The Mental Weight Room - A Podcast for Athletes, Parents of Athletes and Coaches

In this episode of The Mental Weight Room, Coach Antoinette sits down with Elliot Cox, a certified mental performance consultant currently working as a Process and Development Coach with the Tampa Bay Rays. Elliot shares his unique journey—from corporate life to applied sport psychology—and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

Tune in as we explore:

• His career transition and experiences at IMG Academy
• Strategies for engaging h...

What happens when the athlete who used to shine under the lights suddenly finds themselves on the bench? In this episode, Coach Antoinette tackles a tough—but incredibly common—moment in every athlete’s journey: the shift from starter to backup.

If you've ever been the go-to player and then had your role change—this one’s for you. Whether you're navigating high school to college transitions or adjusting to team dynamics that no long...

In this episode of The Mental Weight Room, Coach Antoinette is joined by Ale fOliveira, founder of Aptare Lab to discuss the inseparable link between physical performance and mental well-being. Ale shares his journey from São Paulo to the United States, his career in professional sports and his current role in promoting a holistic approach to enhancing performance in sports and life. They also delve into the impact of mental health...

In this week’s episode of the Mental Weight Room, Coach Antoinette Datoc introduces the concept of Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR), a powerful tool for athletes to reset their nervous systems and avoid burnout. The session covers the importance of mental recovery, how constant stimulation affects the sympathetic nervous system, and the benefits of NSDR practices like meditation, hypnosis, and deep breathing coupled with body scanning. C...

In this episode of the Mental Weight Room, host and certified mental performance coach Antoinette Datoc is joined by Zach Lutz, a former professional baseball player and current Director of Team and Player Development at All Star Baseball Academy. Zach shares deep insights into the current state of college baseball, highlighting issues of respect, sportsmanship, and the evolving culture influenced by showboating and NIL (Name, Imag...

In this episode of The Mental Weight Room, Coach Antoinette Datoc explores the powerful benefits of group mental performance training for athletes, parents, and coaches. Far from being a second-best alternative to one-on-one sessions, group coaching offers a unique edge: it builds a shared language, strengthens team culture, and fosters collective mental toughness.

Whether you’re an athlete looking to gain a mental edge, a parent st...

In this episode of the Mental Weight Room, your host and mental performance coach,  Antoinette Datoc interviews Andrew Smolen, a coach, veteran, and performance psychology student. Andrew shares his journey from being a multi-sport athlete and serving in the Navy to finding his calling in sports psychology after a head injury forced a medical discharge. He discusses the role of sports in his recovery, his coaching experiences acros...

In this episode of the Mental Weight Room, host and mental performance coach Antoinette Datoc dives into the crucial concept of prioritizing discipline over motivation for athletes. She explains the temporary nature of motivation and emphasizes the importance of discipline in sustaining performance. Coach Antoinette offers practical advice on creating routines to make discipline automatic and setting up systems for accountability. ...

In this week's episode of 'The Mental Weight Room,' host and mental performance coach Antoinette Datoc delves into the significance of routines and rituals for enhancing athletic performance. She explains how creating daily routines and pre-game rituals can help athletes stay focused, reduce anxiety, and prepare mentally for competition. The episode features examples from renowned athletes like LeBron James, Rafael Nada...

In this episode of the Mental Weight Room, host and mental performance coach Antoinette Datoc discusses the psychological challenges faced by athletes during injury recovery and shares strategies to maintain and build mental strength. Coach Antoinette highlights the importance of resilience, setting both physical and mental recovery goals, and embracing patience throughout the process. She shares inspirational stories and actionabl...

In this episode of The Mental Weight Room, mental performance coach Antoinette Datoc explores the critical role of self-belief in reaching peak athletic performance. Learn why unshakeable confidence is what separates great athletes from good ones — boosting performance, resilience, and focus under pressure.

Antoinette shares practical strategies like celebrating small wins, practicing affirmations, adopting a growth mindset, and ove...

Welcome to The Mental Weight Room Podcast! I’m Coach Antoinette, and in this episode, we’re talking about something that can make a huge difference in your game—mental clarity.

Whether you play baseball, basketball, gymnastics, or any other sport, staying focused and calm under pressure is a superpower. But how do you actually do that when your brain feels full of noise and distractions?

🧠 In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• What...

In this episode of the Mental Weight Room, Coach Antoinette welcomes Anderson Salgado, an entrepreneur and Marine Corps veteran who exemplifies the athletic mindset in business. They delve into Anderson's journey from military service to becoming the CEO of Tri Bell, founder of Dali Talia, and co-founder of American Christian Capital. Anderson emphasizes the significance of mental toughness, purpose, and authenticity in achievi...

In this episode of the Mental Weight Room Podcast, host and mental performance coach Antoinette Datoc, discusses the importance of mental focus for athletes. Concentration is crucial in high-pressure situations, and it must be trained to avoid mistakes and maintain peak performance. Antoinette introduces focus-building exercises such as 'chaos ball,' a high-energy reaction time drill, and visual focus drills to filter out d...

In this episode of the Mental Weight Room, mental performance coach Antoinette Datoc, discusses the crucial topic of patience in sports. She dives into the common experience of hitting performance plateaus, emphasizing that they are a natural part of the journey rather than a sign of failure. Coach Antoinette offers practical advice on how to reevaluate your approach, trust the process, and focus on small wins. She also underscores...

This week in The Mental Weight Room, certified mental performance coach Antoinette Datoc takes a deep dive into the often underestimated yet essential role of sleep and recovery in peak athletic performance.

Coach Antoinette unpacks the science of sleep, focusing on the impact of slow-wave sleep (SWS) and the release of human growth hormone (hGH) in muscle repair, recovery, and physical development. She highlights compelling researc...

In this episode of the Mental Weight Room, host Antoinette Datoc welcomes Michael Bronte, a certified nutrition coach and founder of Guided Nutrition. Michael shares his extensive 35-year journey in fitness and nutrition, discussing how mindset is crucial for forming sustainable health habits. The conversation delves into the mental aspects of nutrition, challenges faced by clients, the importance of baby steps in building good hab...

The focus of this week’s episode is on the crucial topics of nutrition, rest, and recovery for peak athletic performance. The discussion covers the importance of a balanced diet rich in carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients, along with consistent hydration. Coach Antoinette also emphasizes the vital role of rest and recovery, including quality sleep, active recovery techniques, and mental health practices and th...

In this episode of the Mental Weight Room Podcast, hosted by mental performance coach, Antoinette Datoc, listeners are guided through techniques to develop deep focus in high-pressure situations. Coach Antoinette discusses the concept of cognitive load, shares effective focus drills such as box breathing and visual focus exercises, and emphasizes the importance of pre-performance routines. The episode highlights real-life examples ...