Amy Bilquist is one of the most exceptional interviews on the HeadSet Sports PodCast yet! She is a "Missel" in the pool and a "Rockstar" on land. She is ranked in the Top 10 ... in 4 Events ... ALL-TIME at Cal, as well as holding records school records in relay! Added to this she is 2-time Scholar-Athlete award winner (winning both the Neufeld and Warren Helman Scholar-Athlete Awards ...as well as the Kathie Wickstrand Leadership Award.

But not only does she provide an exceptional perspective as a student-athlete ... she also provides a "behind the scenes" understanding of some of the most captivating topics in sport! She discusses "Games-wo-man-ship", playing with a "Poker Face", "Faking it ... Till you Make it", battling back from injury (again and again), and Learning the Skill of "Sucking It Up!" ... These are true "Gems" of insight and perspective that young athletes can only dream of hearing and learning from a World-Class athlete like Amy. In sharing these tremendous insights, Amy shares her trials and tribulations as 3-time Olympic "Hopeful", having to "recalibrate" her Olympic preparations and plans, as well as "Finding her Happy Place".

In addition to sharing POWERFUL stories of her development as a young athlete, her interactions with a "pivotal" coach in her life - as a young and developing athlete, she also shares insights into her educational path ... These stories are not only powerful, but they are inspiring as well as somewhat funny (wait till you hear about one of the classes she had in college ... wow!).

Amy Bilquist is that athlete - that makes you proud to have on your team! She is also the person you "WANT" to cheer for!  ... 

Go Get it Amy!!! ...

https://calbears.com/sports/womens-swimming-and-diving/roster/amy-bilquist/13603

https://www.instagram.com/amybilquist/?hl=en

In keeping with our theme of bring our listeners the inside information regarding the world of sport today – we have an incredible guest who educates us on insights of training, teaching, and inspiring athletes today! Steve Adams is the Founder of The Inside Edge Hockey Development Program – based in St. Albert, Alberta. The Inside Edge Development Program has helped hundreds of young aspiring hockey players (males/females) not only excel in the game, but also progress within it.

Steve Adams was the spear head of an incredible program, that brought a tremendous amount of attention to Central Canada for many young hockey players who would never have had the opportunity to showcase their talents to those that can “Make Dreams Come True”. Through his tremendous efforts to help develop a fully encompassing combine experience for hockey players in Central Canada has been an incredible task that has benefitted hundreds of young male and female athletes (players). His list of players that have trained with him is long and very impressive.

As a full-time trainer for elite level athletes, Steve Adams spends a tremendous amount of time focused on strengthening the “Mindset” of the athletes he works with. Many of these athletes will share how they are “beyond” prepared for their combines, tryouts, training camps, and season ahead … not only physically but mentally. This is how Steve Adams fits “perfectly” into the HeadSet Sports PodCast … His athletes not only “out power” their competition, they “our GRIND” their competition! This is to say, that as their competition increases … so too does their ability to “out-perform” their competition.

All one has to do is merely talk to Steve on the phone, and instantly one is welcomed with intensity, genuineness, and raw un-edited authenticity! It is for this reason that his program is so successful, and his athletes feel so empowered – from the support and direction they receive from Steve and his staff!

https://theinsideedge.net/contact-us

https://twitter.com/justcurlit

Graham Johnson has coached in the best amateur leagues in the United States.  From the USHL to NCAA Division-I athletics - in the sport of Men's Ice Hockey. He discusses some of the most fundamental elements to sport that are also the most important.  As well as, how today's athlete have so many career options ... to their detriment. 

Coach Johnson, discusses the difficulty of having to balance getting the most out of his student-athletes, while also realizing the extreme level of stress and anxiety his student-athletes face on a daily basis, as well as the importance of having to balance a healthy life-style for his student-athletes. 

One of the most powerful topics Coach Johnson discusses rests within the importance of experiencing "failure",  facing "the fear of failure", and the importance of the lessons within "falling down"! This interview reached into topic areas that many coaches would often avoid or shrug-off and re-frame. 

For the young hockey players seeking to move on in their career - Coach Johnson welcomes EVERY player to reach-out to him. His experiences in Elite Junior Hockey, NCAA Division-I hockey, and Division-III hockey are second to none. We encourage all young hockey players to reach out to him with questions.

https://www.go-raiders.com/sports/mice/coaches/johnson-graham?view=bio

Contact Information:

(414) 277-7565

[email protected]

To understand heart, resilience, and true perseverance is know Cole Bardreau. This member 5'11" center for the New York Islanders has a story much like that movies are made of. As a standout hockey player, Cole was a member of the US National Development program for several years. A true elite, within the US. 

His talents and efforts would provide him a scholarship to Cornell.  As if things couldn't get any better ... during his second season with "The Big Red" he was selected as a member of the prestigious US World Junior Team that would win Gold in Russia. Upon returning from this incredible experience, Cole's stock in the world hockey market was beginning to sore upward. It was then that everything almost came to a crumbling end. Within two weeks of his return to Cornell, during a game vs RIP ... Cole would suffer a cervical spine injury.

Cole's story of MAJOR injury after MAJOR injury, and setback after setback ... are what many would refer to as a "Sign". A "Sign" to pursue other interests in life, safer ones, start the evolution of his life as a person who is "more" than the sport he plays. But instead, these setbacks provided Cole with a different message. 

The journey through Cole's career is one of overcoming immense adversity. Each of the numerous injuries he has faced were honorable means for contemplating retirement.  So much so, that these signs would cause him to reflect upon his faith, his decision making and future options in life. But, it was during the darkest moments of this contemplation - that he learned to simply pursue his dream in it's purest essence ... "For the Love of The Game" ... It was then that his dream came true!

Follow Cole on Instagram

@ColeBardreau

This episode provides a unique and in-depth look at the controversial topic that has been all over the headlines at "every" level of sports today ... Concussions. Brady Kramer, was an outstanding World-Class athlete. He was one of the all-time best players to have represented the Providence Friars Men's Varsity Hockey Team. He would also be selected as a member of the United States 1992-93 World Junior Hockey Team.  Entering into his senior year at Providence, Brady would be selected as team Captain. Soon after, he would go to become a highly regarded draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens. For thousands of young hockey players - this story is a "dream" that is almost too amazing to comprehend. Unfortunately, this story is one that does not provide a Happy Ending. 

Jeff Gould, is National Best Selling author on Amazon.  His story is one that is gripping and mouth dropping. As the author describes ... "I am not the person who fell 5 stories to the pavement! I'm the person who fell 10 stories to the pavement AND was then DRAGGED for at least 10 miles ...". This memoir resembles a Rocky Balboa-like story filled with stories that are not only true but astonishing - when you realize that a human actually survived such on-going trauma.

Both guests share personal stories that are "mind-blowing". They share deep dark secrets of emotional, physical, and psychological trauma that are the results of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI's). Thanks to the incredible research of Dr. Bennet Amolu, these Traumatic Brain Injuries are what we now know/refer to as the disease of called ... Concussion.

Jeff Gould.     A Life Concussed      https://www.amazon.com/Life-Concussed-Memoriam-Addiction-Homelessness-ebook/dp/B0821R725Y

Carrie Taylor is an "incredible" source of inspiration for so many! She is the real-life essence of the person who is "blind" to what reality attempted to place before her, and instead forged ahead allowing nothing to stop her pursuit of excellence, bettering herself, and creating a career in the world of professional soccer! This interview is a long one, BUT it is filled with a "Ton" of "Golden Nuggets" for parents, coaches, and athletes of every level.

Some of the incredible pieces of insight she shares rests in her insights as to how we can develop "better" and more "creative" athletes. She shares with us, the "Power" of Goal Setting (at the Pro Level ... and ANY level), as well as the power of communication and relationship building skills. As Assistant Coach for the San Diego Loyal (San Diego's Professional Soccer team), she will be working along-side the most prolific American soccer player to have ever represented the United States - Landon Donovan.

Her story is one of inspiration, mental strength (determination), and a strong sense of "openness" to opportunity. Carrie shares with the HeadSet Sports PodCast numerous opportunities that she pursed, out of passion. Only to later realize how impactful and advantageous her sacrifices would grow to become.  Carrie's career is the culmination of the pursuit of one's passion! ... (This ... and many more traits ... are what make her a true role model and source of inspiration!).

One of the added amazing things about this professional coach, is that she is a person who believes and "follows through", with the worlds many of us say ... but never act upon! Carrie doesn't just talk about "Paying it Forward" or "Remembering where you came from ...". She has created the Carrie Taylor Scholarship fund for young athletes in home town (Flint Michigan), that will continue to provide educational opportunities for young ladies for "many" years ahead! 

You can follow Carrie on Twitter and through the San Diego Loyal's website:

@SanDiegoLoyal

https://www.sdloyal.com/

This interview is one that can act as a resource for Athletic Director and High School athlete today! Amanda Waters is one of the most insightful and progressive thinking AD's in the country.  While overseeing a "Booming" athletic program of more than 1600 student-athletes, she also must support a tremendous coaching staff that is attempting to help navigate a student athlete community, that is filled with "uncertain" and "fear of missing out" (FOMO) ... on the opportunities they have worked so hard to develop and parlay into a potential collegiate future.

Knowing that this is the case with thousands of athletes across the country Amanda connected with one of her colleagues who is based in Florida (Ira Childress) to develop a resource center for all Athletic Directors across the country / North America. What started off as a mere conference call amongst colleagues has now developed into a Program/Consortium of Collegiate Sports Information Sharing ... known as www.NationalADResource.com

Two weeks ago, this incredible group coordinated Brian Kelly as their guest speaker (Head Football Coach at Notre Dame). Last week their guest speaker was Jim Phillips - AD at NorthWestern University (2018 He was voted by the Sports Business Journal as AD of the Year). Together, these two guest speakers provided tremendous insight, praise, and encouragement to the many AD's in attendance. 

As a Hall of Fame inductee, as a two sport athlete at Husson University (Maine) -Amanda knows what it takes to excel on the court/field as well as in the classroom. Today, she continues to share that same drive and passion for competition as an Athletic Director as she steps forward once again to guide her hundreds of colleagues through the challenges they face in supporting their student-athletes, coaches, and families through this pandemic that is plaguing the world as a whole.

Every student athlete/parent should look at National AD Resource to see the numerous resources provided to students/parents to help gain control over their athletic career(s). There are some incredible sources of information provided. Some of the Form Letters provided that athletes can use to contact. cooches/schools were provided by Coach Brian Kelly himself.  

He's the first recipient of the Rudy Scholz Award. This is equivalent to the Heisman Trophy, Hobey Baker Award, and Golden Spikes Award. This award is given to the "Best" Rugby Player in College. From winning this award, he goes on to represent the United States in numerous International competitions. One of which was versus England (his home country).  Added to this, he was selected to play for the most elite team in the country - the US Eagles.  Unfortunately, due to an ankle injury he was unable to participate in this year's World Cup.

To talk with Dylan Audsley 100 times, one would never know half of the athletic accolades he has accumulated.  This is just part of what makes him such an incredible person. This season marked his 2nd season as a Professional Rugby Player.  This season would mark his second season with the San Diego Legion of the MLR (Major League Rugby). 

During this interview, Dylan shares with us insights that are utterly incredible. Our conversation covers such topics as Buddhism, The Hudson School of Art,  the literature of "The Boys in the Boat", art, meditation, mindest, COVID, the History of Rugby, Asian contemporary art, and the effects of Buddhism on art. Needless to say ... these are topics that will never be discussed with one person alone ever again!

Dylan is an athlete who's athleticism is only matched by his incredible personality and depth of intelligence. He is a person who can make you feel intellectually engaged during every topic he shares with you. Having the opportunity to connect with such an eclectic individual as Dylan Audsley, is what makes our PodCast so entertaining. This interview, encapsulates the essence of HeadSet Podcast with how we are able to discuss both the mindset of athletes as well as the "Behind the Scenes" lives and depths of elite professional in sports today!

Twitter    @dylanaudsley

Carlos "Q-uperman" Quentin, was an incredible athlete who's statistics are worthy of Hall of Fame discussion. As a young athlete, growing up in San Diego California, this three sport "Elite" high school athlete won major awards outside of his primary skill sets in baseball. As a football player he awarded Defensive Player of the year as an outside linebacker.  As a basketball player, he would play a major role in his school winning the State Championship. All of which helped him earn a scholarship to Stanford. That same year, he would finish he would be selected as one of Five Finalists for the Golden Spikes Award.

As a member of the Stanford baseball team, Carlos led the team to the playoffs each of the three years he played for the Cardinals. In his final year (Junior year), he led the team to the National Championship series versus Rice University. Unfortunately losing in the end. Nevertheless, Carlos would go on to become a 2nd Round pick (29th Overall) for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Carlos would go on to play 9 seasons in the Major Leagues for Arizona, the Chicago White Sox, and his hometown San Diego Padres. At the end of his second season, he was nominated as a Finalist for the America League Most Valuable Player Award.

Carlos would end his career with incredible statistics (jaw dropping statistics) ... https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/q/quentca01.shtml

Part of what makes these statistics so impressive, rests within the incredible injuries he sustained throughout his career. For many athletes, just one of the many, potentially career ending, injuries would have been enough for many players to be forced into retirement. But with all of these amazing athletic accolades behind him, to meet this kind heart-hearted and soft spoken person individual - after one has become comfortable with his huge physical stature, you are quickly swept away by his inquisitive and intellectual personality. 

Carlos' incredible intellect is now helping him to evolve the way the game of baseball is "evaluated". Not only is he trying to add a  "NEW" Stat column for evaluation - when we watch players, but he is looking to add a statistic that is spoken of in "EVERY" sport and "EVERY business ... but yet this conversation piece has no form of measurement.  To make things even more interesting ... the element that he seeks to shed light upon is one which EVERY team and business hopes to find in all of its players/employees ... Figured it out yet???? ... 

You'll just have to listen to find out the answer!!!

Listen to how this incredible athlete, completes his "Storybook" career ... by now returning to school ... with the intention of making the sport that gave him so much ... evolve into something "EVEN BETTER" ...

This is truly a story and conversation about an athlete trying to "Give back" ...

As a leader for Professional Cycling’s - Team Wildlife Generation Sam Boardman shares with a “Behind the Scenes” look at his passion for riding and for helping others. This in-depth conversation provides a deeper look into the life of Sam and his incredible zest for helping people in our community.

This interview provides yet another incredible perspective of the multiple layers that exist to athletes in our world today. Sam shares with us his insight to various non-profits he is apart of, hi involvement with JoJe bar ( https://jojebar.com/), and his passion for competition. As always, we also take a look at the interesting mental strength perspective – Sam – puts forth as he both prepares to race and the way in which he mentally “paces” himself during races.

Instagram    

https://www.instagram.com/boardmanito/

JoJe Bar

https://jojebar.com/