Closer Mentality

Episode 33 welcomed Dr. Mike Clark, currently a sport psychologist at the University of Arizona. As a crucial component of the student-athlete "sphere of influence", Dr. Clark worked me through his normal session structure, non-verbal cues to look for when working with a client, and how to create a visualization script.

Clark Performance Consulting: https://www.clarkperformanceconsulting.com/services

Closer Mentality: UNCENSORED: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJuZfwIP9ny-WIqpcUaQnWA

Sam Cary, a defender for the University of Iowa's Women's Soccer team, came on Episode 32 of Closer Mentality. She talked about what drew her to Iowa City, how to redefine "mental toughness", cultivating tenacity, sport-specific triggers for performance anxiety, and the importance of seeking help.

Closer Mentality: UNCENSORED: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJuZfwIP9ny-WIqpcUaQnWA

Episode 31 welcomed Toronto Blue Jays minor leaguer Spencer Horwitz. We talked about external validation, panic attacks, the Cape Cod League, playing at Radford University, baseball as a trigger, and staying where your feet are.

Closer Mentality: UNCENSORED: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJuZfwIP9ny-WIqpcUaQnWA

Donate to Save the Turtles: https://saveturtles.org/donate-save-sea-turtles-conservation-protect-endagered-species-charity-guide-save-marine-life-protect-sea-turtles/

In Episode 30, Marcoux and Rodgers discussed how their relationship has grown over the past two years, cue terminology during runs, how to visualize the courses, off-season workouts, and preparing for the 2022 Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.

Closer Mentality: UNCENSORED: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJuZfwIP9ny-WIqpcUaQnWA

"Blind Faith": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuEfpIcNDFA

In Episode 29, two-time Paralympian Mac Marcoux and his current guide, Tristan Rodgers, joined me to talk about the Winter Paralympic Games, Para-Alpine skiing with Team Canada, and what it means to be diagnosed with Stargardt Disease.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series with Mac and Tristan! Listen in next week to hear them work through a pre-race morning and all the offseason work required to spend your life professionally skiing.

Closer Mentality: UNCENSORED: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJuZfwIP9ny-WIqpcUaQnWA

Mac Marcoux's Instagram: @macmarcoux

Tristan Rodgers' Instagram: @tristanr0dgers

In Episode 28, Andy Harris joined me to talk about teaching mental skills to youth athletes, the lasting impact of Simone Biles' exit from the Tokyo Olympics, what it takes to coach the physical vs. teach the mental, and a few tips for youth athletes trying to focus their mental reps.

Closer Mentality: UNCENSORED: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJuZfwIP9ny-WIqpcUaQnWA

In Episode 27, we welcomed Steve Fisher to the podcast. Fisher, a two-time X Games gold medalist, worked through his experience with US Ski and Snowboard, getting to the X Games, the years of dedication it took to win gold medals, the inequities of snowboarding media coverage, and life post-extreme sport.

Closer Mentality: UNCENSORED: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJuZfwIP9ny-WIqpcUaQnWA

Episode 26 welcomed Q Williams. We talked about his time at Northwestern, the stresses of playing two sports at a Division 1 university, Post-Concussion Syndrome, and the work he now does with former athletes.

Life After Athlete Archetype Quiz: https://www.q-williams.com/quiz

Closer Mentality: UNCENSORED: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJuZfwIP9ny-WIqpcUaQnWA

Episode 25 welcomed Dr. Joan Steidinger. A pioneer in the sport psychology landscape, Dr. Steidinger and I talked about her distance running experience, intrinsic motivation, ultra-marathons, becoming an AASP Fellow, and advocacy for female sports in the decades following Title IX.

"Sisterhood in Sports: How Female Athletes Collaborate and Compete.": https://www.amazon.com/Sisterhood-Sports-Athletes-Collaborate-Compete/dp/1442230339/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=sisterhood+in+sports&qid=1626919672&sr=8-1

"Stand Up and Shout Out: Women's Fight for Equal Pay, Equal Rights, and Equal Opportunities.": https://www.amazon.com/Stand-Up-Shout-Out-Opportunities/dp/1538125978/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=stand+up+and+shout+out&qid=1626919760&sr=8-1

Closer Mentality: UNCENSORED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU9M-ZrR3ac

Episode 24 welcomed Dr. Alex Auerbach, the Director of Wellness and Development for the Toronto Raptors.

We worked through the current sport psychology landscape, the nature of the Raptors' team stance on mental wellness, and how we, as spectators and fans, can all change the way we approach talking candidly about our mental struggles.

NBA's Mind Health program: https://mindhealth.nba.com/

Closer Mentality: UNCENSORED: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJuZfwIP9ny-WIqpcUaQnWA