Episode 85 of The Mental Game features Dr. Jordan “Dr. J” Collins, a former college track star who turned his own life-changing experience with therapy into a career helping athletes thrive.
Now an athletics mental health counselor at Loyola University Chicago, Dr. J works with student-athletes across every sport, blending tools like mindfulness, CBT and sport psychology to sharpen performance and strengthen well-being. He’s passionate about guiding athletes through transitions, building life skills and embracing the mental side of competition.
Dr. J’s journey has included stops at USC, the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Hornets. He now manages his own consulting practice, JC Sports Consulting. His story is all about resilience, growth, and unlocking potential — on and off the field.
On this episode of The Mental Game, Dr. J…
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and TuneIn.
Episode 84 of The Mental Game introduces the inaugural edition of Walk The Talk — conversations on the move. Today, we’re walking in the Chicago sun along Lake Michigan with Tre Demps.
Demps was an All-Big Ten player at Northwestern University, then played professionally for five years in Italy, Belgium and Greece. After retiring in 2022 due to hip arthritis, Demps took up dual careers in broadcasting — as an analyst for NBC Sports and CBS Sports Network — and coaching — as the Basketball Director of Intentional Sports.
Demps grew up in the game. His father, Dell, played in the NBA and has since enjoyed a successful career as a general manager and front office executive.
Throughout his life, Demps has experienced mental and physical setbacks, started a family, traveled the world playing basketball and embraced Christianity more and more.
As he walks with Sam along Lake Michigan, Demps…
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and TuneIn.
Episode 83 of The Mental Game features Dr. Lennie Waite, a PhD, Olympian and sports psychologist.
Dr. Waite has experienced the mental game of sports on both sides: as an elite athlete and as a psychologist.
Born in Scotland, Waite came to the U.S. in the mid-2000s to attend Rice University in Houston, where she ran track and set school records in the mile, 1500m and 3000m steeplechase.
She then remained in Houston to pursue a PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psychology while continuing her running career professionally and aiming to make it to the Olympic Games.
Yes, she pursued a PhD and the Olympics at the same time.
She completed her PhD in 2012, and her Olympic dream came true in 2016, when Waite made the British team and represented her nation at the Rio Olympics in the 3000m steeplechase.
Now, Waite is a certified mental performance consultant for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. She also serves as Chief Science Officer at HITE EQ, a cutting-edge mental performance platform designed to enhance athletes’ mental health and skills.
On The Mental Game, Waite…
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.
Episode 82 of The Mental Game brings back former All-Pro NFL cornerback Jerry Azumah, his second appearance on The Mental Game.
If you missed Part I with Azumah, click here to listen now.
Azumah played seven seasons for the Chicago Bears, earning a Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection in 2003. His NFL career came on the heels of a super successful four years at the University of New Hampshire. Under then-head coach Chip Kelly, Azumah starred as a running back, winning the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in all of Division I-AA.
Given his college success, Azumah was blindsided when he found out the Chicago Bears intended to draft him as a defensive back. When they did just that in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft, Azumah was forced to adjust — to learn his sport from the opposite point of view: as a defender.
Azumah figured it out for nearly a decade in the NFL. Now, he focuses on his family, his philanthropic work, and on his burgeoning media career. I’ve had the delight of producing and co-hosting his podcast, “To The Points with Jerry Azumah.”
On The Mental Game, Azumah…
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.
Episode 81 of The Mental Game brings aboard World Champion mountain biker and mental performance coach Sonya Looney.
As one of the top mountain bikers on Earth, Looney won four USA National Championships and a world title in 2015. In ultra-endurance events, she raced for up to 24 hours at a time in locations ranging from the Himalayan Mountains to the Sahara Desert, where she not only pushed her own limits, but gathered insights she now uses as a coach.
In her coaching role, Looney focuses on helping high performers deal with perfectionism in their craft. Looney also hosts the Grow the Good podcast, which serves as a guide to continual personal growth and positive world impact for her many listeners. The teachings of Positive Psychology color many of Looney’s philosophies — she holds a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Neuroscience.
On The Mental Game, Looney…
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.
Episode 80 of The Mental Game brings aboard former All-Pro NFL cornerback Jerry Azumah.
Azumah played seven seasons for the Chicago Bears, earning a Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection in 2003. His NFL career came on the heels of a super successful four years at the University of New Hampshire. Under then-head coach Chip Kelly, Azumah starred as a running back, winning the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in all of Division I-AA.
Given his college success, Azumah was blindsided when he found out the Chicago Bears intended to draft him as a defensive back. When they did just that in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft, Azumah was forced to adjust — to learn his sport from the opposite point of view: as a defender.
As he describes in this episode, the growing pains were grueling — but the subsequent life lessons were enlightening.
Azumah figured it out for nearly a decade in the NFL. Now, he focuses on his family, his philanthropic work, and on his burgeoning media career. I’ve had the delight of producing and co-hosting his podcast, “To The Points with Jerry Azumah.”
On The Mental Game, Azumah…
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.
The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!
Episode 79 of The Mental Game features two-time Olympic track sprint cyclist, Sam Dakin of New Zealand.
Not only is Dakin one of New Zealand’s top athletes, but he’s also among the nation’s foremost mental health advocates. As he deals with obsessive-compulsive disorder, Dakin has taken an active role in helping both himself — through therapy and active coping strategies — and others, by spearheading advocacy and communication efforts.
Dakin also heads up Slow Coffee Roasters, which “uses coffee as a way to slow down.” Among Dakin’s top principles is forcing himself to move slowly and “marinate” in life.
On The Mental Game, Dakin…
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.
Episode 78 of The Mental Game features one of the world’s foremost experts on sleep, circadian rhythm and performance: Dr. Alan Kubey.
Dr. Kubey previously worked as a sleep consultant for NASA. He was recently contracted to advise the University of California, Berkeley basketball programs as they traversed the country in their first season as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Cal’s status as an ACC school presented myriad challenges for the program, including regular cross-country trips to sites like Duke, UNC, and Boston College to play those East Coast schools. So, the Golden Bears brought in Dr. Kubey, a passionate Cal alum, to counsel their teams on how to manage their sleep and circadian rhythms during the gauntlet schedule.
Dr. Kubey’s world-renowned work has the potential to change how college and professional teams (and you) approach travel.
On The Mental Game, Dr. Kubey…
NOTE: Dr. Kubey’s comments are not meant to be medical advice and are Dr. Kubey’s own. They do not represent the positions of any of the institutions he works for, have worked for or are mentioned during this episode.
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.
Episode 77 of The Mental Game brings on one of the most mentally locked-in coaches in college basketball: Allison Guth of Loyola Chicago.
Guth has been a coach in college hoops since 2004, when she left a corporate job at Coca-Cola to dive into a coaching career that has taken her to Missouri, DePaul, Yale, Northwestern and now Loyola Chicago.
Guth values the mental game as much as any coach in the country, imploring her team to be vulnerable, to seek out help when they need it, and to remain connected.
After broadcasting her team’s games this season on ESPN+ and interviewing Guth routinely about her team’s ups and downs, I felt she’d be the ideal Mental Game Guest — and I was spot on.
On The Mental Game, Guth…
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.
Episode 76 of The Mental Game features one of the world’s top marathon runners: CJ Albertson.
Albertson, 31, is fresh off his best marathon performance to date: a scorching time of 2:08:17 at the Chicago Marathon, where he was the top American finisher. He also bested all other U.S. runners at the 2024 Boston Marathon and will look to do so at the upcoming New York City Marathon on November 3.
Albertson’s approach to running is incredibly unique (see: incandescent heat lamps!), and that extends to his mental game. His modes of thinking will intrigue you and may even challenge your own mental process.
Albertson, a native of Fresno, California, balances his training weeks of 100+ miles with his life as a husband and a father of two: Luke and Noelle. He is also a professor and cross country coach at Clovis Community College.
On The Mental Game, Albertson…
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.
The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!
Episode 75 of The Mental Game brings award-winning sports psychologist, author and motivational speaker: Dr. Harold Shinitzky.
Dr. Shinitzky has joined The Mental Game before to discuss his previous works like “A Champion’s Mindset.” Now, he’s joining to break down his latest book: “Me, Myself, and I: A Narcissist's Mindset: A Self-Help Handbook for Victims-Survivors of a Narcissist.”
Dr. Shinitzky’s findings in this space are fascinating — and undoubtedly helpful to anyone who has dealt with a narcissist in their life, whether at work, in a relationship or in the mirror.
On The Mental Game, Dr. Shinitzky:
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.
The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!
Episode 74 of The Mental Game features Julie Kliegman, author of Mind Game: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes. Fueled by interviews with Olympians like Chloe Kim and McKayla Maroney, NBA players Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan, and so many more, Mind Game illustrates the complete story of how elite athletes navigate mental performance and mental illness—and what non-athletes can learn from them. The project was Kliegman's first book (another is in the works already). Before venturing into the book world, they worked at Sports Illustrated and at The Ringer, with work published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bookforum, Slate and more. Kliegman first joined The Mental Game in 2022 and now makes a triumphant return, diving into: -The lesser-known "pioneers" of the sports mental health movement. -How Simone Biles sparked a much-needed mental health reckoning in sports. -What they learned from deep talks with McKayla Maroney and Kevin Love. -And much, much more. The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.
The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!
Episode 73 of The Mental Game features the first-ever Director of Meditation Training in major college sports: Chad McGehee of the University of Wisconsin.
Now in his fourth year at UW, McGehee trains student-athletes, coaches and teams on meditation, giving Wisconsin’s teams a mental edge few programs possess.
He also collaborates with researchers and scientists on ground-breaking research, which has already produced massively impactful results in the field of meditation.
McGehee first joined The Mental Game in January 2021 as he set sail on his new venture. Now a veteran, he’s ready to dive deep on what he’s learned. On the podcast, McGehee…
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.
The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!
The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod
Episode 72 of The Mental Game brings on a guest that will blow your mind.
Andy Donaldson is among the most impressive open-water swimmers in history.
Last year, Donaldson set the Guinness World Record for fastest time completing the Oceans Seven marathon swim challenge, which consists of seven of the most challenging open water channel swims on Earth, including:
Donaldson is the only swimmer to complete all seven within a single year. And in doing so, he raised tens of thousands of dollars for mental health charities, a cause near and dear to his heart.
Donaldson says he’s motivated to impact what he sees as the great challenge of our generation — combatting mental health — because of his grandfather’s long battle with depression and his own mental health struggles.
Born in Scotland and now living in Australia, Donaldson retired from swimming in 2016 when his Olympic dreams were washed out and took up a job in accounting. In 2020, he moved to Perth, Western Australia and immersed himself in open-water swimming.
He has since set three world records, raised meaningful funds for mental health causes and touched millions of lives.
On The Mental Game, Donaldson dives deep on:
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.
The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental well-being of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!
The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod
Episode 69 of The Mental Game brings aboard Ryan Lidge, seven-year professional baseball catcher and now a mental performance coach with ZoneCoach.
Why Lidge on The Mental Game?
In a way, Lidge is a lifelong mental performance coach. During his time playing at Notre Dame, in the New York Yankees organization and with the Chicago Dogs, Lidge was constantly a leader, locking himself and his teammates in on the mental game.
He retired after the 2023 baseball season and has officially joined ZoneCoach as a mental performance coach.
Now dealing with life after baseball, Lidge is channeling his energy to helping others tune their mental games.
As a player, Lidge’s story inspires: He was cut from the Yankees after the 2019 season and decided to give up. But a last-second change-of-heart turned his career — and his life — around. We dive into it all in this episode.
Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself.
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.
The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!
The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod
The Mental Game is now on Patreon. For just a few bucks per month, you can become a Mental Gamer and unlock access to exclusive bonus episodes, Q&As and more: patreon.com/TheMentalGamePod
We’ve arrived at the second episode of My Playbook, an all-new Mental Game Podcast series.
In case you missed the first “My Playbook” with Reggie Hearn, click HERE.
To catch you up: On My Playbook, the world’s top athletes, coaches, psychologists and more will peel back the curtain on their personal playbooks for dealing with the ups and downs of life, mental health and their careers.
The second guest on My Playbook is Division I college basketball coach and former player Tiffany Sardin.
Sardin is fresh off a stint at Saint Louis University, where she was a key member of a staff that guided the Billikens to an Atlantic 10 championship.
Previously, Sardin was the head women’s basketball coach at Chicago State University after assistant stints at Clemson, UIC and Longwood, among others. As a player, Sardin served as a three-year captain at the University of Virginia. She then played professionally in Portugal before coaching.
I worked closely with Sardin at Chicago State, when I was a broadcaster and sports information director for her teams. I witnessed firsthand her unique mental game-focused coaching style, unafraid to talk mental health and to impact cerebral wisdom on her players. When the Cougars were struggling, Sardin almost always attributed the strife to something mental — and it was no different when they won.
Sardin has also battled immense personal setbacks, including the tragic losses of her brother and father in quick succession.
Coping with those losses forms the backbone of Sardin’s appearance on My Playbook, in which she gives you her formula for battling loss, recovering and moving on.
Enjoy and remember to be kind to yourself.
The Mental Game is a proud partner of Laaser's Ladybug Society, which is a designated 501c3 organization combatting the stigmas that surround mental health by actively fundraising to support mental health initiatives and innovations in our school system. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are unprecedented and it is time to get off the bench and get in the game as we fight for the mental wellbeing of the next generation. Learn more and join the fight at LaasersLadybugs.org!
The Mental Game podcast is produced by Sam Brief and music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Stitcher.