WIN: Championship Traits For Life

Mental Toughness, New Technology, and Faith with Figure Skating Olympian & Coach, Christine Krall

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 07:00:00 -0400

Who would've thought athletic coaching could translate into mental fitness advice?

Figure Skating Olympian & Coach, Christine Krall, has been on the ice arabesque-ing and coaching for a combined 49+ years, and today on our WIN podcast she taught us many pivotal lessons that we can easily apply to the way we approach life’s obstacles.

In this episode you will learn about…

The “Silent Trainer”
Quantifiable feedback before the “do it again” method
Understanding young athletes need for mental health practices

Episode powered by Pivotal Moments Media

Breaking Through Adversities with Football Legend Ricky Watters

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 01:00:00 -0400

Football Legend Ricky Watters is a Super Bowl Champion, National Champion, motivational speaker, and inspiration to many in football and beyond.

Now while you may know Ricky’s name from his time on the football field, his work beyond the game deserves just as much recognition. Ricky and his wife Catherina are active philanthropists via their work with the Ricky Watters Family Foundation which advocates for mentoring foster and at-risk youth, in addition to being stewards for the game of football through the Watters Warriors and Ricky Watters Pro Experience camps.

In addition to the above, Ricky is a lover of music, poetry and being a proud father to his two sons, Ricky jr. and Shane.

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform and by sharing it with other athletes and coaches in your life who you think could benefit from WIN; Championship Traits For Life.

Be sure to check us out on the web by visiting https://www.pivotalmomentsmedia.com/grit/

Defining Metrics For Success with Dr. Cassidy Preston, Founder of Consistent Elite Performance

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400

What are your metrics for success? Dr. Cassidy Preston of Consistent Elite Performance joins WIN to talk about how overcoming adversities during his time in sports had led him to a profession centered around helping others do the same. Dr. Preston and his team have used their combined education, athletic careers, and coaching experiences to create a mental performance system to guide elite athletes to clearly understand what mental skills they need to work on and how to do it.

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform and by sharing it with other athletes and coaches in your life who you think could benefit from WIN; Championship Traits For Life.

Be sure to check us out on the web by visiting https://www.pivotalmomentsmedia.com/grit/

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Impacting The Game with Tina Whitlock

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Tina Whitlock is a tech fellow with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. A former all-American with the South Carolina Gamecocks - a team she helped lead to the College World Series - Tina also played for the US National team in addition to making the professional softball ranks.

As playing turned to coaching, Tina interviewed with several MLB teams before she received a call back from the St. Louis Cardinals organization through a program that was specifically created to train prospective major league coaches and scouts. She became one of five women coaches in the minors with the role in addition to being the Cardinals' second woman hire.

She is both a trailblazer and a leader in baseball and sports in general.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Lauren Ammon

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Lauren Ammon, is a certified professional coach that has dedicated her personal life to helping student-athletes. After spending 17 years as a swimmer, Lauren entered into what would become a successful career in Human Resources for many years. What we find amazing about her, is in spite of her success in that industry, she decided to take the leap away from the safety net of a career she was accustomed to, and dive into coaching full-time. It's a journey we set out to uncover during our time with her.

Lauren is the founder of Performance Reimagined, an organization focused on helping student-athletes reach their full potential.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - The Journey From Hockey To Hell And Back with Brady Leavold

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Traveling to Hell and Back can hurt just as bad (if not worse) than a check to the head. Just as Brady Leavold was skating his way to a bright future of playing professional hockey, he hit rock bottom. And we’re grateful he found his way back to solid ground (well… ice, but you get the point).

After his life took a dramatic turn towards addiction, crime, homelessness, and jail, he began sharing his story of pivotal moments that changed his life. He now spends his time educating others, and guiding those who are struggling out of the darkness.

Brady created and hosts “Hockey 2 Hell and Back” - a podcast that dives into mental health for hockey players, and is the founder of Puck Support, which has the mission of “Igniting Change In Mental Health & Substance Misuse By Setting The Hockey World In Motion while also Honoring Those Lost to addiction and suicide.”

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Tackling Barriers and Blazing Trails With Carly Helfand

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Carly Helfand is setting the example for women to always have a seat at the table in the sports industry. A table in which 84% of athletic scouts' seats are occupied by men.

During her time as a scouting assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carly won a Super-Bowl ring, served as a recruitment specialist with UPENN football, and is a graduate of Drexel University’s top-level Sports Management program. She currently works for NBC Universal and is the founder and co-host of the Next Woman Up podcast, which highlights the journey of women in sports and the role that we all play in evolving that medium.

In this episode we explore the mentality it takes to pave the way for a career in the sports industry as a woman, the gender stigmas that still exist, and the resilience of the champion that is Carly Helfand.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Mental Fitness, Football, and Podcasting with Captain Cons

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 01:00:00 -0400

Today's guest is one of the hosts from the extremely popular podcast, Zero-Pod-thirty, on Barstool Sports. Connor Crehan has also served in the US Army, having graduated from West Point, where he was a varsity Quarterback for the Academy - following a stellar High School football career.

Above all, Captain Con, or Con as he's known on Twitter, is clearly a mental fitness advocate, and we dove into that with him on WIN.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Ascending and Descending Mountains With Skier and Adventure Enthusiast, Ben White

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 06:00:00 -0400

When discussing life’s challenges, it's common to hear metaphors about “climbing the mountain”, and reaching the “summit”. We also hear that reaching the peak of the mountain, while incredible, is just a moment and that we should enjoy the accent as much as the descent. We are told to soar toward our dreams and be humble in our approach. Ben White has done all of this literally and metaphorically.

Ben has been an adventurer since a young age. Ben hiked and skied all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4000-footers at the age of 17 with no backcountry ski knowledge. In 2011 Ben attended the University of Utah and graduated with a geology degree, an atmospheric science minor, and earned undergraduate researcher of the year in the college of mines and earth sciences for his work studying how natural arches vibrate and degrade over time. It was also during that time he also learned to rock climb, ice climb, and fly paragliders. Simply put - Ben LOVES this stuff.

But, like most journeys, Ben’s path had its fair share of adversity. In our episode today we will navigate through some of the challenges he has had to overcome, both mentally and physically, and learn how he has used his experience to help others, as they quest through the odyssey of life.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Leah O'Brien Amico

Tue, 24 May 2022 06:00:00 -0400

The greatest of all-time debate is something that never stops raging amongst sports fans. Like any true debate - in order to even crown a title like that - you must first set the standards - and thats usually where the conflict begins. Is it based on championships? Today’s guest has won two world championships, three national championships, and three olympic gold medals.

Or is it based on personal accolades? She is also a top-50 athlete in California history all-time, A three-time first-team all-American, a 3-time first-team academic all-American, a University of Arizona Hall of fame honoree, a national softball hall-of-fame honoree, and she holds the record for a batting average in a single college world series tournament, having hit .750.

While that resume, along with a selection to ESPN’s Greatest of all time softball team, probably qualifies our guest as a GOAT - we believe the true definition of that title comes not just from accolades, awards, and performance, but the type of person that you are - and our guest today has the resume to back that up too.

Our guest today, Leah O’Brien Amico, is one of the most prolific softball players of all time. In addition to everything mentioned above, Leah is also a professional and inspirational speaker with over 20 years of experience, a published author having written “Victorious” and “Softball, Glory, and God’s Story”, and an analyst for ESPN and Westwood One Sports and the host of “the gold standard podcast”. Amongst all of that, she is a dedicated mother to her three boys and is committed to empowering others to meet their potential.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Shawnee Harle

Tue, 17 May 2022 06:00:00 -0400

Just like an athletes career, coaching can take many different roads with many different roles. Some of us get into coaching through volunteer work while, for others, the job is a calling. No matter the case, no two coaching journeys are the same - but, with that said, at the end of the day, the common thread that binds great coaches together is to teach, to motivate and to help athletes use sport as a vehicle for their growth as human beings - because winning - however you choose to define that word - tends to take care of itself when that happens.

Today’s guest, Coach Shawnee Harle, has nearly 30 years experience in coaching which includes appearances at the World University games, the FIBA Americas, the World Championships and two olympic games as the assistant coach with the Canadian Women’s Basketball team. In addition to her experience, Shawnee is also the most highly certified basketball coach in Canada and has accreditation as a Chartered Professional Coach with the Coaching Association of Canada, a Masters in coaching studies, and a level 5 certification with the National coaching certification program.

Even still, with all of her experiences a coach, Shawnee has spent recent years dedicating herself to the mental side of the game by helping athletes make sense of what’s going on in their head and heart in order to cut through the noise, and, as she puts it, unleash their inner tiger.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Rob Jones

Tue, 10 May 2022 06:00:00 -0400

31 marathons in 31 days in 31 different cities. Even the thought of that challenge is daunting. We spoke to a man who not only achieved it, but he achieved it as a double-above the knee amputee, and raised a quarter of a million dollars for veteran charities while doing it. Our show is called WIN and our channel is called GRIT - today’s guest is a beacon of both.

On July 22, 2010, Rob Jones - who served in the Marine corp as a combat engineer - stepped on an IED in Afghanistan resulting in a double above the knee amputation.

Five days later, Rob was in Washington DC at the National Naval Medical Center, disconnected from the Marines and the mission. It was here, that a new mission began for Rob.

Rob was introduced to other amputees who helped him to begin crafting a new path of perseverance - and thats exactly the path Rob followed.

Since his injury, Rob has competed in Paralympic doubles rowing (earning a bronze medal in the process), he has trekked across America on a bike - a journey which took 6 months, and, as we said at the top of the episode, he successfully ran 31 marathons in 31 days in 2017.

Today Rob is a professional speaker, writer, philanthropist. His journey is nothing short of incredible and above all he is an inspiration and ambassador of the human spirit.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Coach Matt Lisle

Tue, 03 May 2022 06:00:00 -0400

Watch any Disney sports film and you’ll most likely witness a heart-warming story of an underdog rising the ranks to achieve some form of greatness. We might not be Disney, but this podcast is going to tell a story like that - about how one man's passion for his sport took him from being homeless to becoming the only individual to coach at EVERY level in both baseball and softball.

Coach Matt Lisle, has a journey thats worth learning from. Matt is the most followed baseball and softball coach in the world. In addition to his coaching, Matt is also a successful businessman and a proud father and grandfather. His story will both inspire you and motivate you as you listen.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Brad Thomas

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Sacrifice and service are two words that those on teams and the military use often - but with drastically different meanings. No matter the arena, the group that understands the severity and calling of those words will be in a position to succeed.

Brad Thomas is the founder, songwriter and lead guitarist for Silence & Light - an all-veteran band that brings mental health awareness through music. Brad is also a former Army Ranger and Delta Force operator, having spent over 20 years in the service.

While Silence & Light has attracted grammy award winning producers and quite the fan base, the band has embraced the higher mission of giving back by donating their royalties to special operations, veterans and first responder charitable organizations.

He’s the first guest we’ve had on the show that we can say is both a Rock Star and a member of the tier-1 special operations.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - UCLA Health President Johnese Spisso, RN, MPA

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 06:00:00 -0400

We say at the top of every episode that we interview champions and trailblazers. While our show has a strong sports focus, we know that to learn to truly “WIN”, we had to look just beyond athletics. Today’s guest is a champion in her field, a trailblazer in her field, and one of the most influential leaders in her field - and I guarantee you will learn something from listening to her today.

This week’s guest, Johnese Spisso, RN, MPA, is one of the top clinical leaders and one of the top most influential Women leaders in America. Her life has been dedicated to service for others and her journey has taken her from starting as a Registered Nurse to becoming the current President of UCLA Health, the CEO of the UCLA Hospital System and the Associate Vice Chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences.

In short everyone - listen up! Johnese is about to gift us with 45 minutes of knowledge!

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Kevin Weekes

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Growing up - we all dream of being pro athletes at some point. We all dream of making a heroic last second play or reaching memorable milestones on our chosen field of sport. As we get older, we realize that making an impact in the game isn't limited to just accomplishing the dreams of our youth. This week’s guest has and continues to impact the game on a daily level both on and off the ice.

Kevin Weekes played over 350 games in the NHL between the pipes as a goaltender. Following his playing career, Kevin became a trailblazer in business (most notably with his company NO5HOLE), and in broadcasting - where he currently serves as an analyst for the NHL on ESPN and the NHL Network.

But beyond business and broadcasting, Kevin has been an inspiration to countless individuals as someone who not only wants to have a positive impact on the game we love, but more importantly - the people surrounding the game.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Christopher Lee

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 06:00:00 -0400

Every sports season, in its own way, is a campaign to put a team on a path towards winning. With that said, while winning, however you define that word, is the shared goal between all sports teams, at the end of the year - there typically can only be one champion. Christopher Lee lives and breathes creating winning campaigns in another arena.

Christopher has more than 25 years of experience in political consulting, campaign management, Communications, and developing marking materials for candidates, national political party committees, and labor organizations.

Chris is a partner with Foresight Strategic and is an expert in political strategy, issue advocacy, and media relations and has worked with top government officials, businesses, and teams around the country.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Mark Rypien

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0400

Championship moments are often frozen in time via photos, video and achievement. However, they are just a moment. The road leading up to and the road after those moments are often filled with adversity, controversy and sacrifice. This week’s guest, 2x Super Bowl champion and MVP Mark Rypien has traveled both roads with grace and class.

Mark is a two-time Super Bowl Champion and the MVP of Super Bowl 26 with Washington Redskins. Those accolades are accompanied with an illustrious career in the NFL and with his philanthropic work in his post-playing career.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Vince Papale

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 06:00:00 -0500

When you’re chasing a dream, the only one who can tell you that you’re done - is you. While there may be many moments and obstacles that make you want to stop pursuing what may seem impossible, those that succeed have the will deep inside that whispers, “hold on.”

You may know Vince Papale as the subject of the Disney movie “Invincible,” starring Mark Wahlberg, which shares his story of conquering incredible odds to walk onto the Philadephia Eagles. For some, Vince is known as the man that made them believe that dreams can come true if you're willing to believe in yourself.

His life is well documented online, on tv, and in the film - but our goal with this episode is to dive deeper into what makes Vince, “Vince,” and what we can learn from him to become better people for tomorrow.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Patrick J. Murphy

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 06:00:00 -0500

When you hear the word leadership, what comes to mind? Do you think of a specific person that influenced your life, or do you dive into descriptive words like decisive, dedicated and diligent? No matter the case, being a leader is a privilege we are all faced with at times. This week’s guest has served in a leadership role for most of his life.

The Honorable Patrick J. Murphy is the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress, the former acting Secretary of the army, a healthcare innovator in the public and private sectors, and a champion for veterans and mental health. As we'll find out in the show, much, much more than that, he has worked with and among the men and women of uniform, professional athletes, former Congressmen and Congresswomen, and presidents of the United States.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Cameron Hughes

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

What makes you the most dedicated or biggest fan of something? Is it the memorabilia and the moments you can say you attended? Perhaps it's the level of emotion you show after a win or loss? In reality, while they may qualify you as a fan, to be the person that others see as “the biggest fan” you have to have just one thing - passion. Our guest today took his passion to a level that had never been seen before…

Our guest this episode, Cameron Hughes, is a professional crowd igniter and public speaker. In case you haven't heard of Cameron, when we say professional we mean it - he has inspired crowds at the US Open, NBA, NHL, TV and radio programs, corporate events, and the Olympics. In addition to his work in person, Cameron is also the author of, “King of Cheer: Stories of showing up, getting up, and never giving up from the world’s most electrifying crowd ignitor.”

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Dan Blackburn

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Mental fitness has become a major point of discussion in sports from the youth level to the pro levels. Like most “new” topics of conversation, there are a lot of opinions in addition to a lot of misinformation. However you slice it, it's clear that there is a stigma surrounding mental health. We are going to break some of those stigmas down today.

Dan Blackburn has spent 25 years coaching and inspiring youth, business executives, world champions, and Stanley Cup-winning athletes the habits, rituals, and skills needed to build mental resilience in order to find success.

Dan is the author of “When the Puck Drops: 17 Stories that will Shock you, Rock you and Inspire you.”, an award-winning TEDx speaker, finalist for the Willie O’Ree Community Hero award, and has been featured across the lexicon of sports programming.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Adam Power

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

As athletes, we dedicate ourselves to being the absolute best we can be at our craft. No matter the field of play, for most, the journey eventually focuses on one sport. Adam Power was on the hot route to professional hockey before his dream was derailed by injury. Instead of turning to coaching or other work within the game, he decided to pursue one of the hardest things to do in athletics, become a pro at a different sport - and he did just that.

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Adam “AJ” Power, is a former hockey player turned professional golfer who currently plays on the mini-tours in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and California. AJ has been in the top 15 of finishers on several events and is grinding away to achieve his first win. With a long game that is well known by coaches and competitors - we don't think he's far off.

AJ grew up playing hockey and his talents took him from the amateur AAA level to the WHL, cutting his teeth with the legendary Spokane Chiefs as a 16-year-old. Known as a highly talented puck-moving defenseman, His speed, toughness, heavy shot, and 6’5, 200lb frame excited coaches and scouts alike. AJ was on the path towards the NHL draft before, unfortunately, injuries and concussions forced him to retire.

While he may have been finished with hockey, he was not finished with sports. Shortly after retiring, AJ made the bold decision to dive headfirst into golf and began training with legendary Coach Greg LaBelle at the famed Butch Harmon School of Golf. The rest, as they say, is history.

AJ is married to his beautiful wife Danielle, they have a Chocolate Lab named Ruby, and they recently welcomed their first child, son Oliver Power.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Sam Ball

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

As athletes and coaches, we can often get lost focusing on our own path, our own goals, and our own struggles. In reality, no matter what your personality, past or purpose, none of us can succeed on our own. Our guest this week, Sam Ball, will serve as both an anchor and example of someone who lived at both sides of the success spectrum while crafting himself into the tremendous servant leader he is today.

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After many years of struggling with addiction and trying to get sober with little

Success, Sam Ball realized in order to stay sober and grow he had to build a community and look at the whole picture of physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. And that’s just what he did.

Sam currently coaches at Warrior Strength, a non-profit gym built around support and community. He is a Strongfirst Certified Kettlebell and Barbell instructor as well as a certified Peer Support Specialist. He is also a nutrition coach though he prefers to use his knowledge to help his peers rather than take on clients.

Sam is also the Program Manager and Recovery coach at Flourish Bakery, a non-profit that helps people coming out of treatment or incarceration to rebuild their lives by teaching them to bake, introducing them to resources, teaching them life skills such as finance and nutrition, but most importantly helping them to build a community.

In addition to everything we said above, Sam is also a traditional archer, scuba diver, chef, dog lover, and powerlifter.

Sam is a man of integrity and compassion. He holds space for people to be exactly where they are at and will love and support them through the process.

You can find Sam’s work at warriorstrengthgym.com and flourishslc.org.

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Sam walks us through his journey - 2:16

Sam shares the moment that changed his life - 4:39

Sam defines mental fitness - 9:11

Sam discusses his decision to go into servant leadership - 12:42

Sam shares his internal breakthrough and what it felt like - 14:28

Sam talks about fitness and body building and its importance to him - 16:40

Sam discusses the need for community - 23:02

Sam talks about gaining the trust of those he works with - 29:51

Sam shares advice for someone who is struggling - 31:59

Sam reflects on his journey - 33:17

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Andy Neary

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 06:00:00 -0500

As athletes and coaches, roadblocks and hurdles in our journey are expected. However, those that garner the skill sets, mindset and mentors that teach us to get through those times is what ultimately makes us winners. Our guest this week, Andy Neary, helps to create winners.
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Andy talks about being an undersized athlete and making it in professional baseball: 2:13
Andy dives into what it means to do the work in the dark place: 7:15
Andy shares how he dials in to compete in the Ironman Competitions: 12:13
Andy walks us through the moment of exhaustion in competition and the breakthrough: 14:47
Andy discusses the “Leaders Eat Last” mentality: 19:47
Andy shares the influential people in his life: 26:07
Andy talks about transferring his sports experience into his business: 30:32
Andy shares advice for younger athletes: 33:59

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Coach Boris Sapone

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 07:00:00 -0500

Whats your why? Why do you get up in the morning? Why do you coach or play sports? Why do you go to school or work?

Our guest today, Coach Boris Sapone, will show you the power of having an answer to that question.

Boris takes us through his journey to personal training and owning his business - 2:15
Boris shares his vision in designing his business and how he strives to be different from the typical CrossFit box - 11:04
Boris talks about getting younger athletes into fitness - 17:56
Boris shares the best approach when talking to someone about making fitness more of a priority in their life - 20:59
Boris discusses the mental fitness piece of physical fitness and how important it is in his business - 27:47
Boris shares words of wisdom for young coaches - 34:40
Boris discusses adversity and his tactics for overcoming adversity in his life - 36:42
Boris shares his thoughts on maintaining a positive mindset - 45:00
Boris gives his perspective on the opportunities available in American in contrast to other countries - 49:31

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Susan Norton

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 06:00:00 -0500

They say that you need mind, body, and spirit to move forward in life. But what happens when your body fails you? Can Mind and soul still pave the way? Our guest today, Susan Norton, will prove to you that they can while also providing one of the greatest examples of human perseverance we have ever seen.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Riley Cote

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 06:00:00 -0500

We talk about the determination, mental fitness and GRIT needed to make it not just in pro sports but in life a lot on this show. Our guest today, Riley Cote, is a shining example of someone who did it in both arenas.

Riley was an undrafted player who walked-on to an NHL tryout which resulted in him taking the full road from the CHL to ECHL to AHL and eventually the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers where he became a hometown favorite almost immediately. For those of you who don't follow hockey - what Riley accomplished is extremely rare and we dive into what makes him tick as an athlete and as a person on this week’s episode of WIN.

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-Riley shares what drove him to reach the levels he did in hockey: 1:19

-Riley discusses what traits he brought that helped his success: 4:47

-Riley talks about the people who made an impact during his career to help lead to success: 9:41

-Riley shares about his experiences coaching in the AHL and how he helped develop players: 15:38

-Riley shares his current work in mental wellness: 18:23

-Riley discusses and shares his passion for the future for use of hemp and cannabis as medicine in sport: 27:24

-Riley shares advice for young players and coaches as they journey to the next level: 37:30

-Riley talks about detaching from the outcome & present moment awareness: 39:48

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Mike McKenna

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 08:00:00 -0500

The life of a professional athlete can be hard. The life of a minor league athlete, one who moves up and down and around consistently, can be even harder. Our guest today, Mike McKenna played 550 games between the ECHL, AHL, and NHL with multiple teams. However, his demeanor and approach to life lead him to not only a full career, but one where he found massive enjoyment, camaraderie and knowledge - all which he shares with us on WIN.

He played four seasons for St. Lawrence University before being drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 2002 NHL Draft.

Today, Mike is the volunteer goalie coach for St. Lawrence University, his alma mater where he played four years for their division 1 team. He is also a coach with 44VisionHockey in addition to being the host of two podcasts, “The Suitcase and the Scribe with Scott Burnside and the 6 Degrees with Mike McKenna podcast, where he has interviewed some very high-profile NHL goaltenders and executives.

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Mike shares how he got into goaltending: 2:08

Mike talks about his mental fitness routine: 5:11

Mike discusses the traits that made the best and worst teams he played with: 13:11

Mike talks about the leadership traits he learned during his career and wants young athletes to pay attention to: 23:39

Mike discusses team roles and being led: 32:30

Mike talks to being a superstar in the role asked of you: 41:17

Mike shares about the mental resilience he had during his journey between the AHL and NHL: 50:30

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Frank Buonomo

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

You hear it all the time, the journey is the gift. But what does that actually mean?

This week’s guest, Frank Buonomo, worked in a power position in the NHL for over 20 years, and in this episode, he will share insight about his journey, who helped him along the way, and what commonalities he sees amongst top performers in sport and business.
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Frank shares about his mentors and how they molded him and his career: 1:51
Frank discusses why its important to slow down and not burn out on your passions: 5:51
Frank discusses the importance of leaders taking time to take care of themselves physically and mentally: 8:51
Frank shares the importance of creating connections and understanding how to motivate people: 14:22
Frank talks about the importance of culture and how to achieve a great team culture: 18:50
Frank explains the importance of maintaining a team’s culture and bond: 28:01
Frank discusses roles and respecting each others’ roles on a team, as well as the issues behind comparing athletic competition to being in the military: 34:51
Frank talks about Sidney Crosby and some of the qualities that make him such a wonderful human being: 38:27
Frank shares what separates the top people he’s worked with from the rest: 42:42
Frank discusses advice for helping young people to break into sports: 47:18
Frank talks about the type of people Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette are and how the growth to their person brands is a testament to each of their character: 58:52

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Ryan Whitney

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 07:00:00 -0500

Which would you rather have: a long career as a pro-athlete or the #1 podcast in your sport in the world? Ryan Whitney accomplished both, through an NHL career and co-hosting Barstool Sports Spittin Chiclets.

In this episode of WIN: Championship Traits For Life, Ryan dives deep with us into his NHL career and the ups and downs that players experience as pro athletes. We also speak about some of the leaders that have shaped him throughout his life and also the keys to creating not just a winning organization in sports, business, and podcasting, but one where people can thrive continually.

Ryan discusses his hockey development through school and how it impacted his NHL career: 1:49
Ryan shares why culture is so important to sports and business: 7:13
Ryan talks about how he learned to overcome his adversities: 12:55
Ryan talks about being selfless: 17:47
Ryan shares stories of the leaders he had and learned from during his NHL career: 22:04
Ryan talks about being an authentic leader: 28:37
Ryan touches how organizations can change to allow their players (or workers) to reach their full potential: 30:22
Ryan comments on how understanding the motivation of players can help guide them to their maximum performance: 37:12
Ryan discusses what skills he learned from his professional and youth hockey career and applied to Spittin’ Chiclets: 47:26

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Rick Nash

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Rick Nash, is a 15 year NHL veteran, former Captain, 5-time All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and current Director of Player Development for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

This week on WIN, he shares his philosophies of leadership as a teammate, captain, coach, and member of his organization while also telling us some incredible stories of his time in the game.
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Rick discusses who and what he thinks about when reflecting on the honor of having his number retired by the Blue Jackets: 1:31

Rick talks about his current role as director of player development with the Blue Jackets: 3:47

Rick shares the challenges he faced as the face of the Blue Jackets when he was drafted: 10:15

Rick tells the importance of continuing to learn and grow as a leader while leading: 13:01

Rick shares how he would approach a coach with an uncomfortable situation, as a young captain: 21:11

Rick discusses culture and how important it is for the success of a team: 24:54

Rick talks about understanding roles and how important it is to the culture of the team: 36:37

Rick gives young coaches advice on leadership based on his career as a coach and under multiple coaching styles: 41:11

Rick defines mental fitness and shares how he trains his: 47:28

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Sergeant Major (Ret) Chris "Dutch” Moyer

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 07:00:00 -0500

No team has ever succeeded when those involved are only worried about themselves. It does beg the question though, How do you create a WE over ME mentality for your team?

Our guest today, Sergeant Major (Ret) Chris "Dutch” Moyer will help craft you an answer.

-Dutch takes us through his journey to the military: 2:49

-Dutch defines being a good teammate and explains the importance: 9:14

-Dutch shares his techniques to press forward during adversity: 13:49

-Dutch discusses how he compartmentalizes fear and moves past it during difficult times: 20:32

-Dutch talks about the time spent training vs the time spent working in the military: 33:31

-Dutch shares his keys to leadership success: 46:32

-Dutch defines and shares how he practices mental fitness: 1:00:29

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Matt Eversmann

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Courage, commitment, and teammates can be found on sports fields and battlefields.💪 US Army First Sergeant (R) & American Hero, Matt Eversmann, joins WIN! Learn about his story of survival, how it became the source material for #BlackHawkDown, and how he maintains #mentalfitness

How do you define the word “Courage?” Our guest today, First Sergeant retired Matt Eversmann, will provide you with an answer.

Matt served in the US Army from 1987-2008 and spent time with the 75th Ranger regiment and the 10th Mountain Division.

While his entire term of service was admirable, his time in the military will forever be immortalized through the events of October 3, 1993. Matt was placed in charge of a group of Army Rangers to lead a daytime raid against an eager enemy militia. Matt experienced the horrors of war when he and his fellow soldiers were trapped in a hostile district of Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia, and marked for death by an angry mob. His inspiring story of survival became the source material for, Black Hawk Down, which recounts the harrowing experience. For his actions on the battlefield he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device.

Matt illustrates the importance of duty, courage and selfless service to succeed when ordinary circumstances become extraordinary challenges and we are honored to have had him with us on WIN.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Brian Covey

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 06:00:00 -0500

What is the first thing you tell people about yourself? Is it your accomplishments? Is it what you do for a living? Is it about your family?

Our Guest today, Brian Covey, will make you rethink how you approach people in sport, business and life with his thoughts.

Brian’s resume is one that will get our audience excited. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Brian played soccer at the pro and Olympic levels before taking on a career as an influencer, speaker, top-rated podcaster via “The Brian Covey Show”, an author through his book “Conversations with Covey”, and a wealth Advisor while serving as the VP of one of the largest mortgage companies in America, loan-depot.

But beyond his professional accolades and titles, Brian is all about balance in fitness, wellness and life. One of the things that stood out to me when doing research, is that Brian always lists himself as a father, husband and family man first.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Randy Grimes

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 05:58:42 -0500

Once a star center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Randy Grimes has an incredible life story to share involving his struggles with addiction and how he is now bridging the gap between other professional athletes and their mental fitness.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Eric Nystrom

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 06:51:06 -0400

This week’s guest was the 10th overall draft pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and made his debut three years later with the Calgary Flames. Eric Nystrom joins the show this week to discuss his path to success and the lessons he learned that have remained with him throughout his life.

If you’re planning your own rise to success, Eric’s advice is exactly what you need to hear.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Coach Phil DeCapito

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 00:29:53 -0400

Sometimes adversity isn’t the failures we face, but the mountains themselves that we climb on the rise to the top. This week, University of Pittsburgh’s Coach DeCapito, shares how young athletes and budding coaches can use the determination and GRIT developed on the field in order to take their careers to the next level.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - John Moloney, Chief Commercial Officer at Bose

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 09:14:03 -0400

Iron sharpens iron. It’s a common phrase, but one that is not focused on enough as a tool for winning. This week’s guest, John Moloney, the Chief Commercial Officer for the automotive division at Bose, defines this statement in addition to giving us his perspectives of the importance of work, leadership, and mentorship - all which can be applied to sports and life.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Mike Smith

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 21:53:36 -0400

"The Greatest Of All Time" is a title that is earned by more than just championships, rings, and records. It recognizes the amount of adversity a person overcomes and how they respond to their environment on their path to achieving legendary status.

Mike Smith is the GOAT when it comes to Horse Racing, and this interview will show you a glimpse into the steps he took in order to get there.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Gabe Hunterton

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 09:58:18 -0400

Whoever said being smart and athletic were mutually exclusive, has never met this week's WIN guest.

Meet Gabe Hunterton: Yale Graduate, D1 basketball player (who played in OVER 100 games), gaming program entrepreneur, and did we mention he's trilingual? He's joining this week to give us the rundown on how he had to keep his mental fitness in top shape to persevere through challenges in order to achieve success.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Tom Renney, CEO of Hockey Canada

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 03:00:53 -0400

If you listen to one podcast this week - make it this one.

A continuous desire to learn and to be mentored is something that leaders all seem to have in common. This conversation with Tom Renney, the CEO of Hockey Canada, will deep dive on his beliefs on working with talented and passionate athletes, along with his core principles when it comes to coaching.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Dr. Derick Anderson, Psy.D.

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 13:16:29 -0400

Almost everything Dr. Derick Anderson says in this interview is an insightful and impactful drop of gold. If you are a leader, coach, or athlete, this is 100% worth your time.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Col. (Ret.) Dave Duffy; Green Beret, Rugby Player

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 21:02:41 -0400

What do you think you will remember when you finishing your playing career?

Colonel Dave Duffy has competed all over the world and has been a part of several high-performing teams. He joins the show this week to discuss an answer to the question above and to share his thoughts on mental fitness from his life as a rugby player, Green Beret, and business owner.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Doug Cifu; CEO of Virtu Financial and Owner of the FLA Panthers

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 05:55:21 -0400

We all would like to play owner of a professional sports team. We interviewed one instead… Doug Cifu joins us on WIN this week to discuss his past, present and future in professional sports and enlightens us on the power of NOT having an ego when it comes to business, athletics, and life.

What if I told you that your ego may be what holds you back from succeeding?

Our guest today, dives deep into how a lack of ego has helped him reach milestones in both professional sports and in business. Moreover, he will define the word GRIT throughout the episode, and how important it is to both creating and executing opportunities that come your way.

Win: Championship Traits For Life - Sgt. Stu Edwards, Performance Coach

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 17:06:10 -0400

Our 2nd guest loves getting people to their peak performance so much, he joined the military in order to train and work with warriors.

Stu Edwards, performance coach for athletes, teams, and humans, is up on WIN: Championship Traits For Life.

WIN: Championship Traits For Life - CPT(R) Ben Harrow

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 22:06:04 -0400

We’re not gonna hold back, our first episode of WIN is EPIC. Watch or listen to this interview with Ben Harrow and you’ll have the word perseverance redefined while also learning how to conquer past incredibly intense adversity. Let us know what you love and learned!