Closer Mentality

Closer Mentality

Closer Mentality is a peak performance-focused, documentary podcast. Each episode tells the stories of elite athletes, coaches, and sport psychologists and their relationships with the mental side of the game.

Episodes

August 12, 2025 37 mins
On Episode 123 of Closer Mentality, Aidan Connolly joined the podcast to talk about his experience with junior hockey, injuries, how rehab helped him find psychology, and the endeavor of bring hockey to Ireland! Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermentality and enjoy a special discount on your first month. If you have any que...
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Episode 122 brought on sport psychologist, Dr. Seth Swary! Dr. Swary detailed his extensive research on music integration in elite sport and how athletes can use pre-game playlists to directly increase performance! Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermentality and enjoy a special discount on your first month. If you have any...
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Episode 121 brought on performance coach and SportsBiz EVP for International Strategy, Isabel Delgado! Delgado spoke to her time coaching at the Rafa Nadal Academy, what coaches get wrong in facilitating positive team culture and communication, and the impact of artificial intelligence on sports marketing and branding. Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own hom...
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Episode 120 welcomed on 3x Deaflympic medalist, Dr. Becky Clark, and University of Western States professor and CMPC, Dr. Gily Meir. Drs. Clark and Meir highlighted the new partnership between the USA Deaflympics team and UWS, set to provide Team USA athletes with appropriate communication avenues and sport psychology services ahead of the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympic Games! It's the first such partnership in the world! CAPTIONS: https:...
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Episode 119 welcomed on Dre Baldwin, CEO of Work On Your Game and former professional basketball player! He spoke to the degree of dedication that it took to play Division III, cultivating his internal drive, getting scouted to play overseas, and the 12 Work On Your Game Commandments. Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermenta...
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Episode 118 welcomed on former University of Arizona springboard diver, Brooke Earley. Earley explained how she ended up diving for the Wildcats, sustaining four concussions, battling proprioception issues, and the mental health practices that she found most useful! Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermentality and enjoy a sp...
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Episode 117 welcomed on Team USA BMX racer Payton Ridenour. Ridenour's story included her introduction to BMX racing, making her first Olympic team, implementing visualization, and learning to rely on herself for success! Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermentality and enjoy a special discount on your first month. If you h...
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Episode 116 welcomed on neuroscientist and founder/CEO of i-BrainTech, Dr. Konstantin Sonkin. Dr. Sonkin explained how artificial intelligence and sport performance can coexist for good, and the implementation of data-driven visualization exercises! Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermentality and enjoy a special discount on...
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Episode 115 welcomed on Colorado Rockies' Mental Skills Coordinator, Dr. Colt Olson. Dr. Olson worked through how his passion for psychology developed, how he helps professional baseball players craft their mental routines, and the Closer Mentality! Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermentality and enjoy a special discount on...
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Episode 114 brought on former English rugby player Will Hooley! Hooley addressed his rugby upbringing, representing his national team, playing within the Major League Rugby organizations, and what the sport needs to do in order to expand successfully. Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermentality and enjoy a special discount ...
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Dr. Ross White, a professor of clinical psychology at Queen's University Belfast, joined Closer Mentality this week to speak on psychological jiu-jitsu, cultural acuity in mental wellness, and his new book, "The Tree That Bends". Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermentality and enjoy a special discount on your first month. I...
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Episode 112 brought on University of Washington sport researcher Dr. Julie McCleery! She spoke to her experience rowing with Team USA and how research she conducts can inform the way coaches and support staff interact with female athletes! Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermentality and enjoy a special discount on your firs...
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Episode 111 brought on USA Team Handball captain and Wheelchair Handball Director of Operations, Dr. Sarah Gascon. Dr. Gascon talked through her time on both the USA Volleyball and Baseball teams, as well as her introduction to handball and the opportunity to join USA Wheelchair Handball's inaugural season. Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit bet...
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Episode 110 featured UCF long jumper Hayley Manners! Manners spoke to growing up with Canadian track and field competition, getting recruited in the United States, entering the transfer portal, navigating a major injury, and found family in the form of fellow mental health-focused student-athletes. Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.c...
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Episode 109 brought on Team USA Paralympian, Ryan Neiswender. Neiswender, a wheelchair basketball player, spoke to adaptive sport opportunities, collegiate recruiting, representing Team USA all over the world, the program's golden legacy, and how para sport can rise in popularity. Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermentality...
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Episode 108 brought on Olympic water polo goalkeeper turned yoga instructor, Jaime Komer. Komer spoke to the worldliness that water polo afforded her, a prolific college career, winning a silver medal in Beijing with Team USA, and combating the overwhelming feelings of burnout for a sport that had given her everything. Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own hom...
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Episode 107 brought on Team USA para-cyclist Sam Bosco! Bosco spoke about limb-lengthening surgeries, rowing as physical therapy, finding adaptive cycling, TBIs, and finally standing atop a Paralympic podium. It's a jam-packed episode! Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermentality and enjoy a special discount on your first mo...
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Episode 106 brought on Tom Maloney to speak about his experience with Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Maloney introduced NLP and explained its use cases in collegiate and professional sports. Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermentality and enjoy a special discount on your first month. If you have any questions about the bran...
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Episode 105 brought on Team Barbados track athlete and advocate, Ryan Brathwaite. He spoke about his introduction to track, sport on the island, moving to the United States to run collegiately, and how he's hoping to offer opportunities to Barbadian youth. Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermentality and enjoy a special disc...
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Episode 104 brought on Riley Tejcek, an officer in the United States Marine Corps and a bobsled pilot for Team USA. She spoke about getting involved with The Marines and Team USA, playing a Division I sport, nurturing motivation, and writing a children's book. Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit betterhelp.com/closermentality and enjoy a special ...
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