Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health struggles. If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (U.S.).
In this episode of the Peak Sports Psychiatry Podcast, Dr. Mark Allen and Dr. Tommy Horn sit down with Adam Boardman, a former All-American cross-country runner turned therapist, to explore the intersection of sport, identity, and mental health.
Adam shares how running shaped his sense of self, why athletes need therapists who truly understand their experiences, and how creativity (including a brief stint in stand-up comedy) influences his therapeutic approach. The conversation highlights the groundbreaking Marathon Medical Psych Program, which brings mental health support directly to endurance events, and emphasizes the power of cultural competence, sports metaphors, and humor in therapy.
Whether you’re an athlete, clinician, or fan of sports culture, this episode offers fresh insight into rethinking mental health in athletics—not just to prevent illness, but to help people thrive.
🎧 Tune in and subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of sport and psychiatry.