The Mental Game with Sam Brief

Sam Brief
The Mental Game with Sam Brief

Under our critical microscopes, athletes compete, coaches coach, and we discuss. But what’s happening inside these performers’ minds? Let’s dive in. And as the world recognizes that embracing mental health is necessary, “The Mental Game” serves as a platform for open and honest reflections. On The Mental Game podcast, host Sam Brief breaks down mental health and performance psychology with these athletes, coaches and experts from around the world. Music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe to The Mental Game on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and more. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

  1. 24 DE OUT.

    How Much of Marathon Running Is Mental? Let CJ Albertson Explain

    Episode 76 of The Mental Game features one of the world’s top marathon runners: CJ Albertson. Albertson, 31, is fresh off his best marathon performance to date: a scorching time of 2:08:17 at the Chicago Marathon, where he was the top American finisher. He also bested all other U.S. runners at the 2024 Boston Marathon and will look to do so at the upcoming New York City Marathon on November 3. Albertson’s approach to running is incredibly unique (see: incandescent heat lamps!), and that extends to his mental game. His modes of thinking will intrigue you and may even challenge your own mental process. Albertson, a native of Fresno, California, balances his training weeks of 100+ miles with his life as a husband and a father of two: Luke and Noelle. He is also a professor and cross country coach at Clovis Community College. On The Mental Game, Albertson… Explains why he challenges the notion of “running is all mental.” Dives into his mental process, which he says starts years before race day. Shines a light on his unique training methods, which sharpen both his mind and body. And much, much more. 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. The Mental Game is 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 well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

    42min
  2. 8 DE OUT.

    How to spot a narcissist, with Dr. Harold Shinitzky

    Episode 75 of The Mental Game brings award-winning sports psychologist, author and motivational speaker: Dr. Harold Shinitzky. Dr. Shinitzky has joined The Mental Game before to discuss his previous works like “A Champion’s Mindset.” Now, he’s joining to break down his latest book: “Me, Myself, and I: A Narcissist's Mindset: A Self-Help Handbook for Victims-Survivors of a Narcissist.” Dr. Shinitzky’s findings in this space are fascinating — and undoubtedly helpful to anyone who has dealt with a narcissist in their life, whether at work, in a relationship or in the mirror. On The Mental Game, Dr. Shinitzky: Explains why we’ve been defining narcissism incorrectly for so long. Tells us why sports is so rife with narcissism. How to spot gaslighting, and how to squash it. And much, much more. 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. The Mental Game is 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 well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

    45min
  3. 16 DE SET.

    Julie Kliegman breaks down 'Mind Game,' their essential guide on mental health in sports

    Episode 74 of The Mental Game features Julie Kliegman, author of Mind Game: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes. Fueled by interviews with Olympians like Chloe Kim and McKayla Maroney, NBA players Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan, and so many more, Mind Game illustrates the complete story of how elite athletes navigate mental performance and mental illness—and what non-athletes can learn from them.   The project was Kliegman's first book (another is in the works already). Before venturing into the book world, they worked at Sports Illustrated and at The Ringer, with work published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bookforum, Slate and more. Kliegman ⁠first joined The Mental Game⁠ in 2022 and now makes a triumphant return, diving into: -The lesser-known "pioneers" of the sports mental health movement. -How Simone Biles sparked a much-needed mental health reckoning in sports. -What they learned from deep talks with McKayla Maroney and Kevin Love. -And much, much more. 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. The Mental Game is 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 well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

    40min
  4. 28 DE AGO.

    Why we should all meditate more, from the first-ever meditation director in college sports, Chad McGehee

    Episode 73 of The Mental Game features the first-ever Director of Meditation Training in major college sports: Chad McGehee of the University of Wisconsin.   Now in his fourth year at UW, McGehee trains student-athletes, coaches and teams on meditation, giving Wisconsin’s teams a mental edge few programs possess. He also collaborates with researchers and scientists on ground-breaking research, which has already produced massively impactful results in the field of meditation. McGehee first joined The Mental Game in January 2021 as he set sail on his new venture. Now a veteran, he’s ready to dive deep on what he’s learned. On the podcast, McGehee… Shows us the mental keys behind Wisconsin’s first-ever NCAA Championship in volleyball. Reveals the eye-popping research findings on student-athlete meditation that shocked even him. Takes us through what a typical session looks like. And much, much more. 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. The Mental Game is 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 well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

    34min
  5. 17 DE JUN.

    Upon completing the world's toughest swims for mental health, Andy Donaldson is just getting started

    Episode 72 of The Mental Game brings on a guest that will blow your mind. Andy Donaldson is among the most impressive open-water swimmers in history. Last year, Donaldson set the Guinness World Record for fastest time completing the Oceans Seven marathon swim challenge, which consists of seven of the most challenging open water channel swims on Earth, including: The Cook Strait between New Zealand’s North and South Islands, 22.5 km (12.1 mi) The Moloka’i Channel in Hawaii, 42 km (23 mi) The English Channel between England and France, 33 km (18 mi) Four more, ranging from Europe to Asia to the U.S. Donaldson is the only swimmer to complete all seven within a single year. And in doing so, he raised tens of thousands of dollars for mental health charities, a cause near and dear to his heart. Donaldson says he’s motivated to impact what he sees as the great challenge of our generation — combatting mental health — because of his grandfather’s long battle with depression and his own mental health struggles. Born in Scotland and now living in Australia, Donaldson retired from swimming in 2016 when his Olympic dreams were washed out and took up a job in accounting. In 2020, he moved to Perth, Western Australia and immersed himself in open-water swimming. He has since set three world records, raised meaningful funds for mental health causes and touched millions of lives. On The Mental Game, Donaldson dives deep on: His daunting journey through the Oceans Seven challenge. How mental fortitude — more than physical strength — pushed him through the challenge. Why he chose to fundraise for mental health. His future goals. And much, much more. 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. The Mental Game is 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 well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

    1h
  6. 27 DE MAR.

    Living in an RV, raising kids, playing pickleball: The Mental Game of Pickleball, Episode 2 with Megan Fudge and Ryler DeHeart

    Episode 71 of The Mental Game features the second episode of our series highlighting the Mental Game of Pickleball. Pickleball is a sensation. It’s America’s fastest-growing sport, and it’s gone international. 48.3 million U.S. adults have played it in the last year, and organizations like the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) have heightened the sport to the professional level. In pickleball episode 2, Megan Fudge and Ryler DeHeart join the podcast. Why Fudge and DeHeart on The Mental Game? This husband-wife duo has an incredible story. They met as fellow tennis stars at the University of Illinois and have since quit their day jobs, committed to pickleball as a profession and have each starred the APP Tour. Then, a year ago, they made a drastic decision. Fudge and DeHeart sold their house, bought an RV, and committed to the simple life, driving with their kids, Lily, 9, and JR, 7, around America while on tour. Lily and JR are enrolled in virtual school while their parents crush it on the pickleball court. The drastic lifestyle shift has revolutionized their lives, their pickleball performance and, of course, their outlook. On The Mental Game, Fudge and DeHeart take you behind the scenes. (For even more, here’s Fudge’s Instagram) Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. 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. The Mental Game is 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 well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

    30min
  7. 9 DE MAR.

    What might the next century of sports mental health care look like? Walt Norley dives deep

    Episode 70 of The Mental Game features Walt Norley, the founder, chairman and CEO of OnBalance. Why Norley on The Mental Game? Norley is a former NCAA Division I quarterback — who was initially recruited to Ohio State by then-assistant coach Nick Saban. His football career was riddled by injury, and he’s since immersed himself in an uber-successful business career. Norley, like millions, has managed bipolar disorder. With that and his passion for sports in mind, he founded OnBalance, a software platform partners with collegiate athletic departments and pro sports teams to manage mental health and well-being of athletes. The drive behind the platform is two-fold: to help save as many lives as possible and to de-stigmatize mental health for those suffering in silence. Saban’s Alabama football program was among the first NCAA programs to join, and OnBalance is pushing mental health care to the next generation. On The Mental Game, Norley dives deep on his story and that of OnBalance. Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. 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. The Mental Game is 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 well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

    35min
  8. 14 DE FEV.

    Post-playing days, becoming a mental skills coach and more with Ryan Lidge

    Episode 69 of The Mental Game brings aboard Ryan Lidge, seven-year professional baseball catcher and now a mental performance coach with ZoneCoach. Why Lidge on The Mental Game? In a way, Lidge is a lifelong mental performance coach. During his time playing at Notre Dame, in the New York Yankees organization and with the Chicago Dogs, Lidge was constantly a leader, locking himself and his teammates in on the mental game. He retired after the 2023 baseball season and has officially joined ZoneCoach as a mental performance coach. Now dealing with life after baseball, Lidge is channeling his energy to helping others tune their mental games. As a player, Lidge’s story inspires: He was cut from the Yankees after the 2019 season and decided to give up. But a last-second change-of-heart turned his career — and his life — around. We dive into it all in this episode. Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. 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. The Mental Game is 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 is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

    48min
5
de 5
24 avaliações

Sobre

Under our critical microscopes, athletes compete, coaches coach, and we discuss. But what’s happening inside these performers’ minds? Let’s dive in. And as the world recognizes that embracing mental health is necessary, “The Mental Game” serves as a platform for open and honest reflections. On The Mental Game podcast, host Sam Brief breaks down mental health and performance psychology with these athletes, coaches and experts from around the world. Music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe to The Mental Game on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and more. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Para ouvir episódios explícitos, inicie sessão.

Fique por dentro deste podcast

Inicie sessão ou crie uma conta para seguir podcasts, salvar episódios e receber as atualizações mais recentes.

Selecionar um país ou região

África, Oriente Médio e Índia

Ásia‑Pacífico

Europa

América Latina e Caribe

Estados Unidos e Canadá