Unit3d w/ B1G Team at Indiana University

“You can never control injuries. Accidents happen; that’s just how things go.” - Johnny Gargano Getting injured, unfortunately, is oftentimes part of being an athlete.  The impact of an injury on one’s mental health is often overlooked as athletes focus on the physical side of recovery. Taking time to recognize the emotional toll of having an injury can help an athlete navigate through this time a...

Every time someone shares their authentic story of mental health struggle, the stigma is reduced. This is particularly the case when athletes use their platform to share the importance of tending to mental health. This is the commitment that Drew Robinson has made, and the San Francisco Giants have helped him make this his new-found career as a mental health advocate. Drew has an amazing story and...

So much of the stigma that surrounds mental illness stems from a fear of what others think. Athletes tend to care a great deal about what their coaches think of them and at times can lead to a hiding of mental health struggles, fearing that coaches will see them as mentally weak if they are struggling or as for help. These two SEC head coaches share on Unit3d their perspective of how taking care o...

Athletes are driven to succeed and wanting to improve and be the best we can be is admirable.  However, there are times when the mindset of being the best can be unhealthy, particularly when that mindset is one of perfectionism.  Although we all know “nobody is perfect,” being haunted by mistakes, fears of losing, and feelings that nothing is ever good enough not only robs one of the joy but also...

One benefit of being an athlete is becoming part of a community where you can find support and comradery.  In their lives after athletics, it can be difficult for athletes to find this support and connection elsewhere.  Two former collegiate soccer players, Lucy Pater and Sydney Eddy, have a mission of creating a community of women that support and empower each other.  Their podcast, Athena Speaks...

With Name Image Likeness (NIL) rules changing opportunities for many athletes, Lexi Sun has made a decision.  As mental health support has been important to her throughout her collegiate volleyball career, she has decided to donate any proceeds from her NIL to an organization supporting mental health.  Hilinski’s Hope is that organization.  Lexi talks about why mental health is important to her an...

Unit3d is going on a brief vacation so we are replaying some of our favorite episodes!  Josie Nicholson has chosen this episode from March 2021 as her favorite to share again as a "ReUnit3d."  NCAA champion, three-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time FIFA Women’s World Cup medalist (two bronze, one silver, and one gold), mother of two, and now business woman as part owner of the new Angel City FC...

Unit3d  is going on a brief vacation so we are replaying some of our favorite episodes!  Graham Doty has chosen this episode from April 2020 as his favorite to share again as a "Re-Unit3d".  It’s very common right now to be struggling with sleep. So many have been thrown out of routine, sent home to a different time zone, and the daily demands of the current situation are very different. Dr. Micha...

Jackson Howard has chosen this episode from July 2020 as his favorite to share again as a "Re-Unit3d". It is becoming much more common to hear that its OK to not be OK and at the end of every Unit3d episode I encourage listeners to reach out to a licensed mental health professional. But how does one go about getting help? What happens in therapy? What should I say? How does it work? For those whom...

Unit3d is going on a brief vacation so we are replaying some of our favorite episodes.  Christine Lombardi's has chosen this episode from July 2020 as her favorite to share again as a "ReUnit3d".  Awareness is not enough when it comes to mental health; we need education in order to reduce stigma and for more people to reach out for help. Ross Szabo has a powerful personal story that has fueled his...

Unit3d is going on a brief vacation so we are replaying some of our favorite episodes!  Ryan Hilinski has chosen this episode from March 2021 as his favorite to share again as a "Re-Unit3d."  As a professional football player (for the New Orleans Saints), long snapper Zach Wood knows about pressure and high performance.  In this episode, Woods talks about the struggles that come from the pressure...

Unit3d is going on a brief vacation so we are replaying some of our favorite episodes!  Kelly Hilinski has chosen this episode from November 2020 as his favorite to share again as a "re-United."  Victoria Garrick played volleyball at then ranked #1 USC and worked her way from walk-on to starter. As with many successful athletes, she appeared to have it all together and had everything to feel happy...

Unit3d is going on a brief vacation so we are replaying some of our favorite episodes!  Mark Hilinski has chosen this episode from August 2020 as his favorite to share again as a "re-Unit3d."  Knowing who you are and what you value elevates your performance and as a high-performance psychologist working with the Seattle Seahawks for the past eight years as well as some of our country’s most elite...

UNIT3D is going on a brief vacation so we are replaying some of our favorite episodes! Kym Hilinski has chosen this episode from May 2020 as her favorite to share again as a “re-United.”   This episode features two amazing men sharing their stories of resilience and love. They both happen to be quarterbacks at SEC schools, but it’s their passion for helping others that bonds them together. Ryan Hi...

Summer is here and for many athletes that means a much needed break from sport.  There are many, however, for whom their collegiate sport career is over.  It can be hard to know how to grief that loss.  Also, having played their sport for most of their lives, this can leave so many feeling lost.  Tereza Janatova, Jay Urich, and Louisa Brackett are three athletes who have recently ended their colle...

The stigma that surrounds metal illness is breaking down slowly but may remain strongest in men’s high contact sports.  Professional Rugby player David Lolohea discusses stigma as well as his personal mental health struggle which he has come to see as his biggest asset as a player, husband, father and friend.  David plays in the French professional Rugby league, French Pro D2.  He has come to see...

Athletes have been increasingly aware that caring for their mental health in vital for their happiness and performance.  The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee has been working hard to increase mental health resources for those competing at the games for the US.  Dr. Jessica Bartley is in a newly formed role as the director of mental health resources and is responsible for the developm...

For years, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has been leading the way in using the student-athlete voice to draw attention to the mental health needs of athletes across the nation.  Because of the leadership of student-athletes like Megan Klavitter and Alexis Garrett, the NCAA and member schools have listened and have begun to provide more resources to support the whole student athlete...

Mental health has really taken more of a front row in conversations over the past year or so.  It has been encouraging and exciting to hear discussions around the importance of taking care of our mental health from professional athletes, celebrities, students, and others around the world.  Conversations are important, but not enough.  The MTV Social Impact Team (Yes, that’s Music Television) has p...

Many have the hope that we are beginning the process of returning to life post-Covid.  It is important as we begin this process to take an account of how the difficulties of this past year and a half has impacted us, mentally, emotionally, and physically.  Dr. Kelsey Dawson discusses this within the framework of trauma: how the Covid crisis has effected us and how to heal.

One of the aspirations of those working in mental health is that we can have conversations around mental health and illness as comfortably as we have conversations around physical health and illness.  The idea of mental fitness is one that can mirror physical fitness in talking about how one approaches taking care of their mental health.  Dr. Alex Auerbach discusses the concept of mental fitness a...

The past year and a half has posed many challenges, but it has also brought about a lot of conversation around mental health, the importance of getting support and supporting others, and being able to practice self-care. Taylor Wells Maberry is in a job that has demanded creativity during this time in this area as she is the Senior Coordinator for Player Engagement for Major League Soccer.  Her pa...

Eric Kussin was the top of his game as a 20-year pro sports executive in team and league sales until a few years ago when he experienced a debilitating mental health crisis that turned his life upside down.  Now he works to help people realize that they are not alone when they experience mental health struggles through his organization, We’re All A Little “Crazy” which works to change how we as a...

Social media is a great way to connect to others, be entertained and share information we want others to know.  It is a powerful tool with a global reach.  It’s important to consider ways in which social media can have a negative influence in our lives.  Dr. Bhrett McCabe talks about many aspects of social media: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

As a professional football player (for the New Orleans Saints), long snapper Zach Wood knows about pressure and high performance.  In this episode, Woods talks about the struggles that come from the pressure of the game and the importance of tools such as positive self-talk, meditation, journaling and more that help.  He emphasizes the importance of taking a mental and emotional break in order to...