Ep. 60: Confronting Mental Health Stigma in Professional Sports with Jack Beer

Mindful Sport Performance Podcast

In this episode, our Season 4 finale, professional soccer player Jack Beer joins the conversation.
Jack currently plays for NYCFC II in MLS NEXT Pro. He starred at Georgetown University where he won the NCAA Championship in 2019. Inspired by his own experiences with anxiety and depression, Jack serves as a mental health advocate and aims to transform the narratives surrounding mental health and athletics. He is a Whole Being Athlete ambassador for Athletes for Hope where he is featured on panels to discuss the importance of reducing the stigma toward mental health.
Jack begins with a Wim Hof breathing practice, and then chats with Keith and Tim about:
[10:17] How Jack developed his pre-game routines
[12:57] Jack's journey with his mental health and how it led him to becoming an advocate for mental health and an ambassador for Athletes for Hope
[25:45] Acceptance of mental health at the MLS level and the opportunities that are still available for further evolution
[28:28] The challenges of making a culture of mental health more visible in an environment where it is still largely invisible
[41:13] The potentially destructive impact of social media on player mental health
*Note: this episode was recorded just prior to the end of NYCFC II's 2022 season. They have just begun their 2023 season at the time of this episode's launch.
Social Media Mentioned:

Twitter: @mindfulsportdoc
Instagram: @jbeer10, @mindful_sport_podcast, @mspe_institute
YouTube: Mindful Sport Performance Podcast
Websites Mentioned:
www.athletesforhope.org
www.mindfulsportperformance.org

www.enduromind.com
Books Mentioned

Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement
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Keith, Tim, and Taylor (our producer!)

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