Courtside Wellness: Recent Episodes
Wellness Athletic Services
Courtside Wellness takes a jump into the lives of athletes from various walks of life to discuss topics related to Mental Health in the Sport Community. I am your host, Brandon St.Croix, former athlete and current Social Worker. Together we will discuss topics such as injuries, performance stress, body image, retirement, addiction and more while discussing their affects on athlete’s mental health.
If you are an athlete, a coach, or someone who loves sports, this will be a conversation to focus on about not only the body but the mind as well.
On Season 2 Episode 15 we welcome Jess Davis. Jess is a former student athlete and hockey coach. Jess is one of the co-founders of "Break the Ice" which focuses on the conversation of mental health in the sport community and also supports the Maddy Murphy Memorial Foundation. Jess joins us to discuss her journey as a student athlete, Break the Ice and how important to their work to shatter the stigma and educate coaches, parents and athletes. You can find out more about Break the Ice at their website https://sites.google.com/view/breaktheice/home or their Instagram @breaktheice_mentalhealth and for more information about the Maddy Murphy Memorial Foundation check them out on their Social Media @mm81memorialfund
Thank you and Stay Well
On Season 2 Episode 14 we welcome Kayla Douglas. Kayla is a former student athlete at the University of Michigan as well as an Adjunct Social Work Counselor at the University of Michigan. She received her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan and discusses how 'Bare to Be' grew from her time at UofM with fellow Former Student Athlete Sara Driesenga. Kayla joins us to discuss her journey as a student athlete, the role of mentors such as Greg Harden, Barb Hansen and Warren Clark and how important to show she is more than an athlete. Dare To Be empowers athletes with the tools to confidently embrace the inevitable realities in life: adversity, transition and growth. You can find out more about Dare to Be at their website https://www.doyoudaretobe.com/ or their Instagram @doyoudaretobe
Thank you and Stay Well
On Season 2 Episode 13 we welcome American Horse Racing Jockey Jeremy Rose. He began his career as a professional rider at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Delaware and in 2001 was his breakout year and he was voted the United States' Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. Jeremy discussed his experience of being a jockey and the impacts on the mind and body. Further discussion of the Stigma of Mental Health in our community and advice he has for young jockeys entering the sport. You can find out more about Jeremy and American Jockeys on After Battling Substance Abuse Issues, Belmont Winner Jeremy Rose Launches a Comeback (thoroughbreddailynews.com)
Enjoy and Stay Well!
On Season 2 Episode 12 we welcome Heidi Luby. Heidi is a former two sport provincial athlete in Basketball and Diving and currently a psycho-therapist with the Jacob Puddister Memorial Foundation. She completed a masters degree in Counselling Psychology and is a certified professional member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Heidi discussed her experience of being a former athlete and how it has had impacts on her life in other ways off the field. We discuss the Stigma of Mental Health in our community on and off the court and the work she is involved in at the Jacob Puddister Memorial Foundation to combat this stigma and their podcast " No Worries". You can find out more about the Jacob Puddister Memorial Foundation at www.jpmemorialfoundation.com or on Facebook or Instagram as well as their Podcast " No Worries" on Facebook and Instagram.
Enjoy and Stay Well!
On Season 2 Episode 11 we welcome Nate Recknagel. Nate is the Clinical and Research Director at NFL Player Care Foundation. He received his Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan and has been an elite athlete in his own right. Nate joins us to discuss how important it is for him to show he is more than an athlete and how much pride he holds in his clinical Social Work skills. He discusses the work he conducts with the NFL Player Care Foundation and discusses the importance of strong clinical work.
Thank you and Stay Well
On Season 2 Episode 10 we welcome former student athlete from University of Utah, 5x Published Author, Flash-Fiction Writer, Keynote Speaker, and Recording Artist; Kenneth Scott. Kenneth joins us to discuss his experience as an student-athlete and his journey through counselling and his development of other areas of his life. He shares the story of his being vulnerable and how he used his strength to write his book series Pressure No Match for Purpose. You can find more about Kenneth on Instagram @kscott_2 and his website www.kennethscott.me
Thank you and Stay Well
On Season 2 Episode 9 we welcome former NCAA Athlete and founder of RPA College; Reggie Calhoun Jr. Reggie joins us to discuss his experience as an student-athlete and how he overcame challenges to learn tools and skills in developing RPA College throughout his athletic career and experiences in life. He shares the sport culture for athletes who use RPA college to help them getting connected or understanding more about themselves. You can find more about Reggie on Instagram @reggiecalhounjr and their website www.wearerpa.org
Thank you and Stay Well
On Season 2 Episode 8 we welcome former NCAA Track and Field Athlete from Troy University, author of Life after the Field, and business owner of Martin Etiquettes; Ben Martin. Ben joins us to discuss his experience as an athlete and how he used his skills and tools through being a student athlete to complete goals after he completed his athletic career. He shares tips from his book and how he would like to see changes in our sport culture for athlete's wellbeing. You can find Ben on Instagram @lifeafterthefield or @martinetiquettes and his website https://www.martinetiquettes.com/
Thank you and Stay Well
On Season 2 Episode 7 we welcome the Senior Director of Player Development and Wellness for the Toronto Raptors, Dr. Alex Auerbach! Alex joins us to discuss his work as a Sport Psychologist with experience in the NCAA, NFL, MLB, and currently as NBA. We also discuss Alex's therapeutic approach when working with athletes, how the NBA has been working on shattering the stigma of mental health in sports, and his own Podcast Unfair Advantage.
Thank you and Stay Well
On Season 2 Episode 6 we welcome NCAA and professional Sprinter and current Sport Social Worker Shelbi White! Shelbi joins us to discuss her experience as an athlete and host of Athlete Stand Up while also discussing the challenges that she endured as an athlete. We also discuss the work she has done with ASWIS and her platform Athlete Stand up which you can find on Instagram and Facebook.
Thank you and Stay Well
On Season 2 Episode 5, we clue up 2022 and would like to thank all our listeners for checking in each episode and thank our guest who were willing to open about their journey, thoughts, and experiences of mental health in the sport community. We highlight some clips that stood out to us over the past year on the podcast. Discuss what to expect in 2023!
Thank you and Stay Well
On Season 2 Episode 4 we welcome NCAA champion and current professional soccer player Jack Beer! Jack joins us to discuss his experience as an athlete with anxiety and panic disorder while also discussing the positive supports he had with coaching staff at Georgetown University. He details with us how because of that support, it helped him to the heights he is at in his soccer career from being apart of the 2019 NCAA national championship team to his current place with New York FC II. We also discuss the work he has done with Athlete for Hope and changes he hopes to see in sport and sport culture around mental health for athletes.
Thank you and Stay Well
On Season 2 Episode 3 we welcome back Natalie Graves, Sport Social Worker, and founder of Natalie Graves Athletic Counselling as well as newly author of The Athlete Prepbook! Natalie joins us to discuss her experience writing the prepbook and how you can use it as an athlete, coach or trainer. We will discuss the different in mental health and mental toughness and how you can take care of your athletes!
You can find out more about The Athlete Prepbook on prepbook.info or find it on Amazon. Also follow Natalie on Instagram and website nataliegraves.com
Thank you and Stay Well
Welcome back to Season 2 of Courtside Wellness. On Season 2 Episode 2 we are joined by Jamal Jackson, former NCAA football player, Sport Social Worker, and founder of Student Athlete Counselling as well as documentary maker of See Isaac Run. Jamal discusses his experience as a former college athlete while learning more about himself and his journey becoming a Social Worker. He also shared his journey in developing See Isaac Run documentary of his father's football journey. You can find out more about See Isaac Run and Student Athlete Counselling on Facebook and Instagram and website www.sacounseling.org
Thank you and Stay Well!
Welcome back to Season 2 of Courtside Wellness. On Season 2 Episode 1 we are joined by Chris Baxter, former professional hockey player and founder of Athletes United. Chris discusses his experience as a professional hockey player, the mental and emotional stressors and pressures and challenge of identity. He also discusses his vision for Athletes United and how he sees the role of peer support for athletes from ages 13 and older.
Thank you and Stay Well!
On Episode 18 of Courtside Wellness, we are joined by Grace Annear and Catherine Hutchens to discuss the Queer Community in Sports. Both Grace and Catherine competed at the elite level in their sports of Track and Field for Grace and Hockey and Soccer for Catherine. We discuss what it means to be a Queer Athlete and the struggles and current barriers in place. With hopes to changes in our current system and successes that we have seen as of recent, Grace and Catherine share some amazing stories and experiences.
Happy Pride Month and Stay Well!!
On Episode 17 of Courtside Wellness, we bring a close to May which is Mental Health Month to discuss 10 tips for athlete's to take care of their mental health and mental well-being. We discuss tools and techniques that athletes and coaches can implement into their systems with narratives from athletes that have joined us Courtside such as Daniel Gordon, Trey Moses, Zee Butler, and Jesse Walsh. We also discuss how athletes are vulnerable and unique so knowing how each skill may look for each athlete may look different.
Thank you and Stay Well!
On Episode 16 of Courtside Wellness, we are joined by Daniel Gordon. Daniel discusses his athletic career from all three perspectives from High School Basketball, playing OCAA and for Memorial University of Newfoundland, as well as playing professional for the PEI Island Storm and the Newfoundland Rogue. We discuss Athlete Identity, pressures and stressors of athletes and impacts these can have on an athletes mental health. We also talk about the Student Athlete Mental Health Initiative, SAMHI. We also discuss how athletes can take care of their mental health and remember they are more than just an athlete!
Thank you and Stay Well!
On Episode 15 of Courtside Wellness, we are joined by Colton Ray-St. Cyr. Colton played 4 years of D1 Basketball at Costal Carolina between 2013-2017 followed by a professional basketball career with the St. John's Edge in the NBLC and Baskets Elchingen in the Germany Pro-B. We get the chance to talk about his own experience as a collegiate athlete then professional international athlete and impacts on mental health through pressures, stressors, and injuries. We also discuss how athlete's have a platform now more than they ever had to use their voice.
Thank you and Stay Well!
On Episode 14 of Courtside Wellness, we are joined by Warren Clark, Lecturer and staff at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor School of Social Work. Warren helped pave the way for Sport Social Work with his work with Bill Vanderwill in highlighting the role of Sport Social Work at their mini-conference in 2012 at the University of Michigan. Warren's passion around strengthen based coaching and positive psychology when working with youth is something you do not want to miss! We get the chance to talk about his own experience as a Sport Social Worker and how he hopes to help other student athlete and Sport Social Workers see wellness in their lives. Check out the information about the Sport Social Work certification at https://ssw.umich.edu/offices/continuing-education/certificate-courses/sport-social-work-certificate
Thank you and Stay Well!
On Episode 13 of Courtside Wellness, we are joined by Dr. Emmett Gill, who is the former Professional Sports Crisis and Wellness Program Manager where his responsibilities included evaluating NFL crisis plans, quality assurance for the NFL Lifeline and mental health training for the NBA. Dr. Gill is the former the Director of Student-Athlete Wellness and Personal Development, and a Clinical Assistant Professor, at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also the Founder of Athlete Talk in which we discuss the benefits of this mental health and wellness App for Athletes. For more information, check out www.whereathletestalk.com
Allen Iverson may have said, "We Talking About Practice" but today, We Are Talking about Athletes!!
Thank you and Stay Well!!
On Episode 12 of Courtside Wellness, we are joined by Zee Butler, founder of The Ball Code, former collegiate women's basketball on the Division I NJCAA and NCAA level. Zedralyn started The Ball Code to help pave the way, bridge the gaps and help prepare student-athletes for their next level. We get the chance to talk about her own transition points as a student-athlete, how she hopes to help other student athlete and resources that The Ball Code has for athletes and coaches. Check out her information at https://www.theballcode.com or theballcode on Instagram and Facebook
Thank you and Stay Well!
On Episode 11 of Courtside Wellness, we sit down with Dr. Jerry Reynolds, Assistant Professor at Ball State University, Vice President of the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports (ASWIS), Researcher and former Athlete. We will discuss the growth of the field, changes to policy and changes coming in the field, as well as the growth of the Alliance of Social Workers in Sport as well as the new academic journal from ASWIS.
Thank you and Stay Well.
On Episode 10 of Courtside Wellness, we are joined by Trey Moses, former Ball State Basketball player and current NBL1 Basketball player in Australia as well as Mental Health Advocate to discuss his own experience of mental health, as well as supports and changes in the sport community. Trey played 4 years at Ball State University where he averaged 8.6 ppg 6.9 rpg and 2.2 apg but most importantly where he took a stand for mental health by speaking out, "It's ok not to be ok".
Thank you and Stay Well.
On Episode 9 of Courtside Wellness, we are joined by Dr. Marc Felizzi, Associated Professor at Millersville University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work, therapist, and Mental Health provider for USA Olympic current and retired athletes. We will be discussing his perspective of mental health in sports from a coaching, social worker, and therapist point of view as well as the Dual Masters of Social Work/Masters of Sport Management Program at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. Thank you and Stay Well.
On Episode 8 of Courtside Wellness, we are joined by Bob DeMars, film maker, screen writer, Former Defensive End at USC (1997-2001), and Director of The Business of Amateurs. We will be discussing his own battle with mental health, his own experience as a student athlete, and his work as an activist for student athletes. Thank you and Stay Well.
On Episode 7 of Courtside Wellness, we are joined by Natalie Graves, AM LCSW, Sport Social Worker and Mental Health Expert for Athletes and Coaches based in Chicago, Illinois. We will be discussing her journey of embarking Sport Social Work, her various projects such as the 1in4 Project, her private practice with athletes Natalie Graves Athletic Counselling and other services she offers. We will also discuss the growth of Sport Social Work over the past decade to celebrate National Social Work Day. Thank you and Stay Well.
On Episode 6 of Courtside Wellness, we are joined by Reggie Clark, former University of North Carolina Tarheel and 8 year veteran of NFL. We will discuss his own experience of Mental Health as an athlete, the stigma of mental health in sports with changes over the years, as well as his recovery and treatment from Traumatic Brain Injury. Reggie also provides some advice for current and former athletes to ensure you are taking care of your own mental health. Thank you and Stay Well.
On Episode 5 of Courtside Wellness, we are joined by TJ Smith, former Major Junior Hockey player, NCAA hockey player, Major Junior Coach and current Mental Health Advocate. We will discuss his own experience and recovery from Mental Health as an athlete, the stigma of mental health in the sport community, in particular hockey, and his work as a Mental Health advocate in sport and rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Some topics may be triggering for individuals as topics include mental health, addictions, and suicide.
On Episode 4 of Courtside Wellness, we discuss the recent Olympics, the concerns around Russian figure skating coaching, abusive coaching in sports and necessary changes. We will discuss how the history of coaching culture can have a negative impact on an athlete's overall well-being and challenge our listeners for social change in our society.
On Episode 3 of Courtside Wellness, we sit down with Bill Vanderwill, MSW, LMSW from the University of Michigan to discuss the origins of Sport Social Work, his work at the University of Michigan, and the growth of the Sport Social Worker field. We will discuss how he has used sport as a vehicle when working with youth and how the skillsets of which Social workers possess can work greatly to enhance the overall well-being of today's athlete.
On Episode 2 of Courtside Wellness, we discuss Elite Olympic Athletes who have opened up about their experience and journey of Mental Health prior to, during, and after their athletic careers. While discussing the stigma of Mental Health in the Sport Community, we talk about some of the changes happening in society while also discussing some of the gaps while also discussing the recent loss of Olympic hopeful Brittany George, Australian Skier. We will also turn our conversation courtside to discuss tips for athletes to improve their mental health and sense of identity.
Some topics may be triggering for Individuals due to topics of Depression and Suicide.
On Episode 1 of Courtside Wellness, we sit down with Jesse Walsh, former track and field sprinter and current completive gymnastics coach to discuss his own experience of mental health in his athletic career, impacts that injuries can have on an athlete's mental health and how he is currently using his own experience to help athletes today through coaching.
Courtside Wellness will focus on Mental Health in the Sport Community. We will discuss the importance of Mental Well-being in the Sport Community with the goals of Bringing Awareness, Providing Athletes with a Voice, and Promoting Social Change. We will have guest speakers such as current athletes, former athletes, sport social workers and other individuals in the sport community. Some topics may be triggering for individuals as topics may include anxiety, depression, suicide, addiction and trauma. Be Mindful of Self-Care. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Athletic Wellness Services.