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How do you motivate your child to give their best in sport… without making them lose their love for it? That’s the question Mariel and Jordan tackle in this Q&A episode.

A parent of a swimmer asked how to motivate their child to swim as fast as they can while still enjoying the sport. It’s a challenge that nearly every sports parent eventually faces. Because at some point, the excitement fades. Early morning practices become harder, friends start doing other things, and the grind of competition and expectations starts to weigh on young athletes.

In this conversation, we unpack the deeper truth about motivation and why trying to “force” it usually backfires, exploring how athletes build sustainable drive through identity, discipline, and reconnecting with their personal “why.”

We also discuss the hidden factors that cause many young athletes to lose their spark, including burnout, pressure, and the mental barriers that coaches often don’t have the time or training to address.

Tune in for practical strategies parents can use to support their athlete’s mindset without creating unnecessary pressure or expectations. Because the goal is to raise resilient humans who know how to handle adversity, take ownership, and continue growing long after sport ends.

Train your mind. Build your grit. Forge your legacy.

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What if the path to your dream isn’t straight? What if it zigzags through setbacks, detours, risks, and reinvention?

In this episode, we sit down with Ben Boudreau, a former professional hockey player and coach, to unpack what it really means to chase a dream for nearly two decades.

Born into a hockey family, Ben grew up around the rink. But his journey wasn’t a typical “blue-chip prospect” story. He went undrafted. He stepped away from hockey. He pursued television and film. He worked at CBC. He waited tables.

And then, on a free agent tryout he almost didn’t attend... his life changed.

What followed was 900+ professional games across North America and Europe, championship wins, head coaching roles, life-changing risks, fatherhood, and a relentless commitment to the dream of one day lifting the Stanley Cup.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Why there is no straight path to success
• The courage it takes to bet on yourself
• How support systems fuel risk-taking
• The difference between motivation and inspiration
• Why character beats talent every time
• What separates average players from great ones
• How work ethic is developed — not inherited
• Why giving back builds real leadership
• Balancing fatherhood with ambition
• How to handle self-doubt when the future feels uncertain

Ben shares openly about getting cut, getting back up, doubling down during uncertainty, buying a house during a pandemic without knowing if hockey would return and winning a championship because he refused to quit.

Because in the end, success isn’t about the straight path, it’s about staying on the train long enough to see where it goes.

👤 About Ben Boudreau

"I was born into a hockey family. My father Bruce, a former NHL player then currently playing in Germany, was where I was born. It wasn't until I was 5 years old that I grew up in Niagara through my mother and father's divorce. I had a very normal childhood in the city of St. Catharines where I went on to pursue my education through Television and Film. Upon graduating and working at CBC downtown Toronto, my life took a big turn after signing a free agent professional hockey contract, which led to the last 18 years chasing my dream of trying to lift the Stanley Cup one day.

Through the last 18 years I have amassed over 900 professional games of being on the ice or behind the bench. I won a championship in 2021 with the Fort Wayne Komets. I have two boys, 4 and 8, that were both born in Indiana and now currently living in Niagara, pursuing my dream of one day trying to lift the Stanley Cup." 

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What does it take to build a career and a life that lasts?

Longevity. Identity. Resilience.

In this special episode promoting the Building Resilience On & Off the Field event on March 5th, we sit down with CFL legend Sean Millington to talk about what sustains performance and what sustains a person.

Known as “The Diesel,” Sean built a 13-year professional career through power, consistency, and grit. But behind the accolades was something deeper: a mindset built for endurance.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The difference between short-term success and long-term impact
• Why identity cannot be tied solely to sport
• How adversity shapes character
• The responsibility athletes carry beyond the scoreboard
• What it means to build something that lasts
• How young athletes can prepare for life beyond the game

Sean shares openly about growth, maturity, and perspective and why the scoreboard can’t define who you are.

On March 5th, Sean will bring this message live to the stage at:

Building Resilience On & Off the Field
📍 Chilliwack Cultural Centre
🎟 Free event (tickets required)

An evening designed to equip youth athletes, parents, and coaches with the mindset and tools to thrive long after the final whistle.

Reserve your free tickets here!

About Sean Millington

Sean Millington is a former Canadian Football League running back and one of the most respected Canadian players in CFL history. Best known for his dominant years with the BC Lions, Sean played 13 seasons in the CFL and earned a reputation for power, consistency, and grit, earning the nickname “The Diesel.”

A two-time Grey Cup champion, Sean was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian twice and remains one of the top Canadian rushers the league has ever seen. Beyond his on-field success, Sean has been inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame and the Simon Fraser University Hall of Fame, recognizing both his athletic excellence and long-term impact on the game.

Since retiring from football, Sean has continued to build his legacy as a broadcaster, actor, and mentor, using his voice to share lessons on identity, resilience, and life beyond sport. His story speaks to the importance of longevity, character, and building something that lasts far beyond the scoreboard.

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What does it take to last 13 years in professional football?

Consistency. Preparation. Leadership.

In this special episode promoting the Building Resilience On & Off the Field event on March 5th, we sit down with former CFL veteran Angus Reid to talk about what truly builds lasting success.

Angus spent 13 seasons anchoring the offensive line for the BC Lions - one of the most demanding and least glamorous positions in sport. No headlines. No spotlight. Just daily accountability and relentless preparation.

In this conversation, we unpack:

• Why durability is a mindset before it’s physical
• The power of showing up consistently, even when no one notices
• What leadership actually looks like inside a locker room
• Why preparation builds confidence
• The long-term impact great coaches have on young athletes
• How doing the unseen work shapes who you become

Angus shares lessons learned in the trenches about discipline, identity, and the responsibility athletes carry to leave environments better than they found them.

On March 5th, Angus will be sharing this message live at:

Building Resilience On & Off the Field
📍 Chilliwack Cultural Centre
🎟 Free event (tickets required)

An evening designed to equip youth athletes, parents, and coaches with tools for resilience, confidence, and long-term growth.

Reserve your free tickets here!

About Angus Reid

Angus Reid is a former Canadian Football League offensive lineman and long-time centre for the BC Lions, where he built a 13-year professional career defined by leadership, durability, and consistency.

A two-time Grey Cup champion, Angus was a multiple-time CFL All-Star and served as a team captain, anchoring the offensive line and setting the standard for professionalism both on and off the field. Known for his work ethic and resilience, he became a trusted leader in one of the most demanding positions in football.

Following his playing career, Angus transitioned into leadership development as a speaker, author, and mentor. He is the author of Thank You, Coach, a reflection on the mentors who shape athletes and leaders, and continues to inspire individuals and teams through lessons on preparation, accountability, and legacy.

Angus’s journey highlights the power of showing up, doing the unseen work, and leading in a way that leaves others better.

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What separates talented athletes from consistent performers? Psychological skill.

In this episode of the Forged Youth Podcast, we sit down with performance psychologist Chris Bodman, founder of LMNTARY Performance, to unpack what it truly means to develop the athlete’s mind.

Even the most physically capable athletes fail when they lack the mental tools to handle pressure, identity, emotion, and expectation.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why mental skills are they’re foundational
• How athletes tie identity to outcomes (and why that’s dangerous)
• The psychological cost of neglecting mental preparation
• The difference between sustainable motivation and fragile confidence
• How to build emotional regulation under pressure
• Why self-awareness is the starting point for growth
• How parents and coaches can normalize the internal work required for performance

Because if we train the body without training the mind, we leave potential untapped.

👤 About Chris

Chris Bodman is a Performance Psychologist and founder of LMNTARY Performance, a consultancy dedicated to helping individuals cultivate the athlete's mind — whether they compete in sport, business, or life.

With a background working alongside elite athletes across multiple sports, Chris' work focuses on the intersection of performance psychology, behavioural science, and practical application — translating complex research into tools that work in the real world.

Chris's approach is rooted in evidence but delivered with clarity. He believes the best insights aren't academic theories locked in journals, but practical frameworks that athletes can implement immediately. His philosophy: mental skills aren't "soft skills" — they're the foundation of sustainable high performance.

Prior to founding LMNTARY Performance, Chris worked in elite sport environments where he witnessed both the transformative power of psychological preparation and the devastating cost of neglecting it. He saw talented athletes derailed not by lack of ability, but by inability to manage the mental demands of competition. He watched young performers tie their entire identity to results, leaving them vulnerable when outcomes didn't align with effort.

These experiences shaped his mission: to democratise performance psychology and make it accessible beyond elite sport.

Through LMNTARY Performance, Chris delivers the Limitless Programme — a 16-week cohort-based experience that helps individuals develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, sustainable motivation, and goal-directed behaviour. The programme combines psychology-backed frameworks with daily practice, helping participants build mental skills the same way they'd build physical ones: through consistent, deliberate training.

Chris's work has supported company founders, competitive athletes, entrepreneurs, and individuals navigating career transitions. What unites them is a commitment to growth and willingness to do the internal work that external success requires.

Today, through LMNTARY Performance, Chris is committed to equipping the next generation with the psychological tools they need not just to perform, but to thrive.

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What if youth sports weren’t just about wins and losses, but about building resilient, confident young people?

In this special episode, Mariel sits down with Bill Loewen of the Chilliwack Giants to talk about why March 5th is about far more than football.

The Chilliwack Giants have been developing youth athletes in the Fraser Valley for over 25 years, offering spring flag football for ages 5 and up, fall tackle programs, and a pathway that transitions athletes into high school programs. But for Bill, coaching is about much more than the game.

Bill shares openly about his own journey from being a talented but “lazy” high school player whose career was cut short by injury, to learning that talent only takes you so far. Work ethic, mindset, resilience, and controllables (effort, attitude, self-talk, preparation, focus) are what truly shape long-term success.

That’s exactly why the “Building Resilience On & Off the Field” event was created.

🗓 March 5th
📍 Chilliwack Cultural Centre
🎟 Free event (tickets required)

This powerful evening will feature:

• Short, impactful talks
• Fireside-style discussion
• Live Q&A with youth athletes
• A free copy of Angus Reid’s book Teenager: A Story About Finding Your Way for every attending athlete

Whether your athlete plays football, hockey, baseball, volleyball, or any other sport, the lessons are transferable.

If you’re in Chilliwack or the Fraser Valley, this is a night worth showing up for.

Reserve your free tickets here!

About Bill

Bill Loewen is passionate about football, mentorship, and building strong community connections. For the past three years, he’s dedicated countless hours to coaching both flag and tackle football with the Chilliwack Giants, where he now proudly serves as Second Vice President. Bill believes that sports are about more than just winning—they’re about teaching resilience, teamwork, and confidence that carry young athletes through every part of life. 

Off the field, Bill works as a Project Manager, balancing his professional life with his favorite role: husband and dad. Together with his wife, Ashley, they are raising three incredibly active kids—Ella, a softball superstar, and two football-loving boys, Colby (11) and Josh (8), who share his passion for the game. Whether he’s drawing up plays or cheering from the sidelines, Bill’s greatest joy comes from watching kids grow—not just as athletes, but as people. 

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“Being hard on yourself” is worn like a badge of honour in youth sports, but what if it’s actually hurting performance?

In this episode, Mariel Anderson and Jordan Owens unpack a powerful and often misunderstood topic for sports parents... especially hockey parents:

The difference between healthy self-reflection… and destructive self-talk.

Inspired by a conversation around Olympic coach Shawnee Harle’s “unpopular opinion,” they explore why many parents and coaches mistakenly praise athletes for being overly hard on themselves  and how that can spiral into what they call the Doom Loop.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

• The difference between constructive self-evaluation and confidence-killing self-criticism
• What the “Doom Loop” is and how it impacts the body physiologically
• Why negative self-talk tightens muscles, speeds up the heart, and destroys clear decision-making
• How to help young athletes call a timeout on spiraling thoughts
• The powerful 5-step Neutralizer technique to reset the nervous system mid-game
• How deliberate breathing (and a simple tongue placement trick) restores control
• Why nervous and excited feel the same in the body and how to reframe it
• How parents can validate emotions without reinforcing mental spirals

If your athlete:
 ✔️ Gets stuck in their head
 ✔️ Beats themselves up after mistakes
 ✔️ Struggles with nerves before games
 ✔️ Loses joy because of pressure

This episode gives you practical tools you can teach immediately even before tonight’s tryout.

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What if the most important part of practice isn’t the drill…
 but the first 10 minutes?

In this episode, Mariel sits down with Rett Larson, an elite international strength and conditioning coach and the creator of the No Zombies training philosophy.

Together, they challenge one of the most unquestioned traditions in youth and high-performance sport: the way athletes warm up.

Rett shares why traditional warm-ups often create boredom, disengagement, and burnout, and how replacing mindless repetition with creativity, competition, and problem-solving can dramatically improve both performance and joy.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why traditional warm-ups are a missed opportunity for athlete development
• How warm-ups can build speed, coordination, adaptability, and resilience
• Why fun and high performance are not opposites, they work together
• How exposing athletes to failure on purpose builds confidence and bounce-back ability
• The difference between necessary repetition and mindless repetition
• How gamification and unpredictability increase effort and buy-in
• Why practices that look “messy” often produce better long-term athletes
• How parents and coaches can protect an athlete’s love for the game

This episode is a must-listen for:
 ✔️ Coaches who want better energy, effort, and engagement
 ✔️ Parents concerned about burnout and loss of joy
 ✔️ Athletes who feel bored, over-coached, or mentally drained by training

Warm-ups aren’t just preparation for practice. They’re preparation for how athletes think, move, compete, and respond to adversity.

About Rett: 

Rett Larson is in his 5th year as the strength coach for the German Women’s Volleyball Team. Before his time in Germany, he spent seven years in China, first as Project Manager for EXOS-China, working with several Chinese Olympic teams in their preparation for the 2012 London Games, and later with the Chinese National Women’s Volleyball Team, which won both the 2015 World Cup and Gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Following the Olympic gold medal, Rett worked for two years as the strength coach for the Netherlands Women’s Volleyball Team before joining Team Germany. Prior to his international work, Rett spent 10 years with Velocity Sports Performance, where he became the Director of Coaching at their headquarters in California.

Rett is the creator of the No Zombies training philosophy, which strives to make training more stimulating, engaging, and developmentally beneficial for athletes.

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What if the biggest thing holding young athletes back isn’t effort, talent, or motivation, but where their attention lives?

In this episode, Mariel sits down with Nathan Last, founder of Mental Grit, to unpack the mental skills that create better athletes and stronger humans.

Nate shares how discovering sports psychology completely changed the trajectory of his life, and why presence is the foundation of mental toughness.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why most goal-setting creates stress, anxiety, and burnout in youth athletes
• How being stuck in the future or the past pulls athletes out of performance
• Why the body can’t tell the difference between imagination and reality, and how this backfires when athletes only dream instead of execute
• The difference between what athletes need to focus on vs. what spectators and coaches focus on
• How coaches can measure values and behaviours, not just stats and outcomes
• How parents unintentionally steal confidence by “protecting” their kids
• Why struggle, failure, and hard conversations are essential for building self-belief

Mental toughness isn’t something you achieve one day, it’s something you practice in the moment, every day.

Nate is the CEO of a premier mental performance training firm, dedicated to helping individuals, teams, and organizations unlock their highest potential. With over a decade of experience in performance psychology, leadership development, and organizational transformation, he now specializes in creating customized strategies that drive measurable results for teen athletes and their families. As a contributing author of the Amazon Best Seller, Deliberate Discomfort, and a former Chief Engagement Officer at Mission 6 Zero, I’ve seen firsthand how a focus on mindset, culture, and people operations can revolutionize outcomes whether on the athletic field, battlefield, school house or in the boardroom.

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Visualization is one of the most misunderstood and underused tools in youth sports.

In this episode, Jordan Owens and Mariel Anderson break down what visualization actually is, why vision boards are just the starting point, and how elite athletes use mental reps to build confidence, consistency, and game-day readiness.

You’ll learn:

• Why your brain can’t tell the difference between imagination and reality
• The 3 S’s of Visualization: Skills, Senses, and Struggles
• How detailed visualization builds muscle memory and performance, even when you’re not physically training
• How to prepare for pressure, mistakes, and adversity before they happen
• Simple tools athletes can use to calm nerves, channel excitement, and focus (including the “psychological sigh”)
• How parents and coaches can model calm, confident energy during tryouts and competition

Whether you’re a youth athlete looking to perform with confidence, or a parent or coach wanting to support mental development the right way, this episode gives you practical, repeatable tools you can start using today.

Train your mind. Build your grit. Forge your legacy.

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