Who is Sam Kelley?

Samantha Kelley is an international presenter, author, and speaker. She is the Founder and current President of FIERCE Athlete Inc. She is the author of BE FIERCE: The Athlete’s Guide to Growing Physically, Mentally, and Spiritually. She holds an Honorary Doctorate in Applied Leadership from Walsh University, a Masters in Catholic Psychology from Divine Mercy University, a Catholic Innovators Certificate from The University of Notre Dame, Certification in Strength & Conditioning, and Certification from Encounter Ministries. She is a Leonine Fellow, and has extensively studied the Theology of the Body. Her founding of FIERCE Athlete was inspired by her own athletic career, where she was a 9x state champion in high school between soccer, ice hockey and track. She also played Division I Soccer at UConn and is currently involved in competitive rowing, pickleball, and triathlons. Through FIERCE she desires to reach female athletes, coaches, and parents across the world and change the culture of female athletics. She also has a deep love for the Catholic Faith and sharing the truths of it with the world. Her heart is in helping set people free and achieve deeper healing through physical and inner healing prayer, talks, retreats, mentorship and accompaniment. She currently resides in Pennsylvania with her golden retriever Birdie.

Sam Speaking

Sam giving the 2025 Walsh University Commencement Address on Overcoming Fear.

The Amazing Design of Our Bodies

There is a lot of confusion today about the human body. At a conference on the Church’s response to the Transgender movement, Sam presents the theological and anthropological basis of the human body and its goodness. Sam also comments on this movement’s negative impact on women’s sports.

Fitness to Holiness: Strengthening Body & Soul

Bodies and souls cannot be divided on this side of Paradise and Samantha Kelly has found an unlikely way to let her soul pray while she works out. In her words, “a holy hour at the gym” isn’t scandalous, but rather it’s a way to unite our bodies to Christ and offer up sufferings for others.

Chris Stefanick Show

This week, we have another top athlete with us. She is a former Division I soccer player at the University of Connecticut. Samantha Kelley is the president of FIERCE Athlete, a program designed to help women understand their femininity in the context of athletic competition. Samantha knows the challenges that women face in sports, from a toxic culture to the difficulty of figuring out how femininity fits in athletics. In fact, these are all struggles she faced herself at UConn. Fortunately, women have a LOT to offer to the world of sports, as Samantha explains. Whether you're a sports fan, an athlete, or just want to understand femininity a little better, you can’t miss this awesome interview!