Coats in Conversation Podcast

In this Coats in Conversation Podcast episode, mental health therapist, ⁠ ⁠⁠ Kendrique Coats, MS, ALMFT⁠⁠⁠ interview, Jake Carr , a Illinois based sports photographer (owner of J7 Images ), entrepreneur, and speaker. We discuss he world of sports parenting and the powerful role sports can play in shaping both children and families. Jake highlights his journey with photography, watching his boys gr...

In this Coats in Conversation Podcast episode, mental health therapist, ⁠⁠Kendrique Coats, MS, ALMFT⁠⁠ interviews Trauma Expert and Founder of Trauma Therapist Institute , Rebecca Kase , MSW, LCSW, RYT. In this episode, Rebecca breaks down trauma in a way that’s clear, grounded, and understandable. We talk about the two parts of trauma, how trauma responses actually work, and what happens in the n...

Athletes are expected to perform, on the field, in the classroom, and in life, but we don’t talk enough about what that pressure actually does to their mental health. In this episode, I discuss with Tuskegee Universitys' Head Baseball Coach ,Chad Hall about the reality of balancing performance and well-being, what it really takes to build a culture where athletes feel safe to speak up, and the...

In this Coats in Conversation Podcast episode, mental health therapist, ⁠Kendrique Coats⁠ interview William Person , who is a former Team U.S.A Bobsled Athlete. Sports related concussions and CTE have become a growing concern in athletics, but we still don’t hear enough from the athletes living with the impact. In this episode, we talk about the reality of concussions, CTE, and how brain injuries...

In this Coats in Conversation Podcast episode, mental health therapist, Kendrique Coats interview Alex Sutrinaitis, who is a Chicago Sports Institute Performance Coach. We discuss early sports specialization, athlete mental health, and the real impact year-round training can have on young athletes. We talk about the biggest misconceptions around specializing early, the emotional and mental health...

In this Coats in Conversation Podcast episode, Host Kendrique Coats speaks with former Illinois Wesleyan University standout athlete, now University of Notre Dame track and field athlete , Lauren Huber . We talk about the realities of being a college athlete, from playing through injuries and feeling the pressure to lead, to navigating mental health that isn’t always visible. Lauren reflects on he...

In this episode, host Kendrique Coats , sit down with Fiona Hatton , a Worcester State University Women's Hockey student-athlete, to talk about  college athlete mental health , anxiety, and the unseen pressures of  student-athlete life . Fiona shares what it’s like balancing academics, performance, and identity in  college sports , and how learning to reframe stress and anxiety became a turnin...

Welcome back to Coats in Conversation I'm your host Kendrique Coats ! In today's episode I interview professional football athlete, Wesley Steiner . Wesley was a standout football athlete at Auburn University and Washington State University before making it to the big leagues. In this conversation, Wesley shares his journey in football, losing close family members, the importance of faith,...

In this episode, athlete therapist, Kendrique Coats , sits down with Josh Kauten , a former college and professional baseball player who's now the owner of K's Training Academy , in Bloomington Illinois . We talk about what it’s really like with dreams of playing baseball at a highest level, the “chip on the shoulder” mindset, and the kind of resilience it takes when you’re not the star pl...

If you’re a parent, coach, or athlete trying to navigate today’s world of college recruiting, NIL deals, and the rising mental health pressures in sports, this episode is a must-listen. Podcast host and therapist for athletes,  Kendrique Coats  interviews  Barb Smith , former Division 1 basketball coach, now an expert in the recruiting space as the owner of  Find My Team , a specialized recruiting...

What’s it really like to grow up in a sports-centered household? In this episode of   Coats in Conversation , host ⁠ Kendrique Coats ⁠ , LMFTA sits down with, Dr. Travis Dorsch , former Purdue University All-American, former NFL athlete, and now an  Associate Professor  and  Founding Director of the Families in Sport Lab in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Utah State Unive...

In this episode of  Coats in Conversation , host Kendrique Coats , LMFTA sits down with Megan Harrington, a former elite gymnast and former Illinois State University gymnastic coach to discuss the powerful connection between athlete identity, mental health, and coaching culture. Megan opens up about her journey as a collegiate gymnast, the challenges of finding identity after sports, and the menta...

From childhood football to the big leagues, Drew has seen it all, from navigating his identity after he retired from the NFL, to losing his father, his adult adhd diagnosis, and his work as a certified life and performance coach.   This episode moved me, especially as Drew shared what it was like for him to navigate the healing journey through therapy. Therapy is something many of us men ignore be...

In this amazing Coats in Conversation episode, Kendrique Coats speaks with Gabby Orlet , who is a volleyball student athlete at Grand Valley State University. Gabby opens up about her battle with cancer and the mental health challenges that came with it. From diagnosis to treatment, she shares how she found strength in adversity, leaned on her sport, and cultivated a mindset of resilience and hope...

In this episode of  Coats in Conversation , we dive deep into an often overlooked but urgent topic: suicide and depression in Men of Color. Mental health struggles in communities of color are frequently silenced or stigmatized, leaving many without the support they need. Our goal in this discussion is to break that silence and shine a light on the realities, challenges, and solutions surrounding m...

 In this Coats in Conversation, I sit down with Millikin University student-athlete Kendra Manul to talk about the real challenges of transitioning from high school to college sports. Kendra opens up about adjusting to a new team, balancing academics with athletics, and the mental toll of competing at the collegiate level. She shares her personal journey through sports injuries, the struggle to tr...

In this episode of Coats in Conversation, Licensed Therapist Kendrique Coats interviews Steve Spurgeon, A former JUCO baseball player turned D1 athlete at Jackson State University, who battled injuries, self-doubt, and came out stronger in mind, body, and faith. This podcast is a real look at what it’s like chasing the dream while navigating mental health due to injuries. If you're an athlete who’...

In this episode of Coats in Conversation, licensed therapist Kendrique Coats interviews Dr. Bianca Obinyan to explore the crucial impact of strong community connections, including those through family, educators, and mentors, on the mental health and resilience of students, especially those from marginalized backgrounds.  Dr. Obinyan discusses key warning signs/indicators that a student athlete is...

In this Coats in Conversation, I speak with Dr. Braden Brown , who is a licensed marriage and family therapist, certified mental performance consultant, serves as the Associate Athletic Director of Mental Health at Brigham Young University (BYU). Braden shares some of the barriers keeping athletes, especially college athletes from prioritizing their mental well-being. From the societal stigmas of...

In this episode, I talk with CJ Lewis, who was a standout baseball athlete for Normal West High School in Illinois, and Jackson State University Alum. After transferring schools multiple times, coping with the tragic loss of a friend to suicide, and stepping far outside his comfort zone, he opens up about the hidden struggles many young athletes face. From identity loss and mental health battles t...

In this Coats in Conversation , I speak with former Illinois State University student athletes, Jaden Johnson . Jaden opens up about the layered grief that followed the end of his athletic career. He shares the heartbreaking story of losing a close friend who was silently battling mental health challenges, the emotional toll of a career impacting injury, and the struggle to redefine his identity b...

Ever wondered what EMDR therapy really is and why so many people are turning to it for mental clarity and breakthrough results? In this episode, I speak with Stacy Stoodard , A licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, EMDR Therapist and Trainer, to break down Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in simple terms, bust the biggest myths about it, and explore how athletes, exe...

In this episode, we sit down with a Franchesca Smith, a student athlete at Illinois Wesleyan University to talk about the real impact of sports injuries on performance and mental health. We dive into what it's like navigating life at a predominantly white institution (PWI), the challenges of being a Black athlete in those spaces, and how identity shifts during and after sports. If you've ever face...

In this episode of Coats in Conversation, therapists Eric Stevenson, LCPC, CMPC, and Kendrique Coats, LMFTA, discuss athletes' mental performance, the crucial roles of anxiety management, emotional regulation, resilience, and navigating toxic sports cultures. Listeners will gain insight into the hidden struggles athletes face, including performance anxiety, perfectionism, and the impact of toxic c...

In this powerful episode, I sit down with a University of Tennessee track and field athlete, Myrèanna Bebe to discuss the mental health struggles athletes face both on and off the track. We dive deep into identity in sports, the challenges of grieving the loss of a loved one, and how athletes navigate mental health, pressure, and performance expectations. Our conversation sheds light on the emotio...