Simple. Wins.

She Got Cut, Transferred Twice, and Still Bet on Herself

What do you do when you've found your people, built a life that looks great on the outside — and still feel like you don't belong?

Sianna Savarda has represented Team USA in open water, trained alongside Olympians since childhood, and earned her spot at the Division I level. But when she got cut from her first program during the NCAA settlement, she had to face a question most people spend their whole lives avoiding:

What now?

She found a new team, built deep friendships, reconnected with her faith — and then realized she was too comfortable. So she entered the transfer portal again. Not because things were bad, but because she knew they weren't aligned.

Her grandmother gave her a word early in life — buscando, meaning "searching" — and Sianna has carried that restlessness into every decision she's made since.

This episode is for anyone who has ever stayed somewhere too long because it was easier than leaving.

If you've ever confused comfort with purpose, or talked yourself out of a leap because the timing wasn't perfect, Sianna's story will challenge everything you think you know about when to stay and when to go.

What you'll hear in this episode:

— Why Sianna left a place where she'd found her closest friends — and how she knew it was the right call — The moment after her last race when everything became clear

— How her grandmother's word buscando became the compass for her life

— Her mantra "be here now" and how it pulls her out of overthinking in real time

— Why she believes most people never reach their potential — and the one word she uses to explain it

Key quote:

"It's not easy, but you should do it anyway. Bet on yourself — because you never know if you're truly where you're supposed to be or not."

Connect with Sianna:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sianna.rose6

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siannarose.s/

Connect with Sam: Website: samnott.com

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Matthew Choules left everything he knew in Canberra, Australia to chase a dream he'd never planned on — playing college football in America. New country, new culture, new pressure, and a time zone that made it nearly impossible to stay connected to the people he loved most.

In this episode, you'll hear the two-word mental reset Matthew uses the moment things go wrong — and why the more you replay what you did wrong, the more you guarantee you'll repeat it. If you've ever been stuck in your own head after a bad moment, this one's for you.

Connect with Matthew:

Instagram: @Choulesy

TikTok: @choulesyy

Connect with Sam:

SamNott.com

What you'll hear in this episode:

• How Carson beat Adam Scott in a long drive contest — and what that pressure taught him about performing in front of a crowd.
  
• Why five second-place finishes weren't failures — they were the foundation for a record-breaking win.
  
• The mental shift from "living and dying by every shot" to enjoying the bad moments and trusting the process.
  
• The audible cue technique Carson uses before every drive, iron shot, chip, and putt — and why speaking your intention out loud overrides the mental demons.
  
• Why Carson believes bogey avoidance and course management matter more than chasing birdies — and how that applies to every area of life.
  
• What "Simple Wins" means to a college golfer who learned that getting 1% better every day matters more than winning every week.

"Why line up a putt if you're not going to trust your line?"

• Instagram: @carsonbaez2005

• Instagram: @thebaezboys
• TikTok: @carsonbaezgolf
  

• Carson is also available for freelance graphic design work for college athletes and athletic programs — DM him on Instagram.
  

• Resources: https://www.samnott.com

• The Stretcher Moment: Umar had an injury so gruesome it literally made people throw up, but he used small wins to get back on the court.
  
• The Jump Shot Rule: Trusting God means doing everything in your power until the ball leaves your hand—then letting go of what happens next.
  
• From D3 to Pro: How he did whatever it takes to go from a D3 college to a professional contract in Europe.
  
• The Post-Game Journal: The simple routine Umar uses to clear his head so he doesn't stay stuck in a bad mood after a loss.
  
• Being Replaceable: The raw truth about playing overseas where you have to perform every day or lose your job.
  
• Loving the Work: Why his biggest message is to stop rushing and learn to love the daily process.
  
• Faith and Focus: How his belief in God helps him stay level-headed when things are going wrong.

• Instagram: @umar.overseas

• TikTok: @umarrashidd

• Resources: https://www.samnott.com

• The 1-0 Mentality: How Cam’s dad taught her a simple way to win the day, no matter what the scoreboard says.

• A Family of Leaders: How watching her "girl boss" mom and her dedicated dad gave Cam the blueprint for success.

• The Big Sister Spark: Why Cam worked so hard to set a path for her younger brothers to reach their own dreams in sports.

• Doing Whatever It Takes: Why she worked multiple jobs and put a flight to Spain on a credit card because she believed in her dream.

• Collecting Data: Why a mistake on the field is just a lesson to learn from, not something to worry about for hours.

• The Power of Faith: How leaning on her relationship with God gave her a sense of peace and purpose.

• Instagram: @_cameronrenee

• TikTok: @_thisiscamscorner

• Resources: https://www.samnott.com

• The Walk-on Reality: How Niles navigated the Resistance of being on the sidelines, literally unable to train with the team, without letting Overthinking kill his confidence.
  

• The "Chronic" Injury Trap: Why Niles refused to accept a medical diagnosis as his mental reality and how he shifted his pattern to focus on what he could control.
  

• The Inch-by-Inch Principle: Breaking down the "Yard by Yard is Too Hard" philosophy—how to focus on tiny, 1-degree wins to achieve massive goals.
  

• Stay Hard (The Goggins Pattern): How Niles uses mental toughness as a daily command to notice negative thoughts and immediately interrupt the spiral.
  

• The 30-Minute Anchor: The specific physical habits (like his nightly stretching routine) that keep his body fresh and his mind out of the "stiff and sore" overthinking loop.

• TikTok: @niles.dunham

• Instagram: @niles.dunham
  

• Resources: https://www.samnott.com

• The Journey: How Grace survived three schools in two years and the mental toughness required to keep starting over from scratch.
  

• The ACL "Walk-Off": The raw moment she heard a "pop" on the court and the competitive fire that made her try to keep playing on a torn ACL.
  

• The Identity Crisis: Why tearing an ACL allowed Grace to see herself as more than just a "volleyball player."
  

• The Art of Discipline: Why recovery is more than a science—how she managed a grueling schedule to get everything done.
  

• Creating a Creative Outlet: How picking up a camera and editing video became the "Simple Win" during a year away from the sport.
  

• Throwing to the Wolves: How a lack of resources during her injury forced her to become her own advocate and a role model for others online.

• TikTok: @ggraceyoder

• Instagram: @ggraceyoder

• YouTube: Grace Yoder
  

• Resources: https://www.samnott.com

• The CEO to Punter Pivot: Why Daniel sold his lucrative construction business at age 25 to chase a dream in America.
  

• Humility vs. Authority: The ego-killing reality of going from a boss responsible for livelihoods to a student being "class-checked."
  

• The Manifestation Tattoo: The story behind the Ray Guy Award tattooed on his stomach—and why he left a blank space on it.
  

• Stacking the Proof: Daniel’s breakdown of why confidence is a result of preparation, not a feeling, and how he used this to kill imposter syndrome.
  

• The Specialist’s Burden: How to stay mentally sharp and physically warm for 3+ hours when you only get four or five high-stakes reps per game.
  

• The "CEO Habit Stack": The strict, non-negotiable daily schedule Daniel uses to gain an "unfair" mental advantage over his younger teammates.
  

• Delayed Gratification: Why Daniel believes the ability to delay short term dopamine is the ultimate separator for elite athletes.

• Instagram: @dhughes__

• TikTok: @dhughes__

• YouTube: Daniel Hughes Punter

• Resources: https://www.samnott.com

• Student-Athlete-Father: The raw reality of balancing D1 meetings, college classes, and a newborn son—and why Bronwyn calls this high-pressure life his "greatest blessing."
  
• Optimism is a Family Trait: How his parents’ refusal to complain during tough times built Bronwyn’s ruthlessly optimistic mental perspective.
  
• The Early Graduation Journey: Why he chose to leave high school early to get a "tenfold" head start on the competition and the discipline required to pull it off.
  
• The Comparison Trap: Why obsession with other players' offers is a "mental poison" and the tactical shift Bronwyn used to focus only on his own progress.
  
• The "Do You" Strategy: Bronwyn’s advice to the next generation of Reed High School athletes on why being "yourself" is the only sustainable competitive advantage.

• Instagram: @bronwyn_rios

• TikTok: @not._.bron

Resources: https://www.samnott.com

• "Forget About Me": Deconstructing the F.A.M.I.L.Y. acronym and how adopting a "non-selfish" mindset actually leads to better individual performance.
  

• The Transition from the Circle: The mental shift of moving from a starting pitcher who controlled every game to a college outfielder focused on contributing in new ways.
  

• The Mudita Concept: How to be "authentically joyful" for a teammate’s success and staying mentally locked in while waiting for your moment.
  

• The Identity Trap: Why relying on "athletic validation" is a dangerous game and how to build a sense of self that survives long after the spikes are hung up.
  
• The "Be Where Your Feet Are" System: A tactical breakdown of resetting after a high-pressure failure or a missed swing.

• Instagram: youngbloodaudri

• TikTok: audriyoungblood_31

• Resources: https://www.samnott.com