In this episode, Jon shares the secret to slowing yourself down and getting back to the present moment...

Success Leaves Clues is hosted by Jon Karcich, a former Division I baseball coach at Stanford University and Santa Clara University who now helps athletes own the recruiting process, dial in their mental game, and perform at a high level. This podcast is built on one simple truth: success leaves clues and failure is feedback. Every episode breaks down the patterns, habits, and decisions behind high performance—because success isn’t luck, it’s a trail of choices, stacked reps, and learned lessons. It’s a puzzle—and the pieces are out there if you’re paying attention. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent—this show hands you the raw materials. Learn from what worked. Learn from what didn’t. Build your own version of success.

Follow Jon:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: @JonKarcich ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @JonKarcich

In this episode, Jon Karcich sits down with Daniel Descalso, former MLB infielder and current bench coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, to explore the nuances of baseball from both player and coach perspectives. Descalso shares insights on developing defensive fundamentals, the mental aspects of hitting, and the importance of simplicity over flashiness. He also delves into youth sports development, offering advice for parents and coaches on fostering a positive environment for young athletes. Whether you're a player aiming to refine your skills, a coach seeking effective training methods, or a parent navigating the youth sports landscape, this episode provides valuable takeaways from Descalso's extensive experience in professional baseball.

Success Leaves Clues is hosted by Jon Karcich, a former Division I baseball coach at Stanford University and Santa Clara University who now helps athletes own the recruiting process, dial in their mental game, and perform at a high level. This podcast is built on one simple truth: success leaves clues and failure is feedback. Every episode breaks down the patterns, habits, and decisions behind high performance—because success isn’t luck, it’s a trail of choices, stacked reps, and learned lessons. It’s a puzzle—and the pieces are out there if you’re paying attention. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent—this show hands you the raw materials. Learn from what worked. Learn from what didn’t. Build your own version of success.

Follow Jon:

X: ⁠@JonKarcich⁠

IG: ⁠@JonKarcich

0:00 – Intro + Comfort at the Plate

2:00 – The Psychology of Confidence

3:30 – Transition to Defense

5:00 – The Rise of the Red Machine

7:00 – Individualized Defensive Development

9:45 – Pre-Pitch Routine and First-Step Timing

12:00 – Watching Mason Wynn

13:45 – Simplicity vs. Flash

16:00 – Footwork Breakdown with Nolan Arenado

18:00 – On-Run Throws: Practice & Poise

20:00 – Forehand and Backhand Work

22:30 – Trusting the Glove

24:30 – Transition into Offense / Swing Adjustments

25:00 – Swing Adjustments & Time vs Timing

28:30 – Hitting Consistency Off the Bench

30:30 – Visual Timing Checkpoints

33:00 – Seeing the Ball + Simple Evaluations

34:45 – Little League Advice & Multi-Sport Play

37:30 – Avoiding Burnout in Youth Sports

40:00 – Daniel Coaching His Kids

42:00 – Yelling from the Stands

45:00 – The Parent Trap

47:00 – The D1 Dream and Self-Evaluation

49:30 – The Small School Experience

51:00 – What Daniel Wants to Be Remembered For

In this episode, Jon breaks down the most effective way to keep score of what you do daily—your habits, your effort, your execution. He explains the difference between an inner scorecard and an outer scorecard, and why measuring yourself by your own standards is the key to consistency and growth.

Success Leaves Clues is hosted by Jon Karcich, a former Division I baseball coach at Stanford University and Santa Clara University who now helps athletes own the recruiting process, dial in their mental game, and perform at a high level. This podcast is built on one simple truth: success leaves clues and failure is feedback. Every episode breaks down the patterns, habits, and decisions behind high performance—because success isn’t luck, it’s a trail of choices, stacked reps, and learned lessons. It’s a puzzle—and the pieces are out there if you’re paying attention. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent—this show hands you the raw materials. Learn from what worked. Learn from what didn’t. Build your own version of success.

Follow Jon:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: @JonKarcich ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @JonKarcich

In this episode, Jon shares why you should smile after you lose...

Success Leaves Clues is hosted by Jon Karcich, a former Division I baseball coach at Stanford University and Santa Clara University who now helps athletes own the recruiting process, dial in their mental game, and perform at a high level. This podcast is built on one simple truth: success leaves clues and failure is feedback. Every episode breaks down the patterns, habits, and decisions behind high performance—because success isn’t luck, it’s a trail of choices, stacked reps, and learned lessons. It’s a puzzle—and the pieces are out there if you’re paying attention. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent—this show hands you the raw materials. Learn from what worked. Learn from what didn’t. Build your own version of success.

Follow Jon:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: @JonKarcich ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @JonKarcich

In this episode, Jon shares why realizing that nobody cares is a gift...

Success Leaves Clues is hosted by Jon Karcich, a former Division I baseball coach at Stanford University and Santa Clara University who now helps athletes own the recruiting process, dial in their mental game, and perform at a high level. This podcast is built on one simple truth: success leaves clues and failure is feedback. Every episode breaks down the patterns, habits, and decisions behind high performance—because success isn’t luck, it’s a trail of choices, stacked reps, and learned lessons. It’s a puzzle—and the pieces are out there if you’re paying attention. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent—this show hands you the raw materials. Learn from what worked. Learn from what didn’t. Build your own version of success.

Follow Jon:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: @JonKarcich ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @JonKarcich

In this episode, Jon shares why tracking everything you do will help you develop more confidence...

Success Leaves Clues is hosted by Jon Karcich, a former Division I baseball coach at Stanford University and Santa Clara University who now helps athletes own the recruiting process, dial in their mental game, and perform at a high level. This podcast is built on one simple truth: success leaves clues and failure is feedback. Every episode breaks down the patterns, habits, and decisions behind high performance—because success isn’t luck, it’s a trail of choices, stacked reps, and learned lessons. It’s a puzzle—and the pieces are out there if you’re paying attention. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent—this show hands you the raw materials. Learn from what worked. Learn from what didn’t. Build your own version of success.

Follow Jon:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: @JonKarcich ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @JonKarcich

In this episode, Jon shares what he learned about longevity from Peter Attia and how it can impact your career.

Success Leaves Clues is hosted by Jon Karcich, a former Division I baseball coach at Stanford University and Santa Clara University who now helps athletes own the recruiting process, dial in their mental game, and perform at a high level. This podcast is built on one simple truth: success leaves clues and failure is feedback. Every episode breaks down the patterns, habits, and decisions behind high performance—because success isn’t luck, it’s a trail of choices, stacked reps, and learned lessons. It’s a puzzle—and the pieces are out there if you’re paying attention. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent—this show hands you the raw materials. Learn from what worked. Learn from what didn’t. Build your own version of success.

Follow Jon:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: @JonKarcich ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @JonKarcich

In this episode, Jon shares why swimming with sharks could very well be the best thing for your career.

Success Leaves Clues is hosted by Jon Karcich, a former Division I baseball coach at Stanford University and Santa Clara University who now helps athletes own the recruiting process, dial in their mental game, and perform at a high level. This podcast is built on one simple truth: success leaves clues and failure is feedback. Every episode breaks down the patterns, habits, and decisions behind high performance—because success isn’t luck, it’s a trail of choices, stacked reps, and learned lessons. It’s a puzzle—and the pieces are out there if you’re paying attention. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent—this show hands you the raw materials. Learn from what worked. Learn from what didn’t. Build your own version of success.

Follow Jon:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: @JonKarcich ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @JonKarcich

In this episode, Jon discusses how emotional players ride the tsunami wave and how the best players in the game are "low-pulse players".

Success Leaves Clues is hosted by Jon Karcich, a former Division I baseball coach at Stanford University and Santa Clara University who now helps athletes own the recruiting process, dial in their mental game, and perform at a high level. This podcast is built on one simple truth: success leaves clues and failure is feedback. Every episode breaks down the patterns, habits, and decisions behind high performance—because success isn’t luck, it’s a trail of choices, stacked reps, and learned lessons. It’s a puzzle—and the pieces are out there if you’re paying attention. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent—this show hands you the raw materials. Learn from what worked. Learn from what didn’t. Build your own version of success.

Follow Jon:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: @JonKarcich ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @JonKarcich

In this episode, Jon explains why it’s important to write both your dream story—and your nightmare story. He breaks down how each one can clarify your vision, expose your fears, and ultimately help you take control of your future. Things happen twice, first in your mind, then in your reality.

Success Leaves Clues is hosted by Jon Karcich, a former Division I baseball coach at Stanford University and Santa Clara University who now helps athletes own the recruiting process, dial in their mental game, and perform at a high level. This podcast is built on one simple truth: success leaves clues and failure is feedback. Every episode breaks down the patterns, habits, and decisions behind high performance—because success isn’t luck, it’s a trail of choices, stacked reps, and learned lessons. It’s a puzzle—and the pieces are out there if you’re paying attention. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent—this show hands you the raw materials. Learn from what worked. Learn from what didn’t. Build your own version of success.

Follow Jon:

⁠⁠⁠⁠X: @JonKarcich ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @JonKarcich