the next generation of girls.
I always reach out to people in a very kind manner, asking to get coffee or talk on the phone to discuss whatever it is I feel I need guidance on. The most important thing is to come prepared. If someone is taking that much time out of the day to meet you, have poignant, thoughtful questions written down. Take notes and be as specific as possible. If they aren’t available to meet but are able to ask questions via email, choose your 3-5 most pressing questions and ask those.
Also, following up is never bad. People are busy, and it’s helpful to remind them. Just be kind and understanding about it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thisistheplatform.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @kellimtennant
- Twitter: @kellitennant
Image Credit:
Meghan O’Sullivan
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