Michael Phelps: His Mental Health Journey & His Upcoming Memoir

The Troublemakers Podcast

Lisa & Karen are joined by the greatest Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, for an in-depth discussion of his mental health journey, what he learned in therapy, and his upcoming memoir (which Karen is helping him write).

They Discuss:

@ 0:26 - What it's like to be introduced as "the greatest Olympian of all time."

@ 1:49 - Why he chose a woman (Karen Crouse) to help him write his memoir.

@ 7:11 - The difficulties of writing a memoir and the old wounds it opens. But it's also been an opportunity for personal growth and opening new doors.

@ 9:50 - Why he chose to go public with his mental health struggles in 2015, just months after returning from rehab, and what he learned from his time there.

@ 12:08 - What it was like for his family to go through it with him as a famous athlete and why he didn't want to hide his struggles anymore.

@ 16:05 - Being vulnerable in group therapy with a bunch of strangers.

@ 19:42 - How it felt to be free for the first time and on a level playing field with other people who were fighting similar battles as he was.

@ 21:24 - Why it's important for people to get help and speak out on their own timeline–not anyone else's.

@ 26:58 - How the mental health discussion has changed over the years and the role he played in reducing the stigma surrounding it.

@ 33:40 - How going through therapy actually fueled him.

@ 36:15 - Why he doesn't regret what he's been through and his mission to keep moving the conversation about mental health forward.

@ 39:59 - What he does on days that he isn't in a good mental space.