We had the good fortune of connecting with Chloe Roach and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Chloe, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I was a college athlete struggling with depression and anxiety and I didn’t know it at the time. My playing career came to an end, I decided to drop out of college and my depression started getting worse and I felt hopeless. After taking my first solo trip across the country, I was motivated to change. I was determined to feel better, so I started educating myself. I read books and articles about the mental health, the mind and ways to train it, I listened to motivational podcasts and joined mentor programs. I started doing the things I was learning and was able to change my mindset and feel better. Once I felt better, I started to realize how many other athletes were struggling the same way I did and I wanted to help. I decided to create SIMPLY FREE. to educate athletes about mental health and its affects and motivate them to be their best mentally. I do this through motivational speaking, podcasts, pop-up events, designing merch and more!
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
SIMPLY FREE. is dedicated to educating about mental health and removing the stigma around it, especially in the athletic community. I’m looking to create safe spaces for athletes to talk about mental health and help athletes learn healthy ways to cope with their emotions. As an athlete, I didn’t realize how important the mental aspect of the game was so I’m always looking for ways to incorporate mental training with the physical.
I started SIMPLY FREE. in 2019 while still in college and was just selling a few t-shirts and hoodies. After deciding to drop out of college, I decided to focus on SIMPLY FREE. full time. I started learning about business and how to create a brand and I started taking steps towards building my brand. It hasn’t been easy, but my faith in God and surrounding myself with positive people has helped me get to where I am.
I’ve learned how important it is to be patient.
I want the world to know that talking about your mental health is not a sign of weakness and you CAN get better, it just takes time. I’m going to continue to educate myself and others on mental health and motivate athletes to be their best mentally during and after sports.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I enjoy seeing new places so finding new food spots in downtown or DC would be first. Then, finding a fun activity like going to a museum or hiking or something relaxing.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my family and friends who have stuck with me through the ups and downs!
Website: www.simplyfreeco.com
Instagram: simplyfreeco
Twitter: simplyfreeco
Facebook: Simplyfreeco
Youtube: SIMPLY FREE.