The Mental Game with Sam Brief

Episode 82 of The Mental Game brings back former All-Pro NFL cornerback Jerry Azumah, his second appearance on The Mental Game. If you missed Part I with Azumah, click here to listen now. Azumah played seven seasons for the Chicago Bears, earning a Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection in 2003. His NFL career came on the heels of a super successful four years at the University of New Hampshire. Under then-head coach Chip Kelly, Azumah starred as a running back, winning the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in all of Division I-AA. Given his college success, Azumah was blindsided when he found out the Chicago Bears intended to draft him as a defensive back. When they did just that in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft, Azumah was forced to adjust — to learn his sport from the opposite point of view: as a defender. Azumah figured it out for nearly a decade in the NFL. Now, he focuses on his family, his philanthropic work, and on his burgeoning media career. I’ve had the delight of producing and co-hosting his podcast, “⁠To The Points with Jerry Azumah⁠.” On The Mental Game, Azumah… The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Google Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TuneIn⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Stitcher⁠⁠.

Episode 81 of The Mental Game brings aboard World Champion mountain biker and mental performance coach Sonya Looney. As one of the top mountain bikers on Earth, Looney won four USA National Championships and a world title in 2015. In ultra-endurance events, she raced for up to 24 hours at a time in locations ranging from the Himalayan Mountains to the Sahara Desert, where she not only pushed her own limits, but gathered insights she now uses as a coach. In her coaching role, Looney focuses on helping high performers deal with perfectionism in their craft. Looney also hosts the Grow the Good podcast, which serves as a guide to continual personal growth and positive world impact for her many listeners. The teachings of Positive Psychology color many of Looney’s philosophies — she holds a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Neuroscience. On The Mental Game, Looney… The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Google Podcasts⁠, ⁠TuneIn⁠ and ⁠Stitcher⁠.

Episode 80 of The Mental Game brings aboard former All-Pro NFL cornerback Jerry Azumah. Azumah played seven seasons for the Chicago Bears, earning a Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection in 2003. His NFL career came on the heels of a super successful four years at the University of New Hampshire. Under then-head coach Chip Kelly, Azumah starred as a running back, winning the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in all of Division I-AA. Given his college success, Azumah was blindsided when he found out the Chicago Bears intended to draft him as a defensive back. When they did just that in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft, Azumah was forced to adjust — to learn his sport from the opposite point of view: as a defender. As he describes in this episode, the growing pains were grueling — but the subsequent life lessons were enlightening. Azumah figured it out for nearly a decade in the NFL. Now, he focuses on his family, his philanthropic work, and on his burgeoning media career. I’ve had the delight of producing and co-hosting his podcast, “To The Points with Jerry Azumah.” On The Mental Game, Azumah… The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Google Podcasts⁠, ⁠TuneIn⁠ and ⁠Stitcher⁠. The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!

Episode 79 of The Mental Game features two-time Olympic track sprint cyclist, Sam Dakin of New Zealand. Not only is Dakin one of New Zealand’s top athletes, but he’s also among the nation’s foremost mental health advocates. As he deals with obsessive-compulsive disorder, Dakin has taken an active role in helping both himself — through therapy and active coping strategies — and others, by spearheading advocacy and communication efforts. Dakin also heads up Slow Coffee Roasters, which “uses coffee as a way to slow down.” Among Dakin’s top principles is forcing himself to move slowly and “marinate” in life. On The Mental Game, Dakin… The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Google Podcasts⁠, ⁠TuneIn⁠ and ⁠Stitcher⁠.

Episode 78 of The Mental Game features one of the world’s foremost experts on sleep, circadian rhythm and performance: Dr. Alan Kubey. Dr. Kubey previously worked as a sleep consultant for NASA. He was recently contracted to advise the University of California, Berkeley basketball programs as they traversed the country in their first season as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Cal’s status as an ACC school presented myriad challenges for the program, including regular cross-country trips to sites like Duke, UNC, and Boston College to play those East Coast schools. So, the Golden Bears brought in Dr. Kubey, a passionate Cal alum, to counsel their teams on how to manage their sleep and circadian rhythms during the gauntlet schedule. Dr. Kubey’s world-renowned work has the potential to change how college and professional teams (and you) approach travel. On The Mental Game, Dr. Kubey… NOTE: Dr. Kubey’s comments are not meant to be medical advice and are Dr. Kubey’s own. They do not represent the positions of any of the institutions he works for, have worked for or are mentioned during this episode. The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Google Podcasts⁠, ⁠TuneIn⁠ and ⁠Stitcher⁠.

Episode 77 of The Mental Game brings on one of the most mentally locked-in coaches in college basketball: Allison Guth of Loyola Chicago. Guth has been a coach in college hoops since 2004, when she left a corporate job at Coca-Cola to dive into a coaching career that has taken her to Missouri, DePaul, Yale, Northwestern and now Loyola Chicago. Guth values the mental game as much as any coach in the country, imploring her team to be vulnerable, to seek out help when they need it, and to remain connected. After broadcasting her team’s games this season on ESPN+ and interviewing Guth routinely about her team’s ups and downs, I felt she’d be the ideal Mental Game Guest — and I was spot on. On The Mental Game, Guth… The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Google Podcasts⁠, ⁠TuneIn⁠ and ⁠Stitcher⁠.

Episode 76 of The Mental Game features one of the world’s top marathon runners: CJ Albertson. Albertson, 31, is fresh off his best marathon performance to date: a scorching time of 2:08:17 at the Chicago Marathon, where he was the top American finisher. He also bested all other U.S. runners at the 2024 Boston Marathon and will look to do so at the upcoming New York City Marathon on November 3. Albertson’s approach to running is incredibly unique (see: incandescent heat lamps!), and that extends to his mental game. His modes of thinking will intrigue you and may even challenge your own mental process. Albertson, a native of Fresno, California, balances his training weeks of 100+ miles with his life as a husband and a father of two: Luke and Noelle. He is also a professor and cross country coach at Clovis Community College. On The Mental Game, Albertson… The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Google Podcasts⁠, ⁠TuneIn⁠ and ⁠Stitcher⁠. The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 75 of The Mental Game brings award-winning sports psychologist, author and motivational speaker: Dr. Harold Shinitzky. Dr. Shinitzky has joined The Mental Game before to discuss his previous works like “A Champion’s Mindset.” Now, he’s joining to break down his latest book: “Me, Myself, and I: A Narcissist's Mindset: A Self-Help Handbook for Victims-Survivors of a Narcissist.” Dr. Shinitzky’s findings in this space are fascinating — and undoubtedly helpful to anyone who has dealt with a narcissist in their life, whether at work, in a relationship or in the mirror. On The Mental Game, Dr. Shinitzky: The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Google Podcasts⁠, ⁠TuneIn⁠ and ⁠Stitcher⁠. The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 74 of The Mental Game features Julie Kliegman, author of Mind Game: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes. Fueled by interviews with Olympians like Chloe Kim and McKayla Maroney, NBA players Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan, and so many more, Mind Game illustrates the complete story of how elite athletes navigate mental performance and mental illness—and what non-athletes can learn from them. The project was Kliegman's first book (another is in the works already). Before venturing into the book world, they worked at Sports Illustrated and at The Ringer, with work published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bookforum, Slate and more. Kliegman ⁠first joined The Mental Game⁠ in 2022 and now makes a triumphant return, diving into: -The lesser-known "pioneers" of the sports mental health movement. -How Simone Biles sparked a much-needed mental health reckoning in sports. -What they learned from deep talks with McKayla Maroney and Kevin Love. -And much, much more. The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Google Podcasts⁠, ⁠TuneIn⁠ and ⁠Stitcher⁠. The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 73 of The Mental Game features the first-ever Director of Meditation Training in major college sports: Chad McGehee of the University of Wisconsin. Now in his fourth year at UW, McGehee trains student-athletes, coaches and teams on meditation, giving Wisconsin’s teams a mental edge few programs possess. He also collaborates with researchers and scientists on ground-breaking research, which has already produced massively impactful results in the field of meditation. McGehee first joined The Mental Game in January 2021 as he set sail on his new venture. Now a veteran, he’s ready to dive deep on what he’s learned. On the podcast, McGehee… The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Google Podcasts⁠, ⁠TuneIn⁠ and ⁠Stitcher⁠. The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 72 of The Mental Game brings on a guest that will blow your mind. Andy Donaldson is among the most impressive open-water swimmers in history. Last year, Donaldson set the Guinness World Record for fastest time completing the Oceans Seven marathon swim challenge, which consists of seven of the most challenging open water channel swims on Earth, including: Donaldson is the only swimmer to complete all seven within a single year. And in doing so, he raised tens of thousands of dollars for mental health charities, a cause near and dear to his heart. Donaldson says he’s motivated to impact what he sees as the great challenge of our generation — combatting mental health — because of his grandfather’s long battle with depression and his own mental health struggles. Born in Scotland and now living in Australia, Donaldson retired from swimming in 2016 when his Olympic dreams were washed out and took up a job in accounting. In 2020, he moved to Perth, Western Australia and immersed himself in open-water swimming. He has since set three world records, raised meaningful funds for mental health causes and touched millions of lives. On The Mental Game, Donaldson dives deep on: The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Google Podcasts⁠, ⁠TuneIn⁠ and ⁠Stitcher⁠. The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 71 of The Mental Game features the second episode of our series highlighting the Mental Game of Pickleball. Pickleball is a sensation. It’s America’s fastest-growing sport, and it’s gone international. 48.3 million U.S. adults have played it in the last year, and organizations like the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) have heightened the sport to the professional level. In pickleball episode 2, Megan Fudge and Ryler DeHeart join the podcast. Why Fudge and DeHeart on The Mental Game? This husband-wife duo has an incredible story. They met as fellow tennis stars at the University of Illinois and have since quit their day jobs, committed to pickleball as a profession and have each starred the APP Tour. Then, a year ago, they made a drastic decision. Fudge and DeHeart sold their house, bought an RV, and committed to the simple life, driving with their kids, Lily, 9, and JR, 7, around America while on tour. Lily and JR are enrolled in virtual school while their parents crush it on the pickleball court. The drastic lifestyle shift has revolutionized their lives, their pickleball performance and, of course, their outlook. On The Mental Game, Fudge and DeHeart take you behind the scenes. (For even more, here’s Fudge’s Instagram) Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Google Podcasts⁠, ⁠TuneIn⁠ and ⁠Stitcher⁠. The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 70 of The Mental Game features Walt Norley, the founder, chairman and CEO of OnBalance. Why Norley on The Mental Game? Norley is a former NCAA Division I quarterback — who was initially recruited to Ohio State by then-assistant coach Nick Saban. His football career was riddled by injury, and he’s since immersed himself in an uber-successful business career. Norley, like millions, has managed bipolar disorder. With that and his passion for sports in mind, he founded OnBalance, a software platform partners with collegiate athletic departments and pro sports teams to manage mental health and well-being of athletes. The drive behind the platform is two-fold: to help save as many lives as possible and to de-stigmatize mental health for those suffering in silence. Saban’s Alabama football program was among the first NCAA programs to join, and OnBalance is pushing mental health care to the next generation. On The Mental Game, Norley dives deep on his story and that of OnBalance. Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Google Podcasts⁠, ⁠TuneIn⁠ and ⁠Stitcher⁠. The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 69 of The Mental Game brings aboard Ryan Lidge, seven-year professional baseball catcher and now a mental performance coach with ZoneCoach. Why Lidge on The Mental Game? In a way, Lidge is a lifelong mental performance coach. During his time playing at Notre Dame, in the New York Yankees organization and with the Chicago Dogs, Lidge was constantly a leader, locking himself and his teammates in on the mental game. He retired after the 2023 baseball season and has officially joined ZoneCoach as a mental performance coach. Now dealing with life after baseball, Lidge is channeling his energy to helping others tune their mental games. As a player, Lidge’s story inspires: He was cut from the Yankees after the 2019 season and decided to give up. But a last-second change-of-heart turned his career — and his life — around. We dive into it all in this episode. Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Google Podcasts⁠, ⁠TuneIn⁠ and ⁠Stitcher⁠. The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 68 of The Mental Game marks the beginning of our series highlighting the Mental Game of Pickleball. Pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport. 48.3 million U.S. adults have played it in the last year, and organizations like the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) have heightened the sport to the professional level. In our first pickleball-focused episode, one of the sport’s young stars joins The Mental Game. Just 18 years old, Alix Truong has already skyrocketed through the ranks to become one of the elite women’s pros on the APP Tour. After starring for her high school tennis team in Virginia, Truong and her family first dabbled in pickleball during the Covid pandemic. Truong instantly fell in love with the sport, turned into a force on the court and went professional shortly after. She has since won 19 medals on tour, including eight golds. This summer, Truong was drafted by the California BLQK Bears of Major League Pickleball. Why Truong on The Mental Game? Her story begs a few questions: What’s it like to be the youngest person in your field? How does it feel to go pro in a sport you just discovered? Truong answers these burning questions and more in this engaging, insightful episode. Listening to her speak, you’ll find yourself amazed by her mental resilience and fascinated by her story. Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 68 of The Mental Game marks the beginning of our series highlighting the Mental Game of Pickleball. Pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport. 48.3 million U.S. adults have played it in the last year, and organizations like the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) have heightened the sport to the professional level. In our first pickleball-focused episode, one of the sport’s young stars joins The Mental Game. Just 18 years old, Alix Truong has already skyrocketed through the ranks to become one of the elite women’s pros on the APP Tour. After starring for her high school tennis team in Virginia, Truong and her family first dabbled in pickleball during the Covid pandemic. Truong instantly fell in love with the sport, turned into a force on the court and went professional shortly after. She has since won 19 medals on tour, including eight golds. This summer, Truong was drafted by the California BLQK Bears of Major League Pickleball. Why Truong on The Mental Game? Her story begs a few questions: What’s it like to be the youngest person in your field? How does it feel to go pro in a sport you just discovered? Truong answers these burning questions and more in this engaging, insightful episode. Listening to her speak, you’ll find yourself amazed by her mental resilience and fascinated by her story. Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 67 of The Mental Game brings on Josh Reddick, a 13-year MLB veteran, World Series champion and Gold Glover winner. Reddick played from 2009-2021 for the Red Sox, A’s, Dodgers, Astros and Diamondbacks, winning the 2017 World Series with Houston. Why Reddick on The Mental Game? Reddick’s mental game journey is marked by resilience and a sharp edge. He was cut from his middle school baseball team and embraced a “renegade” mentality, one that lifted him to the sport’s pinnacle. And once he reached MLB, he had to accomplish something even more difficult: staying in MLB. Reddick did so with flying colors, becoming a star in the process. He retired earlier this year after playing his final season of baseball in Australia with the Perth Heat. His appearance on The Mental Game will prime you to rise and conquer, no matter what the outside noise dictates. Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: ⁠patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod⁠ We’ve arrived at the second episode of My Playbook, an all-new Mental Game Podcast series. In case you missed the first “My Playbook” with Reggie Hearn, click HERE. To catch you up: On My Playbook, the world’s top athletes, coaches, psychologists and more will peel back the curtain on their personal playbooks for dealing with the ups and downs of life, mental health and their careers. The second guest on My Playbook is Division I college basketball coach and former player Tiffany Sardin. Sardin is fresh off a stint at Saint Louis University, where she was a key member of a staff that guided the Billikens to an Atlantic 10 championship. Previously, Sardin was the head women’s basketball coach at Chicago State University after assistant stints at Clemson, UIC and Longwood, among others. As a player, Sardin served as a three-year captain at the University of Virginia. She then played professionally in Portugal before coaching. I worked closely with Sardin at Chicago State, when I was a broadcaster and sports information director for her teams. I witnessed firsthand her unique mental game-focused coaching style, unafraid to talk mental health and to impact cerebral wisdom on her players. When the Cougars were struggling, Sardin almost always attributed the strife to something mental — and it was no different when they won. Sardin has also battled immense personal setbacks, including the tragic losses of her brother and father in quick succession. Coping with those losses forms the backbone of Sardin’s appearance on My Playbook, in which she gives you her formula for battling loss, recovering and moving on. Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

I’m thrilled to introduce a new feature of The Mental Game podcast: My Playbook. On My Playbook, the world’s top athletes, coaches, psychologists and more will peel back the curtain on their personal playbooks for dealing with the ups and downs of life, mental health and their careers. The first guest on My Playbook is former NBA guard Reggie Hearn. Retired from playing, Hearn now enters his second season working in the San Antonio Spurs scouting department. Out of high school, Hearn received no Division I scholarship offers, so he joined the Northwestern University basketball team as a walk-on. Four years later, he left Evanston as the team’s leading scorer. Then in 2018, after four G-League seasons, Hearn broke through and made it to the NBA with the Detroit Pistons. As he reached his career’s pinnacle, the NBA, Hearn dealt with a debilitating mental health crisis. This necessitated a trip to the hospital and made him rethink how he approaches his mental health. In the inaugural “My Playbook,” Hearn opens up and shares his playbook with us. Hearn is strikingly transparent about his mental health struggles. Once a Psychology major at Northwestern, he also advocates for more mental health awareness and advocacy in sports and the world at-large. Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. Access exclusive content, live Q&As and more — The Mental Game is on Patreon: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 64 of The Mental Game brings on Shannon Suffoletto, a certified mental performance consultant and licensed clinical professional counselor. I met Suffoletto this summer as she worked with the Chicago Dogs baseball team, who I broadcast for. Suffoletto consulted the team amidst their run to the American Association Championship Series. Why Suffoletto on The Mental Game? Suffoletto’s system and philosophy is unique. She specializes in leveraging connection, purpose and mind-body connection to achieve peak performance. I saw this firsthand in Chicago this summer. Also having worked as a dance and movement therapist, Suffoletto has mastered the art of leveraging the mind to guide the body to physical triumph. You’ll be fascinated by her approach. Suffoletto holds a BA in Psychology and Dance from Denison University and a master’s degree (MA) in Dance/Movement Therapy from Columbia College Chicago. She is certified in Laban Movement Analysis and Movement Pattern Analysis. On this episode of The Mental Game, Suffoletto delves into: Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support