In this episode of The Alchemy Podcast, host Doug Cartwright sits down with Braden Brown, Performance & Mental Health Coach at BYU (and Doug’s former high-school sports rival). 

They revisit chippy hardwood memories, Braden’s position switch at BYU, and the “welcome to college” moment that planted fear and how a single sports-psych session reframed everything. 

They dig into coaching frameworks (“connect before you correct”), bouncing back after mistakes (WIN: What’s Important Now), perfectionism and NIL pressure in today’s college sports, and practical reset tools athletes can use in high-stakes moments. 

Timestamps of Key Moments

00:00 – Intro: Welcoming Braden Brown, BYU Performance & Mental Health Coach

00:34 – Rivalry Rewind: High-school battles, stitches, and an ejection story

02:10 – Position Shift: From tight end to tackle & a “rag-doll” moment vs. Koa Misi

04:20 – Aftermath & Fear: Film-room embarrassment and playing not to get beat

06:05 – Better Feedback: “Connect before you correct” and seeking context first

07:50 – Mindset Flip: One sports-psych session—focus on controllables, not fear

09:22 – Bounce-Back Tools: Recovering fast with WIN—What’s Important Now

10:55 – Common Struggles: Perfectionism, NIL era pressure, and roster anxiety

12:30 – Growth Lens: The power of yet for bench-to-field transitions

14:05 – Career Path: From IUPUI to BYU; shoutout to Kurt and mental performance

15:40 – On-Field Resets: Visualization, a physical “reset button,” and “flush it” cue

17:15 – Play Present: Mindfulness & the Serenity Prayer—be where your feet are

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