The Athletic Mind

The podcast returns after a brief hiatus! This week, Taylor welcomes Karen Levin, owner of Summit Strategy Consulting, co-founder of the United Women's Ball Hockey Foundation, and a member of the USA Women's National Ball Hockey Team. Karen discusses her journey into ball hockey and her dedication to promoting and expanding the sport internationally. If you enjoy this episode, leave us a rating or...

Listen in as we explore the remarkable journey of Cathy Andrade, a female power skating coach who broke barriers from figure skates to hockey greatness. Uncover her secrets to success in this episode, filled with insights on her journey working with a mental performance coach, building not one - but two businesses, and so much more! Tune in to for this inspiring story of passion, perseverance, and...

This week, Taylor explores the pervasive issue of social comparison in athletics. In this episode, she discuss the harmful effects of social comparison on athlete well-being and performance, and shares practical strategies to break free from the comparison trap. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or sports enthusiast, this podcast offers valuable insights to help you cultivate a healthier mindset a...

In this episode, Taylor sits down with Kalis Loyd, who shares her candid insights into the highs and lows of life as a professional basketball player. From the exhilarating moments on the court to the challenges of navigating injuries and eventually making the decision to retire, Kalis opens up about her personal journey and the lessons learned along the way. Whether you're an aspiring athlete, a...

In this episode, athletes will learn how to excel when the stakes are high. Discover proven strategies to conquer performance pressure, build mental resilience, and maintain focus during intense competition. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just starting out, this episode is packed with practical tips to help you thrive under pressure and achieve peak performance on the ice, field, or court. T...

This week, Joshua Greco, business coach and President & Chief Executive Officer at Charlotte Street Hockey League joins the podcast. In this episode, we dive into the heart of sports, exploring how to embed values into the game for a truly enriching experience. From youth leagues to professional arenas, sports offer far more than just physical activity—they're a platform for personal growth, c...

What better way to tie off Women's History Month than by sharing an episode dedicated to the historic and inaugural PWHL (Professional Women's Hockey League) season! This episode is all about the history of the women's hockey game in North America (from the CWHL, to the NWHL/PHF and the PWHPA), the momentum and growth in the league in just 3 months (setting and smashing attendance records), the in...

In this week's episode, Taylor is joined by dual-sport student-athlete Sabrina Oostburg and we dive deep into the world of N.I.L. (name, image, likeness) and its profound impact on student-athletes' earning potential and career trajectories beyond sports. With expert insights and firsthand experiences, discover actionable strategies for leveraging N.I.L. opportunities to boost income, enhance visi...

March is Women's History Month and what better way to celebrate than to have some wonderful women join the podcast and share their journey, expierence, and mission to impact the women's sport industry. This week, Taylor is joined by Dani Dayani, former collegiate soccer player, head coach for the West Florida Flames, and co-founder of Sports Placement Group (SPG). Dani co-founded SPG, a sports pla...

March is Women's History Month and what better way to celebrate than to have some wonderful women join the podcast and share their journey, expierence, and mission to impact the women's sport industry. This week, Taylor is joined by Sang Eun Lee, an IOC Young Leader that is on a mission to build women's ice hockey in Korea. Sang Eun founded the Dream League, a sport social business project which e...

In this episode, Taylor breaks down what she believes are the components for any athlete to build a winning mindset. From creating a foundation growth, viewing mistakes as opportunities, building resilience, to sharing tips on how to handle setbacks, there is something to learn for every athlete. If you found this episode to be of value, share it on social or with a friend, and leave a review. Let...

Get to know your host, Taylor, even more in a special episode where she is interviewed by Christ Sinclair, host of The Rinkside Rundown podcast, a podcast all about women's hockey. If you found this episode to be of value, share it on social or with a friend, and leave a review. Let's connect! ⁠⁠ Book a free 30 minute call ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin/taylorbcook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ig/taylorbcook_⁠...

This week, Taylor is joined by special guest, Will Johnston, a United States Navy SEAL veteran, former collegiate basketball player for Virginia Tech, and currently, a Mental Performance Consultant. Will shares how mental resiliency played a major role in his experiences of being a walk-on basketball player in college, his time spent as a SEAL, which ultimately led him to become a Mental Performan...

In this episode, Taylor is joined by special guest, Tom Smalley, a Performance Success Consultant and mental health advocate. They discuss a variety of topics including sports specialization in young athletes, Tom's personal journey with OCD and ADHD, and how to manage mental health in competition and life. If you found this episode to be of value, share it on social or with a friend, and leave a...

Dive into the exhilarating world of hockey in this episode, where Taylor unpacks six life lessons that extend far beyond the rink. From the hustle mentality and taking ownership of your actions to the transformative power of a positive mindset and unwavering self-belief, each lesson is explored with personal experiences from the ice and practical applications for daily life. Whether you're a hocke...

In this episode, Taylor discusses the intricate process of athletes facing pivotal career decisions while contending with the challenges of less-than-ideal coaching situations. She highlights the complexities of balancing passion for the game and managing the impact of coaching dynamics, guides listeners through a process designed to help them make decisions, and shares her own personal experience...

Happy New Year and welcome to season 3 - A NEW ERA - of The Athletic Mind! This is your go-to podcast for maximizing your mental game. Join Taylor Cook, mental performance coach and former pro hockey player, for open conversations about mental health, mindset, and performance – you'll discover a wealth of mental performance tools, resources, and insights designed to transform the way you play and...

Join Taylor for the final episode of 2023 and dive into the world of perfectionism in sports . Explore how the pursuit of flawlessness impacts athletes' performance and mental well-being, uncovering the pitfalls of rigid standards and fear of failure. Discover actionable strategies for athletes and coaches to break free from perfectionist mindsets, embrace imperfection, and foster growth-oriented...

The holidays should be a time for rest, relaxation, and connection but for many athletes it is anything but relaxing. Whether you have pressure to hit the gym, watch what you're eating, or are on the go during the hustle and bustle of the season, this episode is designed to help you mentally shift gears and get into holiday mode without the guilt. From finding balance, taking time to mentally rech...

Join Taylor as she delves deep into the vital realm of athlete brain health and safety. In this episode, Taylor is joined by special guest, Heidi Kivimaa, CEO, CoFounder Northern Sports Insight and Intelligence. They explore the significant importance brain health in sports, the potential long-term consequences of brain trauma resulting from physical impacts, and introduce the ACT Head Impact Trac...

There are a few changes coming to the podcast and one of them is a sad farewell to the wonderful Lauren Williams as she embarks on a new journey as Assistant Coach at Mount Royal University. Wishing her the best of luck this season and in her career! Given this major change, it was only apt to discuss the importance of adaptability in sport and life. Consider this episode to be your athlete's guid...

Taylor and Lauren are back this week with an episode designed to help athletes get prepared for the season with some goal setting strategies (how about maintaining motivation so you can achieve those goals instead of let them fall by the wayside). Grab a pen and paper and get ready to write down your goals to kick some a$$ this season! If you like this episode, leave us a rating and review or shar...

WE ARE BAAAACK! After a long (and busy) break from the podcast, we are back and excited for a new season! The season isn't the only thing that is new - there is a new women's hockey league in town and we are FIRED UP! The PWHL has formed in North America, housing some of the best players in the game and will begin the inaugural season in January 2024! We are also proud to see some of our former gu...

Confidence, an admirable quality in any athlete - also a skill that is usually left to chance and believed to be something you either have or don't have. In this episode, Taylor and Lauren talk all about confidence; what it is and how athletes can strategically work on building confidence around specific skill sets and overall performance.  If you liked this episode, share us on social and/or leav...

When it comes to athlete mental health, majority of the resources provided are REACTIVE. In other words, athletes aren't able to access or don't seek support until they have already experienced serious impacts to their performance or mental health. In this episode, Taylor and Lauren talk about how mental performance training can serve as a PROACTIVE resource to benefit athletes mental health and p...