Let's Go Mental!

Barbara Cortella
  • 4.8 (20)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A podcast for young athletes and their parents to unlock the power of the mind: You have the talent—now let’s build the mental edge. Discover key pillars and get simple, actionable tools to kickstart your journey. Tune in for short weekly episodes, each month focused on one topic, perfect for the car ride to your game. Grab quick tips, worksheets, and join our community as we grow and level up together. Let’s Go Mental! I am Barbara, Family and Mental Coach. I am Italian and you will love my accent!

  1. 5D AGO

    Act. The Skill that Moves You Forward.

    Awareness is just the start: real change happens when you act. In this episode, Barbara breaks down how acting is a trainable skill and how even small, deliberate actions can shift your energy, mindset, and performance. What You’ll Get: • How to move past overthinking and take effective action • Practical tips for athletes, parents, and anyone seeking growth • The ripple effect of tiny wins and momentum-building strategies “Acting means doing something. Deciding. One small action toward what you want to be different, then another, then another.” Take your first step today. Momentum is a skill—train it with us! Follow me on Instagram Contact me for any info and question: b_cortella@yahoo.it

    5 min

  2. FEB 6

    Awareness. The Skill Behind Every Other Skill.

    In this episode we explore awareness as a mental state and a practical tool for processing information, navigating reality, and moving out of autopilot — in sport and in life. Awareness is the ability to notice what’s happening inside you and around you — thoughts, emotions, body signals, focus, environment — in real time. It’s like turning on a light: nothing magically disappears, but once you see clearly, you can finally decide how to respond instead of reacting automatically. In this episode, you’ll discover: • Why awareness is the foundational skill behind all other mental skills • The difference between being awake and being truly aware • How living on autopilot keeps athletes repeating the same patterns • Why the brain prefers the status quo — and resists awareness • How awareness creates the space for control, choice, and growth • What awareness looks like in sport: body, mind, emotions, environment • Why mental training starts with noticing, not trying harder • A simple, practical awareness exercise you can use every day This episode is for: • athletes who want to stop reacting and start choosing • parents who want to support growth without controlling • coaches who care about development, not just performance Key takeaway: What you are aware of, you can work on. What you are aware of, you can train. What you are aware of, you can control. Let's Go Mental by turning the light on. Contact me if you want a tool to discover how to be more aware: b_cortella@yahoo.it Join my Hub Follow me on Instagram

    7 min

  3. JAN 29

    Train your Attitude as an Asset.

    Attitude is one of those words we use all the time — often in a negative way. “He has an attitude.” “She needs to change her attitude.” But what if attitude wasn’t a personality trait? What if it was a skill? In this episode of Let’s Go Mental, we explore attitude as a controllable, trainable asset — something that shapes performance, relationships, and opportunities, both in sport and in life. Because while athletes may not control outcomes, decisions, or results, they always control how they show up. In this episode, you’ll learn: What attitude really is (and what it’s not)Why attitude is one of the first things coaches, parents, and teammates perceiveHow attitude can open doors — or quietly close themWhy attitude is contagious and shapes the environment around youHow small, intentional attitude choices become habits and identityWhy mental training is essential to make attitude consistent, not reactiveWhat parents often underestimate about the impact of their own attitudeThis episode is for: athletes who want to perform with consistency under pressureparents who want to support growth without controllingcoaches who care about culture, trust, and long-term developmentKey takeaway: Attitude is not who you are. It’s how you decide to show up. And that decision can be trained Contact me: b_cortella@yahoo.it Instagram LinkedIn My Community

    5 min

  4. JAN 23

    How Language Shapes Performance.

    This episode is for athletes and parents who want to better understand pressure, fear, confidence, and how mindset is built every single day through language. We explore why words are never neutral — and how language shapes emotions, identity, and performance, especially in youth sports. 🎧 You’ll learn: Why the brain doesn’t just hear words — it responds to themThe 3 things your brain does instantly when it hears languageWhy fear shows up so strongly before games and performancesHow repeated words become mental patternsThe difference between saying “I am” vs “I feel” How changing one word can change energy, focus, and readiness 🧠 Key Concepts We Explore: 1) Fear vs Challenge: The same situation can trigger completely different reactions depending on the word used: Fear prepares the body for defense Challenge or excitement prepares the body for engagement and energy 2) Identity Language (“I am”) vs Experience Language (“I feel / I act”) When we say “I am anxious” or “I am bad under pressure,” the brain treats it as identity. When we say “I feel stress right now,” the brain hears something temporary — and temporary creates possibility for change. Language creates the emotional environment in which athletes perform. Just like updating your phone, changing your words helps update your mental software — from an old version to a new one that supports confidence, trust, and growth. 🎯 This Week’s Challenge: The next time you feel pressure — before a game, a test, or a difficult moment: Notice the first word you use to describe how you feel: change it intentionally, observe how your body and energy respond. See you in the next episode Contact: b_cortella@yahoo.it IG Community LinkedIn

    5 min

  5. JAN 9

    The One Word That Guides Your Season.

    🎧 The One Word That Guides Your Season A Mental Reset for Athletes and Parents. What if this season didn’t need more goals…more resolutions…or more pressure? What if it only needed 'direction'? In this episode I invite athletes and parents to pause, reflect, and simplify. Instead of chasing motivation or adding more to your plate, you’ll explore the power of choosing one intentional word: a word that becomes your compass when emotions run high, routines get busy, and pressure takes over. Whether you’re a youth athlete navigating competition, confidence, and setbacks, or a parent trying to support without controlling, this episode offers a simple but powerful mental performance tool to guide your decisions, reactions, and growth throughout the season. In this episode, we explore: Why motivation fades, and why direction lasts.The difference between setting goals and choosing an identityHow one word can anchor athletes during tough games, bench time, and pressureHow parents can use one word to respond instead of reactWhy mental training should be part of daily life — not just game dayHow to choose your word with intention and clarityPractical ways to make your word visible and actionable This episode is for you if: You’re tired of starting every season with big intentions that fadeYou want mental clarity without adding more pressureYou’re an athlete who wants to perform with confidence and presenceYou’re a parent who wants to support your child with purpose, not emotion Before the season starts, give it a title. Choose your word. And when you do — share it. 📩 Send me a message, a DM, or a photo of where you placed your word. I’ll walk with you, support you, and help you stay connected to it — one intentional choice at a time. ✨ **My word for this season is: ________** Contact me: b_cortella@yahoo.it Instagram Nas.io LinkedIn

    8 min

  6. 11/12/2025

    The Importance of Mental Training for Young Athletes.

    🎧 Shownotes Behind every athlete, there’s a story no one sees — the thoughts, the doubts, the pressure. In this episode, we explore why mental training is essential for young athletes, and how parents and coaches can help build confidence, focus, and resilience — both in sport and in life. 👉 The goal isn’t to “fix” anything, but to train what’s invisible — emotions, awareness, and the ability to reset and bounce back. Because everything is trainable: the body, the mind, and the mindset. 🎯 In this episode: • Why the mind is the machine that makes everything possible • The taboos and misconceptions still tied to the word “mental” • The key mental skills every athlete can train: confidence, focus, motivation, emotional control, leadership, and more • How to make mental performance a natural part of everyday life 💬 Training your mind is a choice, not an obligation. But it’s the choice that changes everything. 📩 Email me at b_cortella@yahoo.it or follow me on Instagram 🎙 Let’s Go Mental — where everything is trainable.

    6 min

  7. 11/05/2025

    Perchè allenare la Mente Cambia Tutto.

    🎧 Shownotes – Episodio 36 Il perché dell’importanza dell’allenamento mentale per i giovani atleti Dietro ogni atleta c’è una storia che nessuno vede: i pensieri, i dubbi, la pressione. In questo episodio scopriamo perché l’allenamento mentale è fondamentale per i giovani atleti, e come genitori e allenatori possono aiutare a costruire fiducia, concentrazione e resilienza — dentro e fuori dal campo. 👉 L’obiettivo non è “aggiustare” qualcosa, ma allenare ciò che non si vede: le emozioni, la consapevolezza, la capacità di reagire e ripartire. Perché tutto è allenabile — il corpo, la mente e la mentalità. 🎯 In questo episodio parliamo di: • perché la mente è la macchina che rende tutto possibile, • i tabù e i pregiudizi che ancora circondano la parola “mentale”, • le abilità mentali che ogni atleta può allenare (fiducia, motivazione, concentrazione, gestione dello stress, resilienza, leadership), • come l’allenamento mentale diventa uno stile di vita. 💬 Allenare la mente è una scelta, non un obbligo. Ma è la scelta che cambia tutto. 📩 Scrivimi a b_cortella@yahoo.it o seguimi su Instagram @letsgomentalpodcast 🎙 Let’s Go Mental — il podcast dove tutto è allenabile.

    5 min

  8. 10/16/2025

    4) From Procrastination to Action! Mini-series

    You’re ready. Dressed, playlist on point, shoes tied… and yet — you’re still sitting there. We’ve all been there — that invisible space between ready and go. That’s procrastination. It’s not laziness — it’s the moment your brain fights the start. In this episode, Barbara Cortella, Family and Mental Performance Coach, breaks down what procrastination really is — and how to train that moment before action. You’ll discover the Anti-Procrastination System that helps athletes move from overthinking to doing, one small step at a time. You’ll Learn 🧠 • Why procrastination is an emotion problem, not a time problem • How to deconstruct any big task so it feels doable • The secret behind Mel Robbins’ 5-Second Rule • How to build accountability and momentum daily • Why starting before you feel ready is a mental superpower Key Moments 🎙 • 00:00 — The warm-up freeze: why starting is the hardest part • 03:00 — What procrastination really hides • 06:00 — The Anti-Procrastination System: Awareness • Deconstruct • Plan • Action • 08:30 — The 5-Second Rule for everyday courage • 09:30 — Challenge of the week: start before you feel ready Weekly Challenge ⚡️ Pick one thing you’ve been avoiding.Break it down into 3 micro steps.Count down 5-4-3-2-1- and start! Contact me if you want to know more b_cortella@yahoo.it Instagram My Community

    6 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

A podcast for young athletes and their parents to unlock the power of the mind: You have the talent—now let’s build the mental edge. Discover key pillars and get simple, actionable tools to kickstart your journey. Tune in for short weekly episodes, each month focused on one topic, perfect for the car ride to your game. Grab quick tips, worksheets, and join our community as we grow and level up together. Let’s Go Mental! I am Barbara, Family and Mental Coach. I am Italian and you will love my accent!

Information

  • Creator
    Barbara Cortella
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Let's Go Mental!