Mettle Minds Podcast Leslie Podlog

In episode 54 of Mettle Minds Podcast Sport psychologist Dr. John Heil and Sport Psychology professor Dr. Les Podlog discuss Simone Biles decision to withdraw from the Olympics, and its impact on the world of sport. They examine the underlying issues in away that is sensitive to the everyday reality of sport but informed by sport science.   They discuss athlete mental health, injury risk and psychological readiness, athletes’ rights and organizational culture, and cumulative stress and critical incidents. They also touch on remarkable feats and traumatic growth, the enduring impact of the ideals of the Greek Olympics on the culture of contemporary sport, and lastly, advocacy and the importance of seizing the moment as an opportunity for change.


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In Episode 53 of Mettle Minds, I speak with Kevin Luhrs, an Associate Principal Scientist at Gatorade Sport Science Institute. Kevin was also a former defensive lineman for the Nebraska Cornhuskers as well as the team dietician and assistant strength coach for 9 years at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his time as a Cornhusker, Kevin experienced a serious knee injury that became a debilitating source of chronic pain -- one that eventually impacted his work with the Bucs, quality of life, and mental health.   In this “deep dive” conversation, Kevin discusses the negative impact of injury and chronic pain on his personal and professional identity and feelings of self-worth. He candidly discusses the “high-testosterone” environment and masculine culture of football led him to try and expedite his return to the field after injury. Kevin also highlights the importance of his support network in helping him experience personal change, growth, and a new perspective on life.


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Episode 52 of Mettle Minds, features Jocelyn Bonney, an NCAA champion and professional triathlete who represents the U.S. at international competitions. Bonney discusses her recent trials and tribulations dealing with a severe concussion.   She provides a highly personal account of the physical and psychological impact of concussion on her mental well-being and training. Bonney highlights her use of self-talk as well as the role of hope, gratitude, and social support in facilitating concussion recovery. She suggests that adopting the mindset that injury is something that “happens for you, rather than to you” can be highly beneficial.


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Episode 51 of Mettle Minds features Dr. John Heil and Dr. Les Podlog, who reflect on the “state of the art” psychological research and practical management of sport injury. Dr. Podlog highlights the need for more multidisciplinary, theory-based research, while Dr. Heil advocates a team approach to rehabilitation.  Both Heil and Podlog encourage scholars to share their research findings with injury practitioners and to disseminate their work beyond traditional academic outlets.


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Episode 50 of Mettle Minds features Dr. Dale Forsdyke, a Senior Lecturer in Sport injury Management at York St. John University, UK. Dr. Forsdyke is a leading sport injury researcher and head of Science and Medicine at York City Tier 1 Regional Talent Club where he oversees the athletic development of elite female soccer players.   Dale discusses the role of acute and chronic stress in injury risk, the importance of athletes’ taking ownership of their recovery, and the need for athletes’ to be physically and psychologically ready to return to sport. Dr. Forsdyke discusses ways to assess psychological readiness including use of psychological assessment tools, clinical judgements of athletes’ capabilities, and informal conversations with the athlete.


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In episode 49 of Mettle Minds Podcast, Dr. Rod Havriluk, a world- renown expert on swimming biomechanics, discusses prevention of shoulder injuries. Dr. Havriluk applies the latest biomechanics research and technology (e.g. force analysis and underwater video) to help athletes improve their technique, enhance performance times and reduce injury risk.   Dr. Havriluk discusses the importance of performance cues and deliberate-practice training principles in optimizing performance and reducing injury risk. In his work with coaches and athletes, he attempts to overcome conventional wisdom that higher training loads equate to better performance.


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