How To Come Out of A Dark Space

Welcome to Coach Trav’s Mental Health Playbook: The Athlete’s Journey to Self-Discovery, a podcast dedicated to empowering athletes to embrace their identity beyond the game. This show is a safe space where professional, collegiate, and high school athletes are encouraged to explore their purpose, share their stories, and take pride in who they are as individuals. Athletes are more than the “”machines”” they’re often portrayed as—they are people with unique gifts, passions, and aspirations beyond their sport.

In this week’s episode of The Mental Health Playbook, we’re tackling a topic that often goes unspoken in the sports world: the mental battles athletes face behind the scenes. Social media shows us highlight reels—game-winning plays, championship celebrations, and personal bests—but rarely do we see the private moments when athletes are struggling with self-doubt, negativity, or mental darkness. Lou Adams, former NFL player and current General Manager of the LEAD Prep Academy in Brighton, MI, joins us to share his experiences. We also discuss a recent example from the sports world where an athlete opened up about their mental health challenges (e.g., Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, or Kevin Love). Highlight the bravery it takes to speak out and normalize these struggles. Transition into the importance of addressing these challenges head-on.

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0:00 Me vs. Me: Negative Self Talk
0:58 Mental Health Playbook Intro Theme
2:07 The Kickoff – Simone Biles & the 2020 Olympics
4:10 In The Trenches – Interview with Lou Adams
17:33 Reflection Timeout
17:54 2 Minute Drill

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