Episode 4: Sport Psychology–Addressing the Whole Person, Systems, and Vulnerability

Psychology Life Lessons is a podcast where we listen in on conversations with psychology experts and try to extract life lessons, and maybe a little wisdom.

In this episode, Dr. Dan Lannin has a conversation with Dr. Joey Ramaeker, the director of sport psychology at the University of Notre Dame. Joey and Dan talk about issues relating to sport psychology, but also general tips for non-athletes. Joey talks about his journey to becoming a sport psychologist and offers some great life lessons. Joey starts out talking about the importance of taking a wholistic view of athletes as people. He busts some myths about Kobe Bryant’s approach to sports and talks about the importance of considering the different systems that surround athletes–from teams, to families, to larger social structures. Joey also talks about the importance of helping athletes manage conflict in appropriate ways, and how creating a safe psychological environment can help healthy types of communications thrive. The last life lesson centers around the idea of vulnerability–how elite manage the inherent physical and psychological vulnerability and uncertainty in their sports.

Importantly, we learn that Joey loves The Notorious B.I.G. and invests in things that touch the ground (e.g., beds, shoes, couches, etc.). Dan manages to squeeze out a few tips from Joey on how to improve his pickleball game.

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