In this episode, Coach Joe Giddens, Mainland High School’s (Daytona Beach, Fl) head basketball coach, former multi-sport All-Star, professional football player, and lifelong friend of basketball legend Vince Carter, joins us for an honest and energizing conversation about what it really takes to build mental toughness in today’s athletes.

Coach Giddens opens up about his journey from growing up in poverty to becoming a respected coach, mentor, and community leader. He shares the mindset shifts, discipline, and perseverance that carried him through adversity, and how he now instills those same values in the young athletes he leads. We dive into the challenges facing today’s youth, the role of purpose and accountability, and why mental resilience matters just as much off the court as on.

This episode is packed with wisdom, real stories, and practical lessons for athletes, parents, coaches, and anyone striving to overcome obstacles and grow stronger.

Key Topics:

Mental toughness and perseverance

Coaching life skills beyond sports

Overcoming adversity and poverty

The importance of discipline and purpose

Adapting to change and growth

Takeaways:

Perseverance is essential for success.

Coaching is about life lessons, not just sports.

Discipline helps in sports and life.

Having a clear 'why' drives motivation.

Adapting to change is crucial for longevity.

Sound Bites:

"Work in silence to succeed."

"Hard work pays off."

About the Guest:

Coach Joe Giddens is the Head Boys Basketball Coach and Head Bowling Coach at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he has become a respected leader, mentor, and culture builder within the Buccaneer athletic community. A proud Mainland alumnus, Giddens is part of the same legendary basketball lineage that produced NBA star Vince Carter, with whom he maintains a long-standing personal and athletic connection. Their shared roots at Mainland continue to influence the program’s identity, standards, and commitment to excellence.

Before stepping into coaching, Giddens was a standout multi-sport athlete who went on to play professionally in the Canadian Football League, bringing a rare blend of high-level football and basketball experience to his coaching philosophy. His time as a professional athlete shaped his understanding of discipline, mental toughness, and the mindset required to compete at elite levels — lessons he now passes on to his players. Giddens later earned his degree in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching from Bethune-Cookman University and has served in various roles across Volusia County Schools, including as a Physical Education teacher and student support leader. His coaching style blends structure, accountability, and genuine care, helping student-athletes grow not only as competitors but also as young men and women prepared for life beyond sports.

About the Host:

James Blasco is a CTA Certified Coach, and a Certified Functional Mental Toughness and Resilience coach, and a Certified Neuroscience Coach based in Ormond Beach, Florida, with a rich background in sales, media, and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, James has excelled in sales and sales coaching for some of the largest media companies, owned three successful businesses, and worked in media relations in the NFL. His diverse experiences have equipped him with a deep understanding of leadership, communication, and the drive needed to achieve success.

James is also trained specifically to coach to all aspects of mental toughness and resilience. Having received coaching and mentoring throughout his personal and professional life, James recognizes the profound impact of genuine, constructive, and meaningful guidance. He understands the passion required to pursue a goal, as well as the challenges of doubt, fear, and the need for perseverance.

Resources:

Website: www.chargeforwardcoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chargeforwardcoaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChargeForwardCoaching/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chargeforwardcoaching

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChargeForwardCoaching

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/ChargeForwardCoaching

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ChargeForwardCoaching

Guest Resources:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-giddens-80401640/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joe.giddens.35

Youth Basketball Kids Camp - June 1-4, 2026

In this powerful episode of Charge Forward, James Blasco sits down with Mike Reheuser , a former U.S. Marine, accomplished Department of Defense executive, high-stakes litigator, and now a sought-after executive coach who specializes in developing resilient, high-performance leaders. Mike’s career spans some of the most demanding arenas imaginable. After serving in the Marines, he transitioned to the legal field, where he litigated high-profile, high-pressure cases requiring exceptional discipline, strategic thinking, and emotional control. He later brought that same level of rigor and leadership to the Department of Defense, where he navigated complex organizational challenges and mission-critical decision-making. Today, he channels all of that experience into coaching executives, teams, and organizations to perform at their highest level.

James and Mike dive deep into the psychology and practice of mental toughness, using the foundational “Four C’s” framework: Control, Commitment, Challenge, and Confidence. Mike shares how these principles shaped his leadership in the military, guided his approach to high-stakes litigation, and now inform his coaching philosophy. Mike’s journey — from the courtroom to the battlefield to the boardroom, offers a masterclass in what it truly means to lead with strength, purpose, and unwavering mental toughness.

Key topics:

The four C's of mental toughness: control, commitment, challenge, confidence

Strategies for emotional regulation in high-pressure situations

Goal setting: realistic vs. ambitious approaches

Building trust and credibility as a leader

The importance of routines and physical fitness in mental resilience

Sound bites:

"Never let them see a sweat."

"Think about success, not failure."

"Confidence comes from preparation."

About the Guest:

Mike Reheuser is an Executive Leadership Coach with more than 35 years of experience leading in some of the most demanding environments in the world. A former Marine Corps Reserve Colonel, high‑stakes litigation attorney, and Senior Executive in the Department of Defense and U.S. Army, Mike has built a career at the intersection of national security, law, and organizational leadership. His roles included overseeing global civilian personnel programs for nearly 300,000 Army employees, directing enterprise‑wide human capital strategies, and managing multi‑billion‑dollar programs that shaped workforce performance, logistics, and readiness across the Army. As a litigator, he handled complex, high‑visibility cases involving national security, counterterrorism, and federal prosecutions, advising senior DoD leaders on matters of significant departmental impact. Today, as the founder of Reheuser Consulting LLC and an International Coaching Federation credentialed coach, Mike partners with executives and emerging leaders to help them strengthen decision‑making, overcome internal barriers, and lead with clarity and confidence. His coaching draws on decades of experience in strategic leadership, crisis management, and high‑pressure environments, blending active listening with a metrics‑driven, mission‑focused approach. With a reputation for integrity, insight, and executive presence, Mike equips leaders to navigate complexity, drive change, and unlock their full potential.

About the Host:

James Blasco is a CTA Certified Coach, and a Certified Functional Mental Toughness and Resilience coach, and a Certified Neuroscience Coach based in Ormond Beach, Florida, with a rich background in sales, media, and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, James has excelled in sales and sales coaching for some of the largest media companies, owned three successful businesses, and worked in media relations in the NFL. His diverse experiences have equipped him with a deep understanding of leadership, communication, and the drive needed to achieve success. James is also trained specifically to coach to all aspects of mental toughness and resilience.

Resources:

Website: www.chargeforwardcoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chargeforwardcoaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChargeForwardCoaching/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chargeforwardcoaching

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChargeForwardCoaching

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/ChargeForwardCoaching

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ChargeForwardCoaching

Guest Resources:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-reheuser-a20578309/

reheuser@comcast.net

In Part 2 of this powerful two‑part conversation, James Blasco and Doug Strycharczyk go even deeper into the practical side of Mental Toughness and the MTQ framework. Building on the foundations explored in Part 1, Doug shifts the focus toward real‑world application — how individuals, teams, and leaders can strengthen the 4Cs and use them to perform more effectively under pressure.

Doug shares insights from decades of research and fieldwork, including how mental toughness shows up in everyday behavior, why self‑awareness is essential for growth, and how mentally tough and mentally sensitive people can work together more effectively. James and Doug also explore common misconceptions, the role of mindset in innovation, and why optimizing strengths often matters more than “fixing” weaknesses.

Listeners will learn:

How to apply the 4Cs in real situations at work, in sport, and in daily life Why self‑awareness is the foundation of developing mental toughness How mentally tough and mentally sensitive individuals can complement each other Practical strategies for strengthening mental toughness over time What the latest research reveals about performance, innovation, and resilience Part 2 brings the science to life — giving listeners the tools, clarity, and confidence to start building mental toughness in meaningful, sustainable ways.

If you’re an athlete, coach, leader, or anyone who wants to understand how to perform at your best when it matters most, this conversation is a must-listen.

Key topics:

Mental Toughness vs Mental Sensitivity

How your experiences impact your mental toughness

The importance of self-awareness and customization in mental toughness training

Overview of the MTQPlus assessment

Sound bites:

"Challenge relates to resilience and risk orientation."

"Mental toughness is rooted in ancient Stoicism."

About the Guest:

Doug Strycharczyk is the CEO and founder of AQR International, one of the world’s leading organizations in the development and application of mental toughness. Since 1989, he has helped AQR expand into more than 80 countries, providing research-driven tools and assessments used across sport, business, education, health, and the military. Doug is widely recognized as a global authority on mental toughness. Working alongside Professor Peter Clough and Dr. John Perry, he has been instrumental in shaping the modern mental toughness framework and co-developing the MTQ assessments, the most widely used measures of mental toughness worldwide.

Their collaborative work has advanced both the theory and practical application of the 4Cs model—Control, Commitment, Challenge, and Confidence—and has been validated through extensive academic research. He is the co-author of several influential books, including Developing Mental Toughness, Developing Mental Toughness in Young People, and Developing Resilient Organizations. His work has been featured on BBC Television and adopted by elite performers, leaders, and institutions across the globe. With decades of experience helping individuals and organizations build resilience, adaptability, and high performance, Doug continues to be one of the most respected voices in the field of applied psychology and mental toughness development.

About the Host:

James Blasco is a CTA Certified Coach, and a Certified Functional Mental Toughness and Resilience coach, and a Certified Neuroscience Coach based in Ormond Beach, Florida, with a rich background in sales, media, and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, James has excelled in sales and sales coaching for some of the largest media companies, owned three successful businesses, and worked in media relations in the NFL. His diverse experiences have equipped him with a deep understanding of leadership, communication, and the drive needed to achieve success. James is also trained specifically to coach to all aspects of mental toughness and resilience.

Resources:

Website: www.chargeforwardcoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chargeforwardcoaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChargeForwardCoaching/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chargeforwardcoaching

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChargeForwardCoaching

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/ChargeForwardCoaching

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ChargeForwardCoaching

Guests Resources:

Developing Mental Toughness (Book) - https://www.amazon.com/Developing-Mental-Toughness-Strategies-Performance/dp/XXXXXX

AQR International - https://www.aqr-international.com/

Doug Strycharczyk's Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougstrycharczyk/