Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health struggles. If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (U.S.)Sports shape culture — and culture shapes how we talk about mental health.

In this episode of the Peak Sports Psychiatry Podcast, Dr. Mark Allen is joined by co-host Tim Maher for a thoughtful conversation with Celia Kohl, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Business Development at Versant and former NBC Sports executive.

Celia brings a rare dual lens to the discussion: she’s both a media leader shaping how millions of fans experience sports — and a former elite athlete (Harvard rowing, Junior National Team) who understands firsthand the mental demands of high performance.

Together, they explore:

• What rowing taught her about pressure, resilience, and shared responsibility

• The emotional adjustment many college athletes experience — especially during freshman year

• How sports storytelling influences public perception of athletes

• The behind-the-scenes role media rights and platform strategy play in shaping narratives

• Why golf may be one of the purest laboratories for understanding self-talk, frustration, and expectations

• How sports media can move from crisis-driven coverage to proactive normalization of mental health

This episode dives into leadership, culture, performance, and the evolving role of media in shaping how we understand athlete well-being.

Whether you're an athlete, clinician, executive, or fan, this conversation highlights where sports, strategy, and mental health intersect.

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This episode is brought to you by 43 Degree Sports, creators of a temperature-controlled hockey bag that kills up to 96% of harmful bacteria — helping athletes recover cleaner and perform better.