Unit3d w/ B1G Team at Indiana University

In this episode, fresh off an NCAA tournament appearance, Hofstra Men’s Basketball Associate Head Coach Mike DePaoli opens up to BigTeam PhD student Eli Friedman about the deeper side of coaching — what it really takes to build trust, sustain culture, and lead authentically in today’s college basketball environment. Coach DePaoli shares how meaningful relationships, consistent habits, and staying process-oriented can shape both tea...

In this episode of the Unit3d w/ Big Team at Indiana University podcast, PhD student RJ Russell sits down with Wendy Kidwell, founder of Ricky’s Retreat, to explore the often unseen pressures faced by student-athletes. Wendy shares the powerful story of her son Ricky, a state champion runner whose outward success masked deep internal struggles with anxiety, perfectionism, and mental health. The conversation honors Ricky not only as...

In this episode of the Unit3d w/ Big Team at Indiana University Podcast, PhD Candidate Josh Jackson welcomes his father, Fred Jackson, who is a legendary assistant football coach at the University of Michigan, known for his unwavering commitment to developing young men and winning championships. In this candid conversation, Michigan legend Coach Jackson shares behind-the-scenes stories from over 40 years of coaching—highlighting un...

In this episode of the Unit3d w/ Big Team at Indiana University podcast, PhD student Madeline Koch sits down with Dr. Mitch Abrams, the nation’s leading expert on Anger in Sport. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience working with anger and trauma, Dr. Abrams challenges common misconceptions about anger and reveals why this often-misunderstood emotion can be one of an athlete’s greatest assets, when properly dialed in. 

Togeth...

In this episode of the Unit3d w/ Big Team at Indiana University podcast, 2nd year PhD student Jessica Wolf sits down with younger sister and former teammate, Taylor Wolf. She is a volleyball alumna from both University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and Marquette University, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy, a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Bellin Health Titletown Sports Medicine and Orthopedics, official partners of the Green Bay Packers, ...

In this episode of the Unit3d w/ Big Team at Indiana University podcast, 2nd year PhD student Nina Winsick sits down with friend and colleague, Kathryn Colby of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The two discuss student-athlete experiences at the NCAA Division III level, contemporary issues in collegiate athletics, sport psych interventions, and misconceptions about mental health and mental performance. The conversation delves...

In this episode of the Unit3d Podcast, PhD student Hallie Enderle connects with Indiana Volleyball alumna Candela Alonso Corcelles, now competing professionally with the Grand Rapids Rise, to explore her journey as an international student-athlete to professional competitor. From making the courageous decision to leave Spain for college volleyball in the United States at just 19-years-old, to becoming the winningest Hoosier in prog...

In this episode of the Unit3d Podcast, PhD student Maria D'Ugo sits down with Dr. Mark Aoyagi - a leading sport and performance psychologist, professor at the University of Denver, and founder of the Center for Performance Excellence. Dr. Aoyagi is a licensed psychologist and certified mental performance consultant with extensive experience working with several professional, Olympic, and NCAA athletes and organizations. His work ce...

In this episode of the Unit3d Podcast, Counseling & Sport Psychology Ph.D. student Mehvish Safdar chats with her sister, Dr. Komal Safdar—an elite athlete and physician. They discuss a range of topics, including collegiate athletics, pickleball, and Komal’s pioneered medical specialization of sports nephrology, as it relates to athlete mental health and performance. She shares her story and insights on injury, transition, Ameri...

In this episode of the Unit3d Podcast, PhD candidate Miata Walker sits down with professional cheerleader Jalen Jones to discuss his journey through elite cheerleading. He shares how he got his start in the sport and his path to competing on some of the biggest stages, including Team USA and the University of West Georgia. The conversation explores the highs and lows of his career, including the challenges of injuries and the menta...

In this episode of the Unit3d Podcast, PhD students Hallie Enderle and Jessica Wolf sit down with fellow Minnesotan, Olympian, and current LOVB Houston athlete Jordan Thompson as she explores the pressures and responsibilities that come with competing at the highest levels of sport while using her platform for advocacy. 

Jordan shares reflections on her journey from Minnesota to the Olympic stage, navigating life in elite athletics...

In this episode of the Unit3d podcast, 1st Year PhD student RJ Russell sits down with former high school track teammate and current Mental Performance Expert for the Army Keith Miller. They discuss their journey from small-town roots to leading teams to state championships, emphasizing the role of sacrifice and discipline in achieving greatness. The conversation highlights the importance of intentional culture and self-awareness in...

In this episode of the Unit3d Podcast, PhD student Madeline Koch sits down with professional volleyball athlete Brooke Mosher for a conversation that traces their paths from hometown athletes to Big Ten competitors—and now to Brooke’s continued career with the Omaha Supernovas.

Together, they dive into questions that many people often wonder:

• What does it look like to go through the Transfer Portal?
• What does playing professionall...

n this episode of the United with BigTeam at Indiana University podcast, host Eli Friedman, a 5th Year PhD Candidate, engages in a deep conversation with Dr. Troy Moles, Director of Counseling and Sports Psychology at Indiana University Athletics. They explore Dr. Moles' journey to becoming a sports psychologist, and the role of cognitive behavioral therapy in facilitating change and the power of humility as a clinician. The discus...

In this episode of the Unit3d podcast, Dr. Jesse Steinfeldt sits down with Rae Ann Inge to get an in-depth and behind-the-scenes perspective from a Coach’s Wife in the hectic world of NCAA Division 1 Power 4 college football. William Inge is currently an assistant football coach at University of Tennessee, and Rae Ann shares a range of logistic, emotional, and psychological impacts that are associated with supporting her family, he...

In this episode of the Unit3d podcast, doctoral student and BigTeam member, Katy Johnson, is joined by Dr. Jesse Michel, a renowned expert in sport and performance psychology. Katy and Jesse delve into the complex topic of the yips, exploring their own experiences with it, its impact on athletes, the stigma surrounding it, and strategies for overcoming it. Jesse shares his personal experiences and insights from working with elite a...

In this episode of the United with Big Team at Indiana University podcast, host Josh Jackson sits down with NFL linebacker Divine Deablo to discuss his journey from college football to the professional league. Deablo shares insights about his early days at Virginia Tech, the challenges he faced during his transition to the NFL, and the importance of work ethic and trust in building a successful career. He reflects on the injuries h...

Summary

In this first episode of Unit3d w/BigTeam at Indiana University, Dr. Jesse Steinfeldt sits down with a fellow former collegiate football player, Clinical Sport Psychologist Dr. Jacob Cooper. Together, Jesse and Jacob explore a range of topics, ranging from football to masculinity to oxytocin to Oracles. This engaging episode will give viewers insights into comprehensive masculinity, clinical techniques to maximize men’s abil...

Hilinski’s Hope brings you Unit3d - a podcast where sport psychologists and mental health professionals team up to hold conversations for student athletes on mental health. Many of us share common concerns, these discussions are a reminder that we are not alone, but unit3d in this world together. Welcome to the Hilinski’s Hope, mind, spirit, and performance playbook. If you have any questions or topics you would like for us to disc...