THE MENTAL GAME Sports Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

On this episode of The Mental Game Sports Podcast, host Larissa Mills talks with Bryan Gent, a former pro hockey player who is now a nutrition coach and firefighter. Bryan runs Hockey Nutrition, where he helps young athletes build healthy routines, understand their energy needs, and fuel for stronger performance. He can be reached at bryan@hockeynutrition.ca
.

Bryan shares insights from his time in Junior A, NCAA, SPHL and UHL hockey, and explains how proper nutrition supports focus, recovery, confidence, and long-term development. He also offers practical tips for parents and coaches to make healthy eating realistic at home.

This conversation gives families clear tools to help young athletes grow stronger both physically and mentally.

https://getsuccessfaster.com/

On this episode of The Mental Game Academy Podcast, we welcome Matt Young, founder of FSQ Sport and a global leader in Long Term Athlete Development. With over 20 years of experience transforming sport systems, Matt shares how to move from theory to action—helping organizations, coaches, and athletes build sustainable, people-centered programs. He dives into why outcome-obsessed cultures fail, how to “give sport back to the kids,” and what true leadership in sport really looks like from the top down.

📱Connect with Matt: matt@fsqsport.com | LinkedIn | fsqsport.com

Warren Nye has become a MGA Certified Cognitive Performance Coach. 

He has played, he as coached he has been an advisor and agent, now teaming up with MGA to make more impact. 

We discuss what is happening to development in Canada and what is happening under that helmet. Behaviour has changed in the passed 20 years but hockey is still the same game.

On this episode of The Mental Game Academy Podcast, we welcome Linda Massie, founder of Mental Strides and high-performance hockey coach. Linda dives into the growing challenges athletes face with phones, focus, and pressure, especially in women’s sports. From helping athletes set healthy tech habits to empowering young women to play with confidence and composure, she shares powerful strategies to protect mental energy and unlock peak performance. If you’re an athlete, parent, or coach, this conversation sheds light on the real needs behind the jersey.

Connect with Linda: Instagram @mental_strides
or email lmassiempc@gmail.com. 

On this episode of The Mental Game Academy Podcast, we welcome Warren Nye, founder of Mind Over Sport and a seasoned mental performance coach with over 30 years of experience in youth sports, including coaching national championship-winning hockey teams. Warren delves into the critical role of mental fitness in athletic success, emphasizing strategies like visualization, pregame preparation, and overcoming perfectionism. He shares insights on building confidence, managing pressure, and developing a resilient mindset both on and off the field. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent, this conversation offers valuable tools to enhance performance and well-being.

Connect with Warren: Instagram @coachnye33
or email coachnye@mindoversport.com
.

In this episode of The Mental Game Academy Podcast, we chat with Satoshi Takano from ReactForge about what athletes truly need to stay ahead—sharper decision-making, faster reactions, and a mindset built for pressure. We dive into the cognitive skills that separate good players from great ones and how mental performance training is changing the game.

Athletes need to recognize patterns faster, react faster and phones aren't helping their cognitive processing. Hockey IQ can go up but only if athletes work on it. 

We are excited to announce a partnership between REACT FORGE and MGA. 

Thank you Benny and Satoshi for this honour. We are to up their mental game.https://reactforge.com

https://www.nelliganbooks.com/https://www.nelliganbooks.comThe Mental Game Academy Podcast: Featuring Jeff Nelligan

Hosted by Larissa Mills, this episode welcomes Jeff Nelligan, author of Four Lessons from My Three Sons – How You Can Raise Resilient Kids. A well-known voice in American parenting, Jeff shares his no-nonsense approach to building resilience, confidence, and character in young athletes.

With a background in public affairs, military service, and raising three sons who attended the U.S. Naval Academy, Williams College, and West Point, Jeff brings a unique perspective on mental toughness, discipline, and overcoming challenges. Tune in for insightful strategies on developing grit in today's athletes and how modern distractions, like phone use, impact performance and resilience.

In this episode of TEG Talks, hosts Teg Cosgriff and Larissa Mills dive into the controversial topic of team taunting—where’s the line between competitive spirit and unsportsmanlike behaviour? They break down the psychological impact of taunting on athletes, how it affects team dynamics, and why coaches and parents play a crucial role in shaping a respectful sports culture. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on fostering mental toughness without crossing the line.