Southern Utah University gymnast Kendall McGuire joins Dustin Smith and guest host Justin Miller for a conversation about the mindset behind competing at the NCAA level.

Kendall shares her journey from beginning gymnastics at two years old to competing for one of the nation’s top gymnastics programs, along with her work as a sideline reporter for SUU football and her aspirations to someday work in the NFL or NHL.

The conversation dives into the unique mental demands of gymnastics, overcoming fear after falls, Simone Biles and the “twisties,” mental health in athletics, body image and developing a healthier relationship with food.

Kendall also shares one of the most powerful ideas from the episode: athletes often spend too much time thinking about everything they have to sacrifice and not enough time recognizing everything they gain.

Instead of thinking, “I have to go to practice,” Kendall learned to think, “I get to go.”

She explains how that simple reframe helped her appreciate the friendships, strength, discipline, opportunities and experiences gymnastics gave her.

Kendall also discusses being fully present in practice, SUU Gymnastics’ motto to “underthink it,” accepting accountability, learning from failure, becoming comfortable with discomfort and leaning on teammates who care enough to tell you the truth.

A great conversation for athletes, parents and coaches about gratitude, resilience, mental health and learning to enjoy the process.

Featured Moments:

00:32:17 - Welcome & Meet Kendall McGuire

00:33:48 - Life as an SUU Sideline Reporter

00:37:50 - Kendall’s Dream of Working in Sports Media

00:39:11 - Fear, Falling & the Mental Side of Gymnastics

00:42:12 - Simone Biles, the Twisties & Athlete Mental Health

00:47:26 - Body Image, Nutrition & Eating Disorders in Gymnastics

00:55:36 - The Sacrifices Behind Becoming a College Gymnast

00:57:42 - “I Get To” Instead of “I Have To”

00:59:33 - Growing Up Without Being Attached to Social Media

01:00:22 - Staying Present in Practice

01:02:17 - SUU Gymnastics: “Underthink It”

01:03:48 - How Athletes Can Keep Sports Fun

01:05:23 - Reframing Sacrifice as Opportunity

01:07:09 - Stop Focusing on What You’re Missing

01:08:36 - Resilience After Setbacks

01:13:18 - The Teammate Who Told Kendall the Truth

01:16:31 - Getting Out of Your Own Head

01:19:36 - “What If It All Goes Right?”

01:21:05 - Finding People Who Truly Support You

01:22:04 - Support Without Making Excuses

01:24:39 - Growth Requires Getting Uncomfortable

01:27:33 - Final Thoughts & Good Luck to Kendall

01:28:35 - Eyes Up. Do the Work.

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Especially for Athletes:

Website: https://e4a.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/
X: https://x.com/E4Afamily
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQ
Join the conversation using #E4APodcast

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Credits: Hosted by Dustin Smith & Justin Miller
Produced by E4A and IMAGINATE STUDIO

Mental health is becoming an increasingly important part of the conversation in sports. In this episode of the Especially for Athletes Podcast, we sit down with Braden Brown, Associate Athletic Director of Mental Health for BYU Athletics, to discuss how athletes can train their minds just like they train their bodies. Braden explains why working with a mental health professional can be every bit as valuable as working with a strength coach, nutritionist, or position coach—and why asking for help should be viewed as a commitment to getting better, not a sign of weakness. We also discuss handling pressure and intrusive thoughts, perfectionism and imposter syndrome, competing without becoming combative, the unique pressures facing female athletes, what parents can do to support their kids, and the importance of developing an identity beyond sports. This is an important conversation for athletes, parents, and coaches who want to better understand the mental side of sports.

Instagaram and facebook handles

@Drbradenbrown

00:32:17 - Meet Braden Brown: Mental Health at BYU Athletics

00:33:12 - How Mental Health in Sports Has Changed

00:36:01 - What Braden Does With BYU Athletes

00:38:13 - Breaking the Stigma Around Mental Health

00:39:27 - Asking for Help Is a Sign of Strength

00:43:08 - Why Elite Athletes Are Talking About Mental Health

00:45:34 - Train Your Mind Like You Train Your Body

00:47:13 - Understanding Yourself as an Athlete

00:50:09 - Handling Pressure: Notice, Accept, Commit

00:52:30 - Perfectionism, Anxiety & Imposter Syndrome

00:54:54 - Compete Without Being Combative

00:58:55 - Mental Health & Female Athletes

01:02:32 - What Parents of Athletes Need to Know

01:03:39 - Parents: Listen More, Coach Less

01:05:51 - Talk to Your Kids About More Than Sports

01:07:09 - The Danger of an Athlete-Only Identity

01:08:27 - Who Are You Without Your Sport?

01:14:01 - Building an Identity Beyond Athletics

01:15:52 - How Serving Others Helps Mental Health

01:20:50 - Keep Youth Sports Fun

01:24:41 - Closing Thoughts & Connecting With Braden

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Especially for Athletes:

Website: https://e4a.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/

X: https://x.com/E4Afamily

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQ

Join the conversation using #E4APodcast

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Credits: Hosted by Dustin Smith

Produced by E4A and IMAGINATE STUDIO

Former BYU safety and current Las Vegas Raiders defensive back Tanner Wall joins the Especially for Athletes Podcast to discuss resilience, leadership, mental preparation, and why pursuing excellence in every area of life makes you a better athlete.

Tanner shares his remarkable journey from preferred walk-on to All-Big 12 safety, the lessons he learned from Kalani Sitake and Jay Hill, and why competing with respect—not hatred—helps athletes perform at their highest level.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why great competitors don't need contempt to compete
• How to gain an edge through intentional preparation
• Why "how you do one thing is how you do everything"
• The difference between watching film and studying film
• How relationships shape your future
• Why excellence off the field leads to excellence on it

Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or fan, this episode is filled with practical principles to help you become your best both on and off the field.

00:32:17 - Welcome & Introducing Tanner Wall
00:33:07 - Choosing BYU Over Scholarship Offers
00:36:19 - Betting on Yourself as a Preferred Walk-On
00:41:13 - Why He Never Considered Transferring
00:43:00 - Resilience, Patience & Finding an Edge
00:47:28 - Mentors Who Changed His Career
00:51:00 - Compete Without Contempt
00:55:05 - Controlling the Controllables in the NFL
00:58:32 - Watching Film vs. Studying Film
01:03:04 - Winning the Hour Through Intentional Living
01:05:35 - How You Do One Thing Is How You Do Everything
01:08:19 - Social Media, Priorities & Time Management
01:12:32 - Competing Fiercely Without Losing Character
01:16:08 - Using Your Spotlight to Bless Others
01:20:11 - Eyes Up. Do the Work.

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Especially for Athletes:

• Website: https://e4a.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/
• X: https://x.com/E4Afamily
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQ

Join the conversation using #E4APodcast

⸻

Credits: Hosted by Dustin Smith

Produced by E4A and IMAGINATE STUDIO