SportMind

Overcoming The Top-10 Mental Obstacles In Sport - https://go.sportmind.io/Mastery

The SportMind Portal - https://go.sportmind.io/Portal

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What if the very things you’ve been told to get rid of — the nerves, the fear, the doubt — were actually the very keys to performing your best?

That’s exactly what today’s guest, Dr. Michael Passaportis, has devoted his career to exploring.

Michael’s journey began on the rugby fields of Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Europe, where he experienced the highs of professional sport — and the crushing lows of repeated injuries, contract cancellations, and the mental battles that came with them. When his body forced him to stop playing, he turned that struggle into a mission: helping athletes master the mental game.

Now a sport and performance psychologist, lecturer, and researcher — with a PhD in collaboration with the English Institute of Sport on how Olympic environments can promote both wellbeing and performance — Michael’s work is all about taking the theory and turning it into tools athletes can actually use when the pressure is on.

In our conversation, he unpacks why overthinking drags athletes into the past or future, and how mindfulness isn’t about sitting cross-legged on a mountain but about training mental reps in the gym of the mind. We explore the difference between flow and clutch — the letting go and trusting versus the moment where you demand the ball and make something happen. We talk about why courage doesn’t come from waiting to feel confident but from choosing actions aligned with your values, even when fear is screaming at you. And we go deep on redefining success — shifting from chasing uncontrollable outcomes to building an internal scoreboard that makes performance both more sustainable and more enjoyable.

And perhaps most powerfully, Michael reframes acceptance — not as weakness or resignation, but as the ability to carry frustration, nerves, or fear with you, and still play the way you want to play.

This is one of those conversations that will leave you rethinking how you approach your sport — and maybe even your life. Michael explains it with clarity, honesty, and the authority of someone who’s lived both sides: as the athlete under pressure, and as the psychologist guiding athletes through it.

Let’s get into it.

Website: https://www.michaelpassaportis.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmpsportpsych/

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Overcoming The Top-10 Mental Obstacles In Sport - https://go.sportmind.io/Mastery

The SportMind Portal - https://go.sportmind.io/Portal

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Your eight-year-old just played their heart out. They step off the pitch, still catching their breath, and before the adrenaline's even worn off, you're already running through what went wrong in the car ride home.

Here's the thing: whether you're praising them or criticizing them from the sidelines, the research shows it has the exact same detrimental effect on their performance.

Today, I'm joined by Dr. Simon Moore—a Chartered Psychologist with a PhD in psychophysiological research who's spent his career unpacking why people do what they do. He's worked with global brands, governments, even studied dolphin behavior. But what brought him to youth sport? Watching his own 14-year-old navigate the football academy system and seeing the massive breakdown in communication between parents, coaches, and kids. Now he's working directly with academies to stop the patterns that inadvertently crush young athletes before they've even started.

In this conversation, we unpack some uncomfortable truths that parents and coaches need to hear:

•⁠ ⁠Why the outcome-obsessed culture is killing enjoyment—and actually limiting performance

•⁠ ⁠The psychology behind why kids average down to their team's level instead of standing out

•⁠ ⁠How parents unknowingly cripple their children's confidence in the car park after matches

•⁠ ⁠The difference between process feedback and outcome feedback—and why one builds champions while the other builds anxiety

•⁠ ⁠Why confidence isn't where you start—it's what you earn through repeated courageous actions

Simon shares raw insights from the sidelines—the grimacing parents, the cognitive overload from coaches giving six instructions when three is the limit, and that heartbreaking moment when talented kids quit football entirely because they didn't make a Category One academy.

We also dig into the internal scoreboard versus society's scoreboard, the two wolves battling in every young athlete's mind, and why smiling during competition isn't weakness—it's a performance tool.

Whether you're a parent white-knuckling the sidelines, a coach trying to build resilient athletes, or a competitor wrestling with self-worth, this conversation will challenge how you think about success, pressure, and what we're really teaching the next generation.

Let's get into it.

Website: whatsmygoal.co.uk.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsimonmoore/

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/itsonlykidsfootballpodcast?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=6b217540-ae0a-487c-8447-e09b5f9f9615

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Overcoming The Top-10 Mental Obstacles In Sport - https://go.sportmind.io/Mastery

The SportMind Portal - https://go.sportmind.io/Portal

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Hello ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and welcome to the next episode of the podcast series. Today, I’m absolutely delighted to be joined by Dr. Justin Ross.

Justin is a clinical psychologist specialising in human performance, and he’s worked with athletes at every level—from passionate amateurs right through to NBA and NFL players, and the United States Olympic and Paralympic teams. He’s also an endurance athlete himself, with six Boston Marathon qualifiers, Ironman triathlons, and 100-mile mountain bike races on his CV. So when he talks about the mental side of performing under pressure, he knows it both from the research and from the trenches.

This conversation is a masterclass in the psychology of performance. We dig into the difference between threat and challenge states—what’s actually happening in your brain when pressure spikes, and how to shift back into control. Justin explains the physiological sigh and other breathwork tools that elite athletes use to reset instantly. We dive into self-talk—why you can’t erase the negative voice, but how you can train a more powerful inner language to override it.

We also go deep into confidence building: how to use “receipts” and evidence to make your confidence real and unshakable. We talk about equanimity—why the best athletes make so-called big moments feel ordinary—and how to train that mindset yourself. Justin shares brilliant insights on visualisation, including how to rehearse setbacks and preload solutions before you ever compete. And we finish with two huge topics: the three-stage framework for injury recovery and return to play, and a fresh look at mindfulness for athletes—simple, bite-sized practices that fit directly into sport without the fluff.

This episode is packed with practical takeaways, so whether you’re chasing podiums, battling nerves, or just trying to get the best out of yourself, I know you’ll get huge value. Let’s dive in—here’s my conversation with Dr. Justin Ross.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjustinross/

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.drjustinross.com/

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Overcoming The Top-10 Mental Obstacles In Sport - https://go.sportmind.io/Mastery

The SportMind Portal - https://go.sportmind.io/Portal

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Hello ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Welcome to the next episode of the podcast series. Today, I’m joined by Evan Burk—author, speaker, podcast host, and former NFL coach.

Evan’s journey into the NFL is anything but typical. He never played beyond high school, had no family connections in the game, and yet in just six years went from coaching 4th graders to the sidelines with the Miami Dolphins, and later at UCLA and SMU. His story is living proof that intangibles—work ethic, emotional intelligence, persistence—often matter more than pedigree or raw talent.

In this conversation, we dig into those intangibles and the culture that makes or breaks great teams. Evan explains why culture always outlasts talent, how to set standards that everyone actually buys into, and the tough calls leaders need to make when egos clash with values. We talk about his book Finding Intangibles, and explore how the very best leaders—whether in sport or business—evaluate hidden traits like resilience, adaptability, and coachability.

It’s not all theory either. Evan shares practical tools, including how he used journaling to reframe setbacks and shape his self-talk, why small daily commitments are the foundation of excellence, and how to avoid slipping into toxic positivity by surrounding yourself with people who tell you the truth, not just what you want to hear.

If you’re curious about leadership, culture, and what separates a good team from a championship one, you’re going to get a lot from this episode. All the links to Evan’s work, his book, and his podcast The Highest Level are in the show notes. For now, let’s dive in—here’s my conversation with Evan Burk.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachevanburk/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachevanburk

Website: https://www.coachevanburk.com/

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Overcoming The Top-10 Mental Obstacles In Sport - https://go.sportmind.io/Mastery

The SportMind Portal - https://go.sportmind.io/Portal

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What if the mental skill that wins the match isn’t getting into flow at all—but learning to flip the switch to clutch on command? That’s the heart of today’s conversation with Dr. Erin Ayala, a Minneapolis-based sports psychologist and founder of Skadi Sport Psychology. Erin isn’t just an expert in the lab; she’s an endurance athlete who knows the “pain cave” from the inside—marathons, triathlon, ultra-distance cycling. Together we unpack how to stay composed when it hurts most, and why separating flow from clutch can change your results under pressure.

Dr. Erin draws a clean line between the two states. Flow is the effortless sweet spot where everything clicks and you let great performance happen. Clutch is different: it’s the deliberate decision to raise effort, attention, and intensity now. She shows you how to appraise pressure as a challenge rather than a threat, because that mindset shift is what unlocks clutch performances when the clock is red. From there we build a practical playbook you can use mid-competition: thought-defusion (“I’m having the thought that…”), the wonderfully cheeky “Thanks, brain” technique for taming self-talk, and when to aim your focus outward (grounding, “counting colors,” noticing the environment) versus inward (simple reset cues like eyes up, posture tall, keep moving). We also dig into breathwork as your direct handle on the nervous system—no rigid box counts or over-breathing, just low-and-slow regulation you can call on in the penultimate rally or final kilometer.

We don’t dodge the heavy stuff. Erin lays out clear markers to tell burnout from depression so you don’t “grind” when you actually need support. We explore identity in sport—why building more than one “room in your house” protects performance, tames perfectionism, and actually makes clutch moments more likely, because you’re no longer playing for your worth. And we finish with a philosophy that wins late: raise the floor. The best teams and athletes don’t conjure magic at the end; they rely on world-class basics practiced with intention, so the right things hold under stress.

If you’ve ever crumbled at 9-all, stared down the last hill, or wanted a one-minute locker-room speech that actually works, this episode gives you both the language and the tools. You’ll leave with a calmer nervous system, a smarter focus plan, and a repeatable way to meet high-pressure moments with poise.

Website: https://www.skadisportpsychology.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skadisportpsychology/ , https://www.instagram.com/erineayala/

Email: [email protected]

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Overcoming The Top-10 Mental Obstacles In Sport - https://go.sportmind.io/Mastery

The SportMind Portal - https://go.sportmind.io/Portal

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Hello ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Welcome to the next episode of the podcast series. Today, I’m joined by Steph Reid—an Australian Opal and professional point guard currently playing in Poland.

Here’s the thing: Steph shouldn’t really be here. She wasn’t picked for the junior state teams, she never made the AIS pathway, and by the end of high school she was preparing to take a full-time job outside basketball. Then, five days before her final exams, the phone rang—a last-minute scholarship to the University at Buffalo. She said yes on the spot. Fast forward: she became MAC Tournament MVP, set assist records, and helped her team to the Sweet 16.

Since then, she’s lifted a WNBL championship with Townsville Fire, earned WNBL Community Player of the Year, played in Hungary, and now taken on a new challenge in Poland. On the international stage, she’s become a key playmaker for the Opals—leading the 2025 Asia Cup in assists and proving that at 5’5”, impact isn’t about size but heart and craft.

But what makes this conversation powerful isn’t just the CV—it’s the honesty. Steph talks openly about rejection, about missing Olympic selection and the panic attacks that followed, and about how journaling, therapy, and simple breathwork tools helped her turn crippling anxiety into confidence. She shares how she reframed nerves from something to fear into something to fuel her, and why joy and gratitude are not side notes in elite sport—they’re the edge.

If you’ve ever battled self-doubt, struggled with comparison, or felt pressure steal your joy in the game, this episode will speak to you. All the links to follow Steph are in the show notes. Let’s dive in—here’s my conversation with Steph Reid.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steph_reid/

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Overcoming The Top-10 Mental Obstacles In Sport - https://go.sportmind.io/Mastery

The SportMind Portal - https://go.sportmind.io/Portal

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Hello ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and welcome to your next episode of the podcast series. Today I'm really delighted to be joined by Asia Mape, the founder of I Love to Watch You Play. If you're a parent in youth sports, you know the rollercoaster. Early mornings endless travel. The highs of seeing your child succeed and the lows of wondering if all the pressure and sacrifice are really worth it.

Asia has lived that world from every angle. She's a former college basketball player and an award-winning sports journalist who covered six Olympics Super Bowls and NBA playoffs, and she's also a mom raising three daughters through the chaos of youth sports. A decade ago she launched. I love to watch you play.

A platform that has become a lifeline for thousands of families. What began as a passion project has grown into a movement,

helping parents rethink how to support their children, protect their joy, and create a healthier culture around sport. In our conversation, we dig into some of the toughest questions parents face, how to spot the early signs of burnout. How to balance wanting your child to succeed with simply wanting them to be happy and how to shift from chasing rankings and scholarships to focusing on long-term growth and wellbeing.

Asia shares honest stories, her own mistakes included and practical tools you can apply right away from the car ride to practice, to handling poor behavior, to navigating the pool of social media and comparison. This is a conversation about perspective, balance,

and remembering why we all started playing sports in the first place because it was fun. All the links to Asia's work on the show notes.

So without further ado, let's dive in and please enjoy my conversation with Asia Mape.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theilovetowatchyouplay/

Website: https://ilovetowatchyouplay.com/asia-mape/

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Overcoming The Top-10 Mental Obstacles In Sport - https://go.sportmind.io/Mastery

The SportMind Portal - https://go.sportmind.io/Portal

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Hello, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and welcome to your next episode of the podcast series. Today on the show, I welcome Alex Bolowich from Elite Mental Performance. If you've ever wondered why all the training, sleep and nutrition can still come unstuck, the moment pressure hits, you'll value this podcast.

Alex is a former division one goalkeeper who lived the extremes of a position where one mistake can define a whole game. After injuries, setbacks, and the kind of scrutiny that hardens you or breaks you. He shifted into mental performance coaching in Charlotte, North Carolina, helping athletes from youth to NCAA and the pros build inner strength They can actually trust when it matters.

In our conversation, we go straight to the practical.

Alex explains how to shift from survival brain to performance brain in real time, and he shares a simple reset you can use on the field or court when your head starts to spiral. We talk about mindfulness, done the athlete's way, why it's the most reliable route to consistency and we dig into brain spotting.

A powerful method for unblocking those strange yips moments when your body won't do what you know it can. We also rethink visualization, not just highlight reels, but rehearsing worst case scenarios. So you're ready to respond, not react. Along the way, we unpack confidence, whether your challenge is doubt, fear, or insecurity.

And we touch ego, identity, gratitude, and even a clean, practical approach to social media that supports performance instead of stealing it. It's honest, it's useful, and it's packed full of tools you can use today. All the links we mentioned are in the show notes, so without further ado, let's dive in. And here's my conversation with Alex Bolowich.

Website: https://www.elitementalperformance.net/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bolowich/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elite_mentalperformance

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090360243708

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Overcoming The Top-10 Mental Obstacles In Sport - https://go.sportmind.io/Mastery

The SportMind Portal - https://go.sportmind.io/Portal

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Hello ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Welcome to the next episode of the podcast series. Today, I’m joined by Kai Laird.

If you’ve felt the joy drain out of your sport—burnout creeping in, pressure piling up, and that sense you’re chasing someone else’s scoreboard—this conversation will help you fall back in love with the game while actually performing better. Kai grew up in Trinidad & Tobago, now based in Richmond, Virginia, with a background across swimming, hockey, football, and more. He coached youth soccer for over a decade, then trained as both a certified mental performance consultant and a licensed counselor—a rare blend that lets him support athletes on the field and as humans off it.

We get practical fast. Kai walks through how to shift from white-knuckling results to building an internal scoreboard you can win every day. He shows how to spot the early signs of burnout and bring fun back as a performance tool—not a luxury. We break down simple resets under pressure (including breathwork that actually changes your state), a tidy notice–name–neutralize loop for awareness, and a fresh way to use self-talk—swapping the inner Hulk and the anxious Scientist for the Best Friend who keeps you in the moment. We also get into resilience as something you build—via perspective, motivation, and confidence—plus Kai’s “future self” lens and the idea of moving toward your North Star with consistent eights and nines, not just chasing perfect tens.

It’s grounded, it’s actionable, and it’s the kind of mindset work that scales—whether you’re a junior, a college athlete, a coach, or a parent. All the links are in the show notes. Let’s dive in—here’s my conversation with Kai Laird.

Website - https://theperformancepursuitconsulting.com/kaimarelaird-bio

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kai-laird/

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Overcoming The Top-10 Mental Obstacles In Sport - https://go.sportmind.io/Mastery

The SportMind Portal - https://go.sportmind.io/Portal

Grab Your Copy Of The Squash Playbook - https://www.squashplaybook.com/ ⚫️💨

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Hello ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to your next episode of the podcast series. In today's episode, we dive deep into the intricate world of mental health, especially as it pertains to sports and high-performance activities.

Today, I welcome Julie Korioth to the show. Julie is an inspiring figure in the realm of mental health and sports, with a profound personal journey that has shaped her professional endeavors.

Julie Korioth is a dynamic and influential mental health advocate and entrepreneur. She has carved a niche for herself in the field, focusing on the next generation of athletes and their mental well-being. Julie's passion for helping others stems from her own experiences with depression and anxiety, which she bravely navigated from a young age.

Her story is not just one of challenges but also of resilience and transformation. Julie’s academic journey led her to earn a master's degree in counseling, providing her with a deep understanding of mental health issues. This was further enriched by personal experiences, including discovering her own learning disabilities as an adult.

In today's episode, we explore Julie's fascinating backstory, her journey to where she is now, and the pivotal moments that defined her path. We delve into how her struggles during childhood and later in life fueled her determination to make a difference in the world of mental health, particularly for young athletes.

Julie shares her insights on the impact of mental health on athletes' performance, the significance of nurturing mental resilience, and the importance of developing an identity beyond sports. Her perspective is enlightening, offering a nuanced understanding of the challenges athletes face and how they can be supported.

We also discuss the innovative work Julie is doing with her company, NUI, which aims to provide comprehensive support for the mental health of young athletes. NUI's approach is multifaceted, encompassing mentorship, masterclasses, and an AI coach, all tailored to address the specific needs of the next generation.

Julie's journey is a testament to the power of overcoming personal battles and using those experiences to empower others. Her story is not just inspiring but also educational, offering valuable insights into the world of mental health in sports.

So, without further ado, let's get into the show to help elevate your mental game in sports and life and please welcome Julie Korioth.

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