Parenting Peak Performers Podcast

Ever wonder about the building blocks of an outstanding athlete? Sport Performance Consultant Kathy Feinstein brings you weekly interviews with parents of exceptional athletes and their experiences. With this podcast, parents will learn about how they contribute to their child’s success with different parenting styles and techniques, and how to overcome universal parenting challenges.

Pressure and the Impacts to Mental Health with Dr. Hendrie Weisinger 10/11/2021

The Sports Parenting Experience with Shari Medini 03/19/2021

Sports psychiatry with Dr. Rolando Gonzalez 01/17/2021

On Coaching Parents with Anthony Telford 04/30/2020

Becoming a Reformed Sports Parent with Nick Buonocore 04/23/2020

Scott Eyre on Coaching after Life in Major League Baseball 01/24/2020

Jill Wheeler on Expedition Mentality & Letting Your Child Choose 01/17/2020

Chris Edwards on Fitness: Why It’s Vital and Not Enough 01/10/2020

Dr. Greg Rubin on Identifying and Treating Sports-Related Concussions 07/30/2019

On Confidence - What It Is, How To Build It, and How To Get It Back with Coach Micheal Burt 07/24/2019

On Confidence - What It Is, How To Build It, and How To Get It Back with Coach Micheal Burt “When I was a high school basketball coach, I wrote down on a napkin one day that a child with confidence will try anything. Whether they succeed or not, they will try. An insecure child will always contract to a place of comfort, a place of security, a place of complacency.” -Micheal Burt When it comes to understanding what makes peak performers tick, there’s no one better than Coach Micheal Burt. Burt, a former championship women’s basketball coach, is used to coaching go-getters, so it’s no surprise to learn that his track record is filled with outstanding accomplishments. The 13x best-selling author of titles like “Person of Interest,” “Million Dollar Follow Up,” and “Inside the Mind of a Monster” also holds the world record for the most speaking engagements in one day: 41. If you’re scratching your head at how anyone can fit 41 talks in a 24 hour period, you’re not alone. Burt has a long list of near-impossible accomplishments that give him compelling stories and keen insights for driving success. Burt has mastered the art of instilling contagious confidence in those he communicates with. He knows how to “inner engineer” people to win at the highest levels. With deep methodology in coaching the whole person, Burt retired at age 31 to create the coaching program Monster Producer which has quickly grown to over 700 participants around the world. Today Michael talks with us about confidence - what it is, how to build it, and how to get it back when it’s been lost. This conversation speaks to me so deeply because it’s applicable not only to those peak performers were trying to raise, but also to ourselves. If something in this podcast ignited your confidence, tell me about it. Share what stood out to you through . You can also keep up with Coach Burt on his website at or find him on facebook as MICHEALBURT. /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/10640381

Steve Mellor on Transferring High-Level Athletic Traits to Non-Athletic Careers 07/16/2019

Steve Mellor on Transferring High-Level Athletic Traits to Non-Athletic Careers What key traits make a person successful inside and outside of athletics? And how can athletes find an identity outside of their sport? My conversation with LSU assistant swim coach Steve Mellor addresses these questions, as well as the important relationship between an athlete and coach. In addition, we discuss how parents can encourage their students to speak up, in a respectful manner, in the pressure-filled collegiate sports environment. I’m thrilled to have Steve Mellor on the show today because he has deep experience as both a high-level competitor and coach. Mellor began his illustrious swimming career in his home country, England, where he competed at an international level before making his way to the States to swim for North Carolina State in 2005. During his time as a collegiate swimmer, Mellor racked in an astonishing list of achievements. Set two NC State swim records — one for the 200-back and another for the 400 IM Received All - ACC honors from 2007 to 2009 Qualified for the NCAA three times, with a top - 18 finish in the 200-back in 2008 Achieved a world-ranked status in 2005 and 2008, being named in the top 50 for the 200- meter backstroke Competed as a finalist in 2008’s US Open Mellor has now served as LSU’s Assistant Swim Coach for 5 years, where he’s helped guide a number of student-athletes to SEC and NCAA Championships. You’re going to love Mellor’s unique, dual insights as both an athlete and a coach, and if you want more of what you heard today, go check out Steve’s podcast Career Competitor. It offers personal interviews that help reveal shared traits among competitors in high-level sports, and how those traits can be applied to careers outside of athletic competition. Have a question or comment about today’s episode, or have a topic you’d love for me to cover on an upcoming show? Reach out to me on social media at @sportpsychworks or through https://www.kafcounselingandsportperformance.com/contact. We’ll see you again next week! /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/10527227

Melissa Jackson on Finding Balance as a Professional Athlete and Parent 07/10/2019

Melissa Jackson on Finding Balance as a Professional Athlete and Parent “There are boundaries, there are expectations, and there’s a balance between play and work.” -Melissa Jackson For nationally and internationally acclaimed dressage competitor, horse trainer, and my guest today Melissa Jackson, the quote applies to both building a relationship with a horse partner and parenting kids. On today’s podcast, I talk with Jackson about a variety of topics including: The crossover between training horses and coaching kids What her career as a professional athlete taught her kids about flexibility, understanding, and sacrifice Processing her younger daughter’s decision to end her basketball career after high school Learning how to play a parenting role rather than a coaching role, and communicating with her daughters after basketball games The biggest challenge for sports parents today (it starts with a B) I’ve been honored to know Melissa Jackson, my guest today, for more than 20 years, both as my own daughter’s dressage coach and as a friend. What is dressage? It’s an artistic and competitive style of horseback riding that requires intense skill and dedication to master. Jackson has undoubtedly achieved that mastery. Jackson is a USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medalist and a graduate of the L Judges program. Her great success in both National and International competitions earned her and her partner at the time, Wellington, invitations to the Festival of Champions in 2006 and 2007. This partnership went on to Germany to successfully compete and train under Hubertus Schmidt, at the Grand Prix Level. Melissa secured the ride on Whirlpool, aka “Hooli” in August 2013. She now competes with her new partner, Domani. In their first year at the FEI level Melissa and Domani qualified and competed in the Markel/USDF Developing Prix St. George championships, finishing 4th overall in the country. I’ve learned so much from Jackson over the years, and I know you’re going to walk away from today’s episode with a great perspective to pull you through the week. If something strikes you during our conversation, I’d love to hear from you! Connect with me on social media @sportpsychworks or through https://www.kafcounselingandsportperformance.com/contact. Melissa Jackson Bio Melissa Jackson a USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medalist and a graduate from the L Judges program, has had great success at the National and International levels. She has earned several regional titles and horse of the year awards. She owns and operates Windfall Farms, a small dressage training facility, located in Parrish, Fl. Melissa has trained with many top dressage athletes and trainers such as Hubertus Schmidt and Johann Hinnemann. She is most known for the success she achieved with her past dressage partner, Wellington. Highlighting their career with an invitation to the Festival of Champions in 2006 and 2007. This partnership went on to Germany to successfully compete and train under Hubertus Schmidt, at the Grand Prix Level. Melissa secured the ride on Whirlpool, aka “Hooli” in August 2013. With many career highlights together including USDF Region 3 Intermediate Champion and Prix St. George reserve Champion. They competed in the 2014 Festival of Champions, finishing 11th. And finish their career together by competing back to back years in the 2015 Festival of Champions. With the support of her husband, John, and daughters, Jessica and Faith, Melissa is able to pursue her lifelong dream of one day representing the United States. They have recently purchased a new partner, Domani. In their first year at the FEI level Melissa and Domani qualified and competed in the Markel/USDF Developing Prix St. George championships, finishing 4th overall in the country. She feels thankful and blessed to have an amazing family, happy, healthy horses, and such supportive clients and friends. /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/10459427

Episode 62: Chris Resop on Discipline and Fun as a Father, Coach, and Retired Pro 06/25/2019

Episode 62: Chris Resop on Discipline and Fun as a Father, Coach, and Retired Pro We’re not just teaching these kids the game of baseball, we’re teaching them how to be teammates and how to be better kids. - Chris Resop Chris Resop has a very successful Real Estate career in Naples, FL, and is a former professional baseball player. Chris was born and raised in Naples and graduated from Barron G. Collier High School in 2001. He was drafted by the Florida Marlins in 2001 in the 4th round of the Major League Baseball draft, and played for fourteen years before retiring after the 2014 season. He and his wife (also from Naples!) returned home to raise their two kids. Since retiring Resop has become a successful Real Estate agent, following his passion for design and architecture and a long family lineage of developers in Florida. Hard work is all he’s known, and it paid off! Chris is ranked in the top 1% in the country amongst Real Estate agents, and in addition to attributing the work ethic he established in baseball he says positive thinking and coming back after failure is key to this success. In this episode, Chris and Kathy talk about creating a culture of discipline on his teams, and the impulse to rush in and help as a parent or coach when independence can actually be one of the most valuable lessons in teaching young athletes! Chris shares important reminders to let go of performance (leaving it on the field) at the end of the day, that baseball is a game of failure, and that in any sport when the games become a job it’s time to walk away. Chris was offered a full ride to the University of Miami to play baseball at the same time as his draft onto the Marlins, and also shares how his parents supported his decision to take a chance at achieving his goal to play in the MLB. As a former professional player, a dad, and a coach, Chris has learned so much about the balance of when support is too much and when it’s not enough. His work ethic and insight into all three roles really make this episode one not to miss. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and rate us in your favorite place to listen. Kathy would also love to hear from you! Connect with her on social media @sportpsychworks and through . /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/10270172

Episode 61: Carma and Tony Poppens on Farming, Family, and Fatigue 06/18/2019

Episode 61: Carma and Tony Poppens on Farming, Family, and Fatigue Along with all the negative, you need some positive reinforcement. - Carma Poppens Nothing is ever easy, for me, it’s the same as farming… you keep doing the job until it’s done. Role modeling, doing by example is worth more than words. - Tony Poppens In this episode Kathy is joined by Carma and Tony Poppens, the proud parents of retired professional basketball player Chelsea Poppens. Chelsea began her career playing AAU basketball beginning the summer of her seventh-grade year. During that time the family spent summers on the road together, driving one hour and ten minutes to practice twice a week! They were gone many weekends, slowing down during her Junior year of high school after fatigue and burnout took their toll. She went on to attend Iowa State for four years and played professional basketball after her ISU season was done. She finished her career at age 27 in December of 2018. Carma and Tony live on a farm in Aplington, Iowa. After many dedicated years in the stands, it was difficult for them not to be able to attend all of her professional games overseas, but they enjoyed reading about and watching her games online! Chelsea holds an impressive record at Iowa State, being one of only two players to achieve more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in the history of the Iowa State women’s basketball program. She was drafted in the second round of the WNBA and played for the San Antonio Stars. Carma and Tony discuss Chelsea’s experiences growing up on a farm and her determination and dedication to play. They credit her competitive nature, ability to return to sports after long seasons, and “never give up” attitude with her sports performance. Unlike many professional athletes, Chelsea did not spend her early years specializing in basketball, but played soccer and ran on the state level in track and field at the high school level. In addition, her upbringing living on a working farm and being coached by both Tony and Carma contributed to their close family dynamic. In her four years at Iowa State, Tony only missed attending two (home and away) games! Their family is such an incredible example for other sports parents, and they advise parents in the thick of trying to find a good balance to listen to their children, especially allowing independence in their drive and dedication to reach their individual goals. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and rate us in your favorite place to listen. Kathy would also love to hear from you! Connect with her on social media @sportpsychworks and through . /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/10186694

Episode 60: Ken Andiorio on Finding Your Why and Overcoming Failure 06/11/2019

Episode 60: Ken Andiorio on Finding Your Why and Overcoming Failure The only thing that you can control is your work ethic. - Ken Andiorio Ken Andiorio is an athletic director at the high school level in Naples, FL. He grew up in New Jersey, playing sports on organized teams and with his neighborhood friends. Through some positive peer pressure, he went on to a successful high school football career and played for and traveled with the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights. He credits the teamwork and cooperation he learned and coaching he received from sports as shaping much of who has become, and as life took him through business and then into education, sports was something he continued to gravitate towards. When the opportunity came to serve as the Activities Coordinator at Collier County Schools in Naples, he gladly took it. He is fresh off completing his fifth year in that position, and after 25 years working with students and parents and seventeen years teaching, he has learned a tremendous amount! In this episode, Kathy and Ken dig into risk and navigating the possibility of success and failure with student-athletes, parents allowing students to risk, fail, and learn to fail well - overcoming obstacles and not allowing failure to be a deterrent. Ken encourages that purpose, not a failure, defines you and has great words of wisdom for parents working with their athletes to determine their “Why?”. He outlines two common types of athletes he works with, and the qualities that make a successful athlete; internal motivation, enjoyment of the activity, development of a work ethic, and the ability to deal with adversity. He stresses supporting your child, encouraging improvement and following the direction of the coaching staff, and going together to reach goals. He shares his experiences of seeing successful parents model failure for student-athletes, letting them have the experience and standing beside them, while stressing that athletes be responsible for their behaviors and the consequences. He also shares fantastic advice for students currently transitioning from the high school level to collegiate athletics. Parents, we encourage you to share this episode with your athletes! If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and rate us in your favorite place to listen. Kathy would love to hear from you! Connect with her on social media @sportpsychworks and through . /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/10102353

Episode 59: Dr. Alise Bartley on Coaching Yourself First 06/04/2019

Episode 58: Chris and Holly Santillo on the Parent as Teacher 05/21/2019

Episode 58: Chris and Holly Santillo on the Parent as Teacher If you allow a child to discover the answer it is far more effective than just providing that answer. - Holly Santillo Chris Santillo is the founder and head instructor at Potomac Kempo, a martial arts studio with four locations in Alexandria, Virginia. Holly Santillo is the founding conductor of Mount Vernon Children’s Choir and a Senior Instructor at Potomac Kempo. Together they have been working with and educating children for more than thirty-five years. Chris has a degree in computer science from Harvey Mudd College and an MBA from Georgetown University and Holly has a degree in anthropology from Willamette University. In Chris and Holly’s Book, Resilience Parenting, they share the insights they have gained as teachers and parents. They offer positive alternatives to lecturing, bribing, and punishing; focusing instead on three pillars: Learning, Integrity, and Service. Chris and Holly tell us that by applying these powerful principles, you can inspire your children to develop the independence they need to succeed as adults, while renewing their connection to family and community. Whether you are raising a teenager or just starting your family, the methods prescribed in this book will help you unlock your greatest potential as a parent. In this episode Kathy and the Santillo’s discuss teachable skills such as cultivating confidence in your athletes through a balance of independence and connectedness. They share their three pillars of love of learning, becoming people of service, and acting as people of integrity and the growth that has come from utilizing their role as teachers with their family. They stress the curiosity of having an empty cup, assessing when kids are ready, the spiral method, keeping a lesson plan in mind as parents and coaches, and recognizing opportunities for spontaneous learning. Chris and Holly impart so much wisdom in this episode, especially the importance of sharing your failures with your kids far more than successes! Chris and Holly are currently traveling around the world with their family, and you can follow along at . If you enjoyed this episode please like, share, and rate us in your favorite place to listen. /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/9852749

Episode 57: Winston White on Staying Hydrated this Summer 05/14/2019

Episode 57: Winston White on Staying Hydrated this Summer "Prevention is better than a cure." - Winston White Our guest this week Winston White chose soccer over a promising track and field career and went on to amass nearly 600 professional league games in the UK. His exceptional sporting background along with his Sports Business Degree and MBA qualifies him for many key posts in the sports, health, and fitness industry. He runs his own soccer agency where he manages young soccer talent and places them into professional teams in Europe. His love of sport and fitness is only matched by his expert knowledge and business acumen. His dedication and professionalism have allowed him to maintain a very impressive network of contacts in the sports and business world. Winston was appointed to Blueprint, a Caribbean soccer initiative that ultimately received FIFA funding based on his skilled consultation. He is also a qualified personal trainer and worked for the US-owned company Life Fitness for a number of years before moving to Naples five years ago via the Caribbean. His passion will always be sports, and he is dedicated to helping others live their dreams. Winston is fresh off of speaking on dehydration and youth sports. and joins Kathy to discuss the roles parents, coaches, and players play in staying properly fueled when it comes to water and sports drinks! White highlights the role of sodium for fluid retention, why it’s important to hydrate before experiencing thirst, how reducing high-sugar drinks can help an athlete excel, and his experience testing extensively whether hydration before activity can change the game. White also encourages wearing light-colored technical clothing, making modifications based on conditions, and taking breaks in intensity when activity levels and temperatures both climb up high! His smart approaches to prevention and optimization are incredibly motivating and inspirational. Parents, pass this episode on to coaches and athletes as they enter the summer season, along with a reminder to stay safe and stay hydrated! If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and rate us in your favorite place to listen. Kathy would love to hear from you! Connect with her on social media @sportpsychworks and through . /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/9761849

Episode 56: Marissa Baker on the Importance of Attitude and Playing for Fun 05/07/2019

Episode 56: Marissa Baker on the Importance of Attitude and Playing for Fun Whatever attitude or belief you are having is not only influencing the child but at a higher rate, because your child is around you all the time.- Marissa Baker Marissa Baker was born and raised in Naples, FL and grew up playing competitive volleyball. She went on to play NCAA Division II collegiate Volleyball at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. During her time at UNC she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Sport Management and a master’s degree in Sport Administration. She is currently the Athletic Supervisor of North Collier Regional Park, which is home to eight tournament soccer fields and five tournament softball fields. In her role, Marissa is supervising tournaments on weekend and league play throughout the week, and sees up close how sport parenting and behavior play an important role in athletic performance. Marissa has studied emotional contagion, or the concept that attitudes are picked up from person to person. She emphasizes that children pick up on cues from parents, and what happens in a moment can ripple out to what happens on the field, off the field, and even in the career world in that athlete’s future. In this episode, Marissa and Kathy discuss how she has witnessed the decline of rec sports in favor of club sports, early drop-out and burnout rates rising, and why she encourages parents not to skip the developmental level of playing simply for fun. Whether rec ball or going outside as a family and playing just for enjoyment, intentionally not skipping out on that first level is what will produce the happy pro athlete (or just a happy adult) you’re hoping to raise. Marissa also stresses how her parents encouraged her growth by taking initiative, keeping personal accountability rather than averting to others, and working through problems independently. She credits handling conflict on her own, with support, as an important tool for her growth. Marissa is the co-host of the Sun Happens Podcast, which you can tune into on Spotify, iTunes, and Google Play. She and her co-host discuss a wide range of topics centered around the “why” of faith to motivate positivity and personal growth. Their tagline, “When you can’t find it, create it.”, epitomizes the tone of this episode; her conversation with Kathy is full of positivity and motivation. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and rate us in your favorite place to listen. Kathy would love to hear from you! Connect with her on social media @sportpsychworks and through . /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/9672446

Episode 55: Christopher Mance on Purpose and Performance 04/30/2019

Episode 55: Christopher Mance on Purpose and Performance Once they do develop a love of the sport you don’t want to take away that love. - Chris Mance C Chris attended high school in New Jersey where he was a three-sport athlete in football, wrestling, and track. He received a varsity letter in all three sports and served as the captain of both the football and wrestling teams. After high school Chris attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. At West Point he played on the Army West Point football team. Chris later went on to get a master’s degree in software engineering at Florida A&M University. After finishing grad school, Chris worked full-time as a business analyst, consultant, and project manager at Accenture, Amdocs, and Lockheed Martin for 10 years. Chris left his job at Lockheed Martin to launch the startup Nichevertising, a software solution Chris built to help emerging thought leaders engage with the journalists and influencers in their niche. However, Chris shut down the company in August 2015 because he realized that he wasn’t following his true passion – helping youth and high school athletes reach their potential and enjoy their sports journey. With the help of his long-time mentor Reggie and his company Your Crescendo Chris found this purpose. Chris started working as a consultant for Your Crescendo in 2015, but things really started to click in early 2018 when he started consulting for one of Your Crescendo's key faith-based clients. These experiences brought him closer to his faith and his purpose to serve. He realized that his purpose in life was to combine his experiences from being an entrepreneur, software engineer, project manager, consultant, coach, dad, husband, and youth sports advocate. Have you been “that parent” and later regretted casting your own ambition, disappointment, or expectations on your athlete? This episode is for you! Chris joins Kathy to discuss finding your purpose and balance as a sport parent to perform to your strengths and act as a guide to growing athletes, rather! than a dad-coach or mom-coach. He shares his experience of developing an understanding of his own strengths and learning when to pull back. His approach shifted from feedback and self-learning, and this episode is absolutely brimming with hard-won wisdom. Chris strongly recommends parenting from your own unique strengths rather than trying to do it all, and mentions the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment. If you are interested in finding out more, find StrengthsFinder at . Chris can be found at , and Kathy would also love to hear from you! Connect with her on social media @sportpsychworks and through . /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/9571928

Episode 54: Dr. Robert A Weil on Podiatry in Youth Sports and his New Book, #Hey Sport Parents 04/23/2019

Episode 53: Dr. Jerry Lynch on Self-Reflection and Awareness 04/16/2019

Episode 53: Dr. Jerry Lynch on Self-Reflection and Awareness In life, without self-awareness, we cut off our potential to grow in a way that we find really deep true meaning in life. - Dr. Jerry Lynch While most would consider him simply a sports psychologist, Dr. Lynch is a coach, mentor and teacher who guides and coaches athletes and parents to explore the meaning and purpose of sport, as a powerful vehicle to help us all understand the components of the athletic game and how they apply to the bigger game called life. In the process of this exploration, overall athletic performance is greatly enhanced. Dr. Lynch has been recognized as one of the top five in his profession nationwide. He has worked with men's and women's basketball, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, golf and other sports at the universities of North Carolina, Duke, Maryland, California, Syracuse, Stanford, Harvard and Middlebury and continues to work with several teams and parent groups nationally. Several of his clients have participated in various summer and winter Olympic Games. Most recently, he has established a consultancy with Steve Kerr, head coach of the World Champion Golden State Warriors. In the past 30 years alone, he has been part of 54 Final Four and 36 National Championship at the collegiate and professional levels. Dr. Lynch is a well known and in-demand public speaker at Leadership, Coaching, athletic and corporate conventions, a national presenter of conferences, clinics and workshops for coaches, sports parents and athletes. Dr. Lynch has had extensive media interview coverage such as being an invited guest on CBS, NBC, and PBS national television, the New York Times, Oprah Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Baltimore Sun, Outside Magazine and over 50 national radio broadcasts, podcasts and webinars. Dr. Lynch received his doctorate in psychology from Penn State University, and has done extensive post-doctoral work in the area of philosophy, Taoist and Buddhist thought, comparative religions, leadership development and performance enhancement. He has been a national class athlete, having been a member of a national championship team and, to this day, continues to run and bike. He has coached at the high school level as well as AAU sports. He is the author of 13 books. Dr. Lynch is the founder and director of Way of Champions, a performance consulting group geared toward helping others master the inner game. He maintains a private practice and an extensive sports psychology consultation service. He is the father of four high energy, athletic children. He divides his time between his offices in Santa Cruz, California and Boulder, Colorado where he works and writes in the spirit of what he teaches and coaches. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and rate us in your favorite place to listen. Dr. Lynch has been inspired by other sport parents in his desire to grow to become a better person. He and Kathy discuss sensitivity and self-reflection as major strengths for parents and athletes alike, and utilizing LUV; listening, understanding through questioning, and validating. He encourages parents to engage in behavior that puts athletes into the RIVER; feeling relevant, important/inspired, valued, empowered, and respected. This meaningful conversation can’t be missed! Kathy would also love to hear from you! Connect with her on social media @sportpsychworks and through . /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/9401825

Episode 52: Coach John Lamanna on Virtue in Sport 04/09/2019

Episode 52: Coach John Lamanna on Virtue in Sport Virtue is kind of that common denominator that is part of all our lives. - Coach John Lamanna Coach John Lamanna is entering his third year as Director of Athletics at Ave Maria University and fourth as the head men's basketball coach. Coach Lamanna is no stranger to working with a transitioning program. Prior to Ave Maria, Lamanna lead the men’s basketball program at NCAA Division III program Franciscan University as its first Head Men’s Basketball Coach at the NCAA level. Prior to his four-year stint at Franciscan, Coach assisted the University of California, Davis in the transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I. With the renewed focus of athletics at Ave Maria, Lamanna is excited about the rare opportunity that coaching basketball presents. Coach Lamanna received his start in college basketball at Washington State University, where he was a Student Assistant from 2000-2004. During his time at Washington State, he had the opportunity to work under Dick Bennett and current Head Coach at the University of Virginia, Tony Bennett. It was also at Washington State where he worked with Gary Stewart, who was the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at UC Davis. Outside of coaching, he is a published author with an article published by Scholastic Coach and Athletic Director Magazine entitled “How to Establish an Academic Philosophy as a Coach” and an article published by Winning Hoops Magazine which was a comparative analysis of two different man-to-man defensives. Additionally, he was featured in American Basketball Quarterly Magazine in an article about how scouting and technology can lead to success. A Spokane, WA native, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Washington State University and a master’s degree in Counseling from Loyola Marymount University. He lives with his wife, Sara, and has three children, Gabi, Tony, and Louis. Kathy and John dig into decision making, handling adversity and failure, goal setting, and deconstruct the four virtues he uses to guide his coaching; prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. His passion for mentorship should not be missed! If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and rate us in your favorite place to listen. Kathy would love to hear from you! Connect with her on social media @sportpsychworks and through . /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/9311159

Episode 51: Coach Mike Lane on Doing the Little Things Well 04/02/2019

Episode 51: Coach Mike Lane on Doing the Little Things Well Those kids that could take a negative and turn it into a positive are the ones that really excelled. - Coach Mike Lane Mike Lane has been the Director of Rowing and Head Women's Coach at Jacksonville University since the 2015 season. Prior to his highly successful program with the Dolphin rowing team he spent eight seasons at Penn as their head coach. Prior to his appointment at Penn, Lane built an impressive coaching resume. Before arriving in Philadelphia, he served as the men's freshman heavyweight rowing coach at MIT, where his responsibilities included organization and management of the freshman team, alumni relations, and recruiting. Before joining the staff at MIT, Lane served as program director and head coach for the Everett Rowing Association from 1997 to 2000. Under Lane’s guidance, the junior men’s crews finished second and fourth at Junior Nationals in three-consecutive seasons from 1998-2000. During his tenure, Lane’s crews also won nine regional championships. In addition to his responsibilities with the Everett Rowing Association, Lane established the women’s rowing team at Everett Community College in 1998, where he coached for two years. Lane has also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Rowing Junior Women’s Development Camp and the Lake Lanier Rowing Club. Coach Lane graduated from Suffolk University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing, and in the spring of 2009 he completed his master's degree in education at Penn. In this episode, Coach Lane shares his love of rowing and the lessons he brings to the boat that also apply to life beyond sport. He also shares incredible insight into the do’s and don'ts of the recruiting process and parent-coach communication for sport parents - if you are looking for ways to support your student during recruitment and their collegiate career this is the episode for you! If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and rate us in your favorite place to listen. Kathy would love to hear from you! Connect with her on social media @sportpsychworks and through . If you are interested in attending camp with Coach Lane, head to to learn more and register! /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/9223685

Episode 50: Recap with Kathy Feinstein 03/28/2019

Episode 50: Recap with Kathy Feinstein To parent a peak performer, you have to be a peak performer. - Kathy Feinstein Throughout our four seasons you've heard what it means and what it takes to be a peak performing sport parent. Here are some of the top take aways: Parenting a peak performer means being a good listener, listening to what your athlete is saying as well as what he or she is not saying. It's about asking thoughtful questions. It means bringing positive energy, leadership, and perspective to every situation including the sidelines. Parenting a peak performer means allowing your athlete to own his or her sport, embracing failure with a growth mindset, and keeping perspective or parenting with the end in mind. Afterall, sports provide a vehicle for raising successful athletes and ultimately healthy and successful adults. The final take away and something you'll hear me say time and time again: To parent a peak performer you have to be a peak performer. In other words be willing to do what you ask your athletes to do. Along with the recap this is a perfect time to thank everyone who has made this podcast a success. I want to express my sincerest gratitude to each and every one of my guests. They have brought a wealth of knowledge and been so generous with their time. I also want to thank my production team for bringing such high quality shows week after week. And finally I want to thank you! Our listeners. Thank you for listening in and sharing your feedback. Together we are making a difference. Again, many thanks for joining in to celebrate this milestone episode. We are just getting started! Next week we return to season four and to our expert coaches! As always...If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and rate us in your favorite place to listen. I would love to hear from you! Connect with me on social media @sportspsychworks and through . /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/9165560

Episode 49: Mike DiGrigoli on Coaching, Thinking Positive, and Role Modeling to Your Athletes 03/19/2019

Episode 49: Mike DiGrigoli on Coaching, Thinking Positive, and Role Modeling to Your Athletes The number one thing parents must do, in my opinion, to allow their son or daughter to be successful in extracurricular activities and sports is support the program. - Mike DiGrigoli Mike was born in Pittsfield, MA in 1972 and raised in West Stockbridge, MA. He grew up playing sports with friends and cousins in Berkshire County and attended Monument Mount Regional High School in Great Barrington where he played three sports - football, wrestling, and baseball. He was also recently inducted into the Monument Mountain Regional High School Athletic Hall of Fame! He has just finished his 10th season coaching at Golden Gate this year and 8th season as Head Coach. He made school history by leading the Titans to their first postseason playoff appearances in 2011 and 2012 and only winning seasons in 2013, 2014, and 2018. Mike began his coaching career in 1995 as a graduate assistant football coach for the State University of New York at Brockport where he coached linebackers in strength and conditioning for the Golden Eagles. After one year he took his second coaching assignment at American International College in 1996. At American, he served for two seasons as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator for the Yellow Jackets and earned his master’s degree in Education from American International in 1998. Coach D and his wife Paula have been married since 2003 and reside in Naples, FL with their daughter Issa, and son Andreas. Kathy and Mike talk through understanding the importance of athletics and why students should be involved, how sports build character and work ethic, and the encouragement needed to teach athletes perseverance. They also discuss creating realistic goals and how to bring about awareness when parents live vicariously through student athletes. Coach D shares how the vital elements of gratitude, attitude, toughness, and effort dictate the success of his teams. We are excited to keep sharing from the expertise of coaches! If you enjoyed the show, please like, share it with sport families in your life, and rate us in your favorite place to listen. If you’d like to share any feedback with Kathy she’d love to hear from you! Connect with her on social media @sportpsychworks and through . /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/9047423

Episode 48: Col. Bart Weiss on Support, Humility, and Excellence 03/12/2019

Episode 48: Col. Bart Weiss on Support, Humility, and Excellence What does athletics teach you? It’s not about you, it’s about the other ten guys on that team, the other four in basketball...it’s about everyone working together for a common purpose, for a common goal, and you shouldn’t care who gets the credit as long as you accomplish that goal. - Col. Bart Weiss Col. Bart Weiss is the Director of Athletic Operations at the Community School of Naples, in Naples, FL. He has a truly impressive background in sport and at the United States Air Force. He recently retired after nearly 30 years of service as a full Colonel, and before retiring from active duty in 2014 to join CSN, Weiss served as the Academy’s Deputy Athletic Director. As Deputy Athletic Director of the USAF Academy he oversaw 27 NCAA Division I sport programs and supervised physical education and fitness programs to over 4,000 USAF Academy cadets. Col. Weiss was born in Muskegon, Michigan but grew up in Naples and graduated from Naples High school in 1982. He is a 1986 graduate of the US Air Force Academy and earned a master's of science from Marymount University in 1998 and graduated from the US Army Carlisle Barracks in 2006 with a master’s in National Security Strategy. As a member of the class of 1986 Col. Weiss was named a conference offensive player of the year, 1985 First-team all-conference, and 1985 runner up for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award. In 1985, Weiss was the first player in USAFA history to rush and pass for over 1,000 yards in a season and led the 1985 team to a 12-1 overall record and #4 national ranking. He was also recently inducted into the United States Air Force Academy Hall of Fame. In addition to these leadership experiences, during his career in the Air Force he led 480 cadet-candidates through a balanced curriculum of military training, academic education and athletic competition and also led and commanded flying squadrons and multiple operational units worldwide. He served in Washington DC working alongside both military leaders and members of Congress, and is a command pilot with 5,000 flying hours. He served as Vice President Gore’s pilot on Air Force Two, and also spent a year augmenting Air Force One! Kathy and Col. Weiss met up on the road this week and spent time digging into the “secret sauce” for parents of balancing support and humility, teaching excellence, integrity, respect, and instilling discipline in athletes. He delves into the dynamics of when to be a leader and when to fold into an existing entity and work your way up. His wisdom on the importance of failure and seeing the big picture is so helpful, and we believe parents and athletes will gain so much from the wisdom in this episode. Learning from his focus on teachability and cheering on the entire team was such an honor to us, and we hope this episode inspires excellence in you and your athletes this week! /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/8962061

Episode 47: Irwin Hudson on Motivation, Dedication, and Taking off the Parent Colored Glasses 03/05/2019

Episode 47: Irwin Hudson on Motivation, Dedication, and Taking off the Parent Colored Glasses One of the highlights of this episode was hearing Irwin’s favorite quote; “If you cannot risk, you cannot grow. If you cannot grow, you cannot become your best. If you cannot become your best, you cannot be happy. If you can’t be happy, then what else matters.” - Viscott Irwin was born and raised in Starkville, MS and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1991. He then obtained his Master’s from the University of Central Florida in Modeling & Simulation in 2013, and his Ph.D. in Human Factors Engineering from the University of Central Florida in December of 2016. Irwin currently works for the US Army Futures Command as a Science and Technology Manager, however, basketball is his passion! Teaching and training players how to physically and mentally play the game is what he does best. He's trained several thousands of players ranging from age 6 to All-stars in the NBA. He has had some pretty notable clients, including Dwight Howard, Chandler Parsons, Austin Rivers, Nick Calathes, Deshawn Stevenson, Tacko Falls, AJ Davis, and Phil Pressey. He served as Head Boys Varsity Coach for 2 years at Trinity Prep and 3 years at Bishop Moore Catholic High School and Assistant Coach for 8 years at Lake Howell High School, 2 years at Oakridge High School, & 2 years at Seminole State. He officially incorporated OrlandoHoops, Inc. in 1999, founding his company on the principles of hard-work, dedication and a willingness to do whatever it takes to improve talent and skill of each and every participant. Whether he’s coaching, counseling, teaching, or leading a training session Irwin’s passion and knowledge shines through whenever he is on the court. For the past 20 years he has been making players better in Orlando, the state of Florida, and across the world - including USA, Brazil, Greece, Russia, France and Canada. He is the very proud husband to Mrs. Phuong Hudson and father to daughters Olivia Joyce Hudson and Audrey Grace Hudson. It is crystal clear in this episode that Irwin is one of the most kind and dedicated coaches you could find. His wisdom for players and parents alike is invaluable. He and Kathy talk talent, focusing on the kind of support and dedication that prepares an athlete for the field of play and life off the court, and dissect the principles of focus and attention and their impact in an athlete’s success. He also offers guidance for parents in separating the activity of parenting from coaching, especially when working with young athletes, and how to put the emphasis on their choice to play and keep their love of the sport alive. You can find more from Dr. Coach’s at , as well as stay in the loop on his upcoming book release! /episode/index/show/parentingpeakperformers/id/8867423

Episode 46: Derek Touchette on Living Through Our Athlete’s Failures 02/26/2019

Episode 45: Bill Carufe on Coaching and Parenting Successes 02/19/2019

Parenting Peak Performers Podcast

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