“We may be born into a great family situation or a difficult family situation that forces or conditions you to be tough, but we aren’t born that way. Toughness comes from how you handle your experiences, what you learn from them, and how you’re guided through them by others in your life.”
Mike Krzyzewski (Jay Bilas, Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court) 

“Mental toughness” is a term frequently used by coaches and players alike, but is often misunderstood as a concept. Russ sits down with Stone Eleazer and 2x NCAA Wrestling Champion and USA Wrestling Gold Certified Coach Braumon Creighton to redefine what it means to be mentally tough, and discuss the true measure of a leader. Because sports often involve emotional turmoil, mental toughness develops in us the ability to maintain emotional self-control and to manage the anxiety that comes with leading and growing. 

Episode References:

• Jay Bilas - Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court
• Dan Gable
• John Wooden
• Coach Mike Denney of Maryville University
• Cael Sanderson