Johansen Baseball 2.0

What Good Coaches Do, Great Coaches Do on PURPOSE! Ft. Michael Norton

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Michael Norton, Executive Leader and Leadership Coach discuss the 5 principles that good coaches do, and great coaches do on purpose. The Johansen Baseball staples in their Teach, Train, and Transform model.

Active Listening
Supportive Feedback
Defining Success
Praise & Build
Be a Mirror

Scouting Makeup & Confidence Ft. JJ Lally

Mon, 25 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

JJ Lally, Crosschecker with the Chicago White Sox joins the show and discusses what he looks for in scouting makeup, character, and more. Ryan and JJ point out being present in each chapter of your journey is an important piece of the puzzle.

Defining Flow State

Mon, 11 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Kris Goodman, Major League Process and Development Coach (Mental Skills) for the Tampa Bay Rays joins the show! Ryan and Kris chop it up on being process oriented over outcome oriented, different motivations and challenges each level faces, and define flow state.

Psychological Barriers to Skill Acquisition Ft. Grow Wellness Sports Psychology

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Ryan Johansen is joined by Bryce and Christina from Grow Wellness Sports Psychology where they discuss the mental challenges athletes face when developing their talents off the field but also addressing performance on the field.

Focus, The Invisible Sauce.

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Ryan simplifies attention shifting and what is happening in the brain as hitters focus on the task at hand while giving some insight into training methods, ways to engage with players and how to build drills around it in this short 22 minute episode.

Good Eye! - Ft. Tyler Starke

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Jake and Ryan explore vision training for baseball hitters with special guest Tyler Starke of Starke Industries (X: @starke_it). Tyler breaks down what sports vision is, what visual skills set the elite hitters apart from the rest, and more. This episode is packed with science-backed insights and practical advice for players, coaches, and parents.

CLA in the Cage

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 02:00:00 -0500

In this eye-opening episode, Jake and Ryan dive deep into the constraints-led approach (CLA) and its game-changing application to baseball training. Forget endless repetitive drills and constant verbal cues—CLA flips the script by manipulating task, environmental, and individual constraints to create dynamic, game-like practice environments where players self-organize, adapt, and discover effective movements on their own. Drawing from cutting-edge research and real-world examples, we explore how this method builds more resilient hitters who thrive under pressure, reduce injury risk through natural variability, and develop true game smarts rather than robotic mechanics. Whether you're a coach looking to revolutionize your sessions or a player aiming to unlock hidden potential, this episode breaks down practical strategies to shift from rigid instruction to emergent skill acquisition that mirrors the chaos and creativity of actual baseball games. Get ready to rethink everything you thought you knew about player development!

Approach

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0600

This week Ryan flies solo with Jake out. He talks all about approach. Listen in to learn how to plan your approach to "Be Dangerous" at the plate!

Building Swing Features

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

This week, Jake and Ryan are back to talk about building swing features. What is a swing feature? Tune in to find out!

BONUS EPISODE: Myths v. Realities of HS Tryouts - ft. Dominic Savino

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0600

Jake and Ryan recorded a special episode of the podcast with longtime high school coach, Dominic Savino, to discuss the myths and realities of high school baseball tryouts.

Can You?

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0600

This week, Jake and Ryan talk about the "Can You?" development model and how they implement it in the cage so that every player has a clear roadmap for development. Derived from the gymnastics world, the "Can you" model provides clarity for players on where they are currently and guidelines for what they need to do to move on to the next level.

Good Eye! - Hacking Hitters' Vision

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0600

Welcome back podcast fans! This week, Jake and Ryan launch season 2 to talk about their latest initiative in the cage. They'll dive into the science of the eyes and vision, how to train it effectively, and why it matters. It's any episode you won't want to miss!

The Importance of Sportsmanship - ft. Bill Gosse

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 19:00:00 -0500

This week in a special episode in between the first and second seasons of the podcast, Ryan talks with Bill Gosse. Bill is the founder of TeamScore Inc., an organization dedicated to advocating for better sportsmanship. In addition to founding TeamScore, Bill travels the country as an accomplished public speaker and author.

Big Dawgs Gotta Eat More - ft. Sam Krapf

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 21:00:00 -0600

This week Ryan flies solo with special guest Sam Krapf. Sam is the owner of Ground Zero Strength Gym and provides online coaching for guys who are stuck trying to get strong. You can find him on X, @sam_gzstrength.

What Are Analytics? - ft. Devin DeYoung

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 17:00:00 -0500

This week Jake and Ryan talk analytics with former White Sox Hitting Initiatives Coordinator, Devin DeYoung. Devin does a great job simplifying analytics in a way that is easy for coaches to put into action. This is a must listen to episode.

When One Door Closes, Break It Down - ft Jeff Frye

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 13:00:00 -0500

This week on the podcast, Jake and Ryan have on Jeff Frye. Jeff spent 9 years in the MLB with various teams and spent time sharing about his unorthodox path into professional baseball as well as stories from his career. There are plenty of nuggets players and coaches will be able to take away from this episode.

A Fresh Perspective on Travel Ball ft. Chris Thompson

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

This week Ryan talks with Chris Thompson, Senior Manager of Baseball and Softball for Cubs Charities. Chris offers a fresh perspective on the world of travel sports.

The Way of Copeland ft. Ryan Copeland

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 22:00:00 -0500

In this episode Ryan flies solo once again as he talks with Northern Illinois University's Ryan Copeland. They talk recruiting, development and more.

Everyone Loves Bats - ft Mark Spencer

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 21:00:00 -0500

This week Ryan flys solo with 44Pro's very own Mark Spencer. Mark comes on the show with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the baseball-bat-fitting world; and shares some great insights with us.

Blue-Collar Extraodinaire - (ft. Alex Destino)

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0500

This week Jake and Ryan are joined by Alex Destino, former White Sox' minor leaguer. Alex brings some great perspective and some great stories (including one about Ryan you won't want to miss).

Team Player - (ft. Tony Andracki)

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 21:00:00 -0500

This week Ryan flies solo again while interviewing Marquee Sports' Digital Content Manager, Tony Andracki. This episode is filled with some good insights and some cool stories about some of the current Cubs' players.

Someone Who Will Listen - ft. Andy Barkett

Thu, 16 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

This week on the podcast, Ryan flies solo as he chats with former Chicago White Sox Hitting Coordinator and 2018 World Series champion, Andy Barkett.

Lessons from a Former Player, Part 2 - Ft. AJ Gill

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 17:00:00 -0500

Part 2: Jake and Ryan are joined by AJ Gill, former White Sox minor leaguer and Aurora Spartan. If that name sounds familiar, AJ has joined as a guest on our old podcast, Damage at the Dish, and was also mentioned in the episode we did with Coach Stevens from Aurora University.

Lessons from a Former Player, Part 1 - Ft. AJ Gill

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 22:00:00 -0500

This week, Jake and Ryan are joined by AJ Gill, former White Sox minor leaguer and Aurora Spartan. If that name sounds familiar, AJ has joined as a guest on our old podcast, Damage at the Dish, and was also mentioned in the episode we did with Coach Stevens from Aurora University.

Major League Mindset - ft. Brandon Guyer

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 20:00:00 -0500

This week, Jake and Ryan are joined by former big leaguer, Brandon Guyer about mindset. Drafted by the Cubs in 2007, Guyer spent several seasons in the MLB with Tampa Bay Rays and most notably on the Cleveland Indians during their run to the World Series in 2016. Brandon spent the 2023 season working for the Angels as a mental skills coach. For more information, go to brandonguyer.com.

When He Talks, You Listen - ft. Clint Hurdle

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 20:00:00 -0500

This week, Jake and Ryan were joined on the podcast by former MLB manager and player, Clint Hurdle. Clint spent ten years playing in the big leagues and returned to the majors for 22 years as a coach and manager from 1997-2019. This is an episode you won't want to miss!

Mental Strategies (Ft. Adam Stevens)

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0600

This week Jake and Ryan talk to head coach of Aurora University Baseball, Adam Stevens, about mental strategies for teams and individual athletes. His Aurora Spartans have become one of only eleven Division III schools to make five consecutive NCAA Regionals and coached them to a program record 42 wins in 2023.

Raising Healthy Families

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 12:00:00 -0600

This week, Jake and Ryan are joined by Amy Staheli from healthyfamiliesthrive.com.

Emotional Regulation with Dania Polly

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 23:00:00 -0600

Jake and Ryan have on Dania Polly, a certified occupational therapy assistant and the Director of Clinical Services for Hillman Pediatric Therapy, to talk about emotional regulation and the struggles athletes, coaches, and parents may face in this realm.

The Chad Longworth Effect Part 2

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Part 2 of our conversation with Chad Longworth, founder of Longworth Player Development.

The Chad Longworth Effect Part 1

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 23:00:00 -0500

This week Jake and Ryan catch up with long time friend of Johansen Baseball, Chad Longworth. Chad is the founder of Longworth Player Development.

Creating Adjustable Hitters ft. Caleb Abney

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This week, Jake and Ryan are joined by Caleb Abney, former head coach of Lancaster Bible College's Baseball team. Caleb has made coaching stops at every level and holds a Masters of Kinesiology from the University of Georgia.

The One Thing

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:00:00 -0500

This week, Jake and Ryan talk about the one thing. Give a listen to find out what that one thing is.

What We Offer

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 19:00:00 -0500

This week, Jake and Ryan talk about what they offer clients through Johansen Baseball.

Square1 System (ft Shawn Sherman) - Part 2

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This week is the second part of the interview with Shawn Sherman, founder of Square1 System.

Square1 System (ft Shawn Sherman) - Part 1

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This week Jake and Ryan interview Shawn Sherman, founder of Square1 System, to discuss their past working together and how his system, "a human performance framework that does more than just reduce pain," can help athletes. Part 1

Habits (ft. Matt Lopes)

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This week Jake is joined by Matt Lopes of Matt Lopes Baseball to talk about habits and why they are important!

The Vestibular System (ft. Dr. Eric Hamilton)

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This week Jake and Ryan are joined by special guest Dr. Eric Hamilton to talk about the vestibular system, its importance to baseball, and how to train it. Dr. Hamilton holds a doctorate in Physical Therapy, is a specialist in Orthopedics, and is CSCS certified. He also is the founder and co-owner of Rehab for Performance based in Michigan.

Bat Sensors (ft. Kyle Attl)

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This week Jake and Ryan have special guest, Senior Director of Professional Baseball for Blast Motion, Kyle Attl on the podcast to discuss Blast Motion and everything bat sensors!

Recruiting Part 2

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This week, Jake and Ryan finish up their two-part episode series on recruiting.

Recruiting Part 1

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This week and next week, Jake and Ryan break down recruiting. From process, to what coaches look for, to what you can do to stand out, this two part series is one you'll want to listen to!

In Season Lifting

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This week on the podcast Jake and Ryan are joined by Kyle Harris, Assistant Director of performance at Tread Athletics, to answer all the questions about in season lifting.

Optics

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This week, Jake and Ryan talk everything optics related at all levels of baseball from player, coach, and parent perspective

uHit (ft. Jason Sherwin)

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This week, Ryan and Jake invite founder of uHit to talk hitting and their product on the podcast.

Episode 5 - Sports Psychology (ft. Dr. Chris Mazzarella)

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500

June is Men's Mental Health Awareness month, so this week Jake and Ryan have special guest Dr. Chris Mazzarella on to discuss Sports Psychology. Dr. Mazzarella is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience as a mental health professional. Chris currently practices in the Chicago suburbs and one of his specialties is the realm of sports psychology.

Episode 4 - Tryouts

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500

It's official that time of year, tryout season! This week, Jake and Ryan talk anything and everything tryouts!

Do Slumps Exist? - Ft. Ryan Fitzgerald & Tyler Osik

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This week Jake and Ryan are joined by special guests Ryan Fitzgerald and Tyler Osik to talk about slumps. Ryan currently plays shortstop for the Red Sox's Triple-A Affiliate in Worcester while Tyler played in the White Sox's system from 2019-2023.

Episode 2 - Being "Coachable"

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0500

This week, Jake and Ryan go over what it really means to be coachable, from the perspective of coaches and athletes.

Episode 1 - Intro to the Podcast

Mon, 29 May 2023 13:00:00 -0500

The Johansen Baseball team give a brief introduction to the podcast including who they are, their stories, and what you can hope to learn about on future podcast episodes!