The Mentally Fit Athlete
The Mentally Fit Athlete
Podcast Description
The Mentally Fit Athlete is hosted by Lidia Garcia, MSW and Dr. Jason von Stietz. We discuss the mental side of sport and performance. Each episode is an informal open conversation filled with practical takeaways useful for coaches, athletes, and anyone interested in performance and wellbeing.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on the mental aspects of sports and performance, addressing common misconceptions in sports psychology with episode topics such as debunking myths about mental toughness and the role of therapy in enhancing competitive edge, centering on practical applications for athletes and coaches.
The Mentally Fit Athlete is hosted by Lidia Garcia, MSW and Dr. Jason von Stietz. We discuss the mental side of sport and performance. Each episode is an informal open conversation filled with practical takeaways useful for coaches, athletes, and anyone interested in performance and wellbeing.
What happens when an opponent becomes bigger than the game? In this episode of The Mentally Fit Athlete, we field a question from a high-school sports psychology class: how do admiration or animosity toward an opponent affect performance? Jason explains the value of focusing on controllables—your preparation, routine, breathing and mindset—while Lydia offers practical ways to avoid comparison traps (yes, we mean athlete stat sites and highlight reels). We share an inspiring story about using a tough opponent as a confidence-builder, offer a three-question self-reflection template to untangle emotions from identity or cultural pressure, and remind athletes of a simple but powerful truth: get back to having fun.
Featured Resources & Links:
Lidia Garcia, MSW• Website: lidiagarcia.net• Instagram: @liddie.g• Pasadena Run Club: @pasadena.runclub
Dr. Jason von Stietz• Website: drjasonvonstietz.com• Instagram: @cbtsportpsych• Bluesky: @cbtsportpsych
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