We share a simple mental toughness tool that reshapes attention: specific, daily gratitude practiced as a family and on the team. By naming real moments of support and effort, athletes redirect focus from lack to resources and build steadier confidence.

• defining gratitude as a precision habit for athletes
• why specific gratefuls rewire selective attention
• modeling three to five daily examples at home
• prompts for training, relationships, and self-effort
• handling resistance and keeping the practice fresh
• how gratitude builds team trust and calmer prep
• small wins that protect joy during hard cycles

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a review, share it with your friends, and like, subscribe

About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road what it really takes to raise athletes.

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams.

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/sign-up/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/raisingproathletes/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@raisingproathletes

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/

What if mental toughness took less than ten minutes a day? We walk through a simple daily stack that ties together meditation, visualization, goal setting, story rewrites, and a final step that makes it all stick: journaling. This isn’t about perfect notebooks or fancy tools—it’s about a clear, repeatable rhythm that translates feelings into focus and goals into action for athletes, parents, and anyone chasing growth.

We start by breaking down the role of each practice: meditation to quiet the noise, visualization to rehearse success with vivid detail, goals that guide what you’ll do today, and story work that challenges unhelpful scripts. Then we anchor it all with journaling. On the page, emotions become data, patterns appear, and next steps feel obvious. We share why a single page can help resolve problems faster, how to use quick prompts to surface insight, and what it looks like to keep the habit light enough to do every day.

You’ll also hear how to introduce journaling to kids without turning it into homework. We offer tiny prompts they can handle, a way to model the habit side by side, and a focus on showing up over writing perfectly. The result is steadier focus in training, calmer resets after mistakes, and a shared language for growth at home. Consistency is the superpower here, and we keep it real with an 8–10 minute window that fits busy lives.

Ready to test the routine? Give it a week and track what shifts in your mood, clarity, and performance. If this sparked a new page for you, subscribe, share with a friend who could use a mental reset, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

• mental toughness exercise built around journaling
• recap of visualization, goal setting, meditation, story rewrites
• writing feelings to identify triggers and options
• teaching kids to journal with simple prompts
• keeping the routine to 8–10 minutes daily
• consistency over perfection and using one-page entries
• personal journaling habit and listener questions
• community mindset: a strategic village for young athletes

About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road what it really takes to raise athletes.

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams.

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/sign-up/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/raisingproathletes/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@raisingproathletes

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/

Ever feel stuck in a rut? Like the voice in your head keeps telling the same old, negative story? Ditch the drama! This episode is all about rewriting those pesky narratives that hold you back. We're going to flip the script and turn those downer stories into something way more empowering. Get ready to level up your mental toughness with me.

I get personal with examples from my own kids, who struggle with endurance stories. We’ve been working on rewriting those stories together, and the shift in their mindset has been incredible. It's all about turning "I can't" into "I can."

We explore mental toughness exercise number four: rewriting the stories we tell ourselves. Through everyday and athletic examples, we show how to swap doom loops for helpful narratives that support action and confidence.

• difference between goals and stories
• the missed call scenario as a thought trap
• how negative loops form and drain energy
• crafting alternative, helpful narratives
• applying story rewrites to sports and training
• coaching kids to reframe endurance beliefs
• daily pen-and-paper practice for new scripts
• treating life as your movie and editing the narrator
• real-time reframes when anxiety spikes

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a review, share it with your friends, subscribe, like all the good stuff

About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road what it really takes to raise athletes.

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams.

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/sign-up/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/raisingproathletes/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@raisingproathletes

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/

Forget the myth of a blank mind. We’re teaching a practical, kid-friendly meditation that builds real focus—not by silencing thoughts, but by training the return to the breath. In just five minutes, young athletes can learn to calm the noise, steer attention, and prepare their minds to compete with poise.

We start by reframing meditation as a repeatable skill: notice the distraction, name it, and come back to a single anchor like breath, counting, or a simple mantra. That shift changes everything for energetic kids who find stillness tough. You’ll hear why five to seven minutes is the sweet spot for beginners, how to use soft background music to set a steady rhythm, and the exact cues that make wandering normal rather than a failure. The goal isn’t perfect quiet; it’s building control you can use under pressure.

Then we connect meditation directly to performance by rolling straight into visualization. With the mind already settled, we guide athletes to rehearse written goals in vivid detail: the feel of the hold, the timing of the move, the breath before the attempt. This trio—meditation, visualization, and goal setting—creates a powerful feedback loop that supports confidence, resilience, and consistency at practice and on game day. Along the way, we share our home routine, practical timing tips, and small adjustments for different ages and attention levels, all designed to fit real family life.

We’d love to hear your take: do you meditate with your kids, and what cues help most? If this approach sparks ideas, tap follow, share it with a parent or coach, and leave a quick review so more families can build mental strength together.

• misconception of mind-clearing and why it’s impossible
• definition of meditation as returning attention to breath or mantra
• guidance for kids’ short sessions of five to seven minutes
• counting breaths and noticing wandering as normal
• using soft music to ease focus and flow
• our home routine from timer to visualization of written goals
• linking meditation to goal setting and visualization for better performance
• request for community practices and reflections

About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road what it really takes to raise athletes.

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams.

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/sign-up/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/raisingproathletes/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@raisingproathletes

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/

Your goals are either written and alive or floating away like clouds. We take you inside a simple 8–10 minute routine—writing present-tense goals, visualizing with vivid detail, and closing with short meditation—that builds mental toughness for young climbers and the families who support them. No hype, just a clear sequence that turns ambition into daily action.

We start with the power of the written word. When you move from “I want to be on the podium” to “I am on the podium,” you shift identity, attention, and behavior. You’ll hear how we break goals into short, middle, and long-term horizons and why specificity matters: the exact route grade, the competition name, the jersey color, the feel of the holds, even the emotions on the mat. That level of detail fuels effective visualization, giving the brain a script it can rehearse so performance feels familiar when it counts.

From there, we connect calm to clarity. A brief meditation trains focus and emotional regulation so athletes can stay composed at the crux. We share how our family uses this nightly practice—writing goals, visualizing, and meditating—to build consistency and confidence together. Goals evolve, and that’s part of the plan; daily writing keeps them current and aligned with training, recovery, and competition schedules.

Whether your athlete is chasing a new grade, a finals berth, sponsorship, or a long-term shot at the Olympics, this routine helps bridge the gap between vision and execution. Join us for practical coaching on goal setting, visualization, and mental resilience tailored to youth climbing and high-performance families. If this resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s ready to write their goals in present tense. What’s your next “I am” statement?

• why written goals matter more than thoughts
• short, middle, and long-term goal horizons
• present-tense statements for confidence
• vivid specificity for stronger visualization
• an 8–10 minute nightly family routine
• linking goals, visualization, and meditation
• updating goals as athletes grow
• building consistency and shared rituals

About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road what it really takes to raise athletes.

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams.

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/sign-up/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/raisingproathletes/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@raisingproathletes

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/

We teach a simple visualization routine for young athletes, then connect it to goal setting and a quick meditation primer that boosts focus. Marina shares a parent-friendly process to make scenes vivid, present-tense, and actionable for both short-term and long-term aims.

• mental toughness exercise one: visualization for kids
• defining visualization with clear, present-tense scenes
• short pre-competition visuals for calm and focus
• long-term visions tied to measurable goals
• pairing visualization with meditation to sharpen attention
• coaching children to refine their scripts
• transition to goal setting as exercise two
• community invite to share what works

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a review
Please share it with your friends
Like, subscribe, do all that cool stuff, and let's talk soon

About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road what it really takes to raise athletes.

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams.

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/sign-up/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/raisingproathletes/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@raisingproathletes

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/

This episode is a bit of a tough one, but it’s something every athlete and parent might face at some point: dealing with injuries and the resentment that comes with them.

Trust me, I’ve been through it all with my family’s adventures in extreme sports, and I get how challenging it can be.

When your kid is used to training every day and suddenly has to stop, frustration and impatience are inevitable. It’s completely normal, and we need to acknowledge these feelings rather than push them aside.

So let's get on the emotional roller coaster and find ways to overcome it together!

We talk about the ripple effect of injuries in extreme sports and how frustration and resentment show up for athletes and parents. We share a simple way to name feelings, talk them through, and keep identity and progress alive during recovery.

• the shock of forced rest and lost routine
• frustration as a normal first response
• resentment across parents, athletes and teammates
• why naming emotions reduces pressure
• short, regular check-ins that build trust
• keeping athletes connected while sidelined
• small wins, clear milestones and boundaries
• inviting stories to strengthen the support village

If you guys enjoyed this podcast, please leave me a review, share it with your friends, and subscribe and like

About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road what it really takes to raise athletes.

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams.

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/sign-up/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/raisingproathletes/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@raisingproathletes

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/

We explore why competitions are essential training for young athletes and how short, consistent mindset work changes results. A tough Spanish Cup reveals mental gaps, and simple tools like visualization and story reframes fuel a quick rebound to finals.

• competitions as training, not just results
• pressure exposing mental weak links
• the Spanish Cup setback and lessons
• visualization as a core practice
• story reframes to stop spirals
• five-minute mental routines at home
• thinking small first, then expanding goals
• focusing on process over podiums
• using frequent events to gather feedback
• building motivation through controlled wins

Remember, this takes a strategic village to raise athletes, and this is our place to talk all about it, to see what works, what doesn't work. And also, if you enjoyed this podcast, please like, subscribe, share with your friends. Let's get the conversation going.

About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road what it really takes to raise athletes.

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams.

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/sign-up/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/raisingproathletes/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@raisingproathletes

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/