#69 JJ Schwarz: Don't Listen to Yourself, Speak to Yourself - Confidence, Identity, and the Mental Game
JJ Schwarz is a College World Series Champion at The University of Florida, former minor leaguer with the Oakland A’s, and currently studying to obtain a sports psychology degree from Barry University.He shares the highs and lows of his baseball journey—from hitting four home runs in a single game to battling injuries and rediscovering his identity beyond stats.What You’ll Hear In This Episode:The story behind JJ’s legendary 4-HR game vs. StetsonWinning the 2017 College World SeriesHow JJ discovered the mental game and why it changed everythingWhy quitting is contagiousBlending faith, identity, and performance Mental tools every athlete should knowThe power of positive self-talk and awareness of negative thoughtsThe business side of baseball and its hidden pressuresJJ’s mission in youth baseball and sports psychologyAdvice he wishes he had when he was youngerTimestamps:(0:00) –Intro to JJ(3:50) – Lessons from his dad’s 12 years in the minors(5:50) – Final outs of the national title game(7:05) – Durability, consistency, and staying in the lineup(8:50) – Why he enjoyed fall baseball(10:30) – The story behind the 4-HR game(13:00) – Chasing that peak performance again(15:15) – Starting his mental skills journey(16:30) – 2017 CWS vs. other Omaha appearances(17:40) – Florida’s coaching culture(20:10) – The business side of pro baseball(21:10) – Playing through injury(24:20) – “Quitting is contagious”(26:50) – Pursuing sports psychology(30:50) – Confidence built on character, not stats(33:15) – Practical mental skills for athletes(35:00) – Managing negative self-talk(36:00) – One cook in the kitchen mindset(37:30) – Common barriers to seeing a sports psychologist(40:00) – Youth sports and long-term development(42:00) – NIL and the current college athletics landscape(46:30) – What he’d tell his younger self(48:45) – His mission and message moving forwardLinks:JJ's InstagramJJ Schwarz Twitter (X)The Post Game Podcast:YouTubeLinkedInInstagramX.comTik TokEmail me:
[email protected] Audio Credit: Florida Gators YouTube