The Mind Room
Episodes
What players want from psychologists
15 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com'Sam, what's going on?’Four fairly innocuous words that change...
Inside Australia's national wellbeing system
11 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comIt’s not often you speak to someone who’s gone from working ...
Why mental health support for African players needs to change
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“Africa is 10 years behind in addressing mental health.”Ex-B...
From the Ryder Cup to Wigan: inside the psychologist-team leader relationship (with Tom Young) - Part 2
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comThis is the second half of a two-part conversation with Team Eur...
From the Ryder Cup to Wigan: inside the psychologist-team leader relationship (with Tom Young) - Part 1
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comIt’s not often that the Ryder Cup and rugby league are mention...
Exclusive: Building Chelsea's sport science & psychology setup (with Tim Harkness) - Part 2
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, stats really help to paint a picture. Tim Harkness worked at Chelsea for 14 years, between 2009 and 2023, during which time the London club...
How to integrate sport psychology across an elite environment (with Sara Symington)
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comPerformance directors have a huge say in how seriously an organi...
Exclusive: Building Chelsea's sport science & psychology setup (with Tim Harkness) - Part 1
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, stats really help to paint a picture. Tim Harkness worked at Chelsea for 14 years, between 2009 and 2023, during which time the London club...
How To Psychologically Prepare For The Ryder Cup
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com “If I was Luke Donald, I would be getting together and - un...
Sport Psychology Snapshot
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comHello Mind Room Members! In this edition of the Sport Psychology...
How sport psychologists can influence coach recruitment
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comIt only takes two fingers to count the number of sport psycholog...
How to recover from severe sporting setbacks
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comBodies strewn across the turf. Players locked in thousand-yard s...
What coaches want from psychologists
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“I was interested in how could we move away from the experienc...
Why sport psychology's next generation need a new skillset
03 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comBusiness development. Entrepreneurship. Marketing. Not three of ...
England vs India: psychologically preparing for the Oval Test
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Childish. Emotional. Tiresome. Whatever your take on the antagonism that marked the end of the fourth test between England and India, it’s difficult...
Who's taking responsibility for footballers' mental health?
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“We don’t lack care, but we lack coherence…there’s a lac...
Sports teams' organisational design dilemma
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comEditor's note: a quick reminder that you still have a day to cla...
How can clubs help players manage mental fatigue?
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comOver the course of the 2023/24 season, Spurs defender Christian ...
How to help players establish an identity
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comIt’s hardly news to say that sport has an identity crisis. Art...
Why 'PlayStation coaching' needs to stop
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“There’s a robotic element flooding in…where’s the freed...
The Key Psychological Characteristics and Skills Driving Elite Football Performance
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“Imagine if you're offered a job where you're going to work si...
How clubs are coaching cognitive skills
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comVisual awareness. Decision making. Problem solving. Just three o...
Sport psychology's 'scientist-practitioner' problem
13 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“I've talked recently to sports psychologists in high-level po...
Andrea Furst: 'I work with coaches that care about people'
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“My job is made easier…because I've got coaches that care ab...
How a 'sport psychology canvas' can help psychologists and backroom teams
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comIt’s a situation that will strike a chord with many sport psyc...
How will AI shape the future of sport?
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comArtificial intelligence (AI) helps sports teams with analytics, ...
Inside the NBA's mental health & performance program
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comIn 2018, basketball player DeMar DeRozan wrote a one-line tweet:...
Why coaches should be thinking about 'psycho-social' skills and characteristics
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
‘Players were telling us that they felt more resilient, more confident and had better communication skills, just over one season, and some of the...
John Amaechi: 'Athletes are ripe for exploitation'
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comClaim 20% off an annual Mind Room subscription - offer expires o...
How to setup a mental health support system in a pro sport league
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comIn last week’s newsletter, I highlighted some key takeaways fr...
How half-time team talks are changing
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comHalf-time team talks are the stuff of legend. Alex Ferguson’s ...
Does sport psychology have an access and inclusion problem?
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologists fighting for fair pay. ‘Fake psychs’ exploiting the lack of regulation governing sport psychology in the UK (and elsewhere). The exo...
'I had an opportunity to redefine what I do': the para rower and architect designing a route to the Paralympics and accessible sports facilities
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“I remember just being on the wards during chemotherapy, off m...
'Coaching is more challenging than it's ever been'
06 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comTeenagers on multi-million dollar contracts. Transfer systems (a...
'A lot of athletes have a skewed perception of what it is to be a person versus what it is to be a commodity'
22 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comElite sport’s struggle with issues such as identity is nothing...
'When you have 5 minutes and $50m on the line, 'it depends' doesn't work'
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comA few weeks ago, I spoke to Alex Auerbach about his spell in the...
'Athletes don't have to be super competitive, super ruthless and win at all costs'
01 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comIn our last newsletter, Jonathan Harding wrote about a new study...
Karl Marius Aksum on transferring psychology theory from the classroom to the pitch
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you convince an ageing centre back to swap the security of a low block for a high press that might make Ange Postecoglou blush? Karl Marius Aks...
How do you psychologically prepare for the Olympics?
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“Most athletes compete at one Olympics, so they might have bee...
'It's messy': Alex Auerbach on sport psychology regulation, gaining coach buy-in and mental health support in the NBA
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“If someone calls themselves a sports psychology consultant an...
'We're throwing players into a stress cage without protecting them': why football needs to mentally prepare players for penalties
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comGeir Jordet has spent most of his professional career studying p...
‘We’ve changed the club’: is it really possible to transform a Premier League team's culture?
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comBarely a week goes by without mentions of ‘culture change’ w...
Introducing The Mind Room - the football psychology newsletter
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We've launched a new sister newsletter, bringing you the latest football psychology stories to your inbox - for free - every week. To subscribe to The...
Euro 2022 preview: how to psychologically prepare for a major tournament final
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Former Lionesses psychologist Misia Gervis drops by for an exclusive interview, explaining how she prepared the England women's side for their last vi...
The coach-psychologist relationship - Richard Dobson and Dr Misia Gervis
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We welcome back Wycombe assistant manager Richard Dobson and regular guest Dr Misia Gervis for a discussion about the secrets of a successful coach-ps...
The emotional impact of going on loan, adding psychologists to EPL coaching teams and the elements of successful leadership
26 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Former Premier League psychologist Sarah Murray joins us to discuss: The emotional impact of going on loanAdding psychologists to EPL coaching teams ...
The psychology of the play-offs, managers’ motivational stunts and the power of celebrating
09 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We welcome back regular guest and former England women's team psychologist Dr Misia Gervis to discuss the psychology of the play-offs, whether manager...
Professor João Carvalhaes - football’s first World Cup-winning psychologist
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We look back on the life of Professor João Carvalhaes, football's first World Cup-winning psychologist. Join us for a discussion about a fascinating ...
Dealing with off-pitch problems, pressurising players to return from injury and the power of psychology
19 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Wycombe coach Matt Bloomfield and former England women's team psychologist Dr Misia Gervis join us to discuss: Chelsea & Derby: how off-pitch problem...
City vs United, the pressure of the run-in and penalty shootout psychology
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We're joined by regular guest Dr Misia Gervis, former England women's team psychologist, to discuss:City v United: how do players prepare mentally for...
City vs Spurs, manager negativity and Eriksen’s return
19 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We're joined by regular guest Dr Misia Gervis, former England women's team psychologist, to discuss:City v Spurs: the psychology behind a 'bogey groun...
Bonus episode: an interview with David Busst
01 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We take a break from our regular format to bring you an interview with David Busst, the former Coventry City defender who suffered what is widely cons...
Playing without fear
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're joined by Professor Marc Jones, from Manchester Metropolitan University's widely-respected psychology department, and Dr Andy Hill, Blackburn Ro...
Checking the emotional barometer
28 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're joined by Everton's former Director of Medical Services, Danny Donachie, and ex-England Women's Team psychologist, Dr Misia Gervis, for a discus...
Getting comfy with the uncontrollable
14 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We welcome Hearts and Southampton psychologist, Dr Jillian Harley, for a discussion about the impact of managerial changes on players' motivation, the...
Creating a club culture (with Gareth Ainsworth and Richard Dobson)
06 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We welcome back Wycombe's assistant manager, Richard Dobson, alongside the Chairboys' boss, Gareth Ainsworth, for a wide-ranging chat about the leader...
Player care (with Hugo Scheckter)
14 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Former West Ham and Southampton player care specialist, Hugo Scheckter, joins us to talk about the social media abuse he's seen Premier League stars s...
Chelsea‘s ‘psychological coding‘ programme (with Malcolm Harkness)
30 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Trabzonspor's Head of Sports Science, Malcolm Harkness, joins us to discuss his time in Turkey and the 'psychological coding' project he helped run in...
The psychology behind Chelsea‘s double-winning side (with Dr Bruno Demichelis)
23 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Former AC Milan and Chelsea psychologist, Dr Bruno Demichelis, drops by for the second half of a two-part episode, looking at his time at Stamford Bri...
AC Milan‘s ‘Mind Room‘: Italian football‘s first psychology lab (with Dr Bruno Demichelis)
31 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
AC Milan's former Scientific Coordinator, Dr Bruno Demichelis, drops by to discuss the 'Mind Room', Italian football's first psychology laboratory. B...
Psychological characteristics of the ‘perfect footballer‘ (with Simon Clifford)
28 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Southampton's former Head of Sports Science and the man credited with introducing futsal to the UK, Simon Clifford, stops by for a fascinating discuss...
The impact of sleep on performance (with Nick Littlehales, ‘The Sport Sleep Coach‘)
16 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Littlehales, aka 'The Sport Sleep Coach', drops by for a discussion about the impact of sleep on players' performance. We talk about Nick's care...
The impact of stress on performance (with Professor Marc Jones)
03 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Renowned academic Professor Marc Jones joins us for a discussion about the impact of stress on performance, as we continue to look at how footballers,...
The ‘biggest psychology programme in Europe‘ (with Richard Dobson)
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest episode of The Football Psychology Show (formerly known as the Beat The Press podcast), we speak to Wycombe assistant manager, Richard D...
Managers‘ mental health (with Mike Calvin)
03 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Football Psychology Show (formerly known as the Beat The Press podcast), we speak to award-winning journalist and author, Mike ...
Recovering from long term injuries (with Dr Misia Gervis)
13 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Football Psychology Show (formerly known as the Beat The Press podcast), we speak to Dr Misia Gervis, leading sports psychologi...