The Inspired Athlete

Welcome to The Inspired Athlete Podcast—quick, powerful inspiration for athletes and parents, rooted in modern performance insights and ancient wisdom.

The Inspired Athlete is a health podcast hosted by Mike Brilla, with 100 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Mike Brilla hosts The Inspired Athlete, a health show with 100 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #21

  Don't Fear Deep Water

  Aug 19, 202616 minS3

  Welcome to the Inspired Athlete podcast! In this episode, we're tackling one of the biggest hurdles holding athletes and performers back: the fear of failure and the safety net of "Plan B" . Drawing from a profound conversation with my 16-year-old son about going all-in on your passion , along with lessons from Iowa wrestling legend Brett Metcalf and Roger Bannister's historic four-minute mile , we explore why our brains default to comfort and how true belief requires action . Plus, I break down Lewis Howes' eight core focus areas for achieving your potential and living with zero regrets . Tune in to learn how to conquer self-doubt, step into deep water, and build a champion mindset !

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #20

  Don't Fear Fear

  Aug 12, 202612 minS3

  Welcome to the Inspired Athlete podcast! In Season 3, Episode 20, "Don't Fear Fear," host Mike Brilla opens up about recording outdoors after a long night of septic tank issues and dives deep into how fear and doubt can pull athletes away from their true potential . Drawing from his own struggles putting his face on social media, wisdom from Jim Collins' Inner Excellence , Marcus Aurelius' Stoic reflections, and a powerful lesson on gratitude anchors from his son during a baseball tournament, Mike shares actionable strategies to face discomfort head-on . Whether you are competing on the field or navigating personal growth, learn why true mental toughness isn't about avoiding fear or guaranteeing a win, but about constantly believing in yourself and having your own back no matter what happens .

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #19

  Embrace Growth

  Aug 5, 202611 minS3

  Welcome to the Inspired Athlete podcast! In this episode, we dive into what happens when plans fall apart and how an unexpected early loss at my son's baseball tournament led to a family trip to see the movie The Odyssey . A powerful line from the film sparked a deep reflection on our battle with control, competitive drive, and why we so often try to force outcomes instead of trusting the process . Drawing on wisdom from Ryan Holiday, Young Pueblo, Rick Alexander, and Dr. Jim Affenbrough, we explore how embracing productive struggle, taking action through movement, and managing our second thoughts can build a true champion mindset in sports and in life .

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  Episode #18

  Stop Saving Them from Losing: Reframing Failure & Anxiety in Youth Sports

  Jul 29, 202616 minS3

  Welcome to the Inspired Athlete podcast ! Episode 18, "Stop Saving Them from Losing: Reframing Failure and Anxiety in Youth Sports," was born out of a quiet moment on a back deck in Connecticut while watching my son's 13U travel baseball team navigate the rare sting of defeat . After 21 years of coaching high school wrestling, I've realized how easy it is to forget that failing early is the secret sauce to performing when the stakes are highest . In this episode, we dive deep into the sports coaching framework behind why top programs actively seek out losses . We break down elite rugby coach Eddie Jones's 70/30 practice rule , wrestling legend Cary Kolat's lesson on why failure is important, and how leaning into simple moments of awe acts as an instant circuit breaker against performance anxiety on game day .

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  Episode #17

  The Most Important Words

  Jul 22, 202614 minS3

  Welcome to the Inspired Athlete podcast! In Episode 17, "The Most Important Words," host Mike Brilla breaks down what happens in a young athlete's head right after a high-stakes failure—and why our go-to parental instincts might actually be falling on deaf ears . When an athlete makes a game-ending error or falls short in a major tournament, standard platitudes like "you did your best" get blocked by the brain's critical gatekeeper . Instead of relying on soft phrases or toxic positivity, this episode explores how parents and coaches can guide athletes toward a grounded, neutral mindset . Drawing from sports psychology, mindfulness traditions, and practical visualization techniques , Mike shares actionable strategies to help athletes release negative self-talk, stop the cycle of suffering, and build true mental toughness when pressure strikes .

  ListenShow Notes

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