The Mental Fitness Podcast

Train your mind like you train your body

Hosted by Dave Barney and Luke Olson. Real conversations about building emotional resilience and lasting mental strength.

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The Mental Fitness Podcast

Latest Episode

Health & Vitality
32

Sleep Better, Think Sharper | Dr. Sara Mednick on How Recovery Rewires Your Brain

What if your biggest breakthroughs aren't happening while you're working, but while you're asleep? Dave and Luke sit down with cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Sara Mednick to explore the hidden power of sleep, naps, and recovery.

April 7, 2026
53 min
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31 episodes
32
Health & Vitality
April 7, 2026
53 min

Sleep Better, Think Sharper | Dr. Sara Mednick on How Recovery Rewires Your Brain

What if your biggest breakthroughs aren't happening while you're working, but while you're asleep? Dave and Luke sit down with cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Sara Mednick to explore the hidden power of sleep, naps, and recovery.

31
Connection to Self
March 31, 2026
34 min

Creating a Meaningful Life | How to Find Meaning Through Hardship

“The goal after suffering is not to chase happiness. It's to build meaning strong enough to carry the pain.”When it comes to mental health, meaning is often overlooked. Dave and Luke explore the significance of creating...

30
Health & Vitality
March 24, 2026
25 min

Movement is Improvement | The Mental Benefits of Physical Activity

Dave Barney and Luke Olson explore how physical activity functions as a mental fitness strategy. Even small amounts of movement can improve mood, reduce stress, and sharpen cognitive clarity.

29
Connection to Self
March 17, 2026
44 min

Surviving Isn't Thriving | Redefining Resilience with Lindsay Schiess

Therapist and speaker Lindsay Schiess joins Dave and Luke to explore the true meaning of resilience — the willingness to slow down, listen to your body's signals, and build emotional awareness that lasts.

28
Connection to Self
March 10, 2026
42 min

Why Writing Heals the Mind | Expressive Writing and Emotional Clarity with Dr. James Pennebaker

What if one of the most powerful tools for improving mental and even physical health costs nothing and requires only a pen, paper, and a few minutes of honesty?

27
Connection to Self
March 3, 2026
26 min

Increasing Your Capacity | The Key to Sustainable Mental Resilience

Dave and Luke explore a foundational concept in building lasting mental strength: capacity. Using vivid analogies they unpack the difference between external stress and internal bandwidth

26
Foundations
February 24, 2026
47 min

Mental Fitness 101 | Six Months of Habits that Build Emotional Resilience

Dave and Luke reflect on the past six months of their mental fitness podcast journey. They share insights from previous guests and conversations to highlight some of the best daily habits that improve your overall mental strength.

25
Connection to Self
February 17, 2026
38 min

The Emotional Intelligence Playbook | What Your Emotions Are Really Telling You

In this episode, Dave and Luke dive into emotional intelligence—what it really means and why it matters. They explain it as a trainable set of abilities.

24
Connection to Others
February 10, 2026
54 min

Reclaiming Your Mental Focus | The Neuroscience Behind Screens with Dr. Dan Lathan

In this episode, Dave and Luke sit down with neuroscientist Dr. Dan Lathan to explore how digital media is reshaping the way our brains function.

23
Connection to Others
February 3, 2026
33 min

Finding Connection in Loneliness | How to Navigate Growth Without Losing Yourself

Hosts Dave and Luke talk about the epidemic of loneliness present in the world today. Even in this era of modern connection, many people still find themselves battling deep loneliness.

22
Connection to Self
January 27, 2026
48 min

When Excellence Has a Cost | Performance, Pressure, and Identity with Brian Goodell

Hosts Dave Barney and Luke Olson sit down with Brian Goodell, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and former world-record holder, to explore what happens when excellence, pressure, and self-worth become tightly intertwined.

21
Health & Vitality
January 20, 2026
42 min

How to Improve Your Sleep Hygiene | A Practical Look at Sleep with Dr. Jade Wu

Hosts Dave Barney and Luke Olson welcome back sleep psychologist Dr. Jade Wu for a conversation about things that actually help people sleep better. Moving past rigid routines and “hacks,” their discussion reframes sleep hygiene.

20
Connection to Self
January 14, 2026
47 min

Finding Confidence After Setbacks | The Mental Toll of Athletic Performance with Joshua Aruya

Hosts Dave Barney and Luke Olson sit down with Division I athlete Joshua Aruya for a conversation about the mental side of elite performance. Josh shares how his journey into men’s volleyball began unexpectedly and evolved rapidly, leading him to...

19
Connection to Self
December 31, 2025
36 min

A Smarter Way to Start the Year | How to Make Goals That Sustain Long-Term Change

As a new year begins, Dave Barney and Luke Olson look at why most New Year’s resolutions don’t stick. They show that failure is rarely a discipline or willpower issue. Together, they challenge the idea that goal-setting is a character test

18
Health & Vitality
December 30, 2025
23 min

The Third Pillar of Mental Fitness | Health and Vitality

Rather than framing physical health as a fitness trend or lifestyle goal, their conversation grounds it in capacity. Dave and Luke explain how sleep, movement, and nutrition form the physical foundation for true Mental Fitness.

17
Connection to Others
December 23, 2025
31 min

Connection to Others | The Second Pillar of Mental Fitness

In a world more digitally connected than ever, Dave and Luke explore how loneliness is quietly becoming one of the greatest threats to mental health. They unpack the second pillar of mental fitness - Connection to Others

16
Connection to Self
December 16, 2025
30 min

Connection to Self | The First Pillar of Mental Fitness

In this episode, Dave and Luke introduce the first pillar of mental fitness: connection to self. Rather than focusing on productivity hacks or motivation tactics, this conversation invites listeners to slow down and look inward.

15
Connection to Self
December 9, 2025
55 min

Rebuilding the Self: From Olympic Glory to Personal Recovery

This week, hosts Luke and Dave are joined by Bill Schuffenhauer, Olympic bobsled silver medalist and three-time Olympian, to explore the lesser-told story behind elite performance.

14
Foundations
December 2, 2025
40 min

Connection to Self, Connection to Others, and Health and Vitality | The Three Pillars of Mental Fitness

Dave and Luke take a deep dive into the concept of mental fitness. What it is, why it matters, and how to build it. They explain that mental fitness isn’t about being “unwell” or “well” but more about your ability to handle lifes challenges.

13
Connection to Self
November 25, 2025
41 min

Beyond Thanksgiving: The Science of Gratitude with Todd Olson

Back by popular demand, trauma and nervous system specialist Todd Olson is back to explore the deeper power of embodied gratitude during the Thanksgiving season.

12
Connection to Others
November 18, 2025
49 min

Can AI Cure Loneliness? The Promise and Peril of Digital Companions with Br33 Jon3s

Artificial intelligence is changing everything, including how we connect, cope, and care for ourselves. In this episode of The Mental Fitness Podcast, hosts Dave Barney and Luke Olson sit down with Br33 Jon3s, tech anthropologist, AI ethicist.

11
Health & Vitality
November 11, 2025
49 min

Food, Mood, and the Mind: How Nutrition Shapes Mental Health with Dr. David Wiss

Nutrition isn’t just about physical health, it’s about how you think, feel, and show up every day. In this episode, hosts Dave and Luke sit down with Dr. David Wiss, to explore the powerful connection between food, inflammation, and mental wellness.

10
Connection to Others
November 4, 2025
51 min

Time, Trust, and True Care: Rebuilding Healthcare From the Inside Out

Hosts Dave and Luke sit down with Dr. John Sanders, a family physician pioneering a preventive, human-centered approach to healthcare.

9
Health & Vitality
October 21, 2025
51 min

Burnout vs. Depression: How to Recover, Recharge, and Build Real Resilience

In this episode of The Mental Fitness Podcast, hosts Dave and Luke sit down with psychologist Dr. David Morgan, who brings over two decades of experience in forensic and workplace mental health. Together, they unpack one of today’s most misunderstood

8
Connection to Self
October 14, 2025
45 min

When the Game Ends | Finding Identity Beyond the Field with Sae Tautu

Former NFL and BYU linebacker Sae Tautu spent years chasing the dream that defined his life, until one injury changed everything.

7
Connection to Others
October 7, 2025
56 min

Small is Bigger, Slow is Faster: Nervous System Wisdom with Todd Olson

When life moves too fast, our bodies often tell the story before our minds catch up. In this episode, hosts Dave and Luke sit down with trauma and nervous system specialist Todd Olson.

6
Connection to Others
September 30, 2025
45 min

Teens, Technology, and Resilience with Dr. Jenna McGinnis

Dave and Luke sit down with Dr. Jenna McGinnis of the University of Utah to discuss why the teenage years are such a critical window for mental health.

5
Connection to Self
September 23, 2025
45 min

Code Switching, Identity, and Mental Fitness with Dr. Kimberly Applewhite

Guest: Dr. Kimberly Applewhite In this episode of The Mental Fitness Podcast, hosts Dave and Luke sit down with Dr. Kimberly Applewhite, a licensed clinical psychologist and community leader, to explore the hidden emotional costs of code switching.

4
Health & Vitality
September 16, 2025
50 min

Sleep, Mental Fitness, and Everyday Resilience with Dr. Jade Wu

Guest: Dr. Jade Wu Hosts Dave and Luke welcome Dr. Jade Wu, an internationally recognized behavioral sleep medicine specialist and author of Hello Sleep.

3
Foundations
September 10, 2025
37 min

What Is Mental Fitness? Building Strength for the Modern World

In the first full episode of The Mental Fitness Podcast, Dave and Luke dive into the concept of mental fitness and why it matters now more than ever.

2
Foundations
September 10, 2025
40 min

From Tech to Mental Health: The Story Behind ElizaChat

In this episode of The Mental Fitness Podcast, co-founders Dave and Luke share their personal and professional journeys that led them to create ElizaChat.

1
Foundations
September 9, 2025
18 min

Welcome to the The Mental Fitness Podcast

The Opening trailer of The Mental Fitness Podcast, Dave and Luke set the stage for a journey through history, culture, and the ongoing struggle to understand what it really means to be mentally strong.

New to the podcast?

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Five episodes that lay the groundwork for mental fitness.

1
Welcome to the The Mental Fitness Podcast
The Opening trailer of The Mental Fitness Podcast, Dave and Luke set the stage for a journey through history, culture, and the ongoing struggle to understand what it really means to be mentally strong.
14
Connection to Self, Connection to Others, and Health and Vitality | The Three Pillars of Mental Fitness
Dave and Luke take a deep dive into the concept of mental fitness. What it is, why it matters, and how to build it. They explain that mental fitness isn’t about being “unwell” or “well” but more about your ability to handle lifes challenges.
2
From Tech to Mental Health: The Story Behind ElizaChat
In this episode of The Mental Fitness Podcast, co-founders Dave and Luke share their personal and professional journeys that led them to create ElizaChat.
26
Mental Fitness 101 | Six Months of Habits that Build Emotional Resilience
Dave and Luke reflect on the past six months of their mental fitness podcast journey. They share insights from previous guests and conversations to highlight some of the best daily habits that improve your overall mental strength.
3
What Is Mental Fitness? Building Strength for the Modern World
In the first full episode of The Mental Fitness Podcast, Dave and Luke dive into the concept of mental fitness and why it matters now more than ever.