The Inspired Athlete

Mike Brilla
  • 5.0 (3)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

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

  1. 4D AGO

    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

  2. JAN 21

    Just Stop Worrying

    Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! In this episode, Just Stop Worrying, I lean on the timeless wisdom of Marcus Aurelius in Meditations to remind us of something we all need to hear—far more of our mental energy is spent on things that are completely outside our control. Whether it's the opinions of others, the outcomes we can't predict, or the "what ifs" that keep looping in our minds, worry quietly steals our focus and presence. This episode is a simple but powerful invitation to pause, reset, and recommit to what actually belongs to us: our thoughts, our actions, and how we show up each day.

    5 min

  3. JAN 18

    A Change is Coming

    Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! In this very personal episode, I look back on nearly four years and 273 episodes of hitting "record," sharing ideas, and growing alongside educators across the U.S. and Canada. I talk about why I started the show back in 2022, what I'm most proud of, and why I'm now making a big pivot out of the education podcast space. This isn't goodbye to teaching—it's an expansion into mental performance work with wrestlers, athletes, and their parents. Drawing on my own wrestling regrets, years of coaching since 2004, and what I've learned through training with Lindsay Wilson and Positive Performance, I explain why this moment feels right and why understanding how the brain works changed everything for me. It's a reflective, honest, and hopeful episode about leaving the familiar, getting "in the mud," and stepping into what's next. If you'd like to learn more about what I'm offering, please sign up for a free 30-minute discovery call with this link.

    12 min

  4. JAN 5

    Remember, You Float

    Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! It's been a while, and in this episode, I talk about why I'm back behind the mic and how this podcast still fits into my life right now. I share my love for that quiet stretch between Christmas and New Year's—a rare bit of downtime to slow down, read, and reflect—and how a short piece called "Float" from Mike Travisano's Refuge and Small Things really hit home as I was preparing to head back to school. January can feel heavy for a lot of educators and students, when the break is over and the finish line feels far away. Today's message is a simple reminder: when life feels overwhelming, and you can't see the shore, sometimes the best thing you can do is lean back, breathe, and remember—you float.

    5 min

  5. 09/03/2025

    Stop Seeking Comfort

    Welcome to the Inspired Teacher Podcast! In today's episode, I'm talking about something I think we all wrestle with—our tendency to chase comfort and try to avoid anything that feels tough or unpredictable. The truth is, life's never going to be smooth sailing, and as Marcus Aurelius reminds us, what stands in the way can actually become the way. As teachers, we see this every day in those lessons that go sideways or those students who surprise us in the best possible ways. So let's dive into why leaning into challenges, instead of running from them, is where the real growth and joy happen.

    4 min

  6. 08/28/2025

    Dont Be Self-Centered

    Welcome to the Inspired Teacher Podcast! This week, I'm coming to you from Cary, North Carolina, just a few days before the school year kicks off. I'm here with my two sons for a big baseball tournament—one competing on the field, the other supporting from the stands while still rehabbing an injury from months back. Watching one play and the other choose to show up for his brother—even though it wasn't easy—filled me with pride in ways I can't fully describe. Later that weekend, a conversation with my son reminded me of a powerful truth I've been reading in Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy: real strength and fulfillment come not from clinging to our own wants, but from serving and celebrating others. In this episode, I share that story, the lessons it sparked, and a reminder for all of us as teachers, parents, and leaders—that life gets richer when we step outside ourselves and pour into others.

    6 min

  7. 08/26/2025

    It's the Small Things

    Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! In today's episode, I talk about starting restorative practices at our school and the powerful reminder that it's not the big, flashy events that build relationships—it's the small, intentional moments we share with our students, our colleagues, and even ourselves. I connect this to the Stoic wisdom of Zeno, who taught that well-being is built little by little, and how that truth applies as I begin a new school year. From recovery and mobility, to better eating habits, to simply taking a few minutes each night to reflect, I share how focusing on the small, daily choices can shape us into the teachers, parents, and people we aspire to be.

    6 min

  8. 08/20/2025

    The Real Medals

    Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! In this episode, I reflect on a question my son Gray asked me about what separates the most successful wrestlers I've coached from the rest. After more than 20 years in the wrestling room, I've had the privilege of coaching some incredible athletes—state medalists, champions, and even guys who went on to compete at the highest levels. At first, I thought the answer was simply about controlling the controllables, but the more I reflected, the more I realized it goes deeper. The best wrestlers weren't just obsessed with winning—they were driven by the love of competing, by becoming the best versions of themselves, and by bringing others along for the ride. And while that's easy for me to see in coaching, it's just as true in teaching: greatness doesn't come from the short-term wins, but from the dedication, consistency, and purpose we bring to the process every day.

    5 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

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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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