Unit3d w/ B1G Team at Indiana University

I wanted to send a huge shout-out of thanks on the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Unit3d podcast.  The podcast and the Unit3d family is incredible and so many have contributed in amazing ways.  To be any part of Hilinski's Hope is an honor and a privilege, but the opportunity to create and host this podcast has given me more than I could ever say.  Here's to carrying on, Unit3d! - Josie

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 NWSL team, Shannon Boxx is an absolute legend.  What is even more inspirational is the resilience she has had while battling many obstacles.  In this episode of Unit3d, Shannon Boxx shares her...

No one enjoys failure, even though we know it is part of the process of getting better.  So how can we take a more analytical approach to our experiences so that not having the outcomes we want take less of an emotional toll?  Dr. Erin Haugen discusses ways to approach these times so that experiences of failure cause us to improve and learn rather than compromising our confidence.

Destroying the stigma that surrounds mental illness will take people from all different industries speaking out.  This week on Unit3d Dr. Zack Burton shares his amazing mental health journey and the Manic Monologues, a play that he co-created to help others struggling to find mental health stories of inspiration from real people.  Dr. Burton is a scientist who is also dedicated to disrupting stigm...

With so much uncertainty happening around us these days it makes sense that anxiety can be kicked in to high gear.  Thoughts that go along with these feelings can be overwhelming and uncomfortable.  Dr. Bailey Nevels helps us understand cognitive diffusion, a helpful technique of gaining distance from and a different perspective of our thoughts so we can see things more clearly.  Humor is an effec...

Many young athletes dream of playing their sport in college.  Very few get that opportunity. For some who do, however, the reality doesn’t match the dream and college athletics isn’t right for them.  For others like this episode’s guest, Sydney Eddy, the university or team doesn’t fit. Transferring universities or walking away from one’s sport altogether can be a terrifying idea.  Sydney Eddy shar...

There is a stigma for men around connecting with and expressing emotions.  Many men grow up equating being stoic and not showing emotions with being tough.  That stigma runs deep through the culture of athletics.  Dr. Chris Carr has worked for decades with many collegiate athletes, as well as Olympians and professional athletes in the MLS, NBA, and now is with the Green Bay Packers.  On this episo...

When going through difficult and challenging times, practicing self-care is vital.  We often don’t think of self-compassion as an aspect of self-care but extending ourselves grace when tackling obstacles can help us along the way.  Dr. Marcia Edwards talks about the importance of self-compassion and the value it has to our performance.

Morgan Weaver is a professional soccer player for the NWSL team the Portland Thorns.  She was an athlete at Washington State University at the time of Tyler Hilinski’s death.  In this episode of Unit3d she discusses the importance of truly checking in on each other, talking through difficulties and struggles with someone as well as being there for those who are struggling.  She also talks about th...

So many athletes were unexpectedly faced with a dilemma during the pandemic: not having access to playing their sport, many were left wondering what to do with their time?  So much of an athlete’s life is built around who they are as an athlete that they have not had opportunities to develop other aspects of their identities.  Dr. Monique Marsh-Bell talks about the questions some athletes face now...

We are all leaders in our own way, but leading in tough times can be a challenge. We often think that we cannot lead if we are struggling ourselves. Dr. Megan Harrity discusses how vulnerability can be a key component to effective leadership.

Dean Worsham is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oxford, MS.  He is also a certified Gong Master and Buddhist practitioner.  In this powerful guided imagery he draws on Native American roots to connect us with that part of ourselves which wants the best for us, holding our wisdom and our strength.  Lose yourself in this meditation so it can lead you to connect with your best self.

Dr. SooJean Misailidis is housed in the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children in Honolulu. This soothing relaxation exercises transports us to the beach where we can let go of the day, feel the water on our feet, and connect with gratitude for all we have. Enjoy this relaxing gift from the Aloha State.

Dr. Anne Weese of Kansas State University shares this gift of a wonderful and relaxing mindfulness exercise to help you breathe and ground. Scanning the body for tension and discomfort, staying connected to our breath is a great way to take a break in a hectic day. “The breath is always with us and can be a provide a powerful tool toward a more relaxed and more present focused experience.” So rela...

Dr. LaTisha Bader offers this wonderful guided imagery leading you to connect with your inner strength, peace, and authenticity. This is a great way to wrap up your day! Enjoy.

Jack Howard, doctoral intern at North Carolina State University’s counseling center and doctoral candidate in the counseling psychology Ph. D. program at the University of Southern Mississippi, talks about the basics of mindfulness, how it works and why it is helpful. He shares two short grounding/mindful exercises and a longer mindfulness exercise for a nice, relaxing break in your day.

2020 has been one heck of a year and for many the holidays will be a time of spirit-lifting good cheer, but the holidays aren’t bright for everyone. In this episode of UNIT3D, Dr. LaTisha Bader and host Dr. Josie Nicholson talk about the common experience of “holiday blues” and offer some ways to mitigate the toll of the season.

Reagan Rust is the first woman from Mississippi to play on a Division I ice hockey team, was captain of her top-10 team, and plays professionally. Her achievements on the ice are impressive, but she has also overcome mental health struggles along her path to success. On this episode of Unit3d, Reagan shares her journey and strategies she has adopted to help her through that have kept her in her ga...

This holiday may be a longer break than is typical for many athletes. These times of “breaks” may provide an opportunity to explore other areas of an athlete’s identity and expanding one’s sense of self can improve one’s performance. Athletes may also have expanded their identities while away at college and may be returning home for longer than other holidays. KC Cross, Mental Health & Perform...

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 about, but as we know, things are not always as they seem on the surface and Victoria was fighting the hidden opponent of pressure, anxiety, body-image and struggles with mental health.  She shar...

Physically, yoga practice can bring flexibility, strength, and a different approach to training. However, yoga brings all of these things for the mind and the soul as well as the body. In this episode of Unit3d yoga instructor Stevi Self, co-owner of Southern Star Yoga Center discusses many of the ways that yoga teaches us lessons that can help us thrive in difficult times as well as train our min...

We are approaching the end of what has been an extremely bizarre semester and we are looking toward the end of an equally bizarre year. On Unit3d we have covered many psychological skills that can help get one through difficult times, but goalsetting is one that can help all day get us through a tough day. Dr. Wendy Borlabi is a performance psychologist in the NBA and helps us understand how to us...

We talk a great deal about the stigma around mental illness and seeking help, but the stigma is at its strongest with men. The idea around what it means to be tough and strong has many men ignoring emotions and struggling in silence. Jack Colquhoun plays football for Southern Illinois University and is actively fighting the stigma on his campus. He is speaking out and creating programs and groups...

One of the missions of the UNIT3D podcast is to break down the stigma that surrounds mental illness, and this stigma is very strong within the Black community. Mental health care does not have to look the same for everyone.  Engaging actively in social justice movements in a way that allows people to use their voice and be heard can be therapeutic.  Dr. LaKeitha Poole discusses this stigma, breaki...

“Your scars say you found a way, you’re stronger than what tried to hurt you.” – Joshua Radin Athletes benefit from hearing other athletes talk about the obstacles they have faced and overcome, and Patrick Cacciatore is providing a platform for student athletes to share their stories. His podcast “No Struggle No Story” features athletes from all over the country who share their stories of resilien...