Episode 19 of The Mental Game Podcast features former Major League pitcher D.J. Snelten. Snelten pitched for the San Francisco Giants in 2018 and is now a member of the Chicago Cubs organization. 

After leaving the Giants, Snelten briefly joined the Orioles before spending the 2019 season with the Chicago Dogs of the American Association. In Chicago, Snelten experienced a mental turnaround, in part guided by teammate (and former idol) Carlos Zambrano. Since then, Snelten has skyrocketed back into affiliated baseball. 

On the podcast, Snelten breaks down his psychological approach to pitching and takes us through the life-changing moment in 2019 that turned around his career. 

Enjoy and be well.

The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.

Episode 18 of The Mental Game Podcast is with the Director of Meditation Training at the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department, Chad McGehee. 

McGehee is literally one-of-a-kind: He’s the only Director of Meditation at an athletic department (as far as he knows). He serves a unique role in strengthening the minds of Wisconsin Badgers across all sports.

On the podcast, McGehee touches on his role at UW before explaining how we all can incorporate mindfulness practices into our daily lives. He even takes us through a short, but effective, mindfulness practice. 

Enjoy and be well.

The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.

Episode 17 of The Mental Game Podcast features former NBA and ABA star Swen Nater. 

Nater won two championships playing for the great John Wooden at UCLA. Now an author and motivational speaker, the Dutchman heeded Wooden’s famous philosophy while serving as a practice player behind Bill Walton. 

Nater was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to the U.S. as a nine-year-old. Before stepping on American soil, he had never seen a basketball. Nater didn’t play in high school after being cut his junior season but subsequently catapulted to All-American heights at Cypress College in California. After Nater’s dominant season at Cypress, Wooden recruited the big man to UCLA, telling Nater he wouldn’t play but that he’d learn, practice and make it to the pros. 

Nater then became the only player to never start a college game but wind up as a first-round NBA Draft selection. He played 12 professional seasons. 

On the podcast, Nater reflects on the myriad teachings of John Wooden, including the Hall-of-Famer’s legendary attention to detail and high-octane practices. Also a former sports psychology professor, Nater delves into how each of us can apply Wooden’s philosophy to our own lives.

The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.

Episode 16 of The Mental Game Podcast features performance coach, author and speaker Andy Harris. 

Harris wrote Leading From the Back and works with an eclectic mix of clients, including college baseball teams and college basketball referees. In the podcast, Harris delves deep into his fascinating work with basketball officials, lending insight into how he coaches them on dealing with incessant booing and occasional missed calls. Harris also coaches us on his visualization and goal-setting techniques.

The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.

Episode 15 of The Mental Game Podcast features Ray Ray McElrathbey, a former Clemson football player who is portrayed in the new Disney film, Safety. 

Safety tells the powerful story of Ray Ray and his brother-turned-son, Fahmarr. With Fahmarr in jeopardy of entering foster care, an 18-year-old Ray Ray took custody of his then-brother, who moved into his dorm room at Clemson. Ray Ray, who became Fahmarr’s legal guardian, battled through myriad obstacles (including fighting NCAA violations) to raise Fahmarr.

On the podcast, McElrathbey reflects on the lightning-quick maturation process he underwent while raising Fahmarr in college. He also details how he managed his own mental health and expounds on his present-day mission, including helping other former athletes to transition into life after sports.

The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.

Episode 14 of The Mental Game Podcast features mental toughness coach Dr. Rob Bell. Bell has coached PGA Tour champions, an Olympic medalist, a USTA National Champion, plus other professional and college athletes. He’s also caddied over 20 events on the PGA Tour and has penned seven books on mental toughness. 

Bell also battled life-threatening injuries to become an Ironman athlete. He’s currently training to run 100 miles in the fall. 

On the final episode of 2020, Bell details how falling off an 80-foot cliff changed his life, describes the magic of mental toughness and applies his philosophy to hot-button topics in sports today.

The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.

Episode 13 of The Mental Game Podcast features longtime NBA and MLB producer John Walsh. Walsh is currently the television director for the Milwaukee Bucks and Milwaukee Brewers and most recently served as producer for both the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Cubs. 

In his packed career, he has worked for the Los Angeles Raiders, the NFL on FOX (on John Madden’s crew), FOX Sports Arizona, FOX Sports Wisconsin, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, NBC Sports Chicago, FOX Sports 1 and the Big Ten Network. Walsh also operates his own sports production company to produce amateur sports. Walsh co-hosts and produces the “Gimme the Hot Sauce” podcast with Stacey King and Mark Schanowski, as well.

In this episode, Walsh discusses the myriad lessons he’s learned from the TV truck, in which rapid communication and level-headedness reign supreme.

The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.

Episode 12 of The Mental Game Podcast brings Hannah Huesman to the show. Huesman is a mental skills coach for the Philadelphia Phillies and the host of #MentalSweatMonday on her Instagram page, @hannahhuesman. She was recently named No. 2 on LinkedIn’s list of “Top 10 Voices in Sports” for 2020. On the podcast, Huesman breaks down her role training the minds of Phillies players, practicing the crucial skill of listening and encourages us all to add an “optimistic cherry on top” of our days.

The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.

Episode 11 of The Mental Game Podcast features Abbie Wolf, a former Northwestern women’s basketball player now playing professionally in Spain for Club Deportivo Zamarat.

Wolf recently penned a touching and cogent essay in The Daily Northwestern outlining her mental health journey throughout college (linked here).

In this episode, Wolf discusses her battle with performance anxiety, the value of meditation and why she decided to publish a first-person essay. She also reflects on the 2017 suicide of teammate Jordan Hankins and describes the profound reverberations of that tragedy.

The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.