The Inspired Athlete

Mike Brilla
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  • MENTAL HEALTH

Welcome to The Inspired Athlete Podcast—quick, powerful inspiration for athletes and parents, rooted in modern performance insights and ancient wisdom.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    The Car Ride Home

    Welcome to the Inspired Athlete podcast! In this episode, I'm diving deep into the "sacred" space of the car ride home and why we need to stop letting "monsters" of future anxiety take up a seat in our vehicles . As sports parents, it's so easy to slip into coaching mode or let our own frustrations leak out after a tough loss, but our athletes' brains are wired for survival and often see those critiques as a reason to quit . Drawing on wisdom from Paulo Coelho and Marcus Aurelius, I discuss how extraordinary parenting is found in the simple things—like knowing when a kid just needs a quiet ride or a Chick-fil-A milkshake instead of a lecture on footwork . Let's commit to making our cars a safe place to fail so our kids can build the genuine confidence they need to succeed .

    10 min

  2. 27 APR

    Confidence Isn't Only Built by Winning

    Welcome to the Inspired Athlete podcast! In today's episode, we're tackling the "biggest misconception" in sports: the idea that confidence comes from winning. I open up about the "hardest part" of being a coach and parent—watching an athlete struggle when you know they have the talent, but something in their head is "blocking them". We dive into 2,000-year-old Stoic wisdom, specifically the "dichotomy of control," to explain why anchoring your self-belief to results like victories or rankings makes your confidence "fragile". Instead, we talk about building a "stable foundation" based on things you actually own: your preparation, your effort, and your response to adversity. Whether you're an athlete wrestling with doubt or a parent trying to help, it's time to shift your focus from the scoreboard to the choices you make every single day.

    14 min

  3. 20 APR

    Explore Your Quiet Mind

    Welcome to the Inspired Athlete podcast! In today's episode, we're breaking down why some athletes are absolute "gamers" while others struggle to bring their practice-room energy to the big stage. Drawing on Stoic wisdom and the fascinating concept of the "Quiet Eye," we explore the idea that we don't actually rise to the level of our competition—we fail to the level of our preparation. I'm sharing stories from my coaching days about athletes who thrived under pressure and discussing how mental fatigue can shift your focus from being the predator to becoming the prey. If you've ever felt the weight of a "big moment," this one is for you; we're looking at how to normalize anxiety and train your mind to stay calm so your muscle memory can do the work when the lights get bright.

    12 min

  4. 13 APR

    We are All Time Travelers

    Welcome to the Inspired Athlete podcast! In this episode, I share how a late-night TikTok scroll led me to the band Tucked In, who quickly became the soundtrack for my son and me while he navigated a long, difficult recovery from a freak baseball injury . Beyond just the music, the kindness and personal interest the band members showed my son really hit home for me as a dad . We're diving into the concept of being a "time traveler"—the way athletes constantly replay missed shots and past failures in their minds . Using insights from Dr. Nate Zinser's The Confident Mind, I explain how our brains act as gatekeepers and why we must filter for evidence of our growth and success instead of just our shortcomings . Stick around to hear the full track of "Time Traveler" by Tucked In at the end of the show, and make sure to visit inspiredathletemp.com to sign up for my newsletter and grab your free parent discussion guide .

    16 min

  5. 6 APR

    Life's Great Lie

    Welcome to the Inspired Athlete Podcast! In this episode, I reflect on a powerful moment during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships and a message from Ed Mylett in a conversation with Jay Shetty that completely reframed a tough setback for one of my wrestlers. After falling short of his goal of becoming an All-American—even while several guys he had beaten ended up on the podium—we talk about the critical choice athletes face after disappointment: adopting limiting beliefs or choosing a perspective that keeps possibility alive. I also explore how the brain constantly looks for evidence to confirm what we believe and why the idea of doing "one more"—one more rep, one more adjustment, one more effort—can change the trajectory of an athlete's career.   Be sure to check out The Inspired Athlete Mental Performance for some free resources, to sign up for our email list and to schedule a discovery call to see what the program can do for you.

    6 min

  6. 9 MAR

    Your Thoughts Do Matter

    Welcome to The Inspired Athlete Podcast! In this episode, we dig into a powerful idea about performance: while thoughts matter, they don't get the final say—identity does. Drawing on an insight from Mike Travisano's Refuge in Small Things, we explore the loop between belief, thoughts, emotions, actions, and results, and how the story we carry about who we are shapes everything that follows. I share some reflections from a weekend coaching at the state tournament—van rides, lobby checkers, and honest conversations with athletes—and what stood out about the mindset of two champions. It wasn't that they never had doubts. They did. But their identity was stronger than the doubt, and they knew how to return to the beliefs they'd built through preparation and hard work. This episode is a reminder that champions don't necessarily have better thoughts—they have stronger identities—and it's those identities that guide their actions when it matters most.

    6 min

  7. 2 MAR

    Embrace Struggle

    Welcome to the Inspired Athlete Podcast! This episode is a reflection on one unforgettable weekend filled with highs, heartbreaks, growth, and powerful reminders about what sport is really teaching us. From watching my son compete at his state tournament, to coaching athletes chasing championships and state qualifications, to supporting a college wrestler fighting for one last shot at nationals, I was reminded that competition is never about guarantees — it's about the what if. We talk about success that doesn't arrive on our timeline, the lessons hidden inside losses, and why struggle is actually the proving ground where confidence, resilience, and character are built. Drawing on insights from wrestling, coaching, parenting, Stoic wisdom, and great thinkers like Emerson and Tolstoy, this episode challenges athletes, parents, and coaches to rethink what greatness really means — not medals or outcomes, but who we become through effort, persistence, and the courage to keep showing up when things don't go our way.

    12 min

  8. 23 FEB

    It's About Identity

    Welcome to the Inspired Athlete podcast! Today we're diving into a powerful truth that can completely change the way you compete: your thoughts and feelings are real—but they don't get the final say in your performance. Identity does. We've all been told to "just think positive," but what happens when nerves show up anyway? What do you do when doubt creeps in before a big match or game? In this episode, we're talking about why you're not responsible for the first thought that pops into your head—but you are responsible for what comes next—and how building a strong sense of who you are as an athlete becomes your greatest competitive advantage. Let's get into it.

    11 min
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Welcome to The Inspired Athlete Podcast—quick, powerful inspiration for athletes and parents, rooted in modern performance insights and ancient wisdom.

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