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 betting is everywhere — and for athletes, teams, and clinicians, the mental health implications are only just beginning to surface.

In this episode of the Peak Sports Psychiatry Podcast, Dr. Mark Allen and Dr. Tommy Horn sit down with Dr. Timothy Fong, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, and one of the nation’s leading experts in addiction psychiatry and gambling disorder. Dr. Fong also serves as the team psychiatrist for the Los Angeles Lakers, offering a unique perspective on how gambling intersects with elite performance, integrity, and athlete well-being.

Together, they explore:

• Why sports betting expanded so rapidly after 2018 and how increased access changes behavior

• Why gambling disorder is more common than many realize — and often mistaken for a “money problem”

• The three ways gambling impacts athletes: addiction, integrity, and online abuse

• How prop bets can dehumanize athletes and increase harassment tied to performance

• Why young athletes are particularly vulnerable in a culture where gambling is normalized

• What effective treatment for gambling disorder looks like, including why you don’t have to hit “rock bottom” to seek help

• How language matters: the difference between “losing” money and “spending” money

This episode is not about banning gambling. It’s about education, prevention, and protecting athletes in a rapidly changing sports landscape.

Resources mentioned in this episode:• 1-800-GAMBLER (24/7 support)• e-VIVE gambling education app• UCLA Gambling Studies Program

If this conversation resonates with you — whether you’re an athlete, coach, clinician, or parent — consider sharing it with someone who might benefit.

Presented By:

Peak Sports Psychiatry and 43 Degree Sports — celebrating the athletes, mindset, and stories that move sports forward.

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.).

What happens when the game ends — or when performance no longer defines you? In this Season 2 premiere of the Peak Sports Psychiatry Podcast, Dr. Mark Allen and Dr. Tommy Horn sit down with Steve Wheatcroft, former PGA Tour professional (300+ starts), Korn Ferry Tour winner, author, and founder of the Mulligan Foundation.

Steve shares a raw, deeply honest conversation about:

- Life after professional golf and the identity void many athletes face

- Why walking away from the Tour wasn’t the hardest part — not knowing who he was without it was

- How depression and alcohol use quietly took hold post-retirement

- The moment treatment helped him realize it wasn’t about drinking, but about identity

- Why “this is what you do” is very different from “this is who you are”

Steve also discusses the origin of his book Cocktails and Range Balls: One’s Too Many, Ten’s Not Enough, written not for himself, but for “him” — the athlete silently struggling. Within 24 hours of release, that person reached out asking for help.

Now, through the Mulligan Foundation, Steve is building a life-stage mental health and transition pipeline for golfers — from youth sports through college, professional golf, and retirement.

This episode is about golf, but it’s really about purpose, resilience, and what comes next — lessons that apply to every athlete, coach, and high performer.

🎧 Listen, reflect, and share with someone who might need it.

Learn more:

• The Mulligan Foundation: https://themulliganfoundation.org/

• Steve Wheatcroft’s book: Cocktails and Range Balls: https://a.co/d/aoZq8X2

Presented By:

Peak Sports Psychiatryand 43 Degree Sports — celebrating the athletes, mindset, and stories that move sports forward.

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.).

Golf may be the greatest mental game ever created — and this week’s guest proves it.

In this episode, Dr. Mark Allen and Dr. Tommy Horn sit down with Dr. Carly Hunt, sport & health psychologist, former Division I golfer (Georgetown & Maryland), and author of Train Your Brain to Beat Chronic Pain. Together, they break down what separates good golfers from great ones — and why skills like trust, acceptance, and self-belief matter far more than swing mechanics.

Carly shares:
• The Think Box → Decision Line → Play Box routine every golfer should practice
• How to handle nerves when your hands are literally shaking on the first tee
• What to do when intrusive thoughts (“don’t shank this”) won’t stop
• Why process goals beat score obsession
• How social media pressure is reshaping the junior and college golf landscape
• Her groundbreaking work in chronic pain, neuroplasticity, and mind-body training

Whether you’re a competitive golfer, a weekend player chasing 79, or someone fascinated by the psychology of high performance, this conversation delivers practical tools you can use today — on and off the course.

🎧 Dr. Carly Hunt’s book: Train Your Brain to Beat Chronic Pain

🔗 Learn more: thinkbettergolf

Home — Present Mind ConsultingThis episode is brought to you by 43 Degree Sports — celebrating the athletes, the mindset, and the stories that make sports unforgettable.

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.).

Australia is emerging as a global leader in athlete mental health—and in this episode, Dr. Mark Allen and Dr. Tommy Horn sit down with Dr. Samantha McLeod, one of the country’s top sport psychologists, to unpack why.

Dr. McLeod shares her journey into sport psychology, the evolution of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), and how Australia built one of the most integrated, athlete-centered mental health frameworks in the world.

We discuss:• How community-first sport culture shapes athlete well-being• Why mental health and performance psychology must work together• The impact of social media on athlete performance and safety• What “Seek, Arrive, Maximize” means at The SAM Centre• Supporting neurodivergent high performers• Why psychological safety is essential for modern teams• What the U.S. can learn from Australia’s embedded model

This global conversation is a powerful reminder that the future of high performance runs directly through whole-person care.

Presented by 43 Degree Sports.

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.).

“It’s scary as hell, but be vulnerable.” – Dr. Tess Palmateer

In this episode of the Peak Sports Psychiatry Podcast, Dr. Mark Allen and Dr. Tommy Horn sit down with Dr. Tess Palmateer, the Mental Health Coordinator for the New York Mets.

Tess shares her journey from being a collegiate volleyball player to pioneering mental health support in both college athletics and professional sports. The conversation covers how universal screening reduces stigma, the pressures of NIL and social media, the pivotal role of athletic trainers, and what it takes to sustain mental health across a grueling 162-game season.

Whether you’re a student-athlete, a clinician, or simply passionate about sports and mental health, Tess’s insights offer practical takeaways for supporting athletes at every level.

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.).

In this episode of the Peak Sports Psychiatry Podcast, Dr. Mark Allen and Dr. Tommy Horn sit down with Dr. Alex Auerbach, performance psychologist (NBA, NFL) and founder of Momentum Labs.

Alex shares his journey from leaving a dream role with the Toronto Raptors to building a platform that makes mental skills training accessible to youth athletes everywhere. The conversation dives into:

• 🧠 How AI can support, not replace, human connection in sports psychology

• ⚡ The role of high agency in athlete performance

• 🏀 Cultural differences between the NBA and NFL on mental health

• 🌱 What the ideal youth sports experience looks like

• 🚀 The future of performance psychology and athlete wellness

Sound bites from Alex:
👉 “I think a lot of growth is nonlinear.”
👉 “These athletes are humans first.”
👉 “Being present is a powerful mental skill.”

Listen in for a fascinating conversation on where sports, psychology, and technology intersect.

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.).

In this episode, Dr. Mark Allen and Dr. Tommy Horn sit down with Dr. Sue Schimmel and Maureen Breeze, authors of Playing the Long Game, to explore the critical intersection of mental health and sports performance. Together, they unpack the dynamics between athletes, parents, and coaches—highlighting the importance of resilience, communication, and psychological safety in youth sports.

From technology’s impact on problem-solving to the role of listening over lecturing, this conversation offers practical insights for parents and coaches supporting athletes on and off the field. The discussion also spotlights the Coach-Athlete-Parent Project, an initiative designed to strengthen relationships and foster healthier team cultures.

Key themes:

• How parental support can both empower and hinder athlete independence

• Why resilience and setbacks are essential for long-term growth

• Generational differences in parenting athletes today

• The impact of technology on youth development

• Building trust and boundaries between coaches and parents

Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, this episode will leave you with strategies to “play the long game” in supporting athletic and personal development.

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.).

In this episode of the Peak Sports Psychiatry Podcast, Dr. Mark Allen and Dr. Tommy Horn sit down with Adam Boardman, a former All-American cross-country runner turned therapist, to explore the intersection of sport, identity, and mental health.

Adam shares how running shaped his sense of self, why athletes need therapists who truly understand their experiences, and how creativity (including a brief stint in stand-up comedy) influences his therapeutic approach. The conversation highlights the groundbreaking Marathon Medical Psych Program, which brings mental health support directly to endurance events, and emphasizes the power of cultural competence, sports metaphors, and humor in therapy.

Whether you’re an athlete, clinician, or fan of sports culture, this episode offers fresh insight into rethinking mental health in athletics—not just to prevent illness, but to help people thrive.

🎧 Tune in and subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of sport and psychiatry.