WNBA forward Maddy Westbeld joins Kate and Owen to break down the mental side of the game, from overcoming self-doubt in college to building a daily routine rooted in discipline, meditation, and self-belief. She opens up about how injury became a turning point, how she developed her mental edge, and what it really takes to compete at the highest level.

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Christian Watson joins Kate and Owen for a conversation about how injury has shaped his mindset, how he navigates and rebounds from difficult moments, and what he’s learned about resilience, confidence, and staying locked in through adversity.

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Kate and Owen welcome Kat and Bob, two key members of the Pure Sports team, to this month’s episode. Kat, Pure Sports’ marketing lead, guides a conversation between Kate, Owen, and Bob, who all bring experience as mindset coaches within the organization. Together, they reflect on the lessons, patterns, and insights they’ve seen over the year in the world of mental toughness and performance in sports.

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Kate and Owen sat down with Todd Dunaley this month for a conversation about his remarkable journey from being drafted into the MLB to earning a Grammy nomination and now building his own training facility. Todd breaks down why mindset has been a constant in every chapter of his career, the habits and skills that kept him grounded through change, and the lessons he hopes every athlete can take with them.

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Jason Brown joins Kate this month to talk about the mental training behind his career as an elite athlete, how he responded after missing an Olympic team, and the mindset shifts and habits that helped him rebuild and ultimately position himself to make the next one.

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Natasha Hastings joins Kate and Owen to share her perspective as a former Olympian turned mental health clinician. She offers insight into the modern athlete experience, breaks down how much of performance is truly mental, and discusses the importance of normalizing fear and pressure in sport.

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TJ Otzelburger joins the podcast to discuss his career as the head coach of the men’s basketball program at Iowa State University. He shares insights from his coaching journey and how he intentionally incorporates mindset and mental performance into his approach with his team.

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Ariana Ramsey joins us for a conversation about her mindset as a Team USA Rugby player. She opens up about navigating injury, her experiences competing at the Olympic level, and the mental approach that has helped her stay resilient and focused throughout her career in this episode of Next Play.

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Jahmal Harvey joins Kate and Owen on this episode to break down the mental toughness required in the boxing ring. He shares how he discovered boxing, what fuels his drive, advice for young athletes, and the mindset lessons he’s learned throughout his journey.

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Masai Russell joins Kate and Owen on the podcast to discuss her mindset as she continues to reach new levels of success on the track. She opens up about her mental journey as an athlete, what keeps her focused, and how she manages pressure while competing at the highest level.

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Gracie Kramer joins Kate and Owen to reflect on her gymnastics career and her continued training journey beyond college. She shares her path to UCLA, how she found her rhythm as a competitor, and what her mindset looks like now as she shares training vlogs and life as an athlete on social media.

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Kate & Owen sit down with AJ Henning this month to discuss his college career, how his confidence was built as a kid, and his pregame rituals. AJ has sharpened his mentality to be stronger than ever as he approaches the next chapter of the 2025 NFL Draft.

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Max Christie joins Kate & Owen to dive into what life has been like for him in the NBA, how his mentality has shifted throughout his basketball career, and more on this episode of Next Play.

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Join us for a conversation with Jamal Mayers as he dives into hockey, diversity in the sport, and what it takes to win a Stanley Cup. Jamal reflects on his 15-season NHL career, including time with the St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, and winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013. He also shares his experience representing the Canadian national team and what he hopes to pass on to athletes today as a coach.

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We sit down with Northwestern football player Ryan Hilinski to talk about his journey in football, the intersection of mindset and mental health in sports, and the lessons he’s learned along the way throughout his career.

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Join us in a conversation with Olympic diver Andrew Capobianco ahead of the Paris Games. Andrew shares how he got started in diving, how his mindset has evolved through years of elite competition, and more in this episode.

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Join us for a conversation with Team USA volleyball player and 2024 Paris Olympian Lauren Carlini. Lauren takes us inside her journey at the highest level of the sport, sharing how her mindset has evolved through years of elite competition and how she’s preparing mentally and physically for the Olympic Games.

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Listen in as we sit down with Wisconsin Basketball Hall of Famer Mike Kelley. We explore how he first got into basketball, what the recruiting process looked like at a high level, and how he approaches the mental side of coaching today, including how he helps develop mindset within his program.

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Dive in with Kate and Owen as they share the story behind why they started Next Play and take listeners behind the scenes into who they are beyond the podcast.

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