State of the Podcast 2026: Finding Our “Why” and What’s Next

After a short break, Lydia and I reconnect to talk about why we started The Mentally Fit Athlete and where we'd like to take the podcast next. What talk about purpose, creativity, and the importance of knowing your "why"—something that matters whether you're an athlete, performer, student, or podcast host.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why reconnecting with your purpose can help you stay motivated

• Making sport psychology and mental performance concepts more accessible

• Expanding the definition of "athlete" to include anyone who performs under pressure

• The balance between structure and spontaneity in both performance and podcasting

• Learning in public and staying curious

• Common barriers to creating, including perfectionism, time constraints, and social media fatigue

• Why consistency matters more than perfection

We also share ideas for the future of the podcast, including listener Q&A episodes, interviews, educational deep dives, current events in sport, and topics such as NIL, athletic identity, women in sport, and lifelong participation in athletics.