Athletes Break the Stigma: Emotions, Resilience & Mental Health

In this first Roundtable episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones brings together a panel of experts to explore the often-overlooked role of emotional expression in sports. Olympic equestrian Nina Ligon, surfer and content creator Penny Johnson, and performance psychology practitioner Stephanie High share their personal journeys and insights on how embracing emotions can enhance athletic performance. From the power of vulnerability to the importance of mental training, this conversation delves into the transformative impact of emotional awareness in sports. Join us as we uncover how emotions can be a superpower for athletes, fostering resilience, connection, and peak performance.

Nina Ligon

Nina Ligon is a 2012 Olympic Equestrian Athlete, Stanford Engineer, and the founder of women's sportswear brand Generation Sport. She has designed positive, habit-forming products at Headspace, consulted for F500 companies at BCG, and currently develops Sportswear designed for the unique needs of women athletes. She holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, and an MBA from Yale School of Management. 

Links:

Website: www.generationsport.co

Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninaligon/

Instagram: @generation.sportco

TikTok: @generationsport

Penny Johnson

pennyforyourproject.com

@penny.skrt on TikTok & Instagram

Penny Johnson is a surfer and content creator based on O'ahu, Hawai'i. Through her content and community workshops, Penny inspires others to connect more deeply to the ocean and themselves. Penny helps athletes, surfers and beyond, build self-awareness and resilience to enhance athletic performance and overall enjoyment of their sport.

Stephanie High

I'm Stephanie High, M.A., a Performance Psychology Practitioner helping high-achievers and athletes build sustainable mental skills to thrive under pressure. Through coaching, workshops, and speaking engagements, I offer science-backed tools to improve focus, resilience, and recovery. Whether navigating burnout or coming back from a setback, I help high performers gain clarity, stay grounded, and show up authentically.

https://www.kaizencatalyst.com/

https://www.instagram.com/kaizencatalyst/

https://www.facebook.com/KaizenCatalyst/

https://www.youtube.com/@kaizencatalyst

https://www.linkedin.com/company/kaizencatalyst/

https://www.tiktok.com/@stephanieamhigh 

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.