Episode 88: Mental Health Meets High Performance with Sarah Wilkes
The Empowered Performance for Curlers Podcast
Release Date: 07/11/2025
Episode 94: Q&A on Training, Competing & Curling Through Pregnancy
The Empowered Performance for Curlers Podcast
In this episode, I’m diving into a side of curling we don’t talk about enough: training and competing during pregnancy. Over the past few years, we’ve seen more curlers stay on the ice while pregnant, which has raised a lot of important questions around training, performance, recovery, and support. This episode was inspired by a series of thoughtful questions from , and I wanted to expand on those conversations here in a way that could help athletes, coaches, teammates, and parents better understand what this process can look like. I share: • How training and curling adapt throughout...
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Episode 93: Why most curlers plateau (and how to fix it)
The Empowered Performance for Curlers Podcast
Most curlers don’t plateau because they’ve hit their limit, they plateau because their training isn’t set up to move them forward. In this episode, I break down the biggest mistakes I see in the offseason, from lack of structure and progression to doing too much too soon and not connecting training to curling performance. You’ll learn what actually works: a clear plan, progression over time, and training that evolves with your season. If you’ve ever felt like you’re just guessing with your workouts, this will give you direction. We’re also heading into an assessment week starting...
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Episode 92: March 2026 Month in Review
The Empowered Performance for Curlers Podcast
March 2026 Recap: Offseason Shift, Fundamentals & Where to Start This month’s recap is all about the limbo season when we start to wrap up the competitive season and step into the offseason with intention. In this episode, I’m sharing what the shift has looked like on my end, from finishing up on-ice sessions to leaning back into running and rebuilding my aerobic base (with a big focus on nasal breathing and honest reflection around where my fitness is at right now). We’ll also get into what this time of year actually means for curlers. The offseason isn’t about doing nothing or...
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Episode 91: February 2026 Month in Review
The Empowered Performance for Curlers Podcast
February 2026 Recap: Certification, TV Curling & What’s Next This is the first episode in a new monthly format; a short and sweet recap of what’s been happening behind the scenes in my world and inside Empowered Performance. In this February review, I’m walking you through a big professional milestone (getting officially certified as a ), a much-needed family golf and beach vacation, and how my brain is already shifting toward offseason planning for curlers. I’m also sharing what’s happening inside the right now: what we’ve been focusing on during this in-season block, and...
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Episode 90: How to actually improve balance in your delivery
The Empowered Performance for Curlers Podcast
Most curlers are chasing better balance, but many are chasing the wrong thing. In this episode, we break down what real balance looks like in the curling delivery and why it has far less to do with wobble-free broomless slides than you might think. We talk about: • Why poor balance drains your physical and mental energy • The hidden alignment issues that affect accuracy and weight control • Why I don’t recommend sliding without a broom as a drill • The key joints that need mobility and strength for a stable slide • How setup in the hack dictates everything that follows • The role...
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Episode 89: Holiday Survival Guide
The Empowered Performance for Curlers Podcast
Worried about losing progress over the holidays? You’re not alone — but time off the ice doesn’t have to set you back. In this episode, we break down a simple Holiday Survival Guide to help you use the break to rest, reset, and return to the ice feeling stronger and more focused. We’ll cover how to: • Reframe time off as productive recovery • Reduce curling-specific imbalances • Approach holiday eating without guilt • Stay mentally sharp with quick, anywhere visualization work If you want support staying active and balanced during the holiday stretch, you’ll also hear...
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Episode 88: Mental Health Meets High Performance with Sarah Wilkes
The Empowered Performance for Curlers Podcast
In this episode, I’m joined by World Champion curler, mom, and Registered Psychotherapist Sarah Wilkes, who brings a rare and valuable dual perspective to the world of sport — one from the ice, and one from the therapist’s chair. Currently playing lead on the #1 ranked team in the world and fresh off a World Championship win, Sarah’s path hasn’t been a straight line. We explore the emotional intensity she’s carried since her early days, the influence of her multi-sport background, and the tools she’s developed to stay grounded, curious, and consistently high-performing. We also...
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Episode 87: Val Sweeting on Mastering the Mind with Hypnosis
The Empowered Performance for Curlers Podcast
In today’s episode, I’m joined by world-class athlete and certified hypnotist Val Sweeting. We talk about how hypnosis supported her during the intense bubble season, what shifted when she stepped away from it, and how she eventually found her way back—this time as a certified hypnotist. Now, she’s helping other athletes do the inner work through her new program, Unleashed. Val shares how her training and mindset have evolved over the years, how she balances chasing big goals with being a mom and mentor, and what it really takes to build mental resilience at the elite level. We explore...
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Episode 86: The role of a 5th player
The Empowered Performance for Curlers Podcast
In today’s episode I walk you through my thought process around what it means to be a great 5th player on a successful curling team. I give you my experience as well as a long list of questions to help you and your team decide if carrying a 5th will work for you, and how exactly do you want that role to look. This is likely my last episode before mat leave -if you’re new to the podcast make sure to scroll through past episodes and sign up for the newsletter sequence to continue to access Empowered Performance info. Love this episode, check these out: : Communication is...
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Episode 85: SMART sweeping
The Empowered Performance for Curlers Podcast
Today’s episode dives into the intricacies of sweeping that not a lot of people pay attention to. When discussing who is the best sweeper the argument often centres around effectiveness and power, however top sweepers are not just great because of their physical skill. The best sweepers also know how to manage their energy throughout a game, understand the different paths in the ice and are great at communicating amongst the team. This is where the acronym SMART sweeping comes into play. I go through each element in this episode and provide examples and ways you can practice or at least...
info_outlineIn this episode, I’m joined by World Champion curler, mom, and Registered Psychotherapist Sarah Wilkes, who brings a rare and valuable dual perspective to the world of sport — one from the ice, and one from the therapist’s chair.
Currently playing lead on the #1 ranked team in the world and fresh off a World Championship win, Sarah’s path hasn’t been a straight line. We explore the emotional intensity she’s carried since her early days, the influence of her multi-sport background, and the tools she’s developed to stay grounded, curious, and consistently high-performing.
We also dive into her evolution from fastball to elite curling, her shift into psychotherapy and supporting athletes through a mental health lens, and the difference between mental toughness and true wellness. Sarah shares how curiosity helps shift pressure into presence, how she balances high-level competition with motherhood and team connection, and what it really means to support your whole self — not just the athlete part.
Whether you’re a competitive curler, a coach, or simply someone looking to approach sport (and life) with more intention, this conversation is packed with insight, heart, and practical takeaways.
🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or visit: www.empoweredperformance.ca/podcast
Listen to other top interviews:
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Episode 07: Mark Nichols
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Episode 29: Joanne Courtney
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Episode 87: Val Sweeting
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