Bigger Than Volleyball: Carli Lloyd On Surmounting Setbacks, Training Your Mind & the Power of Self-Talk

Bigger Than Volleyball: Carli Lloyd On Surmounting Setbacks, Training Your Mind & the Power of Self-Talk

May 5, 2026 · 57 min · Season 20 · Episode 404

About this episode

Carli Lloyd discusses her journey through setbacks, mental training, and the importance of self-talk in her athletic career.

In this episode of Hurdle , host Emily sits down with elite volleyball champion, Carli Lloyd. Carli shares her journey of grit and professional longevity, from a decorated 13-season international career to leading LOVB Austin to back-to-back League One Volleyball (LOVB) championships. She opens up about the "hurdle" of being cut from the national team multiple times before ultimately reaching the Olympic podium and discusses how she maintains an elite mindset through personal tragedy and the transition into motherhood.  IN THIS EPISODE The Power of One Ball at a Time: Carli explains how her team overcame a rocky regular season by staying committed to the micro-process, eventually securing the 2026 LOVB title. Embracing the Hardship: Why she views failures and professional setbacks as mandatory opportunities for human evolution. The "Hurdle" of the National Team: Carli details the grueling four-year cycle of being cut and released from her dream, only to re-commit and finally earn her spot on the 2016 Olympic roster. Healing the Mind: An inside look at her multi-year investment in therapy, life coaching, and energy work to overcome the "not good enough" narrative. Legacy on…

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