In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Obi Emegano — a former college/pro hooper - for a powerful conversation about mentorship, adaptability, and what it really takes to keep leveling up as an athlete.

Before Obi was averaging 23 points per game in college and building a successful pro career, he was just an 11-year-old soccer player. His path didn’t change because of a highlight moment or sudden breakout — it changed because one coach saw something in him, believed in his potential, and took the time to invest in his development. That moment became a turning point.

The conversation centers on a truth that shows up again and again in elite athletic journeys: the right coach, at the right time, can completely alter an athlete’s trajectory — and sometimes their entire life.

Obi shares how, as he climbed each level of basketball, he began to notice a consistent pattern. Every time he moved up, his role changed — and with it came discomfort, uncertainty, and the need to rebuild from scratch. In high school, he played as a big man. In college, he had to transition into a guard. Later, in the pros, he went from being a defensive specialist to becoming his team’s leading scorer — and eventually the 7th leading scorer in the nation.

Instead of resisting those shifts, Obi leaned into them.

One of his most important lessons for young athletes is simple but often overlooked: excel in the role you’re given. Advancement doesn’t usually come from demanding more responsibility before you’ve earned it. It comes from mastering what’s in front of you — even when it feels smaller than your ambitions.

A major theme of the episode is mentorship. Obi emphasizes that when you look at nearly any elite athlete’s journey, there’s almost always a coach or mentor who played a pivotal role behind the scenes. But not all mentors are created equal. His advice is to choose wisely:

- Have they already achieved what you’re working toward?

- Do they genuinely have your best interests at heart?

- Are they invested in your growth — not just your results?

If the answer is yes, be a sponge. Absorb everything you can. Success leaves clues, and learning from people who’ve already walked the path you’re on can dramatically shorten the learning curve. Their mistakes become your lessons. Their journey becomes your roadmap.

Throughout the episode, Obi reinforces that talent alone rarely carries athletes as far as they hope. What separates those who stall from those who sustain long careers is adaptability, humility, and the willingness to grow through changing roles — guided by the right people.

This episode is a must-listen for athletes navigating transitions, parents thinking deeply about long-term development, and coaches who understand that belief, guidance, and trust can be just as impactful as any drill or workout.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by ⁠https://athletesuntapped.com/⁠ - the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect families with elite, vetted coaches who help athletes grow through strong fundamentals, smart habits, and positive training environments.

👉 Listen weekly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram for highlights and full episodes: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/

Shaun Gerardo on Using Basketball as an Outlet, Shooting/Dribbling Tips, Mental Toughness, and More!

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Shaun Gerardo — Athletes Untapped’s 2025 Coach of the Year — for a powerful conversation about basketball, resilience, and how the right kind of coaching can shape athletes far beyond the court.

For Shaun, basketball was never just a game. Early in his life, it became an outlet — a place to channel emotion, escape difficult circumstances, and build structure when everything else felt uncertain. Over time, the lessons he learned through the sport opened doors, created opportunity, and ultimately became the foundation for the coach he is today. His story is a reminder of something we see every day at Athletes Untapped: sports have the power to change lives when they’re taught the right way.

A central theme of the conversation is growth through challenge. Shaun explains why real development doesn’t happen in comfort — and why shielding athletes from struggle often does more harm than good. He introduces the concept of “pain trials,” controlled moments of difficulty built intentionally into training. These aren’t about breaking kids down or pushing them too far. Instead, they’re about creating a safe environment where athletes can struggle, adapt, and discover what they’re truly capable of.

When athletes experience discomfort in a supportive setting, Shaun believes they build something far more valuable than skill alone: confidence, resilience, and self-belief. Learning how to respond when things get hard prepares them not just for competition, but for life.

We also dive into the critical relationship between parents and coaches. Shaun shares why alignment matters — and how the right kind of “encouraging pressure” helps athletes push past perceived limits without fear. When coaches and parents work together, athletes feel supported, challenged, and understood. That balance, he explains, is where long-term development thrives.

Another major focus of the episode is strength training and longevity. Shaun is clear: if athletes want to play at a high level, strength training cannot be optional. The goal isn’t just jumping higher or moving faster — it’s staying healthy through long seasons, preventing injuries, and building a body that can withstand years of competition. Ignoring strength work early may not show immediate consequences, but eventually, it catches up. For athletes who want both performance and a long career, it has to be part of the plan.

Throughout the conversation, Shaun’s philosophy comes back to one idea: basketball — and sports in general — are vehicles for building better humans. Wins matter. Skill matters. But character, habits, and resilience last far longer than any stat line.

In this episode, we cover:

- How basketball became a life-changing outlet for Shaun

- Why controlled struggle is essential for real athlete development

- What “pain trials” are and how they build confidence and resilience

- The importance of alignment between parents and coaches

- How encouraging pressure helps athletes grow without burnout

- Why strength training is critical for performance and longevity

- Lessons athletes can carry from sports into everyday life

At Athletes Untapped, we believe youth sports should build confident, resilient athletes who love the game — not fear it. Shaun Gerardo embodies that mission through the way he teaches, challenges, and supports the athletes he works with every day.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com - the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect families with elite, vetted coaches to help athletes grow through great instruction, strong habits, and positive sports experiences.

👉 Listen weekly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram for highlights and full episodes: https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Sarah Bixby - a sports dietitian who works closely with young athletes and families navigating one of the most misunderstood parts of development: fueling.

The conversation starts with a common assumption Sarah sees every day — that supplements are the shortcut to better performance. Protein powders, creatine, pre-workouts… many young athletes are taking them without fully understanding what’s in them, whether they’re safe, or if they’re even necessary. Sarah explains that for the vast majority of youth athletes, supplements aren’t the answer. Real food is. With the right planning and consistency, young athletes can get everything they need through proper meals — without the added risk.

From there, the discussion turns to a bigger (and more surprising) issue: most young athletes are under-fueled — and they don’t realize it.

Sarah shares an eye-opening example from her work, explaining that a hard-training 15–17 year old male athlete can need up to 5,000 calories per day. It’s not a hard rule, and every athlete is different — but the number stops people in their tracks. When you consider daily practices, games, travel teams, tournaments, lifting, conditioning… and the fact that these athletes are still growing, the energy demand adds up fast.

Many athletes feel constantly tired, struggle to recover, or hit performance plateaus — not because they’re lazy or under-trained, but because they’re simply not eating enough. Sarah emphasizes that food isn’t just fuel for workouts. It’s fuel for growth, development, focus, and long-term health. When athletes consistently under-eat, they’re unintentionally putting a ceiling on their potential.

A major theme of the episode is intentional fueling — understanding what your body needs at different stages and being proactive instead of reactive. Sarah breaks down why skipping meals, grazing without structure, or relying on “quick fixes” can quietly derail progress. Proper nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require awareness, preparation, and support from parents and coaches.

Throughout the conversation, Sarah shares practical takeaways for athletes and families:

- Why real food should come before supplements

- How growth + training dramatically increase calorie needs

- Signs an athlete may be under-fueled

- Why consistency matters more than perfection

- Athletes shouldn't be hands-off with their own nutrition

One of the biggest takeaways from the episode is that nutrition isn’t about extremes or rigid rules. It’s about building habits that support an athlete’s full life — practices, games, school, growth, and recovery. When athletes learn to fuel properly early, they don’t just perform better now — they set themselves up for longevity in sport and beyond.

This episode is a must-listen for athletes who want more energy and better recovery, parents trying to support healthy development, and coaches who understand that training doesn’t stop when practice ends.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com/ - the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect families with elite, vetted coaches who help athletes grow through strong fundamentals, smart habits, and positive training environments.

👉 Listen weekly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram for highlights and full episodes: https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Lindsey Wilson - accomplished mental performance coach who works with athletes across sports to help them build confidence, resilience, and consistency when it matters most.

The conversation centers on a simple truth that elite athletes understand early: you can train your body and skills every day, but if you neglect your mental game, you’re leaving a massive opportunity on the table.

Most athletes accept that missed shots, bad games, and failure are part of sports. What they don’t always prepare for is how those moments feel — the frustration, self-doubt, and internal noise that can spiral if you don’t have the right tools. Lindsey explains that the top 1% of performers aren’t immune to these moments. They’re just better equipped to handle them. As competition gets tougher, the margins shrink, and mindset becomes the separator.

A major theme of the episode is cognitive dissonance — the uncomfortable gap between where you are right now and where you want to be. Lindsey breaks down why this tension causes so many athletes to hesitate, play it safe, or abandon big goals altogether. Mental performance training teaches athletes to sit with that discomfort instead of running from it. When you learn to trust yourself in uncertain moments, chasing ambitious goals becomes less scary — even when there’s no guarantee it works out.

Throughout the conversation, Lindsey shares practical mental habits that athletes can practice daily, just like physical drills:

- Normalize failure

- Control the controllables

- Practice awareness

- Build consistency through habits

- Choose growth over comfort

These tools aren’t about positive thinking or pretending pressure doesn’t exist. They’re about building the ability to perform with pressure instead of fighting it. Lindsey emphasizes that mental strength is trained the same way as physical strength: with repetition, patience, and intentional practice.

One of the most powerful takeaways from the episode is that these skills extend far beyond sports. Once athletes learn how to manage doubt, stay composed, and commit to growth under pressure, those habits carry into school, work, relationships, and life. You start to trust yourself in hard moments. You stop needing perfect conditions to move forward.

This episode is a must-listen for athletes who want to compete with confidence, parents who want to support healthy long-term development, and coaches who believe the mental side of sport deserves just as much attention as the physical.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com/ — the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect families with elite, vetted coaches who help athletes grow through strong fundamentals, smart habits, and positive training environments.

👉 Listen weekly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram for highlights and full episodes: https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Marley Canales - pro soccer player and former UCLA Bruin - for a conversation every young soccer player (and parent) needs to hear about adversity, development, and mindset at the highest levels of the game.

Marley’s journey through college soccer and into the professional ranks didn’t follow the “easy path” many athletes expect. Like countless elite youth players, she entered college after being one of the best in her high school and club environment — only to quickly realize that success doesn’t automatically carry over. The speed of play increases. The competition sharpens. And for many freshmen, failure shows up early.

Instead of running from those moments, Marley learned to lean into them.

Early in the conversation, she opens up about how facing setbacks during her freshman year at UCLA became a turning point in her career. Minutes weren’t guaranteed. Confidence was tested. And the margin for error felt smaller than ever. Rather than letting those challenges define her, Marley used them as fuel — learning how to ask better questions, break down film with intention, and approach her training with a higher level of focus and accountability.

One of Marley’s core lessons is simple but powerful: control what you can control.

From preparation and effort to recovery and mindset, she explains how elite soccer players learn to narrow their focus when external factors — coaches’ decisions, results, or playing time — are outside their control. That mental shift not only helped her grow as a college player, but also prepared her for the demands of professional soccer, where resilience and consistency matter just as much as technical ability.

We also dive into a topic that creates anxiety for so many families in youth sports: early dominance. Too many athletes believe that if they’re not starring immediately in college, they’re falling behind. Marley pushes back on that idea completely. Development, especially in soccer, is rarely linear. Physical growth, tactical understanding, and mental maturity often take time — and the athletes who stick with the process are the ones best positioned for long-term success.

Throughout the episode, Marley shares insights that resonate far beyond soccer. Her experience applies to any athlete navigating transitions, pressure, or self-doubt — especially those learning how to respond when things don’t go their way for the first time.

In this episode, we cover:

- Why most college soccer players face failure early — and why that’s normal

- How film study and self-reflection accelerate player development

- The importance of controlling controllables at the college and pro level

- Why being the best high school player doesn’t guarantee college success

- How adversity shaped Marley’s mindset and professional career

- What young athletes can do when confidence takes a hit

- Lessons parents and coaches can reinforce during tough stretches

At Athletes Untapped, we believe youth sports should build confidence, resilience, and long-term love for the game — not fear or burnout. Marley Canales embodies exactly what that looks like. Her story is proof that growth comes from embracing challenges, staying curious, and committing to the process.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com - the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect families with elite, vetted coaches to help athletes grow through great instruction, strong habits, and positive sports experiences.

👉 Listen weekly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram for highlights and full episodes: https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Kathleen Baker — Olympic swimmer, world-class competitor, and longtime leader in USA Swimming — for a conversation that goes far beyond medals and podiums. We talk about swim technique, breathing, mindset, and what it really feels like to compete on the biggest stage in the world.

From the outside, the Olympics can feel almost mythical. Perfect races. Perfect preparation. Perfect confidence. But Kathleen is quick to pull back the curtain.

At the highest level of swimming, nothing is automatic. Races are decided by fractions of a second. One mistimed breath, one rushed turn, or one moment of tension can change everything. That’s why Kathleen emphasizes that fundamentals — especially breathing and body control — aren’t just for beginners. They’re everything.

During the conversation, Kathleen breaks down some of the breathing principles she still lives by and teaches today:

- Stay relaxed under pressure — tension is the fastest way to lose efficiency

- Let breathing support rhythm, not disrupt it — timing matters as much as strength

- Focus on consistency, not perfection — great races are built on repeatable habits

These ideas sound simple, but any swimmer knows how difficult they become when fatigue sets in or nerves kick in. Kathleen explains how learning to trust her breathing and technique allowed her to stay calm in high-stakes moments — including Olympic finals — when adrenaline is at its peak.

We also dive into what it was like representing Team USA on the Olympic stage. The intensity. The expectations. The emotional highs and lows that come with racing the best swimmers in the world. Kathleen shares how those experiences shaped not just her career, but her perspective on growth, pressure, and long-term development.

Today, Kathleen is deeply invested in training young athletes — and her philosophy is refreshingly grounded. She believes great coaching starts with teaching athletes how to understand their bodies, manage stress, and build confidence through strong fundamentals. Speed comes later. Results come later. But habits last.

This episode is a must-listen for swimmers looking to improve their technique, parents who want to better understand what healthy development looks like, and coaches who believe the mental side of sport matters just as much as the physical.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com/ - the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect families with elite, vetted coaches to help athletes grow through great instruction, strong habits, and positive sports experiences.

👉 Listen weekly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram for highlights and full episodes: https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Julie Rebh — an Athletes Untapped soccer coach and former Haverford College standout — for a thoughtful conversation every soccer parent and young athlete needs to hear.

At every level of youth soccer, it’s easy for the noise to take over. Rankings. Teams. College paths. Early specialization. From the outside, it can start to feel like there’s one “right” way to do things — and that if you fall behind early, you’re out.

Julie pushes back on that idea immediately.

One of the biggest themes of our conversation is ownership. Parents handle the carpools, sit through long weekends at the fields, and ride every emotional high and low. But Julie is clear: for an athlete to truly succeed long-term, the motivation has to come from them. If a kid doesn’t love the game, no amount of pressure, training, or opportunity will make it stick.

From there, we dive into why Division III soccer is such an underrated option. Julie shares her own experience playing at Haverford and explains why D3 can be an incredible environment for the right athlete — strong academics, high-level competition, great coaching, and the ability to play because you want to, not because you’re locked into a scholarship.

We also spend time talking about multi-sport athletes — something Julie strongly believes in. Playing multiple sports helps kids develop better athleticism, avoid burnout, and most importantly, keep sports fun. Soccer benefits from basketball footwork, lacrosse vision, and even track speed. Variety builds better athletes and healthier relationships with competition.

Throughout the episode, Julie shares practical insights she brings into her coaching today:

- Let the athlete lead the dream — parents support, not steer

- Development isn’t linear — growth looks different for every player

- Multi-sport backgrounds create more adaptable, resilient athletes

These ideas matter whether your child is just starting out or thinking about high school and college soccer. Julie emphasizes that long-term success comes from enjoyment, consistency, and environments that support growth — not pressure or shortcuts.

This episode is a must-listen for soccer parents trying to navigate the youth sports landscape, players figuring out their own path, and coaches who believe development should be athlete-first.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com/ - the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect families with elite, vetted coaches to help athletes grow through great instruction, strong habits, and positive sports experiences.

👉 Listen weekly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram for highlights and full episodes: https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with https://www.instagram.com/coachballgame/ - Youth Ambassador for ⁨the MLB⁩ and one of the most influential voices in youth sports today - for a conversation every athlete, parent, and coach needs to hear.

James has spent years traveling the country, training thousands of coaches, working alongside some of the greatest players in the game, and impacting millions of young athletes through his teaching. And yet, when we asked him one simple question — how do you help young athletes stay calm under pressure? — his answer wasn’t complicated.

It was breathing.

Pressure moments are unavoidable in baseball. Bases loaded. Two strikes. Crowd noise. Bright lights. Expectations. Even the most prepared athletes feel the wave hit — including professionals. The difference? Pros are equipped with tools to reset in real time.

James points to Mookie Betts as a perfect example. Watch him in the on-deck circle and you’ll see it: inhale for four seconds, exhale for two. It’s a simple breathing technique, but it works because it forces the mind back into the present moment. Instead of spiraling into self-doubt or thinking about outcomes, the athlete anchors to their breath — and clarity follows.

That idea extends far beyond breathing. One of James’s core philosophies is that coaching starts with connection. Before athletes can absorb drills, mechanics, or feedback, they need to know their coach genuinely cares. Trust creates buy-in. Buy-in creates growth.

When kids feel seen and valued, they listen harder, work harder, and enjoy the game more. At Athletes Untapped, we see this every day — and it’s why mentorship matters just as much as technical training when we recruit coaches to our platform.

James also challenges athletes to step outside their comfort zone. Playing multiple sports, learning new roles, and embracing unfamiliar situations builds adaptability — not just on the field, but in life. Baseball teaches failure better than almost any sport, and growth comes from learning how to respond, reset, and move forward.

That same theme shows up in our broader Untapped Stories conversations, including our episode with pro basketball player Makenna Marisa, who breaks down confidence as a skill — not a personality trait. Confidence is built through action, quick resets, and long-term perspective. The mental game matters at every level.

This episode is a must-listen for athletes learning to manage pressure, parents supporting confidence the right way, and coaches who believe development starts with trust, presence, and preparation.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com/ — the nation’s leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect families with elite, vetted coaches across baseball and 15+ sports to help athletes grow through great instruction, strong habits, and positive sports experiences.

👉 Listen weekly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram for highlights and full episodes: https://www.instagram.com/athletesuntapped/