Afleveringen
-
đ 1 in 250 young athletes has an undetected heart condition that could turn fatal in a split secondâeven if they look perfectly healthy. This is the story of Nate, a 23-year-old rising star. A kid full of life, energy, and heartâuntil the day his heart just... stopped.
From Waffle House runs to diving catches, Nate lived loud. But nobody ever taught him to listenâto his body, to the warning signs, to what âtoughnessâ should mean.
đ§ Nearly 50% of mental skills form before 18. Yet we wait until pressure hits to build them. This episode challenges that.
đ Mental isnât just about mindset. Itâs about survival.Real strength isnât pushing through. Itâs knowing when to pause.
If youâre an athlete, a coach, a parentâor just someone whoâs been told to be unbreakableâthis oneâs for you.
đ§ Listen. Reflect. Share it forward.Because the world needs more people like Nateâalive and thriving.
-
đ¨ Four seconds. Thatâs all a long jumper gets to turn months of work into a moment that counts.
This episode dives into the story of Randall, a 21-year-old long jump specialist from the University of Texas whose mindset was built not on medalsâbut on moments most people never see. đ§ đĽ
Raised by a quiet, hardworking dad after losing his mom, Randall learned young:đ Hard isnât a reason to stop. Itâs a reason to keep going.
đĄNearly 50% of our mental skills are shaped before 18, but itâs never too late to upgrade your mindset.This isnât just about sports. Itâs about showing up, figuring it out, and asking better questionsâespecially when life doesnât go to plan.
⨠You donât need a perfect plan. You need a persistent one.đŹ Not âWhy me?ââbut âHow can I?â
đ§ Tap in, rate it, share it. Because this one? It sticks.
-
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
-
Did you know that people who practice daily gratitude are up to 25% happier and more resilient when setbacks hit?
Today, we dive into the emotional story of Mandy, a 17-year-old softball player from Little Rock, Arkansas, who lost her dad young, faced injury, rejection, and self-doubt â until she found a weathered gratitude journal that changed her mindset, and her future.This episode is a powerful reminder: gratitude doesnât erase the hard times, it gives you the strength to grow through them.If you're stuck in the "why me?" moments, maybe it's time to shift your focus to "what now?"
-
Did you know the average person has over 6,000 thoughts a dayâand 80% of them are negative? Now imagine trying to compete with that mindset. That was Riley, a 19-year-old beach volleyball player in Venice Beach, known more for her attitude than her athleticism.
But everything changed the night she stumbled across one 12-second reel. It didnât go viralâbut it hit home. From her self-talk to her body language, things began to shift. She didnât overhaul her life overnightâshe just got open to better inputs: better content, better company, better thoughts. And that made all the difference.
-
Did you know the average high school student today reports higher stress levels than adults?Now meet Briannaâa 17-year-old in St. Louis who isnât just handling school and tennis, but raising her little brother, holding a job, and holding her family together.
This episode of Mental is about grit, grace, and the quiet strength it takes to keep showing upâespecially when no oneâs clapping. Brianna couldâve quit. She didnât. Because when something matters enough, we find a way. And when it doesnât, we find an excuse.
Her story is a reminder that even under pressure, you're more capable than you think. And showing upâconsistently, imperfectly, fullyâcan be your biggest win yet.
-
Did you know nearly 1 in 5 college students today are raising a child while pursuing their degree?
Now imagine doing that while rowing for your college team in freezing Maine mornings and chasing a STEM degree. Thatâs Leviâs lifeâand itâs anything but average.
In this emotional and empowering episode of Mental, we meet Levi, a 20-year-old forensic science major at Bates College and a full-time solo dad to his 18-month-old son, Jace. From 4:45 AM alarms to late-night study sessions with a baby monitor in hand, Leviâs story is a living reminder: we're made to do hard things.
Through one pivotal call with his uncle and the unexpected support of his teammates, Levi learns that doing hard things isn't about perfectionâitâs about persistence. This story will leave you humbled, hopeful, and maybe even calling someone you love.
-
Did you know that over 90% of people will have a major career change before the age of 30?
Lilah thought she had it figured outâcollege dropout turned tech startup star. Until the CEO ghosted... the entire company. One minute sheâs pitching big ideas, the next sheâs Googling, âWhat do you do when your life plan quits on you?â
But hereâs the plot twist: what felt like a total fail turned out to be the start of something better. In this episode of Mental, we explore what happens when life doesnât just detourâit takes a hard left. Spoiler alert: sometimes the âwrong turnâ takes you exactly where youâre supposed to be.
-
Did you know that the average Olympic athlete trains for 10 years before earning a single medal?In todayâs episode of Mental, we meet Erika, a 22-year-old track athlete at the University of Nebraska. She's talented, relentless, and respectedâbut she's never been the one to cross the line first. For years, sheâs been second: in races, in rankings, in recognition. But what if second place was never the loss we thought it was? What if it was preparing herâand maybe youâfor something bigger? This is the story of grit, heartbreak, and one final race that redefines what it means to win.
đ§ This oneâs for anyone who keeps coming in second and wonders if itâs ever going to be enough.
-
Did you know nearly 60% of high school athletes say they struggle most with changeânot competition?In todayâs episode of Mental, we step into the cleats of Nico Williamsâa junior shortstop navigating a mid-year move to a new school, new city, and a team that feels anything but welcoming. What his parents called an âopportunity,â Nico experienced as isolation. Until one unexpected teammate, Jordan, changes everything. This episode is a reminder that just because something feels uncomfortable doesnât mean itâs wrongâit just might be your growth zone in disguise. If you've ever felt out of place or unsure in a new environment, Nicoâs story will show you whatâs possible when you stop resisting change and start trusting the process.
đ§ Because real growth happens when you stay in the gameâeven when youâre not sure how to play it yet.
-
đŚ What if the very thing you're trying to avoid is the thing you need the most?
In this episode of Mental, we venture into nature to explore one of the most misunderstood skills we all need: adversity. Through the eyes of 9-year-old Mateo on a warm spring day in Gilbert, Arizona, we discover a powerful life lessonâcourtesy of a butterfly cocoon, a pair of gentle hands, and a moment that changes everything.
If you've ever asked, "Why is this so hard?" or "When will this get easier?"âthis episode is for you. Sometimes, the struggle is the strength.
đ Because without resistance, thereâs no rise. And without adversity, your wings may never form.
-
Many people know the importance of being able to deal with setbacks and building resilience. But what about when you get a taste of success? Do you know how to keep the drive? How to maintain that level when you're there?
đ Did you know that nearly 80% of young adults who reach early success struggle to maintain itânot because of skill, but because of comfort?The real challenge isnât just getting to the top. Itâs staying there without letting it define youâor derail you.
In this episode, we sit down with Liya Brooks, goalkeeper for the University of North Carolina and the Jamaican National Team, to talk about what happens after success. From winning national championships to earning her first international caps, Liya opens up about staying grounded, owning her mistakes, and finding hunger even in the highs.
She shares practical, real-life techniques for how to handle pressure, block out noise, and embrace feedback. Whether you're a young athlete, performer, or just someone chasing your next goalâthis conversation will help you develop the mental tools to stay driven, stay patient, and stay growing.
-
đˇ Did you know people who play or listen to music regularly are 50% more likely to report stronger emotional bonds with those they care about?Because sometimes, music isnât just what brings us togetherâitâs what keeps us together.
In this soulful episode, we meet Big Al, a 24-year-old jazz musician from Memphis who grew up distant from his dadâa quiet Army vet turned city garbage man. They never bonded over sports or long talks⌠but they always had jazz.
As Alâs love for music deepens, so does his understanding of the man who raised him. What starts as silent porch hangs and shared records turns into something bigger: healing, respect, and an unspoken love carried by rhythm and memory.
This story is a reminder that sometimes the deepest relationships donât need big momentsâthey just need consistency, presence, and a little bit of soul.
-
Did you know that roughly 50% of people will experience the sudden death of someone close to them in their lifetime? The impact of that kind of loss is realâand for many young adults, it hits during a season when life is already heavy.
In this emotional and powerful episode of Mental, we meet Emily, a standout athlete at the University of Maryland whose world is turned upside down after the tragic death of her younger brother and best friend, Jake.
What started as a single pill to quiet the pain slowly spiraled into a dependence that cost her the one thing she thought sheâd always haveâlacrosse.
This story isnât about perfection. Itâs about pain, recovery, and the unexpected strength that comes from asking for help. Because healing doesnât start when things feel easyâit starts when we stop pretending weâre okay and start reaching for what we need.
đ This oneâs for anyone whoâs ever felt lost after loss.
-
đĽ Did you know that over 70% of young adults admit self-doubt keeps them from going after what they wantâeven when they're fully capable?
In this episode, meet Karaâa 21-year-old junior gymnast at the University of New Mexico. After walking on as a freshman, she earned a scholarship by year two, dominating floor and uneven bars. But when her coach asked her to compete on the balance beam, everything changed.
Her skills were there. But her self-talk? Brutal. Every practice became a battleânot with the beam, but with the doubt in her own mind. Until a random chat at a summer farmers market led her to Jenn, a sports psychologist who helped Kara understand the one thing that flipped her season: asking for help isnât a weaknessâitâs the start of real strength.
đ If self-doubt has ever held you back from becoming who youâre meant to be, Karaâs story is proofâyouâre not alone, and youâre not stuck.
-
đ Did you know that less than 2% of high school athletes receive any kind of athletic scholarship?
Miguel was a standout junior in Kearney, Nebraskaâa basketball phenom and a long jump star. Locally, everyone knew his name. But college coaches? Not yet. He had the skills, the work ethic, and the dream of playing D1. What he didnât have? A roadmap to get there.
đ Where are you feeling lost? Because no matter what your goal is, talent isnât enough. You need a plan, the right guidance, and the courage to take that first step.
đ§ If this episode hits home, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your future isnât built on luckâitâs built on action.
-
When you blame, you give away your powerâthe power to change, improve, and take control of your own success.
Stan, a 23-year-old golfer at the University of Arizona, had all the talent to go pro. But every time something went wrong, he had an excuse. Bad round? The greens were awful. Missed putt? Caddyâs fault. Bad grade? The professor didnât like him.
Then, one morning, he came across a podcast that shook himâas long as he blamed others, he was giving them control over his life.
That moment changed everything.
Instead of making excuses, he started looking for solutions. He asked better questions, took responsibility, and finally started improving. And when the PGA Tour came calling, it wasnât luck. It was because he earned it.
đ You can blame or you can improveâbut not both. The second you take ownership, your life shifts.
So hereâs your challenge: Where in your life do you need to stop pointing fingers and start taking control?
đ§ If this episode hits home, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Mental skills arenât just for athletesâtheyâre for life.
-
đ Did you know that less than 3% of foster youth earn a college degree? Not because they arenât capable, but because navigating life without a stable foundation makes planning for the future feel impossible.
Joey is 16, living in rural Georgia with his third foster family. Heâs spent years learning new rules, new routines, and constantly wondering: How long before this ends too?
Now, as a high school junior, his biggest challenge isnât just survivingâitâs figuring out what comes next. College? Trade school? A job? Stay with his foster family? Move back with his biological mom?
đ No roadmap. No certainty. Just questions.
Some days, the weight of it all makes shutting down feel easier. But doing nothing is still a choice.
So instead, Joey takes one step. A conversation. An application. A decision to move forward, even when the path isnât clear.
And thatâs the takeawayâuncertainty doesnât disappear, but action makes it easier. You donât need all the answers. You just need the courage to take the next step.
đ So whatâs yours?
đ§ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it. Mental skills arenât just for athletesâtheyâre for life. Be the difference.
-
đ¨ Did you know that perfectionists are 51% more likely to experience anxiety and depression? đ¨
Itâs not just about high standardsâitâs about never feeling good enough. And for Asher, a 20-year-old diver at the University of Oregon, that feeling ruled his life.
On the outside? He was elite. Top scores. Near-perfect GPA. The guy who always had it together.On the inside? Every mistake ate him alive. Every flaw, a failure.
Then, one random conversation changed everything.
đĄ What if you stopped chasing perfection and started measuring progress instead?
đ§ This episode is for anyone who feels like theyâre never enough. Letâs shift that mindsetâbecause progress beats perfection every time.
-
đ¨ Did you know that nearly 1 in 3 young women will experience intimate partner violence before theyâre even 25? đ¨
Mia was 19, trapped in a toxic relationship with nowhere to go. She thought she had no optionsâuntil one night changed everything. After discovering she was pregnant, she made the hardest and bravest decision of her life: to leave.
No plan, no support, just the realization that staying wasnât just hurting her anymoreâit was shaping the future of her child. This is her story of survival, courage, and choosing a future that no one thought she deserved.
đ§ If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation, you are not alone. This episode is a must-listen.
-
Ever feel uncertain about moving forward?
Meet Zach. He's 19, fresh out of high school, and stuck. No job, no plan, just hours of gamingâbecause in the game, he knows what to do. Real life? No strategy guide, no clear objectives, just pressure.
But one night, he asks himself the question that changes everything: If I donât figure something out now, where will I be a year from now?
This episode isnât about quitting what you loveâitâs about navigating through uncertain times in your life when you don't have it all figured out, about how to start from nothing and nowhere. Don't worry about if you're moving slow. You're already ahead of those who haven't started.
đ§ Tune in and learn how to take control of your futureâone step at a time.
- Laat meer zien
