The Mindset Experience®

Despite her smaller stature as a younger child, Alycea Adams was dominant in confidence through effort, speaking up and maximizing first impressions. As she entered the sport of cheerleading, her ability to bring together her physical work ethic, desire to improve, willingness to learn and skill set of connecting with others enabled her to achieve success in her sport earning her a spot on the UNC-Chapel Hill Cheerleading Program. As a social media influencer, she applies her personal experiences and knowledge gained to her passion for breaking societal barriers for women of color in technology & sports to be a role model for young black women to bring confidence into any space they occupy! Within the past 9 months, her channels on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have grown to nearly 600K! She has had several brand deals with Pantene, YSL Beauty, and Mielle Organics as a natural hair influencer. At Carolina, she is pursuing a B.S. in Information Science and a double minor in Entrepreneurship/Urban Studies & City Planning. In addition to being a UNC Cheerleader, she is also a Carolina Covenant Scholar and an ambassador for the Shuford Entrepreneurship Program.  @alycearae

Dr. Hillary Cauthen, a clinical sport psychologist and advocate for mental health in sports, discusses the toxicity of sport culture. Topics include defining mental health, navigating challenges in sports culture, maintaining a competitive mindset, and self-care strategies in sports psychology.

Spencer Horwitz was destined to play professional baseball. His first word was “ball” and he excelled early on earning the opportunity to play in the prestigious Cape Cod Summer league at age 20. However, it was then that he experienced severe anxiety and panic evoking fear that he would never get drafted, and his baseball career and all his dreams would be over. With the support and validation of his family, he began the process of investing into both his physical and mental health. Drafted in 2019, he spent 4 years in the minors and finally made his MLB debut on June 18, 2023, earning his first hit on his very first at bat. Despite this early success, he also experienced early failure striking out in a key moment of an important game. Again, he hit a low spot not knowing when his next opportunity would come. Having struggled before, he knew that things could get low really quick but can also be high just as quick. The very next night, on September 3 he got that chance, reminded himself to “be on time and let it rip” and hit his first major-league home run (a solo shot) in a 7-5 win against the Colorado Rockies! Spencer uses his past experiences as learning experiences and continues to invest in his mind as much as his body consuming positive information, journaling daily, and checking in on those he loves “all the time.” While so many athletes operate out of fear, Spencer operates out of love identifying it is the number 1 thing that will overcome fear. @spencer_horwitz

Growing up in Toronto Canada, Kate Allgood learned to skate before she could talk. Her early exposure to hockey, attention to detail and relentless dedication to be perfect led her to become a top-ranked ice hockey player who also burned out by the age of 18. By working with a professional to prioritize her own mental health, she developed the purpose for her own profession.  Kate holds two master’s degrees in psychology and works as a mental performance coach and CEO of Quantum Performance Inc., a high-performance coaching firm that specializes in mental training for athletes. Kate has worked closely with top athletes in the NHL, NFL, LPGA, Supercross, and other professional leagues. Kate has also assisted military personnel such as Navy Seal recruits in passing both their physical and written exams. Her first book, "Get Into the Zone", became an Amazon bestseller on the subject. She shares ways to create a sustainable flow/rhythm throughout performance and teaches us the necessary tools to build sustainable confidence. @qpathlete, qpathlete.com

Victoria Garrick Browne is a TED Talk speaker, mental health advocate, podcast host and former NCAA Division 1 Athlete who has amassed 2M+ followers across social media where she’s known for her unfiltered campaign #RealPost. She first began sharing her story of how she battled and overcame depression and anxiety as a student athlete in her 2017 TED Talk, “The Hidden Opponent” which has been viewed over 500,000 times. She has also been featured in the NY Times’, The Player’s Tribune, E! News, People, Access Hollywood and is the Founder and CEO of mental health non-profit, The Hidden Opponent which was recognized as a standout resource for athletes by the late Kobe Bryant. In this episode, Victoria addresses the pressures she faced as a student athlete, and her experiences with anxiety, depression, and her eating disorder. She also discusses her introduction to therapy, and the insights that she has gained that motivate her to inspire so many others as she tours the country speaking at universities in hopes of destigmatizing the conversations around mental health and encouraging all people to be their unfiltered selves. @victoriabrowne, @thehiddenopponent, @realpod

Nicole Linn, the 'Below Average Runner,' shares her journey of redefining success in running by embracing the process over speed. She emphasizes the importance of community support, self-care, and finding joy in running. The podcast explores the power of motivational language, knowing when to quit for self-care, and embracing individual progress. By focusing on 'Embracing the Pace,' Nicole teaches us the value of gratitude, resilience, and building a supportive running community.

Winter is approaching and daylight savings just occurred.  With less day light, colder temperatures and increasing academic demands, student athletes are more vulnerable to mental health struggles.  In this episode, Dr. T will guide you through his Mental Injury Prevention Guide to best support yourself and your teammates by focusing on Awareness, Communication and Listening (ACL). These concepts are discussed in detail with clear examples demonstrating how to be intentional and effective. In competitive athletics, there is so much emphasis on being strong and tough. This MOVEMBER, lets come together and understand that, “Being tough means acknowledging there is a problem. Being strong means asking for help.”  @dr.t_sportspsych

Katie Hoff understands elite performance and the drive to do the extraordinary. At 15 years old, she made her first Olympic team. How did she do it? In the end, it boiled down to a very simple, yet effective formula. She came up with 5 standards that she followed to a "T." Standards that allowed her to break American and World Records, win 3 Olympic medals, get back up after the lowest of lows and become a TEDx speaker, best-selling author and successful entrepreneur. Katie's 5 standards will give you the ability to accomplish that goal and achieve the most extraordinary version of yourself. Katie shares her wisdom through captivating stories filled with humor, humility, honesty, and vulnerability. She will leave you with a sense of motivation, fresh perspective, and ultimately clear and actionable standards to apply to your own big goal. @kthoff7, @synergydryland

Johnny Martin was raised in a family where hard work, drive, positivity and a growth mindset was the standard. It was embedded in his DNA. Through his degree in health studies and education, his master’s degree in educational psychology and counseling and his national certification in grief recovery, many would consider him an expert. However, what really sets him apart as one of the best is his dedication to guide others, make sure they feel heard and empower them to understand they are really the experts on themselves. When so many mental performance coaches take the approach of motivational quotes and consistent hype, Johnny teaches us  the power of the pause, creating opportunities to truly reflect and choose the direction we really want to take. Despite serving as a performance coach with professional athletes, educational leaders, military veterans and corporate executives for the past 15 years, he continues to maintain a “white belt mentality” while mastering the art of humility. @realjohncmartin

Many athletes work consistently and relentlessly for so many years to have the opportunity to play at the collegiate level. But when it comes time to finally enter the recruiting process, the passion of sports commonly gives way to incredible pressure which can directly affect mood and motivation. In this episode, Dr. T offers 5 actionable takeaways that any athlete can immediately apply to prepare for, manage, and even enjoy the roller-coaster of thoughts and emotions that come with recruiting. Apply these strategies and you will be ready for one of the biggest decisions of your athletic life! This is a must listen for any athlete or parent who hopes to play collegiate sports. @dr.t_sportspsych