175. Associate Athletic Director of Mental Health for BYU Athletics, Braden Brown

Mental health is becoming an increasingly important part of the conversation in sports. In this episode of the Especially for Athletes Podcast, we sit down with Braden Brown, Associate Athletic Director of Mental Health for BYU Athletics, to discuss how athletes can train their minds just like they train their bodies. Braden explains why working with a mental health professional can be every bit as valuable as working with a strength coach, nutritionist, or position coach—and why asking for help should be viewed as a commitment to getting better, not a sign of weakness. We also discuss handling pressure and intrusive thoughts, perfectionism and imposter syndrome, competing without becoming combative, the unique pressures facing female athletes, what parents can do to support their kids, and the importance of developing an identity beyond sports. This is an important conversation for athletes, parents, and coaches who want to better understand the mental side of sports.Instagaram and facebook handles@Drbradenbrown00:32:17 - Meet Braden Brown: Mental Health at BYU Athletics00:33:12 - How Mental Health in Sports Has Changed00:36:01 - What Braden Does With BYU Athletes00:38:13 - Breaking the Stigma Around Mental Health00:39:27 - Asking for Help Is a Sign of Strength00:43:08 - Why Elite Athletes Are Talking About Mental Health00:45:34 - Train Your Mind Like You Train Your Body00:47:13 - Understanding Yourself as an Athlete00:50:09 - Handling Pressure: Notice, Accept, Commit00:52:30 - Perfectionism, Anxiety & Imposter Syndrome00:54:54 - Compete Without Being Combative00:58:55 - Mental Health & Female Athletes01:02:32 - What Parents of Athletes Need to Know01:03:39 - Parents: Listen More, Coach Less01:05:51 - Talk to Your Kids About More Than Sports01:07:09 - The Danger of an Athlete-Only Identity01:08:27 - Who Are You Without Your Sport?01:14:01 - Building an Identity Beyond Athletics01:15:52 - How Serving Others Helps Mental Health01:20:50 - Keep Youth Sports Fun01:24:41 - Closing Thoughts & Connecting With Braden⸻Especially for Athletes:Website: https://e4a.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/X: https://x.com/E4AfamilyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQJoin the conversation using #E4APodcast⸻Credits: Hosted by Dustin SmithProduced by E4A and IMAGINATE STUDIO