A thank you to all my guests and listeners, and a Happy Holidays as well.

Daria Abramowicz joins #OTP this week to discuss being a high level sports psychologist, the challenges surrounding athletes and social media, and the current state of mental health in sport.

Daria is the mental health coach for 2020 French Open champ Iga Swiatek, who didn't drop a set the entire tournament. That helped establish her as one of the top sports psychologists in the tennis world. While her focus is on the court, Daria has also worked with Poland's national swimming and cycling team. She grew up sailing and playing sports, then moved on to coaching. She says that experience helped her better address the needs of her clients. In today's episode, Daria shares some of the her top tools to help keep an athlete's mind in the game, as well as how much goes into preparing them for their biggest competitions.

Daria also discusses the current state of mental health in sport, and shares her thoughts on athletes, like Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka, standing up for themselves.

Episode topics:

• How much goes into preparing an athlete mentally for their biggest competitions
• How she tailors and develops her programs for each athlete (and why chemistry is key)
• The challenges surrounding athletes and social media
• The current state of mental health in sport
• How her experience as an athlete and coach helps her in her work

Quote:

"Obviously there is a challenge here for mental health care professionals and sports psychologists but also people who manage sports and stakeholders to create a proper narrative, because it's actually…I would use the word dangerous, to let the narrative and discussion around mental health to be left alone."

-Daria Abramowicz

Resources:

Guest Info – Daria Abramowicz

Instagram: @abramowiczdaria

Twitter: @abramowiczd

Facebook: Daria Abramowicz

LinkedIn: Daria Abramowicz

Host Info – Christina Heydanus

Instagram: @tinaheydanus

Twitter: @tinaheydanus

Show Info – Opening the Playbook

Instagram: @openingtheplaybook

Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Curler Kerri Einarson joins #OTP this week to discuss her love for the game, how her team found its groove, family tragedy, and her road to the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Kerri grew up in a curling family, with her uncle, Greg McAulay, being the 2000 Brier and World Champion. Kerri says he has played a huge role in her career, which is evident in the fact that she is a 2 X Scotties Tournament of Heart champ and the reigning Canadian Mixed Doubles champion. Her goal now is to return to the Worlds and represent Canada at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

But she has overcome a lot to get where she's at, having dealt with the tragic loss of her brother and both her grandparents. All were passionate about the game, and Kerri says thinking of them before each match motivates her to play her best.

Kerri is also a mom of twin girls, and today, discusses the importance of being a role model to them and showing them why they should follow their dreams.

Episode topics:

• Her journey to qualifying for the 20222 winter olympics
• Being a 2 x Scotties Tournament of Hearts champ and how that puts a target on her back
• How she handled the tragic death of her brother
• The influence her uncle, curler Greg McAulay (2000 Brier and World Champ) has had on her
• The importance of being a role model to her twin girls

Quote:

"If you want to chase your dreams, you have to work hard at it, so it's something that I've never really given up on. And there were a few times that I thought, should I be being doing this, should I just stay home and be a mom and a wife and go to work, but then that takes away the drive that you have to succeed. And I want my girls to see that as well, that because you're a mom, because you have a job, and you're a wife, that you don't have to give up your dreams."

Resources:

Guest Info – Kerri Einarson

Instagram: @kerrieinarson, @Teamkerrieinarson

Twitter: @keinarson, @EinarsonTeam

Facebook: @EinarsonTeam

Host Info – Christina Heydanus

Instagram: @tinaheydanus

Twitter: @tinaheydanus

Show Info – Opening the Playbook

Instagram: @openingtheplaybook

Facebook: Opening the Playbook