Episode #153 - Navigating Injury and Identity with Bella Griffin

In this episode, Kat chats with Kori Toms, a Le Moyne College soccer player who opens up about her journey as a student-athlete and the mental and emotional challenges she’s faced along the way.Topics Discussed:The emotional impact of her mom’s breast cancer diagnosis and how her family became her foundation of support.Navigating the recruiting process during COVID and transitioning to Division I soccer at Le Moyne College.Discovering the importance of mental health in high school, managing a lingering knee injury, and finding balance through outlets beyond her sport.This episode is a powerful reminder of the importance of leaning on your support system, finding safe spaces, and prioritizing mental health as an athlete.Find out more about Morgan’s Message hereFollow Morgan’s Message on IG here

Today Kat’s joined by Gianna Burgio, a cross country and track athlete from Rowan University with a passion for empowering the next generation of runners. Gianna opens up about her journey through high school, where she struggled with an eating disorder that went undiagnosed. She shares how running became a part of her life, the lessons she’s learned about food, sports, and self-love, and her mission to ensure young athletes—especially young women—know the importance of both nourishing their bodies and finding joy in their passions.Topics Discussed:Gianna’s introduction to running and how it shaped her identityHer experience navigating an undiagnosed eating disorder during high schoolThe connection between food, performance, and mental health in young athletesHer aspirations to give back to her community as a teacher and coachAdvice for young female athletes about self-love and the joy of sportConnect with Gianna here Get in touch with Morgan’s Message hereFollow Morgan’s Message on IG here

In this powerful episode, Jeremy Wolf, former DIII baseball player turned professional athlete and mental performance advocate, shares his incredible journey through sports and life. From being drafted by the New York Mets to helping Israel qualify for the Olympics, Jeremy reflects on the highs and lows of his career, including grappling with identity, mental health struggles, and finding purpose beyond the field.Today, Jeremy runs MindReady, a company dedicated to providing athletes with accessible mental performance coaching. Join us as we discuss his inspiring story, lessons learned from failure, and how he’s revolutionizing athlete support with MindReady.What You'll Learn:Jeremy's transition from DIII baseball to professional sports.The struggles of identity and mental health athletes face.Lessons from founding More Than Baseball and forming the MiLBPA union.How MindReady is making mental performance coaching affordable and accessible.Links & Resources:Learn more about MindReady hereYou can follow MindReady on IG hereGet in touch with Morgan’s Message hereFollow Morgan’s Message on IG here

In this episode, Bella Griffin shares her journey of resilience and self-discovery. From San Diego to the sand courts of Tulane, Bella’s athletic career has been shaped by both her passion for beach volleyball and her perseverance through back-to-back ACL tears.She opens up about:Overcoming Challenges: Facing two ACL tears during high school and navigating surgeries, redshirting freshman year of college and physical therapy.Mental Health Struggles: The impact of injuries on her mental health and the transformative moment of asking for help.Athlete Identity: Rediscovering herself outside of sports and finding new joys in life.Gratitude: The invaluable support from her family, coaches, teammates, and PT team.Bella’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, the importance of seeking support, and the beauty of finding balance beyond the game.Learn more about Morgan’s Message here!Follow Morgan’s Message on IG here!

Join us for an incredible conversation with Dr. Haley Perlus, an accomplished Sport and Performance Psychology Practitioner, as she shares her expertise on mastering the mental game. Drawing from her competitive Alpine ski racing background and a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology, Dr. Perlus brings practical insights for anyone willing to listen.In this episode, we dive into:Athlete Identity and Transition: Strategies for redefining self-worth and thriving beyond sports.Handling Performance Pressure: Tangible techniques to harness pressure and build resilience.Normalizing Emotions in High Performance: How to embrace emotions as tools for growth.Resources Mentioned:Dr. Haley Perlus’s book: Personal Podium: How to Use Your Mind to Maximize Your Potential in Sport and Life (buy it here!)Learn more about Dr. Perlus: LinkedIn / YoutubeLearn more about Morgan’s Message hereFollow Morgan’s Message on Instagram here

This week, we're excited to have Lindsey Ronbeck back on the podcast! We’re talking all about friendships – from the teammate relationships to navigating life post-college without that shared common goal.Ever wonder how to find like-minded friends after college? Or which friendships to lean into versus lean out of? We’re diving into all that, plus tips for staying mentally strong in a social media-driven world.Lindsey and Kat discuss:Teammate Connections: How relationships with teammates evolve when sharing the bond of college sports.Post-Grad Friendships: Navigating friendships once you're no longer working toward a shared athletic goal.Evaluating Friendships: Knowing which friendships bring you joy and deciding who to lean into versus who to lean out of.Social Media's Impact: Discussing how social media can shape your mental health and self-worth in relation to friendships.Making New Friends Post-College: Tips on building meaningful connections with like-minded people after school.Learn more about Morgan’s Message hereFollow Morgan’s Message here

In this episode, Kat sits down with Abby Bosco, a former lacrosse player at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maryland. Known for her powerful presence on defense, Abby was named the Athletes Unlimited 2023 Defender of the Year. Her accolades also include being a two-time IWLCA First Team All-Region pick, a Big Ten Defender of the Year, and a nominee for the Tewaaraton Award.Key Topics:1.Inspiration and Legacy: Abby hopes to inspire young girls in the lacrosse community to follow their dreams and find joy in what they do.2. Personal Growth Through Lacrosse: Abby reflects on how the sport has shaped her life by connecting her with incredible people and leading her to remarkable places. She emphasizes the importance of pursuing what brings genuine happiness, ignoring outside pressures, and focusing on one’s internal joy.3. Navigating Recruitment and Mental Health: Abby opens up about her journey through the recruitment process, her experience with the transfer portal, and her transition from Penn to Maryland. She also discusses the value of sports psychologists in her development as an athlete and a person, highlighting the significance of mental health support both on and off the field.You can connect with Abby here!You can follow Morgan’s Message hereYou can find out more about Morgan’s Message here

In this episode, Kat sits down with Capri Richardson, the founder of First Contact Athletic Counseling, PLLC, and a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate based in Austin, TX. Capri brings a unique perspective to mental health in sports, combining her experience as a former Division I athlete and professional volleyball player with her expertise in counseling. Capri shares her journey through athletics, from growing up in a military family and being recruited to the University of Montana, where she became the first African-American player on their Women’s Volleyball Team, to playing professionally in Europe.Capri’s passion for mental health advocacy emerged through her athletic journey and experiences abroad. Now in private practice, she focuses on providing athletes, coaches, and their families with support that nurtures their inner selves and fosters holistic well-being. Capri discusses the systemic challenges in sports, especially for female and minority athletes, and how she empowers her clients to develop coping skills, process trauma, and prioritize mental health.Get in touch with Capri here Follow Morgan’s Message hereLearn more about Morgan’s Message here

In this episode, Kat sits down with Camryn Whipple, a recent graduate of Slippery Rock University and former lacrosse player, to explore her athletic journey and her growing awareness of mental health. Camryn shares her early experiences in sports, from her first love of soccer to her spontaneous decision to try lacrosse in elementary school, and why she ultimately chose to pursue lacrosse in high school, leaving soccer and basketball behind. She opens up about the impact of COVID-19 on her senior year of high school and freshman year of college, and how the pandemic influenced her mental health. We also dive into her collegiate team’s open culture around mental health and how she’s now focusing on new passions as she transitions away from competitive athletics.In this episode, we discuss:Camryn’s journey from soccer to lacrosse and the decision to focus on lacrosseThe recruiting process and why she chose Slippery RockThe impact of COVID-19 on her athletic and mental health during her transition to collegeHow her college team created a supportive environment for mental health discussionsHer ongoing transition out of athletics and how she's utilizing her passion for other thingsAccepting that the emotions she’s feeling during her transition out of collegiate athletics are normal and how she's embracing the changeGet in touch with Camryn hereGet in touch with Morgan’s Message hereFollow Morgan’s Message on IG here

In this episode, Kat sits down with Lindsey to dive into her journey of transitioning from a collegiate lacrosse coaching career to stepping into a new role in marketing and communications at Morgan's Message. Lindsey shares the challenges and insights she gained during this shift and reflects on how much can change in just a few years. We also talk about her time coaching, the headspace she’s been in and the courage it took to navigate this new phase of her career. Plus, Lindsey opens up about joining the Morgan's Message team and how this opportunity has shaped her journey beyond lacrosse.In the episode we discuss:Lindsey's career transition and life transitions in generalThe mental and emotional challenges during a major life shiftHow Lindsey found the courage to step away from coachingHer experiences with Morgan’s Message and how it has impacted her lifeYou can connect with Lindsey here!You can find out more about Morgan’s Message hereFollow Morgan’s Message and The Mental Matchup