Making Shift Happen

264. Becoming a Brave Athlete: Mental Resilience for Athletes

Jul 17, 2026 | Podcast | 0 comments

Josie is in a down puffy coat, with her hood pulled up over her climbing helmet, and her arms are crossed in front of her, with gloved hands and a buff pulled up over half of her face to keep her warm. She is looking up and to her right. The title of the episode is in white font on a gradient sky blue background.

In this episode of Making Shift Happen, I’m joined by mindset coach, climber, and sport performance psychology graduate student Josie McGee, founder of Mind Athlete Training, to explore the mindset skills that help athletes perform with courage, confidence, and purpose.

What does it really mean to be mentally strong? Many athletes assume mental toughness means pushing harder, ignoring fear, or never doubting themselves. But what if true resilience isn’t about eliminating fear at all? What if it’s about learning to show up anyway?

Josie shares her remarkable journey from years of climbing in Yosemite and serving on the Yosemite Search & Rescue team to experiencing a life-changing climbing incident that forever changed her perspective on performance, identity, and resilience. Rather than allowing adversity to define her, she used the experience to deepen her understanding of sport psychology and the mental skills that help athletes navigate challenge with intention. Together, we discuss why it’s truly an honor to try hard, how embracing discomfort can unlock growth, and why bravery isn’t the absence of fear – it’s choosing to move forward despite it.

Whether you’re a cyclist, climber, runner, or simply someone striving to become more resilient in everyday life, this conversation offers practical insights into developing a healthier relationship with challenge, performance, and personal growth.

In This Episode

Why “trying hard” is something to be proud of – not something to hide
What it means to become a brave athlete
How fear and uncertainty can coexist with excellent performance
Lessons from Josie’s climbing experiences in Yosemite and working with Yosemite Search & Rescue
Why identity and values matter more than outcomes
Practical mindset strategies to build confidence, resilience, and self-trust
How mental skills can improve both athletic performance and enjoyment

About Josie McGee

Josie McGee is the founder of Mind Athlete Training, where she helps athletes develop the mental skills needed to perform at their highest level while maintaining a healthy relationship with challenge and competition. With more than two decades of climbing experience, time spent on the Yosemite Search & Rescue team, and graduate studies in Sport & Performance Psychology, Josie combines real-world experience with evidence-based mental performance coaching. Her approach emphasizes awareness, intention, self-regulation, attention, and self-trust as the foundation for sustainable performance.

Participate in Josie’s Research

As part of her Master’s capstone in Sport & Performance Psychology, Josie is conducting research exploring meaning and performance in athletes. If you’re an athlete and would like to contribute to her research, you can participate here 👉 SURVEY HERE

Connect with Josie

Learn more about Josie, her coaching, and Mind Athlete Training: https://mindathletetraining.com/

Photo credit: Whitney Clark

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Keywords: mental resilience for athletes, sport psychology, sport performance psychology, mental toughness, athlete mindset, performance mindset, confidence in sport, mental training for athletes, sports psychology podcast, resilience in sport, overcoming fear in sports, self-trust in athletes

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:20 — 81.5MB)

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