Explore Your Quiet Mind
The Inspired Athlete
Welcome to the Inspired Athlete podcast! In today’s episode, we’re breaking down why some athletes are absolute "gamers" while others struggle to bring their practice-room energy to the big stage. Drawing on Stoic wisdom and the fascinating concept of the "Quiet Eye," we explore the idea that we don’t actually rise to the level of our competition—we fail to the level of our preparation. I’m sharing stories from my coaching days about athletes who thrived under pressure and discussing how mental fatigue can shift your focus from being the predator to becoming the prey. If you’ve...
info_outline
We are All Time Travelers
The Inspired Athlete
Welcome to the Inspired Athlete podcast! In this episode, I share how a late-night TikTok scroll led me to the band , who quickly became the soundtrack for my son and me while he navigated a long, difficult recovery from a freak baseball injury . Beyond just the music, the kindness and personal interest the band members showed my son really hit home for me as a dad . We’re diving into the concept of being a "time traveler"—the way athletes constantly replay missed shots and past failures in their minds . Using insights from Dr. Nate Zinser’s The Confident Mind, I explain how our...
info_outline
Life's Great Lie
The Inspired Athlete
Welcome to the Inspired Athlete Podcast! In this episode, I reflect on a powerful moment during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships and a message from Ed Mylett in a conversation with Jay Shetty that completely reframed a tough setback for one of my wrestlers. After falling short of his goal of becoming an All-American—even while several guys he had beaten ended up on the podium—we talk about the critical choice athletes face after disappointment: adopting limiting beliefs or choosing a perspective that keeps possibility alive. I also explore how the brain constantly looks for...
info_outline
Your Thoughts Do Matter
The Inspired Athlete
Welcome to The Inspired Athlete Podcast! In this episode, we dig into a powerful idea about performance: while thoughts matter, they don’t get the final say—identity does. Drawing on an insight from Mike Travisano’s Refuge in Small Things, we explore the loop between belief, thoughts, emotions, actions, and results, and how the story we carry about who we are shapes everything that follows. I share some reflections from a weekend coaching at the state tournament—van rides, lobby checkers, and honest conversations with athletes—and what stood out about the mindset of two champions. It...
info_outline
Embrace Struggle
The Inspired Athlete
Welcome to the Inspired Athlete Podcast! This episode is a reflection on one unforgettable weekend filled with highs, heartbreaks, growth, and powerful reminders about what sport is really teaching us. From watching my son compete at his state tournament, to coaching athletes chasing championships and state qualifications, to supporting a college wrestler fighting for one last shot at nationals, I was reminded that competition is never about guarantees — it’s about the what if. We talk about success that doesn’t arrive on our timeline, the lessons hidden inside losses, and why struggle...
info_outline
It's About Identity
The Inspired Athlete
Welcome to the Inspired Athlete podcast! Today we’re diving into a powerful truth that can completely change the way you compete: your thoughts and feelings are real—but they don’t get the final say in your performance. Identity does. We’ve all been told to “just think positive,” but what happens when nerves show up anyway? What do you do when doubt creeps in before a big match or game? In this episode, we’re talking about why you’re not responsible for the first thought that pops into your head—but you are responsible for what comes next—and how building a strong sense of...
info_outline
Just Stop Worrying
The Inspired Athlete
Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! In this episode, Just Stop Worrying, I lean on the timeless wisdom of Marcus Aurelius in Meditations to remind us of something we all need to hear—far more of our mental energy is spent on things that are completely outside our control. Whether it’s the opinions of others, the outcomes we can’t predict, or the “what ifs” that keep looping in our minds, worry quietly steals our focus and presence. This episode is a simple but powerful invitation to pause, reset, and recommit to what actually belongs to us: our thoughts, our actions, and how we...
info_outline
A Change is Coming
The Inspired Athlete
Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! In this very personal episode, I look back on nearly four years and 273 episodes of hitting “record,” sharing ideas, and growing alongside educators across the U.S. and Canada. I talk about why I started the show back in 2022, what I’m most proud of, and why I’m now making a big pivot out of the education podcast space. This isn’t goodbye to teaching—it’s an expansion into mental performance work with wrestlers, athletes, and their parents. Drawing on my own wrestling regrets, years of coaching since 2004, and what I’ve learned through...
info_outline
Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
The Inspired Athlete
Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! It’s been a little while, and in this episode, I share a quick update on what I’ve been up to and reflect on a message that really hit home for me lately. After listening to Jay Shetty on the On Purpose podcast, one line stuck with me: “Comparison makes you chase timelines that weren’t meant for you.” I talk about why that resonated so deeply right now—especially as I step into something new—and how easy it is to feel scattered or unsure when we focus on where others seem to be. I also connect this idea directly to teaching, where...
info_outline
Remember, You Float
The Inspired Athlete
Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! It’s been a while, and in this episode, I talk about why I’m back behind the mic and how this podcast still fits into my life right now. I share my love for that quiet stretch between Christmas and New Year’s—a rare bit of downtime to slow down, read, and reflect—and how a short piece called "Float" from Mike Travisano’s Refuge and Small Things really hit home as I was preparing to head back to school. January can feel heavy for a lot of educators and students, when the break is over and the finish line feels far away. Today’s message is a...
info_outlineWelcome to the Inspired Teacher Podcast! In this episode, I talk with Bryon Carpenter—a fellow educator, podcaster and lifelong learner who’s all about showing up, reflecting, and growing a little bit every day. We dive into why paying attention to your experiences matters, how consistency (even in small ways) can lead to big change, and how podcasting helps him process and share what he’s learning. Bryon’s not doing it for likes or followers—he’s doing it to make a difference, and it’s a message that’ll definitely resonate.