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

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

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

Episode 68 of The Mental Game marks the beginning of our series highlighting the Mental Game of Pickleball. Pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport.  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 our first pickleball-focused episode, one of the sport’s young stars joins The Mental Game. Just 18 years old, Alix Truong has already skyrocketed through the ranks to become one of the elite women’s pros on the APP Tour. After starring for her high school tennis team in Virginia, Truong and her family first dabbled in pickleball during the Covid pandemic. Truong instantly fell in love with the sport, turned into a force on the court and went professional shortly after. She has since won 19 medals on tour, including eight golds. This summer, Truong was drafted by the California BLQK Bears of Major League Pickleball. Why Truong on The Mental Game? Her story begs a few questions: What’s it like to be the youngest person in your field? How does it feel to go pro in a sport you just discovered? Truong answers these burning questions and more in this engaging, insightful episode. Listening to her speak, you’ll find yourself amazed by her mental resilience and fascinated by her story. Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. 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 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 podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 67 of The Mental Game brings on Josh Reddick, a 13-year MLB veteran, World Series champion and Gold Glover winner. Reddick played from 2009-2021 for the Red Sox, A’s, Dodgers, Astros and Diamondbacks, winning the 2017 World Series with Houston. Why Reddick on The Mental Game? Reddick’s mental game journey is marked by resilience and a sharp edge. He was cut from his middle school baseball team and embraced a “renegade” mentality, one that lifted him to the sport’s pinnacle. And once he reached MLB, he had to accomplish something even more difficult: staying in MLB. Reddick did so with flying colors, becoming a star in the process. He retired earlier this year after playing his final season of baseball in Australia with the Perth Heat. His appearance on The Mental Game will prime you to rise and conquer, no matter what the outside noise dictates. Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. 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 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 podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

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 We’ve arrived at the second episode of My Playbook, an all-new Mental Game Podcast series. In case you missed the first “My Playbook” with Reggie Hearn, click HERE. To catch you up: On My Playbook, the world’s top athletes, coaches, psychologists and more will peel back the curtain on their personal playbooks for dealing with the ups and downs of life, mental health and their careers. The second guest on My Playbook is Division I college basketball coach and former player Tiffany Sardin. Sardin is fresh off a stint at Saint Louis University, where she was a key member of a staff that guided the Billikens to an Atlantic 10 championship. Previously, Sardin was the head women’s basketball coach at Chicago State University after assistant stints at Clemson, UIC and Longwood, among others. As a player, Sardin served as a three-year captain at the University of Virginia. She then played professionally in Portugal before coaching. I worked closely with Sardin at Chicago State, when I was a broadcaster and sports information director for her teams. I witnessed firsthand her unique mental game-focused coaching style, unafraid to talk mental health and to impact cerebral wisdom on her players. When the Cougars were struggling, Sardin almost always attributed the strife to something mental — and it was no different when they won. Sardin has also battled immense personal setbacks, including the tragic losses of her brother and father in quick succession. Coping with those losses forms the backbone of Sardin’s appearance on My Playbook, in which she gives you her formula for battling loss, recovering and moving on. Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. 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 podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

I’m thrilled to introduce a new feature of The Mental Game podcast: My Playbook. On My Playbook, the world’s top athletes, coaches, psychologists and more will peel back the curtain on their personal playbooks for dealing with the ups and downs of life, mental health and their careers. The first guest on My Playbook is former NBA guard Reggie Hearn.  Retired from playing, Hearn now enters his second season working in the San Antonio Spurs scouting department. Out of high school, Hearn received no Division I scholarship offers, so he joined the Northwestern University basketball team as a walk-on. Four years later, he left Evanston as the team’s leading scorer. Then in 2018, after four G-League seasons, Hearn broke through and made it to the NBA with the Detroit Pistons. As he reached his career’s pinnacle, the NBA, Hearn dealt with a debilitating mental health crisis. This necessitated a trip to the hospital and made him rethink how he approaches his mental health. In the inaugural “My Playbook,” Hearn opens up and shares his playbook with us.  Hearn is strikingly transparent about his mental health struggles. Once a Psychology major at Northwestern, he also advocates for more mental health awareness and advocacy in sports and the world at-large. Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. Access exclusive content, live Q&As and more — The Mental Game is on Patreon: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod 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 podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 64 of The Mental Game brings on Shannon Suffoletto, a certified mental performance consultant and licensed clinical professional counselor. I met Suffoletto this summer as she worked with the Chicago Dogs baseball team, who I broadcast for. Suffoletto consulted the team amidst their run to the American Association Championship Series. Why Suffoletto on The Mental Game? Suffoletto’s system and philosophy is unique. She specializes in leveraging connection, purpose and mind-body connection to achieve peak performance. I saw this firsthand in Chicago this summer. Also having worked as a dance and movement therapist, Suffoletto has mastered the art of leveraging the mind to guide the body to physical triumph. You’ll be fascinated by her approach. Suffoletto holds a BA in Psychology and Dance from Denison University and a master’s degree (MA) in Dance/Movement Therapy from Columbia College Chicago. She is certified in Laban Movement Analysis and Movement Pattern Analysis.   On this episode of The Mental Game, Suffoletto delves into: How to embrace your sport to achieve elite performance What she learned this summer working in Minor League Baseball Advice for us all to follow Much, much more Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. 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 podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 63 of The Mental Game brings on Leslie Bonci (MPH, RD, CSSD, LDN), a nutrition consultant who has worked with professional and collegiate teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Toronto Blue Jays,  Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. Bonci is the owner of Active Eating Advice, a nutrition consulting company, and advises clients from Gatorade to General Mills to the National Peanut Board. Why Bonci on The Mental Game? What you eat doesn’t just affect your body — it impacts your mind thoroughly. Having worked with some of the world’s top elite athletes, Bonci is plugged into that reality. She incorporates mental game pillars like empathy into her work and considers the effects of healthy — and unhealthy — eating habits on the mind. Bonci’s perspectives on food and mental health have improved mental performance for many of her athletes, and they can do the same for us, too. On this episode of The Mental Game, Bonci dives into: Common red (and green) flags she sees among her athletes’ eating habits What might surprise you about the diets of NFL players The science behind how food affects the brain, and vice versa Eating advice that you and I can follow Much, much more Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. 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 podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support

Episode 62 of The Mental Game brings on Mads McKenna, Mental Health Advocacy Graduate Assistant at the University of Wisconsin–Parkside. Why McKenna for The Mental Game? First, she is a former NCAA student-athlete. McKenna played volleyball at the California University of Pennsylvania (DII) and experienced the unique life of a 21st century student-athlete. She’s also plugged in. For five years, McKenna has been involved with various NCAA committees, advocating for better mental health policies and practices in college athletics. She is a member of the NCAA Board of Governors. And she’s making change daily. At UW-Parkside, she serves as the force for mental health in the athletic department. McKenna taught me a lot in this episode, and I know you’ll feel that, too. On The Mental Game, McKenna takes us through: Common student-athlete mental health concerns she observes Conference realignment's impact Why media coverage of college athletics only scratches the surface Much more Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself. NOTE: I'm thrilled to be running in the Chicago Half-Marathon this September to support Laaser's Ladybug Society. We're close to our goal of $2K to support mental health initiatives in schools — ⁠CLICK HERE TO DONATE⁠. The Mental Game is also a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org! The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sam-brief/support