The Mental Game Podcast
A former sports reporter interviews athletes, musicians, and celebrities about their mental health struggles, using his own journey to break the stigma.
This is an interview show where a former sports journalist uses his own vulnerability as a bridge to get high-profile guests to open up. Saho shares his own story of hitting rock bottom to create a safe space for athletes and celebrities to move beyond career highlights and discuss their internal struggles. The podcast serves as both a public conversation and a form of advocacy, aiming to normalize talking about mental health, especially among men.
“The host's radical transparency about his own journey with depression, alcoholism, and suicidal thoughts is the show's defining feature. This personal investment creates a disarmingly open environment that encourages guests to share details they haven't elsewhere.”
Who hosts this show
Brandon Saho is a former TV sports reporter who covered teams like the Cincinnati Bengals and LSU. After battling depression, alcoholism, and suicidal thoughts for years, he checked into a mental health hospital in 2022 and found a new purpose. He created The Mental Game podcast to host emotional, vulnerable conversations with public figures about their own mental health, aiming to save lives by breaking the stigma.
Credentials & credits
- Host, The Mental Game Podcast
- Former Sports Reporter (WLWT, WBRZ, WTVM)
- B.A. in Electronic Media, University of Cincinnati
- Keynote Speaker on Mental Health
Other ventures
- The Mental Game Tour (speaking tour)
- Manly Motivator, Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01Max Muncy's Favorite Dodger Stadium and World Series MomentsJun 22, 2026 · 7 min
- 02Max Muncy's Dad Saved His Baseball Career at Rock BottomJun 22, 2026 · 12 min
- 03
- 04Tianna Robillard Shares Dating Struggles Without a Father FigureJun 8, 2026 · 6 min
- 05Tianna Robillard's TikTok Love Story with Adrien NunezJun 8, 2026 · 6 min
- 06
- 07Be a F***ing Man: My Dad's Reaction When I Was SuicidalMay 20, 2026 · 35 min
- 08Asher Roth Opens Up About Fatherhood and Making New MusicMar 16, 2026 · 13 min
Notable episodes
- 01Max Muncy Talks Dodgers, World Series, Depression, Mental Health and Family - The Mental Game
A representative interview with a major athlete, showcasing the host's ability to connect career events to deep mental health struggles and recovery.
- 02Be a F***ing Man: My Dad's Reaction When I Was Suicidal
A solo episode where the host, Brandon Saho, details his own story, which is the foundation of the podcast's entire premise and interview style.
- 03Tianna Robillard Talks TikTok Fame, Heartbreak, Mental Health and Relationships - The Mental Game
Demonstrates the show's reach beyond traditional sports into the world of social media stars, applying the same mental health framework.
What you'll be asked on this show
Brandon Saho begins interviews by creating a space of trust, often opening with a broad, defining question like, "What does mental health mean to you?" He frequently shares his own personal history with depression and suicidal thoughts to build rapport and signal to the guest that this is a safe, non-judgmental conversation. Saho uses his journalistic background to anchor questions in specific, well-researched moments of a guest's career, but pivots to explore the internal mindset and emotional toll of those moments. He probes for the turning points, asking directly about "rock bottom" and the role family relationships played in recovery. His follow-ups often involve paraphrasing a guest's statement to confirm understanding and encourage them to elaborate further.
Saho leads with empathy, often disclosing his own struggles to build trust before asking guests about theirs. He uses long, context-setting preambles and paraphrases guest answers to guide them deeper into their emotional journey. Some interviews conclude with a 'rapid fire' round for more specific, highlight-oriented questions.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
10 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
mindset
3- Q.01
“What does mental health mean to you?”
This is his signature opening question, used to establish the theme and get the guest's personal definition.
- Q.02
“What made you not appreciate or lose love for your dream when you achieved it?”
This question explores the disconnect between external success and internal happiness.
- Q.03
“Did you have a different feeling getting called up the second time versus the first?”
Used to compare a guest's mental state at two different career points to highlight growth.
origin
1- Q.01
“When did you start thinking about and taking care of your mental health?”
He asks this early to understand the origin story of the guest's awareness.
personal
3- Q.01
“Did you hit rock bottom during that time?”
A direct question used to pinpoint the lowest point in the guest's journey, which he often contrasts with their recovery.
- Q.02
“What has playing in [iconic venue] meant to you over the years?”
Connects a specific career experience to the guest's personal feelings and identity.
- Q.03
“What is your favorite World Series or career-defining moment?”
Often asked near the end to get a specific career highlight, sometimes in a 'rapid fire' segment.
relationships
2- Q.01
“What are you most thankful for with your dad on this journey?”
He frequently explores the father-son dynamic and its role in the guest's career and mental health.
- Q.02
“Was it an emotional journey for you and your family to go through together?”
This question seeks to understand the emotional weight and shared experience of a struggle.
process
1- Q.01
“What was that time like for you?”
A simple, open-ended question to get the guest to narrate a specific, challenging period.
Signature segments
- · Asking guests "What does mental health mean to you?"
- · Host sharing his personal story of depression and recovery
- · Focus on athletes' mental journeys
- · Exploring father-son dynamics
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show books high-profile athletes (Max Muncy), musicians (Asher Roth, Kevin Gates), and celebrities (Terry Crews, Tianna Robillard) who are willing to speak candidly about their mental health experiences.
- Max Muncyon Max Muncy Talks Dodgers, World Series, Depression, Mental Health and Family - The Mental Game
- Tianna Robillardon Tianna Robillard Talks TikTok Fame, Heartbreak, Mental Health and Relationships - The Mental Game
- Asher Rothon Asher Roth Opens Up About Fatherhood and Making New Music
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The show has partnered with mental health organizations like Man Therapy. Based on its content, it is a strong fit for sponsors in mental wellness, therapy services, and brands focused on destigmatizing men's health.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who is the host of The Mental Game?
- The host is Brandon Saho, a former TV sports reporter who started the podcast after his own battle with depression.
- What is the format of the podcast?
- It is a long-form interview show where Brandon Saho talks with one guest, typically an athlete or celebrity, about their mental health journey.
- Is The Mental Game podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast releases new episodes regularly and the host is actively touring.
- What kind of guests appear on the show?
- The show features athletes, musicians, actors, and social media personalities who are open to discussing their mental health.
- Where can I listen to The Mental Game?
- The podcast is available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.
- Why did Brandon Saho start the podcast?
- He started the podcast in 2022 after checking into a mental health hospital for depression and alcoholism, discovering a new purpose to help others by sharing vulnerable stories.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]The Mental Game Official Websitethemental.game
- [02]Brandon Saho Bio | Executive Speakers Bureauexecutivespeakers.com
- [03]Brandon Saho: The Mental Game - WISe Wellness Guildwisewellnessguild.com
- [04]Creating a 'safe space': Brandon Saho talks mental health battle - The Daily Northwesterndailynorthwestern.com
- [05]Brandon Saho looking forward 'to being a normal person' - WVXUwvxu.org
- [06]Brandon Saho is working to destigmatize conversations around mental health - inRegisterinregister.com
- [07]Brandon Saho Bio, Wiki, Age, Wife, WLWT - Fact Profilesfact-profiles.com
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