#164: Catholic University field hockey player Mary Rojack joins us to talk about her journey with mental health, being part of the Morgan’s Message community, and the impact of building support both on and off campus. 💙From New Jersey to Catholic U, Mary’s passion for advocacy and connection shines through. Tune in to hear her story!

In this episode, Kat chats with Clare Kehoe, the Director of Education and one of the co-founders of Morgan’s Message. Clare opens up about her friendship with Morgan Rodgers—the memories they shared, the support she tried to offer, and the heartbreak of losing someone you love to suicide. She shares what drove her to help launch Morgan’s Message and how that loss forever changed the direction of her life.

Through grief, Clare has built something deeply meaningful: a movement that empowers student-athletes to speak up, support one another, and normalize conversations around mental health. We dive into how the Ambassador Program was created, how it’s grown to over 1,500 campuses, and the role it plays in changing culture—one conversation at a time.

• Learn more about Morgan’s Message here

• Follow @morgansmessage on IG here

• Apply to join or start an Ambassador Program at your school here

Marina Paul is the founder of SPRHRA, a women's sportswear brand built on real female athlete data. A former Division 1 soccer player and All-American at Georgetown University, Marina overcame significant challenges—depression, eating disorders, and ACL injuries—to become the program’s first-ever three-time captain, leading her team to the first-ever College Cup Final Four. Through SPRHRA and her advocacy, she is dedicated to empowering female athletes.

You can shop the SPRHRA x MM Short here

Find SPRHRA on IG here

Interested in Team Uniforms? You can find out more here

Connect with Morgan's Message on IG here

Learn more about Morgan's Message here

In this episode of The Mental Matchup, we sit down with Emma Kilbride, co-founder of Here for You Clothing, to talk about her lifelong journey with anxiety, depression, and tic disorder, and how stepping away from college became the turning point in her healing. Emma shares her raw and honest story of hitting pause on life as she knew it, doing the inner work through therapy and reflection, and ultimately rediscovering her purpose in mental health advocacy. Now, through Here For You Clothing, Emma is building community and connection through powerful storytelling and wearable reminders that no one is ever alone.

We discuss:

• The reality of living with anxiety, depression, and tics

• Why leaving college became a critical act of self-care

• The healing power of therapy and community

• How Emma turned pain into purpose through Here For You Clothing

Shop Here For You Clothing at hereforyouclothing.com
Use code MENTALMATCHUP for 20% off your order!
You can find here for you at @hereforyouclothing

Follow Morgan's Message at @morgansmessage
Learn more about Morgan's Message here

#160 - This week on The Mental Matchup, we sit down with Ben Redlener, a sophomore lacrosse player at Emerson College, to talk about the pressures that come with being a student-athlete—and the quiet battles that often go unseen.

Ben opens up about his mental health journey, reflecting on how constantly comparing himself to other athletes and peers impacted his confidence, academic life, and athletic performance. Through vulnerability and growth, Ben has found strength in accepting his own path and is now using his voice to support others doing the same.

#159 - In this episode, I sit down with Ellie Haney, a 26-year-old mental health advocate and founder of Here For You Clothing. Born out of her own mental health journey during the height of the pandemic, Ellie's mission is to create meaningful conversations and community through intentional fashion.

Ellie opens up about her struggles, the healing power of creativity, and how a simple phrase—“Here For You”—became the foundation of a movement. Alongside her best friend and managing partner, Emma Kilbride, Ellie has turned a powerful message into a brand that shows up on college campuses, in classrooms, and on streets across the country.

Shop Here For You Clothing at hereforyouclothing.com
Use code MENTALMATCHUP for 20% off your order!
You can find Ellie at @e_hanes
You can find here for you at @hereforyouclothing

Follow Morgan's Message at @morgansmessage
Learn more about Morgan's Message here

In this episode of The Mental Matchup, we sit down with Emma Reen, to discuss her journey through sports, mental health challenges, and the lessons she's learned along the way. She opens up about resilience, self-discovery, and the importance of breaking the stigma around mental health in athletics. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that reminds us all that we are never alone in our struggles.

In this week's episode, Kat sits down with Sophia Burke. Sophia's had a unique experience, navigating her mental health and her battle with addiction. Sophia talks about her experience with alcohol, playing collegiate lacrosse, relationships and the path to sobriety and healing. She's now in a place to reflect on the past couple of years and takes us on a truly inspiring journey.

Trigger warning: suicide, depression, anxiety, sexual assault, alcohol usage and disordered eating

In this episode, Kat chats with Kori Toms, a current Women’s soccer player at Le Moyne College, who opens up about her journey as a student-athlete and the mental and emotional challenges she’s faced along the way.

Topics Discussed:

The emotional impact of her mom’s breast cancer diagnosis and how her family became her foundation of support.

Navigating the recruiting process during COVID and transitioning to Division I soccer at Le Moyne College.

Discovering the importance of mental health in high school, managing a lingering knee injury, and finding balance through outlets beyond her sport.

This episode is a powerful reminder of the importance of leaning on your support system, finding safe spaces, and prioritizing mental health as an athlete.

Find out more about Morgan’s Message here
Follow Morgan’s Message on IG here

Today Kat’s joined by Gianna Burgio, a cross country and track athlete from Rowan University with a passion for empowering the next generation of runners. Gianna opens up about her journey through high school, where she struggled with an eating disorder that went undiagnosed. She shares how running became a part of her life, the lessons she’s learned about food, sports, and self-love, and her mission to ensure young athletes—especially young women—know the importance of both nourishing their bodies and finding joy in their passions.

Topics Discussed:

• Gianna’s introduction to running and how it shaped her identity

• Her experience navigating an undiagnosed eating disorder during high school

• The connection between food, performance, and mental health in young athletes

• Her aspirations to give back to her community as a teacher and coach

• Advice for young female athletes about self-love and the joy of sport

Connect with Gianna here

Get in touch with Morgan’s Message here

Follow Morgan’s Message on IG here

In this powerful episode, Jeremy Wolf, former DIII baseball player turned professional athlete and mental performance advocate, shares his incredible journey through sports and life. From being drafted by the New York Mets to helping Israel qualify for the Olympics, Jeremy reflects on the highs and lows of his career, including grappling with identity, mental health struggles, and finding purpose beyond the field.

Today, Jeremy runs MindReady, a company dedicated to providing athletes with accessible mental performance coaching. Join us as we discuss his inspiring story, lessons learned from failure, and how he’s revolutionizing athlete support with MindReady.

What You'll Learn:

• Jeremy's transition from DIII baseball to professional sports.

• The struggles of identity and mental health athletes face.

• Lessons from founding More Than Baseball and forming the MiLBPA union.

• How MindReady is making mental performance coaching affordable and accessible.

Links & Resources:

• Learn more about MindReady here

• You can follow MindReady on IG here

• Get in touch with Morgan’s Message here

• Follow Morgan’s Message on IG here

In this episode, Bella Griffin shares her journey of resilience and self-discovery. From San Diego to the sand courts of Tulane, Bella’s athletic career has been shaped by both her passion for beach volleyball and her perseverance through back-to-back ACL tears.

She opens up about:

• Overcoming Challenges: Facing two ACL tears during high school and navigating surgeries, redshirting freshman year of college and physical therapy.

• Mental Health Struggles: The impact of injuries on her mental health and the transformative moment of asking for help.

• Athlete Identity: Rediscovering herself outside of sports and finding new joys in life.

• Gratitude: The invaluable support from her family, coaches, teammates, and PT team.

Bella’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, the importance of seeking support, and the beauty of finding balance beyond the game.

Find out more about Morgan’s Message here!
Follow Morgan’s Message on IG here!

Join us for an incredible conversation with Dr. Haley Perlus, an accomplished Sport and Performance Psychology Practitioner, as she shares her expertise on mastering the mental game. Drawing from her competitive Alpine ski racing background and a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology, Dr. Perlus brings practical insights for anyone willing to listen.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Athlete Identity and Transition: Strategies for redefining self-worth and thriving beyond sports.

• Handling Performance Pressure: Tangible techniques to harness pressure and build resilience.

• Normalizing Emotions in High Performance: How to embrace emotions as tools for growth.

Resources Mentioned:

• Dr. Haley Perlus’s book: Personal Podium: How to Use Your Mind to Maximize Your Potential in Sport and Life (buy it here!)

• Learn more about Dr. Perlus: LinkedIn / Youtube

Learn more about Morgan’s Message here
Follow Morgan’s Message on Instagram here

This week, we're excited to have Lindsey Ronbeck back on the podcast! We’re talking all about friendships – from the teammate relationships to navigating life post-college without that shared common goal.

Ever wonder how to find like-minded friends after college? Or which friendships to lean into versus lean out of? We’re diving into all that, plus tips for staying mentally strong in a social media-driven world.

Lindsey and Kat discuss:

• Teammate Connections: How relationships with teammates evolve when sharing the bond of college sports.

• Post-Grad Friendships: Navigating friendships once you're no longer working toward a shared athletic goal.

• Evaluating Friendships: Knowing which friendships bring you joy and deciding who to lean into versus who to lean out of.

• Social Media's Impact: Discussing how social media can shape your mental health and self-worth in relation to friendships.

• Making New Friends Post-College: Tips on building meaningful connections with like-minded people after school.

In this episode, Kat sits down with Abby Bosco, a former lacrosse player at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maryland. Known for her powerful presence on defense, Abby was named the Athletes Unlimited 2023 Defender of the Year. Her accolades also include being a two-time IWLCA First Team All-Region pick, a Big Ten Defender of the Year, and a nominee for the Tewaaraton Award.

Key Topics:

1.Inspiration and Legacy: Abby hopes to inspire young girls in the lacrosse community to follow their dreams and find joy in what they do.

2. Personal Growth Through Lacrosse: Abby reflects on how the sport has shaped her life by connecting her with incredible people and leading her to remarkable places. She emphasizes the importance of pursuing what brings genuine happiness, ignoring outside pressures, and focusing on one’s internal joy.

3. Navigating Recruitment and Mental Health: Abby opens up about her journey through the recruitment process, her experience with the transfer portal, and her transition from Penn to Maryland. She also discusses the value of sports psychologists in her development as an athlete and a person, highlighting the significance of mental health support both on and off the field.

You can connect with Abby here!
You can follow Morgan’s Message here
You can find out more about Morgan’s Message here

In this episode, Kat sits down with Capri Richardson, the founder of First Contact Athletic Counseling, PLLC, and a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate based in Austin, TX. Capri brings a unique perspective to mental health in sports, combining her experience as a former Division I athlete and professional volleyball player with her expertise in counseling. Capri shares her journey through athletics, from growing up in a military family and being recruited to the University of Montana, where she became the first African-American player on their Women’s Volleyball Team, to playing professionally in Europe.

Capri’s passion for mental health advocacy emerged through her athletic journey and experiences abroad. Now in private practice, she focuses on providing athletes, coaches, and their families with support that nurtures their inner selves and fosters holistic well-being. Capri discusses the systemic challenges in sports, especially for female and minority athletes, and how she empowers her clients to develop coping skills, process trauma, and prioritize mental health.

Episode Highlights:

• The influence of her military family background and frequent moves on her athletic journey

• Transitioning from athlete to mental health advocate and counselor

• Her unique approach in private practice to support athletes, coaches, and families

• Advice for athletes joining new teams and for teammates welcoming others

• The importance of addressing mental health needs within the athletic community

Get in touch with Capri here
Follow Morgan’s Message here
Learn more about Morgan’s Message here

In this episode, Kat sits down with Camryn Whipple, a recent graduate of Slippery Rock University and former lacrosse player, to explore her athletic journey and her growing awareness of mental health. Camryn shares her early experiences in sports, from her first love of soccer to her spontaneous decision to try lacrosse in elementary school, and why she ultimately chose to pursue lacrosse in high school, leaving soccer and basketball behind. She opens up about the impact of COVID-19 on her senior year of high school and freshman year of college, and how the pandemic influenced her mental health. We also dive into her collegiate team’s open culture around mental health and how she’s now focusing on new passions as she transitions away from competitive athletics.

In this episode, Kat sits down with Lindsey to dive into her journey of transitioning from a collegiate lacrosse coaching career to stepping into a new role in marketing and communications at Morgan's Message. Lindsey shares the challenges and insights she gained during this shift and reflects on how much can change in just a few years. We also talk about her time coaching, the headspace she’s been in and the courage it took to navigate this new phase of her career. Plus, Lindsey opens up about joining the Morgan's Message team and how this opportunity has shaped her journey beyond lacrosse.

In the episode we discuss:

• Lindsey's career transition and life transitions in general

• The mental and emotional challenges during a major life shift

• How Lindsey found the courage to step away from coaching

• Her experiences with Morgan’s Message and how it has impacted her life

You can connect with Lindsey here!
You can find out more about Morgan’s Message here
Follow Morgan’s Message and The Mental Matchup

In this episode, Kat sits down with Erica Buckley, an former collegiate lacrosse player who shares her personal story of overcoming major setbacks on and off the field. Erica opens up about her battle with injuries, mental health challenges and how her journey has shaped her resilience. From facing multiple ACL injuries to dealing with the isolation that comes with watching her teammates achieve their goals, Erica gives us a raw and honest look into her struggles and wins. The conversation explores how she navigated her recovery process, found healthy coping mechanisms and maintained her connection with her team during difficult times.

In the episode we discuss:

• High School Injuries and Mental Blocks

• The College Transition

• Coping with Being Sidelined and Injuries

• The Role of Team in Recovery

You can find Erica on IG here!

Learn more about Morgan’s Message here

Follow Morgan’s Message on Instagram here

In this week's episode, Kat chats with Michelle Deutsch, a former collegiate ice hockey player turned semi-pro powerlifter, who opens up about her incredible journey of resilience and healing. We discuss her experience with body dysmorphia and depression to surviving sexual assault, Michelle's story is one of strength and determination. She shares how a strong support system helped her through difficult times and how her experiences shaped her path toward pursuing a career in criminal prosecution, with a focus on advocating for survivors.

In the episode we discuss:

- How she navigated the trauma of sexual assault

- The challenges and triumphs of playing ice hockey at the collegiate level

- Michelle's personal battle with mental health and how she manages it

- The crucial role her support system played in her journey

- Her current goals, including law school and advocacy work for survivors of abuse and individuals with disabilities.

You can read more about Michelle's experience here
You can connect with Morgan's Message here
You can follow Morgan's Message on Instagram here

CW: body dysmorphia, sexual assault, depression