Hilinski’s Hope brings you Unit3d - a podcast where sport psychologists and mental health professionals team up to hold conversations for student athletes on mental health. Many of us share common concerns, these discussions are a reminder that we are not alone, but unit3d in this world together. Welcome to the Hilinski’s Hope, mind, spirit, and performance playbook. If you have any questions or topics you would like for us to discuss, please email us at info@hilinskishope.org. Unit3d is hosted by Dr. Jesse Steinfeldt, licensed sport psychologist, and his PhD Students at Indiana University.
Transitions in Sport: Lessons on Identity, Relationships, and Well-Being
What can we learn about athlete well-being from someone who has experienced sport as an athlete, coach, and mental health counselor? In this episode, Emily Kuhfeld joins host Maria D’Ugo to explore the transitions that shape life in and beyond sport. Emily reflects on her experiences as an athlete, coach, and mental health counselor, sharing lessons on identity, confidence, belonging, help-seeking, and the power of meaningful relationships. Together, they discuss the coach-athlete relationship, performance challenges, team culture, and what it truly means to support athletes as whole people. From navigating identity shifts to fostering environments where athletes feel seen and supported, this conversation offers practical insights for coaches, practitioners, teammates, and athletes alike.
13 Oct 2026
People Don't Care How Much You Know Until They Know How Much You Care
In this episode of Unit3d w/ Big Team at Indiana University, third-year PhD student Nina Winsick sits down with Lanie Deppe, Director of Strength and Conditioning and Lecturer in Exercise Science at Franklin College. A former IU rower who began as a nursing major, Lanie traces her path from the grind of elite collegiate athletics to more than 20 years of coaching and program-building, from Division I to Division III. She opens up about the demands of competing in a high-performance environment, and how being overtrained her senior year taught her lessons in recovery that still shape her coaching. The conversation explores how high-level sport affects mental health, why trust and communication matter in coaching, and how social media fuels comparison and body-image pressure among student-athletes. Lanie also breaks down the similarities and differences she has witnessed between DI and DIII athletics and shares how she built Franklin’s strength and conditioning program from scratch into a more holistic, science-based model for student-athletes. The episode closes with rapid-fire questions on favorite lifts, coaching advice, and the athletes she’d most want to train.
6 Oct 2026
The Person Behind Performance: Mental Health in Sport
Mental health has long been overlooked and often stigmatized in the world of sport. But that conversation is changing. More athletes are speaking openly about their mental health experiences, and organizations like Athletes for Hope are helping turn those conversations into meaningful action. In particular, the AFH’s Whole Being Athlete (WBA) mental health program, led by Dr. Mina Mirhom, is at the forefront of these efforts.
In this episode, Dr. Mirhom joins us to discuss some of the most important topics surrounding athlete mental health, including suicide prevention, barriers to care, and misconceptions around the use of mental health services. What should you do when a teammate just “seems off”? How can you support someone who may be struggling? And what can you do when you’re the one who needs help? Drawing on his expertise and real-world experience working with athletes, Dr. Mirhom offers practical guidance for recognizing when someone may need support, starting difficult conversations, and knowing how to respond.
Mental Health Resources:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (available 24/7, free, and confidential)
Host: Verena Zaisberger
Guest: Dr. Mena Mirhorm
Host of Unit3d w/ B1G Team at Indiana University?
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