Unit3d w/ B1G Team at Indiana University

Spencer Torkelson grew up with a great deal of hype surrounding his baseball career. He was always known as a baseball player and was drafted as the number one pick in the 2020 draft, going to the Detroit Tigers. In this episode of Unit3d, Spencer talks about the bizarre end to his college career, how he developed his identity away from baseball, how he handles failure and pressure and how important it is to be yourself rather than try to live up to who people want you to be. He also addresses how strong the stigma around mental illness is and how important it is to take care of your brain in order to be your best self.

We feel most comfortable when we can put things in to black-and-white categories. The reality is that most of life (and all of growth) happens “in the grey”; in those situations and ideas that don’t fit cleanly into a box. The more we can entertain two thoughts or feelings at once, the more freedom we have to be curious, explore, and learn in those times. Dr. Chris Bader, of University of Arkansas, discusses these areas of grey in this week’s episode of Unit3d.

We all have a story, and that story continues to unfold. There are times when we can rewrite our story by looking back with a healthier perspective and we all can take charge of writing how story going forward. Narrative therapy is so useful in recognizing how our environments have shaped our identity and empower us to shape who we want to become. Brittany Collins, LPC-S, PhD Candidate utilizes narrative therapy in her work with athletes but also in shaping her own journey and joins us on Unit3d to talk about ways we all can be the authors telling the tale of our own journey.

Many are familiar with former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf and his story of achieving the dream of being a first round draft pick only to fall hard and become touted as the “biggest bust in NFL history” by some. Ryan Leaf shared insight into his journey as well as a powerful and unique perspective on working to come back to yourself after falling in to dark places.

It is very common to begin the year or the new semester with “resolutions”, but we often fail to keep them. In this first episode of the new year, Ed Darrah of Temple Athletics gives us a unique structure to setting goals and helpful tips to help us stay on track to achieving what we want.

Originally aired January 2021, this amazing meditation is worth repeating at the beginning of every year. Dean Worsham, LPC 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.

For the holiday season and semester break we will be airing relaxations, meditations, or guided imagery from various mental health clinicians as a way to say “thank you” and “take care of yourself” from us to you. This week Dr. Jamey Houle offers a loving kindness meditation. Along with gratitude, I can’t think of a better way to begin a new year!

For the holiday season and semester break we will be airing relaxations, meditations, or guided imagery from various mental health clinicians as a way to say “thank you” and “take care of yourself” from us to you. This week Dr. Lauren Craig helps us start off the new year on the right foot with gratitude!

For the holiday season and semester break we will be airing relaxations, meditations, or guided imagery from various mental health clinicians as a way to say “thank you” and “take care of yourself” from us to you. This week Dr. R. Kweku Smith, with the University of Wisconsin athletics, helps us close out the year with a look back on where we have been. He then offers a time to relax and recharge with self-care, and then a time of looking forward to the new. He is accompanied by his talented son, DJ. Kofi Atta Jonah Smith who did all the beats for the background sounds except for one. What a great team!

For the holiday season and semester break we will be airing relaxations, meditations, or guided imagery from various mental health clinicians as a way to say “thank you” and “take care of yourself” from us to you. This week Brian Simmons, LCSW with Ole Miss Athletics helps us relax with a mindful meditation for the holidays to help with escaping the hustle and bustle of the season.

For the holiday season and semester break we will be airing relaxations, meditations or guided imagery from various mental health clinicians as a way to say “thank you” and “take care of yourself” from us to you. This week Chelsi Battle, MA, doctoral student at Auburn University and our very own editor starts off the series with a bit about meditation and then a progressive muscle relaxation for a nice way to wind down as the semester ends.

Treating others well is important, particularly as we work to deepen, strengthen and gain friendships. Dr. LaTisha Bader discusses how to find information about friends and those we meet to treat others the way they want to be treated rather than assuming we know how they want to be treated. When we consider our differences we can then work to find out how to interact with others to connect them in ways that improve those relationships.

Every time someone shares the story of their mental health journey a bit of the stigma around mental illness falls away. Women’s basketball national championship coach and author, now mental health advocate Joanne P McCallie (Coach P) has written a book Secret Warrior about her experience coaching at the top level of the game for many years of her career with bipolar disorder. As Coach P shares her story, she speaks to leadership, vulnerability, timing in sharing her story, and the importance (and responsibility) of taking care of brain health as being on-par in importance with physical health.

Relationships are vital to our lives as we all need each other to survive and thrive. These relationships can be tricky as we go through different stages in our lives and as we travel to different places and move through different roles. Cindy Aron, LCSW has done a lot of work researching and presenting on the topic of relationships. There are so many types of relationships that are important to us: relationships with friends, parents, coaches, teammates, love interests, and more. In this episode of Unit3d we discuss how to recognize and navigate health and unhealthy relationships, how to get more out of our relationships, and how to build new relationships.

From an early age Maddie had her eyes set on playing field hockey at Temple University. She achieved the goal, but had a tough adjustment to sport in college. After working and grinding for the summer, she came roaring in to her sophomore year and surprised everyone with how ready she was to compete and lead. It wasnt long, though, before an injury knocked her off her path. The mental health impact of her injury came close to being worse than the injury, but she was able to get help. Addressing her mental health served her well in the injuries that followed. Maddie is now courageously telling her story in hopes that it will help others who are going through injuries and mental health struggles as well.

The stigma around help seeking is strong, particularly in athletic cultures. The more we can see professional athletes and those we see as strong and as role models share their stories around struggling and seeking help, the more we will be able to see these behaviors as normal and even desirable. Licensed Clinical and Sport Psychologist Dr. Carrie Hastings is the mental health clinician for the LA Rams and has seen the impact of professional athletes sharing their experiences of mental health support having a positive impact on their lives and performance. On this episode of Unit3d Dr. Hastings shares her passion for making help-seeking something we all see as the norm.

We all know the feeling of trying to deny what is happening, whether its a situation, having to make a decision, or the presence of a heavy emotion. Typically when we deny that something is there it makes that thing bigger or prolongs the situation. Radical acceptance is about leaning in to what is in front of us rather than fighting what may be unpleasant or uncomfortable. In this acceptance we can find strength and tap into our resilience, allowing what is there to run its course. Through acceptance what may seem intolerable becomes manageable. Dr. Megan LaVoy is a fan of radical acceptance and walks us through what it is and how we can use it as a skill of empowerment in our lives

We all have areas in our life in which we want to improve and finding the right person for support can be tricky. Stu Singer owns WellPerformance and helps athletes improve their performance. He has a framework for helping athletes improve their mental game with mindset workouts that build mental skills. On this episode of Unit3d we discuss the differences in a mental performance consultant and a sport psychologist as well as different ways to engage in fitness for the mind.

All of us want to impact the world around us and it can be daunting to figure out how to make a difference. We know from research that being involved in activities that serve others has a number of mental health benefits, among them being: combatting depression, preventing feelings of isolation, increasing confidence, reducing stress, and providing a sense of purpose and meaning. Student athletes are part of organizations that provide opportunities for volunteering and serving others. Many recognize that the platform of being an athlete can be used to do good on a bigger stage and see this as a social responsibility. Veronne Clark is a social impact maven, working with many in the sports and entertainment industry to activate groups and individuals, empowering them to have a meaningful impact in their communities and the world. In this episode of Unit3d Veronne discusses the importance of engaging in service to others as a way to put good into the world, but also to improve one’s own mental health.

We all grow up with beliefs, values, and identities that we learn from our parents, communities, and environments. As we grow older and gain independence those beliefs, particularly those about who we should be, can be limiting and constraining, holding us back from who we want to be. In this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Marie Worsham talks about her journey of challenging what she thought she knew and taking a big leap of faith in order to gain the freedom to be who she really is.

Resilience is what gets us through tough times, but how do we build it? Arkansas Razorback Gymnastics head coach Jordyn Wieber has won at the highest level of the sport including being the all around world champion and a gold medalist. Her experiences as a gymnast has built resilience that has carried her through difficult times and has helped her create a coaching philosophy of developing the whole athlete. On this episode of Unit3d Jordyn Wieber shares her experiences, coaching philosophy, and her passion for mentoring young women in sport.

We all want to know what to expect in any given situation. Having expectations can help us feel more secure, believing we know what will happen and how we will handle it. However, going in with expectations can lead to disappointment, confusion, and disillusionment . We can be disheartened by unmet expectations we have, not just of situations, but of others and of ourselves. How do we go in to situations or relationships without these expectations? Sarah Dowd, M.Ed. discusses the drawbacks of having expectations as well as how to approach each day without allowing expectations to control our outlook.

The life of an athlete unfolds over years as one typically begins to play sports at a young age. Along the way we all receive various messages and our views of ourselves and our world are shaped by these messages and our experiences. Recognizing different landmarks during our life journey can help us explain beliefs and behaviors we either want to strengthen or change. Dr. Val Valle has worked with professional, collegiate and now high school athletes and has a perspective on the development of the athlete that she shares on this episode of Unit3d.

“You can never control injuries. Accidents happen; that’s just how things go.” - Johnny GarganoGetting 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 and come out the other side stronger, both mentally and physically. Dr. Michelle Garvin talks about the journey of the injured athlete in this episode of Unit3d.

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 he shares his struggles and triumphs on this episode of Unit3d.

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 of your mental health and reaching out to talk to someone improves your life and also your performance in your sport. In this episode a former athlete of one of the coaches is mentioned and she has given her permission for her “story” to be published in this episode.

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 interferes with performance. Dr. Riley Nickols talks about the perfectionistic mindset and ways to change.

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, addresses issues that women face with the hope that women who listen would feel validated and empowered and men who listen understand more of the challenges women face.

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 and her game in this episode of Unit3d.

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 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 struggle with identity struggles, disordered eating, an autoimmune disease, Sjorgren’s syndrome and Lupus (another autoimmune disease with no known cure). Boxx shares about her tenacity and mindset that kept her on her path toward her goals and now helps in difficult times.

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. Michael Grandner, Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, discusses these and other sleep struggles and gives useful advice for getting better ZZZs.

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 have never before seen a counselor therapy can be shrouded in mystery. From when you may want to think about seeking help to what you should look for in a therapist, Dr. Doug Hankes demystifies and normalizes therapy for everyone.

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 mission to create resources to help people understand their own mental health. A pioneer, award winning educator, and book author, he is changing the way communities learn about mental health.

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 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 take care of one’s mental health and finding balance. He shares that it is so important to reach out and talk to others when you are struggling and that he has seen that when you reach out, you find out you are not alone.

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 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 shared her story in a very popular Ted Talk (The Hidden Opponent), and now works as a mental health advocate and also hosts a podcast called “Real Pod.” On this episode of Unit3d, Victoria shares insights from her journey and the importance of leaning on each other through tough times.

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 athletes, Dr. Michael Gervais has seen this play out. We live in a doing-based world, especially in athletics where it's about outcome, so finding who you are apart from what you do can be challenging. On this episode of Unit3d Dr. Gervais discusses the importance of embarking on this challenge of finding your identity and some practical ways to start this vital journey.

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 Hilinski and Brian Mauer talk through having overcome dark times and their commitments to reducing the stigma that is a barrier to others seeking help.

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 college sport careers and they will share their experiences of transitioning to their next chapter. Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end. - Seneca

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 that sometimes his particular mental illness can actually be his “superpower.”

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 development and implementation of mental health services and programming for Team USA. She discusses this new role and the importance of developing these resources for Olympic athletes.

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, including mental health needs. Meg and Alexis have served the SAAC in many ways but are currently on the media team that have put together this year’s mental health campaign, Strength Comes in Many Forms. Meg and Alexis join us on Unit3d to talk about their time on the SAAC and the campaign.

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 partnered with over 600 organizations to put together a call to action. Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation is one of these organizations. Vaughan Bagley, Senior Manager, Social Impact – MTV Entertainment Studios and Maya Enista Smith, Executive Director of the Born This Way Foundation join Unit3d to talk about the importance of doing something to take care of your mental health, and to give more details for the Mental Health Action Day taking place May 20th.

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 and how this can help athletes understand the importance of maintaining and even improving mental health.

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 passion for helping others be the best version of themselves is a perfect fit for this position. In this episode we talk about many things including how to engage and support athletes in areas of mental health, working as a woman in a men’s league office, and how social media comments can be damaging to an athlete’s mental health.

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 society think about mental health. In this episode of Unit3d, Eric shares his story and mission, explaining a variety of ways in which his organization is changing the narrative.

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 take care of one’s mental health and finding balance. He shares that it is so important to reach out and talk to others when you are struggling and that he has seen that when you reach out, you find out you are not alone.

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 struggle with identity struggles, disordered eating, an autoimmune disease, Sjorgren’s syndrome and Lupus (another autoimmune disease with no known cure). Boxx shares about her tenacity and mindset that kept her on her path toward her goals and now helps in difficult times.