Episode #196 - Jacqueline Friedland

"Your story is someone else's survival guide." That's the phrase Julian Bell holds onto — because Morgan's story was hers. Julian's injury story starts in 7th grade, with pain she still manages today at 22. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Julian opens up about developing an eating disorder tied to that injury, the moment medical retirement entered the conversation, her healing journey, and the road back to rebuilding a relationship with her body, her sport, and herself. Through it all, Morgan's story was Julian's throughline. Now, Julian is ready to be that for someone else. In this episode: * Living with a chronic injury since 7th grade * Developing an eating disorder tied to injury and identity loss * Medical retirement and recovery * How Morgan's story became Julian's survival guide * Julian's vision for advocacy moving forward Content warning: this episode discusses disordered eating and suicidal ideation. If this episode brings up anything difficult: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text 988). You are not alone. Connect with Julian on IG here Connect with Morgan’s Message on IG here Connect with Morgan’s Message here

Before he became a mental wellness advocate, Charles Wittman was an All-American basketball player — four years at Queens University of Charlotte, followed by a pro career in Brazil. But behind the accolades was a private battle with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation that spanned his high school, college, and post-playing years. In this episode, Charles opens up about what it actually looked like to compete at an elite level while struggling internally — and how those experiences led him to write The Internal Game Plan, a guide that applies the discipline and principles of sports to everyday emotional, physical, and mental health. We talk about: * What it was like carrying mental health struggles through his career * The moment Charles decided to turn his lived experience into a framework for others * How "The Internal Game Plan" helps people build clarity, resilience, and self-awareness through consistent habits — not quick fixes * Why Charles sees himself as an impactor, not an influencer * Practical tools listeners can start using today to navigate their own challenges Charles is a father, entrepreneur, and speaker based in Los Angeles, working with athletes, students, and professionals to help them build systems for real, sustainable growth. Connect with Charles on IG here You can find The Internal Game Plan here Connect with Morgan’s Message on IG here Connect with Morgan’s Message here

This week, we're joined by Jacqueline Friedland, author of the brand-new novel Breathing Under Water — that was released August 4! Jackie's path wasn't a straight line: from Penn, to law school, to practicing lawyer, to published author. We talk about that pivot — the best parts and the hardest parts — before diving into her book, which follows two women whose paths intersect through deeply relatable (if very different) life experiences. We also cover what inspired the story, including the financial pressures faced by McKenna, a competitive swimmer, and get personal about Jackie's author's note on her mom's decades of work with children on the autism spectrum — and how that's shaped the way Jackie sees the world and raises her own kids. About the book: Breathing Under Water released August 4 and is available at https://www.jacquelinefriedland.com/books/breathing-under-water or wherever books are sold. Connect with Jackie on IG here Connect with Jackie online here Connect with Morgan’s Message on IG here Connect with Morgan’s Message here

This week, Emily Boyle shares how a concussion during her freshman year forced her to medically redshirt and completely reshaped her experience as a student-athlete. In this episode, we discuss: 1. Recovering from a season-ending concussion 2. The mental toll of being sidelined and losing your athletic identity 3. Balancing recovery, school, and life away from home 4. Finding purpose and staying connected to your team while injured Emily's story is a reminder that even when you're unable to compete, you still belong—and healing is about so much more than returning to play. Connect with Emily on IG here Learn more about Morgan’s Message here Connect with Morgan’s Message on IG here

This week on The Mental Matchup, we sit down with Caitlin Walsh, a former Saint Anselm College lacrosse player whose athletic journey was shaped by multiple knee injuries, surgeries, and ultimately the difficult decision to medically retire from the sport she loved. Caitlin opens up about the mental health challenges that accompanied her recovery, including anxiety, uncertainty, and the loss of an athletic identity she had built for years. She shares how she navigated some of the hardest moments of her life, what helped her move forward, and why choosing to step away from the game became the right decision for her. In this episode, we discuss: • The mental health impact of long-term injuries • Navigating multiple surgeries and recoveries • Anxiety during the rehab process • The challenges of medically retiring from sport • Grieving the loss of an athletic identity • Finding purpose and confidence beyond the game Connect with Caitlin here Learn more about Morgan’s Message here Connect with Morgan’s Message on IG here

This week on The Mental Matchup, we sit down with Hannah De Groot, licensed therapist and founder of Stride Counseling, to discuss the intersection of sport, eating disorders, OCD, and mental health. In this episode, we explore: * The unique pressures within sport that can impact an athlete's mental health * Hannah's personal recovery journey and how it inspired her to pursue this work * How she supports athletes through eating disorder and OCD treatment with a compassionate, evidence-based approach * Breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health struggles and help-seeking in athletics * What recovery can look like for athletes and why healing doesn't mean giving up on your goals Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or teammate, this conversation offers insight, hope, and practical ways to better understand and support mental health in sport. To learn more about Stride Counseling you can visit the website here Connect with Hannah and Stride Counseling on IG here Learn more about Morgan’s Message here Connect with Morgan’s Message on IG here

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

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 sportsWhy eating disorders in male athletes are so often overlookedThe mental and physical toll of silence and shameRecovery, identity, and rebuilding life after sportWhat parents, coaches, and athletes need to knowThis 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 hereFind Danny's book hereConnect with Morgan’s Message on Instagram hereLearn more about Morgan’s Message hereSubmit your story for The Mental Matchup here

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 emotionallyThe difference between the thinking mind and emotional mindMasking identity and hiding from the truthBreaking through fear, anxiety, and limiting beliefsA powerful conversation about healing, self-awareness, and transformation.Connect with Matt here Matt's 5 Day Mindset Training linked here The Power of Your Identity linked here

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 hereConnect with Trevor on Instagram here Connect with Morgan’s Message on Instagram hereLearn more about Morgan’s Message hereSubmit your story for The Mental Matchup here