What if the thing you built your whole life around is the same thing keeping you from knowing who you really are?

We chase the dream for years, reach the top, and then wonder why we feel so empty once we finally get there.

In this episode of The Evolving Athletes Podcast, Coach Vinny Malts sits down with Kurtis Gabriel, a former pro hockey enforcer who fought his way to the NHL and then faced a much harder battle once the game was gone.

What You Will Learn In This Episode:

• Pain vs Suffering: Why pain shows up in every life but suffering is a choice, and how that one shift changes how you handle everything that comes at you.
• The Identity Trap: How building your whole self on one role sets you up to break when it gets taken away, and how to find who you are underneath it.
• Discipline Over Motivation: Why motivation comes and goes while discipline holds, and how one non negotiable daily practice became the thing that changed everything.
• Your Own Scoreboard: How chasing approval from coaches, stats, and other people keeps you stuck, and what it means to play for that feeling instead.
• Knowing Yourself First: Why putting your own happiness first is not selfish, and how everything you want tends to follow once you do the real work of knowing yourself.

Shownotes: 00:00 - Welcome to The Evolving Athletes Podcast 02:56 - The Genuineness of "Namaste" in Hockey Culture 06:43 - Deconditioning and Relaxing Into "The Zone" 09:15 - The Discipline of Daily Meditation 13:09 - Pain is Inevitable, Suffering is Optional 14:44 - Lessons from the NHL Journey and Handling Identity 17:57 - Childhood Creativity and Personal Tragedy 21:41 - The Core Battle: Vulnerability vs. Toughness 25:32 - Moving Past Dogma to Awareness and Consciousness 33:12 - Returning to the Enforcer Role with a New Mindset 38:44 - Putting Your Own Happiness First 42:52 - Humans, Systems, and Collaborative Leadership 49:44 - The Power of Storytelling in Coaching 57:08 - Finding the "Bowl" for Integration 01:02:02 - Identity Crisis and Helping Others Find Their "Middle Way" 01:06:12 - Authenticity in the Age of AI 01:12:01 - Building a Community of "Love and Light" 01:15:52 - Curtis's Future Mission: Book and Course Launch 01:18:30 - What it Means to Evolve as an Athlete

Connect with Kurtis Gabriel Instagram: kurtisgabriel_

Connect with Coach Vinny Website: coachvinnymalts.com Instagram: @coachvinnymalts Linkedin: Vince Malts

Website: https://coachvinnymalts.com/ Are you ready to evolve?

What if the single biggest threat to your team's growth isn't a lack of talented workers, but the unwilling leaders running it?

We routinely blame an entire generation for being lazy, yet we refuse to give them the actual environments they need to succeed.

In this episode of the Evolving Athletes Podcast, Coach Vinny Malts tears up the conventional corporate handbook alongside Sam Caucci, the visionary founder and CEO of 1Huddle and author of Wasted Talent.

Sam breaks down why the frameworks built to train our modern workforce are fundamentally broken, sterile, and failing the very people they are meant to support.

By extracting the precise word choices, relentless preparation habits, and continuous practice models used by elite sports performance coaches, Sam has completely re-engineered how frontline employees learn, execute, and handle intense pressure.

What You Will Learn In This Episode: The 5X Sourcing Lie: A stark financial breakdown of why trying to buy external talent costs your business five times more cash than building a clear pathway for the roster you already have.

Managing vs. True Coaching: How to stop dictating robotic commands as a manager and start operating as an empathetic coach who aligns personal missions to unlock extreme "discretionary effort".

The Dark Side of Gamification: An inside look at how extraction-based leaderboards backfired severely inside Amazon warehouses, and how to use game psychology correctly to build healthy, self-driven competition.

Operating Without Game Film: Why making massive talent decisions based on pure gut feeling is weakening companies, and how evaluating your team with objective data changes everything.

Eliminating the Generational Experience Gap: Dynamic communication tactics to lead Millennials and Gen Z by entirely replacing "do it because I said so" culture with the transparent "why" behind every single daily drill.

Connect with Sam Caucci Instagram: @sammycaucci Instagram: @play1huddle Website: https://1huddle.co/

Connect with Coach Vinny: Instagram: @coachvinnymalts Website: https://coachvinnymalts.com/

Are you ready to evolve?

Most athletes believe that blind hustle and perfect data tracking are the keys to reaching the top tier.

But some of the most resilient players in the world know that grinding harder will eventually break your system.

Dr. Mike T. Nelson grew up battling a massive congenital heart defect that left him in heart failure and completely out of breath at just four years old. He later faced a severe visual blindspot that forced his entire body out of alignment, leaving him constantly injured under traditional, rigid workout routines. When his body kept breaking, his coaches simply told him to stop asking questions and just suck it up.

By graduation, he was an engineer turned exercise physiologist, decoding complex dynamic human systems for elite high performers.

That shift did not happen because he followed standard industry protocols. It happened because he fired his coach and discovered a biological truth that most trainers completely miss.

In this deep dive, Coach Vinny Malts and Dr. Mike T. Nelson explore what it really means to outthink your competition, respect structural complexity, and build absolute physical autonomy.

Watch the full evolution to discover:

• The Greedy Brain: Why your mind hoards 30% of your metabolic energy and will ruthlessly starve your muscles of fuel the second it senses a survival threat.
• The Robot Jock Fallacy: The real reason the strongest players in the weight room rarely start on game day, and why tracking individual statistics completely ruins team chemistry.
• The Bumper Bowling Model: A systematic framework to safely transition an athlete from rigid training boundaries into total self-coaching autonomy.
• The Illusion of Flow: Why chasing a flow state with quick mental tricks fails, and how elite processing speed is actually a byproduct of unconscious physical mastery.
• The Quantitative Trap: Why relying blindly on a tracking wearable's surrogate scores can completely derail your recovery logic.
• About Dr. Mike T. Nelson: Mike is a world-class performance coach, exercise physiologist, researcher, and educator who has spent nearly two decades pressure-testing human metabolism, heart rate variability, and performance to help athletes unlock true resilience.

Connect with Dr. Mike: Instagram: @drmiketnelson

Connect with Coach Vinny:Instagram: @coachvinnymalts

Are you ready to evolve?

Most athletes believe that starting late means falling behind forever.

But some of the most resilient players in the game never had the luxury of a head start.

Kim McCullough grew up playing every sport except hockey. She showed up to her first competitive game in hand-me-down gear with no idea what she was doing. Her skating was rough. Her hands were rough. She was the worst player on the ice.

By college, she was leading her team in scoring and heading to Team Canada camp.

That gap did not close because she worked harder. It closed because she understood something most athletes never figure out.

In this deep dive, Coach Vinny and Kim McCullough explore what it really means to build a career on self-knowledge, not just skill.

Watch the full evolution to discover:

• The Late Starter Advantage: Why players who come to the game with fresh eyes often outlast those who were groomed from birth.
• The Confidence Gap: The real reason female athletes hold themselves back, and what coaches can do about it in real time.
• The FIST Framework: A simple four-word anchor Kim has used with teams from U11 all the way to the Icelandic national team.
• The Monthly Report Card: A five-minute team exercise that revealed more about each player than stats, film, or any one-on-one ever could.
• Your Value as a Player Is Not Your Value as a Person: The message every athlete needs to hear and most coaches forget to say.

About Kim McCullough: Kim is the founder of Total Female Hockey, a former Division I captain at Dartmouth, professional player in the CWHL, and a Hockey Canada coach developer who has spent over 20 years helping female athletes see themselves differently.

Connect with Kim:

Instagram: @totalfemalehockey_

Website: totalfemalehockey.com

Connect with Coach Vinny:

Instagram: @coachvinnymalts

Are you ready to evolve?

Most athletes believe that grit and effort are the only keys to success.

But intensity without wisdom is dangerous.

Tex McQuilkin grew up in the intense football culture of Katy, Texas, where weightlifting started in the sixth grade. He was an enforcer on the field who earned his nickname far from home. His entire identity was built on being hard-nosed and all in. Everything changed after a single coaching mistake left a teammate injured.

That moment cracked his identity.

It opened the door to a grueling apprenticeship that transformed how he leads.

In this deep dive, Coach Vinny and Tex McQuilkin explore what it really means to evolve as an athlete.

Watch the full evolution to discover:

The Audacity of the Underdog: How a group of 15 players started their own program from scratch when the system failed them. The 3 Ps Filter: A methodical way to ensure every drill has purpose, practicality, and prudence. The Laws of Motor Learning: A four-step framework to teach skills that actually translate to the game. Winning the "Car Ride Home": Proactive strategies to protect your team culture from outside noise. Transformational Leadership: Why the person you become in ten years is more important than the scoreboard today.

About Tex McQuilkin: Tex is the founder of Captains and Coaches, a longtime leader at Power Athlete, and a coach educator dedicated to blending physical performance with deep character development.

Connect with Tex: Instagram: @mcquilkin

Connect with Coach Vinny Instagram: @coachvinnymalts

Are you ready to evolve?

Colby Cohen was scoring championship goals one day and being told he sucked by an NHL coach the next.

Most high performers fail because they focus entirely on the physical work while completely ignoring the ecosystem that is actually controlling their mindset. This conversation takes you deep into the brutal reality of the NHL grind and the exact moment an unexpected trade forces you to confront your true identity. We move past the highlight reels to reveal why you cannot win this game alone and why your circle is either your greatest competitive advantage or your biggest psychological liability.

You will learn how to trade the myth of the self made athlete for a radical level of self awareness especially when the system is designed to move on without you the second you stop providing value. By the end of this episode you will understand how to audit your own environment and build a mindset that can sustain the weight of elite performance.

It is time to stop trying to outwork a toxic system and start architecting your own evolution behind the headlines of the NHL.

Key Takeaways for Your Evolution The Word Economy: Why speaking less gives you more authority as a leader. The Skinny Pyramid: Why talent is common but character is the filter for the NHL. The Majority Shareholder Model: How to lead through partnership rather than power. The Collective Mindset: Why your mindset is a reflection of who you allow in your circle.

Shownotes: 00:00 The Day Colby's NHL Dream Died 06:01 The Danger Of Early Arrogance 10:01 Why You Must Play Up Against Older Peers 20:11 When Talent Is Not Enough To Stay On The Team 27:45 Surviving The National Team Boot Camp 35:44 The Truth Behind The Frozen Four Winning Goal 46:37 The Meeting Where My Coach Said I Sucked 51:03 The High Standard High Support Coaching Model 60:07 The Shock Of A Sudden NHL Trade 73:07 Handling Failure And Identity Shifts 85:56 Transitioning From The Ice To The Broadcast Booth 99:02 Why You Must Audit Your Circle To Win

Most leaders think they are guiding their teams but they are actually just passing on their own stress. If you cannot find peace within yourself, you can never lead others to greatness . In this episode, you will learn how to fix your nervous system and why your body is the best tool you have to heal.

We explain how to find safety in the middle of a mess and why changing the way you talk about your limits can help you get better faster. You will also discover why your identity is not tied to your work and how to start leading with peace.

What You Will Learn In This Episode

The Power of Language: Why shifting from "injury" to "limitation" changes your body's ability to heal.

Safety in Chaos: How to train your nervous system to stay calm when everything feels like it is falling apart.

The Identity Trap: Why your success in business or sports is not who you are .

You are the Technology: Why your body is more powerful than any expensive recovery tool you can buy.

The Peace Test: The one simple question that reveals if you are leading from trauma or leading from peace.

Shownotes 00:00 - The simple test for leaders who want to win

04:30 - Why your past problems are hurting your team

09:00 - Stop letting your job define who you are

16:00 - The truth about why you give too much to others

22:30 - Change this one word to heal your body faster

33:00 - How to stay calm when everything feels like chaos

39:30 - Why you are the best technology you will ever own

54:50 - The hidden cost of always being stressed

56:10 - Can you pass the peace test right now

58:10 - Simple steps to fix your nervous system today

He was a top student by day and an addict by night, until a "storm" nearly took his life and changed sports history . George Mumford is the "Mindful Assassin" behind the greatest dynasties in basketball. He is the man Phil Jackson called to teach Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant how to find clarity under the highest pressure on earth.

In this episode, Coach Vinny and George Mumford reveal the specific mindset shifts that turn talent into legendary status. George explains how he went from a chaotic childhood of 13 siblings to the Chicago Bulls locker room. You will learn why your thinking dictates your success, how to handle the "stress of success," and how to unlock the "masterpiece" already living inside you.

What you will learn in this episode:

• The Double Life: How George managed being a high-achiever while battling addiction.
• The Stress of Success: Why the 1993 Bulls needed a mindset coach after winning three championships.
• The Two Wolves: How to choose between the "Wolf of Fear" and the "Wolf of Love".
• No Struggle, No Swag: Why the hard times in your life are what create your "swag" and greatness.
• The Power of Presence: How meditation and being "still" can save your life and improve your game.
• The 5 Stages of Leadership: Why Michael Jordan had to change how he led his teammates.
• Mamba Mentality: The truth about how Kobe Bryant used mindfulness to become an "assassin" on the court.

Show Notes 00:00 - The man who helped MJ and Kobe win

02:14 - Why great coaches work together

03:50 - Entering the 1993 Chicago Bulls locker room

05:17 - How to handle the stress of being number one

07:58 - Growing up with 13 kids

15:45 - Proving the world wrong when they say you can't

19:47 - The secret: You are what you think about

23:00 - Choosing between fear and love

30:56 - How to start over when life gets hard

38:41 - You are more than your job: The Bill Russell lesson

41:10 - Turning a crisis into a win

46:13 - Leadership lessons from Michael Jordan

51:46 - How to lead a team through "trickle-down" leadership

59:10 - Healing your body with the power of your mind

01:08:00 - The real Mamba Mentality

01:15:55 - How to see the greatness in other people

01:24:00 - How to become your own coach and find silence

01:32:30 - The one truth for the next generation of athletes

Most people wait for a promotion to lead. C.J. Appenzeller proves that true leadership requires no title, it requires a choice.

In this episode, we sit down with C.J. Appenzeller, a man who built a high performance empire from a 180 square foot closet. From training youth athletes to Major League Baseball stars, C.J. reveals the gritty reality of what it takes to grow through struggle. You will learn why clear is kind is the ultimate leadership hack , the simple morning routine that drives world class focus , and why you must never transfer your power to others.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership Without a Title: Why you must show up as a leader even when you are a small fish in a big pond.
• Do Not Transfer Your Power: The powerful lesson on refusing to let external circumstances control your internal state.
• The Grizzled Spirit: How to build the calluses and mental strength required to handle the days you want to quit.
• Clear is Kind: Why being vague with your team is actually the definition of being mean.
• The 3 Minute Routine: A simple framework of gratitude, scripture, and leadership study to prime your focus.

This is not just a talk about sports, it is a masterclass in becoming the leader your team deserves. Shownotes:

01:47 – Childhood "bracketology" and the first taste of leadership

06:18 – The Motherly advice: Don't transfer your power

18:41 – The coach who threw the glove over the fence and ran away

27:27 – Breaking into a batting cage to start a business

33:36 – The "crippling" anxiety of wanting your athletes to succeed

41:44 – Walking on fire to break a scarcity mindset

50:44 – Silencing the ego to fuel curiosity

51:44 – The 3-minute morning habit for mental clarity

01:03:01 – Clear is Kind: Why being vague is actually mean

01:12:55 – Holding professional athletes focused in a distracted world

01:22:34 – Full Circle: The first pro athlete's retirement message

In this episode of the Evolving Athletes podcast, host Coach Vinny sits down with Ben Mayfield Smith, founder of Matter Athletica, to discuss the brutal reality of what happens when your identity collapses. At 21, Ben lost his professional sports career, his trade, and his future in a single car accident. Facing "learned hopelessness" and the edge of a bridge, he made a decision that changed everything: he refused to let his circumstances have a "second win".

This isn't just a story of survival, it's a masterclass in Identity Reconstruction. Ben breaks down his philosophy of Intentional Suffering, explaining how to use high-pressure environments to build "cognitive hypertrophy". If you are currently in the "boring middle" of your development or struggling to align your habits with your goals, this conversation is your blueprint.

Key Takeaways:

• The Second Win: Why Ben chose to live simply to deny his "enemies" another victory.

• Intentional vs. Passive Suffering: How to choose your struggles so life doesn't choose them for you.

• Cognitive Hypertrophy: Building mental muscle through physical load.

• The Identity Trap: Why a 12-week program will never work if you don't change who you are.

• The Boring Middle: How to survive the isolation that comes with high-level growth.

Shownotes:

00:00 The Evolving Athletes Mission

01:26 Introducing Ben Mayfield Smith

05:41 Using AI as a Tool for the Human Brain

07:11 Growing Up in an Australian Pressure Cooker

12:19 The Hard Truth About Fatherly Critique

18:35 A Sacrifice Realized: Perspective on Parents

34:08 The Crash: Losing Sport, Trade, and Self

38:39 The Decision to Live: Denying the "Second Win"

46:12 Why Life is Just One Big Game 56:16 Surviving the "Boring Middle" of Growth

01:06:37 The Science of Intentional Suffering 01:14:58 Rebuilding Identity Through Nutrition

01:22:25 When Coaches Fail Their Clients 01:27:03 The One Truth: Ownership of Effort

Connect with Ben Mayfield-Smith

• Instagram: @ben_mayfieldsmith_

Connect with Coach Vinny & Evolving Athletes:

• Instagram: @evolvingathletespodcast

• Instagram: @coachvinnymalts

Listen & Subscribe:

• YouTube: Evolving Athletes with Coach Vinny

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