The Mental Game with Sam Brief Sam Brief

Episode 62 of The Mental Game brings on Mads McKenna, Mental Health Advocacy Graduate Assistant at the University of Wisconsin–Parkside.



Why McKenna for The Mental Game?



First, she is a former NCAA student-athlete. McKenna played volleyball at the California University of Pennsylvania (DII) and experienced the unique life of a 21st century student-athlete.



She’s also plugged in. For five years, McKenna has been involved with various NCAA committees, advocating for better mental health policies and practices in college athletics. She is a member of the NCAA Board of Governors.



And she’s making change daily. At UW-Parkside, she serves as the force for mental health in the athletic department.



McKenna taught me a lot in this episode, and I know you’ll feel that, too.



On The Mental Game, McKenna takes us through:




Common student-athlete mental health concerns she observes
Conference realignment's impact
Why media coverage of college athletics only scratches the surface
Much more



Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself.



NOTE: I'm thrilled to be running in the Chicago Half-Marathon this September to support Laaser's Ladybug Society. We're close to our goal of $2K to support mental health initiatives in schools — ⁠CLICK HERE TO DONATE⁠.



The Mental Game is also a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!





The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 61 of The Mental Game brings on baseball pitching coach, former player and father Jim Bennett.



Bennett boasts three decades of professional baseball coaching experience, including: 




Stints as manager for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and Lake Country DockHounds of the American Association
Pitching coach for Team Australia and the Australian Baseball League’s Brisbane Bandits.
Pitching coach for the Spire City Ghost Hounds (Atlantic League)
In Minor League Baseball with the California/Anaheim Angels, Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants organizations



Bennett also pitched professionally in the Mariners and Padres organizations after graduating from Chapman University.



I had the delight of working closely with Jim during my time in Brisbane as the Bandits’ broadcaster.



On The Mental Game, Bennett takes us through:


What makes pitching unique to the mental game
How he found belief in himself to pitch professionally
How his coaching style fosters his pitchers’ mental approaches
Much more, including how he handles mound visits



Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself.



NOTE: I'm thrilled to be running in the Chicago Half-Marathon this September to support Laaser's Ladybug Society. We're close to our goal of $2K to support mental health initiatives in schools — ⁠CLICK HERE TO DONATE⁠.



The Mental Game is also a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!





The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 60 of The Mental Game features Brent Sass, one of the greatest dog mushers in the world.



A titan of the industry, Sass has etched his name as one of just six to win the two biggest sled dog races: the Iditarod (2022) and the Yukon Quest (2015, 2022).



Born in Minnesota, Sass has desperately wanted to live in Alaska and pursue dog mushing since he was a little kid. Now, he lives a life completely removed from the outside word, dedicating 100% of his energies to his craft: training and bonding with his dogs.



Sass is a firm believer in the crucial importance of the mental game, both for himself on the sled and for his dogs. His insights into how his mental game affects that of his dogs is fascinating, as is his complete devotion to the dog sledding life.



On The Mental Game, Sass takes us through:


Why he’s fully immersed in dog mushing and what led him to Alaska
What the mental game of a dog looks like
The structure of a race, which involves weeks at a time in wind chills that can reach −100 °F
Much more



Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself.



NOTE: I'm thrilled to be running in the Chicago Half-Marathon this September to support Laaser's Ladybug Society. We're close to our goal of $2K to support mental health initiatives in schools — ⁠CLICK HERE TO DONATE⁠.



The Mental Game is also a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!



The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.


---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 59 of The Mental Game features Reed Myers, a recently graduated men’s basketball student-athlete out of Rice University.



In April, Myers penned a cogent essay in The Rice Thresher titled “I hope to be an example for future Asian-American hoopers.”



Myers attended Rice for four years after earning All-State honors at Arizona’s Scottsdale Christian Academy. In high school, he earned a state championship and was even named the Arizona Republic’s Small Schools Player of the Year as just a freshman.



But Division I men’s basketball coaches virtually ignored Myers and his growing talent — something he attributes to his Asian-American identity.



Then, he spent four seasons as a self-labeled “outlier” in NCAA basketball.



On The Mental Game, Myers takes us through:


His disconcerting experience of being ignored by coaches in high school
How it feels to be among the only Asian-American players in college basketball
What he’s learned from his heroes, like Jeremy Lin
Much more



Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself.



NOTE: I'm thrilled to be running in the Chicago Half-Marathon this September to support Laaser's Ladybug Society. We're close to our goal of $2K to support mental health initiatives in schools — ⁠CLICK HERE TO DONATE⁠.



The Mental Game is also a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!



The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.


---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 58 of The Mental Game brings on Chris Helbig, quarterback for the European Football League’s Vienna Vikings.

Helbig is in his second season quarterbacking in Europe. Last season, he starred for the Potsdam Royals in the German Football League.

The European chapter of Helbig’s career follows college football stints at Butler Community College (KS), Southern Utah University and Eastern Michigan University.

Helbig thought his football career was finished after suffering a pair of severe injuries, mixed with the onset of the COVID pandemic. He moved back in with his parents in Colorado, took up a sales job and plunged into a life of comfort, without football.

But a breezy, relaxed 9-to-5 life wasn’t for Helbig. He itched to challenge himself, to fulfill himself. So after not throwing a football for months, he started practicing again and decided to re-launch his football career. When the German Football League came calling, Helbig was sold on the life-changing opportunity.

Having never left North America, Helbig flew to Berlin, where he didn’t just restart football — he rediscovered himself. 

On The Mental Game, Helbig takes us through:

How he felt mentally after giving up on football, working in sales
Why he felt he needed to shake up his life
The lessons he’s learned in Europe that will stick with him forever
Much more, including stories of playing in and traveling around Europe


Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself.

NOTE: I'm thrilled to be running in the Chicago Bank of America Half-Marathon this June to support Laaser's Ladybug Society. We're close to our goal of $2K to support mental health initiatives in schools — ⁠CLICK HERE TO DONATE⁠.

The Mental Game is also a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!

The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.

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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 57 of The Mental Game features Freddie Stevenson, a former NFL and Florida State fullback, author and, now, filmmaker. His film, “Trials to Triumph” was recently released and is available on Prime Video, Apple TV and more.

Stevenson first joined The Mental Game in January 2022 and detailed his dramatic rise from a childhood of homelessness and poverty to the NFL.

His football career featured a National Championship at Florida State and a stint with the Chicago Bears. But once he retired, Stevenson experienced severe depression, bringing him to despair.

Over time, he learned to harness the power of a positive mindset to turn his life around and authored his book, “Trials To Triumph.”

That story has now spawned Stevenson’s film, which debuted on May 2, 2023.

On The Mental Game, Stevenson takes us through:


* How he connected, pitched and produced “Trials to Triumph”
* What you need to know about his inspiring story
* Why transitioning to life after sports is such a hurdle for athletes
*Much more

Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself.

NOTE: I'm thrilled to be running in the Chicago Bank of America Half-Marathon this June to support Laaser's Ladybug Society. We're close to our goal of $2K to support mental health initiatives in schools — ⁠CLICK HERE TO DONATE⁠.The Mental Game is also a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!


The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.


---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support