Unit3d

On this episode of Unit3d, Ryan sits down with collegiate Running Back, Albert Kunickis III.  They talk about their faith, their ACL connection, the adversity they've faced throughout their lives, and the power of perspective.Albert entered the world without a right hand or forearm. This “Beast” has an incredible can-do attitude and has never played the victim. His story is inspiring! Take a listen.  

Ryan “Hilly” and Northwestern University Running Back, Cam Porter “CPO”, dive deep into self-reflection. Through injury and recovery, the teammates talk about their friendship and their struggles to stay true to their identities outside of sport along with the importance of being your authentic self, on and off the field. They remind us to be the best versions of ourselves, be you; everyone else is taken. 

On this episode of Unit3d Ryan talks with University of South Carolina Offensive Lineman, Jakai Moore, about the struggles Jakai has faced during his collegiate career and how he copes with adversity, on and off the field. Jakai sadly lost his wonderful Mom last year, she was such a special person with a heart as big as Jakai!Listen in as these two former teammates share stories and remind us that there isn't a right or wrong way to cope with hardship and how the support and love from your teammates can make all the difference in overcoming tragedy and navigating difficult times. 

Listen in to “Episode 0” as Ryan Hilinski talks about his new role with Unit3d and the path the podcast is taking this fall. Ryan is joined by Mark Hilinski who shares how powerful storytelling has been on their journey with Hilinski's Hope and how opening up and sharing your struggles can not only save your life but the lives of others too.

Over the past four and a half years, Unit3d has been hosted by Sport Psychologist, Dr. Josie Nicholson. Through 250 plus episodes it's been a place where mental health professionals' team up to hold conversations for student-athletes. These discussions were a reminder that you are never alone, but Unit3d in this world together.The Hilinski's Hope team is very grateful for the love and passion Josie poured into Unit3d; she truly is an amazing person!Together, we decided to take a different approach. Moving forward, student-athlete, H3H cofounder, and Tyler's younger brother, Ryan Hilinski, will host Unit3d. Ryan will bring on other student-athletes to share their stories, their love of sport, as well as their mental health struggles and triumphs. Through these talks we'll discover how we can support each other on our journey. We'll be back with our new format in a few weeks. As always, Forever to 3.

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d podcast will be airing great episodes from the past.  Please enjoy your summer, and re-enjoy the episode chosen by Kym Hilinski, Quarterback Conversations featuring Brian Mauer and Ryan Hilinski as the guests.This episode features two amazing men sharing their stories of resilience and love. They both happen to be quarterbacks at SEC schools, but it's their passion for helping others that bonds them together. Ryan Hilinski and Brian Mauer talk through having overcome dark times and their commitments to reducing the stigma that is a barrier to others seeking help. 

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d podcast will be airing great episodes from the past. These episodes have been chosen and are being introduced by students from Indiana University who have participated in a sport psychology class where the Unit3d podcast has been part of a class assignment. Please enjoy your summer, and re-enjoy the episode chosen by Eli Friedman, Positive Vibes.With so much uncertainty and so many obstacles facing us every day, finding a positive approach can be difficult. Using our strengths and focusing on what we can do can help bring balance during difficult times. Dr. Jesse Steinfeldt discusses practical tips for positive psychology to help carry us in to the fall.

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d podcast will be airing great episodes from the past. These episodes have been chosen and are being introduced by students from Indiana University who have participated in a sport psychology class where the Unit3d podcase has been part of a class assignment. Please enjoy your summer, and re-enjoy the episode chosen by Dr. Jesse Steinfeldt, People Care More Than You Know featuring Joe Taylor as the guest.As a football player for the University of Michigan, Joe Taylor knew he had so much going for him. As he was challenged by depression, he realized that no matter how great your life is, depression is an illness that can happen for anyone. He reached out for help and learned that people care more than he realized. His experiences made him stronger, and he encourages others to be courageous in asking for help.

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d podcast will be airing great episodes from the past.  Please enjoy your summer, and re-enjoy the episode chosen by Mark Hilinski, Music, the Great Connector.Music is universal; just about everyone has a type of music they love, a favorite song, or soothing sound they prefer. Music and sound has been used in many ways to improve or maintain mental health as well as boost performance. On this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Derek Vigon talks about ways in which music, vibration and sound can enhance mood, soothe anxiety, improve performance and more.

During the month of July, the Unit3d podcast will be airing great episodes from the past. These episodes have been chosen and are being introduced by students from Indiana University who have participated in a sport psychology class where the Unit3d podcast has been part of a class assignment. Please enjoy your summer, and re-enjoy the episode chosen by Vinny Lopez, The Magic Portal.Established in 2008, the transfer portal became much more popular when, in 2021, the NCAA passed regulations that allowed athletes in many sports a “one-time transfer” without having to sit out a year. This has opened the portal for many more athletes than before, but it has not been a magic remedy as many had hoped. With so many athletes entering the portal, many are left without a new team. On this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Joey Case talks about the implications of the portal for student athlete mental health as well as how one can navigate the emotional toll of the transfer process.

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d podcast will be airing great episodes from the past. These episodes have been chosen and are being introduced by students from Indiana University who have participated in a sport psychology class where the Unit3d podcase has been part of a class assignment. Please enjoy your summer, and re-enjoy the episode chosen by Madeline Lenzini, Good in a Crisis.We hope a crisis situation is something we will not face, but it is important to prepare as much as we can for the unexpected. It is also helpful to know how to help someone when a crisis pops up. On this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Dylan Firsick discusses various ways to handle a crisis situation, things we can do when the unexpected happens, and ways to help those close to us experiencing an emergency, especially when the emergency is related to one's mental health.

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d podcast will be airing great episodes from the past. These episodes have been chosen and are being introduced by students from Indiana University who have participated in a sport psychology class where the Unit3d podcast has been part of a class assignment. Please enjoy your summer, and re-enjoy the episode chosen by Eli Davis, Going Pro in Identity.Identity is such a struggle for so many athletes, and many do not know who they are outside of their sport. Identification with sport can come at a cost, especially when athletes start to look for a direction to go in when their sport is done. Even when athletes turn pro in their sport, that professional career will end at some point and athletes then will look to what else they can do. On this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Brad Hambric discusses an array of aspects to an athlete's identity and how one can go about exploring other areas of identity.  

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d podcast will be airing great episodes from the past. These episodes have been chosen and are being introduced by students from Indiana University who have participated in a sport psychology class where the Unit3d podcast has been part of a class assignment. Please enjoy your summer, and re-enjoy the episode chosen by Grace Mangan, Gratitude is My Lifestyle.Gratitude is a practice known to improve mental health as well as performance, but Dr. Kate Bennett proclaims gratitude as a lifestyle she has lived for over 20 years. The path to success, particularly for athletes involves suffering, and gratitude can help us thrive through the difficult times we experience both on that path as well as in our life. In this second part of our 3-part pre-holidays gratitude series, we talk about gratitude coming from the heart, improving our performance, and improving/maintaining our mental health.

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d podcast will be airing great episodes from the past. These episodes have been chosen and are being introduced by students from Indiana University who have participated in a sport psychology class where the Unit3d podcast has been part of a class assignment. Please enjoy your summer, and re-enjoy Don't Walk Away from Life: Harlee Walker.Growing up with a professional athlete as a father, Harley Walker and her siblings grew up with an idea of what it meant to be. “mentally tough”. When Harley moved across the country to play softball, she began to experience feelings of sadness and emptiness that she couldn't explain. Hearing the Hilinski's bring their story to the athletes at her school, she was able to realize that it's OK to not be OK even if you can't figure it out. On this episode of United, Harley shares her story of reaching out for help and receiving the support she needed.

Caitlin Broadwell is the mental health case manager for Long Beach State University, helping athletes navigate through their career and connect with resources to support them in their journey.  Having played volleyball in college and then transitioned to beach volleyball when she transferred for her last year of eligibility, she transitioned from her sport twice and knows how difficult that transition can be for athletes when they hang up the jersey. She has started the podcast Hanging Up The Jersey, giving athletes a platform to talk about transitioning out of sport in hopes that it will not only help athletes share their story, but help athletes transitioning know that there is hope: there is light at the end of that transition tunnel.

With the semester ending we are headed into summer. Summer used to be a break between one school year ending to another one starting, but more and more summer is becoming a time to work out, train, and practice before the season. With less down-time, we have to be intentional about finding ways to relax and ways to recharge. In this episode of Unit3d, four sport psychologists: Dr. Sheriece Sadberry, Dr. Dylan Firsick, Dr. Tess Palmateer, and Dr. Tom Golightly give their perspective on ways to wind down and refresh.

Often when we face adversity we can focus on limitations and loss. Avery Camp is a wheelchair basketball national champion and wheelchair tennis four time national champion. She has reached a rank of as high as #37 in the world in wheelchair tennis. Avery has used the mindset of “what can I do” to adapt to circumstances and find her way into sport after an injury took her away from competitive gymnastics. On this episode of Unit3d, Avery shares her story and talks about aspects of her mindset that have helped her succeed in difficult times.

When we play sports as a kid, we play because it's fun. As we get older, things can become more complex. When we are good at a sport, we get more invested in the outcome, more people become involved and invested in our performance, and we can lose the enjoyment of playing. If we can connect with our values, we can reconnect with our “why,” our reason for continuing in our sport. Chris Pomfret is a senior performance psychologist with Condor Performance in Brisbane, Australia. On this episode of Unit3d, Chris shares from across the world strategies for engaging in self-exploration to find out what we value and how that keeps us motivated to continue in the sport that was once played just for fun.

As a former athlete Jeremy Gray understands the mental health challenges that can happen, whether it's due to the stress and expectations of performance or the depression that can happen as a result of the inevitable transition that happens away from sport. He is now an Alabama State Representative working in politics to support athletes through legislation and advocacy. He has brought yoga to the schools in Alabama and created needed change for athletes. Jeremy shares his journey and the work he is doing now in the Alabama State Legislature.

Bill Kvalheim played football in college, but his biggest challenge would hit him once he graduated. Bill had experienced some anxiety and depression before, but without his purpose (which had been playing football), he felt lost and aimless. His depression worsened, his anxiety ramped up, and he finally asked for help to get better. Now he has a new purpose – a mission – to decrease stigma and let young athletes know that it's ok to ask for help and that they are not alone. Bill has now started the nonprofit, Tackle Depression, which is designed to provide education, mentorship, and resources (including scholarships) for young people struggling with their own mental illness. He shares about his journey on this episode of Unit3d.

Athletes are often hard on themselves, particularly when it comes to past performances. Overly critical post-performance analyses are often inaccurate and unhelpful. Constantly berating ourselves for mistakes or missed opportunities can rob us of joy and create a relationship with our performance that is rife with fear. On this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Rachel Webb talks about the disadvantage of being hypercritical and not having a more accurate review of our past performances both athletically and emotionally.

The awareness around student-athlete mental health has come so far in the last couple of decades, although we still have a long way to go. Walt Norley was a quarterback at Ohio State and University of Georgia. Although he had success in his athletic career, he was struggling with an undiagnosed mental illness. Later in life he was diagnosed and treatment helped him thrive. He started and developed several tech companies and decided to use his personal experience to raise awareness and help other athletes improve their mental health. Through his data analytics company, OnBalance he is helping athletic departments deliver better mental health services to athletes. Through the podcast Athletes Onbalance he is raising awareness, having dialogue, and supporting the mental health of student-athletes everywhere.

Music is universal; just about everyone has a type of music they love, a favorite song, or soothing sound they prefer. Music and sound has been used in many ways to improve or maintain mental health as well as boost performance. On this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Derek Vigon talks about ways in which music, vibration and sound can enhance mood, soothe anxiety, improve performance and more.

On March 31, 2020 the first episode of Unit3d was released. That could not have happened without the work and guidance of Graham Doty, Unit3d's producer. For this special anniversary, Graham is the guest on Unit3d, sharing his perspective on the beginnings, growth, and impact of the podcast over the last 4 years of nearly 300 episodes.

We all have our ups and downs, but sometimes we can wonder if our ups or downs are “normal”. It can be hard to know when nervousness is actually anxiety or sadness is actually depression. Dr. Marlon Bailey, psychologist in the athletic department at Vanderbilt University shares valuable insight helping one know when to seek help and encourages listeners that if you aren't having the experience you want, you can get support in making it better.

Warning: This episode contains reference to suicide and self-harm. If you experience thoughts of ending your life please reach out to someone, including 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Always have hope.Mental illness is obviously not new, but the current push to bring mental health care and reaching out for support has brought the importance of one's mental health to the forefront of concern for athletes, athletic departments and sport teams.  Hearing about other athletes' and how they navigate times of mental health struggle can help athletes feel less alone and know different ways to navigate darker times.  Writer and editor Julie Kliegman shares insights she gathered from interviewing some of the most elite athletes in the world, writing about athlete mental health, and from her own life in this episode of Unit3d.  Please check out Julie Kleiman's new book Mind Game: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes out now and available on Amazon and other major booksellers.

Injury is almost an inevitable part of the journey for athletes and when it happens it can be a daunting process.  An injury threatens an athlete's identity, social connections, sense of self-worth, and more.  Trusting the process of recovery or even the process of discontinuing sport often requires support.  Dr. Jack Howard discusses injury in athletes, how to navigate the process, and how to support someone going through it.

Gwen Schemm played soccer at Frostburg State University in Maryland. She was, like many athletes, a high-achieving perfectionist. She spent much of her life seeking external validation from awards, praise, and perfect grades. Transitioning to college was difficult and when she started to struggle with her mental health she felt like she was supposed to be able to do everything on her own. Through counseling and support she learned that she is good enough without all the achievements and that she had the power to quiet her inner critical voice as she amplified the voice in her telling her she is strong and worthy. On this episode of Unit3d, Gwen shares her story of struggle and triumph.

The LGBTQ community faces unique challenges when it comes to feeling and being included in spaces, and this can be especially difficult in the area of sport.  It can be difficult for athletes to find spaces and people who are safe and coming out to teammates and coaches can be a big risk.  Dr. Tess Kilwein talks about some of the difficulties faced by those in the LGBTQ community, how athletic departments and staff can create more inclusive environments, and how athletes can be allies to teammates and friends facing these challenges.  Dr. Kilwein shares about Athlete Ally which is an organization that promotes equal access, opportunity, and experience in sports regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The website for athlete allies (www.athleteally.org) offers many resources including trainings for athletes, staff, and coaches.

As a football player for the University of Michigan, Joe Taylor knew he had so much going for him. As he was challenged by depression, he realized that no matter how great your life is, depression is an illness that can happen for anyone. He reached out for help and learned that people care more than he realized. His experiences made him stronger, and he encourages others to be courageous in asking for help.

Bella Fiorenzo experienced struggles along her way to playing soccer in college, and utilizing sport psychology resources as a collegiate athlete helped her establish a space of support.  As her confidence grew, so did her leadership skills and she was named captain of her team her senior year.  She experienced her use of sport psychology performance-related services as preventative and inspired her to pursue her doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis in sport psychology.  On this episode of Unit3d, Bella talks about her experiences and how these have led her to pursue a career helping other athletes make the most of their time as collegiate athletes. 

Representation matters, and representation can be vital when it comes to mental health professionals available for student-athletes. The fit in the relationship between an athlete and a therapist is vital to healing, and being able to have a therapist that shares a cultural perspective and experience can facilitate that road to optimal mental wellness. Dr. Marcus Dumas (Dr. Du) discusses the importance of the relationship and how to overcome potential barriers to that relationship on this episode of Unit3d.

During the holidays the Unit3d team will be taking a break. Because holidays can be hectic and even stressful, the Unit3d team is once again bringing you a series of guided meditations, relaxations, and visual imageries recorded by various mental health professionals to help give you some peace. We will be back with great new episodes mid-January.The last in our relaxation series for this holiday is done by the Unit3d host, Dr. Josie Nicholson. This is meant to be a deep relaxation and gives a chance to embrace the perspective of the new semester as a chance to start fresh, see things in a new way, and build from a strong foundation. Enjoy letting go of tension in your body and your mind!

During the holidays the Unit3d team will be taking a break. Because holidays can be hectic and even stressful, the Unit3d team is once again bringing you a series of guided meditations, relaxations, and visual imageries recorded by various mental health professionals to help give you some peace. We will be back with great new episodes mid-January.Our thoughts often take away from our feelings of calm. With practice we can learn to take those thoughts that are not helpful and release them like a leaf that floats downstream. Kristi Boxx, Counseling, intern for Rebel Sport Psych in Ole Miss Athletics, leads us through a visualization to help us release unhelpful thoughts, and find a greater state of relaxation.

During the holidays the Unit3d team will be taking a break. Because the beginning of a new year can be hectic and even stressful, the Unit3d team is once again bringing you a series of guided meditations, relaxations, and visual imageries recorded by various mental health professionals to help give you some peace. We will be back with great new episodes in a couple of weeks!  Bella Fiorenzo, pre-doctoral intern at Auburn University and Ph.D. student at St. Louis University brings us this weeks' time of relaxation with guided breathing and a reminder to engage in self-compassion as we begin this new year.

During the holidays the Unit3d team will be taking a break. Because holidays can be hectic and even stressful, the Unit3d team is once again bringing you a series of guided meditations, relaxations, and visual imageries recorded by various mental health professionals to help give you some peace. We will be back with great new episodes mid-January.With the holidays coming to a close and the new year started, this is a nice time to pause and release tension from the body. Dr. Allison Rogers, Assistant Director of Counseling and Sport Psychology, Mississippi State University Athletics guides us through this meditation focused on gratitude while relaxing the body.

During the holidays the Unit3d team will be taking a break. Because holidays can be hectic and even stressful, the Unit3d team is once again bringing you a series of guided meditations, relaxations, and visual imageries recorded by various mental health professionals to help give you some peace.  We will be back with great new episodes mid-January.The first of our meditations for the holidays is one we offer to you every year: Power Animal by Dean Worsham, LPD, LMFT.  In this guided meditation, you will be connected with inner strength and wisdom. Happy Holidays!

For the last of our 3-part series on gratitude, Dr. LaTisha Bader returns to the Unit3d podcast to discuss the mindset of gratitude. Gratitude as a practice seems simple but can be difficult to engage in consistently. LaTisha discusses the neurology around gratitude, the difficulties in maintaining a practice that supports that mindset, and the benefits that having that mindset can facilitate.

Gratitude is a practice known to improve mental health as well as performance, but Dr. Kate Bennett proclaims gratitude as a lifestyle she has lived for over 20 years. The path to success, particularly for athletes involves suffering, and gratitude can help us thrive through the difficult times we experience both on that path as well as in our life. In this second part of our 3-part pre-holidays gratitude series, we talk about gratitude coming from the heart, improving our performance, and improving/maintaining our mental health. 

As we head into the holiday season, Unit3d is doing a 3-part series on gratitude. Gratitude has been researched a great deal and has been shown to have wonderful benefits to our mental health, but also can improve our performance in sport. To kick off the series, we have Dr. Jeff Ruser, CMPC, talking about his perspective on the benefits of gratitude, the ways to practice gratitude, and the mental health AND performance benefits of gratitude.

Growing up with a professional athlete as a father, Harlee Walker and her siblings grew up with an idea of what it meant to be. “mentally tough”. When Harlee moved across the country to play softball, she began to experience feelings of sadness and emptiness that she couldn't explain. Hearing the Hilinskis bring their story to the athletes at her school, she was able to realize that it's OK to not be OK even if you can't figure out. On this episode of United, Harlee shares her story of reaching out for help and receiving the support she needed.

Often athletes don't think of themselves as creative people, but it takes creativity to perform at our best. Dr. Breigh Jones-Coplin developed a relationship with her creative side in 2020 when she began exploring flower arranging. Having found her creative venture to be therapeutic, she opened her business, Black + Blossomed, LLC. In this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Jones-Coplin talks about tapping into our creativity in order to find more of ourselves in what we do, as well as ways in which creativity can boost our mental health.

Ali Weisz competed in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, has earned 12 international medals, an individual World Championship Gold and currently holds the World Record in Women's 10m Air Rifle.  Despite success, she has experienced burnout, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.  On this episode of Unit3d, Ali shares what it is like to fight through periods of burnout, the importance of leaning on a circle of trusted friends, and what it's like to live her dream and realize that the dream isn't always what it was built up to be

Paris Hilinski is the niece of Mark and Kym Hilinski.  Her rise to professional golf was very fast: she started playing golf when she had just turned 14 and a year later, after her 8th tournament, she qualified for the U.S. Women's Open.  During covid she realized she needed to see herself as more than a golfer and more than her performance so she began to build a brand and venture in to the influencer world.  She is now the creative director for LA Golf and has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world.  On Unit3d she talks about her journey, the importance of seeing yourself as more than your sport, and the difficulties but importance of reaching out for help and support.

It is not uncommon for athletes to question themselves and feel as though what they are doing is not good enough. When the feeling that we are not good enough is pervasive and results in us feeling as though we are an imposter and that someone will find us out it is called imposter syndrome. Challenging the thought that we don't belong is vital for believing that we are enough and right where we are supposed to be. Lauren Wright, Assistant Director of Mental Health and Wellness at the University of Tennessee, joins us on Unit3d to talk about imposter syndrome and ways to combat the lies that come with it.

Ole Miss Athletics Counselor D'Jenne Egharevba (Dee Dee) grew up with the message “we don't talk about your feelings” in her family.  As a first generation American the anxiety she experienced was channeled into running.  Despite her success as an athlete, she still struggled to enjoy her sport.  As a student-athlete, she decided to pursue a career in mental health counseling to help other athletes have fun during their time as an athlete.  On this episode of Unit3d, Dee Dee shares her story of breaking her family's mold and using her experiences to guide her path forward.

Awareness has increased in the past few years about the importance of representation in the realm of mental health. When an athlete sees someone who looks like them in the role of a clinician, it increases the comfort level that athlete may have in seeking support from mental health professionals.  Dr. Chelsi Battle, our very own Unit3d editor, talks about the value of building bridges between athlete – clinician differences, as well as the comfort level that speaking to a provider with a shared cultural experience can bring.

Edose Ibadin is a professional runner who attributes his improvements in his sport to mental training.  He recognizes how vital training the mind is to success in sport, but also sees how little time is dedicated to building mental skills.  In this episode of Unit3d, Edose discusses how mindset and mental skills can help athletes excel in their sport, but also how it can help athletes get through and learn from difficult times in life.

Professional soccer player Jack Beer wanted to fit in with his team and thrive as a person when he began his college career at Georgetown University.  After his freshman year however, he began to question whether he wanted to keep playing and doubt and injury took a toll on his mental health.  He was able to talk with his coaches and take a step back from the game.  When he returned the support he received from his teammates allowed him to fight anxiety, depression and mental health challenges head on.  Learning that his experience was “normal” and that his teammates understood him more than he had previously thought paved a path back to health and his love for soccer, leading him to a professional soccer career and a passion for mental health advocacy.

Fueling our bodies is so important for athletes for performance, but it is also important for our mental health.  We often worry a great deal about what we are eating but we often disregard how nutrition impacts our mood.  How we think about food as well as our relationship with food also can affect our mental health.  Kate Callaway, Director of Performance Nutrition for the Carolina Panthers discusses nutrition and its impact on mental health on this episode of Unit3d.

Classes are rolling as the semester rolls on.  Athletes have likely lost the initial idea of getting ahead, and it seems like there's enough semester left to leave some tasks for later.  Well, avoidance is common.  We avoid in our relationships, in academics, and personal growth.  Joining us for this UNIT3D episode is Dr. Tom Golightly, who gives tips for recognizing avoidance and strategies for overcoming these behaviors.