PerformHappy with Rebecca Smith

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with former D1 gymnast, Parkettes alum, psych nurse, and mom of two gymnasts Jacqueline Barbera to talk about her journey through elite gymnastics, the lessons she learned, and how she would approach the sport differently today.
Jacqueline shares what it was like growing up in a high-level gymnastics environment, moving across the country to pursue her dreams, and the challenges that came with elite training. She opens up about the pressure, the expectations, and how not having a voice as an athlete affected confidence, fear, and performance.
We also explore what young athletes need most from their coaches and parents. Jacqueline explains why creating a safe environment does not mean lowering standards, but instead finding the balance between pushing athletes and helping them feel supported. She shares how her own experiences shaped the way she views coaching, parenting, and the future of gymnastics.
Drawing from her experience as a psych nurse, former gymnast, and mom, Jacqueline discusses the connection between stress, recovery, confidence, and mental blocks. She explains why athletes need the right amount of challenge, but also need space to communicate, recover, and trust themselves.
In this episode you will hear
What elite gymnastics taught Jacqueline about resilience and discipline
How fear and pressure can impact an athlete’s confidence
Why athletes need a voice in their training
The difference between being pushed and being overwhelmed
How parents can support young athletes without adding pressure
Why stress and recovery both matter for performance
What Jacqueline would tell her younger gymnast self
This conversation is a powerful reminder that success in gymnastics is not only about skills, scores, or medals. The athletes who thrive are the ones who learn to trust themselves, feel supported, and build a healthier relationship with the sport they love.
Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/
Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/
Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with performance scientist, professor, and former athletic trainer Dr. Toby Brooks to talk about resilience, recovery, identity, and what happens when life doesn’t go according to plan.
Whether it’s an injury, retirement, a major setback, or an unexpected life change, every athlete will eventually face moments that feel like everything is falling apart. Toby shares how these experiences often become the starting point for growth, helping athletes discover new purpose beyond the challenges they face.
Drawing from his work with athletes, students, and high performers, Toby explains why community matters during difficult seasons and how support, connection, and perspective can make all the difference. He discusses the importance of having people who will sit beside you through hard moments instead of trying to immediately fix them.
We also explore the relationship between stress, recovery, and performance. Toby breaks down why growth requires both challenge and rest, how perfectionism can contribute to burnout, and why sustainable success depends on more than just working harder.
In this episode you will hear
Why setbacks can become new beginnings
How athletes can navigate major life transitions
Why support and community matter during difficult times
The role of stress and recovery in performance
How perfectionism contributes to burnout
Why rest is an essential part of growth
How to build a healthier relationship with achievement
This conversation is a powerful reminder that success is not defined by avoiding challenges. When athletes learn to embrace setbacks, seek support, and grow through adversity, they build the resilience needed to thrive both in sport and in life.
Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/
Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/
Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with 3-time Olympian Becky Downie to talk about finding your voice in gymnastics, advocating for yourself, and helping create a healthier culture for the next generation of athletes.
For many gymnasts, speaking up can feel risky. Whether it's admitting you're scared, communicating pain, or disagreeing with a coach, athletes are often taught to stay quiet and push through. Becky shares how that mindset affected her early career and why learning to communicate became one of the most important skills she developed.
Drawing from more than two decades on the national team, Becky reflects on the evolution of gymnastics culture and the progress that has been made toward athlete well-being. She discusses the importance of trusting your instincts, understanding the difference between discomfort and injury, and creating environments where athletes feel safe to be honest.
We also explore the role coaches and parents play in helping young athletes develop confidence, self-awareness, and healthy communication skills. Becky shares why strong relationships matter, how athletes can learn to advocate for themselves, and why difficult conversations often create the biggest positive changes.
In this episode you will hear
Why athletes need to find their voice
How to communicate pain and injuries effectively
Why trusting your instincts matters
How healthy coach-athlete relationships improve performance
Why speaking up can create positive change
How parents can advocate for their children
What gymnastics culture has learned over the last 20 years
This conversation is a powerful reminder that great athletes are not built through fear and silence. When athletes feel heard, supported, and empowered to communicate, they can perform with greater confidence, resilience, and joy.
Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/
Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/
Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with Nicky Keay to talk about puberty, periods, hormones, and how they affect young athletes physically and mentally during one of the biggest transitions of their lives.
For many gymnasts, puberty can feel confusing and frustrating. Skills suddenly feel different, emotions feel bigger, and bodies begin to change in ways athletes are often taught to fear instead of understand.
Dr. Keay explains why these changes are not something athletes should fight against. Hormones play a critical role in bone health, strength, recovery, cognition, and long-term athletic performance. While puberty can temporarily affect coordination, balance, and confidence, it is also what helps young athletes grow into stronger, healthier women.
We also discuss the importance of fueling properly during adolescence, especially in sports like gymnastics and dance where underfueling is extremely common. Dr. Keay explains how missing or irregular periods can be a warning sign of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), and why parents and coaches should pay attention early.
One of the most helpful parts of this conversation is learning how athletes can better understand their own menstrual cycles instead of fearing them. Rather than seeing periods as a weakness, athletes can learn patterns, prepare ahead of time, and build confidence through awareness and recovery.
In this episode you will hear
Why puberty changes athletic performance
 How hormones affect strength, recovery, and coordination
 Why missing periods can signal RED-S
 How underfueling impacts health and performance
 Why body changes during puberty are normal and necessary
 How athletes can track and work with their menstrual cycles
 Why parents and coaches need to create healthier conversations around puberty
This conversation is a powerful reminder that puberty is not the end of an athlete’s potential. With the right support, nutrition, and understanding, young athletes can grow into stronger, healthier, and more confident competitors.
Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/
Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/
Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

One of the hardest things athletes can experience is watching a dream fall apart. In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with Alexis Crockett to talk about mental blocks, burnout, body image, and how setbacks can lead to an even better path forward.
Alexis was one of the most talented gymnasts of her generation. She made elite at just 10 years old, represented the United States internationally, and became the first gymnast to compete a double twisting double pike. From the outside, it looked like her Olympic future was guaranteed.
But behind the success was a young athlete carrying enormous pressure.
We talk about how mental blocks can appear suddenly, even for athletes performing at the highest level. Alexis shares how burnout, overtraining, and years of pressure eventually caught up with her, leading to a mental block that completely changed the course of her gymnastics career.
What stood out to me most was her honesty about the shame and frustration she carried for years. So many athletes believe mental blocks mean they are weak or not trying hard enough, but Alexis explains why that simply is not true. Often, the brain is trying to protect the athlete from emotional or physical pain, even when the athlete desperately wants to keep going.
We also discuss body image in gymnastics, the unhealthy messages many athletes grew up hearing, and how Alexis is approaching her own daughter’s gymnastics journey differently. Instead of rushing success, she wants her daughter to enjoy being a kid first.
In this episode you will hear
Why mental blocks can happen to any athlete
How burnout and pressure affect performance
Why body image struggles are so common in gymnastics
How Alexis rebuilt confidence after setbacks
Why athletes need support, not shame
How parents and coaches can create healthier environments
This conversation is a powerful reminder that sometimes the dream falling apart leads you toward the life you were actually meant to build.
Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/
Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/
Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com