Erin Ayala: The Accidental Sports Psychologist

Erin Ayala: The Accidental Sports Psychologist

The Accidental Sports Psychologist: Erin Ayala’s Unconventional Path to Elite Performance What happens when a self-described mediocre JV athlete accidentally stumbles into sports psychology and discovers it’s exactly where she belongs? Erin Ayala, founder of Skadi Sports Psychology, has built a practice around the athletes who don’t see themselves in traditional sports performance spaces - and her approach is changing what mental fitness looks like. In this episode of the Inner Athlete Podcast, host Hans Skulstad sits down with his office neighbor Erin to explore how her own endurance athletic career shapes her work with athletes, why the “leave it at the door” approach to life stress is a myth, and what parents are getting wrong about the car ride home. Whether you’re an athlete, parent, or coach, this conversation offers a refreshingly honest look at what mental fitness actually requires. Connect with Erin: * Practice: Skadi Sports Psychology * Website: https://www.skadisportpsychology.com/ [https://www.skadisportpsychology.com/] The Inner Athlete Podcast explores mental fitness strategies for athletes at every level. Subscribe for more conversations on mental performance, athlete development, and building sustainable athletic careers.

Dana Thiede: What Officials Actually See From Ice Level

What does hockey look like when you’ve seen it from every angle - as a parent, a Special Hockey coach, and a referee? Dana Thiede has spent decades inside the game, and what he’s observed from ice level might surprise you. In this episode of the Inner Athlete Podcast, host Hans Skulstad sits down with longtime friend Dana to explore what officials actually see and feel during a game, why Minnesota Special Hockey represents everything right about the sport, and how the culture of hockey has shifted - for better and worse - over the decades. Whether you’re a coach, parent, player, or official, Dana’s honest perspective from multiple vantage points offers a refreshing look at what really shapes the experience of young athletes. Connect with Dana: Minnesota Special Hockey / Beltline Hockey Referee Association The Inner Athlete Podcast explores mental fitness strategies for athletes at every level. Subscribe for more conversations on hockey culture, youth sports development, and building better athletic environments.

Inside Minor League Baseball: Corey Measner on Strength, Mindset, and Performance

What does it take to prepare professional baseball players for the demands of a grueling season? Corey Measner, minor league strength and conditioning coach for the Seattle Mariners, shares insights from his journey through collegiate and professional sports, revealing what separates players who make it from those who don’t. In this episode of the Inner Athlete Podcast, host Hans Skulstad sits down with his nephew Corey to explore how mental fitness intersects with physical preparation, why relationships matter more than knowledge, and what happens when elite athletes face the mental challenge of injury recovery. Whether you’re an athlete working to reach the next level, a coach developing training programs, or a strength professional looking to understand the mental side of performance, this conversation offers practical insights from the professional ranks. Connect with Corey: Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coach, Seattle Mariners organization The Inner Athlete Podcast explores mental fitness strategies for athletes at every level. Subscribe for more conversations on performance optimization, injury recovery, and the intersection of physical and mental training.

Keep Freaking Going: Krista Ryan on Surviving Trauma and Finding Purpose

What happens when an executive coach survives America’s largest mass shooting just days after finishing her coaching certification? Krista Ryan’s journey from that horrific night in Las Vegas to a cancer diagnosis reveals how the simple mantra “keep freaking going” became a life-saving framework for navigating any challenge life throws at us. In this episode of the Inner Athlete Podcast, host Hans Skulstad sits down with Krista to explore how trauma taught her everything she was doing wrong, why neutral thinking beats toxic positivity, and how vulnerability and connection became her greatest strengths. Whether you’re navigating your own trauma, supporting someone through a difficult time, or simply trying to show up as your best self, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on resilience, forgiveness, and the courage to keep going. Connect with Krista: * Business: KFG Coaching (Keep Freaking Going) * Book: “Keep Freaking Going” * Partnership: Limitless Minds (Neutral Thinking) * Role: Dean of Minnesota Speakers Academy The Inner Athlete Podcast explores mental fitness strategies for athletes at every level. Subscribe for more conversations on resilience, overcoming adversity, and finding purpose through life’s hardest moments.

Reclaiming Identity and Purpose: Jon Engfer on Serving Veterans Through Every Third Saturday

What does it take to help veterans who’ve lost themselves after service find their way back to purpose and belonging? Jon Engfer, with Every Third Saturday’s Warriors Return program, shares insights from his journey as a former All-American hockey player to leading a five-week interpersonal development program that’s transforming lives through dignity, accountability, and community. In this episode of the Inner Athlete Podcast, host Hans Skulstad sits down with Jon to explore how moral injury differs from PTSD, why “victor not victim” mindset matters, and what it means to truly support veterans in reclaiming their identity and bringing honor back to their brotherhood and sisterhood. Whether you’re a veteran seeking support, someone wanting to serve your community, or a leader interested in how mental fitness principles apply beyond sports, this conversation offers powerful insights on building stronger communities through authentic connection. Connect with Every Third Saturday: * Executive Director: Jess McKenna * Programs: Veterans Resource Empowerment Center, Warriors Return * Opportunities: Volunteer groups, donations (clothing, hygiene), events (gala, golf tournament, walk) The Inner Athlete Podcast explores mental fitness strategies for athletes at every level. Subscribe for more conversations on resilience, community building, and reclaiming purpose.