Way Of Champions Podcast

Dr. Jay Martin is entering his 48th season as the Ohio Wesleyan Men's Soccer Coach in 2024. During his tenure his teams have amassed 750 victories, making Martin the winningest NCAA Men's soccer coach of all time. His teams have also won 2x NCAA Championships and 26 Conference Championships, so he knows a little something about culture and winning each and every day. So when he says "Coaches don;t make great players. Players make great players" we should listen. This week on the podcast  John and Jay discuss his new book Lessons from the Best Coach, why the publisher changed the title at the last second to one he does not like, and how players and teams have both changed and remained the same over the past 48 years. They discuss teaching athletes how to face adversity, empowering your players, and so much more.  If you want to reach out to Jay contact him by email at jamartin@owu.edu. Grab a copy of the book on Amazon here. NEW WOC MASTERMIND AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM As you may have heard, we decided to canc

Stetson Lawrence (@StetsonLawrence) is a former professional bull rider with Chippewa Sioux Native American heritage. He was on the professional tour for over a decade and ranked in the top 25 in the world, reaching 9 PBR World Finals and being the first to ride many of the world's toughest bulls. Bull riding is both an art and a sport where mental strength and stability reign supreme, and today on the podcast Stetson discusses his career,. how he got started, and the numerous injuries suffered including two broken necks, the last of which forced him to retire in 2022. He also discusses how his preparation and use of mental imagery evolved as he got older, his journey into coaching, and the central role of joy and fun throughout his bull riding career. Learn more about Stetson here: https://www.805beer.com/stetson-lawrence/ Check out the great film about Stetson from 805 films on YouTube    NEW WOC MASTERMIND AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM As you may have heard, we decided to cancel our 2024 Way of Champions Confe

Katie Steele (@thrivementalhealththerapy) is a licensed marriage and family therapist and cofounder of Thrive Mental Health, an outpatient mental health clinic in Bend, Oregon. She is also the founder of Athlete’s Mental Health Foundation, a 501(c)(3) launched in January 2023. Competing in track and cross-country at the University of Oregon and Florida State University, Katie placed second team all PAC-10 as a redshirt freshman. Through her experiences as an NCAA Division-I athlete, Katie has developed a mission to help integrate mental health care into athletics. Her three kids help fuel her passion to ensure healthy sports systems for all and that children are afforded opportunities to cultivate a lifelong love of physical activity. Today we discuss her new book, co-authored with Tiffany Brown, called The Price She Pays. Learn more at www.AthletesMentalhealthFoundation.org.  NEW WOC MASTERMIND AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM A you may have heard, we decided to cancel ou r2024 Way of Champions Conference, which op

Jeff Jones (@jonseyjeff1) has spent the past four years as the Arkansas St. Red Wolves’ Assistant Athletics Director for Athletics Performance. He has 19 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, including prior stops working with football at Arkansas State, Boise State, Auburn and Appalachian State.  Jones came to Arkansas State owning previous Sun Belt Conference championships with both the Mountaineers (2019) and Red Wolves (2012), while also collecting an SEC title at Auburn in 2013 and WAC championships at Boise State in 2006, 2008 and 2009.  During his time at the four schools, they combined to play in 11 bowl games including the 2013 BCS National Championship game with Auburn. Jones earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science-health promotion from Central College in Pella, Iowa, in 2006 before going on to earn his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction in foundational studies from Boise State University in 2011. He has worked under incredible coaches including chris Peterson and

Andrew Simpson (@coachandrewsimpson), Founder of Player’s Fitness & Performance (PFP), fell in love with fitness while in college. He discovered that by transforming his own energy, athleticism, and mindset, he was able to change his life for the better and knew he needed to help others do the same. In 2013, Andrew established PFP and began a lifelong mission to ignite change and raise the bar for leadership in gyms and youth sports across the country. Over the past decade, Andrew and his team have coached more than 1,000 student-athletes and adults to become more confident and reach their full potential. Andrew is also the author of three books on youth sports. Today we will spend our time discussing The Youth Truth: Coaching and Parenting in Today’s CRAZY Youth Sports World as well as some of his ideas from his book on mindset. Learn more at www.andrewjsimpson.com REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 WAY OF CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE IS OPEN! We just announced our third speaker for our August 9-11 Way of champions C

Welcome to a new edition of one of our famous fireside chats, where John and Jerry discuss some of the common questions we receive. This week we are discussing our new book The Champion Sports Parent, which will be released in late summer. The book is a companion to our 2023 bestseller The Champion Teammate, and is a guide to help  parents be the best they can be for their kids. We break down some of the chapters and themes and ways parents can help their athletes perform their best and become a champion teammate while using sports to fulfill a higher purpose in your child's human development. We also announce some exciting news, our third speaker for our August 9-11 Way of champions Conference in Denver, CO. We will be joined by Chris Armas, head coach for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.  Chris has been a long time MLS Head and assistant coach, as well as assistant at Manchester United and Leeds of the English Premier League. Chris played over 60 times for the US mens National Team, was the 2001

Jamie Mittleman (@flamebearers) is the Founder & Host of Flame Bearers. Founded while Jamie was receiving her Masters of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, Flame Bearers is the first global storytelling platform celebrating the stories of women Olympians and Paralympians. From household names to unsung heroes around the world, each featured story highlights the successes, struggles, and social issues that drive the world’s most prestigious athletes. Flame Bearers brings these champions’ stories to life via podcasts, videos, and live events. Jamie also has her MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and a Bachelors in International Studies from Middlebury College. A believer that it’s hard to be what you can’t see, Jamie is passionate about elevating voices that have historically been underrepresented and championing role models from all corners of the world. Today she shares those stories and some of her own, with Jerry and John. Website: http://flamebearers.com/ LinkedIn: https:/

Margaret Domka is the Executive Director for the US Center for Mental Health and Sport (@mentalhealthandsport). She is a PhD Candidate at Clemson University where her research focus is mental health and sport. Additionally, she has done work in bringing mental health and sport initiatives to Veterans, individuals with paralysis, and Paralympic athletes. She is an ACT! Mental Health Awareness Certification and Mental Health First Aid instructor and holds the International Olympic Committee’s Certificate on Mental Health in Elite Sport. Margaret is also a former FIFA Women's World Cup referee and served on the USA panel of FIFA referees for 10 years. She continues to referee blind soccer, for the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football, and for Special Olympics. She also serves on the USYS Midwest Region Referee Advisory Committee and the USYS DE&I Committee. Dr. Skye Arthur-Banning is an associate professor at Clemson University who has been awarded over $1 million in grants to bring mental hea

For over 20 years Graham Betchart has worked as a mental performance coach with the worlds top athletes and companies and is now sharing his wisdom through keynote speaking and music. For the past two years he has worked with University of Connecticut Men's Basketball Players, winning back to back NCAA titles, and has also worked with the NBA's Sacramento Kings as well as a who's who of individual NBA stars.  His gift is simplifying mental training and making it accessible for all. His unique vibe adn authenticity comes through in our chat, as well as through his videos and music he creates ot develop more mindful, mentally tough performers. His method and teachings are included in his two books Play Present (2014) and Founder (2023), and his website is www.capitolacoaching.com. You will want a pen and paper for this one as you will have a lot of notes to take! REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 WAY OF CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE IS OPEN! Save $100 if you sign up prior to June 30, and save 50% per person for groups of five o

Angela Hucles Mangano is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist for US Soccer, two-time World Cup Bronze Medalist, former professional soccer player and the US Soccer Foundation’s 2009 Humanitarian of the Year.  She is currently the General Manager of Los Angeles’ women’s professional soccer team, Angel City FC, overseeing the sporting vision of the club, and all soccer operations including coaching, the first team, player care, medical and performance, sports science, and all wellness programs and resources.   Her passion is in helping others achieve their goals and dreams and has over 35 years experience in the sports industry.  Angela has become a regular speaker on topics of leadership and the power of sport and its impact on personal growth and development.    Angela is a Past President of the Women’s Sports Foundation, founded by Billie Jean King, and was a soccer analyst for FOX, ESPN, and NBC during the Women’s World Cups, Olympic games, and ACC / SEC women’s and men’s college soccer.     She i

Pete Steinberg is a leadership and innovation expert with extensive experience consulting with top Fortune 500 professionals. He also has more than 20 years of experience as an elite rugby coach, coaching the USA Women’s Rugby Team at two World Cups and the Rio Olympics. As a former U.S., international, and Olympic sports coach and commentator for major outlets such as CBS, ESPN, and Fox Sports, Pete has a track record of bringing teams to victory. He has won 11 National Championships with the Penn State Women, MARFU Men, and Temple Women rugby teams. He has also worked with the Men’s Eagles and other age-grade programs within the U.S. National team pathway. Pete was the Head of Coach Development for USA Rugby, leading the program as it became integrated into the World Rugby programs. Pete is also the President of Innovative Thought, a business consultancy focused on leadership and organizational development. He supports clients in the areas of innovation, leadership, strategic planning, marketing, recruiting

Former Navy SEAL, professional athlete, and entrepreneur Chad Metcalf (@chadmetcalf) is the author of Young Athletes’ Ultimate Guide to Mental Toughness. Chad’s journey began when he was a child. A self-described ‘late bloomer,’ he had the importance of faith, self-belief and focus instilled in him at a young age, equipping him with a strong mental toughness that he would carry forward and apply to every challenge he faced. Following a 12-year career in the SEAL Teams, he chased his PGA Tour dream. After running out of money for a third time he knew it was time to strike the balance between pursuing his passions and knowing when a new strategy was necessary, pulling himself out of negative mindsets, and using his setbacks to help him grow and move on to complete great things. He is firm in his belief that without his faith, growth mindset, and mental resilience, he could not have discovered what he was capable of. Now, with an MBA and a new career under his belt, Chad remains committed to developing new s

Colleen Munson concluded her 19th season at the helm of Western Michigan volleyball in 2023. During her tenure at WMU, Munson has posted 10 20-win seasons, including a program-record eight in a row from 2005-12. She has taken the Broncos to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2023, including a berth in the Sweet 16 in 2008.  Taking over a program in 2005 that had finished better than third in the MAC West just three times since 1990, Munson has led Western Michigan to six MAC West championships, including outright MAC regular season titles in 2008 and 2023, MAC Tournament titles and trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2014 and 2023, and NCAA Tournament at-large bids in 2008 and 2011. Western Michigan had one of its best seasons in program history in 2023, as it won both the MAC Regular Season and Tournament titles on the way to a 31-3 record, its first 30-win season since 1983. The Broncos went a perfect 18-0 in the conference to become the first team to go undefeated in MAC play since 2014. Munson's sq

Steve Tashjian is the Founder of Elevation Project, which collaborates with elite organizations, communities, and institutions to build high-performance teams and systems. Steve is an expert physical therapist, sports scientist, movement specialist, and director of high performance. He was the High Performance Director of the Columbus Crew of MLS before becoming the first full-time American performance specialist in the English Premier League, leading the Sport Science efforts for Everton Football Club. He led the high performance department for U.S. Men’s Soccer Team for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and has prepared triathletes for the Kona Ironman, boxers for world title fights, supported Matt Fitzpatrick for the 2023 PGA Championship and US Open, and just announced a consultancy with AC Milan of the Italian Serie A. Beyond sport, he has coached executive VPs at Stanley 1913, performance directors at the Phoenix Suns, helped the Colorado Rapids (MLS) develop organizational identity. Today we discuss his

Becky Carlson (@tfcoachcarlson) is in her 13th year at the helm of the Quinnipiac Women's Rugby team, where she led the transition from a new varsity program into a three-time national champion. As the original head coach of the Quinnipiac women's rugby team added in 2011, Carlson boasts an all-time record of 81–33-1 including back-to-back-to-back Division I NIRA national championship titles in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Under Carlson’s tutelage the program has been to nationals 6 out of 7 seasons and named 13 All-Americans. Carlson is a graduate of the NCAA Coaches Academy’s Class #36 and the recipient of the 2015 Judy Sweet Award from the Academy. An author on issues in coaching and team culture development, Carlson’s most notable piece, “An Open Letter to the Athlete We Must Stop Recruiting" is currently one of the highest viewed articles on the business and networking platform, LinkedIn. Carlson has been a key advocate for women’s NCAA rugby and equality in athletics for over a decade. A fearless advocate for

Eric Potterat, PhD, is a clinical and performance psychologist and a leading expert in individual and organizational performance optimization. Eric retired as a commander from the US Navy after twenty years of service, during which he helped create the mental toughness curriculum used during Navy SEALs BUD/S training. Eric spent several years as the director of specialized performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers and has also worked with Red Bull athletes, the US Women’s national soccer team, the Miami Heat, and numerous Olympic athletes, first responders, business leaders, and NASA astronauts. He is the co-author of the new book Learned Excellence: Mental Disciplines for Leading and Winning from the World's Top Performers, which we unpack today. on the podcast. You will hear stories about the US Navy SEALs, the USWNT at the 2019 World Cup, Olympic Gold Medalist Nathan Chen, and more. REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 WAY OF CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE IS OPEN! Save $100 if you sign up prior to June 30, and save 50% per pers

Mark Johnson (www.ironstring.com) is a sportswriter and sports photographer. He has covered cycling and endurance sports since the 1980s. His work often focuses on the business of pro cycling—a topic that frequently intersects with the sport’s long history of doping. Along with U.S. publications like VeloNews, his work is published in Cycling Weekly in the UK, Velo in France, Ride Cycling Review in Australia as well as general-interest publications including the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. Mark has bicycled across the United States twice and completed an Ironman triathlon. A graduate of the University of California, San Diego, the author also has an MA and PhD in English Literature from Boston University. VeloPress published Johnson’s first book, Argyle Armada: Behind the Scenes of the Pro Cycling Life, a documentary in words and photos of a year with the Garmin-Cervélo professional cycling team.  Today we discuss his amazing book Spitting in the Soup: Inside the Dirty Game of Doping in Sports. A

Ian Goldberg is the Founder and CEO of iSport360, a youth sports technology company that is changing the culture in youth sports for over 4M people.   Ian’s career started at the White House where he worked for the economic advisors to two US Presidents and then spent more than half of his career in digital product management and sales for early-stage technology companies.  Outside of his role leading iSport360, Ian is an Advisory Board member for the National Alliance for Youth Sports and is the Editor of the largest sports parenting newsletter in youth sports reaching 4 million people each month.  But most of all Ian loves his role as a #girldad and as a volunteer sports coach for his two daughters. Amy Masters is a sports mom, coach, and club administrator. She has been coaching youth sports for more than 10 years. She started Jr Lions Field Hockey, the youth recreation program for the Hunterdon County community growing it from 40 players in year 1 to 150 players by year 3. A few years later, she saw the

Dr. Mitchell Greene (@greenepsych) is a nationally recognized licensed clinical and sport psychologist, whose success over the past 15-plus years is his ability to tailor personalized solutions to his client’s problems. Dr. Greene works primarily with athletes pursuing high performance goals, or coaches and athletic departments looking to educate their student-athletes on mental health and performance enhancement strategies. Typical clients are either college (or college-bound) student-athletes or elite or pro level competitors. In 2023, Dr. Greene published Courage over Confidence: Managing Mind Chatter and Winning the Mental Game, a book based on his years of working with high-performing athletes who struggle with managing doubts and negative thinking. His book has spent time as a top 5 “Youth Sport” and “Sport Psychology” Book on Amazon. Athletes and teams have purchased Dr. Greene’s book as an off-season guide to help them train their mind for competition, as well as an in-season resource to improve their

Wells Thompson is a former Major League Soccer Player and the Founder of Soccer Resilience, an mazing resource for players and teams to build inner strength and help athletes think better so they can perform better. Wells was an all ACC player at Wake Forest and the 5th pick in the 2007 MLS Super Draft. he played for the New England Revolution, Colorado Rapids and Chicago Fire, winning the 2007 US Open Cup, 2008 Superliga, and 2010 MLS Cup. He was also the 2011 Colorado Rapids Humanitarian of the Year. In our chat you will hear such amazing self-awareness, vulnerability and authenticity from Wells as he details his journey of struggles, substance abuse, self-doubt and more as a professional athlete. It is an amazing conversation with an amazing human being. You can connect with Wells at www.soccerresilience.com.  PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS!: Programs such as UNC soccer and lacrosse, Syracuse lacrosse, Stanford Lacrosse, Middlebury College, Colby College, Rutgers University, and man