What Am I Actually Doing?!?!?! (Ep. 054)

Episode 055 | What Am I Actually Doing? | July 2026

In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle shares a story that almost never became an episode. After sitting down to write what he thought would be the next podcast, he stopped halfway through, looked at his notes, and realized he was writing something that no longer sounded like him. What followed was an unexpected conversation sparked by six handwritten words found in an old journal: "The podcast sounds like a podcast."

From that moment, Dan explores a question that reaches far beyond microphones and mental performance: What am I actually doing? The episode examines how athletes, coaches, parents, and leaders slowly drift away from the reasons they started in the first place. Through stories from coaching, reflections on identity, and lessons learned from working with neurodivergent athletes, Dan discusses the difference between improving and simply becoming an imitation of what we think success is supposed to look like.

Rather than offering a list of strategies or quick fixes, this episode is an invitation to pause, pay attention, and consider whether the life you're building still feels like your own. It's a conversation about rediscovering purpose, trusting your own voice, and finding your way back before the drift becomes the destination.

Topics covered

• Finding an old journal that changed the direction of the episode
• Why success can quietly pull us away from ourselves
• The difference between improving and imitating
• How athletes shift from participating to constantly evaluating themselves
• Coaching, leadership, and the danger of drifting from your identity
• Why conversations often matter more than advice
• Supporting neurodivergent athletes through clarity instead of complexity
• Rediscovering purpose in sport, coaching, work, and life
• Recognizing drift before it becomes your new normal
• Asking the question: What am I actually doing?

Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com

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