Unit3d

Tackle Depression

April 23, 2024 05:00 - 44 minutes - 30.7 MB

Bill Kvalheim played football in college, but his biggest challenge would hit him once he graduated. Bill had experienced some anxiety and depression before, but without his purpose (which had been playing football), he felt lost and aimless. His depression worsened, his anxiety ramped up, and he finally asked for help to get better. Now he has a new purpose – a mission – to decrease stigma and let young athletes know that it’s ok to ask for help and that they are not alone. Bill has now sta...

Critique the Critic

April 16, 2024 05:00 - 46 minutes - 31.8 MB

Athletes are often hard on themselves, particularly when it comes to past performances. Overly critical post-performance analyses are often inaccurate and unhelpful. Constantly berating ourselves for mistakes or missed opportunities can rob us of joy and create a relationship with our performance that is rife with fear. On this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Rachel Webb talks about the disadvantage of being hypercritical and not having a more accurate review of our past performances both athleticall...

Athletes OnBalance:Walt Norley

April 09, 2024 05:00 - 49 minutes - 33.8 MB

The awareness around student-athlete mental health has come so far in the last couple of decades, although we still have a long way to go. Walt Norley was a quarterback at Ohio State and University of Georgia. Although he had success in his athletic career, he was struggling with an undiagnosed mental illness. Later in life he was diagnosed and treatment helped him thrive. He started and developed several tech companies and decided to use his personal experience to raise awareness and help o...

Music:The Great Connector

April 02, 2024 05:00 - 43 minutes - 29.6 MB

Music is universal; just about everyone has a type of music they love, a favorite song, or soothing sound they prefer. Music and sound has been used in many ways to improve or maintain mental health as well as boost performance. On this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Derek Vigon talks about ways in which music, vibration and sound can enhance mood, soothe anxiety, improve performance and more.

4 Year of Unit3d: Graham Doty

March 26, 2024 08:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MB

On March 31, 2020 the first episode of Unit3d was released. That could not have happened without the work and guidance of Graham Doty, Unit3d’s producer. For this special anniversary, Graham is the guest on Unit3d, sharing his perspective on the beginnings, growth, and impact of the podcast over the last 4 years of nearly 300 episodes.

Better Than Fine

March 19, 2024 05:00 - 46 minutes - 31.9 MB

We all have our ups and downs, but sometimes we can wonder if our ups or downs are “normal”. It can be hard to know when nervousness is actually anxiety or sadness is actually depression. Dr. Marlon Bailey, psychologist in the athletic department at Vanderbilt University shares valuable insight helping one know when to seek help and encourages listeners that if you aren’t having the experience you want, you can get support in making it better.

Mind Game:Julie Kliegman

March 12, 2024 05:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MB

Warning: This episode contains reference to suicide and self-harm. If you experience thoughts of ending your life please reach out to someone, including 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Always have hope. Mental illness is obviously not new, but the current push to bring mental health care and reaching out for support has brought the importance of one’s mental health to the forefront of concern for athletes, athletic departments and sport teams. Hearing about other athletes’ a...

Trust the Process

March 05, 2024 06:00 - 39 minutes - 27.1 MB

Injury is almost an inevitable part of the journey for athletes and when it happens it can be a daunting process. An injury threatens an athlete’s identity, social connections, sense of self-worth, and more. Trusting the process of recovery or even the process of discontinuing sport often requires support. Dr. Jack Howard discusses injury in athletes, how to navigate the process, and how to support someone going through it.

Now You Can Be Good:Gwen Schemm

February 27, 2024 06:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MB

Gwen Schemm played soccer at Frostburg State University in Maryland. She was, like many athletes, a high-achieving perfectionist. She spent much of her life seeking external validation from awards, praise, and perfect grades. Transitioning to college was difficult and when she started to struggle with her mental health she felt like she was supposed to be able to do everything on her own. Through counseling and support she learned that she is good enough without all the achievements and that...

Safe Spaces, Athlete Ally

February 20, 2024 06:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MB

The LGBTQ community faces unique challenges when it comes to feeling and being included in spaces, and this can be especially difficult in the area of sport. It can be difficult for athletes to find spaces and people who are safe and coming out to teammates and coaches can be a big risk. Dr. Tess Kilwein talks about some of the difficulties faced by those in the LGBTQ community, how athletic departments and staff can create more inclusive environments, and how athletes can be allies to tea...

People Care More Than You Know:Joe Taylor

February 13, 2024 11:00 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MB

As a football player for the University of Michigan, Joe Taylor knew he had so much going for him. As he was challenged by depression, he realized that no matter how great your life is, depression is an illness that can happen for anyone. He reached out for help and learned that people care more than he realized. His experiences made him stronger, and he encourages others to be courageous in asking for help.

Oh Captain, My Captain

February 06, 2024 06:00 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MB

Bella Fiorenzo experienced struggles along her way to playing soccer in college, and utilizing sport psychology resources as a collegiate athlete helped her establish a space of support. As her confidence grew, so did her leadership skills and she was named captain of her team her senior year. She experienced her use of sport psychology performance-related services as preventative and inspired her to pursue her doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis in sport psychology. On this...

Represent the Connection

January 30, 2024 06:00 - 49 minutes - 34.1 MB

Representation matters, and representation can be vital when it comes to mental health professionals available for student-athletes. The fit in the relationship between an athlete and a therapist is vital to healing, and being able to have a therapist that shares a cultural perspective and experience can facilitate that road to optimal mental wellness. Dr. Marcus Dumas (Dr. Du) discusses the importance of the relationship and how to overcome potential barriers to that relationship on this ep...

Deep Relaxation for a Fresh Start

January 23, 2024 06:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MB

During the holidays the Unit3d team will be taking a break. Because holidays can be hectic and even stressful, the Unit3d team is once again bringing you a series of guided meditations, relaxations, and visual imageries recorded by various mental health professionals to help give you some peace. We will be back with great new episodes mid-January. The last in our relaxation series for this holiday is done by the Unit3d host, Dr. Josie Nicholson. This is meant to be a deep relaxation and giv...

Leaf on a Stream

January 16, 2024 06:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

During the holidays the Unit3d team will be taking a break. Because holidays can be hectic and even stressful, the Unit3d team is once again bringing you a series of guided meditations, relaxations, and visual imageries recorded by various mental health professionals to help give you some peace. We will be back with great new episodes mid-January. Our thoughts often take away from our feelings of calm. With practice we can learn to take those thoughts that are not helpful and release them l...

Breathe into Self-Compassion

January 09, 2024 06:00 - 15 minutes - 10.8 MB

During the holidays the Unit3d team will be taking a break. Because the beginning of a new year can be hectic and even stressful, the Unit3d team is once again bringing you a series of guided meditations, relaxations, and visual imageries recorded by various mental health professionals to help give you some peace. We will be back with great new episodes in a couple of weeks! Bella Fiorenzo, pre-doctoral intern at Auburn University and Ph.D. student at St. Louis University brings us this wee...

Gratitude Inside and Out

January 02, 2024 06:00 - 15 minutes - 10.8 MB

During the holidays the Unit3d team will be taking a break. Because holidays can be hectic and even stressful, the Unit3d team is once again bringing you a series of guided meditations, relaxations, and visual imageries recorded by various mental health professionals to help give you some peace. We will be back with great new episodes mid-January. With the holidays coming to a close and the new year started, this is a nice time to pause and release tension from the body. Dr. Allison Rogers,...

Gratituding

December 12, 2023 06:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MB

For the last of our 3-part series on gratitude, Dr. LaTisha Bader returns to the Unit3d podcast to discuss the mindset of gratitude. Gratitude as a practice seems simple but can be difficult to engage in consistently. LaTisha discusses the neurology around gratitude, the difficulties in maintaining a practice that supports that mindset, and the benefits that having that mindset can facilitate.

Gratitude is My Lifestyle

December 05, 2023 06:00 - 45 minutes - 31.1 MB

Gratitude is a practice known to improve mental health as well as performance, but Dr. Kate Bennett proclaims gratitude as a lifestyle she has lived for over 20 years. The path to success, particularly for athletes involves suffering, and gratitude can help us thrive through the difficult times we experience both on that path as well as in our life. In this second part of our 3-part pre-holidays gratitude series, we talk about gratitude coming from the heart, improving our performance, and i...

Thankful for Gratitude

November 28, 2023 06:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MB

As we head into the holiday season, Unit3d is doing a 3-part series on gratitude. Gratitude has been researched a great deal and has been shown to have wonderful benefits to our mental health, but also can improve our performance in sport. To kick off the series, we have Dr. Jeff Ruser, CMPC, talking about his perspective on the benefits of gratitude, the ways to practice gratitude, and the mental health AND performance benefits of gratitude.

Don't Walk Away from Life:Harlee Walker

November 21, 2023 06:00 - 41 minutes - 28.3 MB

Growing up with a professional athlete as a father, Harlee Walker and her siblings grew up with an idea of what it meant to be. “mentally tough”. When Harlee moved across the country to play softball, she began to experience feelings of sadness and emptiness that she couldn’t explain. Hearing the Hilinskis bring their story to the athletes at her school, she was able to realize that it’s OK to not be OK even if you can’t figure out. On this episode of United, Harlee shares her story of reach...

Letting Creativity Blossom

November 14, 2023 21:00 - 44 minutes - 30.7 MB

Often athletes don’t think of themselves as creative people, but it takes creativity to perform at our best. Dr. Breigh Jones-Coplin developed a relationship with her creative side in 2020 when she began exploring flower arranging. Having found her creative venture to be therapeutic, she opened her business, Black + Blossomed, LLC. In this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Jones-Coplin talks about tapping into our creativity in order to find more of ourselves in what we do, as well as ways in which cre...

Top of the World:Ali Weisz

November 07, 2023 06:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MB

Ali Weisz competed in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, has earned 12 international medals, an individual World Championship Gold and currently holds the World Record in Women’s 10m Air Rifle. Despite success, she has experienced burnout, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. On this episode of Unit3d, Ali shares what it is like to fight through periods of burnout, the importance of leaning on a circle of trusted friends, and what it’s like to live her dream and realize that the dream isn’t ...

More than a Golfer:Paris Hilinski

October 31, 2023 05:00 - 40 minutes - 27.8 MB

Paris Hilinski is the niece of Mark and Kym Hilinski. Her rise to professional golf was very fast: she started playing golf when she had just turned 14 and a year later, after her 8th tournament, she qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open. During covid she realized she needed to see herself as more than a golfer and more than her performance so she began to build a brand and venture in to the influencer world. She is now the creative director for LA Golf and has worked with some of the bigge...

Will the Real Lauren Wright Please Stand Up

October 24, 2023 05:00 - 38 minutes - 26.1 MB

It is not uncommon for athletes to question themselves and feel as though what they are doing is not good enough. When the feeling that we are not good enough is pervasive and results in us feeling as though we are an imposter and that someone will find us out it is called imposter syndrome. Challenging the thought that we don’t belong is vital for believing that we are enough and right where we are supposed to be. Lauren Wright, Assistant Director of Mental Health and Wellness at the Univer...

Breaking the Mold

October 17, 2023 05:00 - 41 minutes - 28.6 MB

Ole Miss Athletics Counselor D’Jenne Egharevba (Dee Dee) grew up with the message “we don’t talk about your feelings” in her family. As a first generation American the anxiety she experienced was channeled into running. Despite her success as an athlete, she still struggled to enjoy her sport. As a student-athlete, she decided to pursue a career in mental health counseling to help other athletes have fun during their time as an athlete. On this episode of Unit3d, Dee Dee shares her story...

Representation Matters

October 10, 2023 05:00 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MB

Awareness has increased in the past few years about the importance of representation in the realm of mental health. When an athlete sees someone who looks like them in the role of a clinician, it increases the comfort level that athlete may have in seeking support from mental health professionals. Dr. Chelsi Battle, our very own Unit3d editor, talks about the value of building bridges between athlete – clinician differences, as well as the comfort level that speaking to a provider with a sh...

Mindset is Everything: Edose Ibadin

October 03, 2023 05:00 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MB

Edose Ibadin is a professional runner who attributes his improvements in his sport to mental training. He recognizes how vital training the mind is to success in sport, but also sees how little time is dedicated to building mental skills. In this episode of Unit3d, Edose discusses how mindset and mental skills can help athletes excel in their sport, but also how it can help athletes get through and learn from difficult times in life.

In It Together:Jack Beer

September 26, 2023 05:00 - 38 minutes - 26.6 MB

Professional soccer player Jack Beer wanted to fit in with his team and thrive as a person when he began his college career at Georgetown University. After his freshman year however, he began to question whether he wanted to keep playing and doubt and injury took a toll on his mental health. He was able to talk with his coaches and take a step back from the game. When he returned the support he received from his teammates allowed him to fight anxiety, depression and mental health challeng...

Fuel for Performance:Fuel for Life

September 19, 2023 05:00 - 40 minutes - 28.1 MB

Fueling our bodies is so important for athletes for performance, but it is also important for our mental health. We often worry a great deal about what we are eating but we often disregard how nutrition impacts our mood. How we think about food as well as our relationship with food also can affect our mental health. Kate Callaway, Director of Performance Nutrition for the Carolina Panthers discusses nutrition and its impact on mental health on this episode of Unit3d.

Avoidance Annoyance

September 12, 2023 05:00 - 45 minutes - 31 MB

Classes are rolling as the semester rolls on. Athletes have likely lost the initial idea of getting ahead, and it seems like there’s enough semester left to leave some tasks for later. Well, avoidance is common. We avoid in our relationships, in academics, and personal growth. Joining us for this UNIT3D episode is Dr. Tom Golightly, who gives tips for recognizing avoidance and strategies for overcoming these behaviors.

MVP:Nate Boyer

September 05, 2023 05:00 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MB

Transitioning out of sport often has a negative impact on an athletes mental health. Similar to losing the athlete uniform, transitioning outs of the military can be difficult as one’s identity shifts. Nate Boyer knows both of these journeys as he played Division I football, and then spent a year in the NFL after having served as a Green Beret deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He has taken his passion for helping those transitioning out of sport in the military and created a unique nonprofi...

Get Involved!

August 29, 2023 05:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MB

When student-athletes come together to support each other, meaningful change can happen. At Duke University, there are several groups that support different aspects of student-athlete mental health. Dr. Shawn Zeplin talks about how student-athletes can start a mental health group on their own campus and the benefits to the entire department/community that can come from student-athlete involvement.

Fail To Be Funny:David Hamilton

August 22, 2023 05:00 - 49 minutes - 34 MB

Improv may be an unexpected topic for our Unit3d listeners, but there a many similarities between the sports world and improv. Athletes can learn a great deal from those who perform improv, whether it’s thinking quickly on your feet or responding to changing situations. Similar to athletes, improvisers conquer fears to put themselves out there, take risks, and succeed by failing. Improviser, actor, owner of Anubis Improv and instructor David Hamilton joins us this week to talk about the p...

Going Pro in Identity

August 15, 2023 05:00 - 46 minutes - 31.9 MB

Identity is such a struggle for so many athletes, and many do not know who they are outside of their sport. Identification with sport can come at a cost, especially when athletes start to look for a direction to go in when their sport is done. Even when athletes turn pro in their sport, that professional career will end at some point and athletes then will look to what else they can do. Dr. Brad Hambric discusses an array of aspects to an athlete’s identity and how to go about exploring o...

ReUnit3d:It's Love:Mark and Kym Hilinski

August 08, 2023 05:00 - 46 minutes - 31.9 MB

During the months of June, July and early August, the Unit3d team is taking a break. We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time. It's Love:Mark and Kym Hilinski is Ryan Hilinski's pick. Mark and Kym Hilinski share what’s going on with Hilinsk’'s Hope: the 3 for 3 challenge, Kym climbing mountains, and Mark looking at ways to bring innovation to the mission of Hilinski’s Hope. They share important messages around heali...

ReUnit3d:The Best Version of Me:Teddy Britt

August 01, 2023 05:00 - 43 minutes - 30.1 MB

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break. We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time. The Best Version of Me:Teddy Britt is Brian Simmons' pick. Teddy Britt has a smile that lifts up those around her. Because of that, she used to believe that she always had to smile so that others could benefit from her energy. She has now learned that it's ok to show up authentically, no matter how she is...

ReUnit3d:Thrive or Bust:Ryan Leaf

July 25, 2023 05:00 - 43 minutes - 30.2 MB

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break. We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time. Thrive or Bust:Ryan Leaf is John Cooke's pick. 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...

ReUnit3d:Sweet Sleep

July 18, 2023 05:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MB

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break. We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time. Sweet Sleep is Graham Doty's pick. Sleep is so important to our mental health but it is something we often don’t prioritize, especially during stressful times. Getting better sleep is sometimes difficult, and we often don’t know as much about sleep as we need to. Sleep researcher Dr. Michael Grandner sta...

ReUnit3d:Identity Back on Track

July 11, 2023 05:00 - 43 minutes - 30.1 MB

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break. We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time. Identity Back on Track is Chelsi Battle's pick. Dr. Dwight Hollier played in the NFL for 9 years before beginning his career as a mental health professional. Having lined up a career for post-football life, it seemed like his transition out of sport could have been smooth. His identity, however, was firml...

ReUnit3d:Closing A Chapter

July 04, 2023 05:00 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MB

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break. We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time. Closing A Chapter is Drew Lombardi's pick. Throughout our life we all experience a number of transitions. Closing the chapter of playing collegiate sports can bring up identity struggles for many, as well as a feeling of being lost or unsure as to what’s next. In this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Bassey Akpan...

ReUnit3d:Get Your Bounce Back

June 27, 2023 05:00 - 41 minutes - 28.7 MB

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break. We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time. Get Your Bounce Back is Aidan Lombardi's pick. We all seem to agree that resilience is an important trait to have as an athlete, but few can say exactly what resilience is or how to build it. We know that bouncing back after setbacks, as well as overcoming obstacles, are important on the path to success....

ReUnit3d:Authentic Storytelling:Nia Symone

June 20, 2023 05:00 - 52 minutes - 35.8 MB

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break. We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time. Authentic Storytelling:Nia Symone is Josie Nicholson's pick. Nia Symone knew from an early age that she wanted to be involved in entertainment and sports media. She pursued a communications degree while playing basketball at Alabama State University. Since graduating, Nia has created content for brands ...

ReUnit3d:The Magic Portal

June 13, 2023 05:00 - 47 minutes - 32.9 MB

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break. We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time. The Magic Portal is Mark Hilinski's pick. At the end of a season many athletes decide they need a change and enter the transfer portal. Established in 2018, the portal became much more popular when, in 2021, the NCAA passed regulations that allowed athletes in many sports a “one-time transfer” without ha...

ReUnit3d:Touch the Grass:Mike Golic Jr.

June 06, 2023 05:00 - 46 minutes - 31.7 MB

During the months of June and July, the Unit3d team is taking a break. We have asked people close to the podcast to choose their favorite episode to air as a "ReUnit3d" during this time. Touch the Grass:Mike Golic Jr. is Kym Hilinski's pick. Mike Golic Jr. played football at Notre Dame and after went undrafted as a free agent in the NFL. He wanted to stay close to the game and has been able to do that through work in the media. He is a College Football analyst for Learfield College Footb...

It's Love:Mark and Kym Hilinski

May 30, 2023 17:00 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MB

This episode wraps up the 22-23 season of Unit3d. To close things out, Mark and Kym Hilinski share what’s going on with Hilinsk’'s Hope: the 3 for 3 challenge, Kym climbing mountains, and Mark looking at ways to bring innovation to the mission of Hilinski’s Hope. They share important messages around healing, finding ways to keep going, and knowing that whatever you are doing to share the message that mental health matters, it makes a difference.

Don't Wait for Now

May 23, 2023 05:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MB

“Be in the moment” is a phrase heard so much in sports, and athletes know the importance of focusing on the process rather than the outcome. But one aspect of being in the moment that is often overlooked is the mentality we can slip in to of waiting until we achieve a certain goal or arrive at a certain point before we allow ourselves to embrace where we are. It can be easy to get caught up in “waiting” until we reach a certain point and we can miss that our lives, our careers, our experienc...

Identity Back on Track

May 16, 2023 05:00 - 42 minutes - 29.4 MB

Dr. Dwight Hollier played in the NFL for 9 years before beginning his career as a mental health professional. Having lined up a career for post-football life, it seemed like his transition out of sport could have been smooth. His identity, however, was firmly rooted in being a football player. Having a plan for a career after football was helpful, but not having a plan for transitioning his identity away from football and to his new role left him feeling lost. Counseling helped him get back ...

Sabrine Shaw: Minds Matter

May 09, 2023 05:00 - 39 minutes - 27 MB

Sabrina Shaw worked hard and had a lot of success as a goalkeeper and headed in to her college career at Iowa with high expectations of herself. Injuries created a bumpy journey and when she was sidelined she realized she did not know. How to find joy outside of her sport. She had the courage to ask for help and found her way back to herself. During the pandemic she started her own company: Urban Wave and her mental health journey inspired her to use her business to further the efforts of ot...

Take it Easy, Take it as it Comes: Brad Robbins

May 02, 2023 05:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MB

Brad Robbins has had a lot of success as a punter, but his road has not been without turns and bumps. Experiences with injury in his collegiate career, as well as the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on his mental health, caused him to look for ways to quiet his mind. He took steps to learn about meditation and he developed a practice that has supported his mental health and athletic performance. Brad has found benefit in helping others through a campaign that utilized his platform, and he h...

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