Mental Playbook with Riley Sager

In this episode, USC women's lacrosse goalie Annie Shields explains the mentality of her position and what it takes to manage the pressure. She also shares her transition to college athletics, what she's learned about her own mindset on and off the field and how she views her identity outside of lacrosse.

Mental Playbook is back! In this episode, volleyball outside hitter Dani Thomas-Nathan talks about her journey with USC volleyball and how she battled knee and shoulder injuries on and off the court. Tune in to hear all about how these obstacles challenged her as an athlete but also gave her perspective and even more gratitude in daily life.

In this episode, USC women's water polo attacker Fanni Muzsnay shares her story of growing up in Hungary and falling in love with water polo. Fanni moved to Los Angeles to play for USC, where she has battled a series of concussions that threatened her athletic career.

She candidly reveals the mental challenges of battling an invisible injury and the opportunity to help de-stigmatize mental health in sports.

In this episode, USC freshman track and field long jumper and sprinter Grace Smith reveals what it takes to soar in the air. In a sport where every inch counts, Grace explains how she measures progress in the sand or on the track.

In this episode, USC men's tennis player Peter Makk opens up about his journey growing up in Hungary and playing European junior tournaments to now competing at USC. Peter explains exactly why tennis is such a mental game, highlighting the importance of the self-reliance and positivity on the court, and what makes it so different from other sports.

Peter also talks about the role of communication and preparation in doubles matches, the significance of visualization and pre-match routines. Enjoy!

In this episode of Mental Playbook, USC men’s water polo goalie Charlie Mills takes us inside the cage to understand the mentality of a goalkeeper and the responsibilities that come with it. 

Charlie offers insight into his journey of playing water polo at USC, the mindset that helped him recover from injury, and the "iron sharpens iron" team chemistry that breeds a National Championship-caliber team. 

United States Military Academy basketball guard Stella Chartrand sits down with Riley to talk about the challenges and responsibilities of playing D1 basketball and military service.

Between stories of intense Cadet Basic Training to daily routines as a student-athlete, Stella shares what it means to follow her dreams at one of the most prestigious and respected institutions in the country.

Tune in to hear all about Stella's on-court mentality that is also guiding her through a life of service, honor and commitment.

In this episode of Mental Playbook, USC basketball forward Josh Cohen and Riley discuss navigating life as a collegiate basketball player and devout Christian. Josh grew up in a Christian and Jewish household in New Jersey, but it wasn’t until after experiencing mental struggles during his freshman year of college that Josh committed to fully exploring the Christian faith.

Basketball has since led Josh across the country to USC - tune in to hear how faith has remained a constant in every aspect of his life, what it means to separate life on and off the court and how Josh uses his platform as a Christian athlete to inspire and uplift his community.

This episode features USC defensive lineman Kash Amos. Riley and Kash dive into his journey of playing football at USC and how the challenges he faced as a kid in Chicago shaped his mentality as an athlete and competitor.

From learning to prioritize his life to align with his goals of playing collegiate football to giving himself grace for overcoming battles off the field, Kash opens up about what it means to commit yourself to your dreams.

In this episode of Mental Playbook, Riley sits down with USC basketball forward Saint Thomas to discuss the role mentality and mental health have in staying true to his game and how he uses emotion to fuel his performance on the court.

Saint also opens up about his personal struggles, how faith and self-improvement have helped him overcome adversity and the value of investing in strong relationships with teammates and coaches. 

From dealing with doubt and criticism to embracing a leadership role, this conversation offers a deep look into the mindset of an elite athlete who’s committed to growth both on and off the court.