How To!

Encore: How To Win Gold Without Losing Yourself


Listen Later

Winning the Olympics is everything Steve Mesler ever wanted. So when he and his U.S. bobsled teammates stood atop the podium at the 2010 Vancouver Games, his life seemed golden in every way. But soon after his triumph, Steve began to experience a period of extended mourning. Even though he won a gold medal, he lost his identity and sense of purpose. And he wasn't the only one. On this episode of How To!, the former Olympian, co-founder of Classroom Champions, and current United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee board member talks about the complicated aftermath of achieving an all-consuming pursuit. He discusses his struggles with depression, losing teammates to suicide and what the USOPC is doing to destigmatize mental health treatment. (This episode originally aired July 20, 2021)

If you liked this episode, check out: "How To Be a Badass On and Off the Court."

Do you have an Olympic-sized problem that needs solving? Send us a note at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.

Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/howtoplus.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

How To!By Peach Fish Projects

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

1,925 ratings


More shows like How To!

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,992 Listeners

TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

21,944 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

44,013 Listeners

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,333 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,551 Listeners

Political Gabfest by Slate Podcasts

Political Gabfest

8,462 Listeners

Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts by Slate Podcasts

Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

3,553 Listeners

Slate Money by Slate Podcasts

Slate Money

1,028 Listeners

Death, Sex & Money by Slate Podcasts

Death, Sex & Money

7,736 Listeners

Slate News by Slate Podcasts

Slate News

5,626 Listeners

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia by Slate Podcasts

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

2,062 Listeners

Slow Burn by Slate Podcasts

Slow Burn

23,892 Listeners

The Science of Happiness by PRX and Greater Good Science Center

The Science of Happiness

1,913 Listeners

Decoder Ring by Slate Podcasts

Decoder Ring

2,128 Listeners

What Next | Daily News and Analysis by Slate Podcasts

What Next | Daily News and Analysis

2,414 Listeners

Life Kit: Health by NPR

Life Kit: Health

449 Listeners

Life Kit by NPR

Life Kit

4,863 Listeners

Culture Gabfest by Slate Podcasts

Culture Gabfest

448 Listeners

Short Wave by NPR

Short Wave

6,579 Listeners

Weirdly Helpful (formerly The Best Advice Show) by Zak Rosen

Weirdly Helpful (formerly The Best Advice Show)

393 Listeners

How to Be a Better Human by TED

How to Be a Better Human

1,424 Listeners

ICYMI by Slate Podcasts

ICYMI

736 Listeners

A Slight Change of Plans by Pushkin Industries

A Slight Change of Plans

2,080 Listeners

How to Age Up by The Atlantic

How to Age Up

1,435 Listeners

How To Do Everything by NPR

How To Do Everything

391 Listeners