Despite growing up in a hockey family and living in a hockey town, Casey Dornbach was taught early on that if he wasn’t passionate about it, he didn’t need to do it. But he fell in love with the process of growth, striving for something and the feeling that comes from learning and getting better. At Harvard, whether in difficult classes or the challenge on a D1 sport, he  “honored the gifts he was given” and did everything to the best of his ability. As a professional hockey player, he has dedicated time and intentionality to his mental training resulting in the mindset to believe that he “can make mistakes but also be his best,”

As the Founder of Whole Hockey Group, Casey is redefining what it means to train like a pro—blending neuroscience, breathwork, and game IQ to prepare the next generation for success on and off the ice. He gives rising players what he wishes he had: a system built around longevity, elite skill detail, and internal growth. Now in its second year, WHG has become a trusted path for high-level athletes seeking to elevate their game.

@caseydornbach, @wholehockeygroup

Dominic Pietramala is a standout collegiate lacrosse player who made a major impact during the 2025 season. He was named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, recognizing him as one of the nation’s elite players. Pietramala earned All-ACC honors and was named an Honorable Mention All-American by both the USILA and Inside Lacrosse, while also being selected to the USA Lacrosse Second Team All-America. He led the ACC in goals this past season, showcasing his scoring ability and leadership on the field.

Before his collegiate success, Pietramala was one of the top high school players in the country—winning the prestigious C. Markland Kelly Award as Maryland’s top high school player and being named the Mid-Atlantic Boys Player of the Year during his senior season.

As a younger player, Dom was initially motivated to be the best version of himself to gain his father’s approval, but once he learned to be the best for himself, his game went to another level. When so many players want to be like their role models, he grew up wanting to be different. When others try to overcome their perceived limitations, he utilizes them to excel even further. When others have the ultimate dream of winning awards and championships, Dom’s dream was always to play for his dad alongside his brother. In storybook fashion, last season his dream came true during a breakout game against Johns Hopkins, on the same field where his father left an irreplaceable legacy!

@dompietramala

Alex Guerrero is one of the key reasons that Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski and so many other legends have found success. When it comes to recovery, so many other trainers and practitioners focus on self-imposed physical timelines, but Alex is different. Using his background and training in holistic Chinese medicine, he integrates physical, emotional and spiritual components to improve strength and relief exponentially faster.

By setting higher expectations for his athletes and changing their negative neuromuscular responses, his athletes start to learn and believe they can do things that others can’t do. By training athletes to see and remember positive experiences, he trains their bodies to respond ultimately accomplishing things that other athletes dream about.

Alex is also a father, grandfather, author and collaborator for Tom Brady’s TB12 brand. He teaches us the secret to being elite “by focusing on the better” and that, “We can’t be afraid to get worse, to get better.”

@ag_tb12, @tb12sports

Liz is a 3x Olympian and Canadian record-holder in javelin, now a dedicated holistic performance coach. From her own experiences, she has learned the ability to sensitive oneself to the process, invest into the learning process and train to appreciate delayed gratification. But when it’s time to compete, she has a routine that dials her in and helps her realize that “It’s her runaway, just her and a stick!”

As a performance coach, she draws upon her own learned experience about the importance of the emotional state, and she helps athletes strategically optimize their time and energy investments to accelerate results and avoid burnout. Liz guides individuals to uncover the highest return on investment (ROI) strategies for their unique journey. Her philosophy centers on working smarter by addressing the entire human – physical, mental, emotional, and social – not just the athlete. She shares her strategies and systems in her course, the Peak Performance Accelerator. 

Liz helps us understand that every challenge is a learning experience and we have the power to choose to learn now or look for the lesson later.

@javelizz

Jill Schulman is a former U.S. Marine Corps Officer, leadership development expert and founder of Breakthrough Leadership Group. She also has a master’s in Applied Positive Psychology. Jill has dedicated her career to studying the science of bravery, resilience, and peak performance, drawing on disciplines such as psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science. Her work merges the academic rigor of research with practical tools that help individuals and teams increase their performance, resilience and well-being. Her upcoming book, The Bravery Effect is the culmination of years of exploration, offering evidence-based strategies for increasing bravery by developing a courageous mindset, taking bold actions, and building brave relationships. In short, Jill helps people do hard things—and loves it!

@jillschulman, www.jillschulman.com

Sierra Enge is a professional soccer player for Racing Strasbourg in France. She started her career in the US, playing for the San Diego Wave in the NWSL. She received her BA and MA from Stanford University ('22) where she was a five-year member and captain of the soccer team which won a National Championship in 2019 and 3 Pac-12 titles. Sierra was named the 2022 Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the year. 

In addition to her soccer career, Sierra is a mentor for Female Footballers and Athletes Better Together as well as an advocate for mental health. She works with Athletes for Hope and Katie's Save to increase conversations around mental health and wellness. Her passion and lived experiences have led Sierra to creating communities and spaces where people feel comfortable talking about the challenges and struggles, they are facing.

@sierraenge, @femfootballers, @athletesbettertogether

Miles is a former student-athlete (Elon FB 2X team captain)turned award-winning educator and school principal. After nearly a decade leading in classrooms and communities, Miles now focuses on storytelling, mental health advocacy, and building platforms that center love, equity, and wellness. Known for his powerful voice on identity, transition, and healing, he brings lived experience and deep empathy to every conversation. Whether it’s in schools or on sidelines, Miles is all about helping people show up whole.

His passion and purpose come from lived personal experiences and the mindset to develop a true understanding on how to define and implement the concepts that he teaches. Miles shares the importance of communication through listening and empathy which creates a community that inspires and allows us to feel like the wealthiest people in the world.

@themileswill

Allisen Corpus was introduced to the game of golf at the age 4 by her father and older brother. She played through a few junior circuits and ultimately went to USC where she became a 2X NCAA All-American. In 2021, she turned pro and has earned several top 10 finishes on the LPGA tour.

Allisen shares the importance of making sure that no one shot defines her by reinforcing the mindset that, “The most important shot is the next one.” By focusing on her pre-shot routine she is able to relax into her shots and make sure she is comfortable in the most difficult situations. Despite some injuries, she has trusted in her process, reminded herself that everything happens for a reason and had faith that golf will come around again when she is ready.

Her support system and approach to her sport have allowed her to experience meaningful opportunities, see iconic places and live so many “pinch me” moments on and off the course.

@allysoncorpuz

Jackson Heidesch is a sophomore on the Duke Cross Country and Track and Field teams. Hailing from Iowa, Jackson first made national headlines by winning the NXR Heartland Regional in 2022, earning the nickname “The King of Iowa” from The Running Effect. His momentum carried into a historic 2023 season: he won the mile at New Balance Indoor Nationals, shattered the coveted 4-minute mile barrier at the HOKA Festival of Miles, and captured victory at the prestigious Brooks PR Invitational.

Following his historic senior year, Jackson has faced a series of injuries that sidelined him for much of his freshman and sophomore seasons at Duke. The physical setbacks were compounded by mental health challenges, as he battled depression that turned training into dread and everyday life into a struggle. Through it all, Jackson discovered a deeper resilience, sharing openly about his experiences with therapy, medication, and the slow, patient process of rebuilding his love for running.

Now redshirted and healthier, Jackson has embraced a broader mission: to speak out on the importance of mental health in athletics. Whether competing at the highest level or advocating for mental health awareness, Jackson Heidesch is committed to making a lasting impact both on and off the track. His journey is one of resilience, community, and a relentless belief in moving forward—no matter how difficult the path may be.

@jacksonheidesch, @duketfxc

In the Rodger’s household, Dona and Kurt discussed everything they could ever imagine their children would encounter. Nothing was too uncomfortable to talk about including alcohol, drugs, sex, etc. However, the one subject they never discussed was mental health, not because they avoided it but because it never came up. They were fortunate to have a close loving family, and their kids were safe, supported, loved and most importantly, happy.

Their daughter Morgan was a bright student, a talented athlete, a gifted artist, a lover of music and dancing and a loyal friend. She achieved her dream to play lacrosse at Duke University. In January 2017, just before her sophomore season, she experienced a devastating knee injury along with other stressors but feelings of isolation and being misunderstood along with the stigma of reaching out for help prevented her from getting the help and support she deserved. Morgan Rodgers died by suicide July 11, 2019, at the age of 22.

In the wake of this tragedy, her friends and family have created something so meaningful and powerful. What was supposed to just be podcast to share stories has turned into an internationally recognized nonprofit called Morgans Message that is impacting thousands of student athletes. While the organization has grown beyond anything imaginable, the message is simple: You are not alone, there is always someone in your corner. 

In this episode Morgan’s mother Dona shares her passion, her purpose and her unwavering pride for her daughter, her love of her family, her gratitude for daughter’s friends and her respect for the athletes who have chosen to take a shot at mental health.

@morgansmessage

WARNING: This episode contains sensitive material including comments about suicide that may be triggering to some listeners. If you are struggling with thoughts of self harm, please contact a mental health professional or dial 988.