#134 Ian Shields: Coach Shields on Rebuilding Minot State Football from the Ground Up
Release Date: 08/06/2025
#159 Troy Roness: Navigating the Mind and Mental Health
Swim Lessons
On today's show, we sit down with Troy Roness. Troy is a licensed therapist, TEDx speaker, survivor, and author. He’s spent years in the trenches of K-12 schools, college campuses, and therapy rooms, navigating the complex terrain of the mind. This conversation goes beyond the therapy acronyms to the raw, unvarnished truth about trauma, recovery, and what it means to build a life you don't constantly need to escape from. We talk about the hard stuff. The broken places. The slow, often brutal work of putting yourself back together, piece by piece. A journey he chronicled in his book,...
info_outline
#158 Ryan Clark: The Sound of Turning a Program Around
Swim Lessons
What does it truly take to build a college basketball program from the ground up? It’s not just about plays and drills, it’s about alchemy. Turning struggle into strength and individual players into an unbreakable team. In this raw and revealing episode of Swim Lesson the Podcast, we sit down with Ryan Clark, the head women’s basketball coach at Minot State University. We go far beyond the scoreboard to uncover the philosophy, the relentless grind, and the human leadership required to architect a winning culture in athletics.
info_outline
#157 James Staub: Inside the Mind of a Modern Outdoorsman
Swim Lessons
In this episode, we sit down with James Staub of Tag Firearms for a conversation that goes far beyond hunting. James is a lifelong outdoorsman, firearms professional, and someone who lives the lifestyle he represents. We talked about the hunting culture, the mindset it builds, and how time in the outdoors shapes a person in many ways. From firearms and conservation to personal growth, responsibility, and the lessons learned off the grid. This is an honest, wide-ranging discussion about what hunting really teaches you. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter new to the outdoors, or just someone who...
info_outline
#156 Arley Larson & Michael Bergstrom: 54 Years of Lessons & the Next Ray Jays Era
Swim Lessons
This episode of Swim Lessons the Podcast brings together two generations of Ray Jays basketball. For over 54 years, Arley Larson has lived the game. Coaching, mentoring, and shaping young athletes far beyond the scoreboard. Sitting alongside him is Michael Bergstrom, the current head coach of the Ray Jays. Michael is carrying that tradition forward and building something special for the future. Together they talk basketball, life lessons learned on the bench, and why there’s real belief inside the Ray Jays program heading into this season. From old-school coaching wisdom to modern-day...
info_outline
#155 Cory MacIver: Coaching, Courage, & Fatherhood
Swim Lessons
Cory MacIver is the head girls basketball coach for the South Prairie-Max Royals. In this Podcast, Cory opens up about coaching basketball, raising strong daughters, and the incredible resilience that defines his family’s story. Cory shares what it means to lead young athletes, build character, and stay grounded through life’s toughest challenges.
info_outline
#153 Melissa Spelchen: Mental Health in Sports
Swim Lessons
In this powerful episode of Swim Lessons the Podcast, Melissa Spelchen opens up about the battles no one sees. Trauma, healing, recovery, and the strength it takes to keep going. A Hall of Fame athlete at Minot State, Melissa’s volleyball career was incredible… But the real story is the life she’s built beyond the court as a mental health advocate, mentor, and voice for athletes who struggle in silence. This is an episode for athletes, parents, coaches… for ANYONE navigating life’s heavy moments. Her honesty might be exactly what someone needs to hear today.
info_outline
#152 The Peoples's Game Day: Upsets, Game Picks, & Playoff Chaos
Swim Lessons
It’s that time again — college football is getting real. In this week’s episode of The People’s GameDay, brought to you by Swim Lessons Productions, we’re breaking down everything happening across the college football world — the upsets, the playoff chaos, the Heisman hype, and our biggest game picks of the week. From wild finishes to bold predictions! Dalyss Hanson, Josh Borm, and Jordan Neuwirth bring the energy, the insight, and the passion every true college football fan lives for.
info_outline
#151 Darik Dissette: From Doubt to Destiny-The Rise of DD
Swim Lessons
In this episode of Swim Lessons The Podcast Darik Dissette talks about life, basketball, and everything in between. This isn’t just a basketball conversation — it’s a story about heart, doubt, resilience, and the moments that shape who we become. Darik takes us inside the highs and lows of his journey… The pressure of being “the guy” The setbacks no one sees The work that nobody talks about And the belief that carried him through it all If you’ve ever chased a dream… battled adversity… or needed a reminder of what real perseverance looks like — this episode is for...
info_outline
#150 Jay Paterno: The Truth About Legacy, Pressure, & Purpose at Penn State
Swim Lessons
From the sidelines of Beaver Stadium to the big lessons of life, Jay Paterno has lived through it all. In this episode of Swim Lessons the Podcast, Jay opens up about football, leadership, legacy, and what it really means to build something that lasts beyond the game. We talk about growing up around greatness, the lessons learned from his legendary father Joe Paterno. As well as how those values still resonate today with coaching, politics, and life itself. Leadership. Legacy. Life after football. This one’s not just for sports fans — it’s for anyone chasing purpose.
info_outline
#149 People's Game Day: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not, and Who to trust
Swim Lessons
Back… back… back we go! College football gave us upsets, blowouts, and pure mayhem last week, and we’re breaking it all down the only way we know how. Hot takes, bold bets, and a little Berman flair. From wild finishes to statement wins, The People’s Game Day crew dives into everything that made last Saturday electric. Who’s rising, who’s falling, and who’s making us question our picks! 💰 Betting breakdowns, player performances, and the biggest surprises of the weekend — all in one jam-packed episode! 🎧 Hosted by Dalyss Hanson and the crew of Josh Borm and Jordan Neuwirth...
info_outlineMinot State went from underdogs to record breakers. Coach Ian Shields is the mastermind behind the comeback. In this episode of Swim Lessons, we sit down with the 22nd head coach of the Beavers to talk about building culture, breaking records, and transforming lives.
After more than 20 years in coaching, Shields brings a proven track record of elite player development and a commitment to community engagement. In just his second season at Minot State, he delivered the program’s first Homecoming victory since 1992 and its best NCAA-era season, starting 3‑0 and finishing 5‑6 .
Under his leadership, the Beavers smashed single-season records for rushing yards (2,886) and touchdowns (30), while launching the “Get in the Game” initiative that registered hundreds of bone marrow donors
Coach Shields opens up about:
Turning a losing program into a contender
-His spread-option offense and Top‑10 rushing finishes msubeavers.com
-Building a team culture rooted in faith, family, and community
👇 Join the conversation: Comment with your favorite moment from Minot State’s turnaround and subscribe for more inspiring football stories!