When the roar of the crowd fades, what remains? Former MLB All-Star closer Brian Wilson joins Matt to talk about life after baseball, mental health, and rediscovering purpose. Subscribe for weekly coaching on baseball mindset and youth development.

In this deep, vulnerable conversation, Brian reveals why performance doesn't define peace—and why real strength begins when the spotlight ends.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

• MLB Pressure Mindset: What it truly takes to handle the 9th inning in a World Series.

• From Fame to Faith: How Brian Wilson found peace after baseball—and why it matters more than rings. Athlete Identity Crisis: Why so many pros struggle after retirement and how to prepare now. Youth Baseball Wake-Up Call: The hidden emotional costs of early specialization and pressure.

• Grace Over Grind: Why God's grace, not grit alone, carried Brian through his career.

Whether you're a parent of a young athlete or someone chasing the big leagues, this episode is a must-listen for those seeking meaning beyond medals.

CALL TO ACTION (CTA)

• Subscribe for weekly coaching on baseball mindset and purpose.

• 💬 Mid-episode CTA: Comment your biggest takeaway or question for Brian below 👇

• 🎯 Final CTA: Explore the mindset & faith playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYOURPLAYLIST

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Previous episode on mental game and identity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example

• Related episode: How Pros Stay Grounded Amid Fame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example2

BIO Brian Wilson is a former MLB All-Star closer, World Series champion, and now a speaker on faith, mental health, and finding purpose beyond performance.

#MVAExperience #BrianWilsonBaseball #FaithAfterBaseball

Are you searching for the perfect travel team, coach, or showcase? The truth might hit harder than a 95mph fastball. Subscribe for weekly coaching on becoming your son's best baseball advocate.

Many baseball parents fall into the same trap, believing that success lies somewhere out there: in the next program, the next expert, the next big opportunity. But in this heartfelt solo episode, Matt reveals what truly drives a young athlete's development—and it's closer to home than you think.

With over 25 years of experience representing All-Stars, MVPs, and top draft picks, Matt pulls back the curtain on the single biggest mistake families make in youth baseball: outsourcing their power. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, confused, or anxious about your child's future in this $40 billion travel ball ecosystem, this episode is your wake-up call.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why "linear thinking" sabotages your son's growth in travel baseball

• How to become the CEO of your family's baseball plan—and why it matters

• What really makes advice valuable (Hint: it's not just who gives it)

• How to filter training, coaching, and team choices through your family's values

• The internal shift parents must make to lead with clarity and confidence

This episode isn't just a mindset shift—it's a framework to help you analyze, strategize, and move forward with purpose. Don't miss the real-world analogy Matt shares around the MLB draft—it changes everything.

CALL TO ACTION 🔔 Subscribe for weekly coaching on becoming your son's best baseball advocate. 💬 Comment your biggest challenge as a baseball parent below 👇

What does it really take to succeed as a sports agent? Matt Hannaford shares his 25-year journey in this powerful behind-the-scenes episode. Subscribe for weekly coaching on how to build a career in sports

From rookie to seasoned agent, from massive MLB deals to deeply personal wins—Matt opens up about the life, lessons, and legacy behind building Aligned Sports. Interviewed by his wife and branding expert, Tara Hannaford, this heartfelt conversation reveals the untold stories behind success, burnout, and the nuance of guiding top-tier athletes. If you've ever wondered what it's really like behind the agent desk, this is the episode.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• How to become a sports agent – the realities beyond TV glamor and hype. Why patience outperforms ambition – and how Matt built trust over 10,000 hours.

• Major mistakes families make in youth baseball – and how to avoid them early. What success means after 25 years – redefining impact, integrity, and purpose.

• How to thrive through high-stakes pressure – the mindset that sustains long-term careers.

👋 COMMENT YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY BELOW 👇 Was it about career longevity, youth sports, or parenting perspective?

Subscribe for building a career in sports: https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent

Matt Hannaford is a 25-year veteran MLB agent and founder of Aligned Sports. He's represented Hall of Famers, negotiated blockbuster contracts, and now shares his wisdom weekly on The Most Valuable Agent. Tara Hannaford is a seasoned branding strategist, creative executive, and co-founder of multiple CPG brands.

#mostvaluableagent #sportsagentlife #youthbaseballadvice

You'll hear from a father who raised a first-round draft pick after his son's battle with cancer, a Division I head coach redefining toughness and leadership, an MLB All-Star revealing the truth behind the pro grind, and a mindset expert helping parents protect their child's confidence and love for the game. Each voice offers a different angle, but together they deliver one powerful message: in travel baseball, the real win isn't exposure- it's who your child becomes along the way.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why skills and stats mean nothing without self-awareness and belief.

• How parents can listen, support, and guide without adding pressure.

• What MLB players and coaches say separates the few who make it from everyone else.

• Why culture, values, and brotherhood define true programs -not exposure or trophies.

• How to help your child love the game for life, even when the system tries to take that away.

Whether you're a coach, player, or parent, these conversations will change how you see travel baseball- and what it really means to "make it."

💬Comment your biggest challenge in travel baseball below 👇 🔔 Subscribe for weekly coaching on how to win in youth baseball: https://www.youtube.com/@MostValuableAgent 📢 Share this episode with a teammate, coach, or parent who needs this message.

🎧 More powerful episodes: ➡️ Craig Holman on Development Over Exposure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyz456

➡️ TJ Bruce on Building Men, Not Just Players: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44mjEDRc5S4

➡️ Derek Norris on the Mental Side of Baseball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cl33Exfb3M

➡️How Parenting Limits Future Big Leaguers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6opkFoZD-sY

ABOUT MATT HANNAFORD Matt Hannaford is a 25-year veteran MLB agent who's represented MVPs, All-Stars, and first-round draft picks. Through the Most Valuable Agent podcast, he helps parents and players cut through the noise and focus on what really works.

#MostValuableAgent #TravelBaseballAdvice #YouthSportsParenting

What if the real game-changer in travel baseball isn't your player's swing-but your decisions as a parent? In this solo episode, Matt breaks down what he refers to as The Precision Process, a behavioral-psychology-based framework designed to help travel baseball families make better, calmer, and more confident choices in a chaotic environment.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the nonstop pressure of tournaments, recruiting, and exposure events, this episode will show you how to filter the noise, think clearly, and align every decision with your family's long-term goals.

You'll learn how to stop reacting emotionally to "urgent" choices and instead make strategic, values-driven the same kind elite CEOs and investors use, but adapted for the world of youth sports.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• The Precision Process: a 6-step system to make high-quality decisions under pressure

• How to identify if you're in a stable, complicated, or chaotic environment—and why that matters

• The truth about emotional vs. logical decision-making in travel baseball

• How to create your family's North Star statement to filter opportunities

• The 3 biggest cognitive biases that sabotage baseball parents—and how to overcome them

• Why clarity, not control, is the key to thriving in travel baseball

• How to build a decision database that helps you avoid repeating costly mistakes

Matt breaks down real-world examples from families navigating tournaments, showcases, and college recruiting. You'll discover how to use tools like the 3x3 Clarity Grid to bring calm, structure, and precision to every choice-and how to measure progress through regular debrief loops that keep your family aligned and less stressed.

If you've ever caught yourself making reactive, fear-based decisions (FOMO, comparison, sunk cost), this episode will hit home. By the end, you'll walk away with a repeatable decision-making framework to replace chaos with confidence.

CALL TO ACTION:

If this episode brought you clarity, share it with another baseball parent feeling overwhelmed by the chaos.

• Subscribe for weekly episodes on mindset, leadership, and decision-making in travel baseball.

• Comment your biggest decision-making challenge below.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent

— Follow the MVA Podcast

#TravelBaseball #BaseballParents #YouthSportsMindset #DecisionMaking #BaseballDevelopment #ParentLeadership #BaseballPodcast #MVA

What if the real game isn't played on the field, but at home, in the way we raise, support, and speak to our kids? In this heartfelt episode, Craig Holman, former pro player and father of two elite athletes, joins Matt Antonelli to share the untold truth about youth and travel baseball.

From watching his son Luke battle childhood cancer to seeing him become one of the nation's top prospects, Craig reveals how failure, faith, and love shaped both his family and his coaching philosophy. This isn't just about baseball -it's about building resilient, grounded humans in a culture obsessed with wins and exposure.

Whether you're a parent, coach, or young athlete, this episode will change how you see youth sports and what truly defines success.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why "more exposure" isn't the same as development

• The single most powerful thing parents can say to their kids

• How to build confidence without pressure or comparison

• Why failure and struggle are essential for long-term success

• The life-changing difference between listening to your kids vs. for your kids

• How perspective-not performance-shapes greatness

Craig shares unforgettable stories of parenting through adversity- including his son Luke's fight with cancer, his daughter's final at-bat, and how the "tennis ball moment" changed his understanding of effort forever. His insights remind us that the greatest wins happen off the field and that the true job of a parent-coach is to nurture purpose, not pressure.

CALL TO ACTION:

Subscribe for weekly coaching and real conversations about the mental, emotional, and developmental side of baseball.

Comment below: What's the biggest lesson baseball has taught your family?

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Follow the MVA Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@MostValuableAgent

Bear Bryant's Prayer: "This is the beginning of a new day…"

ABOUT MATT HANNAFORD

Matt Hannaford is a 25-year veteran MLB agent who's represented MVPs, All-Stars, and first-round draft picks. Through the Most Valuable Agent podcast, he helps parents and players cut through the noise and focus on what really works.

#YouthBaseball #BaseballParenting #CraigHolman #MVA #SportsParenting #AthleteMindset #BaseballDevelopment

What happens when the hardest opponent you'll ever face isn't standing in the other dugout—but lives inside your own head? In this solo episode, Matt breaks down the silent battle every athlete faces: the illusion of control. He unpacks why your identity can't be built on performance, what happens when effort stops working, and how true freedom begins when you stop trying to be your own source.

Through powerful reflection and personal insight, Matt shares how athletes often grip tighter when things start to slip, chasing certainty through training, diet, or routine. But lasting peace—both in life and in baseball—doesn't come from control; it comes from stability. You'll hear how players who perform from identity, not for it, compete freer, lead stronger, and play with conviction instead of fear.

• The illusion of control — why it feels powerful until it breaks

• How to perform from identity instead of for validation

• Why effort alone can't sustain confidence forever

• The mental shift that separates players who last from those who burn out

• A practical framework for letting go without losing your edge

Matt challenges listeners to examine what they're still trying to control—and how those same things might be controlling them. By redefining success beyond stats and status, this episode helps players rediscover who they truly are, no matter what the scoreboard says.

Subscribe for weekly coaching on the mindset of baseball. Drop a comment sharing what part of the game you're still trying to control.

• https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent (Official Site)

• Follow Matt on Instagram:instagram.com/mfhannaford

#BaseballMindset #MentalGameBaseball #AthleteIdentity #PerformanceMindset #LetGoPlayFree

What if your biggest opponent isn't across the field but inside your mind? In this powerful episode, mental performance advisor Danielle Martin shares how mastering the mental game in baseball can transform not just your performance but your life. Subscribe for weekly coaching on the mental side of baseball – you won't want to miss this.

Danielle, founder of True Mindset, brings decades of experience working with elite athletes to build custom mental performance plans that go far beyond sports psychology. Through a mix of neuroscience, breath work, and fighter-inspired philosophy, she equips players with real-world tools to navigate pressure, failure, and expectation at the highest levels of the game.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Mental performance strategies for athletes at every level

• How to reset after failure with routines that build resilience

• The difference between help vs. support – and why language matters

• Why being a multi-sport athlete matters for mental adaptability

• How elite players train mindset like muscle with actionable tools

Danielle shares her personal story of surviving a near-fatal injury caused by a fake chiropractor and how her own mental performance training saved her life. From top amateur surfer to mental coach for MLB prospects, she details how identity, fear, and emotional regulation all shape success on and off the field. You'll discover how a fighter's mindset and clear job execution framework can help athletes reclaim control, especially in a system that treats them like products.

CALL TO ACTION:

Subscribe for weekly coaching on the mental game of baseball. Comment your biggest mindset challenge below

LINKS & RESOURCES:

https://truemindset.com (Danielle's work)

https://www.abca.org (American Baseball Coaches Association)

#TrueMindset #MentalGameBaseball #AthleteMindset

Travel baseball isn't a slot machine. If you're pouring time and money into tournaments hoping for exposure, this episode is your wake-up call.

Subscribe for weekly coaching on baseball development and long-term success.

Parents of youth athletes are stuck in a cycle: more showcases, more expenses, more stress. But what if the real path to success isn't about being seen — it's about being ready when it counts?

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why travel baseball feels like a casino and how to escape the emotional rollercoaster

• The 3 REAL keys to baseball success

• How early exposure can backfire and damage long-term opportunities

• The hidden power of patience and one first-rounder's story that proves it

• How to build your son's confidence, not just his schedule without killing his love for the game

If you've ever asked, "Are we doing enough?" this episode will reframe your entire approach — and help you make smarter, saner decisions for your son's future in baseball.

Hear Matt's personal story, a pro insider's advice, and real-world examples of what actually works.

💬 Comment your biggest challenge in travel baseball below 👇 🔔 Subscribe for weekly coaching on how to win in youth baseball: https://www.youtube.com/@MostValuableAgent 📢 Share this episode with a teammate, coach, or parent who needs this message.

🎧 More powerful episodes: ➡️ How Early Exposure Hurts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abc123 ➡️ Craig Holman on Development Over Exposure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyz456

ABOUT MATT HANNAFORD Matt Hannaford is a 25-year MLB agent veteran who's represented MVPs, All-Stars, and first-round draft picks. Through the Most Valuable Agent podcast, he helps parents and players cut through the noise and focus on what really works.

#MostValuableAgent #TravelBaseballAdvice #YouthSportsParenting

In this episode, Matt sits down with Long Beach State Head Baseball Coach TJ Bruce for an honest and powerful conversation about coaching, parenting, and what true success really looks like.

TJ shares his journey from playing and coaching at Long Beach, to UCLA, Nevada, TCU, and now leading the Dirtbags. But this conversation goes deeper than baseball—it's about raising men of integrity, balancing faith and career, and why player development is more than just wins and losses.

We dive into the challenges of today's college baseball world—the transfer portal, NIL, year-round travel ball—and how parents and players can focus on what really matters. From instilling discipline and accountability, to building a culture rooted in toughness, brotherhood, and selflessness, Coach Bruce reveals the values that define Long Beach State Baseball.

If you're a parent, athlete, coach, or fan of the game, this episode will inspire you to rethink success—on and off the field.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why coaching is about developing men, not just players

• The challenges of NIL, the transfer portal & today's college baseball landscape

• Parenting lessons: multi-sport athletes, discipline, and accountability

• The "Dirtbag Way" and building culture at Long Beach State

• Balancing faith, family, and career in a results-driven world

• Why success goes beyond stats, rings, and draft picks

📌 Subscribe for more conversations with top coaches, players, and leaders in baseball.

Alignd Sports: https://www.aligndsports.com/

📷 Follow on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/lbdirtbags

https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/

#CollegeBaseball #LongBeachState #TJBruce #BaseballPodcast #PlayerDevelopment