Michael Phelps On Battling Depression & Becoming The Best Olympian of All-Time

Introduction

The hosts introduce Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, and discuss his commitment to raising awareness for water safety and mental health.

Michael Phelps' Accomplishments

• Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian in history with 28 Olympic medals.

• He has set 39 World Records over the course of his career.

• He has published two autobiographies and a children's book.

Michael Phelps' Mission

• Michael Phelps is on a mission to change the perception and stigma around mental health.

• He is using his platform to help save lives through the Michael Phelps foundation.

Childhood

In this section, Michael talks about growing up as an athletic kid with ADHD.

Early Athletic Life

• As a child, Michael was an athletic kid who played baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and swam.

• Swimming became his focus at age 11 when he stopped playing other sports.

Coping with ADHD

• Growing up with ADHD made it difficult for him to sit still.

• His mom used swimming as a way to relax him once he got home from school.

Childhood Struggles

• As a kid, he was picked on for having big ears, shaving his legs, and wearing brief swimsuits.

• He didn't have many friends growing up because he was focused on swimming.

Unique Childhood Experience

In this section, Michael reflects on how his childhood experience was unique due to being engulfed in swimming.

Swimming as a Lifestyle

• For Michael, everything that he wanted to do was in the swimming pool.

• Staring at a black line for four hours of the day became normal for him.

Establishing Routine Early On

• Establishing a routine early on helped him keep everything in order.

• Having a routine played a big role in his longevity as an athlete.

No Negative Side

• Michael doesn't see any negative side to his unique childhood experience.

• He learned at a different pace and in different ways than other people, which has helped him throughout his life.

Importance of Routine and Goal Setting

In this section, the speaker talks about the importance of having a routine and structure in life. He also discusses how his coach taught him the importance of goal setting at a young age.

Importance of Routine

• Having a routine and structure is important to maintain focus and productivity.

• COVID-19 forced people to find a routine and sit with their own thoughts.

• The speaker used to compartmentalize everything for his career but now realizes he can't do that anymore because it affects other people in his life.

Importance of Goal Setting

• The speaker's coach taught him the importance of goal setting at a young age.

• Short-term and long-term goals are important for achieving success.

• The speaker was very detailed in his goal setting, down to the hundredth.

• His coach removed the word "can't" from their vocabulary because they wanted every opportunity to achieve their goals.

Learning from First Real Teacher

In this section, the speaker talks about who his first real teacher was and what he learned from them.

First Real Teacher

• The speaker's first real teacher was his coach.

• His coach taught him how to process everything related to achieving success in swimming.

• Goal setting was an important lesson that he learned from his coach at a young age.

Life and Adversity Life, Legacy, and Overcoming Adversity

In this section, Michael Phelps talks about how adversity has impacted his life and helped him create a legacy. He shares some of the greatest moments of adversity he faced in his adult life.

Moments of Adversity

• Phelps experienced post-Olympic depression after the 2004 Olympics.

• After winning eight gold medals in 2008, Phelps again experienced post-Olympic depression.

• In 2014, Phelps had his second DUI and felt like he didn't want to be alive. He checked himself into a treatment center for 45 days.

• During treatment at The Meadows, Phelps shut down for the first couple of days but was able to open up after someone reached out to him.

Lessons Learned

• Going through adversity can make you stronger and battle-tested.

• Taking time to reflect on your struggles can lead to personal growth and change.

• Uncovering past traumas can help you understand yourself better and give you tools to handle any situation.

The Power of Rehab

In this section, the speakers discuss their experiences with rehab and how it helped them overcome addiction and mental health issues.

Rehab Experience

• The first few days of rehab are focused on detoxing and ensuring that all vitals are stable.

• Exercise was a way for one speaker to cope with not being able to work out during rehab.

• Sharing stories in group meetings helped one speaker realize that he wasn't alone in his struggles.

• Mental health issues can make people feel isolated, but sharing stories can help break down barriers.

Consistently Freeing Yourself

• Sharing stories is important for mental health, but it can be difficult to consistently have those conversations.

• Plugging into mental health every day is necessary for consistent progress.

• Going to rehab allowed one speaker to put the world on hold and focus on himself.

Changing Narratives

• Honesty and allowing people into your life can change your perspective on what's important.

• Accomplishments don't necessarily bring happiness or fulfillment.

Creating Comeback Stories

In this section, the speakers talk about their podcast and how they hope to inspire others through their own comeback stories.

New Narrative

• The only story that matters is the one you tell yourself.

• Rehab helped one speaker develop a new narrative by realizing he couldn't compartmentalize like he used to.

Mindset and Achieving Goals

In this section, the speaker talks about how she achieves her goals by putting her mind to it and doing little things that add up. She also discusses the importance of giving herself a break from time to time and being aware of her mistakes.

Putting Your Mind to Something

• The speaker believes that there is nothing that can stop her from achieving her goals if she puts her mind to it.

• She emphasizes the importance of hard work in achieving one's goals.

• The speaker believes that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

Giving Yourself a Break

• The speaker acknowledges the importance of taking breaks from time to time.

• She recognizes that making mistakes is a natural part of being human.

• Journaling helps the speaker reflect on everything that has happened, even the bad stuff.

Cultivating Awareness for Change

In this section, the speakers discuss how awareness is crucial in creating change. They talk about practices such as meditation and journaling that help cultivate more awareness in our lives.

Importance of Awareness

• Darren and the speaker agree that awareness is essential in creating any kind of change.

• If we don't get our thoughts out, they turn on us and eat us up from inside out.

Practices for Cultivating Awareness

• Journaling helps the speaker reflect on everything that has happened, even the bad stuff.

• The speaker used to do the Five Minute Journal, which helped her reflect on the day and cultivate gratitude.

• Taking time to slow down is important for everyone.

Importance of Reflection and Acknowledgment

In this section, Michael Phelps talks about the importance of taking time to reflect on one's accomplishments and acknowledge oneself for what they have done well. He emphasizes that this is necessary to propel oneself forward in life.

Reflecting on Accomplishments

• Taking time to reflect and acknowledge oneself for what they have done well is important.

• Without reflection, one can go through life without purpose.

• Hiccups are natural, but learning from them helps one grow and be better prepared for the future.

Preparing for Success

• Preparation is key to success, including getting enough sleep, eating well, drinking water, and studying.

• Simplifying tasks by focusing on five things at a time helps avoid feeling overwhelmed.

• Building a repertoire of skills over time prepares one for anything that comes their way.

Balancing Self-Acknowledgment with Ambition

In this section, Michael Phelps discusses how he struggled with balancing his ambition with self-care throughout his career as an athlete.

Lack of Self-Acknowledgment

• Phelps admits that he did not take the time to acknowledge himself for his accomplishments during his career as an athlete.

• He was always chasing something bigger and pushing himself to greater limits without stopping to appreciate what he had achieved.

Struggling with Balance

• Phelps took only six months off after the 2008 Olympics before returning to training again.

• Finding balance between pushing oneself to be the best and respecting one's own limits is a difficult journey.

• Phelps admits that he still struggles with acknowledging himself for his accomplishments and taking time for self-care.

Importance of Knowing Yourself

In this section, Michael Phelps talks about the importance of knowing oneself and how it has helped him in his life.

Being Comfortable in Your Own Skin

• It is important to know who you are and be comfortable in your own skin.

• The most important relationship we have is the one we have with ourselves.

• Getting right with ourselves can improve all our other relationships.

Benefits of Therapy

• Going into therapy can be scary, but it can help us open up and learn more about ourselves.

• Going through therapy together has given Michael Phelps and his wife the tools to become better parents and people.

The Michael Phelps Foundation

In this section, Michael Phelps talks about the Michael Phelps Foundation and its mission to teach kids healthy habits, goal setting, water safety, and mental health awareness.

Teaching Kids Healthy Habits

• The foundation teaches kids healthy habits through its IM program (healthy, strong, active).

• Water safety is a key component of the foundation's mission as drowning is a leading cause of death for children under 14 years old.

Mental Health Awareness

• The foundation has recently implemented a mental health component that teaches kids how to recognize their basic emotions and talk about them.

• Learning these skills at a young age can help prevent emotional suppression later in life.

Giving Every Kid a Chance

In this section, Michael talks about the importance of giving every kid a chance to succeed and how affirmations can help create a belief system in oneself. He also emphasizes the power of the mind-body connection and how yoga can help move energy and free up stuck emotions.

Affirmations and Belief System

• Affirmations can help create a belief system in oneself.

• Moving energy through yoga can help free up stuck emotions.

Gratitude and Self-Acceptance

• Michael is grateful for being where he is today, including his family and struggles.

• Michael wouldn't change anything from his past because it brought him to where he is today.

Growth Mindset

• Everything happens for a reason, so trust the process and keep learning.

• Taking personal responsibility for one's life is important for growth.

Overcoming Emotional Pain

• Owning emotional pain is crucial for overcoming addiction.

• Michael resonates with the weight of gold documentary as it highlights dealing with emotional pain.

Sharing Stories About Mental Health

Michael Phelps discusses the importance of sharing stories about mental health and how it can help break down the walls surrounding mental health.

Importance of Sharing Stories

• Michael Phelps expresses gratitude towards athletes who shared their stories about mental health.

• He emphasizes the importance of sharing stories to grow and realize that everyone's story is similar.

• Phelps believes that having conversations about mental health is necessary to bring change and prevent suicide.

Breaking Down Walls Surrounding Mental Health

• The Weight of Gold documentary helped break down walls surrounding mental health.

• Many people, including Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka, have helped in breaking down these walls.

• However, more work needs to be done as millions of people are struggling with mental health issues.

Pain as a Shared Human Experience

Michael Phelps talks about pain being a shared human experience and how doing personal work can help overcome it.

Pain as a Shared Human Experience

• Phelps believes that pain is part of the shared human experience.

• He mentions how COVID brought people together through this common experience but also caused disconnection due to unfaced fear and trauma.

Personal Work for Overcoming Pain

• Doing personal work helps overcome pain and frees one up to enjoy life.

• For Phelps, doing personal work was necessary for him to come back for the 2016 Olympics.

Finding Joy in Being Yourself

In this section, the speaker talks about how he was able to find joy in being himself and not carrying the weight of maintaining an image. He also discusses how working on himself as a human being helped him become more comfortable in his own skin.

Being Yourself Frees Up Joy

• The speaker found joy in being himself and not carrying the weight of maintaining an image.

• Working on oneself as a human being can help one become more comfortable in their own skin.

Inspiring Others by Being Yourself

• People are inspired by the way that the speaker takes on life and takes the field.

• The speaker's work with Darren has nothing to do with on-field stuff but rather focuses on fears, emotions, and self-love.

Asking for Help When You're Struggling

In this section, the speaker talks about what someone who is struggling can do to get help. He emphasizes asking for help and talking to someone, whether it be a loved one or therapist.

Getting Help When You're Struggling

• The speaker encourages those who are struggling to ask for help and talk to someone.

• Finding the right therapist may take time but it's important to keep trying until you find one that works for you.

• It's important for those who are struggling to understand that they are not alone.

Self-Care Practices

• Engaging in self-care practices such as sticking to a routine or spending time with loved ones can be helpful when struggling.

• Affirmations can be a powerful tool in promoting positive self-talk and building self-esteem.

Reminding Yourself of Your Worth

In this section, the speaker talks about the importance of reminding oneself of their worth, especially when going through difficult times. He emphasizes the power of positive self-talk and small acts of self-care.

Reminding Yourself of Your Worth

• The speaker encourages positive self-talk and reminds listeners that they are deserving of love.

• Engaging in small acts of self-care such as sticking to a routine or spending time with loved ones can help promote positive feelings.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of reminding oneself that they are not alone during difficult times.

Overcoming Dark Times

In this section, the speaker talks about how he overcame difficult times in his life with the help of his wife.

The Importance of Support

• The speaker had some scary and dark times over the last two years.

• Without his wife's support, he never would have made it through those difficult times.

• The speaker thanks his wife for being his rock and helping him stay together.

Acknowledging Accomplishments

In this section, the speakers acknowledge each other's accomplishments and express gratitude towards one another.

Acknowledging Accomplishments

• The host acknowledges the guest's accomplishments as a swimmer and as a human being.

• The guest acknowledges the host's accomplishments on and off the field.

• The host expresses gratitude towards the guest for showing up and making an impact.