Everyone knows the mainstream narrative around elite athletes – that they are superhumans capable of achieving the truly incredible. True in many ways – but perhaps not the whole story. What if - in many cases - the drive required to become the best in the world comes from a place of internal disquiet? Dr Amy Izycky is a clinical psychologist and psychodynamic psychotherapist with a major interest in sport and author of the paradigm shifting book Skewed To The Right – Sport, Mental Health and Vulnerability. This episode starts with a premise - that we all need a loving gaze from our parents or caregivers as babies and children. Without it we may internalise a belief that there is 'something missing' - which leads us on a search to fill that void by finding it in the outside world - an unsustainable pursuit. That may be in a relationship, a car, a promotion... or an Olympic gold medal. In this epiosde we also talk about changing the narrative around mental health from 'It's okay not to be okay' - true of course - to 'It's okay to do the work to be ok'***Follow me:on instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/on twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from three years and more than 150 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.comAnd please do share this episode with anyone who may benefit, and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts***Finally a shoutout to my sponsors whose support enables me to put out weekly episodesWhether you are anxious, stressed, struggling to focus or sleep – there’s something for everyone in Pure Sport CBD's brilliant range of oils, capsules, balms and nootropics. Puresport CBD products are triple lab tested – and trusted by many of the world’s top athletes for a reason.You can get 20% off all their products using the code LIFE20 at checkout - just head to puresportcbd.comHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
No persons identified in this episode.
This episode hasn't been transcribed yet
Help us prioritize this episode for transcription by upvoting it.
Popular episodes get transcribed faster
Other recent transcribed episodes
Transcribed and ready to explore now
#2426 - Cameron Hanes & Adam Greentree
16 Dec 2025
The Joe Rogan Experience
#487 – Irving Finkel: Deciphering Secrets of Ancient Civilizations & Flood Myths
12 Dec 2025
Lex Fridman Podcast
#2425 - Ethan Hawke
11 Dec 2025
The Joe Rogan Experience
SpaceX Said to Pursue 2026 IPO
10 Dec 2025
Bloomberg Tech
Don’t Call It a Comeback
10 Dec 2025
Motley Fool Money
Japan Claims AGI, Pentagon Adopts Gemini, and MIT Designs New Medicines
10 Dec 2025
The Daily AI Show