Two-time state championship volleyball coach Jenny Gragert joins the Max Out Mindset Podcast to share the leadership, communication, and mindset principles behind her sustained success. During 20 years of high school coaching, Jenny has led her teams to 14 state tournament appearances while building programs known for their trust, high standards, and consistent winning.

In this honest and insightful conversation, Jenny discusses the challenge of building Elkhorn North volleyball from the ground up and how she created a culture where athletes feel supported without being protected from accountability. She shares how she prepares athletes to respond to mistakes, handles difficult conversations about roles and playing time, and helps talented players continue growing as leaders.

Jenny also explains why coaches must make time for mindset training, how competing demands can contribute to athlete burnout, and why athletes need to know they are valued for more than their statistics or performance. She reflects on the championship matches that showed her what it looks like when athletes trust one another, clear their minds, and become completely absorbed in competing.

Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent, this episode offers practical lessons on building trust, maintaining high standards, handling pressure, and developing a culture that wins consistently. It is a powerful reminder that championship programs are built through more than talent. They are built by teaching athletes how to respond when things get difficult.

Max Out Mindset for Volleyball Book

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Instagram: @max_out_mind_Jess and on Twitter: @JessKnecht

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Michigan softball NFCA All-America Second Team All-American Lauren Putz joins the Max Out Mindset Podcast to share the mental skills that have helped her perform at one of the highest levels in college athletics. In this honest and insightful conversation, Lauren opens up about overcoming negative self-talk, learning to stay present under pressure, and why confidence isn't something you're born with—it's something you build through consistent work.

Lauren discusses the routines and mindset shifts that helped transform her game, including simplifying her approach with "see ball, hit ball," embracing pressure as a privilege, and discovering that athletes perform their best when they are both fun and focused. She also shares how mindset training has impacted not only her performance on the field but her growth as a person.

Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent, this episode offers practical lessons on confidence, resilience, self-awareness, and competing with freedom when the stakes are highest. It's a powerful reminder that the best athletes aren't the ones who never struggle—they're the ones who learn how to respond when challenges come.

Max Out Mindset for Softball Book

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Instagram:@max_out_mindset Twitter: @Doc_elitemind

Instagram: @max_out_mind_Jess and on Twitter: @JessKnecht

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Five-time Nebraska Class A State champion volleyball coach Katie Tarman returns to the Max Out Mindset Podcast for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a championship culture. Katie shares how vulnerability, role acceptance, consistent communication, and genuine relationships have become the foundation of one of the nation's most successful high school volleyball programs. She explains why great cultures aren't built during the playoffs, but through months of intentional conversations, trust, and player ownership. The discussion also explores the realities of balancing motherhood with coaching, leading with both empathy and accountability, creating psychological safety, and helping athletes become leaders who elevate everyone around them. Whether you're a coach, athlete, parent, or leader, this episode is filled with practical insights on building teams that compete fearlessly, stay connected through adversity, and create an environment where players never want to take off the jersey.