PerformHappy with Rebecca Smith

This episode of the Perform Happy Podcast is a reminder that even the athletes who look the most confident can struggle with anxiety, pressure, and self-doubt. I sit down with University of Utah gymnast Ella Zirbes to talk about finding joy in gymnastics again after anxiety took away the fun of competing on some of the biggest stages of her career. 
Ella shares how the pressure to be perfect left her feeling overwhelmed during her sophomore season and what helped her make a complete mindset shift. Through sports psychology, gratitude, and learning to stop performing for other people's approval, she rediscovered what it means to compete for herself and her team. 
We also talk about comparison, injuries, college recruiting pressure, and why athletes don't need to become someone else to succeed. Ella shares the lessons she learned from setbacks, why your sport should never define your worth, and how doing your own gymnastics is often the best thing you can do under pressure. 
In this episode you will hear:
 How gratitude can help reframe anxiety before competition 
 Why trying to be perfect often creates more pressure 
 How to stop comparing yourself to other athletes 
 Why your self-worth should never depend on your performance 
 What parents and coaches can do to help athletes feel supported 
 Why consistency and trusting your preparation matter most on competition day 
 How finding joy in your sport can improve both performance and confidence 
This conversation is a powerful reminder that anxiety doesn't mean you're not capable. Sometimes, the biggest breakthrough comes when you stop chasing perfection and start appreciating the opportunity to do what you 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 NCAA gymnast Abigayle Martin to talk about performing scared, overcoming mental blocks, trusting yourself under pressure, and finding what helps you compete with confidence. Abby shares how a mental block at 10 years old shaped the athlete she is today and why learning to work with fear, instead of waiting for it to disappear, changed everything.
Abby opens up about competing at the highest levels of college gymnastics while still feeling nervous before routines. She explains why fear is a normal part of performance, how she developed her own mental routines, and why young athletes should never feel like they have to do things exactly the way everyone else does. We also talk about the importance of communicating with coaches, advocating for yourself, and learning what helps you perform your best.
In this episode you will hear:
Why it's okay to perform scared
How mental blocks can become opportunities for growth
The importance of finding a mental routine that works for you
Why young athletes should learn to advocate for themselves
How communication builds stronger relationships with coaches
Why brushing off a bad meet and moving forward matters
This conversation is a powerful reminder that confidence isn't the absence of fear. It's learning to trust yourself, your preparation, and your ability to keep showing up. Young athletes don't need to feel fearless to succeed. They just need the tools to keep going, one routine at a time.
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 Alyssa Olin, former Division I gymnast and licensed clinical social worker, to have an honest conversation about the difference between tough coaching and trauma in youth sports. We explore how harmful coaching practices can become normalized, the lasting impact they have on an athlete’s mental health, and why every child deserves to have a voice and feel safe in their sport.
Alyssa shares her own experiences growing up in gymnastics and explains how repeated fear, shame, punishment, and emotional invalidation can affect the nervous system long after an athlete leaves the gym. We also discuss the warning signs parents should watch for, why mental blocks often have deeper roots than people realize, and how learning to reconnect with your body and emotions is an important part of healing.
In this episode you will hear
Why "normal" coaching behaviors are not always healthy or safe
How trauma can affect confidence, performance, and identity
Warning signs that an athlete may be struggling
Why emotions and physical symptoms deserve to be taken seriously
How parents can support instead of dismissing difficult feelings
Why self-worth must extend beyond athletic performance
This conversation is a reminder that great coaching builds trust, not fear. When athletes feel safe, heard, and valued beyond their results, they are far more likely to thrive both in sport and in life.

Connect with Alyssa: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/alyssa-olin-oswego-il/1579790
Alyssa's website: https://www.dztherapy.com/alyssa-olin

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 gymnastics physical therapist Dr. Jenny Borda to talk about one of the hardest things for gymnasts, parents, and coaches to navigate: knowing the difference between being sore, being scared, and being injured.
I see this come up all the time with athletes who are unsure when they should speak up about pain. They worry their coach will think they are making excuses, or they are afraid that saying something means they will miss a competition. Jenny and I talk about why communication early on matters, and why creating a safe space for athletes to share what they are feeling can make such a difference.
Jenny breaks down how pain is not always a sign of injury, but it is always information worth paying attention to. We talk about the “green,” “yellow,” and “red” zones and how athletes can learn to understand what their bodies are telling them instead of immediately feeling like they have to either push through or stop completely.
We also dive into something I see often in gymnastics: when fear and pain become connected. Sometimes an athlete’s body reacts because something feels unsafe, even when there is not a clear injury. Jenny explains why we should not dismiss that experience and why asking the right questions can help uncover what is really going on.
In this episode you will hear
Why gymnasts are afraid to tell someone when they are hurting
How parents and coaches can respond in a way that builds trust
The difference between soreness, fear, pain, and injury
Why communication can prevent bigger problems
How athletes can better understand their own bodies
Why caring for the athlete matters beyond gymnastics
This conversation is an important reminder that supporting gymnasts is not just about getting through the next practice or competition. It is about helping athletes feel heard, supported, and confident in understanding their bodies throughout their journey.
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 former professional dancer and former Rockette Gabby Roberts to talk about chasing big dreams, overcoming rejection, building confidence, and learning how to never let someone else decide what is possible for you. Gabby shares her journey of being told she didn’t fit the image of a professional dancer, facing rejection from her college program, and continuing to pursue her goal even when others questioned her path.
Gabby opens up about the impact that comments about body type, talent, and potential can have on young athletes and performers. She explains why feedback needs to come with support and guidance, and how words from coaches, teachers, and people around us can shape the beliefs we carry about ourselves.
We also talk about the importance of having a support system when pursuing a difficult goal, why confidence often comes after making the decision to keep going, and how visualization helped Gabby prepare for auditions and performances. She shares why success is not just about wanting a dream badly, but about trusting the process, putting in the work, and staying committed through setbacks.
In this episode you will hear
Why you should never let someone else define your limits
How rejection can become motivation instead of a reason to quit
The role parents and coaches play in supporting young athletes
Why confidence comes from preparation and consistency
How to separate your self-worth from outcomes
Why loving the process matters when chasing a big dream
This conversation is a powerful reminder that someone else’s doubt does not have to become your reality. When athletes learn to trust themselves, embrace challenges, and keep showing up, they create opportunities they never thought were possible.
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