Way of Champions Podcast

The Way of Champions Podcast is hosted by Dr. Jerry Lynch and John O'Sullivan, team culture and performance specialists. Each week we connect you with the top minds in sports, coaching, leadership, and building championship programs so you can take your athletes and teams to the next level.

#502 The Case for Quitting and the Surprising Benefits of Opting Out with Author Lindsay Crouse 10/07/2026

#502 The Case for Quitting and the Surprising Benefits of Opting Out with Author Lindsay Crouse Lindsay Crouse (@LindsayCrouse) is an author, producer, and journalist. For more than 15 years, she was an editor, writer and producer at The New York Times, where her Emmy-nominated work on women’s sports brought widespread change to the industry, including maternity protections for pregnant athletes. In the Times’s Opinion section, she wrote and commissioned widely read essays and produced hundreds of short documentaries, including the Times’s first Academy Award-winning film. A life-long competitive distance runner and graduate of Harvard, Lindsay is the author of the brand new book The Case for Quitting: The Surprising Benefits of Opting Out. Whether it’s a relationship that has run its course, a career that no longer fits, or a goal that costs more than it gives, Crouse makes a case for the most radical, but also at times the most rational choice. Drawing on behavioral economics, psychology research, and neuroscience alongside a rich and surprising array of stories spanning history, sports, business, and everyday life, Crouse examines the hidden forces that keep us locked in failing situations long after we know better. From Bear Bryant’s legendary and brutal “hell camp,” to the Finnish concept of sisu, to K-Pop superstar haunted by his own record-breaking success, to the vast array of champion athletes discovering that the best way forward is not necessarily “harder and more,” The Case for Quitting reveals why leaving is so hard—and why, so often, it is exactly right. Connect with Lindsay at www.LindsayCrouse.com The #1 Bestseller CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is the book you need to develop your team captains and leaders! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol, Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/43208783

#501 Why Coaches Need a "Second Set of Eyes" with Cody Royle, Mentor of Professional Head Coaches 09/30/2026

#501 Why Coaches Need a "Second Set of Eyes" with Cody Royle, Mentor of Professional Head Coaches What happens when the person responsible for everyone else's performance has no one to turn to? In this episode, we sit down with Cody Royle, a pioneering voice in elite sports who specializes in coaching the head coaches. Cody pulls back the curtain on the intense, often isolating pressure of leading at the highest level. We discuss his career transition from international AFL coach to trusted advisor, the unique burdens of modern leadership, and why even the best leaders need a "second set of eyes." Cody spent his formative years playing rugby league and Australian Rules football (AFL), gaining an early education in professional team environments through mentorship from AFL premiership player Steven Icke and work experience with the Hawthorn Football Club. Cody served for over a decade as the Head Coach of AFL Team Canada, the men's national program for Australian Rules football. During his tenure, he focused on transforming the program into a highly competitive pathway for aspiring athletes. Today, he has transitioned into a highly sought-after, 1:1 online advisor—essentially acting as a "coach of head coaches". He supports elite head coaches across world-class leagues globally, spanning the AFL, Rugby, Soccer, Basketball, and Ice Hockey. Cody has written 3 books that are well worth your time: Where Others Won't: Taking People Innovation from the Locker Room to the Board Room – A go-to guide analyzing recruitment, culture, and performance strategies used by iconic sports teams, and how they apply to big business. The Tough Stuff: Seven Hard Truths about Being a Head Coach – An exploration of the heavy emotional, mental, and personal burdens that come with being the ultimate decision-maker. Second Set of Eyes: How Great Coaches Become Champions – A dive into why elite knowledge workers require continuous feedback and objective external support to sustain success. Whether you are a sports coach, a corporate executive, or an aspiring leader, Cody’s breakdown of the human element of performance will completely shift how you view leadership. Visit www.CodyRoyle.com to learn more. The #1 Bestseller CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now available! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol, Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/43087043

#500 Steve Kerr on His Career, Bringing Humanity to Coaching, the Importance of Mentality, and How Values and Process Always Come Before Results 09/23/2026

#500 Steve Kerr on His Career, Bringing Humanity to Coaching, the Importance of Mentality, and How Values and Process Always Come Before Results Steve Kerr is a nine-time NBA champion , widely recognized as one of the most successful and influential figures in basketball history. Across a legendary career spanning more than three decades as an elite player, executive, and head coach, Kerr has consistently engineered a culture of winning. As a player, Kerr was a lethal sharpshooter who spent 15 seasons in the NBA and still holds the all-time league record for the highest career three-point percentage (45.4%). He captured five NBA championships on the court—three alongside Michael Jordan with the historic 1990s Chicago Bulls, and two under Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs. In 2014, Kerr transitioned to the sidelines as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors. He instantly revolutionized modern basketball, orchestrating the greatest regular season in NBA history (73-9) and anchoring a modern dynasty that has yielded four NBA championships . Named one of the 15 Greatest Coaches in NBA History, Kerr also added to his global legacy by coaching the U.S. Men’s National Basketball Team to a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. We invited Steve on because he has been such a huge supporter of our work over the years, and he epitomizes the type of coach and builds the type of culture that we believe is essential in today's sporting environment. In our discussion today, we talk about: his journey how he has changed as a coach how he has adapted to the modern athlete what characteristics youth coaches can instill in their young athletes the coaches that influenced his journey how he is trying to influence the next generation and bring some more humanity to coaching We also discuss how the results are always connected to the process and the values, and that is the starting point. Thank you to all of you for your tremendous support of the podcast over the years, and we hope episode 500 will be one of your favorites. The #1 Bestseller CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now available! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol, Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/43009318

#499 Alex Smith, 16 Year NFL Quarterback, on His Comeback from a Life Threatening Injury, the Importance of Gratitude, and Mentoring the Next Generation 09/16/2026

#499 Alex Smith, 16 Year NFL Quarterback, on His Comeback from a Life Threatening Injury, the Importance of Gratitude, and Mentoring the Next Generation Alex Smith (@AlexSmith_11) is a former No. 1 overall NFL draft pick, and a 16-year NFL veteran quarterback. Known as one of the game's elite operational minds, Smith threw for over 35,000 career passing yards and earned three Pro Bowl selections while leading the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Washington Football Team. He is also the recipient of the 2020 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. After suffering a catastrophic, life-threatening leg injury in 2018 that required 17 surgeries, Alex defied all medical odds to not only walk again, but return to professional football. Off the field, his masterclass in leadership directly shaped the careers of talents like Patrick Mahomes, Colin Kapernick and Travis Kelce. Today he is an ESPN football analyst and has dedicated his post-playing career to teaching others how to conquer anxiety, reframe self-doubt, and find strength in their scars. In this episode, he shares his hard-won frameworks on resilience, thriving under immense pressure, and mastering the ultimate comeback mindset. Connect with Alex: @AlexSmith_11 The #1 Bestseller CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now available! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol, Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/42932112

#498 "It's not who we are playing against. It's who we are playing for.": A Conversation on Values, Connection and Purpose with Kate Livesay, 8x NCAA Champion Coach of Middlebury Women's Lacrosse Kate Livesay was a two sport star at Middlebury in field hockey and lacrosse, twice earning All American honors and leading her Middlebury lacrosse teams to two NCAA titles. She is one of the most decorated coaches in college lacrosse history, leading Middlebury Women’s lacrosse to seven NCAA Championships (2016, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026) and Trinity Women's lacrosse to a single NCAA title. Her teams have set the program single-season wins record three times over, going a perfect 23-0 in 2023, 2024, and 2026 — a standard of excellence virtually unmatched in the modern era of the sport. Over her 18 year head coaching career had compiled a record of 322 wins and only 38 losses. Her individual honors are equally remarkable. A four-time IWLCA National Coach of the Year (2012, 2016, 2019, 2022) and seven-time NESCAC Coach of the Year, her staff has also been recognized four times as IWLCA National Coaching Staff of the Year, reflecting not just her personal vision but the culture she has built around her. The consistency of those honors across nearly two decades speaks to a program that doesn't just win championships; it sets the standard for what championship programs look like. In our conversation today, we discuss how she consistently builds championship cultures, focuses on values, connection and purpose, and intentionally manages her entire roster to keep everyone on board for such long seasons. Get ready to take some notes. The #1 Bestseller CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now available! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/42853460

#497 "Your relationship with your players is either growing or dying" with Stuart Lancaster, Head Coach of Connacht Rugby 09/02/2026

#497 "Your relationship with your players is either growing or dying" with Stuart Lancaster, Head Coach of Connacht Rugby Stuart Lancaster is a world renowned rugby coach and is currently the Head Coach at Connacht in Ireland. He has previously coached England (2011-2015) when they hosted the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Racing 92, and Leinster. His England teams finished as Six Nations Runner Up four times, and he won the European Rugby Champions Cup and four PRO14/URC titles with Leinster. Prior to his time with the England National team, he won three Churchill Cup titles as Head Coach of England Saxons (2008, 2010, 2011) and National Division One title with Leeds Tykes (2006 to 2007). Stuart also runs Stuart Lancaster leadership, where he shares lessons from the sporting world to some of the top performing businesses across the globe where he shares lessons from the sporting world to some of the top performing businesses across the globe. In our conversation today, we take a deep dive into the pressure and stress of being a top-level coach. We talk about his lowest moments when England rugby crashed out of the 2015 World Cup and whether he wanted to get back on the biggest stage. We talk about the importance of developing leaders and that your relationship with your players is either growing or dying. We also speak extensively about the management of your entire squad and how you keep the culture of your team by making sure that the players who are not in the starting lineup never are shocked by bad news. This is a true masterclass in leadership. The #1 Bestseller CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now available! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/42724625

#496 The Psychology of Leadership with Sébastien Page, Chief Investment Officer at T Rowe Price 08/27/2026

#496 The Psychology of Leadership with Sébastien Page, Chief Investment Officer at T Rowe Price As Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price, Sébastien Page leads a global team managing hundreds of billions and has been recognized with multiple research awards for his practical approach to finance and leadership. His journey is inspiring, from arriving in North America as a young Canadian immigrant barely speaking English to becoming one of the youngest Senior Managing Directors at State Street, then rising through senior roles at PIMCO and now T. Rowe Price. Sébastien’s new book, The Psychology of Leadership, bridges real-world executive experience with the science of performance psychology. He spent over four years collaborating with sports psychologists and translates actionable principles from resilience and high-performance research into leadership strategies. His SEE framework (Systematize, Encourage, Exit) and concepts like “goal-induced blindness” offer sports-anchored lessons for teams, coaches, and business leaders alike. Plus, he doesn’t shy from the human side of leadership: drawing on both elite athletics and the power of introverts, he helps people find meaning, motivation, and long-term fulfillment. If you want to understand performing under pressure and how to lead people when it matters most, you will want to listen to this interview. Connect: www.psychologyofleadership.net The #1 Bestseller CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now available! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/42570900

#496 The Psychology of Leadership with Sébastien Page, Chief Investment Officer at T Rowe Price 08/27/2026

#496 The Psychology of Leadership with Sébastien Page, Chief Investment Officer at T Rowe Price As Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price, Sébastien Page leads a global team managing hundreds of billions and has been recognized with multiple research awards for his practical approach to finance and leadership. His journey is inspiring, from arriving in North America as a young Canadian immigrant barely speaking English to becoming one of the youngest Senior Managing Directors at State Street, then rising through senior roles at PIMCO and now T. Rowe Price. Sébastien’s new book, The Psychology of Leadership, bridges real-world executive experience with the science of performance psychology. He spent over four years collaborating with sports psychologists and translates actionable principles from resilience and high-performance research into leadership strategies. His SEE framework (Systematize, Encourage, Exit) and concepts like “goal-induced blindness” offer sports-anchored lessons for teams, coaches, and business leaders alike. Plus, he doesn’t shy from the human side of leadership: drawing on both elite athletics and the power of introverts, he helps people find meaning, motivation, and long-term fulfillment. If you want to understand performing under pressure and how to lead people when it matters most, you will want to listen to this interview. Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastien-page https://substack.com/@sebastienpage The #1 Bestseller CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now available! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/42570895

#495 Lessons on leadership and Performance Under Pressure from Rick Jordan, Podcaster and CEO 08/19/2026

#495 Lessons on leadership and Performance Under Pressure from Rick Jordan, Podcaster and CEO Rick Jordan (@MrRickJordan) is CEO & Founder of ReachOut Technology, and is a nationally recognized voice on Cybersecurity, Business, and Ethics. He is the host of the All In with Rick Jordan Podcast reaching fans in 29 countries, and a frequent expert guest on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. He is also a featured speaker at NASDAQ, Harvard, West-Point Military Academy, and the best-selling author of his book "Situational Ethics." Today on the podcast, John and Rick take a deep dive into performance under pressure, building resilient leaders and cultures, the qualities of the best leaders, and commitment in action. These lessons fromt he high tech business world are crucial in sporting environments. Connect: www.RickJordan.com The #1 Bestseller CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now available! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/42491310

"You can't make a great athlete but you can screw one up" with Britt Lee and Brad Williams of Pure Athlete 08/13/2026

"You can't make a great athlete but you can screw one up" with Britt Lee and Brad Williams of Pure Athlete This week on the podcast, we are joined by Britt Lee and Brad Williams of pureathlete.com. Pure Athlete is a leading content creator and influencer focused on the world of youth sports. Their mission is to help young athletes, parents, and coaches successfully navigate the increasingly complex culture of youth sports in a healthy way, while being a catalyst for improving the culture. We connect with some of sports’ most iconic athletes and topical experts, enabling their insights, guidance and wisdom to better inform and inspire our audience to become the best versions of themselves on and off the field. Britt's journey as a youth sports parent included coaching numerous sports, and helping his sons navigate the world of high-level junior tennis, culminating in a Division 1 scholarship. Brad's journey as a youth sports parent and a high school Athletic Director have given him a broad perspective on all sides of the youth sports journey. They have interviewed notable coaches and athletes such as Sean McVay, Nick Saben, Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux and more. Connect at www.PureAthlete.com Follow @PureAthleteInc The #1 Bestseller CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now available! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/42423075

#493 "Leadership is a skill, not a character trait" John, Jerry and Thom McDonald Discuss our new book Captain: The Athletes Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader 08/05/2026

#493 "Leadership is a skill, not a character trait" John, Jerry and Thom McDonald Discuss our new book Captain: The Athletes Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader As we close in on episode 500, John and Jerry recently participated in a webinar for hundreds of athletic directors and coaches through our great friends at Championship Productions. It was supposed to be a one-hour webinar, but we had so many questions and such rich discussion that it lasted 90 minutes. We thought it would be great to share this with all of our podcast listeners. Hosted by Coach Thom McDonald, our discussion delves into the origins of this book and some deeper questions around each section of the book. We talk about our favorite chapters from the qualities of leaders, the responsibilities of leaders, and some of the main challenges they face. We also took questions from the audience on selecting team captains, whether that belongs to the athletes or the coaches, or some combination of both. We talk about different ways to lead even without an armband and so much more. If you want to get a deeper understanding of the new book and what went into deciding upon the content and the layout, as well as our favorite parts, then be sure to check out this week's episode. If you prefer to view the webinar, you can watch it at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpbAe-uyYzc The #1 Bestseller CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now available! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/42327755

#492 Mental Mastery for Young Athletes with Phil Phillipou 07/29/2026

#492 Mental Mastery for Young Athletes with Phil Phillipou With over 20 years of coaching experience across the UK, USA, and Spain, Phil Phillipou (@mindsightsport) has developed a unique approach to youth football mindset training that combines practical coaching expertise with proven sports psychology principles. Phil's background includes working with grassroots academies, professional youth systems, and individual players at all levels. His methods focus on building confidence, developing mental resilience, and creating sustainable performance improvements. As a certified mindset coach and author, Phil has helped hundreds of young footballers and coaches unlock their potential through his evidence-based LTAD training programs and pressure training techniques. In our conversation today, we discuss the foundations of building a strong mindset in sports, the importance of mistake rituals, and how to build confidence in young athletes, as well as his new book Inspiring Young Minds: Mental Mastery for Youth Footballers Connect: www.mindsightsport.com Linkedin: The #1 Bestseller CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now available! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/42255590

#492 Mental Mastery for Young Athletes with Phil Phillipou 07/29/2026

#491 How to Lead By Example, Be a Leader Even When on the Bench, and Navigate Difficult Leadership Conversations: 3 Audio Chapters from CAPTAIN 07/20/2026

#491 How to Lead By Example, Be a Leader Even When on the Bench, and Navigate Difficult Leadership Conversations: 3 Audio Chapters from CAPTAIN This week we are taking a deep dive into leadership on the podcast. We're currently in negotiations to record an audio book version of Captain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader. We thought it might be cool to listen to a few of the chapters from the book. In this week's podcast, we have one chapter from each section of the book. In the Qualities of Leadership section, we share a chapter on how to lead by example with an amazing story from NBA champion Shane Battier. On the Responsibilities of Leadership, we share a story from World Cup and Olympic champion soccer player Abby Wombach. In the Challenges of Leadership section, we share the challenge of holding friends accountable when you are a leader. Our hope is that you get a quick peek of what the book offers, as each section also includes the post-chapter questions that your athletes will use as the basis of a discussion of leadership. Enjoy, and if you want to get the book you can order below. The #1 Bestseller CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now available! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/42157720

#490 Jessica Renney and Paula McQuaid of Hone Athletics on Understanding and protecting Athlete Mental Wellness 07/15/2026

#490 Jessica Renney and Paula McQuaid of Hone Athletics on Understanding and protecting Athlete Mental Wellness Paula McQuaid, co-founder and in-house research lead, fuels HONE’s innovation with her passion for uncovering what truly shapes human wellness. For the past fifteen years, she’s dedicated herself to understanding how people thrive, then translating that insight into tools that help athletes, coaches, and organizations perform at their best through HONE’s platform. With a Master of Counselling and a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, Paula brings both academic depth and human connection to her work. Alongside her role with HONE, she has served as a Mental Performance Consultant for Hockey Canada’s Women’s U-18 National Team, quietly keeping two Gold (2019, 2022), one Silver (2020), and one Bronze. Co-founder Jessica Renney leads growth at HONE with her sharp insight, energy, and passion for connecting people to purpose. Born in Trail, British Columbia, and raised across Western Canada by two coaches, Jess has always been surrounded by sport and the pursuit of excellence. Seeing firsthand the pressure and barriers that exist in high-performance environments, both through her work and through her upbringing as the daughter of a 13 year NHL coach, she brings an incredible perspective to the mental health and well being needed for athletes to thrive. A graduate of the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she later completed her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at the University of Victoria. She is also a member of the Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association. Connect: https://www.honeathletics.com/ The #1 Bestseller CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now available! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/42106920

#489 Christian "Boo" Boucousis on How the Fighter Pilot Mindset Helped Win Two Superbowls 07/09/2026

#489 Christian "Boo" Boucousis on How the Fighter Pilot Mindset Helped Win Two Superbowls Christian Boucousis (@christianbooboucousis) was the youngest ever Royal Australian Air Force Pilot, earning the call sign "Boo" which has become his personal brand. His business Afterburner brings together a high-performing team of fighter pilots to teach businesses how they can leverage the power of the fighter pilot mindset. They’ve transformed performance at 3,500+ companies like Google, Pfizer, Microsoft, Apple, Nike, American Express, IBM, & Marriott, just to name a few. They've worked with 17 NFL teams, helping two win Super Bowls, including the record-breaking Super Bowl XLVI, when the New York Giants became the first team in history to reach the Super Bowl with a negative point differential (394 scored vs. 400 against). Boo has been featured on national outlets like The Today Show, New York Times, & Fox Business, and is the author of The Afterburner Advantage and upcoming Flawless Leadership. In our conversation today, we discuss how the fighter pilot mindset allows you to communicate better and how the key to leadership is doing what's right, not worrying about who is right. Connect: https://callmeboo.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-boo-boucousis/ CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now live on Amazon! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/42019520

#488 "Fitness with the ball can give you almost everything" with Garga Caserta, Former Strength and Conditioning Coach for the US Women's National Team and Head of Performance for KC Current and Portland Thorns Garga Caserta (@GargaCaserta) is the former Head of Performance for the KC Current and the founder of TALO. With over a decade of experience training world-class athletes, Garga has coached at the highest levels of sport, including stints with the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, the Portland Timbers, and the Portland Thorns. His teams have won an NWSL championship and were 2x Supporters Shield Champions. Known for his transparent, accountability-driven approach, he bridges the gap between elite sports performance, strength and conditioning, and injury rehabilitation. Whether managing fitness departments or shaping collegiate programs, Garga's mission is simple: elevating human potential and building durable, high-performing athletes. In our discussion today, we discuss the role of performance training in both injury prevention and the psychological boost it gives athletes. We talk about the importance of sleep and recovery, and how soccer coaches can accomplish most fitness goals with a ball instead of straight running. Finally, the importance of making your conditioning training game like in order to achieve match performance and not simply improved fitness. CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now live on Amazon! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, “Did that practice really hit the mark?” you will love what they have created. Zone 14’s next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/41909435

#487 Antonina Samoilova, Record Breaking Ukrainian Mountaineer on Fear, Mentality, and Her Journey to Scale the World's 14 Highest Peaks 06/24/2026

#487 Antonina Samoilova, Record Breaking Ukrainian Mountaineer on Fear, Mentality, and Her Journey to Scale the World's 14 Highest Peaks Antonina "Tonya" Samoilova (@tonya.samoilova) ) is a record-setting Ukrainian mountaineer and alpinist known for scaling the world's most formidable peaks while raising global awareness for her homeland. She began her high-altitude mountaineering journey relatively recently in 2018, starting with Mount Kilimanjaro, and quickly transformed into one of Ukraine's most prominent endurance athletes. She is the first Ukrainian mountaineer in history to conquer the five highest mountain peaks in the world—Everest, K2, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu, and the first Ukrainian woman to summit Mount Everest three times (2022, 2023, and 2024). In May 2024, she completed a rare double-header by summiting Everest and Lhotse within 24 hours, setting a national speed record for a female climber. During her 2025 ascent of Kangchenjunga—the world's third-highest peak—she survived running out of supplemental air 200 meters from the summit, pushing through 20 harrowing minutes without oxygen at 8,400 meters. Samoilova uses her global platforms and extreme ascents to act as a prominent voice for Ukraine. In 2022, she was the only climber from Ukraine to unfurl her country's flag at the summit of Everest, broadcasting a message to "Stand with Ukraine". In 2023, she made international headlines by capturing the world's first drone footage from the summit of Everest alongside the Ukrainian flag. She frequently uses her expeditions to raise funds for Ukraine's Armed Forces and volunteer medical battalions, often dedicating her dangerous ascents to fallen Ukrainian defenders and her own family serving on the front lines. Connect with Tonya: https://www.antoninasamoilova.com/ CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now live on Amazon! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, “Did that practice really hit the mark?” you will love what they have created. Zone 14’s next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/41798600

#486 "Give the stage to the players and you will be surprised how they can shine" with Anne Walker, 4x NCAA Champion Coach of Stanford Women's Golf 06/17/2026

#486 "Give the stage to the players and you will be surprised how they can shine" with Anne Walker, 4x NCAA Champion Coach of Stanford Women's Golf Anne Walker is the Head Coach for Women's Golf at Stanford University, and has established herself as one of the premier college coaches in the country. In addition to leading the Cardinal to its first four NCAA titles in school history (2015, 2022, 2024, 2026), Walker has mentored some of the most recognizable names in the sport. Stanford has enjoyed unprecedented team and individual success under Walker. The Cardinal has qualified for the NCAA Championships in all 14 possible seasons during Walker’s tenure, including nine appearances in the national semifinals, and has earned the distinction of being the only program in the country to reach the NCAA match play quarterfinal stage in all 11 seasons of the current format. Under Walker’s guidance, Stanford has captured 59 full-field victories and has produced 42 All-Americans. Stanford has had at least one first-team All-American in all 14 seasons with Walker at the helm, including three consecutive seasons of five All-Americans A three-time WGCA National Coach of the Year (2015, 2022, 2024) and five-time conference Coach of the Year (2015, 2021-22, 2024, 2026), Walker has mentored the likes of Rachel Heck, Andrea Lee, Paula Martín Sampedro, Mariah Stackhouse, Albane Valenzuela and Rose Zhang, a heralded group that has combined to win three NCAA individual titles, three ANNIKA Award honors, three WCGA Golfer of the Year Award nods and six conference Golfer of the Year Award accolades. In our conversation today, we speak about the importance of giving players autonomy and ownership of the experience, how to lead with love, the importance of optimism, and being a lifelong learner. Walker shares stories around incredible team meetings and coaching moments throughout her 24-year career. You will want to take notes for this one. CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now live on Amazon! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, “Did that practice really hit the mark?” you will love what they have created. Zone 14’s next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/41680560

#485 Two Approaches to Teaching Leadership with JP Nerbun, Author of THE CULTURE CAPTAIN, and John O'Sullivan, co-author of CAPTAIN 06/09/2026

#485 Two Approaches to Teaching Leadership with JP Nerbun, Author of THE CULTURE CAPTAIN, and John O'Sullivan, co-author of CAPTAIN This week on the podcast, we are doing a little something different. It's a conversation between JP Nerbun and John regarding the nearly simultaneous release of their new books on being a team captain and leader. Some people might think it interesting that authors with similar subjects would be collaborating on a book launch, but both of us do not believe in the scarcity mindset. The leadership space needs more books that are approachable for young athletes, high school athletes, and collegiate athletes, and we approach the topic differently. JP comes from a fable/fictional approach, while John and Jerry are straight up non fiction. The two books together speak to many aspects of leadership, albeit in differnt ways. J.P. Nerbun (@TOCCulture) is a bestselling author, leadership coach, and the founder of TOC Culture Consulting, a leading global sports consulting and leadership coaching business. His mission is to support leaders and their teams in achieving their full potential through 1:1 coaching, consulting, and community engagement. Nerbun's impressive expertise extends across various fields, including sports, education, healthcare, and business. He has a proven track record of guiding leaders at prestigious institutions such as Stanford University, Harvard University, the University of Texas, the USGA, PwC, and Chick-fil-A. In 2019, he published his first book, "Calling Up: Discovering Your Journey to Transformational Leadership," which received critical acclaim. In 2022, he released "The Culture System," a groundbreaking book that offers a framework for developing team culture. In 2023, he launched The Culture System Online Training Platform, which has received praise for being the most comprehensive online coach education platform available. His podcast, "Coaching Culture," is among the top sports leadership podcasts globally. Connect with JP: https://tocculture.com/ CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE’S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now live on Amazon! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, “Did that practice really hit the mark?” you will love what they have created. Zone 14’s next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/41592020

#484 Ray Power, UEFA A Licensed Coach and Confidant to Elite Coaches: "We give up our well being just to win a title!" 06/05/2026

#484 Ray Power, UEFA A Licensed Coach and Confidant to Elite Coaches: "We give up our well being just to win a title!" Ray Power (@power_ray) is a highly regarded international football/soccer coach, author, and coach educator. Holding a UEFA A License from the English FA, he is well-known globally for his youth development expertise, his best-selling coaching books, and his player-centered coaching philosophy. His books include Making the Ball Roll and Coaching Youth Football, and he has managed academies in multiple countries, including serving as Head of Youth Development for Waterford FC in Ireland, and developing an academy for Sunderland AFC in Africa. These days, he also spends much of his time as a "coaching confidant," working with elite coaches around the globe as a trusted voice and supporter. The best business people in the world? They have coaches working with them, and Power is fulfilling that role in the soccer world. Today on the podcast, we discuss many of his experiences, why this is needed, and what the world's most successful coaches do in order to maintain their health in an incredibly stressful job. CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE'S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now live on Amazon! We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, “Did that practice really hit the mark?” you will love what they have created. Zone 14’s next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/41545215

#483 Ryan Warsofsky, San Jose Sharks Head Coach, on Joy, Patience, Embracing the Process and Changing the Culture of a Locker Room 05/27/2026

#483 Ryan Warsofsky, San Jose Sharks Head Coach, on Joy, Patience, Embracing the Process and Changing the Culture of a Locker Room Ryan Warsofsky just completed his second season as the head coach of the NHL's San Jose Sharks, this past season leading them to 39 wins, an 18 win improvement over 2025. He also served as the head coach for the U.S. Men's National Team for the first time at the 2025 IIHF Men's World Championship, winning a gold medal. Prior to joining the Sharks, Warsofsky was the head coach of the Chicago Wolves of the AHL for two seasons (2020-22), where, in 2022, at age 34, he became the youngest coach since Peter Laviolette in 1999 to guide a team to the Calder Cup. He also spent two seasons with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, one as an assistant (2018-19) and one as head coach (2019-20). In 2019, he helped guide the Checkers to a Calder Cup. Warsofsky’s coaching career began in 2012-13 with his alma mater NCAA Division III Curry College as an assistant after two seasons with the team as a player. He then joined the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays in 2013, serving as an assistant for three seasons before being promoted to head coach and director of hockey operations for his final two seasons (2016-18). In our conversation today, we discuss what it is like to be the youngest head coach in the NHL and the leadership dynamic that he brings to the locker room. We discuss the importance of joy, patience, Ryan's non-negotiables, and what makes a great leader. We also discuss coaching Gen Z athletes, the importance of fundamentals, and how to negotiate the world of social media to continue to build trust and great team culture. You will want to take notes on this one! PRE-ORDERS NOW AVAILABLE FOR OUR NEW BOOK CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE'S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER! FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MCLAREN F1! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, “Did that practice really hit the mark?” you will love what they have created. Zone 14’s next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . BECOME A PREMIUM MEMBER OF CHANGING THE GAME PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you or your club/school is looking for all of our best content, from online courses to blog posts to interviews organized for coaches, parents and athletes, then . For over a decade we have been creating materials to help change the game. and it has become a bit overwhelming to find old podcasts, blog posts and more. Now, we have organized it all for you, with areas for coaches, parents and even athletes to find materials to help compete better, and put some more play back in playing ball. Clubs please email Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/41446380

#482 Phill Drobnick, Olympic and World Champion Team USA Curling Coach and National Team Director 05/21/2026

#482 Phill Drobnick, Olympic and World Champion Team USA Curling Coach and National Team Director Phill Drobnick (@CoachPhill) recently retired as the National Team Director at USA Curling after the 2026 Milan Olympics, bringing an end to nearly two decades of coaching experience at the international level. Since 2005, Phill has been instrumental in guiding Team USA to international success, including notable achievements at the Olympics and World Championships. Phill's coaching highlights include guiding Team USA to the Junior Men's World Championship in 2008, and more recently, orchestrating the unforgettable gold medal win for Team Shuster at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. That victory was the U.S.'s first-ever Olympic gold in curling. He was back in Pyeongchang in 2023, where Korey Dropkin and Cory Christensen clinched the first-ever Mixed Doubles World Championship for the U.S. Phill also had his share of learning experiences, including serving as Head Coach at the 2010 Winter Olympics, where he gained valuable insights through the team’s challenges. This experience informed his subsequent role as Project 2018 National Coach, where he worked with athletes identified as potential Olympians. His promotion to Men's National Coach in 2014 saw him leading Team Shuster into the 2018 Olympic Games. From 2018 to 2022, Phill served as the Men's and Mixed Doubles National Coach, and at the 2022 Olympics, he was the National Coach for the Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles teams. In our discussion today we take a deep dive into the intricacies of curling, the intense training the athletes do, and even cover some of the highlights and lowlights of the 2026 Winter Olympics. BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT THE RELEASE OF OUR NEW BOOK Captain: The Athlete’s Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader, due out in May 2026. We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MCLAREN F1! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, “Did that practice really hit the mark?” you will love what they have created. Zone 14’s next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . BECOME A PREMIUM MEMBER OF CHANGING THE GAME PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you or your club/school is looking for all of our best content, from online courses to blog posts to interviews organized for coaches, parents and athletes, then . For over a decade we have been creating materials to help change the game. and it has become a bit overwhelming to find old podcasts, blog posts and more. Now, we have organized it all for you, with areas for coaches, parents and even athletes to find materials to help compete better, and put some more play back in playing ball. Clubs please email Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/41370035

#481 How the Greatest Performers Reach Their Highest Potential with Ric Bucher, NBA Analyst and Author of Coachable 05/13/2026

#481 How the Greatest Performers Reach Their Highest Potential with Ric Bucher, NBA Analyst and Author of Coachable Ric Bucher is an American NBA analyst for Fox Sports and an occasional host of FS1's "Speak" (formerly known as "Speak For Yourself") afternoon talk show. He also hosts a daily podcast, "On The Ball with Ric Bucher." Before joining Fox he was a SiriusXM radio host and senior writer with Bleacher Report. He has appeared on NBA TV as an analyst and on TNT as a sideline reporter for NBA telecasts. Prior to joining SXM, TNT and BR, Bucher worked as an NBA Insider for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. Bucher graduated from Dartmouth College, where he played four years of varsity soccer. He has covered the NBA since 1992–93, and has been a professional writer for 26 years. . Which traits separate the best from the rest? He began asking that question, and the same answer kept coming back again and again from greats like Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Diana Taurasi, Brandi Chastain, and Stephen Curry: I was coachable. Connect at www.RicBucher.com BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT THE RELEASE OF OUR NEW BOOK Captain: The Athlete’s Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader, due out in May 2026. We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MCLAREN F1! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, “Did that practice really hit the mark?” you will love what they have created. Zone 14’s next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . BECOME A PREMIUM MEMBER OF CHANGING THE GAME PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you or your club/school is looking for all of our best content, from online courses to blog posts to interviews organized for coaches, parents and athletes, then . For over a decade we have been creating materials to help change the game. and it has become a bit overwhelming to find old podcasts, blog posts and more. Now, we have organized it all for you, with areas for coaches, parents and even athletes to find materials to help compete better, and put some more play back in playing ball. Clubs please email Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/41287135

#480 Dan Abrahams, EPL Sport Psychologist, on Developing a Mental Playbook for Performing Under Pressure 05/06/2026

#480 Dan Abrahams, EPL Sport Psychologist, on Developing a Mental Playbook for Performing Under Pressure Dan Abrahams (@DanAbrahams77) is a sport and performance psychologist. A former professional golfer, Dan has spent the last 20 years working with some of the best sports competitors in the world. He has been consultant psychologist for Aston Martin F1, and has been Lead Psychologist for England Golf and for England Rugby. He has held contracts with six Premier League football teams. In the U.S. he has worked with professional teams across all sports and is currently consultant psychologist to Angel City of the NWSL. He is author of four previous best-selling books (including Soccer Tough, a book that Gareth Bale said changed his life). His podcast (The Sport Psych Show) is one of the leading sport psychology podcasts globally. Connect with Dan: www.DanAbrahams.com BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT THE RELEASE OF OUR NEW BOOK Captain: The Athlete’s Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader, due out in May 2026. We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MCLAREN F1! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, “Did that practice really hit the mark?” you will love what they have created. Zone 14’s next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . BECOME A PREMIUM MEMBER OF CHANGING THE GAME PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you or your club/school is looking for all of our best content, from online courses to blog posts to interviews organized for coaches, parents and athletes, then . For over a decade we have been creating materials to help change the game. and it has become a bit overwhelming to find old podcasts, blog posts and more. Now, we have organized it all for you, with areas for coaches, parents and even athletes to find materials to help compete better, and put some more play back in playing ball. Clubs please email Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/41196620

#479 Dusty May, 2026 NCAA Champion Coach of Michigan Men's Basketball, on Creating a Culture of Error in and a Player Centered Environment in Practice, His Non Negotiables, and the Importance of Love in Coaching This week we welcome Dusty May, Head Coach of the 2026 NCAA Champion Michigan Wolverines Men's Basketball team. He was hired in 2024 by Michigan and immediately turned the program around winning 18 more games than 2023 and leading the Wolverines back to the top of the Big 10 and to the NCAA Sweet 16. In 2026 they went 37-3 and defeated UConn in the NCAA final to take their second ever national title. In this incredible conversation, May shares what his non negotiables are, how he creates a player centered environment centered around decision making and a willingness to make the right kind of mistakes. He also speakes to why he has such a calm sideline demeanor, the role of love in coaching, and so much more. Prior to Michigan, may led Florida Atlantic for six straight winning seasons in Boca Raton, Fla. (2018-24), May captured Florida Atlantic's first regular-season and tournament championships while playing in Conference USA in 2023. He compiled a program record of 126 wins and helped the Owls make a run to the 2023 NCAA Final Four. Before earning his first head coaching job at Florida Atlantic, May was an assistant under Mike White for seven years with stints at Florida (2015-18) and Louisiana Tech (2011-15). Before working under White, May was an assistant under Kerry Rupp at Louisiana Tech for two seasons (2009-11). May started his coaching career at Eastern Michigan (2005-06) with Charlies Ramsey, before heading to Murray State (2006-07) to work under Billy Kennedy. Before joining Louisiana Tech, May spent two seasons with Mike Davis at UAB (2007-09). BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT THE RELEASE OF OUR NEW BOOK Captain: The Athlete’s Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader, due out in May 2026. We are constantly asked “where have all the leaders gone?” Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MCLAREN F1! These are just the most recent championship teams using book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using for staff development and book clubs. Are you? We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, “Did that practice really hit the mark?” you will love what they have created. Zone 14’s next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports. Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs. Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs. So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at . BECOME A PREMIUM MEMBER OF CHANGING THE GAME PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you or your club/school is looking for all of our best content, from online courses to blog posts to interviews organized for coaches, parents and athletes, then . For over a decade we have been creating materials to help change the game. and it has become a bit overwhelming to find old podcasts, blog posts and more. Now, we have organized it all for you, with areas for coaches, parents and even athletes to find materials to help compete better, and put some more play back in playing ball. Clubs please email Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, () for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. /episode/index/show/wayofchampions/id/41049450

Way of Champions Podcast

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