In this Coachable Players episode, Jon O'Brien interviews Austin Strine, an attorney who competed in track and field at Shippensburg University.

Austin discusses his athletic career, from playing multiple sports in high school to specializing in the decathlon in college, where he competed at the national level. He explained how the discipline, mental toughness and competitive nature developed through athletes translated directly to his legal career, including his approach to law school, handling stress and receiving constructive criticism from mentors.

Austin shared that his decision to pursue law came during his junior year of college after being inspired by a criminal law professor, and he emphasized how the athletic foundation helped him develop the discipline and work ethic necessary for success in the legal profession.

This Coachable Players episode features Jason Acquaye, an author, entrepreneur and former athlete, who discusses how lessons from football shaped his life beyond the game.

Jason shared his journey from playing multiple sports to finding his passion in football, where he learned discipline, perseverance and the importance of hard work. He reflected on pivotal moments, such as not qualifying for a D1 scholarship and instead attending Wilkes University, which he considered a life-changing decision. He emphasized that football taught him resilience, leadership and the value of getting back up after failures, lessons he applied in his business career in the medical device industry. Jason spoke about his entrepreneurial mindset, inspired by his father and his current focus preparing for fatherhood.

The conversation also touched on the importance of enjoying one's work, staying coachable and finding purpose in life, with Jason advising young athletes to stay open to new opportunities and not let setbacks define them.

This episode of the Coachable Players Podcast Jon sits down with Mark Nixon about coachability in educational settings.

Mark is a business student from Houston, Texas who mentors middle and high school students, and Mark discussed how being coachable applies beyond sports to academic and personal development. They explored the challenge students face in being coachable, including dealing with different life circumstances, building relationships with mentors and developing habits like asking for help, seeking feedback and managing social media's impact on self-worth.

Mark emphasized that great mentoring requires approaching students at their level, understanding their unique situations and modeling constructive communication and resilience. The conversation covered practical advice for students struggling with confidence or facing uncertainty about their future path after high school, with Mark suggesting tailored approaches based on interests and academic performance.

The episode concludes with Mark's final message to always keep showing up and staying coachable regardless of age or situation.