Episode #188 - Hania Taduran

Episode #192 - Tiffany Yvonne Gratton

In this episode, Kat is joined by Tiffany Yvonne Gratton, who dives into the mental side of performance and what it really takes to thrive under pressure. Athletes are often told to "be tough" or "stay locked in," but few are given practical tools to navigate the realities of competition, social media, expectations, and comparison. Tiffany shares actionable strategies to help athletes perform at their best while protecting their mental well-being. Topics discussed include: • Why building an identity beyond sport is critical for long-term success and fulfillment • How pressure impacts the brain, decision-making, and performance • Practical tools athletes can use when anxiety, self-doubt, or overwhelm show up We also explore the Pause → Plan → Play to Win framework, a simple yet powerful approach that helps athletes reset, regain clarity, and compete with confidence when the pressure is on. This conversation is a reminder that excellence and well-being are not mutually exclusive. The goal isn't just to perform—it's to pursue greatness without losing yourself in the process. To learn more about Tiffany you can visit her website here Connect with Tiffany on IG here Learn more about Morgan’s Message here Connect with Morgan’s Message on IG here

Episode #191 - Danny O’Connor

In this powerful episode, Kat chats with Danny O’Connor to discuss the hidden reality of eating disorders in weight-class sports and the devastating impact they can have on athletes behind the scenes. Danny shares the story behind his memoir, WEIGHT CLASS — a raw and deeply personal account of battling an eating disorder throughout his wrestling, Olympic, and professional boxing career. In sports where extreme weight-cutting is normalized, what looked like discipline from the outside became a decades-long cycle of starvation, dehydration, purging, and silence. Together, we discuss: The culture of weight-cutting in sports Why eating disorders in male athletes are so often overlooked The mental and physical toll of silence and shame Recovery, identity, and rebuilding life after sport What parents, coaches, and athletes need to know This conversation is honest, emotional, and necessary. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or someone struggling silently yourself, Danny’s story serves as both a warning and a lifeline. You can connect with Danny on IG here [https://www.instagram.com/therealdannyoconnor/?hl=en] Find Danny's book here [https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Class-Fighters-Life-Death/dp/B0GMY44348/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.z1i5TzAhzbIB64gJtFcYfupYdPqn0X3grUEqi1o44WPAS1ZHzBpKoIWBUgoPU7EezuRNushDsxtq1FFkfL99Q5D6xUVgJH-S9gR3epvyNaT-DGO1NAZ72vN_M6nxP0e79l2BTlYgJXzrpNPhbu63N8RSrX8vkDKTVjOtlgOAIs7u0RmSImS6ZS4Y-eDdPs6_TLs5OPqJcg2Hibh71-qqCpRqI33W8rqvuZaKo_rtkHk.CivaS3cj5HaQhX6YZzVnsGNNdgP11r-f_Q097L_MRqU&dib_tag=se&keywords=danny+o%27connor&qid=1779840338&sr=8-1] Connect with Morgan’s Message on Instagram here [https://www.instagram.com/morgansmessage] Learn more about Morgan’s Message here [https://www.morgansmessage.org] Submit your story for The Mental Matchup here [https://morgansmessge.org/submissions]

Episode #190 - Matt Young

This week on The Mental Matchup, we’re joined by Matt Young — former professional footballer, endurance athlete, and performance coach focused on helping people create lasting mental and emotional change. Matt shares how the pressures of high performance, identity struggles, and emotional challenges shaped his journey from professional sports into helping others break free from anxiety, fear, and limiting beliefs. We talk about: Why people stay stuck mentally and emotionally The difference between the thinking mind and emotional mind Masking identity and hiding from the truth Breaking through fear, anxiety, and limiting beliefs A powerful conversation about healing, self-awareness, and transformation. Connect with Matt here [https://instagram.com/mattyounglc] Matt's 5 Day Mindset Training linked here [https://www.mattyounglc.com/5daymindsetshift] The Power of Your Identity linked here [https://www.mattyounglc.com/post/your-identity-for-success]

#189 - Trevor Ruhland

This week on The Mental Matchup, we’re joined by Trevor Ruhland — former Division I football player and national champion at University of Notre Dame. Trevor opens up about what was happening behind the scenes while competing at the highest level of college football, including his battle with an eating disorder, identity struggles tied to performance, and the pressure to always appear strong. In this episode, we talk about identity beyond sport, the silent battles many athletes face, vulnerability in men’s mental health, and what it looks like to find purpose after the game ends. Trevor shares his story with honesty in hopes that other athletes feel less alone and more willing to ask for help. Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevorruhland/] Connect with Trevor on Instagram here [https://www.instagram.com/trevorruhland] Connect with Morgan’s Message on Instagram here [https://www.instagram.com/morgansmessage] Learn more about Morgan’s Message here [https://www.morgansmessage.org] Submit your story for The Mental Matchup here [https://morgansmessge.org/submissions]

Episode #188 - Hania Taduran

This week on The Mental Matchup, we’re joined by Hania Taduran—former Division I beach volleyball athlete and founder of Breaking Barriers, an organization dedicated to advancing mental health support for athletes through education, peer connection, and advocacy. Hania brings a rare and powerful perspective to this conversation, blending her lived experience as a high-performing athlete with her clinical training in Marriage and Family Therapy. Having competed on a nationally ranked NCAA team at FIU, she understands firsthand the pressure, identity challenges, and emotional weight that often come with elite athletics. In this episode, Hania opens up about her personal journey and the experiences that shaped her passion for making mental health support more accessible and usable for athletes. Together, we explore: Hidden grief in athletics and how it shows up in performance, identity, and emotional well-being Why athletes often struggle to name or process grief—and what actually helps Barriers to help-seeking in sports and the subtle ways stigma shows up in athletic culture What it takes to shift environments so athletes feel safe asking for support The story behind Breaking Barriers and how Hania is turning awareness into meaningful, systemic change This conversation is an honest look at what so many athletes carry behind the scenes—and a reminder that vulnerability isn’t weakness, it’s a pathway to connection, healing, and growth. Connect with Breaking Barriers Org here [https://www.breakingbarriersorg.com/] Follow Breaking Barriers Org on IG here [https://www.instagram.com/breakingbarriersorg/] Follow Morgan's Message on IG here [https://www.instagram.com/morgansmessage] Follow The Mental Matchup on IG here [https://www.instagram.com/thementalmatchup] Find out more about Morgan's Message here [https://www.morgansmessage.org/]