PerformHappy with Rebecca Smith

This week on the PerformHappy Podcast, I’m sharing one of my favorite topics: the “camp magic” that gives athletes those powerful bursts of confidence, and what you can do when that confidence disappears back at the gym.

Whether it’s a breakthrough skill at camp or a fearless moment at competition, those experiences can feel like superpowers. But why don’t they last? I’ll explain what’s actually going on in the brain when athletes a...

This week on the PerformHappy Podcast, I’m sharing the simplest way to build confidence, even if you feel like you don’t have a single extra minute.

So many athletes and sport parents tell me the same thing: “I want to feel more confident, but I’m just too busy to add one more thing to my day.”

Trust me, I get it. Between school, sports, work, and everything else, life is full. But what if I told you that just 10 minutes a day could ...

This week on the PerformHappy Podcast, I’m talking directly to sport parents (but athletes, don’t tune out just yet!). I had two parents in our community share the same concern: “I don’t want to say the wrong thing.” They love their kids, they want to help, but they’re afraid they might accidentally be making things worse.

So in this episode, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about how to actually support your athlete, without adding pr...

This week on the PerformHappy Podcast, Coach Rebecca dives into a powerful Q&A session centered around one of the most difficult crossroads in an athlete’s journey—deciding whether to keep going or walk away from their sport. Whether you’re deep in upgrade season, dreading practice, or feeling the spark fade, this episode offers clarity and compassion for athletes (and their parents) navigating burnout, fear, and identity.

Coach...

Has your athlete suddenly developed a fear of a skill they’ve done a hundred times before? You know they can do it physically, but something’s holding them back… and no matter what you try, nothing seems to help.

In this week’s PerformHappy podcast episode, I’m diving into three hidden warning signs that you, as a well-meaning parent, might accidentally be keeping your athlete stuck in fear. Maybe you’ve tried everything: encouragem...

In this week’s PerformHappy Podcast, I’m joined by sport parent and PerformHappy alum, Susan Bardack, for a real, honest conversation about the rollercoaster of raising an athlete.

Susan shares her daughter Ashland’s journey from gymnastics to D1 college diving, including how they navigated tough mental blocks and the moment everything shifted—when Susan stopped pushing and started trusting.

We talk about the lessons parents often le...

There’s a specific kind of heartbreak that hits when your child doesn’t get moved up to the next level, especially when all their friends do. You see it in their face. You feel it in the silence on the car ride home. And as a parent, you just want to fix it. You want to make it better; give them hope and tell them to keep pushing. But deep down, you might already know… this just isn’t going to go the way they hoped.

In this week’s e...

If your athlete is stuck in a mental block, you’re not alone. That’s exactly what I’m diving into on this week’s PerformHappy Podcast — because fear is something so many athletes struggle with, and honestly, it was my biggest struggle too.

You know the feeling — your athlete says they’re not scared, but they just can’t go. Or maybe they are scared and don’t know how to stop feeling that way. Either way, it can be incredibly frustrat...

It’s frustrating. You’re doing everything “right.” You’ve got the mindset tools, the journaling prompts, the visualizations… but it’s still not clicking. In this week’s PerformHappy Podcast, I’m diving into a truth most people don’t talk about: sometimes mental training doesn’t work.

Yep, I said it. There are athletes who put in the effort and still feel stuck.

In this episode, I unpack the common reasons why—even with all the best t...

This week on the PerformHappy Podcast, I got to switch things up—I was the one answering the questions!

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Lacey Rochelle from Shine Health Coaching to dive deep into the science behind fear and how it shows up in performance. We unpacked quick, practical tips for staying present when the pressure’s on, and talked about what it really takes to move from stuck to confident.

Whether you're an a...

Do you know an athlete who’s super bendy, always impressing with their flexibility, but constantly dealing with little injuries or pain that won’t go away? In this week’s PerformHappy Podcast, I sat down with chiropractor and hypermobility expert Dr. Taylor Goldberg to unpack exactly what’s going on behind the scenes for these “Gumby-like” athletes.

Dr. Goldberg shares her own journey as a high-level cheerleader—how being extra flex...

Today on the PerformHappy Podcast, I’m thrilled to introduce you to one of our own – Coach Sam, also known around here as Samantha Buxbaum. Sam is a fearless athlete who has competed in gymnastics, diving, and now rock climbing, and she brings so much wisdom from her journey through high-risk sports.

In this episode, Sam shares her experience with fear, mental training, and how critical self-advocacy is for athletes in what we call ...

If you’ve ever wondered how to help your child (or yourself) face fear and rise to the occasion, this episode is for you.

This week on the PerformHappy Podcast, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Jill Shulman—a former U.S. Marine Corps officer, positive psychology expert, and soon-to-be author of a book on the science of bravery. Yes, science! This wasn’t just a feel-good conversation… we dove deep into the research-backed...

Pressure is part of the game in gymnastics, but how do the best in the world handle it? On this episode of the PerformHappy podcast, I sit down with three-time Olympian Shallon Olsen from Canada to talk about just that.

Shallon is known for her powerful vaulting, but what sets her apart is her ability to stay calm and focused—even under intense competition pressure. We dive into her mindset, how she keeps her nerves in check, and th...

What does it take to coach one of the greatest gymnasts of all time? On today’s PerformHappy Podcast, I sit down with Hiroaki Sato, the mastermind behind Japan’s men’s gymnastics gold medal at the 2024 Olympics and the coach of legendary gymnast Kohei Uchimura.

Sato’s coaching philosophy is all about putting people first. From working with the GOAT of men’s gymnastics to leading an entire team to victory, his approach is built on tr...

In this episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I sit down with mental skills coach Graham Betchart, whose expertise has helped top NBA players develop a strong mindset for high-pressure moments. But what makes Graham’s approach so powerful is that it’s not just for elite athletes—it’s for anyone who wants to perform at their best, embrace mistakes, and stay present.

Graham shares his simple yet game-changing three-step plan: Trust, Ac...

Mental blocks can be one of the most frustrating challenges for athletes, whether it's a lost skill that suddenly disappears or a takeoff that just won’t feel right. In this episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I sit down with elite trampoline coach James Coomber to dive into both types of mental blocks and how to break through them.

James is an incredible coach who balances high-level goals with a nurturing approach. He’s...

If you’ve ever felt like pushing harder is the only way to improve in gymnastics, this episode is for you. I sat down with Dr. Ian Crider, also known as the gymnastics doc, to talk about a better way—one that leads to safer skills, fewer injuries, and happier athletes.

Dr. Crider is the expert when it comes to balancing safe training with top-level performance. In our conversation, he breaks down how gymnasts can make real...

This week on the PerformHappy podcast, I’m thrilled to welcome Chloe Van Bavel, a former Dutch elite gymnast turned professional choreographer with an impressive background in ballet, modern dance, social work, and sports psychology. Chloe brings a unique perspective to the gymnastics world, helping athletes shine from the inside out.

In our conversation, Chloe shares how she builds confidence, creativity, and joy through ...