Always Coachable

ALWAYS LEARNING. ALWAYS GROWING. | JAKE NEWTON

The best athletes—and the best leaders—never believe they’ve arrived.

For former professional hockey player and mindset coach Jake Newton, growth starts with humility, self-awareness, and a willingness to keep learning.

Jake’s journey took him from a shy teenager growing up in California to college hockey and eventually the professional game. But some of his greatest growth came from the setbacks, blind spots, and challenges he encountered along the way.

In this episode of Always Coachable, we dive into:

🏒 The drive that fueled Jake’s hockey journey
🧠 What mental toughness actually looks like
📈 Why humility and coachability are essential for growth
🎯 Focusing on what you can control
🪞 How self-awareness and honest feedback unlock improvement
📱 The impact of social media on young athletes
💪 Why consistent preparation separates professionals from amateurs
🌱 Using sports to build better humans—not just better athletes

Jake also opens up about personal growth beyond hockey and why being willing to confront the things we don’t always see in ourselves can change the direction of our lives.

Always learning. Always growing.

🎧 Always Coachable is available wherever you get your podcasts.

New episodes every Monday & Thursday.

#AlwaysCoachable #HockeyMindset #MentalPerformance #GrowthMindset #HockeyLife

🎙️ EPISODE 7 — MIKE BUTTERS | ALWAYS COACHABLE

If you’re not falling, you’re not trying.

Mike Butters has spent a lifetime in hockey — as a player, coach, developer, and mentor — and his journey is a masterclass in what it means to stay coachable.

Known as “Hockey’s Renaissance Man,” Mike’s path took him through major junior, Canadian university and professional hockey before eventually leading him behind the bench and into player development through Hockey Horizons, where he’s helped develop more than 700 players.

In this episode, we talk about:

🏒 Why being cut and overlooked can become an advantage
🧠 How adversity builds resilience
📈 Why failure is essential to development
👊 How youth sports culture has changed
🎯 What great coaches understand about teaching the why
🔥 And why the willingness to keep learning matters long after your playing days are over

Mike’s story is a reminder that growth rarely happens when everything goes according to plan.

Sometimes you have to fall.

Sometimes you have to fail.

And sometimes those experiences are exactly what prepare you for what comes next.

🎧 Episode 7 of Always Coachable is available now wherever you get your podcasts.

New episodes every Monday & Thursday.

#AlwaysCoachable #HockeyMindset #HockeyLife #GrowthMindset #MentalPerformance

How do the best athletes stay motivated after they've achieved their dream?

In the newest episode of Always Coachable, I sit down with Gracie Dwyer—the 10th overall pick in the 2026 PWHL Draft, future Boston Fleet defenseman, former Cornell captain, and Team USA U-19 standout.

What impressed me most wasn't just what Gracie has accomplished—it's how she thinks.

We talked about the importance of competing because you love the game, embracing the process, and why the players who continue to grow are the ones who never stop being coachable.

Whether you're a hockey player chasing the next level, a parent supporting your athlete, or a coach developing young players, this conversation is packed with insights that extend far beyond the rink.

🎧 Episode drops today wherever you get your podcasts.
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube.

Thank you, Gracie, for sharing your journey and the mindset that's helped you reach the highest level of the game.

#GirlsHockey #YouthHockey #GrowthMindset #HockeyDevelopment #AlwaysCoachable

If you've ever faced adversity, self-doubt, or wondered how to perform at your best under pressure, this conversation is for you.

In Episode 5 of Always Coachable, I sit down with Ben Fanelli, founder of Heroic Minds, to talk about resilience, mindset, and what it truly means to turn adversity into strength.

After surviving a life-changing injury, Ben didn't just recover—he rebuilt his life with purpose. In this conversation, we dive into:
• Why feeling psychologically safe is essential for peak performance.
• How shifting your perspective can change everything.
• Why high performers focus on actions, not outcomes.
• The role of resilience, self-leadership, and continuous growth in sports and life.

One of my favorite takeaways:
"Focus on actions that lead to outcomes."

🎙️ Episode 5 is available now wherever you get your podcasts. I'd love to hear your biggest takeaway after you listen.

#AlwaysCoachable #BenFanelli #MindsetMatters #Resilience #PersonalGrowth

Success isn't always about what you accomplish.

Sometimes it's about what you survive... and who you become because of it.

In Episode 4 of Always Coachable, I sit down with former NFL player, TEDx speaker, and podcaster Marques Ogden for one of the most honest conversations I've had on the show.

Marques takes us from the unforgettable moment of running onto an NFL field for the very first time... to losing everything he owned... to rebuilding his life from the ground up with humility, gratitude, and a completely new perspective on success.

This conversation isn't just about football. It's about resilience, identity, leadership, and the mindset required to keep moving forward when life doesn't go according to plan.

If you're an athlete, coach, parent, business leader, or simply someone working to become a better version of yourself, I think you'll find something valuable in this episode.

🎧 Episode 4 is available now wherever you get your podcasts.
📺 Watch the full video on YouTube.

Thank you, Marques, for sharing your story with such honesty and vulnerability. Your journey is proof that our greatest setbacks often become the foundation for our greatest growth.

#AlwaysCoachable #GrowthMindset #Leadership #Resilience #Podcast

What separates great organizations from everyone else?

Talent matters. But talent without systems, leadership, and culture rarely reaches its full potential.

In this episode of Always Coachable, I sit down with Braden Pearl, founder of Advancement Hockey Advisors, for a conversation about what it really takes to build organizations and teams that consistently perform at a high level.

One of the things I've always respected about Braden is his belief that long-term success isn't built on motivation alone. It's built through intentional systems, strong leadership, clear standards, and a culture that people genuinely want to be part of. Those principles have shaped the way he's built his company and the athletes and families he serves.

We discuss leadership, organizational culture, accountability, communication, and why the best teams don't leave success to chance—they create systems that make success more likely.

Whether you're a coach, parent, athlete, business owner, or leader, this conversation offers practical insights into building an environment where people can consistently perform at their best.

What does success really look like?

In this episode of Always Coachable, Sandy Cohen sits down with Lee Elias—host of Our Kids Play Hockey, bestselling author, culture and teamwork expert, and devoted dad—for a conversation that goes far beyond sports.

Lee shares why his primary definition of success has nothing to do with championships, careers, or achievements, and everything to do with the impact he has on the people who matter most. Together, Sandy and Lee explore leadership, parenting, culture, resilience, personal growth, and why the best leaders never stop learning.

Whether you’re a parent, coach, athlete, or leader, this conversation will challenge the way you think about success—and what it truly means to leave a lasting legacy.

What happens when everything you’ve built your identity around is taken away? In Episode 1 of Always Coachable, Sandy Cohan sits down with former Green Beret Ben Harrow to discuss surviving an IED blast in Afghanistan, rebuilding his life, resilience, leadership, mindset, identity, and the lessons that help us keep moving forward through adversity. From soldier to survivor, this is a conversation about growth, purpose, and why the best leaders never stop learning.