100 Episodes, Almost 10 Years, and We're Still Here: A Lane 9 State of the Union

What does it look like to build something for almost a decade — not because you had a perfect plan, but because you kept showing up? For the 100th episode of the Lane 9 podcast, host Heather Caplan, RDN, sits down with her co-founder Alexis Fairbanks to talk about where Lane 9 started, where the conversation around REDs and period health actually stands in 2026, and what they're still working on. This one is equal parts reflection and real talk — about what it felt like to learn about the Female Athlete Triad after the fact, why athlete stories still matter more than clinical presentations, and why the work is nowhere near done even though the conversation has come a long way. If you've been around since the beginning, this episode is for you. And if you're new here, welcome — this is a good place to start. Chapters \[00:03:00] How Alexis and Heather met — and the conversation that started it all \[00:04:00] Alexis's experience as a collegiate athlete: stress fractures, irregular periods, and being told it was normal \[00:06:00] What it felt like to finally have a name for what happened — and still feel frustrated about it \[00:11:00] Why Lane 9 started: the gap in knowledge, the birth control band-aid, and wanting to do something about it \[00:16:00] The state of the conversation now: more resources, but thinness is coming back strong \[00:22:00] What young athletes actually need — and why peer connection beats clinical education \[00:28:00] The Lane 9 athlete ambassador program: how it works and what's changed going into year two \[00:34:00] The Lane 9 directory and the clinical arm: building one place to find your full healthcare team Resources mentioned: - Lane 9 Athlete Ambassador Program — open to collegiate athletes in women's sport programs; reach out anytime if the application window has closed - Lane 9 Substack — Friday morning notes on REDs, fueling, period health, and women's sports - Stanford FASTR — Dr. Emily Kraus's lab studying RED-S and female athlete physiology - The Moth — storytelling event series; the inspiration behind early Lane 9 in-person events Are you an athlete? Find a sports dietitian, DPT, therapist, or coach who understands athletes at lane9project.org/directory. Are you a clinician or coach? If this conversation resonated with you professionally, Lane 9 Membership was built for you. Join a community of dietitians, DPTs, psychologists, sports medicine providers, and coaches who are doing this work, and get listed in the Lane 9 Directory so athletes can find you. Future clinicians and coaches are welcome too. Follow us on Instagram and get in touch anytime!