Mental toughness isn't something you're born with. It's something you build.

When Matt Fitzgerald joined The Coaching Minds Podcast back in 2021 (Episode #66), we talked about his book How Bad Do You Want It? and the psychology of pushing beyond our perceived limitations.

Five years later, Matt returns with a very different perspective.

After developing a serious illness that prevented him from running for more than three years, Matt found himself facing the very challenges he'd spent his career helping athletes overcome. In his new book, Dying to Run, he shares his journey from losing the sport that helped define him to attempting an ultramarathon against seemingly impossible odds.

In this episode, we explore what that experience taught him about mental toughness, handling adversity, rebuilding confidence, and taking control of how we respond when things don't go according to plan.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why mental toughness is a skill that can be developed
• How to respond to mistakes and disappointing performances without letting them define you
• Why setbacks should be treated as information rather than failure
• The difference between physical limitations and perceived limitations
• How coaches can help athletes build confidence through small successes
• Why preparing for adversity makes us better equipped to handle it
• The importance of finding enjoyment in the process rather than becoming consumed by outcomes
• How to focus on what you can control when everything else feels uncertain

Whether you're an athlete facing a setback, a coach trying to develop mentally stronger players, or someone navigating adversity in your own life, this conversation is a reminder that we can't always control what happens to us, but we can develop the skills to control how we respond.

Guest: Matt Fitzgerald
Book: Dying to Run - https://link.amazon/B014Bn1XF
Podcast: The Coaching Minds Podcast | Episode #154

Learn more about Mental Training Plan at www.mentaltrainingplan.com

Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:
mentaltrainingplan.com/athletes

Are you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:
mentaltrainingplan.com/teams

Jackson Wasserstrom joins The Coaching Minds Podcast to talk about his journey from Westfield High School to Indiana University football.

After arriving at IU as a walk-on, Jackson spent years earning his way, building his role, and eventually receiving a scholarship. His story is one of faith, discipline, visualization, gratitude, resilience, and betting on yourself when nothing is guaranteed.

In this episode, Ben and Jackson discuss:

• Growing up with a dream of playing college football
• Battling injuries in high school
• Using journaling, prayer, and visualization to build belief
• What it feels like to be a walk-on at the bottom of the depth chart
• Treating every rep like a game rep
• Earning a scholarship at IU
• The culture shift under Coach Cignetti
• Why everything has to be earned every day
• Choosing to stay at IU instead of transferring
• Advice for high school athletes who feel overlooked
• Why gratitude matters in the middle of chasing big goals

Jackson’s story is a powerful reminder that talent matters, but mindset, work ethic, preparation, and belief can carry an athlete further than most people expect.

Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:
mentaltrainingplan.com/athletes

Are you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:
mentaltrainingplan.com/teams

Dr. Chris Carr joins The Coaching Minds Podcast for a powerful conversation on performance psychology, mental health, and the evolution of mental training in sport.

Dr. Carr is the Director of Performance Psychology and Team Behavioral Health Clinician for the Green Bay Packers. Over the course of his career, he has worked with athletes and teams across the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, MLS, IndyCar, Olympic sports, and college athletics.

In this episode, Ben and Dr. Carr discuss:

• Why performance psychology and mental health are deeply connected
• The blurry line between performance coaching and therapy
• How the stigma around mental health in sports has changed
• Why mental training needs more science and clearer standards
• How coaches can help athletes handle pressure, failure, and setbacks
• Why process goals matter more than outcome obsession
• What high school coaches should teach first when building the mental game
• Why the best coaches support the person before the player

Dr. Carr also shares practical insight for coaches who want to help athletes build confidence, composure, concentration, routines, emotional regulation, and the ability to reset after mistakes.

Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:
mentaltrainingplan.com/athletes

Are you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:
mentaltrainingplan.com/teams

Dillon Thieneman’s path from Westfield High School to Purdue, Oregon, and now the NFL was built on more than talent.

In this episode of The Coaching Minds Podcast, Ben Carnes sits down with Dillon to talk about the mental side of elite performance: growing up in a competitive household, learning from his brothers’ walk-on mentality, handling recruiting noise, preparing with detail, bouncing back from mistakes, and using visualization to “play the game before the game.”

Dillon shares how preparation helped reduce anxiety, why fundamentals still matter at the highest level, what he learned from Oregon’s championship-level culture, and how he handles pressure, criticism, and comparison now that the stage is even bigger.

This conversation is packed with lessons for athletes, coaches, and parents about confidence, coachability, and staying committed to the process.

Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:
mentaltrainingplan.com/athletes

Are you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:
mentaltrainingplan.com/teams

What do fighter pilots and elite athletes have in common? More than you think.

In this episode, Ben sits down with Boo Boucousis—former fighter pilot and entrepreneur—to break down how high performers train, think, and respond under pressure. From the cockpit to competition, the principles of execution, accountability, and mental control remain the same.

Boo shares how fighter pilots use systematic debriefing, real-time feedback, and disciplined habits to accelerate learning and eliminate mistakes—lessons every athlete and coach can apply immediately.

If you want to perform at your best when it matters most, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most elite performance environments in the world.

Key Takeaways:

• Performance is built on mastering the basics—especially when you don’t feel like it
• Debriefing and reflection are the fastest ways to improve
• Fear isn’t the enemy—it’s part of the process in high-pressure moments

Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:
mentaltrainingplan.com/athletes

Are you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:
mentaltrainingplan.com/teams

What separates great athletes from everyone else?

It’s not talent.
It’s how they handle pressure.

In this episode, Dr. Tom Mitchell (former NBA sports psychologist for the Golden State Warriors) breaks down:

• The truth about nerves and performance
• How elite athletes reset after mistakes
• Why comparison destroys confidence
• The mindset tools used at the highest level

If you want to perform at your best when it matters most… this episode is for you.

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
13:00 Visualization Story
18:45 Super Bowl Story
23:00 Joe Montana on Fear

Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:
mentaltrainingplan.com/athletes

Are you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:
mentaltrainingplan.com/teams

In this episode of the Coaching Minds Podcast, Ben Carnes interviews Myron Burr Jr., who shares his journey from being an athlete to a coach and now an assistant city manager. They discuss the importance of mental preparation in sports, the lessons learned from veteran players, and the unique challenges of coaching young athletes. Myron emphasizes the significance of building relationships, understanding individual needs, and the transition of skills from sports to professional life. He concludes with advice for young athletes to relax and enjoy their journey.

• Mental preparation is crucial for performance.
• Building relationships with athletes is essential.
• Understanding individual needs helps in coaching.
• Preparation leads to confidence in performance.
• The mental aspect of sports is often overlooked.
• Lessons from veterans can shape a player's approach.
• Track and field requires a different mindset than team sports.
• Coaching young athletes involves navigating their social development.
• Routine and preparation can limit decision fatigue.
• Flexibility in routines is important for adaptability.

Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:
mentaltrainingplan.com/athletes

Are you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:
mentaltrainingplan.com/teams

Baseball is a game of failure — and how athletes respond to that failure often determines who lasts and who fades.

In this episode of The Coaching Minds Podcast, Ben Carnes sits down with Tyler Rubasky, Head Baseball Coach at Anderson University, to talk about what it really takes to build mentally tough athletes in today’s college game.

Tyler shares his journey from player to assistant coach to head coach, how injuries shaped his mindset, and why he chose to fully invest in mental training — even during a major coaching transition. He explains how mental skills impact performance between pitches, after errors, and during slumps, and why mental preparation matters just as much as physical development.

You’ll also hear how mental training:

• Shapes recruiting and culture
• Helps athletes move on from failure faster
• Prepares players for life after baseball
• Changes how coaches show up in big moments

Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or leader working under pressure, this conversation is packed with insight on identity, resilience, and long-term development.

Episode Chapters / Timestamps (Highly Recommended)

00:00 – Intro & Tyler’s coaching journey
02:00 – Why mental training matters in baseball
03:15 – Playing through injury & mental resilience
05:20 – Initial skepticism about mental training
06:40 – Why Anderson invested in Mental Training Plan
08:00 – Why baseball is uniquely mentally demanding
10:45 – NIL, transfers, and new mental challenges
12:40 – Building culture players want to stay in
14:15 – Mental training’s role in recruiting
17:15 – How players actually use mental skills in games
18:45 – How mental training changed Tyler’s coaching style
20:05 – Preparing athletes for life after baseball
22:10 – Advice to coaches on the fence about mental training
24:45 – Advice Tyler would give his younger self
26:20 – Advice for first-year coaches

Are you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:
mentaltrainingplan.com/athletes

Are you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:
mentaltrainingplan.com/teams