Your Mental Weight Room

Desi McPhail - Mindset & Performance Coach for Athlete - Certified Life Coach
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Your Mental Weight Room helps college athletes train the strongest muscle they have, their mind. Hosted by former athlete and Certified Life Coach Desi, this podcast gives you tools to build confidence, stop overthinking, play with freedom, and so much more!

  1. 17H AGO

    Four Proven Strategies to Build Confidence and Crush Mental Blocks

    In Episode 26 of "Your Mental Weight Room," mindset mentor and certified life coach Desi shares four keys to building confidence for college athletes. She explains that confidence stems from practiced beliefs about oneself and outlines four strategies: being willing to question limiting beliefs, stepping outside your comfort zone, recognizing and validating personal progress, and reshaping your internal narrative. Through relatable examples, Desi demonstrates how applying these keys can transform self-belief and athletic performance. She concludes by inviting listeners to a free 30-minute coaching call and encouraging them to connect via Instagram at @ThisIsCoachDesi.

    15 min

  2. APR 16

    Don’t Shut Down: How to Embrace Correction and Avoid Burnout as an Athlete

    In Episode 25 of Your Mental Weight Room, host and mindset mentor Desi explores how college athletes can better handle correction from their coaches. She addresses common negative reactions—such as self-doubt and shutting down—and reframes correction as a sign of a coach's trust rather than inadequacy. Desi also distinguishes between constructive correction and emotionally-driven criticism, offering strategies to shift negative thinking. She encourages athletes to stay open to feedback, embrace discomfort, and view correction as an opportunity for growth to avoid burnout and maintain their love for their sport.

    16 min

  3. APR 2

    Let's Get Mentally Tough

    In Episode 24 of "Your Mental Weight Room," host Desi redefines mental toughness for college athletes. Drawing from personal experience playing volleyball through hairline fractures, she challenges the misconception that mental toughness means pushing through pain at all costs. Instead, Desi argues it's fundamentally about self-trust — knowing when to push forward and when to rest. She shares four practical tools to build mental toughness, including embracing vulnerability, questioning your limits, and countering negative thoughts. Through inspiring stories of athletes overcoming setbacks, Desi emphasizes that true mental toughness means finding hope in difficult moments and playing with nothing to lose.

    17 min

  4. MAR 25

    Tools I Wish I'd Had As A College Athlete: The Upper Limit

    In Episode 23 of "Your Mental Weight Room," host Desi explores the "Upper Limit" concept from Gay Hendricks’ book The Big Leap. She explains how people subconsciously sabotage themselves when they exceed their internal success comfort zone. Desi shares personal stories and examples from athletics and daily life, encouraging listeners to recognize and raise their own upper limits. The episode emphasizes self-awareness as the first step to accepting greater success and happiness, offering practical advice for athletes and anyone wanting to break through self-imposed barriers.

    12 min

  5. MAR 19

    Tools I Wish I'd Had As A College Athlete: The Model

    In episode 22 of "Your Mental Weight Room," mindset mentor Desi explores "The Model," a mental framework by Brooke Castillo rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy. Building on the previous episode about Byron Katie’s "The Work," Desi explains how The Model helps athletes and individuals gain awareness of how their thoughts shape feelings, actions, and results. Through practical examples, she demonstrates how shifting your mindset can break negative cycles and empower you to take control of your mental game, both in sports and life. The episode emphasizes self-awareness, responsibility, and practical steps for using The Model.

    33 min

  6. MAR 12

    Tools I Wish I'd Had As A College Athlete: The Work

    In episode 21 of "Your Mental Weight Room," mindset mentor and former college athlete Desi shares the first in a three-part series on mental tools she wishes she had as a player. Focusing on Byron Katie’s method “The Work,” Desi discusses overcoming limiting beliefs like “I’m not good enough” through four self-inquiry questions and a turnaround technique. Drawing from her own volleyball experience, she illustrates how challenging negative thoughts can empower athletes—and anyone—to reclaim control, boost self-worth, and perform at their best, both on and off the court.

    16 min

  7. MAR 5

    Worthiness Unlocked: Embrace Your Inherent Value

    In this quick episode of "Your Mental Weight Room," mindset mentor and former college athlete Desi explores the concept of worthiness. She shares how realizing that worthiness is inherent—unrelated to achievements or failures—transformed her life. Aimed at college athletes and anyone struggling with self-worth, Desi encourages listeners to disconnect their value from external outcomes and embrace their innate worth. She offers reflective journaling prompts to help redefine personal beliefs about worthiness, emphasizing that everyone is fully worthy simply by existing, regardless of circumstances or accomplishments.

    9 min

  8. FEB 26

    Problematic Pressure

    In episode 19 of "Your Mental Weight Room," Desi, a mindset mentor and former college athlete, explores the concept of pressure, especially among college athletes. She discusses the difference between external and self-imposed expectations, encouraging listeners to recognize and release unnecessary pressures. Using the metaphor of a basketball full court press, Desi emphasizes trusting oneself and others to overcome challenges. She shares personal stories and practical advice on letting go of unrealistic expectations, focusing on growth, and trusting in oneself—and, for some, in God—to handle life’s pressures more effectively.

    14 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Your Mental Weight Room helps college athletes train the strongest muscle they have, their mind. Hosted by former athlete and Certified Life Coach Desi, this podcast gives you tools to build confidence, stop overthinking, play with freedom, and so much more!

Information

  • Creator
    Desi McPhail - Mindset & Performance Coach for Athlete - Certified Life Coach
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Your Mental Weight Room