What’s the deal with Formula 1 racing? Is it just a bunch of European adrenaline junkies with a death wish? And how does it differ from something like the American-based NASCAR or IndyCar series? In reality, there’s way more to it. F1 combines some of the world’s great engineering feats, drivers with the athleticism of Olympians, and a captivating billionaire's playground. But while there’s never a dull moment in this sport, how do you even get started as a viewer?

Comedian Michael Kosta is here to do all of that heavy lifting for you. Each week, F1 expert-in-residence Lily Herman will take him — and you — on a different team’s journey, all in the hopes of figuring out who’s worthy of his — and your — support. From Sports Illustrated Studios and iHeart Media, this is Choosing Sides: F1.

New episodes of Choosing Sides: F1 drop every Tuesday beginning 6/28. Listen now on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!

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From Simone Biles’ brush with the twisties to Rick Ankiel’s experience of the yips, the constellation of phenomena known as the yips–and the stories of the athletes who experience it–are some of the strangest in the world of sports. Far more common, but perhaps equally opaque, are mood disorders like depression and anxiety, and on this episode of Losing Control, host Justin Su’a talks with Karen Swartz, a clinical psychiatrist who specializes in mood disorders and community education. Mood disorders destabilize confidence, shift the relationship with the things we care about the most, and impact how we see ourselves–just like the yips–and in the second half of the episode, retired Major Leaguer Rick Ankiel reflects on the yips, mental health, and how his experiences in baseball have shaped his relationship to sports, and to life.

• Rick Ankiel, a retired professional pitcher, outfielder, and author of “The Phenomenon: Pressure, the Yips, and the Pitch that Changed My Life”
• Karen Swartz, the director of clinical and educational programs at the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

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Losing Control is a podcast about the yips. But this episode isn’t about the yips. It’s about two of the tools athletes and elite performers utilize to maintain a healthy mind: meditation and humor. Dr. Amishi Jha studies meditation and its impact on our attention, stress levels, and performance. Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas study humor, and the power of a mindset of levity. Part of the yips story is about how we live our lives, and on this episode of Losing Control, host Justin Su’a shines a light on a practice and a quality that can have a profound impact on your performance, your work, and your life. 

• Jennifer Aaker, professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and co-author of “Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life” 
• Naomi Bagdonas, lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and co-author of “Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life”  
• Dr. Amishi Jha, professor at the University of Miami and author of “Peak Mind: Find Your Focus, Own Your Attention, Invest 12 Minutes a Day”

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