What does it really take to support students when the stakes are high?

In this episode of The Bulldog Mindset, host Dr. Greg Pillar sits down with Dr. Sharon Webb, professor of counselor education, chair of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and faculty athletics representative at Gardner-Webb University.

Webb works at the intersection of mental health, education, and athletics—preparing future counselors to respond to trauma and crisis, while also advocating for student-athletes navigating the pressures of Division I college sports. Drawing on her experience in disaster response, military healthcare, and higher education, she reframes resilience as something lived and practiced, not just talked about.

This conversation explores:

• What real resilience looks like beyond clichés

• How counselors are prepared for emotionally demanding work

• The “hidden curriculum” students often don’t see—but need

• Advocacy, wellness, and leadership behind the scenes in college athletics

It’s a powerful look at the work that helps students thrive—in classrooms, on the field, and in life.

Tune in and discover why the most meaningful work often happens beneath the surface.

Music in this episode: “Honey for Nothing” by Ikoliks, “Your Way” by Mina, “Crazy Happy by ensound.

Discover more podcasts from Gardner-Webb University at gardner-webb.edu/podcast.