In this episode of Athlete Mindset, host Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC, sits down with Julie Shiller, MSW, ACSW, CMPC, CPT.
Julie Shiller, MSW, ACSW, CMPC, CPT is an AthMindset® Mental Performance Consultant and Sport and Performance Therapist with Align Bay Area Sport Psychology. A former youth athlete who left sport without the body-confidence and mental health support she needed, Julie now channels that lived experience into helping athletes and coaches thrive as whole people.
With over 15 years of experience in coaching and human performance, including extensive work in strength and conditioning, Julie supports growth across the physical, mental, and emotional domains. She is also a trainer for Positive Coaching Alliance and the founder of The Other 23 Hours Coaching, where she focuses on the transformational moments that happen outside of practice and competition.
Whether she’s working with youth athletes, collegiate teams, or coaches building healthy, high-performing environments, Julie brings empathy, evidence-based practice, and a holistic perspective to her work. Her work sits at the intersection of performance, mental health, and identity in sport.
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Lisa brings her dual lens as a clinical social worker and Certified Mental Performance Consultant® — as well as her work as the author of The AthMindset® Workbook: Training Your Mind for Optimal Mental Health in Sport and in Life. Julie brings the grounded empathy of a practitioner who understands sport from the inside out and works daily to create healthier, more sustainable athletic environments.
Together, they center the importance of body confidence, identity development, and whole-person care — not just for athletes, but for coaches and the systems that surround them.
Episode Topics
- Athlete identity beyond performance
- Body confidence and mental health in sport
- Eating disorder awareness and early signs
- The “other 23 hours” outside practice and competition
- Coach development as the foundation of team culture
- Having hard conversations with athletes
- Holistic performance: physical, mental, emotional integration
- Youth and collegiate athlete support
- Creating healthy, high-performing environments
Chapters
0:00 — Athlete Mindset & SportsEpreneur
0:17 — Cold open + energy check
1:09 — Welcome & introduction to Julie Shiller
2:00 — Julie’s background: coaching, performance, and lived experience
4:10 — Leaving sport without support & why it matters
6:45 — Athlete identity and body confidence
9:30 — Eating disorder awareness in athletics
12:10 — Why the “other 23 hours” matter most
15:05 — Coaches as culture-setters
18:40 — Starting with the coach before the athlete
22:15 — Building team-wide support systems
26:30 — Youth and collegiate athlete considerations
30:05 — Integrating physical, mental, and emotional performance
34:10 — What healthy sport environments actually look like
38:20 — Advice for coaches and practitioners
41:31 — Closing reflections & appreciation
TL;DR
Lisa Bonta Sumii and Julie Shiller explore athlete identity, body confidence, and the unseen hours that shape performance and well-being. They unpack how coaches influence culture, why early intervention matters, and how supporting the whole athlete — beyond wins and losses — creates healthier, more sustainable sport experiences.
Featured Links
National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA)
(Information resource for officials and sport culture)
Information and short-form content on athletes and eating disorders
Go here for resources and education
The Athlete Mindset Podcast: Athlete Identity
Related episode exploring identity in sport
The AthMindset® Workbook: Training Your Mind for Optimal Mental Health in Sport and in Life
https://athmindset.com/workbook
More content by SportsEpreneur on athlete mental health:
Why players are taking control of their health | The pressure placed on college athletes | Teaching resilience in youth sports
A Note on Body Confidence
Body confidence is the sense of comfort, acceptance, and positive attitude a person has toward their own body. It’s not just about appearance — it’s about how you feel in your own skin, respecting and appreciating your body’s abilities, and being less influenced by societal pressures or unrealistic ideals.
For athletes, body confidence is especially important because it affects performance, recovery, and mental health. Athletes with strong body confidence are more likely to trust their bodies, maintain healthy habits, and enjoy their sport without being hindered by anxiety or shame about their appearance.
Connect with Julie Shiller
Julie Shiller, MSW, ACSW, CMPC, CPT
- AthMindset® Mental Performance Practitioner
- Sport & Performance Therapist — Align Bay Area Sport Psychology
- Founder — The Other 23 Hours Coaching
- Social Media: LinkedIn | Instagram
- Strength & Conditioning Coach (former)
- Positive Coaching Alliance Trainer
- Works with youth athletes, collegiate teams, and coaches to build healthy, high-performing environments through evidence-based and holistic care.
Connect with the Host & Podcast Production Team
Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of SportsEpreneur.
Produced by KazCM and also featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.
FAQ
Why is athlete identity such an important topic?
When identity is tied only to performance, athletes are more vulnerable to anxiety, burnout, and mental health challenges. Expanding identity creates resilience and longevity.
What is meant by “the other 23 hours”?
It refers to everything outside of practice and competition — sleep, nutrition, relationships, academics, mindset, and recovery — where most development actually happens.
Why does body confidence matter for athletes?
Body confidence affects trust, performance, recovery, and enjoyment of sport. Without it, athletes may struggle with anxiety, shame, or unhealthy behaviors.
How can coaches better support athlete mental health?
By starting with themselves — building awareness, learning how to have hard conversations, and creating environments where athletes feel safe being human.
What role do practitioners like Julie play in sport systems?
They help integrate physical, mental, and emotional development so athletes and coaches can thrive as whole people — not just performers.
If you or someone you know is struggling
If you’re experiencing thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, please reach out for support:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US): Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
International resources: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
You’re not alone, and support is available.