We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Mascio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
To me, empathy has become the value that matters the most for my business and I. Providing a safe space for athletes to discuss their challenges and victories with someone who can relate—and who has recently been in their shoes—is the cornerstone of our work. Whether the meeting is with myself or one of our active NCAA or professional athletes, practicing empathy and being able to put ourselves in our clients’ shoes is what we do best.

In sports, healthy psychological habits are often overlooked and under-discussed, especially for men. By giving young athletes the opportunity to talk about topics that may be sensitive to them with someone who understands these issues, we open doors not only to enhanced on-field performance but also to improved well-being off the field.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
With my private practice and Talk To Talent Mentorships, the vision initially came from my personal interactions, and seeing so many older athletes helping younger athletes while playing baseball for UC Davis. This gave me the idea that this concept could be introduced on a larger scale to athletes of all levels.

Today, collegiate student-athlete’s can finally financially benefit from their name, image, and likeness. I’ve had so many teammates in college and professional baseball barely scraping by, working odd jobs in the mornings before games, not being able to afford their basic needs, while still being asked to show up and perform at an elite level. This program is designed to help support those athletes. By giving them a platform to share their most valuable asset, their experience of getting to the higher levels of sports, which can be shared with young athletes nationwide. We give them a majority of your payment, because we’re created by athletes, for the athletes. Our program truly provides a mutually beneficial relationship for both sides, and allows for the mentee to obtain valuable information in areas such as the mental side of sports, proper training methods, and mechanical tips, all right from those currently getting it done at the highest levels. Creating these mutually beneficial relationships, and giving athletes a space to discuss tough topics such as mental health in the world of sports is what I’m most proud of in this area of my career.

In my personal practice, empathy and storytelling are the two skills I’ve developed that set me apart. Being able to relate to the situations my clients are in is something I take a lot of pride in. By using psychological concepts concepts combined with the stories from my own career, I feel I’m able to bring these concepts to life. Nothing isn more rewarding for me than seeing a lightbulb go on for an athlete while in our session.

By far my biggest challenge was creating the website from scratch for Talk To Talent Mentorships!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Compartmentalization is a key skill for athletes to practice. So knowing spots for a good time around Socal is crucial! Personally, if someone was visiting, I’d take them down to Huntington Beach for a surf, then to Bear Flag Fish Co. for lunch. Another favorite spot of mine is Truly Pizza in Dana Point. I am also a big fan of Crystal Cove, and could easily spend a day there with good company

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to give a shoutout to the people who helped me become immersed in the field of sport psychology. It started with the sport psychology staff, and veteran athletes at UC Davis. While there, they helped me out a ton as a student-athlete, and introduced me to the many benefits of proper mental skills training. I’d also like to thank those who helped me continue to learn and grow my craft, particularly the California Baptist University Sport Psychology Graduate School Program, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps athletic department, Pomona Pitzer College Athletics, and Legends Athletic Performance.

Website: https://talktotalentmentorships.com

Instagram: @mattmascio17, @talktotalentmentorships

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-mascio

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