Open Mind with Soccer Legend, Landon Donovan

An Open Mind Conversation About Soccer, Depression, Resilience, and Finding Peace Beyond Success

Featuring Landon Donovan, Legendary U.S. Soccer Champion and Author of Landon: A Memoir

In Conversation with Michelle G. Craske, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Kevin Love Fund Centennial Chair, and Director of the Anxiety and Depression Research Center at UCLA

What happens when extraordinary success isn’t enough to bring happiness or peace of mind?

Join UCLA’s Friends of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital Board of Advisors for a compelling and deeply personal Open Mind conversation with Landon Donovan, one of the most celebrated players in American soccer history, about his remarkable new book, Landon: A Memoir.

From his legendary career with the U.S. Men’s National Team and LA Galaxy to his unforgettable goal against Algeria in the 2010 World Cup, Donovan became a national sports icon. Yet behind the victories, championships, and international acclaim was a very different story, one of personal struggles, depression, and the search for identity and self-acceptance.

In his candid and revealing memoir, Donovan shares the emotional challenges that accompanied his rise to fame, including three serious episodes of depression, and the difficult journey of learning to separate his sense of self-worth from his achievements on the field.

In conversation with renowned UCLA psychologist Dr. Michelle Craske, together they will explore the often-hidden mental health struggles of elite athletes, the pressures of success, the importance of seeking help, and what it means to find purpose and fulfillment beyond professional accomplishments.

More than a conversation about soccer, this Open Mind program offers a powerful exploration of vulnerability, resilience, and the universal human desire for connection, belonging, and peace of mind.

Agenda
Check-in 6:30 PM PT
Program 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Book signing following the program

Parking
Parking Available in Parking Structure 8 at 501 Westwood Plaza / 555 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095

About Our Speakers

Landon Donovan is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in U.S. soccer history. A six-time MLS Cup champion and former U.S. Men’s National Team star, he helped transform the landscape of American soccer. His extraordinary career included multiple World Cup appearances, international competition, and a celebrated tenure with the LA Galaxy. Major League Soccer named its Most Valuable Player award in his honor. Today, Donovan continues to contribute to the sport as a coach, commentator, and advocate for mental health awareness. His new book, Landon: A Memoir, offers an intimate account of his life on and off the field.

Michelle G. Craske, PhD, is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA, the Kevin Love Fund Centennial Chair, and Director of UCLA’s Anxiety and Depression Research Center. An internationally recognized leader in the study and treatment of anxiety and depression, Dr. Craske has pioneered research that has transformed our understanding of how these conditions develop and how they can be treated. Her groundbreaking work has helped advance innovative, evidence-based approaches to mental health care.