Let's Go Mental!

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Podcast by Barbara Cortella

Let's Go Mental!

A podcast for young athletes and their parents to unlock the power of the mind: You have the talent—now let’s build the mental edge. Discover key pillars and get simple, actionable tools to kickstart your journey. Tune in for short weekly episodes, each month focused on one topic, perfect for the car ride to your game. Grab quick tips, worksheets, and join our community as we grow and level up together. Let’s Go Mental! I am Barbara, Family and Mental Coach. I am Italian and you will love my accent!

Latest episodes

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14 May 2026

Beliefs. From Fixed Ideas to Trainable Tools.

Most people don’t realize they’re not thinking thoughts—they’re running beliefs.

And those beliefs quietly shape everything:

your performance, your confidence, your reactions, your identity, your limits.

In this episode of Let’s Go Mental, Barbara breaks down how beliefs are formed, why they feel like truth, and how they can silently cap your potential in sport, school, and life.

You’ll hear why phrases like:

  • “I’m not good enough”
  • “I always mess up under pressure”
  • “I’m not that kind of player”

…aren’t truths at all—they’re learned mental patterns.

And more importantly, you’ll learn how to start changing them.

Key ideas:

  • Beliefs are not born—they’re built
  • Your environment installs your mental “defaults”
  • Repetition turns thoughts into identity
  • Limiting beliefs close doors before effort even begins
  • Empowering beliefs expand performance under pressure
  • Awareness is the first step to change
  • “Everything is trainable—including beliefs”

Takeaway:

You don’t need to “just believe in yourself.”

You need to notice what you already believe—and decide if it deserves to stay.

Reflection question:

What belief have you been treating as truth… that might just be repetition?

Contact me for more info: b_cortella@yahoo.it

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24 April 2026

Breathwork. Your Built-In Reset Button.

This is a special episode and a collaboration with my daughter, Aurora.

In the ?take your kids to work day' we built this episode together...maybe the beginning of a collaboration????

Breath is something we do automatically… but very few people actually know how to use it, or use it.

In this episode, we explore Breathwork as a performance tool, not just a relaxation technique. Because breath is the fastest way to influence your state (mentally and physically) in real time.

When pressure rises, your breathing changes. And if you don’t control it, it starts controlling you.

This episode will help you understand:

  • Why breath is the bridge between body and mind
  • How your nervous system reacts under stress
  • Why breathwork is a pillar of performance (not just wellness)
  • When to use breath to calm down, focus, recover, or re-energize
  • Two simple breathing techniques you can start using immediately

Breath is always available. The question is—are you using it with intention?

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16 April 2026

Body Language is Performance Language.

When your child walks off the field after a tough game, you can often tell everything before they say a word.

Shoulders drop. Head lowers. Movement changes.

That’s not just emotion—it’s communication.

In this episode of Let’s Go Mental, I break down one of the most overlooked performance tools in sport and life: body language.

Because body language doesn’t just express how we feel…

it actively shapes how we feel.

We explore:

  • Why athletes “collapse” after mistakes—and what it really does internally
  • The difference between expansive vs. contractive posture under pressure
  • How body language influences teammates and opponents in seconds
  • Why your “reset” might be more important than your skill execution
  • How parents can recognize emotional patterns in their athletes (and themselves)

Most athletes train skills. Some train mindset.

Very few train state control—but that’s where performance is actually decided.

The good news?

Body language is a habit. And habits can be trained.

You’ll leave this episode with a simple but powerful tool:

👉 Lift your head

👉 Open your posture

👉 Take one breath

👉 Move into the next action

Not because you don’t care—but because you’re choosing control over collapse.

For athletes, parents, and anyone who wants to perform with more presence, this episode connects sport psychology to something you already do every second of the day: how you carry yourself.

If you want more follow me and write to me: b_cortella@yahoo.it

Let’s Go Mental, together!

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26 March 2026

The 7A Skills: Building Your Mental Toolkit

Over the last episodes, we explored several mindset concepts that intentionally start with the letter A: Awareness, Alignment, Attitude, Anticipation, Act, Accountability, and Adjust.

Individually, these skills are powerful. Together, they form a practical mental toolkit that athletes and peak performers can use to navigate challenges, pressure, and growth.

In this episode, I break down how combining these tools makes them even more effective, and how you can apply them consistently in sport and everyday life.

Ask yourself: Which of these tools do I need the most right now?

Contact me at: b_cortella@yahoo.it

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19 March 2026

Adjust. Flexibility for Lasting Growth.

Sometimes, the key to progress isn’t pushing harder—it’s adjusting smarter.

In this episode we explore how small, intentional adjustments—both reactive and proactive—can transform your performance in sport and life.

Learn how to:

  • Recognize when your system needs tweaking.
  • Make proactive adjustments before small issues become big setbacks.
  • Train your mind to adapt quickly under pressure.
  • Use reflection to unlock the next level of growth.

Whether you’re an athlete, parent, or lifelong learner, mastering the art of adjustment is your secret weapon for consistent growth and confidence.

Tune in and start making the small corrections that lead to big wins.

Contact me: b_cortella@yahoo.it

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05 March 2026

Accountability. Own Your Actions.

In this episode we dive into the single mindset pillar that makes all the others stick: accountability.

Discover the three dimensions of accountability:

  1. Being accountable: owning your role and decisions.
  2. Staying accountable: showing up consistently, even when motivation fades.
  3. Allowing accountability: inviting a partner to reflect your commitment and keep your standards steady.

Learn how accountability transforms both sport and life:

  • Train with intention and protect your alignment even when results are slow.
  • Finish what you start, communicate clearly, and build trust inside your team, family, and yourself.
  • Create practical systems: define your role, establish non-negotiable behaviors, implement weekly checks, and choose the right accountability partner.

Accountability is more than a mindset, it’s a structure that creates freedom. When you do your job, you stop negotiating with yourself and start building trust that lasts.

Contact me for any other information and support: b_cortella@yahoo.it

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