The Mental Matchup

This week on The Mental Matchup , we sit down with Ben Redlener, a sophomore lacrosse player at Emerson College, to talk about the pressures that come with being a student-athlete—and the quiet battles that often go unseen. Ben opens up about his mental health journey, reflecting on how constantly comparing himself to other athletes and peers impacted his confidence, academic life, and athletic pe...

#159 - In this episode, I sit down with Ellie Haney, a 26-year-old mental health advocate and founder of Here For You Clothing. Born out of her own mental health journey during the height of the pandemic, Ellie's mission is to create meaningful conversations and community through intentional fashion. Ellie opens up about her struggles, the healing power of creativity, and how a simple phrase—“Here...

In this episode of The Mental Matchup , we sit down with Emma Reen, to discuss her journey through sports, mental health challenges, and the lessons she's learned along the way. She opens up about resilience, self-discovery, and the importance of breaking the stigma around mental health in athletics. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that reminds us all that we are never alone in our struggles...

In this week's episode, Kat sits down with Sophia Burke. Sophia's had a unique experience, navigating her mental health and her battle with addiction. Sophia talks about her experience with alcohol, playing collegiate lacrosse, relationships and the path to sobriety and healing. She's now in a place to reflect on the past couple of years and takes us on a truly inspiring journey. Trigger warning:...

In this episode, Kat chats with Kori Toms, a Le Moyne College soccer player who opens up about her journey as a student-athlete and the mental and emotional challenges she’s faced along the way. Topics Discussed: The emotional impact of her mom’s breast cancer diagnosis and how her family became her foundation of support. Navigating the recruiting process during COVID and transitioning to Division...

Today Kat’s joined by Gianna Burgio, a cross country and track athlete from Rowan University with a passion for empowering the next generation of runners. Gianna opens up about her journey through high school, where she struggled with an eating disorder that went undiagnosed. She shares how running became a part of her life, the lessons she’s learned about food, sports, and self-love, and her miss...

In this powerful episode, Jeremy Wolf, former DIII baseball player turned professional athlete and mental performance advocate, shares his incredible journey through sports and life. From being drafted by the New York Mets to helping Israel qualify for the Olympics, Jeremy reflects on the highs and lows of his career, including grappling with identity, mental health struggles, and finding purpose...

In this episode, Bella Griffin shares her journey of resilience and self-discovery. From San Diego to the sand courts of Tulane, Bella’s athletic career has been shaped by both her passion for beach volleyball and her perseverance through back-to-back ACL tears. She opens up about: Overcoming Challenges : Facing two ACL tears during high school and navigating surgeries, redshirting freshman year o...

Join us for an incredible conversation with Dr. Haley Perlus, an accomplished Sport and Performance Psychology Practitioner, as she shares her expertise on mastering the mental game. Drawing from her competitive Alpine ski racing background and a Ph. D. in Sport Psychology, Dr. Perlus brings practical insights for anyone willing to listen. In this episode, we dive into: Athlete Identity and Transi...

This week, we're excited to have Lindsey Ronbeck back on the podcast! We’re talking all about friendships – from the teammate relationships to navigating life post-college without that shared common goal. Ever wonder how to find like-minded friends after college? Or which friendships to lean into versus lean out of? We’re diving into all that, plus tips for staying mentally strong in a social medi...

In this episode, Kat sits down with Abby Bosco, a former lacrosse player at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maryland. Known for her powerful presence on defense, Abby was named the Athletes Unlimited 2023 Defender of the Year. Her accolades also include being a two-time IWLCA First Team All-Region pick, a Big Ten Defender of the Year, and a nominee for the Tewaaraton Award. Ke...

In this episode, Kat sits down with Capri Richardson, the founder of First Contact Athletic Counseling, PLLC, and a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate based in Austin, TX. Capri brings a unique perspective to mental health in sports, combining her experience as a former Division I athlete and professional volleyball player with her expertise in counseling. Capri shares her journey through a...

In this episode, Kat sits down with Camryn Whipple, a recent graduate of Slippery Rock University and former lacrosse player, to explore her athletic journey and her growing awareness of mental health. Camryn shares her early experiences in sports, from her first love of soccer to her spontaneous decision to try lacrosse in elementary school, and why she ultimately chose to pursue lacrosse in high...

In this episode, Kat sits down with Lindsey to dive into her journey of transitioning from a collegiate lacrosse coaching career to stepping into a new role in marketing and communications at Morgan's Message. Lindsey shares the challenges and insights she gained during this shift and reflects on how much can change in just a few years. We also talk about her time coaching, the headspace she’s bee...

In this episode, Kat sits down with Erica Buckley, an former collegiate lacrosse player who shares her personal story of overcoming major setbacks on and off the field. Erica opens up about her battle with injuries, mental health challenges and how her journey has shaped her resilience. From facing multiple ACL injuries to dealing with the isolation that comes with watching her teammates achieve t...

In this week's episode, Kat chats with Michelle Deutsch, a former collegiate ice hockey player turned semi-pro powerlifter, who opens up about her incredible journey of resilience and healing. We discuss her experience with body dysmorphia and depression to surviving sexual assault, Michelle's story is one of strength and determination. She shares how a strong support system helped her through dif...

In this episode, we dive deep into the power of identity with transformational coach, Cate Wilkes. Cate shares her personal journey of success, stress, and self-discovery, unpacking the pivotal moments that led her to redefine her identity beyond her professional achievements. Cate emphasizes that our value is not in what we accomplish but in the essence of who we are. She discusses the importance...

#143 - In this episode, I'm excited to sit down with Kyra Schwartzman, current Women's Lacrosse Assistant Coach at Colby College. We chat about her unique journey from playing at Wheaton College to coaching at Colby College, her impactful role as Director of the Girls High School Program at 3D Lacrosse, and even her time working in health care before returning to the sport she's passionate about....

In this episode, Anthony Faraino shares a powerful journey of breaking the stigma surrounding mental health, especially for student-athletes. With a background in collegiate lacrosse and a career in finance, Anthony felt a strong pull toward supporting the mental well-being of athletes, leading to the founding of Mindflow , a mental health platform with a mission aligned with Morgan's Message. In...

In today’s episode, Kat chats with Nadine Crocker, an award-winning Director, Writer, Actress, and Producer, known for her impactful storytelling. Born in Nashville and raised in Fresno, Nadine moved to Los Angeles at 16 to pursue her passion for creating art that changes lives.  We discuss her deeply personal film, Continue , which is based on her own survival of a suicide attempt and will b...

Welcome to the final episode of our miniseries on mental health support systems! In this special episode, Ashton Miller joins TMM. Ashton and Schuyler met as freshmen on the Duke Soccer Team, and have been best friends since. Ashton now influences soccer culture as a photographer, creative director, and co-founder of The Footy Temple. She studied psychology and grew up in a family of professional...

This miniseries episode highlights how siblings can support each other’s mental health. Imani, Nia, and Trinity Dorsey all join Schuyler on the podcast to talk about how they show up for each other (@imdorsey @niamdorsey @trinmdorsey). The Dorsey sisters all are incredible soccer players and humans. In this episode, they share lots of valuable insights into how their parents founded their support...

In this episode, TJ Pura, a former captain of the Duke Men’s Tennis Team, joins our TMM Second Hand Stories miniseries. After a stint as a pro player, TJ found his passion in coaching, mentoring ATP player Tommy Paul and returning to Duke as the first assistant coach. Now living in Durham, NC with his fiancée, 2x Olympian Maddy Price, TJ discusses how he supports her journey as a professional trac...

In today’s episode, Schuyler speaks with Traci Pizzano, mother of three, including Dario Pizzano from Episode 85. Traci, a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) warrior, inspired Dario to create Mission Stadiums for MS, a nonprofit supporting MS research and families affected by the condition. Throughout the episode, Schuyler and Traci discuss key moments in Dario’s mental health journey and how Traci supported...

Sarah Kovan, MD, is a psychiatry resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, specializing in the treatment of individuals with complex behavioral health needs within publicly supported healthcare systems. She has been honored with the U.S. Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Award and studied at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. Additionally, Sarah was a collegiate athlete at Mich...