Hoops and Headspace

Jada Rich
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Mental Health
  • Weekly

If you’re an athlete feeling pressure, battling self-doubt, or trying to stay confident through the ups and downs of sports—this podcast is for you. Hoops & Headspace is where basketball and mental health collide—real conversations about what athletes go through mentally when nobody’s watching. We talk about: Pressure and performanceBurnout and mental fatigueConfidence and identityRecovery, resilience, and life beyond the gameThrough honest conversations with athletes, coaches, and mentors, you’ll learn how to manage pressure, rebuild confidence, and develop a mindset that supports both your performance and your life. This isn’t just about sports—it’s about becoming stronger mentally, on and off the court. 🎥 Featuring Hoops & Headspace Films (sports documentaries) 🏀 Plus Spotlight Live (After Hours) highlighting Tippah County athletes and local sports 📍 Based in Ripley, Mississippi  🎧 New episodes weekly

  1. 19h ago

    Trying to Triumph | Aleena's Story of Resilience

    In this conversation, Aleena Farrukh shares her journey as a National Taekwondo Silver Medalist and discusses the importance of self-belief, mental health, and balancing multiple pursuits. She emphasizes the significance of focusing on personal growth rather than comparing oneself to others, and how her experiences in Taekwondo have shaped her mindset and approach to challenges. The conversation explores the importance of productivity, leadership, and the role of athletes in empowering others. Aleena Farrukh shares her experiences and insights on maintaining balance, avoiding burnout, and using sports as a platform for advocacy. Takeaways Self-belief is crucialFocus on personal growth Productivity through routineEmpowerment via sports advocacy Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Aleena's Journey09:05 Challenges of Self-Belief16:56 Mindfulness and Focus Techniques20:47 Balancing Life and Aspirations26:23 Learning from Other Athletes27:09 Productivity Tips for Balance32:28 Leadership and Advocacy in Sports37:32 The Journey to Leadership41:45 Using Platforms for Empowerment44:27 Balancing Joy and Focus46:17 Lessons from Taekwondo48:33 Actionable Advice for Athletes

  2. Nov 4

    Mental Toughness: How to Build Resilience Under Pressure | Savio P. Clemente

    What does it really take to perform under pressure, recover from adversity, and build mental resilience? On this episode of Hoops & Headspace, host Jada Rich sits down with Savio P. Clemente, keynote and TEDx speaker, board-certified wellness coach, bestselling author, journalist, and two-time cancer survivor, for a powerful conversation about resilience, mental discipline, and the connection between recovery and performance. Drawing from his experiences with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a cancer relapse, and a stem cell transplant, Savio explains how adversity can change the way we think, respond to pressure, and approach growth. Together, they explore how athletes can regulate their emotions, develop healthier self-talk, learn from mistakes, and recognize when rest is necessary for progress. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or someone navigating a challenging season of life, this conversation offers practical ways to strengthen your mindset without losing sight of your well-being. In this episode, you'll learn: Why self-regulation is essential for performance under pressureHow to use Savio's ALOHA framework to respond to adversityWhat psychological distancing and metacognition meanWhy mental discipline requires boundariesHow to recognize when guilt, stress, and depletion are signals to pauseWhy recovery is necessary for long-term athletic performanceHow to respond to injury, disappointment, and mistakes with self-compassionWhy athletes should question whose expectations they're trying to meetHow support systems and emotionally available people help us navigate difficult seasonsKey takeaway: Recovery isn't the opposite of progress. Recovery allows you to progress. CONNECT WITH SAVIO P. CLEMENTE Website: https://www.saviopclemente.com Instagram, TikTok, and X: @thehumanresolve CONNECT WITH HOOPS & HEADSPACE Website: https://hoopsandheadspacep4.wixsite.com/hoops-and-headspace Follow and listen: https://linktr.ee/hoopsandheadspacepodcast Subscribe for more conversations about mental health and sports, athlete development, coaching, resilience, and the mindset behind performance. Hoops & Headspace is where mental health and sports intersect. #HoopsAndHeadspace #MentalHealthInSports #MentalToughness #SavioPClemente #AthleteMindset If you’re an athlete dealing with pressure, burnout, or confidence issues—this is for you. Hoops & Headspace is where basketball and mental health collide. We go beyond highlights to talk about what athletes face mentally—on and off the court. This podcast features athlete interviews, mindset and performance content, mental health in sports, and real conversations about identity, confidence, and life beyond the game. Built for athletes who want to think stronger, perform better, and grow beyond the game. Ripley, Mississippi | Subscribe for weekly content Links Official Website hoopsandheadspacep4.wixsite.com/hoops-and-headspace Stay Connected linktr.ee/hoopsandheadspacepodcast

  3. Oct 28

    Mental Toughness: How John Borden Rebuilt His Life

    What does it take to rebuild your life, overcome self-doubt, and develop the mental toughness to keep going when things get difficult? In this episode of Hoops and Headspace, host Jada Rich sits down with John Borden, author of Your Mindset Is Your Reality, to discuss addiction recovery, mental health, confidence, discipline, and the role athletic challenges can play in personal growth. John shares his personal journey through depression, substance-use struggles, and a major turning point that pushed him to take responsibility for the life he wanted. From returning to running after 12 years away to completing ultramarathons and competing in strongman events, he explains how physical challenges helped reshape his confidence and mindset. John also shares practical lessons on building mental toughness, overcoming self-doubt, tracking small wins, and staying focused when a goal feels overwhelming. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: Addiction recovery, depression, and personal accountabilityHow athletic challenges can help rebuild confidenceMental toughness in ultrarunning and strongman competitionBreaking overwhelming goals into manageable stepsWhy small daily wins matter for personal growthHow coaches can motivate people by understanding their individual valuesUsing journaling and to-do lists to recognize progressBreath control, focus, and training your mind under pressureWhy talent alone isn't enough to achieve your potentialJohn's 85-mile ultrarunning victory and his book, Your Mindset Is Your Reality📚 JOHN BORDEN'S BOOK Your Mindset Is Your Reality Find the book through Amazon, Audible, or Apple Books. 💪 GET PSYCHED FITNESS Explore John's fitness and coaching work. 🌐 HOOPS AND HEADSPACE WEBSITE https://hoopsandheadspacep4.wixsite.com/hoops-and-headspace 🔗 FOLLOW HOOPS AND HEADSPACE — ALL PLATFORMS https://linktr.ee/hoopsandheadspacepodcast John's discussion of substance use and recovery reflects his personal experience and is not medical advice. Hoops & Headspace is where basketball and mental health collide. We go beyond highlights to talk about what athletes face mentally—on and off the court. This podcast features athlete interviews, mindset and performance content, mental health in sports, and real conversations about identity, confidence, and life beyond the game. Built for athletes who want to think stronger, perform better, and grow beyond the game. Subscribe for weekly content Links Official Website hoopsandheadspacep4.wixsite.com/hoops-and-headspace Stay Connected linktr.ee/hoopsandheadspacepodcast

  4. Oct 14

    Mental Toughness vs. Emotional Health: Overcoming Performance Anxiety in Sports | Cedric Bertelli

    Why do athletes struggle with confidence, focus, and performance even when they know what to do? In this episode of Hoops & Headspace, host Jada Rich sits down with Cedric Bertelli, founder of the Emotional Health Institute and co-developer of Emotional Resolution® (EmRes®), to explore the connection between emotional health and athletic performance. From performance anxiety and mental toughness to unresolved emotional patterns, we unpack why simply pushing through isn't always the answer. Cedric shares how stress can affect an athlete's confidence, communication, decision-making, and ability to perform under pressure and why the support system surrounding us matters when building resilience. In this episode, we discuss: - Mental toughness vs. emotional suppression: Why hiding your emotions and pushing through aren't always the same as addressing what's happening beneath the surface. - The science behind emotional patterns: How past experiences and the body's physical responses may influence how we react to pressure. - Why knowing better doesn't always mean feeling better: Understanding why you can recognize a trigger and still experience the same anxiety. - Resilience and your support system: What athletes can learn from the idea that resilience grows through community, connection, and a supportive environment. - Performance anxiety in sports: How emotional stress can affect focus, confidence, communication, and execution when the pressure is on. - Advice for coaches: How to recognize when an athlete may be struggling and ask questions that encourage emotional awareness without immediately trying to fix the problem. - Emotional Resolution® (EmRes®): Cedric explains his body-based approach to working with recurring emotional patterns and shares practical steps from his framework for becoming more aware of physical sensations. Whether you're an athlete trying to regain confidence, a coach supporting players through adversity, a parent navigating youth sports, or someone interested in the connection between mental health and performance, this conversation challenges you to rethink what it really means to be mentally strong. CONNECT WITH CEDRIC BERTELLI 🌐 Emotional Health Institute: https://www.emotionalhealthinstitute.org   🌐 Website: https://www.cedricbertelli.com   📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emotionalresolution   ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@emotionalresolution4843   💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cedric-bertelli-68286224   📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theemotionalresolutioneffect #HoopsAndHeadspace #SportsPsychology #MentalHealthInSports #AthleteMentalHealth #PerformanceAnxiety #MentalToughness #EmotionalHealth #BasketballCoaching #AthleteDevelopment #EmotionalResolution Links Official Website hoopsandheadspacep4.wixsite.com/hoops-and-headspace Stay Connected linktr.ee/hoopsandheadspacepodcast

    Mental Toughness vs. Emotional Health: Overcoming Performance Anxiety in Sports | Cedric Bertelli

  5. Oct 7

    From Argentina to Las Vegas: Why He Refused to Quit | Hoops & Headspace

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when the basketball journey doesn’t go the way you planned? In this episode of Hoops & Headspace, we sit down with Jai to talk about his journey to Las Vegas, the adversity he’s faced along the way, and what has kept him playing when walking away would have been the easier choice. We also get real about Argentina — including my own “failure” there — and the lessons that came from an experience that didn’t go the way either of us expected. This conversation is bigger than basketball. It’s about rejection, setbacks, resilience, chasing opportunities, and figuring out why you keep going when the road gets difficult. 🏀 In this episode: • Jaire’s journey to Las Vegas • His experience playing basketball in Argentina • My own “failure” in Argentina and what I learned from it • The adversity he’s faced throughout his basketball career • Why he continues to play despite everything he’s been through • The mindset behind staying committed to the game • What happens when your original plan doesn’t work out If you’ve ever felt like a setback meant your journey was over, this episode is for you. Follow Jai: Instagram: @a.o.d_jai Subscribe, follow, and join the conversation. #HoopsAndHeadspace #Basketball #BasketballJourney #AthleteMentalHealth #MentalHealth #BasketballPodcast #LasVegasBasketball #ArgentinaBasketball #Resilience #Adversity Support the show If you’re an athlete dealing with pressure, burnout, or confidence issues—this is for you. Hoops & Headspace is where basketball and mental health collide. We go beyond highlights to talk about what athletes face mentally—on and off the court. This podcast features athlete interviews, mindset and performance content, mental health in sports, and real conversations about identity, confidence, and life beyond the game. Built for athletes who want to think stronger, perform better, and grow beyond the game. 📍 Ripley, Mississippi | 🔔 Subscribe for weekly content Links Official Website hoopsandheadspacep4.wixsite.com/hoops-and-headspace Stay Connected linktr.ee/hoopsandheadspacepodcast

    From Argentina to Las Vegas: Why He Refused to Quit | Hoops & Headspace

  6. Sep 30

    What Happened?

    Send us Fan Mail Jada Rich shares her journey of returning to podcasting after a hiatus, balancing coaching and mental health, and her vision for community-driven content. Support the show If you’re an athlete dealing with pressure, burnout, or confidence issues—this is for you. Hoops & Headspace is where basketball and mental health collide. We go beyond highlights to talk about what athletes face mentally—on and off the court. This podcast features athlete interviews, mindset and performance content, mental health in sports, and real conversations about identity, confidence, and life beyond the game. Built for athletes who want to think stronger, perform better, and grow beyond the game. 📍 Ripley, Mississippi | 🔔 Subscribe for weekly content Links Official Website hoopsandheadspacep4.wixsite.com/hoops-and-headspace Stay Connected linktr.ee/hoopsandheadspacepodcast

  7. Jun 3

    Talent vs Discipline in Sports: What Actually Builds Success

    Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode of Hoops and Headspace, Jada Rich breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions in sports: that talent alone is enough to succeed. While talent can get athletes noticed early, it’s discipline, consistency, coachability, and self-awareness that determine long-term success. Jada explores how early dominance can lead to complacency, why some athletes struggle to sustain growth, and what separates those who last from those who plateau. This episode challenges athletes, coaches, and competitors to rethink how they define success — and what it actually takes to stay at the top. If you’re an athlete chasing growth or a coach developing players, this conversation is a reminder that talent is only the starting point. 🧠 TAKEAWAYS Talent can get you noticed, but it won’t keep you there Discipline and consistency are required for sustained success Talent does not automatically equal coachability or mental toughness Early success can create complacency if not managed Self-awareness is key to long-term athletic growth 💬 SOUND BITES “Talent can’t keep you there.” “Talent doesn’t make you coachable.” “Self-awareness is key to growth.” Chapters 00:00 The Illusion of Talent 03:34 The Importance of Discipline and Consistency 06:42 The Downfall of Overconfidence 09:01 Building Mental Toughness and Self-Awareness Support the show If you’re an athlete dealing with pressure, burnout, or confidence issues—this is for you. Hoops & Headspace is where basketball and mental health collide. We go beyond highlights to talk about what athletes face mentally—on and off the court. This podcast features athlete interviews, mindset and performance content, mental health in sports, and real conversations about identity, confidence, and life beyond the game. Built for athletes who want to think stronger, perform better, and grow beyond the game. 📍 Ripley, Mississippi | 🔔 Subscribe for weekly content Links Official Website hoopsandheadspacep4.wixsite.com/hoops-and-headspace Stay Connected linktr.ee/hoopsandheadspacepodcast

    Talent vs Discipline in Sports: What Actually Builds Success

  8. May 27

    The Hidden Struggles of Coaches: Mental Health and Wage Realities

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Hoops and Headspace, we sit down with Coach Z (Zoya Robbins), a Division II softball coach, to have a real and unfiltered conversation about the mental and emotional challenges coaches face behind the scenes. From low pay and high expectations to burnout, identity, and feeling unsupported, Coach Z opens up about the reality of coaching that most people never see. She shares her journey from player to coach, what led her to speak out on social media, and how financial stress and pressure can impact leadership, mental health, and overall well-being. This episode goes beyond wins and losses to highlight the human side of coaching — the sacrifices, the passion, and the mental load that comes with pouring into others every day. If you're a coach, athlete, or someone navigating pressure and purpose, this conversation is for you. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Coaching and Personal Journey 03:57 The Mental and Emotional Challenges of Coaching 07:13 Financial Stress and Its Impact on Coaches 10:02 Burnout and the Reality of Coaching 14:08 Support Systems for Coaches 17:02 Setting Boundaries and Leadership 19:45 The Role of Schools in Supporting Coaches 22:47 Encouragement for Overwhelmed Coaches 🔗 Hoops and Headspace Official Website: Website: https://hoopsandheadspacep4.wixsite.com/hoops-and-headspace 🔗 All Platforms & Content: https://linktr.ee/hoopsandheadspacepodcast 🎟️ Mississippi Black Creators Podcast Summit Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mississippi-black-creators-podcast-summit-tickets-1985146137536?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios&sg=a32ad6b3272a2887d332ba7c3661b71f790bbe5d236e2b317994d25102e97deaf379e06bbe11bb8893fb4bcf47caa0eed3b9ba8a0f80b3e729e3081791423f0abc8cb35dd4cadae89a517670e9a8 Support the show If you’re an athlete dealing with pressure, burnout, or confidence issues—this is for you. Hoops & Headspace is where basketball and mental health collide. We go beyond highlights to talk about what athletes face mentally—on and off the court. This podcast features athlete interviews, mindset and performance content, mental health in sports, and real conversations about identity, confidence, and life beyond the game. Built for athletes who want to think stronger, perform better, and grow beyond the game. 📍 Ripley, Mississippi | 🔔 Subscribe for weekly content Links Official Website hoopsandheadspacep4.wixsite.com/hoops-and-headspace Stay Connected linktr.ee/hoopsandheadspacepodcast

    The Hidden Struggles of Coaches: Mental Health and Wage Realities
See All (41)

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

If you’re an athlete feeling pressure, battling self-doubt, or trying to stay confident through the ups and downs of sports—this podcast is for you. Hoops & Headspace is where basketball and mental health collide—real conversations about what athletes go through mentally when nobody’s watching. We talk about: Pressure and performanceBurnout and mental fatigueConfidence and identityRecovery, resilience, and life beyond the gameThrough honest conversations with athletes, coaches, and mentors, you’ll learn how to manage pressure, rebuild confidence, and develop a mindset that supports both your performance and your life. This isn’t just about sports—it’s about becoming stronger mentally, on and off the court. 🎥 Featuring Hoops & Headspace Films (sports documentaries) 🏀 Plus Spotlight Live (After Hours) highlighting Tippah County athletes and local sports 📍 Based in Ripley, Mississippi  🎧 New episodes weekly

Information

  • Creator
    Jada Rich
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Jada Rich
  • Show Website
    Hoops and Headspace