Mind Your Game

Mind Your Game Podcast: What to do when you are leading. On this episode of Mind Your Game, Dr. Mat and Cydney Clanton discuss why mental skills matter not only when athletes struggle but also when they’re leading. Cydney recounts caddying for a junior golfer in a US Girls qualifier who played calmly and effectively for 17 holes, then spiraled into panic after learning she had a four-shot cushion...

The Slow Build: Why the Mental Game is Never a Moment Dr. Mat and LPGA veteran-turned-performance coach Cydney Clanton discuss mental performance lessons drawn from recent Masters interviews, highlighting Cameron Young’s idea that handling pressure comes from a slow buildup of tools and confidence to stay present. They compare examples from Rory, Tommy Fleetwood, Tiger Woods, and Scottie Scheffler...

On the Mind Your Game podcast, hosts Dustin Donner and Dr. Mat Park welcome pro golfer Cydney Clanton to discuss the Rory McIlroy Amazon Prime documentary, focusing on how Rory avoided spiraling after major mistakes and why recovery is trainable. They explore why putting carries extra pressure as the “finale” of each hole, how body language and sustainable confidence (chin up, shoulders back, eye...

Who would sign up for a job where you have to pay upfront, not know if you’ll get reimbursed, grind all year long… and still might not make enough to keep your spot? Welcome back to the Mind Your Game Podcast. In this powerful episode, co-hosts Dustin Donner and Dr. Matt sit down with “Lefty Sophia” — former performer, licensed clinical dietician, late-life left-handed golfer, and now LPGA sports...

In this episode of The Mind Your Game Podcast, host Dustin Donner sits down with veteran LPGA tour player Lauren Coughlin to discuss the mental side of athletics, business, and life. Lauren shares her recent victory at the Grant Thornton Invitational, her experiences on the LPGA tour, and how she deals with both success and adversity. From her beginnings as a walk-on at the University of Virginia...

In this episode of the Mind Your Game podcast, co-hosts Dustin Donner and Dr. Mat sit down with LPGA player Kate Smith-Stroh to discuss the emotional and professional challenges of life on the tour. Kate shares candid insights about her recent experiences at the Q series, coping mechanisms for handling pressure, and the importance of maintaining joy and authenticity in golf and life. She also refl...

Building a Resilient Athletic Culture: Insights from Athletic Director Scott Larson In this episode of The Mind Your Game podcast, host Dustin Donner welcomes Scott Larson, Athletic Director at UTPB, to discuss the role of resilience in student-athletes, the impact of parental involvement, and the unique aspects of Division II athletics. Scott Larson shares his journey from starting college on a m...

Join Dustin Donner on The Mind Your Game podcast as he interviews Epson tour player Sadie Engleman. In this engaging episode, Sadie shares her journey from college golf at Stanford to her first year as a professional. Listen as Sadie discusses the importance of balancing life and golf, how she manages the pressures of professional tournaments, and the mental shift that helped her play her best gol...

In this episode of The Mind Your Game podcast, co-hosts Dustin Donner and Dr. Mat are joined by special guest Grace van der Byl, a world-record-holding long-distance swimmer. Grace shares her exhilarating journey of swimming from Catalina to San Pedro and breaking records, only to face life-threatening challenges like stepping on a sea urchin and contracting MRSA. Grace delves into the mental toug...

In this episode of the Mind Your Game podcast, co-founder of Caddy Snacks, Chelsea Bialla, joins us to discuss the journey of building the brand with her family. Chelsea shares how her father’s vision and veteran background inspired Caddy Snacks and highlights the emotional and entrepreneurial aspects of their journey. Delve into the importance of grit, adaptability, and setting realistic expectat...

In this episode of The Mind Your Game Podcast, hosts Dustin Donner and Dr. Mat Park explore the importance of discovering your ‘why’ and identifying guiding principles that shape your life and career. Dr. Mat shares his personal journey from aspiring professional golfer to coach, revealing how his core values led him to his true calling. The episode includes an insightful exercise on mind mapping...

Mind Your Game Podcast Ep. 2: Cydney Clanton - Journey, Challenges & Mental Toughness in Golf Welcome to episode two of the Mind Your Game Podcast! In this episode, host Dustin Donner sits down with 14-year LPGA Tour veteran Cydney Clanton. With one career win, nine top 10 finishes, and 27 top 25 career finishes, Cydney shares her journey from deciding to be a professional golfer in sixth grade to...

Mind Your Game Podcast Ep. 1 | Overcoming Expectations and Ryder Cup Insights Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Mind Your Game Podcast, hosted by mental performance coach Dustin Donner and sport psychologist Dr. Mat Park. In this episode, Dustin and Dr. Mat introduce themselves and discuss the mental aspects of golf and life lessons that can be drawn from sports. They dive deep into the rece...