Mental Stillness

Derek Sloan, LPCC, NCC, CCTP
  • 5.0 (26)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Daily

This podcast aims to bridge the gap between leadership and mental health, emphasizing that the "how" of leadership is as crucial as the "what." It explores practical strategies for leaders to enhance their effectiveness by addressing both their own mental health and that of their team members. Derek Sloan is your host. Derek has graduate degrees in both leadership and clinical mental health. Derek is a board certified professional clinical counselor (LPCC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and a Certified Leadership Coach.

  1. 6d ago

    56. Kevin Konopasek - University of Kentucky Director of Athletic Performance

    Kevin Konopasek (pronounced like Coo-No-Pah-Zick), former Indiana Director of Athletic Performance, was hired as the University of Kentucky’s Director of Strength & Conditioning and Athletic Performance for Women’s Basketball on June 26, 2024. He enters his third season with the Wildcats’ women’s basketball program in 2026-27. Konopasek arrived in Lexington after spending 11 seasons at Indiana University, including the final eight seasons with women’s basketball and men’s and women’s swimming. In that position, Konopasek has helped the women’s basketball program reach six postseason appearances, including five NCAA Tournament bids and the 2018 WNIT Championship. He aided in the efforts of 31 All-Big Ten honorees and 19 All-America selections, including All-America First Team honoree Mackenzie Holmes and WNBA lottery draft pick Grace Berger. The Hoosiers have won 20 games or more in all eight seasons of his tenure. Moreover, he has worked with the Indiana men’s and women’s swimming program, guiding greats like Olympian and four-time NCAA Champion Lilly King and seven other Olympians at the 2020 Tokyo Games, including Blake Pieroni, Zach Apple, Annie Lazor and Michael Brinegar who all competed for Team USA. He has also trained athletes from six other nations during their time at Indiana who competed at the 2020 Olympic Games in Marwan El Kamash (Egypt), Vini Lanza (Brazil), Tomer Frankel (Israel) and Bailey Andison (Canada). Konopasek’s time with swimming has also seen the men’s and women’s programs combine for seven Big Ten titles as well as 101 All-Big Ten First Team honors. In the summer of 2014, Konopasek completed an internship at EXOS, formerly Athlete’s Performance, in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Throughout his internship experience, Konopasek was able to train athletes from the NFL, NBA and U.S. Military Special Forces. He also assisted the Argentinian National Rugby Team train for the World Cup and SOCOM tactical athletes prepare for the Warrior Games. Konopasek received his master’s in kinesiology with a focus in applied sport science from Indiana University in May 2015. Prior to Indiana, Konopasek received his undergraduate degree in movement and sport science from Purdue University in May 2013. A native of Griffith, Indiana, Konopasek and his wife Kali have one son, Paxton, and one daughter, Parker.

    48 min

  2. May 18

    55. JonRobert Tartaglione, Cambridge Ph.D. - Psychology of Persuasion

    Dr. JonRobert Tartaglione is a psychologist and behavioral scientist. He's worked with leadership teams at organizations like McDonald's, Visa, Nintendo, Boys & Girls Clubs, and more and holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Cambridge. His work focuses on the question: "What moves people to think, behave, or decide differently?" He is the Founder and CEO of Influence 51, a specialized consulting firm that equips clients with academic insights on the science of influence, persuasion, strategic communication, and change, with the goal of developing more effective leaders and building smarter strategies.

    49 min

  3. May 11

    54. Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey - Subtraction Activist

    Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey (aka Nell 3D) is a leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and Forbes Leadership contributor who helps ambitious, big-hearted leaders build success that feels as good as it looks. As founder of a certified B Corporation and creator of the Lead in 3D™ framework, she works with leaders across Fortune 500 companies, global nonprofits, and universities to subtract what's draining them and amplify what actually works. Nell's approach draws on psychology studies at Harvard, nearly a decade of nonprofit leadership from Rome to the West Bank to Mozambique, and, perhaps most transformationally, equine-assisted coaching, which taught her what no leadership course could: that presence isn't a soft skill, it's the whole game. Her Substack, Subtract to Succeed, is a laboratory for systematic subtraction and the basis for a forthcoming book. She lives between Greenwich, Connecticut and Big Sky, Montana, with her husband, two bernedoodles, and visiting adult step-kids as often as possible. www.nell3d.com

    45 min

  4. Apr 2

    53. Eric Robinson - Former FBI Agent

    Eric Robinson spent a dozen years in Christian ministry before leaving the pulpit of his Baptist church to join the FBI, where he worked drugs, gangs, crimes against children, national security, and other violations. Eric served for 15 years as a SWAT operator and firearms and tactics instructor. Eric has written a book recounting his move from “preacher to breacher” as well as many of the remarkable cases and encounters he had in the FBI.

    41 min

  5. Mar 5

    52. Alberto Manganelli - Former Adidas Senior Vice President & Global General Manager

    Alberto Uncini Manganelli is a global sports and consumer goods executive who has spent more than two decades shaping some of the world’s most recognizable brands. After 20 years at Procter & Gamble in marketing and senior management roles, he went on to lead major global sports business units at Adidas, serving for eight years as Global General Manager and Senior Vice President. Throughout his career, Alberto has driven large-scale brand and business transformations at the intersection of performance, innovation, and culture—helping redefine how global sports brands connect with athletes and consumers. He is also the author of The Formula of the Formulas, a book featuring insights from 22 world champions and a foreword by legendary football manager José Mourinho. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Alberto believes sport is one of the most powerful schools for developing mindset, leadership, and personal growth.

    38 min

  6. Mar 1

    51. Dr. Trisha Vinatieri - Addressing Burnout

    Dr. Vinatieri is a clinical psychologist and organizational development psychologist who has spent nearly two decades treating PTSD and holding various leadership roles within healthcare systems. Currently serving as Chief Well-Being Officer at a large Level 1A healthcare system, she helps medical leaders combat clinical staff burnout using evidence-based frameworks that empower staff. Recognizing the scope of the burnout epidemic, Dr. Vinatieri founded Clinician Care Consulting to extend her expertise beyond her own organization and support healthcare leaders nationwide. In addition to her clinical and consulting work, she teaches undergraduate psychology courses. https://www.cliniciancareconsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtrishavinatieri/ trisha@cliniciancareconsulting.com

    46 min

  7. Feb 20

    50. Ryan Murray - Professional Golf Caddie

    Ryan Murray is a professional golf caddie who walked away from a traditional corporate career to pursue life on the tour. He’s worked inside high-pressure competitive environments where preparation, trust, and emotional control separate average rounds from elite performance. Ryan brings a unique perspective on risk, reinvention, and what it actually takes to bet on yourself when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. His story sits at the intersection of discipline, identity shifts, and performing under pressure. Charity: newtoyoucharity.org Instagram: @ryanmrry TikTok: RyanMurray_Caddie

    55 min

  8. Jan 12

    49. Megha Parekh - Jacksonville Jaguars Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer

    Megha Parekh is the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and she has been with the Jaguars since 2013. As a key member of the team’s executive leadership, she is responsible for a variety of legal and business matters, including transactions, acquisitions, investments, compliance, dispute resolution, risk management, employee growth and development, government relations intellectual property, security, technology, and stadium and real estate development projects. Parekh plays a central role in shaping the Jaguars’ long-term vision and strategy, including the ambitious stadium of the future initiative and broader Jacksonville development efforts. Her work sits at the intersection of entertainment, law and civic innovation—helping position the Jaguars as a driver of economic development and community engagement in Northeast Florida. During her time with the Jaguars, Parekh has worked on the acquisition of Fulham Football Club, the launch of All Elite Wrestling and the securing of its television broadcast deal, the construction and launch of Daily’sPlace amphitheater, various naming rights and concessions agreements, the Jaguars’ international games and other Khan family sports and entertainment related projects. Before joining the Jaguars, Parekh was an attorney with Proskauer in New York, where she was part of the Sports Law Group advising clients across professional leagues and franchises. She holds both her undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard, graduating magna cum laude. In addition to her professional leadership, Parekh is deeply committed to community service and volunteering. She volunteers with Crisis Text Line, supporting individuals in moments of mental health crisis, and with Habitat for Humanity, helping to create safe and stable housing for families in need. Guided by her own experiences, she also advocates for survivors of trauma. She serves on several boards, including the Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute, and advocates for access, inclusion, and leadership development in both sports and the legal profession.Parekh has been recognized as one of SportsBusiness Journal’s “Forty Under 40” and has been featured among the most powerful women in sports, including in the NFL’s series “Earnin’ It”. She is guided by a belief in the transformative power of sports and music to shape stronger, more connected communities and to make people’s lives meaningful.

    47 min
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5
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

This podcast aims to bridge the gap between leadership and mental health, emphasizing that the "how" of leadership is as crucial as the "what." It explores practical strategies for leaders to enhance their effectiveness by addressing both their own mental health and that of their team members. Derek Sloan is your host. Derek has graduate degrees in both leadership and clinical mental health. Derek is a board certified professional clinical counselor (LPCC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and a Certified Leadership Coach.

Information

  • Creator
    Derek Sloan, LPCC, NCC, CCTP
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Derek Sloan, LPCC, NCC, CCTP
  • Show Website
    Mental Stillness