The Ditto Podcast

In Episode #10, Ash and Matt discuss the concept of being a thermometer versus a thermostat, and how it relates to influencing one's environment. They talk about the importance of emotional regulation and self-awareness in becoming a thermostat. They also mention the impact of emotions on team dynamics and performance. The conversation highlights the need to pause, breathe, and reinterpret emotions to effectively regulate them. Positive examples of being a thermostat, such as providing constructive feedback and encouragement, are mentioned. They discuss the joy of seeing athletes release emotions after achieving their goals and the importance of remaining calm and composed. They also discuss the negative effects of coaches who belittle and denigrate their players, and the challenges of navigating such situations. They highlight the need for coaches to value and care for their players, and the importance of creating a positive and supportive environment.

Barry Hatch (Ash's dad), joins Ash and Matt on Ditto! They talk about the importance of passion, dedication, and determination in achieving success, and the role of parents in nurturing their children's interests. They delve into the experiences of Barry and Ash in sports and life. He discusses his approach to parenting and coaching his children, emphasizing the importance of passion, dedication, and determination. Ash reflects on her experiences and the valuable life lessons she learned from her father. A few themes from this conversation includes autonomy, unconditional love, pride in a child's achievements, and the influence of a father on a professional athlete's career. They also discuss importance of values, faith, and family in shaping an individual's identity and career.

Matt and Ash explore the concept of The Whole Athlete, emphasizing the importance of considering all aspects of an athlete's life, including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational factors. Ashley Hatch shares her experiences as a professional soccer player and the role that faith and relationships play in her performance. Dr. Matt Moore discusses the holistic approach he takes in his work as a sports psychology professional, highlighting the interconnectedness of different aspects of a person's life. Both emphasize the need for athletes to recognize and nurture all areas of their lives to be the best they can be.

In this episode, Ashley Hatch and Dr. Matt Moore interview Aubrey Kingsbury, a professional soccer goalkeeper in the NWSL. Aubrey in an NWSL champion, 2-time NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year, and represented the United States Women's National Team at the 2023 World Cup. They delve into Aubrey's career as a goalkeeper, her preparation for games, and the mental and emotional aspects of her role. Aubrey shares her experiences with heckling from fans and how she stays focused during games. Additionally, she talks about using virtual reality training to improve her hand-eye coordination and emotional control. They discuss the importance of competition, the lessons learned from playing overseas, the role of spirituality in Aubrey's life, and the challenges and joys of being a professional athlete with a supportive spouse. Aubrey shares advice for young goalkeepers and emphasizes the importance of not being afraid to make mistakes.

Jeff Dickamore joins Ash and Matt on Episode 6 and shares his journey in the film industry. He initially pursued a career in medicine and international law but always had a passion for storytelling and acting. Meeting his wife Aurora and their shared love for storytelling propelled them to pursue careers in the film industry. They decided to take the leap into the unknown and moved to LA to develop their own stories and maintain creative control. Jeff discusses the challenges and triumphs of pursuing a career in the film industry while balancing family life. He emphasizes the importance of belief and purpose in sustaining motivation. Jeff also addresses the misconceptions about the industry and highlights the positive impact of storytelling.

On this episode, Matt and Ash explore motivation and the concept of self-determination theory, which suggests that addressing three psychological needs - competence, relatedness, and autonomy - leads to self-determination and sustained motivation. Ashley shares her experiences with these needs in her soccer career, highlighting the importance of autonomy, relatedness, and competence in finding and sustaining motivation. They also discuss the negative impact of missing components of motivation, such as a lack of relatedness or autonomy. Overall, their conversation emphasizes the role of motivation in sports and life and the factors that contribute to its presence or absence. They emphasize the role of parents in motivating children and the need for fun in maintaining motivation. The discussion also highlights how motivation can be a tool for personal growth and the cultural differences in motivation. It delves into finding joy and motivation in sports and the importance of rediscovering the fun in sports. The conversation concludes with a discussion on task orientation versus ego orientation and the significance of motivation and opportunity over raw talent. Give the Ditto Podcast a follow, and if you enjoyed this episode, leave a 5-star review!

Ashley and Matt welcome Coach Jen Rockwood, the renowned coach of the Brigham Young University women's soccer team, to the Ditto Podcast! They discuss various topics, including coaching at BYU, recruiting student athletes, the unique environment of BYU, recruiting non-members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the impact of return missionaries on the team, the importance of mental training, and creating a culture of accountability and care. Jen discusses her experiences as a female coach in a predominantly male profession. She shares the challenges she has faced and how she has navigated them. Jen also talks about the importance of finding balance in life and staying true to oneself as a coach. She emphasizes the value of building relationships with players and creating a positive team culture. She reflects on the lessons she has learned from failures and the motivation that keeps her coaching. She concludes by offering advice to new coaches starting their careers.

Dr. Matt Moore and Ashley Hatch discuss the importance of mental health and the different types of professionals who can provide support. They explain the distinctions between mental health providers, psychiatrists, and mental performance consultants. They also discuss the stigma surrounding mental health and the progress that has been made in normalizing conversations about it. Ashley shares her experiences with mental health resources in professional sports and emphasizes the need for athletes to prioritize their mental well-being. They also explore why many athletes neglect the mental side of their game and the importance of deliberate and consistent mental training.

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Dr. Matt and Ashley discuss performance anxiety and how to manage nerves and anxiety in various situations. They emphasize the importance of normalizing anxiety and reinterpreting it as a facilitative tool rather than a hindrance. Matt introduces the four-stage process of stress and how perception plays a crucial role in managing anxiety. They discuss the importance of trial and error in finding tools that work best for each individual.

In this episode, Ashley Hatch and Dr. Matt Moore discuss the topic of confidence. They define self-confidence as the belief that one can successfully perform a desired behavior. They explore the story of Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile and how his belief influenced others to do the same. They also discuss the six sources of self-confidence: past accomplishments, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion, emotional state, physical state, and imagined experiences. Ashley shares her personal experiences with confidence and the importance of avoiding comparison. They emphasize the fickle nature of self-confidence and the need for consistency in building and sustaining it.