The Mindset Experience®

Pro soccer player Jordan Listro shares her journey from playing soccer since age 5, emphasizing the importance of self-belief and continuous improvement in sports. She discusses adapting to the competitive nature of the sport, seeking feedback for growth, and staying focused on personal development despite setbacks. Listro aims to make an impact in the USL Super League and compete for Team Canada while promoting women's professional soccer in her home country.

Kendall Wesenberg has been a competitor from an early age as she “wanted to win before I knew what it was.” She grew up playing all the typical youth sports and continued with club soccer through college. After seeing bobsled during the 2010 Olympic Games, this California girl moved to Park City, Utah 2 years later after graduation to learn more about the sport. She loved the adrenaline rush that bobsled provided but felt her body type was better suited for skeleton. In 2014 Kendall earned an invite to US Team Trials where she took 4th then went on to become the first American woman to win the European Cup circuit overall title. The following season she earned a World Cup spot where she has competed for the last 3 seasons, winning a silver medal in the St. Moritz World Cup in 2017 and earning one of two Olympic spots for the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang. Kendall shares how she trains her mind and body to access the zone and make 100 crucial decisions every minute. Her sport is extremely dangerous and challenging but she approaches it like she approaches life, by focusing on kindness, hard work and having the most fun! @kendallorraine

Donnell Whittenburg was born to be a gymnast. He grew up doing back flips, tucks and handstand walks in his backyard. To help him avoid injury, his mother enrolled him into formal gymnastics classes. The ability to learn new and more challenging skills, share experiences with teammates and focus on the process of improving laid a foundation where he has competed  on the international level for over 12 years including multiple world championships, Pan American Games. He was an Olympic alternate in 2016 and even has a skill  named after him, “The Whittenburg.” Despite all these accomplishments, his biggest obstacle is not competing at the Olympic Games. Donnell shares his motivation to keep competing including unfinished business, growing the sport on the men’s side, inspiring others to create opportunities to expand their cultural experiences and investing further in lifelong friendships and bonds. He teaches us that, “it doesn’t matter how long it takes; as long as we keep trying, we always have a chance.” @donnell_whittenburg

Former soccer player Nikita Ducarroz battled severe anxiety, found solace in BMX, and now thrives as a top female BMX rider. She shares her journey from feeling stuck in a room to experiencing the freedom of riding. The podcast discusses the importance of mental training for athletes, overcoming anxiety through sports, and promoting open dialogue on mental health struggles.

Born into a hockey family, Hayley Scamurra wanted to compete just like her brothers and father who had played in the NHL . While she fell in love with the sport herself, she also felt the need to always be the best and live up to her father’s expectations. This pressure began to manifest in severe anxiety for which she sought out therapy. Through this process, she learned to focus on what she could control including being physical, controlling the puck and having fun. She also empowered herself to redefine her relationship with her father, set boundaries and help him treat her like his daughter not just a hockey player. Hayley has won a championship for the Buffalo Beauts of the NWHL, finally made the team USA roster and ultimately won 2 gold and 2 silver medals in world championships. She is also a 2022 Olympic Silver Medalist. She reminds us that this has been the dream the whole time. As the competition grew more intense, she needed to maintain the mindset to remember how fun it was as a little girl when she skated in her backyard ice rink as fast as she could until she jumped into the snow along the rink!   @hayleyscamurra  

As a high schooler, Catie Lang’s identity was embedded in being an athlete to the point that she even loved the ideas of being tough, not quitting and “walking off” any pain or suffering. She had no real concept, awareness, or education of mental health despite having severe anxiety herself. Even after experiencing major panic attacks that were terrifying, she brushed them off and told herself that she was just being dramatic. As a member of an NCAA Division 1 lacrosse team, her program lacked the culture and resources necessary to promote health, wellness and happiness but instead reinforced the antiquated narratives about strength and toughness. This flawed mindset and approach exacerbated her own challenges and resulted in multiple players walking away from the team. This story has made national headlines. Catie shares her personal story of struggle including near suicide to both spread awareness but also spark action in addressing this epidemic of mental illness and suicide in college athletics. WARNING: This episode contains emotionally sensitive material including discussion surrounding suicide that may be triggering or disturbing to some listeners. If any of the content in this podcast has brought anything up for you, please reach out or speak to someone you trust. @catielang

Kim Zmeskal, a gymnastics champion, shares her journey from aspiring to excellence. She emphasizes the importance of dreaming big over perfection, teamwork, and trust. The podcast highlights the balance between routine and creativity in gymnastics, the evolution of coaching techniques, and the value of embracing challenges for personal growth.

Former NCAA D1 football player, Matt Choi, shares his journey of maintaining physical and mental wellbeing through extreme challenges like the Murph Challenge and running marathons. He emphasizes the importance of discipline, consistency, and gratitude in shaping personal growth and achieving contentment. Choi's mantra of believing in oneself and continuously improving highlights the transformative power of pushing past limits to live a fulfilling life.

Dr. Madeline Barlow, former collegiate swimmer and mental performance coach, discusses the emotional complexities of transitioning out of competitive sports. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, grieving the end of a sports career, personalized coaching approaches, and enhancing athlete performance through mindfulness and breathwork.

Former NCAA D1 football player Donald Stewart shares his journey of overcoming challenges and transitioning to Stanford University. He discusses the importance of family support, building confidence, and exploring passions outside of sports to find happiness. Stewart also emphasizes the impact of mentorship on high school athletes.