Pro Mindset® Podcast

Dr. Greg Charlop improves the lives of retired athletes (pros and amateurs) with high-performance wellness solutions. His solutions include expert advice on diet, nutrition, sleep, supplements, and mental health.

Retired athletes know their bodies are no longer at their best. They no longer have a team of experts managing their diet and exercise routines. They notice that things are beginning to slip. Maybe they've gained some weight. Stamina isn't what it used to be. The mirror is no longer their friend.

He founded Retired Athlete Health and created the Seven-Week Wellness Program to fill the team void for retired athletes. His program is designed to help clients reclaim their youthful health and vigor. His team of experts teach athletes how to use technology, foods, supplements and exercise to create a customized plan to fit their lifestyle.

Dr. Greg is a focused wellness expert who isn’t Dr. Google or your primary doctor. Athletes want someone they can trust to ask health questions. “Is it okay to have this much sugar?” “Should I take vitamins?” “How much sleep do I need?” He gives concrete answers to show clients an achievable and evidence-based way to improve their health and performance.
He uses telemedicine visits to boost athlete health from the convenience and safety of their homes.

Dr. Greg shares with Pro Mindset host, Craig Domann, the signs and symptoms of depression, the importance of an athlete exploring and being aware of career options when they need to go to Plan B, and the two debate the value of visualization on an athlete’s performance. Domann suggests that athletes should be careful with having a Plan B since it many times leads the athlete to transforming Plan B into their new Plan A. Dr. Greg also discussed the “universal concept” that when an athlete knows it has been done or sees it done, then an athlete is more confident that he/she can do it too!

Tap into Dr. Greg’s health and wellness expertise. “Ask Dr. Greg” is a regularly published question and answer column for athletes. We invite you to ask questions free of charge with anonymity and confidentiality. Simply email your question to [email protected]. Dr. Greg will respond in a timely manner on his site www.retiredathelethealth.com

Former Major League All-Star Pitcher turned Mental Coach and Author, Bob Tewksbury, joins Pro Mindset Podcast host Craig Domann to discuss about self-talk and imagery. Tewksbury played 13 seasons in the MLB with six teams (Yankees, Cubs, Cardinals, Rangers, Padres and Twins) and as a pitcher won 110 games during his career. He was an All-Star and also third in the Cy Young voting in 1992.

After earning his Masters in Sports Psychology and Counseling from Boston University, Tewksbury has had stints working as a mental coach for the Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs. Bob authored a book in 2018 titled: Ninety Percent Mental: All-Star pitcher turned mental skills coach reveals the hidden side of the game.

On this podcast, Tewksbury and Domann discuss two major topics in mental coaching, specifically, self-talk (“the little man”) and imagery (visualization & movies).

Tewksbury shares he began utilizing imagery in high school and recounts using imagery going into spring training for the 1986 season. Naturally he wanted to make the Yankees big league roster from the jump. He followed the practices learned in Norman Vincent Peale’s book: Power of Positive Thinking. Peale stated, “If you can see it and believe it, you can achieve it.” Tewksbury used such imagery before he went to spring training in 1986 and imagined himself walking into manager Lou Pinella’s office and having him tell him that he made the MLB roster.

Tewksbury created this image so powerful that he would literally cry every night before he pitched in spring training that year. He would go out on the beach with his Walkman, listen to music, and imagine himself pitching against the next day's team on the beach. It worked because he pitched 20 consecutive scoreless innings during spring training and didn't give up a run.

With a week left in camp, the clubhouse guy came over and tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Hey, Lou wants to see you.” Tewksbury describes walking across the big NY logo in the middle of the locker room and literally “walking into his dream.”

State of Ohio Hall-of-Famer Coach Thom McDaniels joins Pro Mindset and shares with host Craig Domann his philosophy on coaching football, developing young men and his family journey of raising two sons who are currently coaching in the NFL. McDaniels had a 26-year head coaching career that included head coaching stops at Warren G. Harding High School, Canton McKinley High School and Massillon Jackson High School. McDaniels was twice a finalist for NFL High School Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2010.

McDaniels is the father of New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels
and Texans assistant quarterbacks coach Ben McDaniels. McDaniels reminisces about two of his three sons, Josh and Ben, catching the football bug, being gym rats and always hanging around his high school teams, going to practices and running the controller when he was watching film at home. Josh and Ben also started as quarterbacks in high school playing for their father and winning state championships together.

In 1997, McDaniels was named national high school football coach of the year by USA Today while leading his Canton McKinley team to state and national titles. However, McDaniels has a rich coaching philosophy that goes much more meaningful than winning championships, but rather, emphasizes the growth, development and discipline of his players in football and long thereafter.

Coach McDaniels mentions the following as cornerstones of his coaching philosophy:
•Expect the most from the best – Coach the most talented players the hardest
•Never wanted to be scheme-rich and execution-poor
•Nothing about football is unimportant (everything matters)
•Some of us can’t win it for all of us (takes the entire team)
•Self-scouting and scrutiny is more important than scouting the opponent
•It doesn’t take any athleticism to line up in the right place
•Eyes in the right place can tell you a lot

Coach McDaniels also shares a few thoughts about winning:
•Can’t win a game by yourself
•Winning = cumulative result of a whole bunch of guys doing the right thing
•It’s amazing how many games you can win when you do the easy things well

Coach McDaniels talks about his son Josh when he was the head coach of the Denver Broncos, watching Josh coach Tom Brady in six Super Bowl victories, and attending practices in New England and getting to know the Patriot Way.

Sean Callahan of Husker Online joins Pro Mindset host Craig Domann to talk about everything Nebraska football. Callahan who is a prominent member of the media covering Nebraska football shares his perspective on the recent transfers and the best utilization of the transfer portal. He mentions that the transfer portal is here to stay, and college coaches should expect players to transfer each year and coaches need to allocate a few spots each recruiting cycle to transfers in addition to the normal high school and JUCO recruits.

Callahan also shares his belief that “Big 10 money” is the ultimate equalizer in the Big 10 and the main reason there are no pushovers in the Big 10 like there was in the Big 12. The Big 10 money has created parity as every school has the same resources to compete in the arms race (facilities race), as well as all Big 10 school have similar coach’s payroll expenditures. Most importantly, every Saturday, regardless if Nebraska is favored or not, the Cornhuskers have to be ready to play.

Callahan has an insider’s viewpoint about Luke McCaffrey’s entry into the transfer portal, as well as Adrian Martinez’s growth, leadership and prospects for 2021. Callahan and Domann also discuss the intersection of zealous fans, social media and student-athletes. In today’s world, fans can reach out and direct message (DM) players in a professional and sometimes unprofessional manner.

Callahan shares his prediction on the 2021 Nebraska Cornhuskers’ record.

Pro Mindset Podcast Host Craig Domann welcomes Rick Burton to Pro Mindset Podcast. Burton is currently the David B. Falk Endowed Professor of Sport Management in Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, as well as currently serves as Syracuse University’s Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR). Prior to his appointment at Syracuse in August 2009, Burton served as the chief marketing officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee overseeing the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics.

Before joining the USOC, Burton spent four years as the Commissioner of Australia’s Sydney-based National Basketball League (a two-continent league with teams in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore). Burton led the University of Oregon’s Warsaw Sports Marketing Center to international prominence serving as both its director and executive director during his eight years in Eugene, OR.

Burton has written two books on sports marketing as well as 20 Secrets to Success for Student-Athletes Who Won’t Go Pro and Forever Orange, which highlights Syracuse University’s 150 years. He is the co-author of the textbook “Global Sport Marketing: Sponsorship, Ambush Marketing and the Olympic Games” and in 2016 finished a book for SU Press on his collected opinion columns from Sports Business Journal titled “Sports Business Unplugged: Leadership Challenges from the World of Sports .”

Burton has an unparreled perspective in sports marketing, business and education. Burton and Domann discuss the following issues in sports:
•Deshaun Watson trade demand with the Houston Texans.
•The Olympic “Spirit” and the needed selfish & focused mindset to be successful.
•Fair is for the Pigs! The State Fair is only place you find fairness.
•Tom Brady and his “GOAT-ness”
•Great vs. Great Mindset
•His book 20 Secrets to Success for Student-Athletes

Pro Mindset Podcast host and veteran NFL Agent Craig Domann discusses the Super Bowl, the star QBs (Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes) and the “passing of the torch” from Brady to Mahomes as the GOAT. Craig highlights Brady’s accomplishments and calls them the “marathon milestones” that Mahomes is chasing.

The big question for many fans is “Can Mahomes beat Brady with his unparalleled post-season records and individual statistics and become the GOAT?” Although Mahomes is on a great pace at the end of his third year of starting to surpass Brady, Brady has been the best for 21 years! Brady is the reason so many fans have hated the New England Patriots for always winning.

Craig dives into Mahomes’ background, success and mindset, as well as, identifies the natural hurdles Mahomes will have to overcome to succeed over two decades like Brady.

Craig shares some of the traits that make Mahomes special:
•Transformation of the QB position due to his creativity, off-platform throws, movement in the pocket and various throwing sockets.
•No quit – no fear mentality and his ability to come back from behind, especially in the post-season and to win Super Bowl
•Big play capabilities and big play mentality
•Knack for doing whatever is required to make a play, improvising to move the chains, escape to buy time and make a play
•Great pocket awareness, incredible field vision and great poise in the pocket

Craig shares that Mahomes greatest component of Pro Mindset is his ability to put on his game face and make plays. He has no fear and tends to be successful in big moments. Craig also shares his insight on the possibility of Mahomes breaking Brady’s records. Craig agrees that Mahomes (provided he does not have injury issues) will continue to chase Brady’s individual statistical records and will likely surpass Brady in several categories. However, Brady’s post-season records (e.g., Super Bowl wins, Super Bowl Appearances, Play-off appearances, Post-season wins, etc.) are more difficult to predict. Brady did not do it by himself and Mahomes cannot either. The organization, the team, all three phases of the game (offense, defense and special teams) have to thrive, the locker room has to be right-minded. Continuing, the division opponents (Broncos, Chargers and Raiders) have to be mostly down for the next 15 years, the Chiefs leadership, coaches and front office have to maintain continuity and unity in their vision for the next 15 years. Obviously, Mahomes has to stay healthy, stay hungry and dodge the inevitable contract disputes with the Chiefs. Furthermore, can Mahomes win as much as he has lately after head coach Andy Reid retires? Can the Chiefs replace the dangerous skill weapons on offense when they get older (Kelce, Hill, etc.)?

Craig believes it is too early to predict on such issues so far in advance and many outside Mahomes’ control.

Enjoy Super Bowl LV!

Former Cowboys NFL offensive lineman, Bill Nagy joins Pro Mindset host Craig Domann and shares his football journey from playing high school football in Ohio to college football for the Wisconsin Badgers to the Dallas Cowboys. Bill played offensive line and was drafted in the 7th round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Bill was drafted the year (2011) the NFL locked the players out until the first week of August. Consequently, Bill did not get to participate in any off-season program with the Cowboys his rookie season. The day after the lockout ended, he signed his rookie contract and reported to training camp with Cowboys. Bill started from the jump for the Cowboys (opening game starter) less than 35 days later. He was a quick study and his experiences with the Badgers prepared him for the NFL.
After the NFL, Bill went into college coaching and was on Coach Chryst’s staffs at Pittsburgh and then at Wisconsin before Bill decided to go into the private sector to have more time with his family. His wife, Jessamyn, played volleyball at Wisconsin, and they have three young children. Bill currently works as a risk management consultant at Hausmann-Johnson Insurance in Madison, WI.

Bill goes down memory lane as he shares his experiences and challenges with the Badgers who eventually had 14 of the 15 offensive linemen play in the NFL. He earned himself a starting position going into his third season only to have it taken away when he was in a moped accident (lady ran a red light) just two weeks before the start of Fall camp. He gives an account of watching his starting and playing opportunities that season fade away as his rehab took longer than expected. The title of this pod is in reference to the mental battles he had while dealing with the emotions of earning a starting spot only to lose it because of a freak accident off-the-field.

Bill talks about the most impressive player that he played with at any level, DeMarcus Ware, and Ware’s strong belief system. According to Bill, Ware’s excellent performances came not just from his outstanding athletic abilities but also from his unmatched confidence and belief that he was the best.

Bill and Craig discuss the business of college football and how the business side of the college game mirrors the NFL. College players today are far more knowledgeable and sophisticated in terms of their rights, opportunities, utilization of the transfer portal, branding and positioning themselves for the NFL.

Craig and Bill talk about old-timers Drew Brees and Tom Brady related to their passion and love for the game and their competitive fires. They agree that both Brady and Brees have the uncanny ability to have a rookie mindset and passion that defies their age.

Bill and Craig talk about many other topics including:
•Would Bill allow his son to play football and why,
•Who is one of coaches that he respects and learned the most from,
•What makes the University of Wisconsin and Badger football special, and
•Bill shares his perspective as a college football coach (Pittsburgh Panthers & Wisconsin Badgers).

Long-time NFL front office personnel man Mike Ackerley joins Pro Mindset host Craig Domann and shares his perspective on what creates “draft value” and the difference between the front office mindset and the football coach mindset related to evaluating and drafting players. The NFL Draft is the #1 supply chain mechanism for NFL teams adding talent to their rosters. Mike also discusses his personal experience as the West Coast Scout for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leading up to the 1993 NFL Draft when they drafted safety John Lynch out of Stanford University in the third round. He shares insights about the scouting and coaching opinions about Lynch, as well as, the impact of Lynch’s pedestrian 4.73 forty time at the NFL Combine. Lynch was widely considered a 1st round performer but was rated a 3rd rounder in terms of draft value due to his speed concerns. This month Lynch is again a finalist for the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame in Canton, Ohio. Lynch is looking to become the 5th player from the 1993 NFL Draft Class following Willie Roaf, Michael Strahan, Jerome Bettis and Will Shields.

Prior to his 20+ year NFL personnel career, Mike coached in college football for 20+ years as well. In fact, Mike was Craig’s position college at the University of Kansas. As a seasoned college coach, Mike believes he had an edge in scouting since (a) he was accustomed to scouting players as a college coach as a part of his recruiting, and (b) he could relate to and anticipate what his pro coaches were looking for in terms of evaluation factors.

Veteran NFL Agent and Pro Mindset host Craig Domann gives his perspective on whether a player should declare for the NFL Draft or go back to school. This year (2021 NFL Draft) is a unique year because not only are the typical three-year players (redshirt sophomores & true juniors), four-year players (RS- juniors & true seniors) but also the five-year players (RS-seniors) are eligible to enter the 2021 NFL Draft and are also eligible to return to college for the 2021 season. The NCAA gave a blanket do-over year for the 2020 season meaning it does not count their eligibility. Players that normally would have no choice but to pursue the NFL now have the opportunity to come back.

Players need to note that there's probably 50-100 guys that receive accolades that they will go in the first round of the NFL Draft. There’s probably only 15 – 20 consensus first rounders. However, every single year, there's only 32 guys that get their names called in the first round. Obviously, there are a bunch of athletes who feel lied to and betrayed…and who go in the later rounds, thus “bumping” other athletes who were told they would go in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th…and so on…rounds of the NFL Draft. All this said, Craig advises players to use his 3-step decision-making process to make their decision.

Craig acknowledges that this decision is probably one of the most important decisions they will make. Craig points out that the attraction and temptation is obviously to go pro. However, he suggests players utilize a decision-making process to make the best decision. In this podcast, Craig comments on and reviews the pros and cons, some of the critical decision factors, and shares a handful of the important NFL indicators, and shares his 3-step decision-making process. The key is the players should use good judgment.

Craig discusses the questions that a player should consider when he has this decision to make. There are five questions a player needs to ask himself in order to do the due diligence needed to make an informed decision. The authentic answers to these questions will dictate what he should do.

In the end, Craig advises players to consult their Maker, look into their heart and make the decision that is right for them.