And I pick him up and I slam him down into a chair.

And there's a cameraman in the corner of the locker room.

And he pivots around.

And it's the viral video.

And I just look like a child.

What happens when everything you've built your identity around,

talent, success, your career comes crashing down?

Welcome back.

We're welcome to the Finding Mastery podcast.

I'm your host, Dr. Michael Jervais, by trade and training a high-performance psychologist.

Today's guest is Ryan Leaf, a man whose story is one of the most dramatic arcs in professional

sports.

Once the number two overall draft pick behind Peyton Manning, Ryan's NFL career

unraveled under the weight of expectations, addiction, and ultimately prison. When you were 12 to early

teens, how was your mental health at that point? Well, we didn't know much about it, mental health

or anything about mental health. In fact, it was cowboy culture, you know, and then locker rooms for sports and stuff.

So, you know, kind of rub some dirt on and get back out there mentality.

You are more fearful that someone may know you need help than getting the help that you need.

That stigma ran rampant because I didn't want anybody to know.

Look at what Peyton has done and then look at your arc.

Dramatically different. Number one and number two, draft picks in the NFL.

And then one goes to Hall of Fame.

...