Julie Kliegman on Reporting About Mental Health in Sports

Written By Samantha Krouse

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Julie Kliegman, copy chief at Sports Illustrated, joins this episode of Athletes OnBalance. Julie has been a leading voice in the sports media landscape whose coverage focuses on athletes and their mental health. Her work has appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Post, The Ringer and BuzzFeed. In March 2024, her new book titled “Mind Game: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes” will be released for sale. In this episode, Julie explains why we should reevaluate how we use the phrase “mental toughness,” the empathetic shift in how sports media covers mental health, the importance of the public granting athletes their humanity, and how social media and other outlets have helped athletes come forward to share their struggles.

Samantha Krouse
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