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In this episode, co-host Tim Pineau returns to the pod and Ketih and Tim have a conversation about grief. Tim stepped away from his co-hosting role for our last few episodes to manage a family crisis, which is what Tim and Keith are talking about in our final episode of Season 3.  Tim's daughter, Inayaa, died in February 2022 at 4 and a half months old after being diagnosed with a rare heart defect.  Tim shares Inaaya's story and what his journey through this grief has been like so far. Many people we work with often ask how something like meditation is really supposed to help them navigate things like trauma or tragedy?  Should they feel nothing?  Never be stressed?  Never fall apart?  The intention behind this conversation is to provide a window into this question and share in real time how a mindfulness expert is experiencing grief.  Specifically, we emphasize that being mindful is not the same thing as always being "ok," and that our well-being is not synonymous with happiness. After a brief introduction explaining our intention to apply mindful curiosity to this experience of profound grief and loss, this conversation touches on: 3:15 - Inaaya's story 13:00 - What self-care really looks like after a traumatic loss 19:00 - How mindfulness shows up in difficult times even if/when formal practice isn't happening 26:45 - Intentionality and choice when it comes to responding to big emotions 29:00 - The pressure to be "ok" from others, and the radical self-compassion of letting yourself openly, honestly not be ok 34:30 - Finding the "gift" in a tragedy - meta-awareness and the clarification of priorities 41:00 - Recognizing there is no perfect, and accepting that "messiness" is just part of the picture, not a failure 45:30 - Integrating this personal experience into mindfulness-based mental performance consultant self-disclosure and the modeling of mindfulness 52:00 - Acknowledging the difference between well-being and happiness 55:00 - Honoring Inaaya - choose kindness

In this episode, Maggie Malone  joins the conversation. Maggie Malone is a two-time Olympian (Rio and Tokyo), NCAA Champion, and American and collegiate women's record holder in the javelin throw. Keith begins the episode with a brief intention setting practice. Then, he and Maggie discuss:10:50 - Maggie's evolution in mindset throughout her career.14:10 - The meditation practices that Maggie uses. 15:40 - Coping with the "Olympic Hangover." 20:00 - The benefits of meditation in being able to strengthen your identity. 23:50 - Understanding the difference between reaction and response. 25:56 - Combating perfectionism.31:00 - Leaning into Self-Confidence. 35:18 - The surprising things they don't tell you about competing at the Olympics. Social Media Mentioned: Twitter: @mindfulsportdoc Instagram: @mindful_sport_podcast, @maggietheaggieYouTube: Mindful Sport Performance Podcast Websites Mentioned: www.mindfulsportperformance.org www.enduromind.comRemember to rate our podcast and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! Very much appreciated, Keith & Tim

In this episode, Dr. Tim Herzog  joins the conversation. Dr. Tim Herzog is a Licensed Psychologist in Virginia and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Montana. He works with athletes nationally and internationally, and his practice, Reaching Ahead, is located in Annapolis, MD. Dr. Herzog is a Fellow with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and serves on the organization’s Ethics Committee. He is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC), is listed on the USOPC Sport Psychology (2012 to present) and Mental Health (2021 to present) Registries, and is Board Certified in Biofeedback (BCB). Mindful of the power of relationships, he conducts evidence-based practice, pulling from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Mindfulness based approaches, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, and Interpersonal Process. Dr. Herzog also pulls wisdom from his years of coaching, notably having served as Head Coach of the Boston College Sailing Team 2001-2002, when the team placed 5th at ICSA Co-Ed Nationals and received 4 All-American honors (more than ever prior in BC history).Dr. Herzog begins the episode with a longer diaphragmatic breathing and biofeedback practice, and then he and Keith discuss:15:16 - The integration of biofeedback and mindfulness 24:00 - Biofeedback and the inverted-U hypothesis26:00 - Distinctions between things you can control, things you cannot control, and things you can influence31:30 - Dr. Herzog's experiences incorporating mindfulness and biofeedback into the sport of sailing43:09 - Ethical considerations in mental health and mental performance consulting and better informing those seeking sport psychology servicesSocial Media Mentioned: Twitter: @mindfulsportdoc Instagram: @mindful_sport_podcastYouTube: Mindful Sport Performance Podcast Websites Mentioned: www.reachingahead.comDr.  Herzog's Online Training Course Kardia Deep BreathingPsychology Today Therapist DirectoryCMPC Directorywww.mindfulsportperformance.org www.enduromind.comRemember to rate our podcast and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! Very much appreciated, Keith & Tim

In this episode, Chrissy Horan joins the conversation. Chrissy Horan is a public health professional turned freelance writer and runner. After almost 20 years of studying and promoting healthy behaviors like nutrition, physical activity, and sleep in academic, government, and non-profit organizations, she changed career paths to pursue a long-term interest and hobby: writing. She has since spent her time writing about health, wellness, and fitness for publications like Runners World, Women's Running, and The Boston Globe. Chrissy is a life-long athlete who began running upon moving to Cambridge, MA in 2000. She has completed 14 marathons and several more races in-between. Chrissy was introduced to mindfulness and meditation through yoga, and continues to be interested in its practice and application in life and sports.  Keith begins the episode with a brief grounding practice, and then he and Chrissy talk about:5:55 - Chrissy's experience researching and writing about the science of mindfulness in running for Runner's World. 9:30 - How you may be experiencing moments of mindfulness without realizing that is what you're actually doing. 11:10 - A real-life example of forming key associations, a critical component to the Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE)® program. 14:40 - Viewing running as a dynamic form of meditation. 19:30 - How mindfulness impacts parenting and other parts of life. 23:10 - Cultivating mindfulness as a lifestyle rather than just something to be called on when you're stressed. 25:50 - Reframing mindfulness practices as mental strength training. 27:40 - The reception to Chrissy's article within the running community. 31:45 - Combating the "Mc-Mindfulness" movement.34:40 - Chrissy's career shift after 20 years in public health and the role that mindfulness played. Social Media Mentioned: Twitter: @mindfulsportdoc, @_ChrissyHoranInstagram: @mindful_sport_podcastYouTube: Mindful Sport Performance Podcast Websites Mentioned: http://chrissyhoran.com/https://muckrack.com/chrissy-horan/articlesRunner's World: The Research-Supported Benefits of Meditation for Runnerswww.mindfulsportperformance.org www.enduromind.comRemember to rate our podcast and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! Very much appreciated, Keith & Tim

In this episode, Dr. Amishi Jha joins the conversation. Dr. Amishi Jha is the Director of Contemplative Neuroscience and a Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami. With grants from the Department of Defense and several private foundations, she leads research on the neural bases of attention and the effects of mindfulness-based training programs on cognition, emotion, resilience, and performance. Dr. Jha recently published her first book, Peak Mind, and her work has been featured in many outlets including TED.com, NPR, and the Armchair Expert podcast. She has been invited to present her work to NATO, the UK Parliament, the Pentagon, and at the World Economic Forum. Keith begins the episode with a courage reflection practice. Then, he and Dr. Jha discuss: 5:20 - How Dr. Jha understands, trains, and studies attention.11:20 - How social media can hijack our sense of autonomy and choice. 13:41 - Three factors that cause attention to fail. 17:30 - The surprising truth about what stress inoculation training in the military and sports preseason camps can do to attention and well-being. 28:00 - How mindfulness is more than just another "mental skill."37:35 - How Dr. Jha's attention training is structured. Social Media Mentioned: Twitter: @mindfulsportdoc, @amishijhaInstagram: @mindful_sport_podcast, @amishipjha, @umindfulnessYouTube: Mindful Sport Performance Podcast Websites Mentioned: https://amishi.com/www.mindfulsportperformance.org www.enduromind.comRemember to rate our podcast and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! Very much appreciated, Keith & Tim

In this episode, Tony Mazurkiewicz, Chaplain for Georgetown University Athletics, joins the conversation. Tony Mazurkiewicz serves as the Georgetown University Chaplain for Athletics and the Senior Advisor of the Georgetown John Main Center for Meditation and Interreligious Dialogue. Prior to his current positions, Tony served as a member of the Carmelite Order as a brother and priest for 15 years, including five years as President of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, IL. Tony has over 20 years of ministerial and leadership experience in K-12 public and private schools, parishes, retreat centers and prisons. He received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and received his Masters in Divinity degree from the Washington Theological Union. He is a trained Spiritual Director, Mediator, and Enneagram Facilitator who also holds certificates in Carmelite Studies, the Spiritual Exercises and Non-Profit Management.  Tony opens up with a centering down practice. Then Tony and Keith have a conversation about:8:08 - What it means to be the Chaplain for Athletics. 15:55 - University mission integration in athletics, and the inherent challenges it brings. 23:19 - Reflecting on the impact of Tony's role in the athletics department. 26:27 - Leaning in vs. Leaning back in sports and life. 33:14 - Integrating mindfulness into a university community during COVID and beyond. Social Media Mentioned: Twitter: @mindfulsportdocInstagram: @mindful_sport_podcast, @johnmaincenterYouTube: Mindful Sport Performance Podcast Websites Mentioned: https://guhoyas.com/https://johnmaincenter.org/www.mindfulsportperformance.org www.enduromind.comRemember to rate our podcast and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! Very much appreciated, Keith & Tim

In this episode, Drs. Jen Schumacher and Kat Longshore join the conversation.Jen is the Assistant Director of the Performance Psychology Program at West Point where she works with cadets and Division I athletes on the psychological aspects of elite performance. She is a professional speaker and provides individual training for elite performers, ultra-endurance athletes, and Fortune 100 executives. Kat joined the Center for Enhanced Performance in 2020 as a performance-enhancement specialist and lecturer. She works with cadets and core squad athletes on their mental game to perform at their best when it matters most. Prior to joining CEP, Kat worked in her private practice, MoniKat Coaching.  Kat begins the episode with a centering breath meditation, and then Jen and Kat talk with Keith and Tim about: 9:23 - What their day-to-day life is like as performance psychologists at West Point12:57 - The challenges of offering performance psychology services to not only athletic teams, but also other groups of cadets on campus 16:38 - The Mental Training Paradox and managing the felt time constraints as a reason why athletes do not do more mental skills training 25:16 - The importance of collaboration in integrating mental skills training on a college campus 26:40 - How mindfulness, compassion, and gratitude training is received in a military environment 34:05 - What does compassion look like in real life?35:07 - The benefits of Jen and Kat's embedded positions at West Point 38:57 - Assessment and effectiveness of their CEP programming 42:00 - Training cadets to respond versus react as a way of integrating mindfulness into military culture Social Media Mentioned: Twitter: @mindfulsportdocInstagram: @mindful_sport_podcast, @armywp_cepYouTube: Mindful Sport Performance Podcast CEP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armywp_cep/Websites Mentioned: www.westpoint.edu/centers-and-research/center-for-enhanced-performancewww.westpoint.eduwww.ceptutoring.comwww.jenschumacher.comwww.monikatcoaching.comwww.mindfulsportperformance.org www.enduromind.comRemember to rate our podcast and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! Very much appreciated, Keith & Tim

In this episode, Véronique Prouhet Annerino joins the conversation. Véronique has practiced and studied mindfulness for 20 years and has taught mindfulness meditation for the past four years to tens of thousands of people across 44 countries.  As a behavioral health and mindfulness trainer to global experts and executives in engineering, research, health care, and multinational corporations, she provides mindfulness and meditation tools and techniques for cultivating equanimity and building mental fortitude to enhance focus, performance, and well-being. She has a master's in health and healthcare economics and a decade of experience in population health and wellness.  While working in digital health at IBM,  she was the North American leader in their global mindfulness program. Today,  Véronique works with the meditation app Headspace and continues to teach regularly across a dynamic array of populations.Véronique begins the episode with a brief arriving practice, and then talks with Keith and Tim about:7:17 - Using the breath as an attentional "remote control"8:55 - Getting buy-in to the idea of mindfulness10:20 - A marvelous description of mindfulness 13:45 - Mindfulness as a new frontier in sports 15:56 - Her personal journey into sports19:09 - How to teach the philosophy of mindfulness in sports29:00 - The benefits of treating athletes as whole people, not machines34:00 - Bridging the gap between performance and compassion36:45 - Finding flow as an athlete by letting goPodcasts Mentioned:The Office Ladies Social Media Mentioned: Twitter: @mindfulsportdocInstagram: @mindful_sport_podcastYouTube: Mindful Sport Performance Podcast Véronique's LinkedinWebsites Mentioned: www.mindfulsportperformance.org www.enduromind.comRemember to rate our podcast and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! Very much appreciated, Keith & Tim

In this episode, Dr. Ross White joins the conversation. Dr. White is a professor of clinical psychology at Queens University in Belfast and an expert on global mental health. He has active research collaborations with the World Health Organization and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees investigating the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for reducing distress in the aftermath of humanitarian crises. He's the lead editor of the Palgrave Handbook of Sociocultural Perspectives on Global Mental Health, and lead author of the recently published Acceptance and Commitment Approaches for Athletes' Wellbeing and Performance: The Flexible Mind. Dr. White has a keen interest in supporting the mental health and well being of adults working in high-performance environments, including elite athletes.  He has consulted with United Rugby Championship players, international track athletes, and Premier League Football Club academies. He is an Association of Contextual Behavioral Science peer-reviewed trainer of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.Tim begins the episode with a brief body scan practice. Then, Dr. White talks with Keith and Tim about: 13:00 - How the Self-Help Plus intervention was developed and used in the context of international humanitarian crises. 17:00 - How to practice acceptance in the midst of crisis from an ACT perspective. 23:00 - Parallels between people experiencing humanitarian crises and the experiences of elite athletes.25:00 - Using the principle of creative hopelessness and a focus on values to help people cultivate a "courageous willingness" to accept their experiences. 30:00  - Exploring how values help dignify the experience of accepting discomfort, and the importance of choice points in moving towards the things that matter. 34:00 - Navigating the line between acceptance and overwhelm using the metaphor "dropping anchor" and making distinctions between immersion and emerging. 39:00 - The importance of creating clarity of what mindfulness is, and building the capacity for mindfulness over time. 43:00 - Grounding techniques used by elite rugby players. 45:00 - Developing the whole person, not just the athletic performer. Books Mentioned:Perform Under Pressure by Dr. Ceri Evans The Chimp Paradox by Dr. Steve Peters Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement by Drs. Keith Kaufman, Carol Glass, and Tim Pineau Acceptance and Commitment Approaches for Athletes' Wellbeing and Performance: The Flexible Mind by Ross G. White, Andrew Bethell, Lewis Charnock, Stephen Leckey, and Victoria Penpraze. Social Media Mentioned: Twitter: @mind_flexer Twitter: @mindfulsportdocInstagram: @mindful_sport_podcastYoutube: Mindful Sport Performance Podcast Websites Mentioned: www.flexiblemind.co.ukwww.mindfulsportperformance.org Remember to rate our podcast and subscribe to you Youtube Channel! Very much appreciated, Keith & Tim

In this episode, Dr. Ben Guest, bestselling author, teacher, and basketball coach, joins the conversation. Ben begins with a brief mindful breathing practice and then talks with Keith and Tim about the evolution of his coaching style away from a "command-and-control" model and the writing of his influential book, Zen and the Art of Coaching Basketball: Memoir of a Namibian Odyssey.

In this episode, Dr. Jim Afremow, author and co-founder of The Champion's Mind, joins the conversation. Jim begins with a relaxation and awareness practice, and then talks with Keith and guest host Taylor Brown about the roles of mindfulness in his work, inspiring clients to pursue a champion's mindset, recovery from injury, finding balance in youth sport, and the importance of team culture.

In this episode, Dr. Bob Rosenbaum, a neuropsychologist, behavioral medicine specialist, and Zen teacher, joins the conversation. Bob begins with a centering practice and then talks with Keith about finding his center through Qigong, teaching non-striving by building curiosity and trust, his concerns about applications of mindfulness in the West, and the importance of patience and acceptance in performance.

In this episode, Dr. Michael Gerson, clinical sport psychologist and Assistant Professor at National University, joins the conversation. Michael begins with a centering breath practice that he co-developed with his students. Then, he talks with Keith and Tim about the course he created on mindful performance featuring MSPE, managing impostor syndrome mindfully, modeling authenticity, and the mental training work he's done with military populations.

In this episode, Dr. Chris Winter, sleep medicine specialist and neurologist, joins the conversation. Tim begins with an interval breath counting exercise. Then, Chris talks with Keith and Tim about fear and anxiety in sleep and how mindfulness can help, challenges in creating a sleep-friendly culture within a pro sports team, and pitfalls in seeking gimmick solutions for insomnia.

In this Season 3 premiere episode, Tyler Harvey, NCAA scoring champion and player for the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian National Basketball League, joins the conversation. Keith begins with a brief mindful eating practice. Then, Tyler talks with Keith and Tim about his daily mindfulness routine, finding flow in his basketball performances, how he's learned to tune out distractions, and how different countries he's played in incorporate mindfulness.

In this Season 2 finale episode, Bianca Campbell, Founder and Director of Rise Mindful Basketball Academy, joins the conversation. Bianca begins with a "warmup" breathing meditation and then talks with Keith and Tim about her development of Rise, experiences with mental training as an elite athlete, personal journey to mindfulness, and how she introduces mindfulness to the athletes and parents at her Academy.

In this episode, Dr. Paul Salmon, associate professor of clinical psychology and author of Mindful Movement in Psychotherapy, joins the conversation. Paul begins with a mindful moment focusing on sensations of the breath and then talks with Keith and Tim about how he got interested in mindfulness before it was a buzzword, helped bring MBSR into mainstream psychology, and integrates movement with mindfulness in his work.

In this episode, Tommy Minkler, lacrosse coach and sport psychology doctoral student, joins the conversation. Tommy begins with a Nadi Shodhana Pranayama breath practice, and then chats with Keith and Tim about leaning into discomfort as a mindful athlete and coach, and how he introduces mindfulness in lacrosse within his different roles as coach, consultant, or student.

In this episode, Roan Morrison, Thai boxing and meditation coach, joins the conversation. Roan is a former professional Muay Thai fighter and now owns Hanuman Thai Boxing in Edinburgh, Scotland. He begins this episode with a mindfulness of the breath, body, and sound practice, and then talks with Keith and Tim about incorporating mindful warm-ups into a pre-competitive routine, bringing a meditative headspace into a combat sport, and the role of anger and other emotions in performances.Find Roan at: https://hanumanthaiboxing.co.ukhttps://insightedinburgh.com

In this special episode, our producer, Taylor Brown, interviews Keith and Tim about the intersection of mindfulness, mental health, and performance within sport culture. The episode is part of a unique collaboration with the non-profit Athletes for Hope (AFH), which works to empower professional, Olympic, and collegiate athletes to make a difference in the world.  AFH has launched a campaign during Mental Health Awareness Month highlighting the importance of mental health in sports.