Student Athlete Performance

Most athletes say they want to play at the next level—yet only 7% actually do.
Why? Because they don’t understand what college coaches are really looking for.

In this episode, I sit down with Kyle Padgett, recruiting consultant with Next Level Prospects, to unpack the biggest recruiting mistakes athletes make and how AI is changing the recruiting game forever.

Whether you're a high school athlete, parent, or coach—this episode gives you the real talk you need to hear.

What You’ll Learn:📌 Why most athletes have no idea how to evaluate themselves📌 The truth about showcases (and why coaches might not even be there)📌 How to build a strategic recruiting plan instead of hoping for the best📌 Why relationships and honest conversations matter more than hype📌 How AI is transforming recruiting for both athletes and coaches

📲 Connect with Kyle:Instagram: @nkpadgTwitter/X: @nextlvlsouthFacebook: Kyle Padgett on FacebookEmail: [email protected]

How's your recruiting process going?

🎙 Don’t Just Pass the Eye Test—Pass the Performance Test

Want to be elite? You don’t need more protein—you need a system.

In this solo episode, Nick Lemke breaks down why the top athletes in the world (like Kobe, LeBron, and Tom Brady) all had systems—and how you can build one too.

Whether your challenge is lack of time, picky eating, or not knowing what to eat, this episode gives real talk and real solutions.

🎯 Key Takeaways:

• Why “I don’t have time” is a myth

• The power of go-to meals and backup plans

• How mindset shifts picky eating into performance eating

• The 4 core pillars of a winning system: consistency, quality, timing, and adaptability

• Why passing the eye test isn’t enough

📱 Text “SYSTEM” to 253-470-2423 to get help building your own performance system (meal plan)

🔗 Connect with Nick:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nicklemkerd

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/nicklemkerd

Not every D1 dream ends with a championship. Some end in injury. In burnout. In silence.

In this honest and powerful conversation, Nick sits down with George Mawanda-Kalema, former D1 basketball player at Brown University, to talk about the internal battles most athletes face but few talk about—until it’s too late.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:– What D1 life is really like off the court– How to deal with pressure, injury, and loss of identity– Why redefining success as an athlete is critical

💬 Question for You:What’s one thing you are working on to level up your mental/physical game?

It’s easy to say yes when everyone else is cheering you on. But sometimes, the path that looks shiny—whether it’s a tournament, a showcase, a D1 offer, or even a dream job—might actually be pulling you away from your true goals.

In this solo episode, Nick shares a personal story about turning down a high-profile opportunity to work with pro athletes—an opportunity that almost everyone told him to take. He opens up about the hard decision to say no, the reasons behind it, and the lessons athletes (and parents) need to hear when it comes to making choices for your future.

If you’re an athlete chasing the dream of playing in college, or a parent navigating the chaos of the recruiting process, this episode is a must-listen.

Nick dives into:✅ How to know when to say no—even if everyone else says yes✅ The difference between the eye test and the performance test✅ Why more showcases, games, and exposure aren’t always the answer✅ The trap of chasing the D1 label without a plan✅ How to focus on what truly moves you forward

Key takeaway: If you want to reach your full potential, you have to make tough decisions—and sometimes, that means saying no to the “shiny” stuff.

Connect with me:

Ever felt overlooked, benched, or doubted as an athlete?
Coach Eric Holtz knows that story—and more.

From getting kicked off his college team for attending a friend’s funeral to making a pro baseball comeback at 41, Eric’s journey is the ultimate lesson in resilience, belief, and sweat equity. As the former Head Coach of Israel’s Olympic Baseball Team, Eric shares powerful insights on what it really takes to succeed in sports—and life.

In this conversation, we dive into:💪 How to build unshakable belief in yourself (even when no one else does)🔥 Why hard work and "sweat equity" are non-negotiables for success🤝 The mindset shifts that separate players from teammates🚫 Why talent without coachability is a recipe for failure⚾ Lessons from leading an underdog team to the Olympics—and what that means for YOU

Whether you're an athlete chasing the next level or just looking for real-life motivation, this episode will challenge you to raise your standard, control the controllables, and become a person that others want in their foxhole.

Follow Eric Holtz:🔗 https://x.com/ericholtz1313🔗 https://www.instagram.com/ericgameon13🔗 https://www.facebook.com/eholtz🎙️ https://www.youtube.com/@90FeetAwayPodcast🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@90.feet.away.podc

Share this episode with a teammate who needs the message—and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!

Skipping breakfast isn’t just affecting you at school—it’s showing up in how you perform at 4PM practice.

Whether you're trying to gain weight, lean out, or just have more energy for training—this episode is for you. Nick breaks down exactly what skipping breakfast does to your energy, recovery, and focus. And even if you do eat breakfast, it might not be the right kind.

You’ll learn how to fuel better in the morning to perform better in the afternoon—and build muscle, recover faster, and stay locked in all day.

Here’s What We Break Down:✔️ Why skipping breakfast = skipping performance✔️ How going 15+ hours without food affects your recovery and focus✔️ What happens when you ignore hunger cues long enough
✔️ The real reason you’re craving sugar and snacks by 2pm✔️ What a real breakfast looks like (not just a protein bar or cereal)✔️ Easy, fast meals: smoothies, parfaits, overnight oats & more✔️ Why breakfast is your best opportunity to gain muscle✔️ How Maddy Weaver saw major improvements just from breakfast✔️ The easiest way to get an edge over your competition

📲 Follow Nick:
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💬 Struggling with breakfast? Comment below and Nick will personally reply with tips to help you level up.

“Training hard” doesn’t always make you faster. In fact, most athletes are doing speed work wrong—and wasting valuable training time. In this episode, Coach Laura Stark of Stark Strong Performance breaks down the myths, mechanics, and mindset behind true speed development.

We dive into:

• The difference between running and actually training speed

• Her “4 Pillars of Running” every athlete needs to understand

• Why agility ladders and hill sprints might be hurting—not helping you

• The mental side of sprinting and why smart athletes know when to push and when to pause

• How to get faster without wasting your time on fluff drills

Laura works with middle school to college-level athletes and helps them gain speed that actually shows up in their game. Whether you’re chasing a PR or just trying to win more 50/50 balls, this episode will give you real direction on what to do next.

Connect with Coach Laura Stark:🔗 Website: starkstrongperformance.com📸 Instagram: @stark.strong.performance📘 Facebook: Coach Laura Stark

💬 What’s one drill or mindset shift that’s helped YOU improve your speed or performance? Comment it below!

Low energy? Headaches? Sore for days? It might not be your training—it might be your hydration.

In this episode, Nick breaks down one of the most underrated performance killers: dehydration. Athletes are showing up to practice under-fueled, under-recovered, and under-hydrated—and it’s costing them strength, speed, focus, and energy.

You’ll learn exactly how much water you need, what your pee color means (yes, seriously), and why things like Prime, soda, and energy drinks aren’t doing you any favors. Nick also breaks down the difference between hydration and electrolyte replacement, so you know when to level up with the right sports drinks.

Whether you’re crushing the gym or dragging through practice—this one’s for you.

Here’s What We Break Down:✔️ Why “just being tired” might actually be dehydration✔️ How to spot the warning signs of under-hydration✔️ Why thirst = too late✔️ The pee color test (simple but powerful)✔️ Which sports drinks help—and which ones don’t✔️ Why sodium > potassium for sweat loss✔️ Nick’s top 3 electrolyte recommendations✔️ How to plan hydration before you train✔️ Why energy drinks and soda are holding you back✔️ How to start the day right with water (even before your phone)

📲 Follow Nick:
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💧 Know someone who says they're "just tired" all the time? Share this with them—and hand them a water bottle while you’re at it.

Most athletes won’t even hit one grand slam in their life—Coach Haley Colwell hit two in the same inning. She’s in the NCAA record books, has built championship-level programs from scratch, and now coaches JUCO athletes on how to perform when it matters most.

In this episode, Coach Colwell shares what it really takes to rise in big moments, how to stand out in a losing or overlooked program, and what high school athletes need to be doing right now if they want to play at the next level.

Whether you’re an athlete aiming for college ball or just trying to gain confidence, this conversation gives you real, honest lessons from someone who's done it as both a player and coach.

💡 Here’s what we cover:

• What’s really required to deliver in pressure moments

• How JUCO prepared her for a DII College World Series run

• What athletes should focus on when coming from “struggling” programs

• Why strength training, rest & recovery are non-negotiables

• Advice to female athletes chasing college dreams

• How to build confidence from the inside out

📲 Follow Coach ColwellInstagram: @thecoachcolwellX (Twitter): @TheCoachColwellFacebook: Haley Colwell

What’s one of your favorite memories as an athlete? Comment it below.

There’s a lot of advice out there—but most of it is slowing you down.

From TikTok trends to gym bro science, athletes are constantly fed nutrition advice that sounds smart… but ends up holding them back. In this solo episode, Nick breaks down 10 things he does not recommend—including almond milk, BCAAs, “cheat meals,” skipping breakfast, and a whole lot more.

If you're serious about fueling for performance and not just following fads, this episode will give you straight answers, smarter habits, and practical alternatives.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why almond milk is a poor milk alternative for athletes✔️ The truth about BCAAs, soy, and mass gainers✔️ Why “clean eating” and salads might be hurting your performance✔️ How pre-workout can wreck your sleep (and your gains)✔️ The real problem with cheat meals and food guilt✔️ Why skipping breakfast = skipping performance✔️ The myth that TikTok supplements will level you up

📲 DM Nick if you have questions:
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🙏 If you’ve ever been confused by nutrition advice—this episode will clear it up. Share it with a teammate who needs better fuel and fewer fads.