SportsPsychMDs

Joined by special guest, psychiatrist and MMA enthusiast, Dr. Mike Mah, we sprawl into the world of MMA. We discuss the history and evolution of the sport from the days of no weight classes and bare knuckles to today's billion dollar UFC events featuring highly skilled athletes fighting on ABC. Along the way we highlight the many unique struggles mixed martial artists face in their pursuit of the belt (chief amongst them, a livable wage, cutting weight and managing being locked in a cage with another human that wants to knock your head off [or choke you unconscious]). We also touch on the coach-fighter relationship and the importance of effective communication (featuring UFC 278's Leon Edwards and his coach Dave Lovell). Athletes Discussed: Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Kamaru Edwards, Leon Edwards, Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya, Jon Jones, George St. Pierre, Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, Khamzat Chimaev, TJ Dillashaw, Luke Rockhold, Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort, Alistair Overeem https://www.mahmd.com/

We give our annual NBA playoff predictions as Dr. Hoes has to make adjustments to his preseason pick, the Los Angeles Lakers

We detail how awareness, specifically, self-awareness and situational awareness can help you become better at managing emotion and taking advantage of the moment. We use examples of some legendary athletes that have used this skill to their advantage or, conversely, have shown a lack of self-awareness that negatively impacted their team. Athletes featured: Tom Brady, Lebron James, Ben Simmons, Tiger Woods Coaches featured: Mike Krzyzewski

We pivoted from our originally scheduled programming to discuss what was on our minds rounding out black history month. Highlighted by the Brian Flores' story we discussed how we as fans (and consumers) can impact social change by being more mindful on how we use our money and, more importantly, our attention. Is it time to start investing more of our attention into businesses (sports teams included) that not only provide us the services we are looking for (entertainment), but businesses that also align with what we value? Sports franchises that push for equality and justice for all? Coaches discussed: Brian Flores, Mike Tomlin

With the new year comes new beginnings. We discuss strategies to take advantage of any fresh start including setting goals, managing momentum (maintaining and swinging) and opening yourself up to honest communication. This is highlighted by the athletes below and their fresh or not so fresh starts. Athletes Discussed: Demar DeRozan, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Jimmy Butler, Ryan Tannehill, Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown Coaches Discussed: Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich

In part 1 of our Neurodiversity series, we turn our focus to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We discuss the spectrum of ADHD, how it presents, and how we—as individuals, coaches, and as a society—can make our world a more welcoming place for all. We also highlight treatment options including stimulants, non-stimulants and therapy. Athletes Discussed: Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, Chris Kaman, Justin Gaitlin, Kevin Lee Studies Referenced: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/205525 https://www.additudemag.com/teen-pregnancy-rates-risk-adhd-girls/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4414493/

We highlight how mindfulness, communication and gratitude mental fitness skills would go a long way in helping resolve the ongoing issues regarding the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and more. Athletes Featured: Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Kevin Durant, De'Andre Ayton, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Lebron James, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Luka Doncic, Ja Morant,

We the do an in depth of analysis of each NFL team and describe what each franchise should be grateful for going into the new season. Individuals Featured: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Joe Burrow, Derrick Henry, Carson Wentz, etc

Malice at the Palace is a prime example of when emotions get the best of us. We discuss all the factors that led to the worst brawl in US' sports history involving fans and players. It is important to note that in each individual and in each setting there is a threshold of emotions and once that is crossed fight or flight is initiated and all bets are off. We discussed how the most vital aspect of the construction of a championship team is the creation of a bond or brotherhood or sisterhood that goes beyond the basketball court. With a culture of connectedness it is easier to overcome clashes of personalities, failures and any other shortcoming. This is also a story of resilience and how these individuals were able to bounce back and grow from this experience through mental fitness, specifically being able to connect with others therefore allowing them to be able to connect and feel more confident with themselves. Mental Fitness techniques featured: communication, mindfulness, gratitude, confidence Individuals featured: Metta Sandiford-Artest (Ron Artest), Jermaine O'Neal, Reggie Miller, Stephen Jackson, Ben Wallace, Draymond Green, Dennis Rodman

We wrap up the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games by discussing some of the competitively great athletes who continue to cement their legacies, the team dynamics of team USA's men's basketball team and the barrier breakers and trend setters, like first time mothers competing. Mental Fitness Pillars Featured: Mindfulness, Gratitude Athletes Featured: Kevin Durant, Zach Levine, Katie Ledecky, Caeleb Dressel, Usain Bolt, Allyson Felix, Sydney McLaughlin, Dalilah Muhammad, Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sha'Carri Richardson, the Dream Team Coaches Featured: Gregg Popovich

We have a discussion about the 2 most polarizing topics in sports (and mental health) today. Simone Biles dropping out of the team all-around finals due mental health concerns and Sha'Carri Richardson being suspended for the Olympics due to testing positive for cannabis. Mental Fitness Pillars Featured: Mindfulness especially self-awareness, Gratitude, Communication Athletes Featured: Simon Biles, Sha'Carri Richardson, Michael Jordan

Fellow psychiatrist and racing enthusiast, Igor Guryev, MD joins us to discuss the intricacies of Formula 1 racing and how mental fitness is the key for each driver and teams' success. Athletes Featured: Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Romain Grosjean, Nico Rosberg, Ayrton Senna, Valterri Bottas Mental Fitness pillars featured: Mindfulness, Communication, Confidence, Practice, Visualization

The NBA and NHL playoffs are here. Stadiums are beginning to fill up across the globe from the Champions League Final to Madison Square Garden. Now that the playoffs are here how are these athletes dealing with the culmination of a condensed season following an even shorter offseason? We discuss the resilience factors that always come into play. Fans are back in the stadiums, pressure is rising for some. WNBA is back. Soccer stars dominate the Forbes earners list. Why the Cowboys signing Dak Prescott is an endorsement for mental fitness.

Fresh off March Madness and Los Angeles' own UCLA's run to the Final Four as an 11 seed the SPMDs dive into the anatomy of an underdog. How there is no underdog story without an adversary (no David without Goliath), what makes them successful and some of the greatest underdog stories of all time. Athletes and Teams featured: Buster Douglas, Mike Tyson, Tom Brady, Eli Manning, 2016 Leicester City, 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, Muggsy Bogues

Being a late bloomer when it comes to sports can be demoralizing. Maybe you are you are smaller, shorter, weaker, slower or less emotionally mature compared to your peers. This may seem like a disadvantage at first glance, and this is shown out by the Relative Age Effect (the over-representation of chronologically older participants within an age category) in many adolescent sport leagues. But what if we told you this could play to your advantage. In this episode we not only highlight several all-time great athletes who were late bloomers, but we also discuss specific techniques that you can use to your advantage when being last to bloom. Athletes Featured: Anthony Davis, Kurt Warner, Steve Young, Barry Sanders, Clay Matthews, Randy Johnson, Josh Hamilton, Didier Drogba, Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Bisping, Deontay Wilder, Tim Thomas, Draymond Green, Nikola Jokić, Serena Williams, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Tom Brady

Brandon is a high school student in New Jersey and is the founder of Mind-Design Sports, a sport psychology organization geared for kids and teens. He started Mind-Design Sports to help student-athletes perform at their best through blogs and podcasts addressing different issues in sports and psychology. Brandon loves psychology and in fact, also started his own club at school where he promotes the knowledge of psychology and mental health. Keep listening until the end for our introduction to the SPMDs new mental fitness programming focusing on the core principles of Integrity, Mindfulness, Gratitude, Communication and Confidence.

Dr. Burke joins us to talk about the promising results of psychedelic medicine in treating mental illness in non-athletes and athletes. Dr. Burke is a psychiatrist specializing in psychedelic therapy. He works at California Center for Psychedelic Therapy in Los Angeles offering ketamine-assisted therapy. He is also a therapist and site physician on the Phase III clinical trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.

Ty Buttrey of the Los Angeles Angels joins us to discuss how his mental fitness routine of meditation, journaling in combination with his relentless positive attitude (and a solid work life balance) allowed him to make the jump to the Major Leagues.

Olympian, author, filmmaker, actor... The multitalented Alexi Pappas sits down with us to discuss her journey. From losing her mother to suicide to experiencing depression following the 2016 Olympics, Alexi embodies resilience. Her memoir, Bravey, is out January 12th, 2021!

BURN OUT is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress. We breakdown how to avoid and or remedy burnout through seeking support, controlling the controllable by establishing a routine, gratitude exercises and incorporation of breaks/rest. In SPMDs style we take our own advise by highlighting the silver linings of the tumultuous year that was 2020 and lay out our goals for 2021. Plus our NFL playoff predications. Athletes featured: Lebron James

Bullying is all too prevalent, occurring from middle school to adulthood. We examine bullying by discussing why individuals bully, how to best help the victim and the bully, and how to build a culture of empathy and understanding. We also highlight Kim Ng, and the work she put in to become General Manager of the Miami Marlins.

We provide the recipe for being able to make any adjustment or transition seamless. We check in on how Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are adjusting to life without one another. We highlight the adjustments players like Big Ben and Alex Smith have made since major injuries set back their careers and stole their momentum. We discuss how we'll soon find out how Tua Tagovailoa has adjusted from fracturing his hip and how we already believe Dak Prescott has started the adjustment process off well by staying mentally in the game. We end by highlighting who adjusted best in the NBA and MLB bubbles, respectively. Athletes Featured: Tom Brady, Lebron James, Ben Roethlisberger, Tua Tagovailoa, Dak Prescott, Clayton Kershaw, Kenny Lofton, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard

SUBSCRIBE, RATE, and REVIEW! The SPMDs performed a live show with special guest and Infectious Disease physician, Ramee Younes, MD to answer all the pressing questions affecting college students and college athletes during these trying time. During the show we breakdown specific exercises to help with both Anxiety and Depression. These exercises including deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, engaging the senses, behavioral activation, setting SMART goals and problem-focused coping with helps you manage what you can control. Join us to see how we do in front of a live audience with college students from around the country. At the end we field questions regarding how to help student athletes during these times.

SUBSCRIBE, RATE, AND REVIEW We celebrate 50 episodes by non other than practicing gratitude. We each say what we're grateful for followed by going through all 32 NFL and telling you what they should be grateful for (ex. Falcon's fans can be grateful for $1.50 hot dogs at all home games). Check out SportsPscyhMDs.com for all your mental fitness needs. Athletes Discussed: Josh Jacobs, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Alvin Kamara and much more

When Sports Psychologist Dr. Andrew Jacobs joined the US Olympic staff in the lead-up to the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Steve Hegg had only been cycling for a little over 2 years. Using specific mental fitness strategies, they won Olympic Gold (among other medals) in both individual and team competition. The value of having a mental health professional on staff is also highlighted by the lifelong bond they created--as evidenced by their lively banter. (Steve still doesn't forget how Dr. Jacobs cost him an appearance on The Johnny Carson Show) Dr. Andrew Jacobs is one of the pioneers of Sports Psychology as he has been in the game for over 40 years starting in the 1980s working with numerous teams at all levels including the US Olympic Team, the Kansas City Royals, the University of Kansas Jayhawks and so many more. Dr. Andrew Jacobs hosts his own live radio show and podcast called the Sport Psychology Hour streaming on all platforms. Steve Hegg is an Olympic Gold Medal cyclist who represented the US at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, where he won the gold medal in the 4000m individual pursuit and silver in the 4000m team pursuit.

We begin the conversation by discussing how certain players are handling the pressures of the playoffs and the bubble. We finish the conversation by discussing the ongoing police brutality, social injustices and overall division in our country. We breakdown the tactics used by our police, politicians and media to instigate fear within all of us for the sake of law and order. We discuss the neuroanatomy and physiology of why these tactics make it easy to manipulate us and in the end push us further and further apart. Finally, we speak to what we can do to overcome our own fears and insecurities in order to see through these tactics and ultimately connect with people across the aisle. Athletes Discussed: Paul George, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler

Sports journalist and founder of Girl At The Game, Gabrielle Starr, joins the podcast to discuss the interplay between sports and mental health, the importance of sports as a vehicle for social change and what it's like being a woman in sports media. Oh, and the Boston Red Sox. Girl at the Game is a sports media company founded in 2017 to give women a platform to bring their unique voices and perspectives to sports. Interview begins at 4:48

Former Premier League and Wales national team winger, David Cotterill, opens up about his battle with alcohol addiction, depression and suicide all while playing at the highest level in soccer. Interview begins at 14:00

SPMDs breakdown the return of sports highlighting the adjustments athletes are making with having to play in empty arenas, isolated from family and friends, while also balancing the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and fight for social justice. We also provide insights on ways in which athletes can maintain a high level competitive drive and performance even during difficult times like these by developing mental flexibility. In sports, stress in competition can be represented by things ranging from the opposing teams defense to distractions like the crowd noise from opposing fans. Mental fitness teaches strategies that enable an athlete or performer to maintain consistent focus without being overwhelmed by stress. We also describe the benefits of putting time and effort into developing mental flexibility which is a skill that can be developed through mental fitness. Mental Flexibility is a product of resilience and we describe simple strategies athletes can engage in to help reduce stress, maintain focus and be able to adjust when needed. In our final segment we make our pre-NBA playoffs NBA Finals predictions. Athletes Featured: Devin Booker, TJ Warren, Madison Bumgarner, Lebron James, Anthony Davis, Kobe Bryant

National Champion, Super Bowl Champion and currently serving as Executive Director of the NFL Player’s Association Professional Athletes Foundation, Andre Collins joins the show to share his story of developing into an elite professional athlete & sports industry leader. From growing up with 19 siblings, to winning at the highest level (as both a college and professional athlete), to becoming a successful community ambassador and business leader off the field, Andre Collins’ legacy in sports is what having resilience is all about. As a LB for the Washington Football team (formerly known as the Redskins) during his playing career, Andre also weighs in on the team’s controversial name, mascot and logo. He offers insight into the events that lead to the decision to ultimately make the transition after several years of debate. Also discover how Andre uses mindfulness and gratitude practices to guide his daily routine and how they have enabled him to continue his excellence off the field by guiding athletes in their career "transformations" [transitions] after football through mentorship and character development programs. Interview begins at 19:00 Coaches Highlighted: Joe Paterno, Joe Gibbs

In this episode we announce our exciting new partnership with the Athletic Academy, a state-of-the-art fully loaded sports leadership development program for young athletes. The Athletic Academy was founded by 4 former college football players who decided they wanted to help bridge the gap from high school to the collegiate level by creating a program dedicated to preparing young football players for success at the next level. From meal plans to position specific drills to help with recruiting - this program really has it all. With the recent integration of the SportsPsychMDs mental fitness curriculum, the Athletic Academy truly offers a a one-of-a-kind experience in not only enhancement of athletic performance but also character development and resilience. Two of their co-founders, Levi Armstrong and BJ Bennett, join us to discuss the Athletic Academy along with what inspired them along the way. https://athleticacademydynasty.com

MiLB players, AJ Dean and Dylan Hoffman join us to share their stories of resilience in their pursuit of becoming starting pitchers at the professional level. They share with us their personal stories of the grit and grind needed to become a big league player and the emotional rollercoaster a starting pitcher faces when they step to the mound versus a formidable slugger. AJ and Dylan reveal how they’ve learned to harness their emotions to perform better using self awareness though mindfulness and self-appreciation through gratitude. Interview begins at 55:00 *This episode is sponsored by Adopt a Minor Leaguer.

Tokyo Olympic hopeful, Cyrus Ramone Pattinson, joins us to discuss his journey from a trouble-maker in his youth to successful amateur boxer and junior champion. His resilience journey has included working with his own sports psychologist who teaches mindfulness practices and he utilized apps like Headspace for additional mental fitness training and therapy. In the past he has benefited from use of medication and rehab for treating psychiatric and neurological symptoms he sustained after suffering a serious concussion. Cyrus’ transition from soccer to boxing also highlights key differences between team and individual sports which he outlines in this compelling interview. Interview begins at 35:40

For our first of several editions of a new podcast series: “Sports Psych in Practice”, your SPMDs present an exclusive interview with Dr. Carrie Hastings who currently serves as Team Psychologist and Director of Mental Health programs for the LA Rams. Dr. Hastings was a standout track athlete at Notre Dame University and now leads mental health and wellness initiatives at the NFL level. She joins the show to discuss how she’s been transforming lives and making healthcare leaders in the sports psych community proud by providing high level mental health care to the LA Rams organization through awareness, education and family/community support. During our interview with Dr. Hastings we also discover how the LA Rams mental health/mental fitness program has become the model mental health program for NFL teams. Interview begins at 20:15

In Episode 39 we first introduce the newest member of the SPMDs team, Benjamin Vogel, also our marketing director and brand ambassador. We continue the conversation on social justice and how sports and athletes can continue the momentum towards change. Last, but not least we hear the story of Tremayne Anchrum Jr, 2x national champion out of Clemson and recent draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams, who is eager to make an impact both on and off the field. Interview begins at 21:40

Good mourning sports fans ☀️. We release this episode the morning after June 19, 2020 to commemorate Juneteenth and remind us that sunshine always follows darkness. Sports returns to us this summer, leading the way and delivering a message of hope in times of crisis. We discuss the tragic events in recent history and the ways in which the Sports community, once again, stands united as a force of strength, understanding and redemption for us all to share. We give thanks to the athletes who continue to stand and march together in solidarity to convey a resounding message of victory in times of struggle. They remind us that a lifetime dedicated to resilience will always be a cause worth living for. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Thomas Jefferson Declaration of Independence United States of America

We begin by highlighting the growing legacy of Lebron James and how he has lifted his voice to speak out against the racial injustices that affect the personal life experiences of so many athletes. We compare and contrast the identities of Michael Jordan and Lebron James tracing back the stories of their tremendous rise to super stardom beginning with their unique childhoods and how those experiences shaped their attitudes and approaches to greatness as professionals. We show how Lebron’s childhood played a significant role in inspiring him to become a Voice for Change and ‘More Than an Athlete.’ Inspired by these two great leaders, we then use our own Voices to shed light on the current state of racism in America and the ways in which historically destructive forces have torn apart the fabric of what makes America great, particularly in recent years, culminating in the tragic death of George Floyd. We cover implicit bias and privilege at the individual level to injustices and inequalities within law enforcement, healthcare and so much more. Lastly, we illustrate how professional sports in the modern era has been one of the only American institutions established as an even playing field and meritocracy. Sports may offer concrete solutions to some of these longstanding societal dilemmas in both Reform and UNITY.

This episode is dedicated to Michael Jordan and the spirit of resilience through craftsmanship. MJ’s legacy defines legendary greatness in performance. As depicted in his exciting Docuseries, we learn how a hard hat, ‘blue collar’ work ethic combined with integrity, self awareness and supervenes confidence were the building blocks for his highly competitive drive and sustained dominance over his career. In last dance, we also learn how the driving force behind his sustained greatness, both on and off the floor was a credit to his resilience. His strong foundation - established by a supportive family - combined with personal attributes that enabled him to excel beyond adversity, and unmatched will to win fueled one the most legendary careers in performance in the modern era of sports and entertainment. Last dance, final words, unforgettable legacy. Greatness. Athletes Featured: Michael Jeffrey Jordan #23

In this episode, we continue to highlight resilience - a foremost principle in mental fitness. We kick things off by reviewing the building blocks of resilience: mindfulness, gratitude, communication, confidence and drive and emphasize how these elements pave the way to improving self awareness. Building upon our discussion on resilience we describe how our mental fitness program builds self awareness and how it helps you achieve intrinsic or “autonomous motivation” - the type of self determination needed to become a champion. Using these principles we attempt to demystify the “story behind the story” for those athletes who struggled to live up to expectations ...Those ever-elusive what-if stories... the what could have beens. Athletes Featured: Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Durant, Anfernee Hardaway, Chris Paul, Grant Hill, Chris Webber

In this latest episode the SportsPsychMDs discuss their ‘Merger of Change’ approach and how improves mental fitness through resilience - a quality essential to overcoming adversity. M - mindfulness E - effort (consistent) R - repetition/reinforcement G - gratitude E - energy/momentum R - reliability/resilience We also detail the legacy of Phil Jackson and how he became an agent of change for some of the greatest NBA franchises in history and how his approach to the Triangle Offense helped catapult the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan to greatness. As our nation continues our own epic battle with COVID-19, we reflect on the great Phil Jackson whose coaching legacy reflects the kind of leadership and inspiration we need right now. The SportsPsychMDs salute, “The Zen Master”, Coach Phil Jackson and all the great coaches, educators and leaders who create champions for our communities and when called upon have the ability to inspire a Merger of Change.

A tribute to the great Scottie Pippen (#33) A player we SportsPsychMDs refer to as the Greatest Role Player of All Time

We breakdown the NFL Draft in 3 segments: First, we discuss how psychological and personality assessments (DISC) can be utilized in the front office when making selections. We then do a deep dive into the recent #1 picks in both the NFL and NBA drafts discussing the busts and the booms highlighting how having all the data in the world isn't enough to make the best choice. Lastly, with each prospect drafted in this years NFL draft there may be a huge weight off their shoulder, a sense as if they have made it. Will accomplishing a life long goal be reason to become complacent or will they take this opportunity to add fuel to the fire and come up with new SMART(ER) goals? Athletes Featured: Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, Tom Brady, Gronk, Russell Wilson and all the #1 picks in both the NFL and NBA drafts dating back to 1998.

We brought back Infectious Disease specialist, Dr. Ramee Younes, to provide us some updates on COVID-19. Ramee shares her perspective on public health policy, social distancing as well as treating patients with COVID-19 in the hospital setting--and the impact this has on both patient and healthcare worker wellbeing. Afterwards, we discuss how we are each adjusting to working from home while providing a blueprint to overcoming the unknown, life without sports and the future of sports.

Retired Professional Soccer Player, Diana Redman, MSW, Psy-D joins us to discuss the challenges of having a family and being a high level athlete. She details an incredible story of resilience describing how she bounced back from pregnancy to reclaim high level performance within 6 weeks. Diana’s journey from player to mental fitness expert began after playing over a decade for the National Team of Israel. In the pod she gives us unique insights into the long standing gender inequalities in sports that make it difficult for female athletes to be able to perform as well on the field as they do at home and how few sports organizations that feature women have policies that support maternity leave or other important family planning policies. Diana is now a Mental Performance Consultant and advocate for athletes who want to start a family while playing at a high level. Athletes Featured: Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux, Serena Williams, Alysia Montano, Sylar Diggins-Smith, Sarah Brown

Another Public Service Announcement from your friendly neighborhood psychiatrist(s): Suicide affects each and every one of us. Athletes are not immune. There are many ways it can be prevented. To learn how join the conversation. Together We can make a difference. Athletes Featured: Junior Seau, Ronda Rousey, Michael Phelps

The SportsPsychMDs welcome Sports Psychiatrist & Board Certified Sleep Medicine Specialist, Dr. Shane Creado to the podcast. We discuss how athletes can maximize sleep for improving performance using the principle that the process of achieving higher quality sleep should be approached in a similar manner to preparing for competition. Dr. Creado’s book underscores not only the value of sleep but also teaches how sleep can be integrated into an athletes daily routine, providing simple guidelines and practical tools for achieving the high quality sleep needed to perform at the highest level. Title: Peak Sleep Performance: The Cutting-Edge Sleep Science That Will Guarantee A Competitive Advantage. Available now, on Kindle and Amazon. FREE ON KINDLE FOR THE NEXT 48 hours. Kindle USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085YFP9YW Kindle India: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B085YFP9YW Paperback USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085R72QQM

The Butterfly Effect is the principle of how even small changes (like the flapping wings of a distant butterfly) can have much larger effects on the balance of an ecosystem. This principle teaches how even the untimely death of that butterfly can have far-reaching, unforeseen ripple effects on subsequent historical events. Such is the case with the spread of a viral outbreak like COVID-19. In this episode we investigate the current state of the this Pandemic along with special guest, Infectious Disease Specialist, Ramee Younes, MD. We also take a closer look at how this pandemic gives new meaning to march madness, exploring the psychological implications of surviving a pandemic and living in a world without sporting events. We then show how powerful mindfulness and gratitude practices can be to preserving wellness and maintaining resilience in times of crisis.

“Perform at your best when your best is required... your best is required each day” - John Wooden What characteristics are most important for being the leader on a team of professional athletes? In this Part 2 of the Identity of the Athlete series we break down the Alpha personality detailing how it works within team dynamics and what characteristics enable these athletes to consistently perform at a high level in competitive sports. We also compare and contrast the two predominant types of Alpha personalities embodied by legendary NBA athletes Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant - who project the “give me the damn ball” attitude vs the less traditional types like Magic Johnson and LeBron James who possess the playmaker and “ultimate facilitator” approach to the game. **Moment of Mindfulness segment: NBA Allstar game and Ottawa Senator’s Bobby Ryan’s hat trick in his first home game back after entering the NHL/NHLPA’s player assistance program for alcohol abuse. Athletes Featured: Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, LeBron James, Peyton Manning, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zion Williamson, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Kemba Walker, Joel Embiid, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Draymond Green, Steph Curry, Madison Bumgarner, Bobby Ryan

Game within the game refers to the dynamic shifts in momentum that occur in performance and competition. We kick things off by first highlighting a moment of mindfulness in sports related to a controversial federal lawsuit filed by female high school student athletes arguing that they should not have to compete against transgender athletes for having what they argue are inherent biological advantages. We then discuss our own formula for what important mental fitness tools are most useful for developing resilience in competition and how that resilience can be used to generate momentum. We describe how momentum can be created within teams and within individual performers and how that relates to dynamic game scenarios like scoring runs, being in the zone or catching fire. We wrap up by explaining how developing resilience and momentum, - which we believe can be achieved through guided, wellness-centered mindfulness and gratitude practices - are key tools for successful performance in all industries and career paths. #mindfulness #effort #reinforcement #gratitude #energy #resilience #momentum #motivation Athletes Featured: Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, Lebron James, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning & The best ever NBA Jam video games duos,

“Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be” - Ralph Waldo Emerson In this episode we focus on what makes coaching so important to success in sports and discuss how great coaching enhance performance and transform good players into great players. Whether it's on the gridiron, in the workplace or in everyday life, great coaching can be a literal game changer in how it can shape potential and help bring out the best in each of us. We discuss some legendary coaches and how building relationships beyond the field of play may be the most important factor in determining success (on and off the field). We introduce the NCAA's new ‘Mental Health Best Practices’ which are a set of guidelines that are changing the landscape of how mental health is treated in college athletics. Although coaching must be distinguished from traditional approaches to mental health care, such as medicine and therapy, there is no doubt that it improves mental fitness and serves as both a way to enhance performance and augment any mental health treatment or recovery program. Coaches featured: Gregg Popovich, Bill Belichick, Nick Saban, Dabo Swinney, Pat Summitt, AJ Hinch, Alex Cora

In this part 2 of our tribute series to Kobe Bryant we break down the psychology of the ‘Mamba Mentality’. We start by detailing Kobe's life from start to finish, illustrating the ways in which key experiences from childhood and his early adult years likely contributed to the shaping of his legendary will to win.