Secrets to Success from a Mentor | Dr. Cristina Versari | EP 79
Sat Jan 31 2026
In this powerful and deeply reflective episode of the Grateful and Full of Greatness Podcast, Mark Glicini sits down once again with his mentor, Dr. Cristina Versari, for a conversation that goes far beyond performance and success.
Dr. Versari shares her personal story in greater depth—growing up with unwavering belief from her mother, surviving a life-altering traumatic event at 18, and how that experience reshaped her worldview, purpose, and mission to help others.
Together, Mark and Dr. Versari explore the transformative power of mentors, belief systems, environment, and decision-making, and why success is less about talent and more about clarity, consistency, and conviction.
This episode dives into how beliefs are formed, how they can be changed, and why successful people don’t negotiate with themselves when it comes to their goals. From elite athletes and NBA teams to crisis centers and everyday life, Dr. Versari reveals the patterns she’s observed across decades of work in psychology, leadership, and human performance.
If you’re navigating hardship, questioning your direction, or searching for a mentor to guide your next chapter, this conversation will challenge you, ground you, and remind you what truly matters.
Key Topics Discussed
The power of mentors, role models, and belief
How childhood environment shapes confidence and discipline
Turning trauma into purpose and perspective
Why beliefs are not fixed—and how to change limiting ones
The difference between wishes and goals (and how to create an action plan)
Why environment dictates performanceLeadership, loneliness, and why leaders often walk alone
Personality types, Myers-Briggs, and performance in sports and lifeTrust, consistency, and what it really means to help others
Why successful people don’t negotiate with themselves
Episode Chapters
00:00 – The power of mentors and belief
06:30 – Childhood, confidence, and feeling valuable
13:45 – Trauma at 18 and being given a second chance
21:00 – Pain, mindset, and choosing how you respond
30:00 – Environment dictates performance
38:30 – Personality, feedback, and elite performance
47:30 – Trust, consistency, and human connection
58:30 – Faith, work ethic, and living with purpose
01:10:45 – Goal setting, discipline, and role models
01:22:30 – Final lessons on mentorship and success
Featured Guest
Dr. Cristina Versari
Founder of San Diego University for Integrative Studies
Sports Psychologist | Educator | Mentor
Website: https://christinaversari.com
Dr. Versari has worked with Olympians, NBA players, national teams, crisis centers, and future leaders. Her work focuses on applied psychology, mentorship, and helping people perform at their highest level—on and off the field.
Listen / Watch
🌐 Mark Glicini’s Website:
https://www.markglicini.com/
Sponsors
WHOOP – FREE band + FREE first-month subscription👉 https://join.whoop.com/mgpp
Thorne – 25% OFF all supplements👉 https://www.thorne.com/u/markglicini
More
In this powerful and deeply reflective episode of the Grateful and Full of Greatness Podcast, Mark Glicini sits down once again with his mentor, Dr. Cristina Versari, for a conversation that goes far beyond performance and success. Dr. Versari shares her personal story in greater depth—growing up with unwavering belief from her mother, surviving a life-altering traumatic event at 18, and how that experience reshaped her worldview, purpose, and mission to help others. Together, Mark and Dr. Versari explore the transformative power of mentors, belief systems, environment, and decision-making, and why success is less about talent and more about clarity, consistency, and conviction. This episode dives into how beliefs are formed, how they can be changed, and why successful people don’t negotiate with themselves when it comes to their goals. From elite athletes and NBA teams to crisis centers and everyday life, Dr. Versari reveals the patterns she’s observed across decades of work in psychology, leadership, and human performance. If you’re navigating hardship, questioning your direction, or searching for a mentor to guide your next chapter, this conversation will challenge you, ground you, and remind you what truly matters. Key Topics Discussed The power of mentors, role models, and belief How childhood environment shapes confidence and discipline Turning trauma into purpose and perspective Why beliefs are not fixed—and how to change limiting ones The difference between wishes and goals (and how to create an action plan) Why environment dictates performanceLeadership, loneliness, and why leaders often walk alone Personality types, Myers-Briggs, and performance in sports and lifeTrust, consistency, and what it really means to help others Why successful people don’t negotiate with themselves Episode Chapters 00:00 – The power of mentors and belief 06:30 – Childhood, confidence, and feeling valuable 13:45 – Trauma at 18 and being given a second chance 21:00 – Pain, mindset, and choosing how you respond 30:00 – Environment dictates performance 38:30 – Personality, feedback, and elite performance 47:30 – Trust, consistency, and human connection 58:30 – Faith, work ethic, and living with purpose 01:10:45 – Goal setting, discipline, and role models 01:22:30 – Final lessons on mentorship and success Featured Guest Dr. Cristina Versari Founder of San Diego University for Integrative Studies Sports Psychologist | Educator | Mentor Website: https://christinaversari.com Dr. Versari has worked with Olympians, NBA players, national teams, crisis centers, and future leaders. Her work focuses on applied psychology, mentorship, and helping people perform at their highest level—on and off the field. Listen / Watch 🌐 Mark Glicini’s Website: https://www.markglicini.com/ Sponsors WHOOP – FREE band + FREE first-month subscription👉 https://join.whoop.com/mgpp Thorne – 25% OFF all supplements👉 https://www.thorne.com/u/markglicini