The Mental Matchup

In this week’s episode of The Mental Matchup, Kat talks with Jess Goergen, a current graduate student at Auburn University in the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program. She currently holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Auburn University and was a student-athlete on the women’s lacrosse team at Presbyterian College. During the episode we talk about the hormonal and psychological impact of birth control, her gap year and and her career aspirations (*spoiler alert, it may have something to do with Sports Psychology). Tune in tomorrow for another great episode!

In this week’s episode of The Mental Matchup, Kat talks with Emily Barnhart, who is a registered dietician working with athletes, and runs her own private practice that is called Injury RD (working from the point of surgery to their return to play) but has also worked with general athletes throughout her career. During the episode, we talk about the impact food can have on your performance as an athlete and human, nutrition and how each person's needs are unique, and how she helps set her player’s bodies up for success in the healing process.

In today’s  episode of The Mental Matchup, Kat talks with Ashleigh Shanley, who swam at Duke and is currently working as a Content Associate/Production Assistant for ESPN in Charlotte, NC. Ashleigh received her Masters of Science of Journalism at Boston University in December of 2018 focusing on both sports journalism and broadcasting. 

During the episode, we talk about injury and the impact it had on Ashleigh’s mental health, the individual aspect of swimming, going to therapy and her experience with losing a friend who died by suicide.

In this week’s episode of The Mental Matchup, Kat talks with Lindsey Ronbeck, current Assistant Women’s Lacrosse Coach at the University of Richmond, and one of the most prolific women’s lacrosse players at the University of Florida. During the episode, we talk about the role lacrosse has played in her life, navigating athletics and education through learning disorders, grappling with disordered eating and SO much more.

In this week’s episode of The Mental Matchup, Kat talks with Connor Coyne (@concoyne). Connor is a former collegiate baseball player, current social marketing associate and TikTok creator. During this episode, we talk about the importance of therapy, the impact of social media, and how one of the greatest powers you can have is being unapologetically yourself.

In this week’s episode of The Mental Matchup, Kat talks with Renee Norden. Renee has been the Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of Fauquier County since November 2020. The Mental Health Association promotes mental wellness in Fauquier and Rappahannock counties. She facilitates the Mental Health Collaborative and the Mental Health School Coalition, while also serving on the Rappahannock Roundtable. Renee received a degree in Psychology from William and Mary and a Master of Education in Counseling from the University of Virginia.

During Renee’s episode, we talk about how to support not only yourself, but also your friends and strangers and how your network of support can make a significant impact. We also touch on the importance of connectivity between humans and how mental health does not define anyone as a person.

In this week’s episode of The Mental Matchup, Kat talks with Madeline Barlow. Madeline is a mentor to athletes, a 3x author, and a Reiki II and Human Design practitioner. She is also a former competitive swimmer and has her PhD in Psychology of Human Movement with a specialization in Exercise and Sport psychology. During the episode, we talk about transitioning out of athletics and into the next chapter of life, supporting highly sensitive athletes, and discovering how you can embody your true Self.

In this week’s episode of The Mental Matchup, we take some time to reflect on Season 2 of The Mental Matchup. Zoe Scurletis, host of Solace in the City, which is another podcast focused on making people feel less alone, reflects with us on the things she has learned in her own podcasting journey over the past year. We discuss the common threads between our podcasts, the topics that kept popping up, our thoughts on the mental health stigma and how everyone copes differently, some of our favorite episodes and guests, and our intentions for the new year. It is not just a reflection on our podcasts, but also a reflection on how we have changed as individuals over the past year, and how we plan to move forward in podcasting and in life.

In this week’s episode of The Mental Matchup, Schuyler and Kat talk with Nakeie (Nak) Montgomery, a two sport athlete at Duke University. Nak grew up in Texas with his mom and sister, playing lacrosse and football. He went on to play lacrosse at Duke, and also joined the football team for his final fall season in college. Despite not playing as much as he wanted to his freshman year, and having his first experience with a mental health struggle, Nak went on to have a very successful collegiate career. By his senior year, he had accumulated 100 points, and was named to the All-ACC team, the USILA All-America first team, and the Inside Lacrosse Media All-America first team. He was also selected as Duke’s Male Senior Student-Athlete of the Year for his success on and off the field. During the episode, we talk about the sacrifices his mom and sister made to support his lacrosse career, his coaches and adopted families that made him into the player and person he is today, how attending a majority-black high school impacted his sense of identity, how he experienced the power of vulnerability during his freshman year, and a lot more about his experiences throughout his life and athletic career.

This week’s episode of The Mental Matchup features Brian White. Brian currently plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS. During the episode, we talk about his successful youth, college, and professional career, and the ups and downs he experienced along the way. After growing up in New Jersey (and playing at the same youth club as Schuyler - fun fact), he attended Duke, making 73 appearances and scoring 23 goals. He balanced soccer with being a part of a fraternity, and after graduating, was drafted 16th in the MLS superdraft to the New York Red Bulls. This past season, he was traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps, and despite being thrust into a new environment mid-season, he scored 12 goals in 27 games. During the episode, Kat and Brian talk about the moments of success, but also the harder, uncertain moments of his career, and how he was able to move through them.