PODCAST

The Mental Matchup

Presented by Morgan’s Message, The Mental Matchup is a podcast focused on opening up dialogue about athlete mental health. Co-hosts Kat Zempolich and Schuyler DeBree are both former division one athletes who attended Duke University, and are passionate about making sure no one feels alone in their mental health challenges.

health & fitness mental health

All Episodes

Episode #174 - Lisa Isenman, PCC

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/09/24

This week on The Mental Matchup, Kat sits down with Lisa Isenman, a psychotherapist with the Wake Kendall Group in Washington, DC. Lisa’s career journey is anything but traditional—after decades in communications and education, she returned to school to become a psychotherapist, guided by her belief that “mental health care isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.”In this episode, Lisa shares how curiosity and empathy shape her work with adolescents, adults, couples, and families as they navigate trauma,

Episode #173 - Paula Widerlite

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/09/17

This week on The Mental Matchup, Kat sits down with Paula Widerlite, Co-Founder and Chair of Champions for Children, a nonprofit led by women dedicated to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive. With over 40 years of experience in nonprofit healthcare leadership, including 25 years as Chief Strategy Officer for a major DC-area health system, Paula brings deep expertise and a personal passion for advancing children’s mental health.In this episode, Paula shares:Leadership &

Episode #172 - Kaylin Ricci

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/07/30

This week on The Mental Matchup, Kat chats with Kaylin Ricci. Kaylin is a Division I soccer player and fierce advocate for resilience. Just one day after her final season opening game, Kaylin’s world shifted unimaginably with the sudden loss of her mother. Through unimaginable grief, she made the courageous decision to return to the field, playing out her senior season in her mother’s honor. In this episode, Kaylin shares her journey of loss, strength, and what it truly means to keep going when

Episode #171 - Alec Ingold, Ingold Family Foundation

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/07/09

In this week's episode, Kat chats with Alec Ingold about identity, creating locker room culture, and leadership. Alec plays professional football for the Miami Dolphins. Alec grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was adopted into a close-knit and supportive family. He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers. In 2019, he signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent, and in 2021 signed with the Miami Dolphins.He is a gifted motivational speaker, and while his

Episode #170 - Hannah Conner, LCPC

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/07/02

Hannah Conner is a licensed clinical professional counselor based in Chicago, IL, with a Master of Arts in Counseling and a specialization in Sport and Health Psychology from Adler University. She specializes in supporting athletes, particularly those navigating the transition out of collegiate or elite sports.In this episode, Hannah joins Kat to explore emotionally unsafe environments in athletics: how to identify them, their impact on mental health, and how athletes can begin to heal.Learn more

Episode #169 - Lysander Rehnstrom

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/06/25

This week on The Mental Matchup, we’re joined by Lysander Rehnstrom, a former walk-on at George Mason to Navy Men's Basketball Captain, and U.S. Marine Corps Ground Officer in training. Lysander shares his deeply personal journey with mental health: from growing up under pressure, navigating a life-threatening injury in high school, walking on at George Mason, and ultimately transferring to the Naval Academy.He opens up about the mental toll of early expectations, the value of vulnerability, and the

Episode #168 - Alex Heishman

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/06/17

#168: In this episode of The Mental Matchup, we’re joined by Alex Heishman, a former DIII women’s lacrosse player, campus liaison for Morgan’s Message, and now a licensed social worker. Alex opens up about her 4+ year journey with Morgan’s Message and her own experience navigating mental health challenges as a student-athlete.From battling self-criticism and panic attacks to a difficult coaching relationship that made her fall out of love with lacrosse, Alex shares her path to rediscovering joy,

Episode #167 - Catie-Reagan King, The CKG Foundation

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/05/27

Catie-Reagan King, Ed.D., is the Director of Mental Health Education at the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation. She joins The Mental Matchup to discuss the foundation and its resources, including free digital toolkits designed to support individuals and organizations focused on mental health. These toolkits offer practical strategies for starting conversations, coping with challenges, and creating supportive environments for those who are struggling.Find out more about the CKG Foundation hereFind out

Episode #166 - Lindsey Wilson

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/05/20

This week's guest is Lindsey Wilson, a mindset and mental performance coach best known as The Sports Hypnotist. With a professional basketball career spanning close to a decade, Lindsey took her knowledge of the mental game to work with collegiate athletes, professional athletes from Olympians and players in the NFL and WNBA all the way to youth athletes.She is the founder of Positive Performance and The Mindset Coach Academy where she helps aspiring mental performance coaches start their dream

Episode #165 - Megan Shawver

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/05/13

Redefining Strength: Megan Shaver on Recovery, Rowing & Changing the CultureIn this episode of The Mental Matchup, Kat chats with Megan Shawver, a former collegiate rower and current graduate student studying Nutrition and Dietetics. Megan shares her personal journey with disordered eating, her experience navigating mental health challenges as a student-athlete, and how finding supportive communities like Morgan’s Message helped shape her recovery.From rowing at Franklin Pierce to pursuing a

Episode #164 - Mary Rojack

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/04/29

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!Find out more about Morgan’s Message hereFollow Morgan’s Message here

Episode #163 - Clare Kehoe

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/04/22

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

Episode #162 - Marina Paul

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/04/16

Marina Paulis 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 hereFind

Episode #161 - Emma Kilbride

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/04/08

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

Episode #160 - Ben Redlener

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/04/01

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

Episode #159 - Elizabeth Haney

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/03/25

#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

Episode #158 - Emma Reen

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/03/18

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.9Follow Morgan’s Message on IG hereFind out more about Morgan’s Message here

Episode #157 - Sophia Burke

The Mental Matchup ·

2025/03/11

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 eatingPresented by Morgan’s

Episode #156 - Kori Toms

The Mental Matchup ·

2024/12/17

In this episode, Kat chats with Kori Toms, a Le Moyne College soccer player 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

Episode #155 - Gianna Burgio

The Mental Matchup ·

2024/12/10

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

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The Mental Matchup

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