Coachable Players

This episode breaks down the core ideas from The Four Agreements and connects them to what it really means to be coachable in sports, business, and life. It highlights four simple but powerful principles - being intentional with your words, not taking things personally, avoiding assumptions, and always doing your best - and explains how each one can improve mindset, communication, and performance. The episode focuses on how adopting these habits helps you handle feedback better, stay focused under pressure, and grow faster both on and off the field.

We’re excited to bring you something a little different—and incredibly impactful.Coachable Players hosted a special livestream interview paired with a live music performance, featuring a former college football player who has built a powerful second act as a gym owner, cheer coach, and musician. Scott 'Crasher' Braasch brought the wisdom about reaching young minds today in coaching plus he sang some good tunes too!This wasn't just a conversation—it was a deep dive into what it really takes to grow, adapt, and stay coachable in today’s world.During this extended interview, we explored:The reality of transitioning from athletics to life beyond the gameThe mindset shifts young people need to succeed todayLessons learned from coaching and mentoring the next generationHonest reflections on failure, growth, and staying coachableAnd throughout the experience, Crasher performed his own original music. This was a unique opportunity to hear from someone who is not only talking about growth—but living it, leading it, and expressing it through music.Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or young professional, this is a conversation worth your time.We'd love to hear from you about this episode.

The Coachable Players sits down with Bill Swan, a retired high school basketball coach from Hempfield Area High School in Westmoreland County who coached for 36 years. Bill talks about the players he'll never forget.Bill has coached a lot of basketball and has coached a lot of players. When asked about the players he'll never forget, Bill thought of a few right away, three players who were the third/youngest brothers from different families who demonstrated exceptional coachability and teamwork. He emphasized how these players were selfless, hardworking and easy to coach, often taking the brunt of coaching criticism while maintaining strong relationships with their teammates. Bill shared stories of player development, including how he helped transform a timid point guard through peer leadership, and discussed the importance of teamwork, academics and good character over individual statistics. He noted that despite changes in coaching approaches over his career, the core principles of hard work, sportsmanship and building strong player-coach relationships remained essential for success.

What separates good people from great teammates and coworkers? In this episode we introduce the Coachable Self-Assessment Test, designed to help athletes and young professionals better understand their coachability. College coaches and employers aren't just looking for talent - they're looking for individuals who can take feedback, adapt and contribute to a team.You'll hear sample questions from the assessment and learn how your Coachability Score can highlight both your strengths and areas for growth. This tool is especially valuable for young athletes looking to gain self-awareness early, as well as small business owners who want to hire team-oriented individuals who will positively impact company culture.We're currently seeking volunteers to take the self-assessment and provide feedback as part of the pilot phase.If you're ready to better understand yourself - and improve how you show up as a teammate and coworker, this episode is for you.

This episode of the Coachable Players Podcast focuses on the importance of being coachable and introduces a simple tool called the 3-2-1 Game Journal for athletes and professionals to improve their performance and reflection.I explain that journaling helps athletes focus, retain techniques and enjoy their sport more by processing experiences rather than reacting emotionally. The 3-2-1 Game Journal framework:Jot down three things you likedWrite two things you learnedList one thing you want to improveThis practice helps athletes reflect, adjust and improve, which translates to other areas of life. I challenge young athletes and professionals to start the habit now of journaling and this will lead to being more coachable and successful both in sports and in life.

In this episode, I open up, sharing my journey from growing up in a sports-obsessed home to becoming a business leader in Pennsylvania's construction industry. I highlight five key mindset shifts that transformed my athletic approach into effective leadership skills. I discuss how resilience, discipline, growth mindset, team-first leadership and process-oriented thinking helped me transition from the weekend athlete to Executive Director of the Keystone Contractors Association and co-host of Pennsylvania's most popular construction podcast - The Building PA Podcast. These mindset shifts are not just valuable for athletes but can benefit anyone looking to succeed in business and life. I encourage listeners to identify which shift resonates most with you and to share your own challenges with me/in the comments.The 5 mindset shifts:Game-Day Intensity to Embrace Resilience & Turn Setbacks into StrategyWeekend Warrior Hustle to Discipline as a 24/7 Non-NegotiableNatural Talent to Growth Mindset, Always Learning & AdaptingIndividual Wins to Team-First Leadership & Lifting OthersScoreboard Obsession to Process Love, Control What You Can

Rob Smith joins me to talk about how about being coachable extends beyond sports into the construction industry. Rob Smith is the Executive Director/ Chief Administration Officer for the Eastern Atlantic States (EAS) Carpenters Technical Centers. The EAS Carpenters represents over 43,000 workers in six states (PA, NJ, DE, MD, WV and VA). The EAS Carpenters NO DEBT apprentice training is the standard, ensuring workers have the training to operate efficiently and safely on the jobsite.In this episode, Rob shares his career journey from apprentice to Executive Training Director, and how he kept his hunger for continuous improvement personally (still playing ice hockey) and professionally (you can never stop learning). He shares his insights on the importance of leadership, teamwork and continuing learning. A career as a Carpenter requires commitment for success, but the result is a fulfilling career that offers strong financial security and long-term stability through well-paid wages, comprehensive benefits, pension, free education and the pride of skilled craftsmanship backed by a supportive organization. Do you have a commitment for success? The EAS Carpenters is always looking for coachable people. For more information, visit: Become an EAS Carpenters.

In this episode of the Coachable Players Podcast, I chat with Carl Heinlein. Carl is a highly respected safety professional. He works with companies from all industries based all around the country and has the awards and accolades but that's not what he wants to talk about - he wants to talk about the future safety professionals and help them be successful.In this episode, Carl emphasizes the importance of communication skills and trust-building in the workplace. He discusses his thoughts on the evolving nature of the safety professional and the value of mentorship in developing effective leadership and situational awareness. The conversation includes plenty of career advice from Carl that focuses on continuous learning, networking and choosing the right employer in the safety profession.Links to organizations Carl mentions as great places for safety professionals to know:Carl Heinlein on LinkedInAssociated General Contractors of AmericaNational Safety CouncilAmerican Society of Safety ProfessionalsKeystone Contractors Association

Coachable Players welcomes Brent Darnell, an executive coach who's highly respected around the country. In this conversation they dive deep into conversation about leadership, company culture, and emotional intelligence. Brent uses his background in engineering and leadership development to emphasize the importance of intrinsic motivators, self-determination theory, and the role of leadership in fostering positive company culture.The discussion culminates with the potential of AI in education and communication, and strategies for implementing cultural changes in companies through systematic approaches and continuous learning.Enjoy the episode and remember: Stay Humble, Stay Hungry & Stay Coachable!  

In this episode, host Jon O’Brien shares his perspective on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision to bring in veteran coach Mike McCarthy as their new head coach following Mike Tomlin’s departure. He breaks down what McCarthy’s hiring could mean for the team — touching on his experience, ties to Pittsburgh, and the reactions from fans and analysts, and reflects on how this move fits into the Steelers’ culture and future direction.

Lauren Hess shares her journey from childhood through college softball, discussing how the sport helped develop her organizational skills and leadership abilities and building valuable connections along the way with groups like the Keystone Contractors Association. (Lauren was a 2022 KCA Scholarship recipient)A Penn State Harrisburg college softball player, Lauren discusses how the sport helped her develop her time management skills. She credits her coaches - from PSU Harrisburg to her dad from her youth days - for emphasizing the importance of coachability beyond just following instructions and describes how her athletic background prepared her for the working world by teaching resilience and the courage to take on challenging projects.

There are parallels between sports coaching and construction industry practices and in this episode Chris Lelevee chats with Jon about his perspective. They discuss the importance of coachability in recruitment and personal development, including challenges in working with uncoachable individuals and the value of mentorship and leadership structures. The conversation features reflections on respect, leadership, and the changing nature of youth sports, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus on development and fun over winning.

In this episode, we dive into what truly drives athletic success - the process, the relationships, and the mindset behind the goals. Coachable Players host Jon sits down with Northern High School head wrestling coach Cory Johnson to explore how goal-setting, accountability and personal growth can shape athletes far beyond the win column.Cory shares his journey to leading Northern to last season's division championship and his relationship-based approach to coaching today's generation. The interview focuses on setting meaningful goals, the importance of enjoying the process and why it is best to be remembered not for the win/loss results but for the impact the coaches made.Whether you're a coach, athlete or parent, this conversation offers powerful insight into building teams, mentoring young athletes, and coaching for life - not just for wins. 

Chris Martin had the drive and the height to be a formidable basketball athlete growing up. What he learned as a player from the youth, high school and college courts helped him become a highly respected construction branding expert. This former Millersville University Marauder effectively leads his own team with assistance from the skills he learned on his basketball journey. Listen to this Coachable Player about the path that Chris took that led him to launching Atlas Marketing decades ago.     

Welcome to The Coachable Players Podcast, where we believe the most successful athletes, employees and business owners all share the trait of being coachable. This episode is just the beginning, on this journey we'll explore how lessons from sports translate into business and life, helping people grow through feedback, resilience and leadership.Being coachable isn't just a sports skill, it's a life skill!Until the next episode, stay humble, stay hungry & stay coachable!