Jess Deutsch | Navigating Grief and Vulnerability | Episode 09

Olivia Papakyrikos | Chronic Injury to Clinical Care | Episode 10

Olivia Papakyrikos is a licensed therapist and sport psychology consultant based in Boston. Through her practice Papakyrikos Therapy and Performance, Olivia works with competitive athletes, college students, and high-performing individuals navigating pressure, expectations, and the mental load that comes with showing up at a high level every single day. She has collaborated with athletic teams and departments at schools like Northeastern, UMass Amherst, Tufts, Middlebury, and Harvard, providing integrated psychotherapy and performance psychology services to student-athletes.  Olivia believes performance and mental health are not competing priorities; they're deeply connected.Olivia shares her journey through sports, mental health, and coaching, highlighting the importance of mental skills, managing pressure, and redefining achievement.Chapters00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJVYGLtNxQ8] The Pressure to Perform05:00 Navigating Competition and Comparison09:38 Mental Skills and Performance Anxiety17:24 The Journey Through Injury and Recovery20:55 Coaching Dynamics and Mental Health28:52 The Role of Parents in Sports32:01 Seeking Support and ResourcesFollow Olivia:IG:   / oliviapapakyrikos   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2xrYnJVajVZeVpzOFZ1Y0RBNzM2RGZZVnhZUXxBQ3Jtc0trcjNLeE1vZmFBNjI5STdramxFaXpHaHNLRTJBeE1pVEZWNU5lMVZXaVpkWUhtamp0cDlQUmJacU83dU8zWkFvcXlSa3VoVnA1eFZ5MVd3VG93NGp4Wll0TWhWOG4xYlZ1WnI5YUxnZ0FzMldJTWhKaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Foliviapapakyrikos%2F&v=TJVYGLtNxQ8]This podcast is designed to support growth, build confidence, and spark honest conversations, but it is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. We discuss topics like pressure, performance, grief, mental health, and suicide, which may feel personal or sensitive at times. Please take what resonates, move at your own pace, and seek support from a qualified professional or someone you trust if you need it. Immediate mental health support is available 24/7, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text 988) and SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP).

Jess Deutsch | Navigating Grief and Vulnerability | Episode 09

Jess Deutsch is a Licensed Social Worker who advises and mentors high school and college students, athletes, and young professionals. She also consults with nonprofits in higher education, social impact, high performance athletics and well-being. She's passionate about helping others attain big goals with health and perspective—and has done so both at her alma mater, Princeton University, and in private practice. With elite athletes, pre-med students, or high achievers in general, she helps young people discover their own motivations and define success on their own terms. Jess recently lost her father, two years after losing her younger brother, and rather than shy away from these huge losses, she wanted to show up and talk about them. We'll also talk about the grief that often goes unspoken—a career-ending injury, stepping away from a sport, or closing a chapter you didn't choose to close.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Grief and Loss02:10 Personal Stories of Grief05:23 The Impact of Loss on Identity07:57 Navigating Grief and Vulnerability12:08 Understanding Grief in Sports17:00 The Unspoken Grief of Athletes20:40 Finding Support and Connection23:11 Looking Forward and Moving On Follow Jess IG [https://www.instagram.com/jess.deutsch/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessdeutsch/] Substack [https://jessdeutschwriting.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search] References: All There Is with Anderson Cooper [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6XRrncXkMaULVlEOUeCtU4M5_rQGblye] The Daily Buddhist [https://www.instagram.com/daily.buddhist/] This podcast is designed to support growth, build confidence, and spark honest conversations, but it is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. We discuss topics like pressure, performance, grief, mental health, and suicide, which may feel personal or sensitive at times. Please take what resonates, move at your own pace, and seek support from a qualified professional or someone you trust if you need it. Immediate mental health support is available 24/7, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text 988) and SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP).

Bella Alarie | Standing Tall | Episode 08

Bella Alarie is the 2017 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, a three-time Player of the Year, an All-American, and the fifth overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft. Bella competed at the highest levels of the game - at Princeton, with the Dallas Wings in the WNBA, in the EuroLeague, and for Team USA. After her playing career, she coached at Georgetown while earning a master's degree in sports industry management. Now she's using her experience to help build The IX Sports, a women's sports media platform. Follow Bella! @bella_alarie [https://www.instagram.com/bella_alarie/] Follow The IX Sports: @theixsports [https://www.instagram.com/theixsports/] This podcast is designed to support growth, build confidence, and spark honest conversations, but it is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. We discuss topics like pressure, performance, and mental health, which may feel personal or sensitive at times. Please take what resonates, move at your own pace, and seek support from a qualified professional or someone you trust if you need it.

Cat Caro George | Finding Purpose After Injury | Episode 07

Cat Caro George grew up in New Jersey excelling in the classroom while starring on the USA Field Hockey Junior National Team. She went on to play (and win a lot) at Princeton University where she studied Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Cat is no stranger to adversity as she suffered multiple knee injuries while playing for Team USA after graduation. Her passion for understanding nutrition's role in recovery (and her husband) led her to London to pursue a Masters of Science in Nutrition and PhD in preconception health and lifestyle behaviors. Discover practical insights on resilience, mental health, and reaching your highest potential. Follow Cat! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catcaroLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinevcaro/ This podcast is designed to support growth, build confidence, and spark honest conversations, but it is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. We discuss topics like pressure, performance, and mental health, which may feel personal or sensitive at times. Please take what resonates, move at your own pace, and seek support from a qualified professional or someone you trust if you need it.

Tara Madigan | Building Champions On and Off the Field | Episode 06

Tara Madigan recently retired as the Northern Highlands Regional High School girls soccer coach with a record of 384-55-12, including three straight undefeated seasons. She grew up in North Jersey setting records at her high school, then played Division I soccer at Monmouth University and the University of Delaware. She earned her Master of Education and spent her career as a Health and Physical Education teacher while always coaching and inspiring others to be their best versions of themselves. She recently launched MADE (Madigan Athletic Development and Education) to continue developing the next generation of leaders — on and off the field. In this conversation, Tara opens up about her competitive upbringing, the philosophy behind her record-breaking coaching career, and why building a lasting culture matters more than winning. We talk about what it really means to develop athletes — not just their skills, but their ability to think, lead, and respond when things get hard. If you're a coach, athlete, or anyone who believes sports are about more than the scoreboard, this one's for you. Follow Tara & MADE: @madetobechampionsmadetobechampions.com This podcast is designed to support growth, build confidence, and spark honest conversations, but it is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. We discuss topics like pressure, performance, and mental health, which may feel personal or sensitive at times. Please take what resonates, move at your own pace, and seek support from a qualified professional or someone you trust if you need it.