Ep182: Erin Ayala, Sports Psychologist. Show Up As the Best Version of Yourself

January 9, 2024
Sports Psychologist Dr. Erin Ayala joins host Elizabeth Emery to discuss the struggles of being a woman involved in male-dominated sports, athlete identity, gravel racing, being prepared to compete, nerves, anxiety, racing with confidence, the pain cave, performance slumps, different types of goals and how they work, plus since it’s the new year, resolutions.

With over a decade of research and clinical experience, Erin is a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is the founder of Skadi Sport Psychology, a mission driven sport psychology practice that specializes in working with girls, women, and non-binary endurance athletes. Dr. Ayala is a published author of over 20 research articles and book chapters, and has been featured in Trailrunner Magazine, the New York Times, and other media outlets. Beyond her professional achievements, she is an accomplished endurance athlete, a lover of spreadsheets, and is likely reading 12+ books at any given time.

Skadi Sport Psychology
Erin on Instagram and LinkedIn
Sign up for Erin’s Athlete Summit —> FREE live January 11th& 12th, 2025, $125 for All Access Pass
Unbound Gravel
Cyclocross superstar Helen Wyman in Ep117 about learning to win.
Courtney Dauwalter and Jessie Diggins on the pain cave.
Elizabeth Holden discusses balancing training and life in Ep179.
Stacy Sims in Ep123. If you exercise on purpose, you are an athlete.
Iris Slappendel in Ep176 on media scrutiny of athletes.
Last season, Sophia Laukli fell mid-race and then jumped up and went on to win the famed Alpe Cermis hill climb in the Tour de Ski. Meet Sophia in last year’s race report from the Ostersund World Cup.
Behavioral Scientist Katy Milkman

Only some of Erin’s book recommendations
Meditations for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman
Toxic Productivity, Israa Nasir
The Confidence Gap: A Guide to Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt, Steven Hayes