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.

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.)

If you want better outcomes in mental health, you don’t start in crisis — you start upstream.

In this episode of the Peak Sports Psychiatry Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Anthony Lyssy, a concierge and functional primary care physician who has built his practice around proactive, preventative, and performance-oriented care for high performers, including elite athletes and executives.

We explore why primary care is where mental health conversations actually turn into action — and how process, personalization, and purpose (“the why”) matter far more than reactive, box-checking medicine.

Topics we cover include:

• Why primary care is the true front line of mental and performance health

• The “knowing vs doing” gap — and how to bridge it

• Process-oriented care vs outcome-only thinking

• Using data and wearables wisely (and when to step back)

• Healthspan, longevity, and getting 1% better over time

• How primary care, psychiatry, psychology, and performance teams work best together

• Lessons from elite golfers on discomfort, resilience, and grace

This conversation is for athletes, clinicians, leaders, and anyone interested in what healthcare should look like when it’s done well — upstream, relational, and human.

Sponsored by 43 Degree Sports
Changing the game in athlete hygiene with temperature-controlled gear technology trusted by pros and parents across North America.

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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, we’re joined by Rob Thorson, Executive Director of Shoulder Check and the #HT40 Foundation, for a moving conversation about turning loss into action — and why prevention starts with everyday human connection.

After losing his son Hayden in 2022, Rob helped launch Shoulder Check, a movement built on a simple but powerful idea:

Reach out. Check in. Make contact.

Rather than focusing only on awareness, Shoulder Check emphasizes behavior change — empowering teammates, peers, students, coaches, and communities to connect early, often, and authentically.

• The origin of Shoulder Check and the meaning behind HT40

• Why peer-to-peer connection is critical in suicide prevention

• How teams and schools can bring this message to life on the ground

• The story behind the powerful “Lean On Me” arena moment

• Why everyone is qualified to help — not just professionals

🔗 Learn more: shouldercheck.org
📅 July 30 — Shoulder Check Showcase (Sacred Heart University)

🎧 Episode sponsor: 43 Degree Sports — creators of a temperature-controlled hockey bag designed to keep gear clean and game-ready.