🧠🏆 Talent gets you started—but your mental game can determine how far you go.

In this episode of Gettin Gritty with Dr. J, Dr. Julie Wiernik and John Largent explore the essential mental skills that help athletes and performers thrive under pressure. From finding joy and passion to developing focus, emotional control, confidence, routines, and resilience, they break down what separates good performers from great ones.

🎾 Inspired by athletes like Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan, Dr. J shares practical strategies for staying focused, managing anxiety, slowing things down, and shifting your attention from yourself to the task at hand.

They also tackle the fine line between confidence and perfectionism, why preparation builds confidence, how emotional control impacts performance, and why accepting that failure is part of the process can actually make you better.

🎧 Tune in and discover how to strengthen your mental toolbox—and learn to perform aggressively under control when it matters most.

🧠🏆 What happens when the pressure to perform becomes too much?

In this episode of Gettin Gritty with Dr. J, Dr. Julie Wiernick and John Largent dive deep into performance anxiety in today's athletes—and why someone can dominate in practice but struggle when the game begins.

They explore the growing pressures athletes face, from parents and coaches to social media, college recruiting, NIL money, specialization, and the fear of failure. Dr. J also explains why anxiety isn't always the enemy—it can be the energy that helps us perform when we learn how to regulate it.

💡 They also discuss: • The difference between practice and game-time performance • Nature vs. nurture and the development of anxiety • How parents and coaches can either increase or reduce pressure • Why vulnerability and mental health support matter • Learning to control the controllables • Why failure can be one of the best teachers

🎧 Tune in and discover how athletes can turn pressure into performance—and build the mental skills to get gritty when it matters most.

In this exciting new episode of Gettin' Gritty with Dr. J, Dr. J and producer John Largent reunite in studio to unveil a major evolution in the Gettin' Gritty brand: a 20-part mental performance video series designed for athletes, parents, coaches, and high performers of all ages.

Packed with 20+ years of sports psychology wisdom and delivered in powerful, bite-sized lessons, this new library is a breakthrough in mental skills training. From identity development and performance prep to navigating pressure, burnout, and NIL-era challenges—Dr. J is putting her signature grit into a digital resource accessible to anyone, anywhere.

Whether you're a Little Leaguer, pro athlete, coach, or parent navigating youth sports, this is the mental game plan you didn't know you needed.

🎯 Bonus: Learn how her journal, online coaching, and print-on-demand tools create a complete system for growth, resilience, and real results.

In this heartfelt episode of Gettin' Gritty with Dr. J, Dr. J and John explore the deeply emotional experience of saying goodbye to a beloved family dog—and the broader themes of grief, healing, and acceptance. From the quiet pain of pet loss to reflections on athletic failure, emotional resilience, and even the power of underdog victories, this conversation blends real-life loss with mental strength and spiritual growth.

Dr. J also shares an exciting announcement: a new video course series designed to help athletes, parents, and performers level up their mindset with short, powerful, on-demand coaching.

🎧 Tune in for inspiration, truth-telling, and a reminder that loving deeply—even when it hurts—is always worth it.

#GettinGritty #MentalHealth #PetLoss #GriefAndGrowth #SportsPsychology #EmotionalResilience #AthleteMindset #PermissionToPerform

In this heartfelt episode of Gettin' Gritty with Dr. J, Dr. J and John explore the deeply emotional experience of saying goodbye to a beloved family dog—and the broader themes of grief, healing, and acceptance. From the quiet pain of pet loss to reflections on athletic failure, emotional resilience, and even the power of underdog victories, this conversation blends real-life loss with mental strength and spiritual growth.

Dr. J also shares an exciting announcement: a new video course series designed to help athletes, parents, and performers level up their mindset with short, powerful, on-demand coaching.

🎧 Tune in for inspiration, truth-telling, and a reminder that loving deeply—even when it hurts—is always worth it.

#GettinGritty #MentalHealth #PetLoss #GriefAndGrowth #SportsPsychology #EmotionalResilience #AthleteMindset #PermissionToPerform

In this deeply personal episode of Gettin' Gritty with Dr. J, grief takes center stage. Dr. J opens up about the emotional, spiritual, and psychological journey she's been on—navigating anticipatory grief, finding forgiveness, and reshaping her beliefs about life after death. It's a raw, heartfelt conversation about what it means to let go with love and live on with intention.

🎧 Tune in and hear a story that may help you make sense of your own.

In this episode of Gettin Gritty with Dr J, Dr. Julie and John Largent dive into how a parent's identity becomes tied to their child's athletic journey, the pressures of pursuing pro sports, and gender disparities in career transitions. John also shares how adopting a plant-based diet helped him reverse type 2 diabetes and improve his health.

🎙️ Key Takeaways: ✅ How parental identity shapes the youth sports experience ✅ The mental toll of chasing a professional sports career ✅ Gender differences in athletic career paths ✅ Life after sports—navigating transitions

A must-listen for parents, athletes, and anyone passionate about sports, health, and resilience!

In this episode, Dr Julie Wiernik and John Largent discuss red flags in service providers and scams, emphasizing the importance of due diligence. Key points include:

• Ask for References: Refusal to provide references is a major red flag. Legitimate providers stand by their work.
• Avoid Large Upfront Payments: Pay incrementally to ensure accountability and protect yourself.
• Do Your Homework: Verify accreditations and research thoroughly before committing.

They explore the psychology of perpetrators, often displaying narcissistic or sociopathic traits, and how they exploit emotions for personal gain.

• Educating Adolescents: Open discussions on consent, red flags in relationships, and unhealthy dynamics are vital.
• Building Trust Gradually: Traditional, slower approaches to dating help establish trust and reduce risks.

Sit back, relax, and get gritty as we help you navigate the slimy world of scams and trust with grit, wisdom, and actionable insights!

Dive into the gripping world of sports and personal evolution with Dr. Julie Wiernik. In this episode, we sit down with Greg Tolson, a former Air Force veteran turned NCAA basketball referee. Craig shares his journey from playing multiple sports in California to navigating life changes that led him to become a respected referee.

Discover how he balanced academics and athletics at UCLA, faced challenges in military service, and transitioned into officiating high-profile basketball games.

Key Takeaways: - The importance of resilience when facing life's unexpected turns. - Insights on balancing personal ambitions with professional responsibilities. - Reflections on the evolving landscape of collegiate and professional sports.

Join us for an inspiring conversation filled with lessons on grit and determination.

www.drjuliewiernik.com

In this insightful episode of Gettin' Gritty with Dr. J, Dr. Julie Wiernik sits down with Dr. Gordon, founder of Ground Level Four and host of Performance Talk, to explore the evolving challenges of youth sports. They discuss the increasing pressure on young athletes to specialize early, the psychological and physical toll of overuse injuries, and the impact of societal distractions on motivation. Drawing from decades of coaching and sports psychology experience, Dr. Gordon shares actionable strategies for fostering resilience, avoiding burnout, and optimizing performance both on and off the field.

1. Specialization vs. Multi-Sport Approach: Why early specialization can hinder long-term athletic development.
2. The Power of Individualized Training: How to tailor plans to an athlete's specific sport, position, and goals.
3. Building Mental Toughness: Why effort, resilience, and adaptability are critical life skills for athletes.
4. Motivating Today's Athletes: Overcoming modern distractions like social media and video games.
5. Parental Role in Athlete Development: Setting realistic goals and fostering accountability without burnout.

Tune in to discover how embracing grit and adaptability can transform challenges into triumphs in youth athletics!