All Episodes
The Mental Mettle Podcast — 174 episodes
Ep. 172: "Find Something That Makes You Dream" with Travis Vaughn
EP. 171: "Always another mountain" with Ripon Coach Lauren Busalacchi
EP. 170: "Attack the Process". Building Mental Toughness with Jeremy Clodfelder.
Ep. 169: Better Youth Coaching. Better Development. Better Athletes. — Dan Stratford
Ep. 168: It's Supposed to Be Hard. How to Use Adversity in Athletics to Build Mental Toughness.
Ep. 167: Better Coaches. Better Athletes with Midland AD Courtney Thomsen
Ep. 166: The Principal's Playbook for Building Championship Culture with Metamora's Charlie Zimmerman
Ep. 165: "I know I'll be ok" with USA Handball Player Julia Taylor
Ep. 164: Hope is Aggressive with Dr. Brandi Kelly
Ep. 163: Playing from Identity, Not Approval with Ricky Scruggs
Ep. 162: Six Throws: Years of Preparation, Seconds to Perform with USA thrower Rachel Richeson
Ep. 161: Faith, Ironman, and Stage 4 Cancer: Just Keep Tri-ing with Jim Logan.
Ep. 160: Ryan Davis is not a great coach despite his anxiety; he is a great coach because of it.
Ep. 159: Be Willing to Be Bad – From Hoops to Team USA Handball with Katie Timmerman
Ep. 158: When Lightning Strikes: Responding to Life’s Hardest Hits with Author Scott Lackey.
Ep: 157: Full Send: Paralympic Powerlifter Ashley Dyce on Persistence and Progress
Ep. 156: Raising Superheroes: Megan Gilmore on Mental Health & Well‑Being for Kids
Ep. 155: Time on Feet: How Kyle Thompson Uses Adversity to Chase Excellence
Ep. 154: Secrets Behind the Third Skill Set: Mental Performance
Ep. 153: "Raging Psychopath" to Transformational Coach with Lee Mateer
Ep 152: "Throwing it into the pole" with Olympian Joe Brown
Ep. 151: Before the Crisis – How Coach Chad Cluver’s Habits Shape Team Adversity Response
EP. 150: Do All Your Labor as Unto the Lord: Faith, Failure, and the Hammer with Olympian Alex Young
Ep. 149: Never Done Learning with HOF Coach Pat Ryan
Ep. 148: Reborn in the Ring: Gabi Jacobs on Walking Away, Coming Back, and Trusting the Process
Ep. 147: Fear vs. Faith with Dr. Dave Jones: Beating Toxic Motivators with True Mental Toughness
Ep. 146: Pedaling with a Purpose with USA Track Cyclist McKenna McKee
Ep. 145 The Resilient Parents Playbook
Ep. 144: Persistence Over Prodigy with Team USA Climber Ben Hanna
Ep. 143. Skydiving into Sharks with Travis Thomas: Improv Tools for Athletes and Coaches
Ep 142: Zen & Grit: The Mental Game of Nordic Combined with USA Olympian Niklas Malacinski
Ep 141: Shane Fisher USA Bobsled Pilot Part 2
Ep 140: Shane Fisher USA Bobsled Pilot Part 1
Ep: 139: The Winning Edge with Morgan (Kane) Brons
Ep. 138: "Coach the Heart First" with Greg Gisinger
Ep. 137: Making football the best part of a kid's day with State Champion Coach Garrett Mueller
Ep 136: Use Your Strengths and Own Your Limitations with Coach Adam Lewandowski
Episode 135: If you want to grow in 2026, Be Vulnerable.
Episode 134: Beyond the Pitch: Maya Lambert on Turning Soccer Lessons into Career Strengths
Episode 133: 100% Mettle: Coach Matt Thomann’s 9 Core Topics for Positive Toughness
Ep. 132: The Power of Hope with Derek Gordon
Ep 131: Way of the Warrior: Leadership Coaching with SGT. Brett Miller
Episode 130: Happy Thanks "taking"
Episode 129: A Coach Looks at 50
Episode 128: Basketballs and Bibles with Robo Kreps
Ep 127: From Courts to Fields: 30 Years of Klay Wheeler's Coaching Insights
Episode 126: Building Mental Strength Take Mental Tools with Jason Drengwitz
Ep. 125: Sleep is your mental and physical superpower
EP. 124: The Power of a Player-Led Team with Coach Tyler Erwin
Ep. 123: "What else is possible?" with endurance athlete Pierce Showe.
Ep. 122: The Freedom to Lead: Sean Taylor’s Coaching Philosophy
Ep. 121: Transforming Athletes from the Inside Out with Coach Jamie Kromm
EP. 120: Looking for that "edge" with HOF basketball coach Tim Meiss
Ep. 119: Intentional Positivity is the Key to Happiness.
Ep. 118. Unified Hearts, Fearless Minds, and National Championships with Greg Tonagel.
EP. 117: Anchored in Faith: JaDawn Bryant's Guide to Purposeful Leadership
EP 116: Finding Identity Beyond the Court: Zach Cleveland's Journey
EP 115: Beyond Wins and Losses with Coach Abe Zeller
EP 114: The Untapped Power of Visualization: Are You Missing Out?
EP 113. The Healing Power of Faith and Determination with Anna Pavey
EP 112: Building a First-Class Program with New Millikin Coach Billy Riebock
Ep 111: Tips for Mastering the Mental Game with Coach Brandon Beery and Coach Matt Thomann
Ep 110: Passion for the Process with Jarrett Brown and Lane Thomann
Episode 109: JT Welch, playing with confidence and a chip on his shoulder.
Episode 108: A journey from transactional to transformational coaching with Josh Williams
Episode 107: Knowing your Athletes with HC Kim Barth of the Washington Lady Panthers
Episode 106: Matt Laur of HC of Pinckneyville Basketball. Giving support to match expectations.
Episode 105: Physical and Mental Growth Through Yoga
Episode104: Student-Athletes Explain the Benefits of Mental Performance Coaching
Episode 103: "Standing Up" with Tyson McFeeters
Episode 102: The Mental Side of "Feed the Cats" with Tony Holler.
Episode 101: Forging your mettle with fire and ice.
Episode 100: "Live your 100" with Lane Thomann
Episode 99: The Right Way to Fail in Hoops with Brandon Heyen.
Episode 98: Less Scroll, More Soul: The Benefits of a Digital Detox
Episode 97: Training the D1 body and mind with Terrell Washington of Grindhouse Sports Training.
Episode 96: Roots of Resilience: How Team Culture Built Illini Bryce Barnes
Episode 95: The Physical and Mental Edge: Brad Dixon on Sprint-Based Football
Episode 94: From Punishment to Positive with Coach Kelsey Mueller
Ep 93: Hitting the Wall with Ryan Clanton, Iowa State OL coach.
Episode 92: Fasting for fulfillment with Aubrey Ghafari and Dana Thomann
Episode 91: Mental toughness through empowerment and faith with Clint Burris, HC of the OCC Lady Knights
Episode 90: A Faith-Based Coaching Transformation with Jarret Brown
Episode 89: "Faith is not soft" with Blake Yager Team Chaplain
Episode 88: Forging Spiritual Mettle. The MMC continues with coach Len Anspach
Episode 87: Why it's good to be a Chief with Dee-Mack Coach Cody Myers
Episode 86: The process driven approach in coaching with Mike Kohl of Bradley-Bourbonnais
Episode 85: Introducing the Monthly Mettle Challenge with Dana Thomann and Coach Megan Gilmore
Episode 84: Building stronger teams and coaches with legendary Coach Troy Allen
Episode 83: Pastor Ryan Weaver: A Holistic Approach to Mental Toughness
Episode 82: Taming Your Inner Grinch: A Christmas Guide to Positive Self-Talk
Episode 81: All In, All Us: Coach Luke Carmody on Transforming a Team from 0-9 to 10-1
Episode 80: Hoops Mentality: Mastering Attitude, Communication, and Effort for Success
Episode 79: IWU Men's Volleyball Head Coach, Brandon Mueller, talks about keeping and building culture.
Episode 78: Finding Purpose Through Adversity: Steven Rankin's Journey of Transformation
Episode 77: Attack Every Day: Building a Culture of Winning with Coach Mike Burris
Episode 76: The GRRRs of Growth: Grit, Grace and Gratitude
Episode 75: Forging Resilience through Consistency and Conviction with Coach Jack Cornell.
Episode 74: The Transformative Journey of Illinois State Offensive Lineman J.J. Guedet.
Episode 73: From Defeated to Dominant with 3-Star Offensive Lineman Casey Thomann of Olney.
Episode 72: Leadership Lessons from the Battlefield to the Football Field with Judge Smitty
Episode 71: Good Things Happen to Teams That Work Hard with Coach Jeremy Shubert
Episode 70: Intentional Adversity: Rochester Superintendent Dan Cox on Growth and Personal Development
Episode 69: Unlocking Your Athlete's Growth Mindset: A Path to Confidence and Success
Episode 68: "Stay Another Day" with Mental Health Advocate Mackenzie Nelson
Episode 67: Intention and Patience in Coaching: Lessons from Dave Witzig
Episode 66: Locked In: The Mental Game of Success with Lauren Getz
Episode 65: The Power of Mindfulness and Breathwork for athletes, and their parents!
Episode 64: The Power of Positive Self-Talk in Parenting and Coaching
Episode 63: The Power of Focused Praise in Developing Mentally Tough Athletes.
Episode 62: Parenting in Sports: Balancing Expectations and Support with Jamie Nixon
Episode 61: Chasing Significance with Coach Hollis
Episode 60: Building an Undeniable Culture with Coach Olivia Lett
Episode 59: Leadership Lessons from Coach Clark
Episode 58: The Mindset of a Late Bloomer with Ryland Holt
Episode 57: Turning values into culture with Brody Walworth of Normal U-High
Episode 56: Unlocking Resilience: The Power of Mindset in Sports with Dayton Burnett
Episode 55: How SEL Transforms Student-Athletes: An In-Depth Discussion with Toby Vallas
Episode 54: Transformative Coaching with Ryan Thornton
Episode 53: Forging the Future: Navigating Modern Athletics with Coach Massey
Episode 52: Grindability with Brad Soderberg of Virgnia Basketball
Episode 51: Transformative Coaching with 600-Win Coach Matt Long: Visualization, Gratitude, and 'Do it Right, Do it Light
Episode 50: Keane Thomann on playing hard, smart, and together.
Episode 49: Mindset, confidence, and today's college player with Coach Vince Walker
Episode 48: The mental toughness equation with Coach Ryan Hamilton of White House High School.
Episode 47: Coach Herm Senor II discusses skill and mental development in young hoopers.
Episode 46: Hard work is our flex with Joni Nightingale of the Dee-Mack Lady Chiefs.
Episode 45: Finding "The Signature Game" with Harvard Magazine sportswriter Craig Lambert
Episode 44: Doing hard things with Coach Margaret Lehr, the first high school female wrestler in Illinois.
Episode 43: "What does it take" with Darin Bazzell.
Episode 42: Just keep living with Savannah Jost of Tremont
Episode 41: The multiple sport mindset with multiple sport coach Jeff Henry.
Episode 40: Embrace Process with Reggie Ordonez
Episode 39: Go Big Blue! Millikin legend Lori Kearns talks about lessons learned from 31 years of coaching.
Episode 38: Air Support with retired USAF pilot/coach Tammy Barlette.
Episode 37: Removing the "woo woo" from well-being with Megan Gilmore.
Episode 36: Interview with a Fat Kid aka Nick Zerby.
Episode 35: 9-time State Champ Derek Leonard of Rochester talks about Faith, Family, and Football.
Episode 34: Building a team's legacy with GCMS coach Ryan Tompkins
Episode 33: "Head on" with Coach Josh Jostes of Maroa Forsyth Football.
Episode 32: Basketball referee Casey Heimer is out of (your) control.
Episode 31: Your New Year's Resolution Stinks.
Episode 30: There is no such thing as a Christmas Miracle! with special co-host Andy Thomann.
Episode 29: Rainer Meisterjahn of Courtex Performance explains proactive coaching for hoopers.
Episode 28: Kentucky Wildcat Hallie Mitchell talks about coaching and confidence!
Episode 27: How to be the antidote in a toxic situation.
Episode 26: How Russ Plummer built a successful program using communication!
Episode 25: Tammy Lott saved my life when she taught me about neuroplasticity, learn about it before you need it.
Episode 24: Making mentality part of your practice plan with Coach Dave Feeney of Normal Community.
Episode 23: Coaching with passion and positivity: Jason Welch of the BCC Saints!
Episode 22: Clancy Hall of Hendersonville TN basketball knows his metric of success, as a coach, so should you.
Episode 21: Dre Baldwin does not care what you think, and other tips for success in life.
Episode 20: Suffering, toughness, and Jiu-Jitsu: A convo with Gabe Slone, BJJ black belt.
Episode 19: Speaking the truth with Malik Mims
Episode 18: Going to the "Well" with ultramarathoner Rob Ulm.
Episode 17: Henry Domercant of the Windy City Bulls talks about mindset and development.
Episode 16: How a combination of talent and toughness allows USA athelte, Ali Ince, to run her best.
Episode 15: 3 generations on the bench. A convo with EPG Head Coach Nathaniel Meiss.
Episode 14: The AAU mindset for hoopers with Gavin Sullivan of Mid Pro Academy.
Episode 13: More grit than glamour, being a pro athlete: a conversation with pro hooper Skyler Bowlin.
Episode 12: How to build a program with expectations from 1st grade to Senior. A conversation with Jennifer Hayes of Hartsburg-Emden.
Episode 11: How to win basketball games with AI. Part 2 of a conversation with Justin Dehm of Metamora.
Episode 10: Old school vs new school coaching style. Part 1 of an interview with Metamora Asst Coach Justin Dehm.
Episode 9: Hoops and Hallelujahs: A conversation about Jesus, basketball, and toughness with HC Kramer Soderberg of Millikin University.
Episode 8: Should you coach your kid?? A conversation with two athletes that survived it.
Episode 7: Brawn and Brains. Becoming a Big Ten Lineman with UM Golden Gopher JJ Guedet.
Episode 6: "Are you blind, ump?" Mental toughness as seen from behind home plate with IHSA umpire Stephen Wilson.
Episode 5: Big Ten toughness: A conversation with Northwestern University Basketball assistant coach Chris Lowery.
Episode 4: Mental toughness in college basketball with former MSSU coach, Robert Corn.
Episode 3: How does culture affect mental toughness and vice versa with IHSA HOF Coach Rob Flanagan
Episode 2: Creating a defensive mindset in an offensive world with basketball coach John Hughs
Episode 1: How can the Mental Mettle Podcast make you a better coach?
The Mental Mettle Podcast Drops June 5th 2023
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