The Mental Matchup

The Mental Matchup
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  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Presented by Morgan’s Message, The Mental Matchup is a podcast focused on opening up dialogue about athlete mental health. Co-hosts Kat Zempolich and Schuyler DeBree are both former division one athletes who attended Duke University, and are passionate about making sure no one feels alone in their mental health challenges.

  1. 43 MINS AGO

    Episode #182 - Bre Smedley

    What if an athlete doesn’t quit because they stop loving their sport — but because they never learned how to handle the pressure? This week on The Mental Matchup, Coach Bre shares her journey as a former collegiate volleyball player who appeared successful on the outside while quietly struggling with the mental demands of high-level competition. Discovering mental performance training later in her career transformed her relationship with sport and inspired her life’s work. Now a Certified Mental Performance Coach and Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, Coach Bre helps athletes, coaches, and parents build practical mental skills so athletes can handle pressure, grow through adversity, and enjoy their sport — before burnout or setbacks hit. A 4× state champion head volleyball coach, Coach Bre brings 13+ years of experience and a background in education to redefining how mental training shows up in sports. Find the Coach Her Game Podcast here Find the Coach Her Game YouTube here Connect with Coach Bre on IG here Find Morgan’s Message here Connect with Morgan’s Message on IG here

  2. MAR 11

    Episode #181 - Maddie Meadows

    This week, we’re joined by former Division III lacrosse player and mental health counselor Maddie Meadows. Maddie shares her journey with anxiety — and the pivotal conversation with her mom that led her to begin therapy. Just two years later, during her senior lacrosse season, her mom was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Maddie opens up about navigating anticipatory grief while balancing athletics, academics, and life after sport. Now working in the mental health field, she reflects on the gaps in support at the Division III level and challenges the idea that “mental toughness” should come before mental health. This episode is a powerful reminder that athletes are human first — and that support systems matter. Learn more about Morgan’s Message hereFollow Morgan’s Message on IG here

  3. MAR 4

    Episode #180: Grief, Identity, and Playing Through Loss with Aubrey Ide

    In this episode of The Mental Matchup, Kat chats with Aubrey — a Division I field hockey player at Lehigh University and co-founder of the Live Like Liv Foundation — to talk about what it’s really like to navigate profound loss as a young adult and student-athlete. After losing her best friend, Liv, to leukemia, Aubrey found herself balancing the demands of Division I athletics while carrying a grief that felt impossible to put into words. In this conversation, she shares how loss reshaped her identity, her relationship with sport, and the way she shows up for others. Aubrey opens up about: What grief looked like behind the scenes of being a “high-functioning” athlete The silent pressure student-athletes feel to keep performing while struggling internally How vulnerability became a source of strength Building the Live Like Liv Foundation to honor her best friend’s legacy This episode is a reminder that student-athletes are navigating more than practices, games, and exams — they’re navigating life. And sometimes, that life includes unimaginable loss. Learn more about Live Like Live hereLearn more about Morgan’s Message hereFollow Morgan’s Message on IG here

  4. 2025-11-19

    Episode #179 - Mallory Holloway

    This week on The Mental Matchup, Kat sits down with a true force of nature, Mallory Holloway. Mallory is a Division I runner at Marist University who’s redefining what’s possible while living with cystic fibrosis. From childhood days spent doing three breathing treatments a day to becoming a collegiate athlete, her story is all about resilience, perspective, and the power of hope. In this conversation, she opens up about growing up with a rare lung disease, the mental health challenges that came with it, and how one life-changing medication gave her the chance to chase her dreams. It’s a story of grit, gratitude, and what it means to keep showing up — breath by breath, mile by mile. Connect with Mallory on IG hereLearn more about Morgan’s Message hereFollow Morgan’s Message on IG hereFollow The Mental Matchup on IG here

  5. 2025-10-30

    Episode #178 - The Keep Going Podcast x Morgan's Message

    In this episode, Kat is joined by the team behind The Keep Going Podcast — a show born from the same mission that started Morgan’s Message: to destigmatize mental health in athletics and remind student-athletes that they are never alone. They share the story of how Morgan’s Message began, how The Keep Going Podcast continues that mission, and the impact of bringing real, raw mental health conversations into the athletic world. From navigating grief and identity to building community through storytelling, this episode is a reminder that sharing your story can inspire others to keep going. Listen to The Keep Going Podcast to hear more powerful stories from athletes and advocates who are changing the conversation around mental health. Connect with The Keep Going Podcast on IG hereListen to The Keep Going Podcast here Learn more about Morgan’s Message hereFollow Morgan’s Message on IG hereFollow The Mental Matchup on IG here

  6. 2025-10-15

    Episode 177 - Kat on Why Grief Changes Everything

    In this deeply personal solo episode, Kat opens up about losing a close friend to suicide — and how grief reshaped every part of her life. She reflects on what it means to live through unimaginable loss, the ways grief shows up in the body and mind, and how healing isn’t about “getting over it,” but learning to carry it differently. Kat also shares insights from her own journey and the science behind grief — how it impacts the brain, why it changes us, and what helps along the way. This conversation is raw, real, and a reminder that grief is both deeply human and deeply personal. Whether you’ve experienced loss or are supporting someone who has, this episode offers space, compassion, and hope. Learn more about Morgan’s Message hereFollow Morgan’s Message on IG hereFollow The Mental Matchup on IG here

  7. 2025-10-08

    Episode #176 - Erin Devine

    In this week’s episode of The Mental Matchup, Kat sits down with Erin Devine, a current member of the Rutgers Women’s Lacrosse team, to talk about resilience, identity, and finding yourself beyond the setbacks. After enduring multiple knee injuries, Erin opens up about what it was like to shift into a new role on her team, the mental toll of recovery, and how she learned to listen when she stopped feeling like herself. Erin shares her journey through vulnerability and strength. From redefining success to learning that healing is not just physical, but emotional too. Her story is a powerful reminder that your worth as an athlete isn’t measured by stats or playing time, but by the courage it takes to keep showing up for yourself and others. Connect with Erin on IG here and here Follow The Mental Matchup on IG hereFollow Morgan’s Message on IG here Learn more about Morgan’s Message here

  8. 2025-10-01

    Episode#175 - Gabby Pelfrey

    This week, Kat sits down with Gabby Pelfrey to talk about the pressures of college athletics, the challenges of graduating, and the journey of rediscovering joy after sport. Gabby shares how she found healing in new routines, self-discovery, and building a life beyond competition by offering encouragement to anyone navigating the transition out of athletics. Connect with Gabby on IG hereLearn more about Morgan’s Message hereFollow Morgan’s Message on IG here

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Ratings & Reviews

About

Presented by Morgan’s Message, The Mental Matchup is a podcast focused on opening up dialogue about athlete mental health. Co-hosts Kat Zempolich and Schuyler DeBree are both former division one athletes who attended Duke University, and are passionate about making sure no one feels alone in their mental health challenges.

Information

  • Creator
    The Mental Matchup
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    189
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Morgan's Message
  • Show Website
    The Mental Matchup

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