Hope Heroes

"There can be some really beautiful things that come from being vulnerable and expressing what you're going through." Sometimes the people closest to us are the hardest to share our true feelings with. That's why courageous athletes like pro footballer Jack Beer are working to shift the narrative around mental wellness. A willingness to ask for help, thus fighting through doubts and fears, puts at...

"If you're an athlete and you're suffering... Please know you're not alone." For many people, especially pro athletes, reaching out for help can be frightening. But there are wonderful clinicians out there who dedicate their lives to supporting athletes during their lowest moments. Two of these incredible and passionate professionals are Dr. Jorge Aguilar, MD, PhD and Dr. Alicia Naser, PhD, BCBA-D...

In this episode, Athletes for Hope Chief Wellbeing Officer Mena Mirhom, MD, FAPA talks with soccer legend Julie Foudy —World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist, and former U.S. Women’s National Team captain. Julie shares her leadership journey, why great leaders tailor their message to the person and not the crowd, her hopes for the future of women’s sports, and how giving back has shaped her pur...

In this episode of Hope Heroes, Dr. Mena Mirhom sits down with Derek Anderson—former NBA champion, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate—to discuss his incredible journey from homelessness to the NBA and the resilience that fueled his success. Derek opens up about the struggles he faced as a teenager with nowhere to go, the mentality that kept him going, and how he overcame unimaginable adversi...

In this premiere episode of Hope Heroes , Dr. Mena Mirhom sits down with Dr. Jay Barnett—former NFL player, therapist, and nationally recognized speaker—to break down one of the biggest misconceptions in sports and society: the myth of men’s mental health. For years, athletes and men everywhere have been told to “man up,” “push through,” and “never show weakness.” But at what cost? Dr. Barnett sha...