The Athlete Whisperer: Recent Episodes
Susan Cooney
Susan Cooney, otherwise known as The Athlete Whisperer, has been guiding students and student athletes for 30 years. Her unique method of mindfulness, meditation and self awareness has helped teams in nearly all sports achieve their best performances, undefeated seasons and championships. This podcast is designed to help you unlock your untapped potential.
Dustin Brundage returns to the podcast to talk about his new endeavors and his new team in this extended episode. He discusses the uses of mindfulness with a new group of young athletes as well as the importance of holding space for accountability for his players as well as himself.
In this episode of our Emotional Wellness of Athletes, we have a return guest in student athlete, Kareem Lubin, speaking on his thoughts and experience on the topic as well as how he would like to implement this in his future.
In this meditation session, we focus on maintaining the excitement for the game we love.
In this meditation, we exercise the method of 'locking in' with our meditation and our play. We also touch on the topic of 'micro-improvements'.
Jillian Villani joins us once again with Megan Geary to discuss the definition of success and what roles our peers, parents and coaches play in regulating our emotions.
In this next episode of the series with Megan Geary, special guest Jillian Villani, a former student athlete in soccer, now a soccer coach and mother to a student athlete in soccer as well, discuss taking what is learned as a player and applying that into coaching and ensuring that balance is met when coaching and playing to ensure optimal play as well as optimal mental well being.
In this meditation session, we start off with a short catch up with student athlete and previous guest on The Athlete Whisperer, Jayden Lont and follow with a meditation session focusing on analyzing what you bring to every game.
In this episode, we have special guest, Megan Guidry joining us. Megan plays softball for SUNY Fredonia and she talks about her experience as a student athlete and and the importance of mindset and balance on and off the field.
In this episode of the series, we discuss the idea of fit vs. healthy, in the physical form, but also in the mental and emotional form. We discuss the importance of being aware of value & worth as well as making sure we take stock in our emotions and avoiding any 'volcanic' eruptions that make come, both on and off the court / field.
In this episode in our series with athlete, Megan Geary, we discuss the idea that sports provide an identity to a person, a security blanket of sorts, and we look into the silent struggle athletes may have outside their sport and how that may affect their emotional wellness.
Previous guest, Megan Geary, returns with a series speaking on the emotional wellness of athletes. Megan has a candid conversation about her challenges as an athlete, including things that she has heard from her coaches while she was a player and the pressures to perform and not appear weak.
In this meditation session, we talk about harnessing and focusing our energy to create, whatever you want the creation to be, but how do we create the ordinary into the extraordinary.
In episode 50 (!!) we have a conversation with Coach Dustin Brundage, owner of Line Drive Athletix. Coach was excited to sit down with us to discuss the real-life and in-game applications of mindfulness, breathe work and much more.
In the first episode of 2024, this meditation session focuses on the importance of the messaging in your mind and how that affects the body and ultimately, how it affects your performance.
The Athlete Whisperer returns with a new meditation session with a team that focuses on the purpose of breathe-work, the areas in which it can fine tune and dialing in to the unseen.
In this quick discussion, the coach talks about the challenges teaching his team the importance of meditation and mindfulness and the benefits that he's seen through years of doing it.
In this episode, we have a conversation with Women's Basketball Head Coach, Jacey Brooks at the University of Buffalo. Jacey tells the story of how she got into coaching and realizing that you learn more from your losses than you do from victory. Jacey also talks about the pressures to make sure that her team are not only good athletes and teammates, but good academically and most importantly, good people. Lastly, Jacey discusses incorporating mindfulness, meditation and yoga into her team practices and how important it is to tune out distractions.
In this session, we examine the importance of focused energy and how to set up for success in the 'next level', the playoffs. We zone in on composure, calm, being steadfast and arriving at clarity for the game ahead.
In this meditation session, we discuss further rooting ourselves in our capabilities and the importance of the team moving as a collective in the ups and downs, both on and off the field / court.
In this episode, we chat with Romeo Aquino, the NJCAA D2 Player of the Year and discuss how utilizing mindfulness and meditation helped him up his game. We also discuss how he still uses his teachings of yoga to help continue to elevate his game and the added benefits it provides physically and mentally.
In this meditation session, we examine the balance of through vs. instinct and how to incorporate that into the game. We look at pushing aside overthinking as well as getting caught in the 'what ifs' of the game. Lastly, we focus on the importance of creating your own highlight reel as a way of motivating and remaining focused.
The more calm you are, the more clear you are. The more clear you are, the more clearly you can see the task at hand. Allow the calm to wash over you and enjoy the rollercoaster ride that you are on and make sure to remember the purpose in what you do.
In this session, we examine the wins (inside the wins and losses) and the importance of holding on to those feelings going into each game. Focus on what you can control and take care of business.
In this session, we look into the importance of not carrying baggage forward. It is important to not sulk about the past and to keep the energy pure, for the team. Mindset impacts emotions and emotions alter your biology, so if you believe that you can, you are more likely to. If you focus more on the positive, you will create more of the positive.
In this episode, we examine the impact that inner awareness has on outer performance. We look at what self-doubt is and what it can be. Just because there is a nay-sayer in your mind, doesn't mean it's true. Self-doubt is actually a sign that something is important to you and that you should use it as a signal to dig deeper and keep going and not let it detract you from your goals. We also look at the importance of creating 'power statements' for ourselves.
In this meditation session, we focus on time outside of the field or court to re-align, recuperate and renew our minds. We are in charge of how we feel and we work to manage our minds and clarity for the games and practices ahead.
We return in this episode with a great conversation with SUNY Cortland's D3 Basketball D3 star player, Austin Grunder. Austin goes into the amount of work it takes to achieve a top scoring accolade and the mindset behind practice and high pressured games.
In this episode we sit in on a live team meditation session where Susan walks the players through fighting resistance as well as the reaction time to challenges and adversity.
In this episode, we sit in on a live mediation with Susan's baseball team as she walks them through the early evolution of the athlete and the importance of feeding their minds and body with the important things that will help them perform at their highest level.
In this episode, we sit in on a live meditation session with Susan's baseball team as she centers the team around focus and the importance of paying attention to where your attention is.
In this episode, we sit in on a live meditation session with one of the baseball teams that Susan has works with. This session is centered around setting goals, but ones that aren't specific to outcomes.
In this episode, Susan speaks with Ryan Hendricks who is currently a football player at Springfield College. Ryan talks about how what he carried during his high school prep with Susan into college, the adjustments going through Covid and it's affect on sport programs overall and his success in maintaining emotional control in games and in life.
In this episode, we sit in on a live meditation session with one of the baseball teams that Susan has worked with.
In this episode, we have a conversation with high school senior baseball player, Yavel Nunez. Yavel speak about his move from NYC to upstate NY and the positive impact that it's had. Yavel also speaks about the use of breathing techniques in his practices and his game play and how that has also positively impacted his game.
In this brief episode, we look into how most of us live in our head, but are we listening to our heart? Are we listening to how it feels? It's important to maintain balance of both.
In this episode, we catch up with a previous guest to the show, Jayden Lont. Now a freshman in college, Jayden goes into the difference between high school and college athletics, including the vast adjustments and intensity levels. Jayden goes into how his regular practice of meditation and yoga has kept him in an advantage all year long. Jayden also discusses having to start back at the bottom again as a freshman and working his way back up on his new team and how he is ready for the challenge.
In this episode, we have a conversation with former soccer player, now coach, Megan Geary. In this candid discussion, Megan talks about her time being an athlete and coming to a point where she didn't like playing soccer anymore. Megan goes into the amount of pressure put on athletes at a very young age, competition amongst teammates and how, in her journey, she defined herself by the sport she played, until injury occurred. Through the process, she exercised awareness in identifying the right time to walk away from being an active athlete to her transition to coaching and applying empathy to new players as a result of her experience.
In this brief episode, we discuss the importance of remembering who you are in your totality, not just what you do, the student, the athlete, etc.
In this episode, we have a conversation with Coach Tom Fanning. We go over a variety of topics including receiving criticism from using yoga as a part of practice and keeping an open mind in the importance of evolving practice and preparation to include mindfulness techniques. We also cover the importance of working the mind to deal with the new stresses that student athletes face currently and turning around negative mental thinking. In addition, when a team is as physically prepared as they can be, adding in mindfulness and breathe-work can be the difference maker. We looking into the idea that practice of the mind is as important as practice of the body. We also discuss the increase of programs employing mindfulness coaches to help bring teams not only to their most optimal level, but being able to apply these techniques in every day life.
We return with a brief Monday reminder to stay focused on the inside whisper that will push you to be your best and blocking out the outside noises that can detract your from getting there.
In this special episode, we have a full yoga session to walk you through the movements needed for balance and restoration followed by a short meditation. By taking this time for self-awareness, you will allow the mind and body to become re-centered and reinvigorated.
In this episode, we revisit meditation and apply it for our restoration, physically, mentally and emotionally. We remind you that Passion + Purpose = Power and that potential is unlimited, even in defeat.
In this episode, we have a conversation with Basketball Team Co-Captain, Flo Hunte, of SUNY Cortland. She is also the creator of "The Inner Athlete". We discuss the importance of mental health in student-athletes as well as examine the issue of athlete suicide. We also discuss the pressure to always appear strong and not exhibit weakness or emotion. Flo goes into what she does to make sure she is of sound mind through mindfulness, meditation, and yoga.
In this episode, we focus on breathing exercises, meditation and centering around tapping into your unlimited potential. Controlling your breath strengthens your ability to control your parts of the game. Calming and managing your emotions are all steps into bringing your best version of you to the next game.
In this episode, we discuss the importance of remembering all of the work and preparation it has taken for you to be where you are today and we remind you that you haven't worked this hard to create any doubt in your game. We remind ourselves of the collective effort of the team and remind ourselves that there's no accident in you loving this game as well as the importance of loving all aspects of it, the triumphs and the setbacks.
In this episode, we have a chat with the baseball and football team captain for New York's own Cornwall Central High School, Jayden Lont. Jayden walks us through how meditation and mindfulness helped lead his baseball team to an astounding 31-game win streak. Jayden also discusses how he will continue to utilize the tools he's learned for his upcoming collegiate endeavors.
In this short episode, we call attention to 3 items for alignment before heading into the game: Emotional Regulation, Physical Sensation and Paying Attention to Your Thoughts.
In this short episode, we focus on meditation, motivation and breath work to fine tune your mind to enter your season. We look at remembering all of the opportunity in front of you for you to show up, excel and be the best version of you.
In this episode we discuss the difference between frenetic and sustainable energy and what we can do to achieve more sustainable energy. Through a very specific breathing exercise, we take steps towards turning ordinary into extraordinary from the inside.
In this short episode, we remind you of the importance of balance and that the 'rest' part of restoration is key in making sure you have your optimal performance every time you go play.
In this episode, we have a Q&A with former student athlete and current Personal Trainer, Darnell Lubin. We discuss how mindfulness trainings, meditation and yoga helped fill in the gaps when he was a student athlete to take him to the next level and how he applies his learnings to his profession.
In this short episode, we add a twist on the old adage "accept what is or create something different". We look at meeting ourselves where we are, accepting what is, THEN adding the next 'ingredient' in our life to create that something different on top of what is, bringing us closer to the best version of ourselves.
In this episode, we focus on treating your mind and body with the respect it deserves. We look into how desire and preparation work together to set you up for becoming the best athlete you can be. Winning is the external result of the internal work that you do with mind and body. This episode also focuses on the playoff part of one's season. You are born for this.
In this episode, we look into the meaning of 'equanimity', or the act of mental calmness and composure and how that can help build our mental endurance. We look into how the practice of gratitude, balance and centering can help our foundation of mental endurance and how we can use that to up our game.
In this short episode, we briefly look at how to realign the 3 parts of ones self, physical, emotional and mental, to tackle the week!
In this unique episode, we practice mindfulness and meditation live in practice with New York's Cornwall baseball team. As the players practice, stretching, pitching and catching, Susan Cooney is heard over the loudspeaker examining growth mode and survival mode as well as looking for places where we find our inspiration. The episode concludes with a brief chat with Coach Tom Fanning.
In this short episode, we remind you about your breath and practice its great ability to regulate your thoughts and emotions.
In this episode, we have a conversation with New York's Washingtonville Wizards high school basketball Team Coach, Todd Rose and Team Captain, Ryan Allen to discuss the real life learnings and in-game applications of the teachings of mindfulness, meditation and focus. The coach and captain explain how calmness, confidence, focus, balance and keeping out the outside noise brought benefits on and off the court!
These mini episodes will offer quick reMINDers and inspirations to help get your MIND right for the day and week ahead.
In this episode, we thoroughly examine the 5 Factors of Success and how to keep them in hand during the game. We continue our practice of connecting to our centered self by remembering to remove external distractions.
In this episode, we place focus on the difference between reacting and responding to situations and how recognizing this in our lives will bring us closer to success. We also look into the importance of the internal you and the external you. Lastly, we practice calming the central nervous system through breath and utilizing our tools in the face of adversity. Success is within reach.
In this episode, we focus on mastering your emotional responses by managing and practicing the art of focus with breath and directing your attention and minimizing distractions that get in your way of an optimal performance.
These mini episodes will offer quick reMINDers and inspirations to help get your MIND right for the day and week ahead.
These mini episodes will offer quick reMINDers and inspirations to help get your MIND right for the day and week ahead.
In this episode, we look at our relationship with pressure, how we handle pressure and using pressure for positive outcomes, pressure as fuel and not fear. No Pressure, No Diamonds.
In this episode, we look at the act of placing our attention and eliminating external distractions and understanding that success comes from focus and concentration. We also look into the 5 states of attention and the importance of making time for rest, restoration and renewal.
The first episode in a series designed for those on the baseball and softball field. In this episode, we examine the benefits of nourishing the body with breath and the ability to turn obstacles into opportunities.
In this episode, we look into chemistry and tools to create the formula for success. We explore the importance of remembering for the love of the game and harnessing that love and passion as well as owning your energy and how this all helps in you staying centered and steady in your game.
These mini episodes will offer quick reMINDers and inspirations to help get your MIND right for the day and week ahead.
In this episode, we looking into tools to help you show up and play your best game by being mindful of how you fuel yourself, releasing interfering thoughts and envisioning your optimal performance.
In this episode, we examine the importance of timing, taking advantage of the moment we're in and recognizing that we are only in control of this moment and to not get caught up in anything else. Everything else is just a story, but the time to win is NOW, in this moment.
In this episode, we look into focusing on our strong inner knowing, what is strength, what strength vs. weakness is for us individually, feeding our strength and what our relationship is with pressure. They say 'no pressure, no diamonds', so, embrace the pressure.
In this episode, we examine ways of creating a fresh start for ourselves, evaluating what success is, pushing the limits and looking at tools we can use to LEVEL UP.
In this episode, we look at the importance of awareness and the importance of observing your thoughts. We look into how this awareness helps you get closer to your authentic self and finding your comfort zone. As athletes, much of the training is on the physical aspect of your game, but this first episode begins the training of your mind.