Mindful Sport Performance Podcast

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Tommy Minkler back to the podcast. Tommy is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Sport Leadership and Management at Miami University. He also works in private practice as a provisionally licensed professional counselor and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC). Prior to completing his graduate school training, he coached college lacrosse. T...

In this episode, we welcome back our first-ever guest from way back in Season 1, Marymount University Women's Lacrosse Head Coach, Kate Athing. Kate and our very own Tim Pineau have worked together for a decade now on building and implementing a mindful college program - from recruiting through evaluation and performance, mindfulness is a part of everything the program does. And, perhaps not...

In this episode, Dr. Ashley Kuchar, mental performance coach and founder of Fail Better Training, returns to the podcast to discuss her latest RESET ( R esilience and E nhancement in S port, E xercise, & T raining) program initiatives - as well as the critical and often misunderstood role that self-compassion has in elite performance. Social Media Mentioned: Instagram: @mindful_sport_podcast ,...

In this episode, we welcome California State University - Chico graduate student Jackson Whitlow to discuss his new groundbreaking research incorporating EEG (brain activity recording) technology into Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE) training for collegiate volleyball players. Social Media Mentioned: Instagram: @mindful_sport_podcast , @mspe_institute , @mindfulsportdoc YouTube: Mindfu...

In this episode, we have a happy reunion with our former producer and current Assistant Coach for Men's Lightweight Rowing at The University of Pennsylvania, Taylor Brown. Taylor has already had great success in his tenure at Penn, and we talk candidly with him about the synergy and barriers to pursuing national championships through a nonstriving (i.e., acceptance-based) approach. Social Med...

In this episode, we welcome back Brady Howe, former Vice President of Health & Performance for the NBA's Phoenix Suns and current Director of Sports Medicine at Grand Canyon University. Brady is recognized as a collaborative leader in the sport performance industry, having served as an athletic trainer, strength coach, and mental performance coach, and is the ideal expert to talk to about...

In this episode, we're joined by clinical psychology doctoral student and former Division I college athlete Teona Velehorschi. Teona is leading an ambitious study delivering Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE) to injured athletes at the University of Toledo , and talked with us about the joys and challenges of sport psychology research, how she built key relationships within her athl...

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Greg Clarke, clinical sport psychologist and consultant in the English Premier League , back to the pod to discuss the fascinating and largely untapped synergy between sport psychology (perhaps especially practicing mindful awareness) and " Moneyball " sports analytics. We talk everything from stats to behavior to philosophy, and tease a project Keith and...

Welcome to Season 6 of the pod! In this episode, we welcome Angela Baroni Berzonsky of Attain Sports for a fascinating discussion on building a winning culture within pro sport through holistic team ownership. Being a Division I athlete, as well as a coach, before venturing into the ownership suite has given Angela truly unique perspectives on how the layers of an organization can best interact to...

In this episode, we conclude Season 5 with another raw conversation revisiting grief with Dr. Tim Pineau. In the previous two conversations, Tim has shared his authentic and evolving experience with grief after the loss of his infant daughter. In this deeply personal follow-up to those conversations, Tim speaks with us about how this experience has influenced his relationship with and teaching of...

In this episode, we have a candid discussion on the continued presence of mental health stigma in sports. For example, differences in how physical injury versus mental health symptoms are regarded. Keith and Tim shed light on some common misconceptions surrounding mental health challenges among athletes, and explore the unique role that pressure has in sport environments. Taylor shares his persona...

In this episode, University of Pennsylvania Head Women's Rowing Coach Wes Ng joins the conversation. He talks with Keith and Tim about his unique coaching philosophy that has guided him to success across divisions of NCAA competition, including being named 2023 Ivy League and Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) D1 Region I Coach of the Year. Social Media Mentioned: Twitter: @mindfuls...

In this episode, Keith, Tim, and Taylor continue their conversation about the compatibility of mindfulness and competition. Part 1 of this conversation centered largely on mindfulness aspects of this debate, while this episode delves deeper into the competition side.   Social Media Mentioned: Twitter: @mindfulsportdoc Instagram: @mindful_sport_podcast ,  @mspe_institute , @mindfulsportdoc YouTube:...

In this episode, Keith, Tim, and Taylor have a conversation about an ever-present tension in their work: the compatibility of mindfulness and competition. From one perspective, packaging mindfulness for the inherently striving act of winning is counter to the very foundations of this type of practice. Alternatively, helping make mindfulness digestible, accessible, and practical can allow people to...

Rediscover the transformative power of play as we sit down with Dr. Matt Bowers, faculty member in the Sport Management program at the University of Texas at Austin and key contributor to the Aspen Institute's Project Play. His fascinating research is challenging the current understanding of athlete development in youth sport, and he helps us explore the often overlooked value of play in fost...

In this episode, Keith, Tim, and Taylor unpack some of the profound impacts that the COVID pandemic has had across the world of sport and on athletes of all ages and levels - including impacts on personal identity, mental health, and performance. We also celebrate the strength and adaptability that has emerged during this challenging time, and discuss how the integration of mindfulness and other w...

Are participation trophies merely shiny objects that distract from the true essence of competition, or do they play a key role in building self-esteem and encouraging future sport involvement? In this episode, we explore the pros and cons with a critical eye, weighing the possibility that these awards might be diluting the significance of hard work and resilience, while also acknowledging that kid...

In this episode, we're thrilled to have Brady Howe, Vice President of Health and Performance for the NBA's Phoenix Suns, to discuss enhancing athlete performance holistically. Tim begins the episode with a brief mindfulness practice, and then we chat with Brady about his journey and experiences in the NBA and the importance of collaboration among physical and mental/psychological special...

What does it take to execute and lead effectively amidst the pressures of a game? Join us as we explore these questions with our guest, American professional soccer player Aidan Rocha. This episode is a deep dive into the science and art of mental preparation in elite sport. Aidan shares his pre-game routine, the mental practices he picked up during his time at Georgetown University, and how he us...

What role does winning play in your life? Are you consumed by the need to be #1, or do you find joy in simply participating and growing from the experience? Join us in this episode of The Mindful Sport Performance Podcast, where we disentangle the intertwined concepts of winning, success, motivation, balance, and life satisfaction. Winning - it's a concept that's often synonymous with su...

In this episode, we welcome Deirdre Keane, a former pediatric critical care nurse practitioner, now a healthcare consultant, who found solace in running after the loss of her father. More than just a runner, Deirdre's story is one of resilience and overcoming adversity, reminding us all of the power of the human spirit. Her passion for running pushed her beyond marathons and into the realm of...

🎧 Enjoying our show? Your support keeps us going! Become a valued subscriber and set your own monthly contribution. We believe in you, our incredible listeners, determining the value of our content. Your subscription empowers us to keep delivering top-notch episodes that inspire, inform, and entertain. Together, let's fuel this journey and shape the future of our podcast. Click the link belo...

Imagine a world where the term 'student athlete' is irrelevant and college sports have been commercialized. Is it a utopia where athletes, like their professional counterparts, are fairly compensated for their skills and effort? Or is it a dystopia where values and education take a back seat to monetary gains? Our producer, Taylor Brown, joins us as we traverse through this fascinating l...

Are you ready to challenge the traditional paradigm of success and greatness? What if hard work and perseverance aren't the only tickets to victory? Buckle up as we embark on an intriguing exploration redefining greatness in sports. We analyze the sports careers of high-profile athletes who, despite their relentless dedication and effort, never reached the pinnacle of success. Alongside, we p...

Given the recent stories coming out of Northwestern University, Tim, Keith, and Taylor discuss what perpetuates the fear and "power-over" culture within sports teams, possible alternatives, and how to help coaches make the shift toward a "trust culture." Social Media Mentioned: Twitter: @mindfulsportdoc Instagram: @mindful_sport_podcast ,  @mspe_institute YouTube: Mindful Sport...