Mental

Did you know the average person has over 6,000 thoughts a day—and 80% of them are negative? Now imagine trying to compete with that mindset. That was Riley, a 19-year-old beach volleyball player in Venice Beach, known more for her attitude than her athleticism. But everything changed the night she stumbled across one 12-second reel. It didn’t go viral—but it hit home. From her self-talk to her bod...

Did you know the average high school student today reports higher stress levels than adults? Now meet Brianna—a 17-year-old in St. Louis who isn’t just handling school and tennis, but raising her little brother, holding a job, and holding her family together. This episode of Mental is about grit, grace, and the quiet strength it takes to keep showing up—especially when no one’s clapping. Brianna c...

Did you know nearly 1 in 5 college students today are raising a child while pursuing their degree? Now imagine doing that while rowing for your college team in freezing Maine mornings and chasing a STEM degree. That’s Levi’s life—and it’s anything but average. In this emotional and empowering episode of Mental, we meet Levi, a 20-year-old forensic science major at Bates College and a full-time sol...

Did you know that over 90% of people will have a major career change before the age of 30? Lilah thought she had it figured out—college dropout turned tech startup star. Until the CEO ghosted... the entire company. One minute she’s pitching big ideas, the next she’s Googling, “What do you do when your life plan quits on you?” But here’s the plot twist: what felt like a total fail turned out to be...

Did you know that the average Olympic athlete trains for 10 years before earning a single medal? In today’s episode of Mental, we meet Erika, a 22-year-old track athlete at the University of Nebraska. She's talented, relentless, and respected—but she's never been the one to cross the line first. For years, she’s been second: in races, in rankings, in recognition. But what if second place was never...

Did you know nearly 60% of high school athletes say they struggle most with change—not competition? In today’s episode of Mental, we step into the cleats of Nico Williams—a junior shortstop navigating a mid-year move to a new school, new city, and a team that feels anything but welcoming. What his parents called an “opportunity,” Nico experienced as isolation. Until one unexpected teammate, Jordan...

🦋 What if the very thing you're trying to avoid is the thing you need the most? In this episode of Mental, we venture into nature to explore one of the most misunderstood skills we all need: adversity. Through the eyes of 9-year-old Mateo on a warm spring day in Gilbert, Arizona, we discover a powerful life lesson—courtesy of a butterfly cocoon, a pair of gentle hands, and a moment that changes e...

Many people know the importance of being able to deal with setbacks and building resilience. But what about when you get a taste of success? Do you know how to keep the drive? How to maintain that level when you're there? 🏆 Did you know that nearly 80% of young adults who reach early success struggle to maintain it—not because of skill, but because of comfort? The real challenge isn’t just gettin...

🎷 Did you know people who play or listen to music regularly are 50% more likely to report stronger emotional bonds with those they care about? Because sometimes, music isn’t just what brings us together—it’s what keeps us together. In this soulful episode, we meet Big Al, a 24-year-old jazz musician from Memphis who grew up distant from his dad—a quiet Army vet turned city garbage man. They never...

Did you know that roughly 50% of people will experience the sudden death of someone close to them in their lifetime? The impact of that kind of loss is real—and for many young adults, it hits during a season when life is already heavy. In this emotional and powerful episode of Mental, we meet Emily, a standout athlete at the University of Maryland whose world is turned upside down after the tragic...

💥 Did you know that over 70% of young adults admit self-doubt keeps them from going after what they want—even when they're fully capable? In this episode, meet Kara—a 21-year-old junior gymnast at the University of New Mexico. After walking on as a freshman, she earned a scholarship by year two, dominating floor and uneven bars. But when her coach asked her to compete on the balance beam, everyth...

📍 Did you know that less than 2% of high school athletes receive any kind of athletic scholarship? Miguel was a standout junior in Kearney, Nebraska—a basketball phenom and a long jump star. Locally, everyone knew his name. But college coaches? Not yet. He had the skills, the work ethic, and the dream of playing D1. What he didn’t have? A roadmap to get there. 📍 Where are you feeling lost? Becau...

When you blame, you give away your power—the power to change, improve, and take control of your own success. Stan, a 23-year-old golfer at the University of Arizona, had all the talent to go pro. But every time something went wrong, he had an excuse. Bad round? The greens were awful. Missed putt? Caddy’s fault. Bad grade? The professor didn’t like him. Then, one morning, he came across a podcast t...

📍 Did you know that less than 3% of foster youth earn a college degree? Not because they aren’t capable, but because navigating life without a stable foundation makes planning for the future feel impossible. Joey is 16, living in rural Georgia with his third foster family. He’s spent years learning new rules, new routines, and constantly wondering: How long before this ends too? Now, as a high sc...

🚨 Did you know that perfectionists are 51% more likely to experience anxiety and depression? 🚨 It’s not just about high standards—it’s about never feeling good enough. And for Asher, a 20-year-old diver at the University of Oregon, that feeling ruled his life. On the outside? He was elite. Top scores. Near-perfect GPA. The guy who always had it together. On the inside? Every mistake ate him aliv...

🚨 Did you know that nearly 1 in 3 young women will experience intimate partner violence before they’re even 25? 🚨 Mia was 19, trapped in a toxic relationship with nowhere to go. She thought she had no options—until one night changed everything. After discovering she was pregnant, she made the hardest and bravest decision of her life: to leave. No plan, no support, just the realization that stayi...

Ever feel uncertain about moving forward? Meet Zach. He's 19, fresh out of high school, and stuck. No job, no plan, just hours of gaming—because in the game, he knows what to do. Real life? No strategy guide, no clear objectives, just pressure. But one night, he asks himself the question that changes everything: If I don’t figure something out now, where will I be a year from now? This episode isn...

Danny had his whole future mapped out—a DI tennis scholarship, a fresh start, a life beyond the struggles he grew up with. But one night, one ride with his best friends, changed everything. A split-second crash, and suddenly, he’d never walk again. At first, Danny shut everyone out. His dreams? Gone. His future? Uncertain. But real friends don’t leave when life gets hard. They show up. They remind...

People assume skaters are all the same—partying, smoking, living reckless. But Leah and her crew? They’re built different. They don’t drink. They don’t smoke. They don’t care what people think. Because when you know who you are, you don’t need validation. But what happens when the pressure builds? When life hits hard? When temptation creeps in? That’s when real friends step up. 📍 Because good fri...

Some choices feel small—until they change everything. Dawson had one last ride before the season ended. One last time with his best friends. One last chance to chase the thrill. But when the mountain gave way beneath him, that last ride became his final ride. This episode is about loyalty, risk, and the cost of ignoring your gut. It’s about the friends we keep, the choices we make, and the bravery...

What if the way you talk to yourself is the most powerful tool you have? In this episode of Mental, we sit down with Mollie Dare, a collegiate wrestler at Colorado Mesa University, who shares how self-talk not only shaped her mindset in sports but literally saved her life. 🚨 Did you know? Nearly 50% of our mental skills are formed by age 18—but most people never learn how to take control of their...

Here’s a fact: You become the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Your mindset, your habits, even your success—all shaped by your circle. Emily, a self-taught coder in NYC, learned this the hard way. She was the only one in her friend group who lived for coding. The only one who thought in lines of code instead of social events. And the digs? They were constant. "Come on, just...

At just 14 years old, Allie was fighting cancer. But if you met her, you’d never know it. She wasn’t bitter. She wasn’t blaming the world. Instead, she focused on what she could control. Her older sister, Emma, didn’t get it. She blamed everything—teachers, friends, bad luck. Life felt unfair. 🚨 This episode will make you pause. Are you focused on problems or solutions? Are you blaming or taking...

Eli Carter was so close. A 22-year-old snowboarder from Park City, Utah, on the verge of making the 2022 Winter Olympics. He had the talent, the tricks, the confidence—but no accountability. Excuses were easy. Ownership? Not so much. And then—his chance was gone. ⏳ Fast forward five years. No Olympics. No career-defining moment. Just Eli, alone in his mom’s basement, rewatching old clips of what...

💡 Want to change your life faster? Change your circle. Stefan wasn’t just smart—he was 15-year-old genius smart. When he and his two best friends stumbled onto Khanmigo, an AI-powered tutor, they didn’t just use it—they hacked it to work better, smarter, and faster. 📌 Who’s in your circle? Are they pushing you forward or holding you back? 🚀 In this episode, we break down: Why your friend group...