![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/84770f_0cf5b6c1550a4b8c92f92f1064cc68de~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1900,h_1074,al_c,q_90,enc_auto/84770f_0cf5b6c1550a4b8c92f92f1064cc68de~mv2.jpg)
Episode starters
Episode 16
Ava Doan
In our sixteenth episode, Lavanya, the founder and executive director of In My Head: The Internal Battle, sits down with Ava Doan. Ava is a current senior who has been playing competitive tennis for most of her life. Ava also does competitive robotics as well. In today’s episode, Ava shares her tennis journey, how she deals with anxiety and stress, what it takes to stay calm amidst setbacks, and how she strives for a balance between academics and athletics. Listen to find out more!
![RenderedImage.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/476913_029f5d3665244eb1b89b1e953ab9f075~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_208,h_329,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/RenderedImage.jpg)
Episode 15
Kaylani Marie Lim
In our fifteenth episode, Lavanya, the founder and executive director of In My Head: The Internal Battle, sits down with Kaylani Marie Lim. Kaylani is a senior at Silver Creek High School who is on her way to play D1 softball at San Jose State University. Kaylani shares her softball journey, coping mechanisms for anxiety and stress, how she strives to balance academics and athletics, and a glimpse into her life as a student-athlete.
​
Episode 14
Lavanya Verma
In our fourteenth episode, Lavanya, the founder and executive director of In My Head: The Internal Battle, reflects on her insightful conversations with each guest on the podcast. From Coach Thomas Lee's lessons on junior tennis to Dr. Robert Burn's take on debate, each episode explores the intersection of mental wellness and sports/competition. Join Lavanya as she shares personal learnings, embracing vulnerability, and the transformative power of the "In My Head" community.
Episode 13
Gayathri Krishnan
In our thirteenth episode, Lavanya, the founder and executive director of In My Head: The Internal Battle, sits down with Gayathri Krishnan, a freshman at Columbia University. Gayathri shares her journey with tennis. Gayathri speaks on the mental strategies she utilizes to stay focused, the ways she balances her academic, tennis, and social life, and how tennis has shaped her perspective on life.
​
​
​
Episode 12
Dr. Robert Burn
Dr. Burn is part of an organization called SVUDL which stands for Silicon Valley Urban Debate League. In our episode today, instead of talking about a sport, Lavanya talks with Dr. Burns about a competitive environment similar to what a sport brings. Debate! Dr Burns speaks on tactics he teaches his debaters on how to keep calm, do’s and don'ts for a competitive environment, and what it means to be a good sport.
​
​
Episode 11
Evan Hoyt
In this episode, Lavanya talks with Evan Hoyt, a retired tennis pro and now coach at eagle fustar tennis academy. Evan turned pro at 18 and went on the pro circuit full time, achieving an ATP ranking of 319 in singles and 217 in doubles. He competed at Wimbledon in 2019 in the Men’s singles qualifying, main draw doubles, and reached the quarter finals in mixed-doubles that same year. In this episode, Evan shares his journey from junior to pro to coach, insights he tells his junior athletes from his experience, and the significance of mindset and mental resilience in the context of sports.
Episode 10
Lani-Rae Green
Lani is a former Division 1 tennis student-athlete for UC Davis. Lani works at USTA Northern California and works in player development. In this episode, Lani talks about her journey as a junior, from playing tournaments in Hawaii to playing D1 tennis and at UC Davis. She also shares her hands-on work with junior tennis athletes today and how she works hand in hand with aspiring athletes.
Episode 9
Emma Critser
In this episode, Lavanya interviews Emma. Emma is currently pursuing her PsyD and will be entering her last year this fall. Emma played for Saint Mary's College. Emma takes us through her life as a junior, how she became mentally resilient, and what she notices about mental health in our world today. Listen to find out more
​
Episode 8
Donnise Powell
In this episode, Mrs. Powell, a track coach and mental health social worker, discusses the role of mental wellness is not only in team sports but in sports in general, what some efficient techniques athletes use to help attain a positive mental state, and why it is so important to shatter the stigma around mental health and mental wellness in sports.
​
Episode 7
Brianna Holmes
In this episode Brianna a student-athlete at UCLA discusses her journey with artistic swimming, how she began, and what impact the sport has had on her life. Brianna also shares how she navigated her mental health with sports, and the advice she would give to teen athletes today.