Forged Youth | Legacy Within

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What does it take to raise a resilient athlete?
For Canadian National Team cyclist Tyler Rorke, the answer was in the balance his parents struck supporting him through the highs and lows without ever taking the steering wheel.

In tomorrow’s episode, Tyler's parents share how they helped him process disappointment, protect his love for the sport, and navigate the pressures of elite competition.

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How do you support your young athlete’s mental toughness without hovering? In this Q&A episode, Mariel and Kyle dig into questions from parents about building resilience, avoiding burnout, and balancing mental and physical training. From stepping back to let kids take ownership, to knowing when to step in and support, they share personal stories, practical tools, and honest insights. You’ll also hear a powerful anxiety-calming technique from a Serbian boxing champion that athletes can use in any pressure moment. Whether you're a parent, coach, or athlete, this one’s packed with gold.

Kyle brings a rare blend of athletic experience, media expertise, and deep empathy to the Forged Youth | Legacy Within team. A former collegiate volleyball player turned media arts graduate, he has built a career at the intersection of storytelling and service. 

With a background in TV, radio, and podcast production, Kyle is the creative force behind the scenes, shaping the sound, tone, and impact of each episode. Beyond the tech, he’s driven by a passion for mental health advocacy and youth empowerment. 

Kyle’s presence is steady, thoughtful, and essential to the mission of helping young athletes forge lives of resilience, integrity, and purpose. 

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What’s the line between support and pressure? In this weeks episode, Mariel and Kyle unpack what it really means to build resilience in young athletes without micromanaging their every move. Plus, a powerful mindset trick from a Serbian boxing champ you’ll want to steal.

The full episode drops tomorrow. Don’t miss it.

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When a setback shut the door on Tyler Rorke’s biggest dream as a youth cyclist, he chose not to walk away, he doubled down. In this episode, Canadian National Team sprinter Tyler joins Mariel to talk about the path that didn’t go as planned, and how rejection from Junior Worlds became the catalyst that launched his elite career. He shares what it really looks like to train full-time while staying grounded, how he manages pressure before big races, and why recovery is just as important as time on the bike. This is a must-listen for any athlete learning to ride out the lows and stay focused on the long game.

Tyler Rorke is a Canadian Olympic cyclist known not just for his explosive speed and stamina, but for his unshakable mental game and relentless pursuit of growth — on and off the track. Representing Canada on the world stage, Tyler has become a symbol of grit, discipline, and what it means to bet on yourself when the odds are steep.

From his early days riding with his local club team, KW Cycling Academy, to standing on the start line at the Olympic Games, Tyler’s journey has been anything but easy. Burnout and mental fatigue has tried to derail him — but each setback became fuel. His career is built on intentionality, resilience, and a deep commitment to turning pain into purpose.

Tyler now shares his story with athletes, and families — demystifying the path to elite performance and advocating for a new kind of strength: one that’s rooted in mindset, vulnerability, and self-trust.

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What happens when your biggest dream says “no”?
For Canadian National Team cyclist Tyler Rorke, it was the moment that changed everything.

In tomorrow’s episode, Tyler opens up about how rejection from Junior Worlds became fuel for a bigger, bolder path, and what it takes to stay mentally strong in the highs and lows of elite sport.

🎙️ Full episode drops tomorrow.

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In this episode, Mariel sits down with Jon Giesbrecht: Director of Mental Performance for the Vancouver Bandits and self-proclaimed "Basketball Whisperer." Together, they unpack the real meaning of mental training in sport, why breath awareness is foundational, and how athletes can move from panic to performance through grounded routines and emotional regulation. Jon shares practical tools athletes can use on the court and in life, like how to find your centre, shift from reactivity to readiness, and anchor confidence in the present moment. If you've ever frozen in competition or wondered how to build true mental resilience, this episode is your playbook.

About Jon: Jon Giesbrecht is a trusted mental performance coach and player development leader who helps high-performance basketball athletes unlock their full potential by mastering their mindset. With over a decade of experience coaching at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels, Jon specializes in helping serious athletes overcome overthinking, inconsistency, and self-doubt—so they can play free under pressure and lead with confidence.

Currently serving as the Director of Mental Performance and a player development coach for the Vancouver Bandits (Canadian Elite Basketball League), Jon has worked with athletes across the NBA, NCAA, U SPORTS, and international circuits. He has also supported Team Canada, presented at international coaching clinics, and helped over 50 players reach the college level.

But Jon’s work goes beyond performance. Drawing from his own experience with anxiety, panic attacks, and burnout as a young athlete and coach, Jon brings a level of compassion and clarity few can match. He knows what it feels like to chase greatness while feeling stuck or mentally fragile—and he’s built a proven system to help athletes break through.

His signature program, Play Free, combines mindfulness, identity training, emotional regulation tools, and elite accountability to create lasting transformation—on and off the court. Whether you’re a high school athlete looking to earn a scholarship or a pro trying to find your rhythm again, Jon helps you build confidence that doesn’t waver, no matter what’s happening around you.

Jon has coached over 5,000 athletes, worked with families around the world, and built a growing movement of players who are learning to compete with clarity, joy, and purpose. He’s also the author of the Free Your Mind Journal, a practical tool for athletes to track their growth and reset their focus daily.

From private mentorships and live workshops to community coaching and digital training, Jon’s mission is simple: to help athletes win more and stress less by creating a mental game they can trust.

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Coming up on the next episode of Forged: Youth Legacy Within, Mariel sits down with pro mental performance coach Jon Giesbrecht to talk about what really builds confidence... and it’s not what you think. From breath control to emotional regulation, this conversation is packed with powerful tools athletes can use to stay grounded, focused, and game-ready.

🎙️ Full episode drops tomorrow.

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In this special Q&A episode of Forged: Youth Legacy Within, Mariel invites editor Kyle Donen out from behind the mic and into the conversation. Both former competitive volleyball players, they reflect on how the landscape of mental health and performance training in sport has evolved over the past two decades, and what’s still missing.

Through candid questions and stories from their playing and coaching days, Mariel and Kyle explore the emotional weight of injury, the tools they wish they’d had as young athletes, and the power of preparation through visualization. They speak honestly about what it means to show up for athletes not just as competitors, but as people, and how great coaching can shape the rest of a person’s life.

This episode is filled with warmth, insight, laughter, and a powerful reminder that while you can’t change the past, you can still use your experience to build something better for the next generation.

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What if fear rather than skill is the biggest thing holding your athlete back? In this powerful episode, legendary Canadian basketball coach and mental toughness trainer Shawnee Harlee joins Mariel to dismantle the culture of fear-based performance in youth sports. From “playing not to lose” to the paralyzing weight of FOPO (Fear of People’s Opinions), Shawnee breaks down how athletes, parents, and coaches unknowingly sabotage potential. Together, they explore the antidotes: emotional intelligence, courageous self-awareness, and the radically underused skill of self-forgiveness.

You’ll learn why confidence isn’t reliable, how to shift from outcome to process, and the two words every athlete needs after a mistake: “That’s okay.” Whether you're a parent in the stands, a coach on the bench, or an athlete in the game—this episode gives you the tools to change the story.

Want to work with Shawnee?!
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Shawnee Harle is a powerhouse in the world of coaching and mental performance, with over 27 years of elite experience that spans courts, classrooms, and boardrooms. As a two-time Olympian and former Assistant Coach for Team Canada Women’s Basketball, Shawnee has stood on some of the sport’s biggest stages; bringing grit, heart, and wisdom to every team she touches.

Her coaching résumé isn’t just about wins and titles, it’s about transformation. Shawnee holds a Master’s Degree in Coaching Studies and is a Chartered Professional Coach (ChPC), a designation of excellence from the Coaching Association of Canada. She is also a Master Coach Developer and Master Learning Facilitator for Canada’s National Coaching Certification Program, where she helps shape the next generation of coaches to lead with clarity, courage, and connection.

What makes Shawnee truly stand out is her commitment to mental and emotional performance. She doesn’t just build athletes, she builds resilient, antifragile humans. With a fierce passion for helping individuals find their inner fire, Shawnee helps youth athletes, parents, and coaches alike understand that true greatness comes from mastering the space between the ears. She teaches how to turn fear into fuel, pressure into poise, and setbacks into comebacks.

A straight-shooter with a sharp mind and an even bigger heart, Shawnee Harle equips people not just to compete; but to lead, to rise, and to thrive under pressure. Whether on the court or in life, she believes everyone deserves the tools to win from within.

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 Why do we choke under pressure instead of rising to our greatest selves? 2X Olympian coach Shawnee Harle shares how to trade fear for courage—and why mental toughness is a choice, not a gift. Don’t miss this game-changing episode! 

From the sidelines of Olympic courts to the frontlines of mental performance, Shawnee Harle has spent 27 years shaping elite athletes into courageous competitors. A 2X Olympian and former Assistant Coach for Team Canada Basketball, Shawnee holds a Master’s Degree in Coaching Studies and serves as a Master Coach Developer with the Coaching Association of Canada.

But here’s the kicker: even at the highest levels, Shawnee discovered that talent alone doesn’t win under pressure—it’s mental toughness that makes champions.

In this episode, she and Mariel dive deep into:

✅ Why athletes “play not to lose” instead of playing to win
 ✅ How courage is a conscious choice, not just a feeling
 ✅ The hidden role of fear in sports performance
 ✅ How parents and coaches can help youth athletes face their deepest fears
 ✅ Practical tools for building emotional intelligence and resilience

This is your inside look at transforming fear into fuel—for sport and for life.

Connect with Shawnee Harle:
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