Coats in Conversation Podcast

In this Coats in Conversation Podcast episode, mental health therapist, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendrique Coats, MS, ALMFT⁠⁠⁠⁠ interviews, Bryan McDermand, former sand volleyball athlete, now the head volleyball coach and owner of Progression Volleyball Club, which is a premier volleyball organization in the Chicagoland area.

In this episode, Bryan and Kendrique have a discussion about Rethinking Success in Youth Sports. Bryan challenges the way we define winning, failure, and athlete development. We explore why so many young athletes lose their love for sports, how coaches and parents can create healthier environments, and why success should be measured by growth not just wins and losses.

We also discuss the pressure of youth sports, travel teams, burnout, benching as punishment, the rising cost of competition, coaching education, NIL, and how mistakes can become powerful learning opportunities.

Whether you're a coach, parent, athlete, or sports professional, this conversation highlights a new approach into building confidence, resilience, and long-term success in youth sports while helping athletes thrive both on and off the court.

Check out previous episodes:

Parenting Through Sports, Identity, and Letting Go | Jake Carr, Sports Photographer and Entrepreneur

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coats-in-conversation-podcast/id1660408332?i=1000774242262

Women in College Sports and Athlete Mental Health |Fionna Hatton, Worcester State University Hockey

⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ci21vYhFKfAd4tD8vLHf1?si=tcPUf-aUS1m1auYhM4pRoQ⁠⁠

An athlete's battle with cancer and mental health | ⁠⁠Gabby Orlet, Grand Valley State Volleyball

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hnZ...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendrique Coats⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate based in Bloomington, Illinois working with couples and athletes in Illinois. Kendrique is also the ⁠⁠⁠⁠athlete mental health advisor for the⁠ Illinois High School Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Coats in Conversation Podcast features authentic, powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts, and mental health professionals who share their personal journeys of struggle, resilience, and growth.

 Disclaimer: This podcast (Coats in Conversation) is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health services. Kendrique Coats, Coats in Conversation, or any guest featured in this podcast, is not liable for any changes you make to your mental health plan without consulting a trained professional. If you require mental health support, please contact a licensed mental health professional. In case of an emergency, please call your local emergency services.

In this Coats in Conversation Podcast episode, mental health therapist, ⁠⁠⁠Kendrique Coats, MS, ALMFT⁠⁠⁠ interview, Jake Carr, a Illinois based sports photographer (owner of J7 Images), entrepreneur, and speaker.

We discuss he world of sports parenting and the powerful role sports can play in shaping both children and families. Jake highlights his journey with photography, watching his boys grow up in sports, and the often-overlooked emotions parents experience when a child’s athletic career comes to an end.

We talk about parental identity, the grief that can come with letting go of long-held dreams and expectations, and the challenges of supporting a child through a major transition while processing your own emotions.

This conversation brings attention to youth sports, parenting athletes, and the life lessons that emerge when sports are no longer at the center of family life.

Whether you're a sports parent, coach, or someone involved in youth athletics, this episode provides perspective on raising resilient kids and finding purpose beyond the game.

Check out previous episodes:

Mental Health In the Black Community| The Black Men's Perspective: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/640miQDFD5qHMI0Hqo0HBy?si=vNQ5uJPxRsWzmStJURZjxA⁠

Women in College Sports and Athlete Mental Health |Fionna Hatton, Worcester State University Hockey

⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ci21vYhFKfAd4tD8vLHf1?si=tcPUf-aUS1m1auYhM4pRoQ⁠

An athlete's battle with cancer and mental health | ⁠⁠Gabby Orlet, Grand Valley State Volleyball

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hnZ...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendrique Coats⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate based in Bloomington, Illinois working with couples and athletes in Illinois. Kendrique is also the ⁠⁠⁠⁠athlete mental health advisor for the⁠ Illinois High School Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Coats in Conversation Podcast features authentic, powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts, and mental health professionals who share their personal journeys of struggle, resilience, and growth.

 Disclaimer: This podcast (Coats in Conversation) is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health services. Kendrique Coats, Coats in Conversation, or any guest featured in this podcast, is not liable for any changes you make to your mental health plan without consulting a trained professional. If you require mental health support, please contact a licensed mental health professional. In case of an emergency, please call your local emergency services.

In this Coats in Conversation Podcast episode, mental health therapist, ⁠⁠Kendrique Coats, MS, ALMFT⁠⁠ interviews Trauma Expert and Founder of Trauma Therapist Institute, Rebecca Kase, MSW, LCSW, RYT.

In this episode, Rebecca breaks down trauma in a way that’s clear, grounded, and understandable. We talk about the two parts of trauma, how trauma responses actually work, and what happens in the nervous system after someone experiences stress or overwhelm.

Rebecca highlights that not all trauma looks the same and explains the differences between Big T versus Little T trauma. Rebecca then shares her perspective on Polyvagal Theory and some of the current misconceptions.

This conversation also challenges the idea that trauma is just “in the past.” Trauma lives in the nervous system and the body, and you can’t heal it by talking alone. We touch on what this means in therapy, why people often feel stuck, and how practices like movement and journaling can support regulation.

Finally, we zoom out to the bigger picture, how chronic stress and collective trauma impact not just individuals, but entire communities. When people are constantly in fear or survival mode, it changes how we connect, care, and show up for each other.

If you’re interested in trauma, nervous system regulation, and Polyvagal Theory, this episode gives you a deeper, more practical understanding of what’s really going on beneath the surface.

Check out previous episodes:

Mental Health In the Black Community| The Black Men's Perspective: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/640miQDFD5qHMI0Hqo0HBy?si=vNQ5uJPxRsWzmStJURZjxA

Women in College Sports and Athlete Mental Health |Fionna Hatton, Worcester State University Hockey

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ci21vYhFKfAd4tD8vLHf1?si=tcPUf-aUS1m1auYhM4pRoQ

An athlete's battle with cancer and mental health | ⁠⁠Gabby Orlet, Grand Valley State Volleyball

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hnZ...⁠⁠⁠⁠

About ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendrique Coats⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate based in Bloomington, Illinois working with couples and athletes in Illinois. Kendrique is also the ⁠⁠⁠⁠athlete mental health advisor for the⁠ Illinois High School Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Coats in Conversation Podcast features authentic, powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts, and mental health professionals who share their personal journeys of struggle, resilience, and growth.

Intro Music: 1080 Pale- Fool me Twice

*I do not own the rights to music. The music is free and is not being used for profit.*

 Disclaimer: This podcast (Coats in Conversation) is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health services. Kendrique Coats, Coats in Conversation, or any guest featured in this podcast, is not liable for any changes you make to your mental health plan without consulting a trained professional. If you require mental health support, please contact a licensed mental health professional. In case of an emergency, please call your local emergency services.

Athletes are expected to perform, on the field, in the classroom, and in life, but we don’t talk enough about what that pressure actually does to their mental health.

In this episode, I discuss with Tuskegee Universitys' Head Baseball Coach ,Chad Hall about the reality of balancing performance and well-being, what it really takes to build a culture where athletes feel safe to speak up, and the signs coaches can’t afford to miss.

We also get honest about identity, who you are beyond the sport, and what support coaches wish they had to show up better for their athletes.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of expectations or struggled to separate who you are from what you do, this conversation is for you.

Check out previous episodes:

The Pain They Don't See: Injury, Grief, and Identity: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0tGc...⁠⁠⁠

Life After The Game: Mental Health & Identity in Sports | ⁠Josh Kauten ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/51Qq...⁠⁠⁠

An athlete's battle with cancer and mental health | ⁠⁠Gabby Orlet⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hnZ...⁠⁠⁠

About ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendrique Coats⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate based in Bloomington, Illinois working with couples and athletes in Illinois. Kendrique is also the ⁠⁠⁠athlete mental health advisor for the⁠ Illinois High School Association⁠⁠⁠⁠. Coats in Conversation Podcast features authentic, powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts, and mental health professionals who share their personal journeys of struggle, resilience, and growth. 

Disclaimer: This podcast (Coats in Conversation) is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health services. Kendrique Coats, Coats in Conversation, or any guest featured in this podcast, is not liable for any changes you make to your mental health plan without consulting a trained professional. If you require mental health support, please contact a licensed mental health professional. In case of an emergency, please call your local emergency services.

In this Coats in Conversation Podcast episode, mental health therapist, ⁠Kendrique Coats⁠ interview William Person, who is a former Team U.S.A Bobsled Athlete.

Sports related concussions and CTE have become a growing concern in athletics, but we still don’t hear enough from the athletes living with the impact.

In this episode, we talk about the reality of concussions, CTE, and how brain injuries can affect an athlete’s mental health and performance long after competition ends. William shares his journey from chasing Olympic dreams as a kid to navigating the challenges that came ofter many years of brain injuries during competition.

We also discuss the mental toll of head injuries, the racial dynamics he experienced while competing, and what justice and accountability could look like for athletes moving forward, specifically with his pending lawsuit against the USA Bobsled Federation.

This conversation shed light on the hidden side of sports that many people don’t see, and why athlete mental health needs to be part of the sports conversation.

Check out previous episodes:

The Pain They Don't See: Injury, Grief, and Identity: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0tGc...⁠⁠

Life After The Game: Mental Health & Identity in Sports | ⁠Josh Kauten ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/51Qq...⁠⁠

An athlete's battle with cancer and mental health | ⁠⁠Gabby Orlet⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hnZ...⁠⁠

About ⁠⁠⁠⁠Kendrique Coats⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate based in Bloomington, Illinois working with couples and athletes in Illinois. Kendrique is also the ⁠⁠athlete mental health advisor for the⁠ Illinois High School Association⁠⁠⁠. Coats in Conversation Podcast features authentic, powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts, and mental health professionals who share their personal journeys of struggle, resilience, and growth. 

Disclaimer: This podcast (Coats in Conversation) is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health services. Kendrique Coats, Coats in Conversation, or any guest featured in this podcast, is not liable for any changes you make to your mental health plan without consulting a trained professional. If you require mental health support, please contact a licensed mental health professional. In case of an emergency, please call your local emergency services.

In this Coats in Conversation Podcast episode, mental health therapist, Kendrique Coats interview Alex Sutrinaitis, who is a Chicago Sports Institute Performance Coach.

We discuss early sports specialization, athlete mental health, and the real impact year-round training can have on young athletes. We talk about the biggest misconceptions around specializing early, the emotional and mental health challenges athletes face, and what we've seen firsthand working with athletes dealing with burnout, pressure, performance anxiety, and overuse injuries.

We also break down the role parents play, how expectations can affect development, and what parents, coaches, and athletes need to understand about long-term athlete development. If you care about youth sports, mental health in athletics, and helping athletes thrive both mentally and physically, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Check out previous episodes:

The Pain They Don't See: Injury, Grief, and Identity: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0tGc...⁠

Life After The Game: Mental Health & Identity in Sports | ⁠Josh Kauten ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/51Qq...⁠

An athlete's battle with cancer and mental health | ⁠⁠Gabby Orlet⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hnZ...⁠

About ⁠⁠⁠Kendrique Coats⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate based in Bloomington, Illinois working with couples and athletes in Illinois. Kendrique is also the ⁠athlete mental health advisor for the⁠ Illinois High School Association⁠⁠. Coats in Conversation Podcast features authentic, powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts, and mental health professionals who share their personal journeys of struggle, resilience, and growth. 

Disclaimer: This podcast (Coats in Conversation) is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health services. Kendrique Coats, Coats in Conversation, or any guest featured in this podcast, is not liable for any changes you make to your mental health plan without consulting a trained professional. If you require mental health support, please contact a licensed mental health professional. In case of an emergency, please call your local emergency services.

In this Coats in Conversation Podcast episode, Host Kendrique Coats speaks with former Illinois Wesleyan University standout athlete, now University of Notre Dame track and field athlete, Lauren Huber. We talk about the realities of being a college athlete, from playing through injuries and feeling the pressure to lead, to navigating mental health that isn’t always visible.

Lauren reflects on her time at Illinois Wesleyan, the transition from Division 3 to Division 1 at Notre Dame, and how leadership, competitiveness, and self-worth have evolved along the way.

This conversation highlights why mental health matters in college sports and why strong athletes still need support. Be sure to like and subscribe to Coats in Conversation to catch more episodes like this!

Check out previous episodes:

The Pain They Don't See: Injury, Grief, and Identity: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0tGc...

Life After The Game: Mental Health & Identity in Sports | ⁠Josh Kauten ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/51Qq...

An athlete's battle with cancer and mental health | ⁠⁠Gabby Orlet⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hnZ...

About ⁠⁠Kendrique Coats⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate based in Bloomington, Illinois working with couples and athletes in Illinois. Kendrique is also the athlete mental health advisor for the⁠ Illinois High School Association⁠. Coats in Conversation Podcast features authentic, powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts, and mental health professionals who share their personal journeys of struggle, resilience, and growth. 

Disclaimer: This podcast (Coats in Conversation) is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health services. Kendrique Coats, Coats in Conversation, or any guest featured in this podcast, is not liable for any changes you make to your mental health plan without consulting a trained professional. If you require mental health support, please contact a licensed mental health professional. In case of an emergency, please call your local emergency services.

In this episode, host Kendrique Coats, sit down with Fiona Hatton, a Worcester State University Women's Hockey student-athlete, to talk about college athlete mental health, anxiety, and the unseen pressures of student-athlete life.

Fiona shares what it’s like balancing academics, performance, and identity in college sports, and how learning to reframe stress and anxiety became a turning point in her journey.

She opens up about struggling with mental health, the guilt many athletes carry, and the reality that mental health does not discriminate. We also address the difficult but necessary conversation around suicide in college athletics, resilience, and recognizing emotional limits.

Towards the middle and end of the conversation ,we explore women’s mental health in sports, double standards faced by female athletes, and why better support for athlete mental health, especially from coaches matters.

This episode is an important reminder that no one escapes being human, and that mental health and performance are deeply connected.

Check out previous episodes

The Pain They Don't See: Injury, Grief, and Identity: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0tGcWubkj5fFQ7NQV6b9DN?si=N9oo7xuUT8qILxUvY9Tgmw⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Life After The Game: Mental Health & Identity in Sports | ⁠Josh Kauten⁠

⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/51Qq9bNqllDuXBcmGz2v8H?si=c2qEHR4nSpS37Refc3o0EQ⁠

An athlete's battle with cancer and mental health | ⁠Gabby Orlet⁠

⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hnZjoaauAesysXyxvIBui?si=CNPiPUsHSPSQ3bI_MoafDQ⁠

About ⁠Kendrique Coats⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate based in Bloomington, Illinois working with couples and athletes in Illinois. Kendrique is also the athlete mental health advisor for the Illinois High School Association. Coats in Conversation Podcast features authentic, powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts, and mental health professionals who share their personal journeys of struggle, resilience, and growth. 

Disclaimer: This podcast (Coats in Conversation) is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health services. Kendrique Coats, Coats in Conversation, or any guest featured in this podcast, is not liable for any changes you make to your mental health plan without consulting a trained professional. If you require mental health support, please contact a licensed mental health professional. In case of an emergency, please call your local emergency services.

Welcome back to Coats in Conversation I'm your host Kendrique Coats! In today's episode I interview professional football athlete, Wesley Steiner. Wesley was a standout football athlete at Auburn University and Washington State University before making it to the big leagues.

In this conversation, Wesley shares his journey in football, losing close family members, the importance of faith, and athlete mental health. Wesley also highlights some of the changes he would like to see specifically with a more holistic emphasis placed on athlete mental health.

Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or someone navigating change, this episode is a reminder: you are more than the game, and you don’t have to do it alone.

Check out previous episodes

The Pain They Don't See: Injury, Grief, and Identity: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0tGcWubkj5fFQ7NQV6b9DN?si=N9oo7xuUT8qILxUvY9Tgmw⁠⁠⁠⁠

Life After The Game: Mental Health & Identity in Sports | Josh Kauten

https://open.spotify.com/episode/51Qq9bNqllDuXBcmGz2v8H?si=c2qEHR4nSpS37Refc3o0EQ

An athlete's battle with cancer and mental health | Gabby Orlet

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hnZjoaauAesysXyxvIBui?si=CNPiPUsHSPSQ3bI_MoafDQ

About Kendrique Coats: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate based in Bloomington, Illinois working with couples and athletes in Illinois. Coats in Conversation Podcast features authentic, powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts, and mental health professionals who share their personal journeys of struggle, resilience, and growth. 

Disclaimer: This podcast (Coats in Conversation) is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health services. Kendrique Coats, Coats in Conversation, or any guest featured in this podcast, is not liable for any changes you make to your mental health plan without consulting a trained professional. If you require mental health support, please contact a licensed mental health professional. In case of an emergency, please call your local emergency services.

In this episode, athlete therapist, Kendrique Coats, sits down with Josh Kauten, a former college and professional baseball player who's now the owner of K's Training Academy, in Bloomington Illinois.

We talk about what it’s really like with dreams of playing baseball at a highest level, the “chip on the shoulder” mindset, and the kind of resilience it takes when you’re not the star player… yet.

Josh opens up about the identity shift that happens when sports end, the ego hit that comes with retirement, and how he eventually found purpose on the other side of being “just a baseball player.” We also explore the mental health challenges many athletes face today, and what he sees in the players he coaches.

For parents, this conversation hits on the pressure young athletes feel, the reality of travel ball, why letting your kid fail actually matters, and how to prepare them for the world of college baseball without burning them out, or tying their entire identity to a scholarship.

If you’re a parent, coach, or athlete who cares about development on and off the field, this episode is for you.

Check out previous episodes

The Pain They Don't See: Injury, Grief, and Identity: 

⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0tGcWubkj5fFQ7NQV6b9DN?si=N9oo7xuUT8qILxUvY9Tgmw⁠⁠⁠

More Than an Athlete: Identity, Loss, and Mental Health: 

⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/4BXwpfJg6vAjSXlOOlVnS8?si=NfettVRSQi20NNcOSvJajw⁠⁠⁠

Surviving D1 Athletics: Transferring, Injuries, and Athlete Mental Health

⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/6la9xzxIPeSvDKq0yE8efs?si=aOlcEUHYQmas4EygQyjxtw⁠⁠⁠

About Kendrique Coats: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate based in Bloomington, Illinois working with couples and athletes in Alabama and Illinois. Coats in Conversation Podcast features authentic, powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts, and mental health professionals who share their personal journeys of struggle, resilience, and growth. 

Disclaimer: This podcast (Coats in Conversation) is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health services. Kendrique Coats, Coats in Conversation, or any guest featured in this podcast, is not liable for any changes you make to your mental health plan without consulting a trained professional. If you require mental health support, please contact a licensed mental health professional. In case of an emergency, please call your local emergency services.