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sportsswimming
Michael Phelps: Unfiltered on Mental Health, USA Swimming, and a Bagel Empire
About this Episode
Michael Phelps BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.
Michael Phelps has been everywhere these past few days, making headlines both for his activism and his openness about personal battles. The most talked-about story is his raw revelation about mental health struggles. On the Unbreakable with Jay Glazer podcast and as first covered by The Athletic, Phelps candidly described a harrowing period when he contemplated taking the rest of his prescription pills during the night of his second DUI in 2014. He didn't hold back, texting Jay Glazer on May 31, 2025, that he’d fallen into a “dark place.” Glazer, acting fast, texted back with unwavering support—a testimony to the circle of “battle buddies” Phelps has built. Their friendship has become an inspiring example of how athletes can help destigmatize mental health, making vulnerability a strength and not a hidden shame, as highlighted by Times of India coverage.
But Phelps hasn’t just been staying in the background—he’s been using his platform to make waves. Two weeks ago, his five-page Instagram rant took direct aim at USA Swimming’s leadership, clearly naming “poor operational controls and weak leadership” as the heart of the team’s recent struggles. That now-famous post cited the US team earning just 44 percent of medals in Paris, the lowest since 1988. He wrote not with condemnation of the athletes, but fierce disappointment about how organizational failures have left too many swimmers unsupported. As a father of four, he went so far as to confess he wasn’t sure he’d want his own sons to compete in the current system. Importantly, he called for a full, independent review of USA Swimming and offered his continued help, closing with “my door is open and there is work to be done,” as Essentially Sports detailed. Other big names in the sport—like Ryan Lochte—echoed Phelps’ concerns, and Regan Smith agreed on a recent SwimSwam podcast that change is overdue, though she wished Phelps had offered more specific solutions.
On the lighter side, Phelps’ business profile got a boost as his bagel venture, PopUp, is set to open its first Florida store in Tampa on September 5. It’s backed by a star-studded list of investors including Paul Rudd, JJ Watt, and Michael Strahan. The buzz hit local and national foodie press, with fans tracking updates on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Phelps got social media buzzing with a fun philanthropic turn: when the Baltimore Ravens challenged him to teach their players to swim, Phelps showed up at training camp. He and his foundation led an aquatic clinic at Loyola University, culminating with the Ravens donating $100,000 to the Michael Phelps Foundation, as reported by AOL and The Independent. The story mixed humor and heartfelt praise for Phelps’ Baltimore roots and his continued commitment to water safety—proving you can make touchdowns in and out of the pool.
And social media? With every candid post about mental health, every pointed letter to USA Swimming, and every charitable event, Phelps is dominating conversations among athletes, sports fans, mental health advocates, and business watchers. If he’s slightly less present on the meet podium, he’s more visible than ever where it counts—challenging old norms, supporting teammates, building new ventures, and showing the world that you never really retire from making an impact.
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Michael Phelps has been everywhere these past few days, making headlines both for his activism and his openness about personal battles. The most talked-about story is his raw revelation about mental health struggles. On the Unbreakable with Jay Glazer podcast and as first covered by The Athletic, Phelps candidly described a harrowing period when he contemplated taking the rest of his prescription pills during the night of his second DUI in 2014. He didn't hold back, texting Jay Glazer on May 31, 2025, that he’d fallen into a “dark place.” Glazer, acting fast, texted back with unwavering support—a testimony to the circle of “battle buddies” Phelps has built. Their friendship has become an inspiring example of how athletes can help destigmatize mental health, making vulnerability a strength and not a hidden shame, as highlighted by Times of India coverage.
But Phelps hasn’t just been staying in the background—he’s been using his platform to make waves. Two weeks ago, his five-page Instagram rant took direct aim at USA Swimming’s leadership, clearly naming “poor operational controls and weak leadership” as the heart of the team’s recent struggles. That now-famous post cited the US team earning just 44 percent of medals in Paris, the lowest since 1988. He wrote not with condemnation of the athletes, but fierce disappointment about how organizational failures have left too many swimmers unsupported. As a father of four, he went so far as to confess he wasn’t sure he’d want his own sons to compete in the current system. Importantly, he called for a full, independent review of USA Swimming and offered his continued help, closing with “my door is open and there is work to be done,” as Essentially Sports detailed. Other big names in the sport—like Ryan Lochte—echoed Phelps’ concerns, and Regan Smith agreed on a recent SwimSwam podcast that change is overdue, though she wished Phelps had offered more specific solutions.
On the lighter side, Phelps’ business profile got a boost as his bagel venture, PopUp, is set to open its first Florida store in Tampa on September 5. It’s backed by a star-studded list of investors including Paul Rudd, JJ Watt, and Michael Strahan. The buzz hit local and national foodie press, with fans tracking updates on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Phelps got social media buzzing with a fun philanthropic turn: when the Baltimore Ravens challenged him to teach their players to swim, Phelps showed up at training camp. He and his foundation led an aquatic clinic at Loyola University, culminating with the Ravens donating $100,000 to the Michael Phelps Foundation, as reported by AOL and The Independent. The story mixed humor and heartfelt praise for Phelps’ Baltimore roots and his continued commitment to water safety—proving you can make touchdowns in and out of the pool.
And social media? With every candid post about mental health, every pointed letter to USA Swimming, and every charitable event, Phelps is dominating conversations among athletes, sports fans, mental health advocates, and business watchers. If he’s slightly less present on the meet podium, he’s more visible than ever where it counts—challenging old norms, supporting teammates, building new ventures, and showing the world that you never really retire from making an impact.
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Hosts & Guests
No transcript available for this episode.
