The Athlete's Mindset

Sam Stuhr is back on The Athlete’s Mindset and this time, a lot has changed.

Sam was the very first guest on this podcast, and since that first conversation, he's gone from college baseball at the University of Portland to professional baseball in the Athletics organization.

In this episode, we talk about what Sam has learned about pitching at the professional level, including execution, stuff vs. velocity, analytics, competing pitch-to-pitch, and what actually separates a good pitcher from a great one.

Sam also opens up about his season-ending knee injury, undergoing surgery, and what it's been like spending the season rehabbing in Arizona. We talk about staying motivated through a long recovery, appreciating the little things, and how being forced away from baseball has changed his perspective.

We also get into the mental side of pitching, handling nerves, simplifying your job on the mound, and why Sam believes the best approach is to control what you can and make your job as simple as possible.

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In this episode of The Athlete’s Mindset, I’m joined by my former University of Portland teammate Jonas Salk.

Jonas and I dive into the idea of the “insecure overachiever,” why athletes often focus more on their weaknesses than their strengths, and what it means to raise your ceiling instead of your floor.

We also talk about separating performance from identity, managing the things you can control, showing up with energy and passion, and learning to be content but never satisfied.

Jonas also shares some of the biggest mental lessons he learned throughout his college baseball career including how insecurity and fear of failure affected his performance and what ultimately helped him break out of that cycle.

Many lessons in this one go way beyond sports.

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What happens in your mind when the pressure hits?

In this episode of The Athlete's Mindset, I'm joined by Jeanene Gray, M.S., M.Ed., a mental performance professional with more than 14 years of experience working with athletes in Power 4 football, including at the University of Oregon.

Jeanene breaks down the mental side of performance and explains why athletes often get "mentally stuck" after mistakes, how negative thought patterns develop, and what athletes can actually do to reset and move forward.

We dive into:

• Why athletes struggle to move on from mistakes
• The difference between positive self-talk and effective self-talk
• How pattern recognition affects performanceHow to regulate emotions when pressure is at its highest
• Why athletes need to practice mental skills just like physical skills
• How coaches can recreate pressure in practice
• Why growth isn't linear
• How athletes can build self-trust and confidence
• What Jeanene learned from working with athletes at the University of Oregon
• Her advice for athletes struggling with self-belief

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that mental performance isn't about simply "thinking positive" or trying to eliminate negative thoughts. It's about learning how to recognize what's happening in your mind and having the tools to respond effectively in real time.

If you're an athlete, coach, or anyone interested in the mental side of performance, this episode is for you.

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In this episode of The Athlete's Mindset, I'm joined by professional pitcher Drew Christo of the Atlanta Braves organization.

Drew takes us through his journey from being one of the top baseball recruits in Nebraska, to playing at the University of Nebraska, going undrafted, and eventually getting his opportunity with the Braves.

We talk about handling expectations, overcoming struggles early in college, finding confidence, the mental side of pitching, what life is really like in professional baseball, and why trusting who you are is so important.

Drew also shares the story of nearly moving on from baseball and applying to medical school before the Braves opportunity came together.

A conversation about confidence, resilience, preparation, and continuing to move forward when things don't go according to plan.

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In this episode of The Athlete's Mindset, I'm joined by Shay Schanaman, professional pitcher in the Atlanta Braves organization and former Nebraska standout.

Shay shares his journey from growing up in Nebraska to earning an opportunity in professional baseball after going undrafted. We dive into what life in the minor leagues is really like, the preparation that goes into competing every day, the mental side of pitching, learning from failure, and staying present throughout the ups and downs of a long baseball season.

Whether you're an athlete, coach, or baseball fan, this conversation is full of lessons on discipline, resilience, and trusting the process.

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In this episode of The Athlete's Mindset, I'm joined by Jed Collins, former NFL fullback, Certified Financial Planner, and founder of Money Vehicle.

Jed shares his incredible journey from going undrafted and being cut 13 times to building a seven-year NFL career. We dive into what it's really like to play in the NFL, the mindset that helped him overcome constant rejection, and why resilience became his greatest competitive advantage.

Beyond football, we discuss one of the most important conversations in sports today: preparing for life after your playing career. Jed explains why every athlete should think like a business owner, the importance of building an identity beyond sports, developing financial discipline, and documenting your journey through journaling and storytelling.

Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or simply someone chasing a meaningful goal, this conversation is full of practical lessons that extend far beyond the football field.

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In this episode of The Athlete's Mindset, I'm joined by Jax Brockett, left-handed pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization and former standout at the University of Nebraska.

Jax shares the highs and lows of his baseball journey, from growing up in Nebraska and pitching for the Huskers to throwing one of the most memorable no-hitters in recent program history. We dive into the mental challenges of college baseball, overcoming failure, building confidence, and the mindset that helped him earn an opportunity with the Cubs after believing his playing career was over.

Jax also opens up about playing with Type 1 diabetes, learning to separate his identity from baseball, staying present on the mound, and why belief in yourself is one of the most important skills an athlete can develop.

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In this episode of The Athlete's Mindset, I'm joined by legendary former Nebraska Volleyball Head Coach Terry Pettit, the coach who built Nebraska Volleyball into a national powerhouse and led the program to its first national championship in 1995.

Coach Pettit shares his incredible journey into coaching, the lessons he learned while building one of the most successful programs in college athletics, and his philosophy on leadership, confidence, culture, and athlete development. We dive into what it takes to create championship teams, why confidence is built through preparation and repetition, and how great coaches empower athletes to think for themselves rather than simply follow instructions.

We also discuss the 1995 national championship team, the role leadership played in that success, and why Coach Pettit believes the greatest measure of a coach is not wins and losses, but the impact they have on people long after their playing careers are over.

If you're an athlete, coach, leader, or simply someone looking to grow, this conversation is packed with valuable insights that extend far beyond volleyball.

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In this episode of The Athlete's Mindset, I'm joined by Millard North Head Baseball Coach and 2026 Nebraska Class A State Champion Bob Hlavac.

Coach Hlavac has built a championship program rooted in accountability, discipline, leadership, and high standards. As someone who had the opportunity to play for Bob during my own baseball career, this conversation was especially meaningful as we reflected on lessons that extend far beyond the baseball field.

We discuss what it takes to build a winning culture, why success starts long before game day, the importance of the weight room, player accountability, leadership development, and how championship teams separate themselves from everyone else. We also dive into the mental side of the game, handling failure, building confidence, and Bob's philosophy of "you've got to care, but you can't care."

Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or leader, this episode is packed with valuable lessons on preparation, resilience, and sustained success.

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In this solo episode of The Athlete’s Mindset, I reflect on some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through sports, podcasting, broadcasting, and conversations with collegiate and professional athletes over the past year.

From confidence and discipline to leadership, comparison, relationships, and personal philosophy, this episode dives into the ideas and quotes that have genuinely changed the way I approach adversity, growth, and everyday life. I also share personal experiences from my own journey, including baseball, starting the podcast, stepping into broadcasting, and pursuing a new path toward becoming a firefighter.

This isn’t an episode about having life figured out. It’s an honest conversation about lessons I’m still learning in real time and perspectives that I believe can help athletes and anyone trying to grow through uncertainty, pressure, and change.

Topics include:

• Confidence through preparation and consistency
• Discipline over motivation
• Why comparison kills confidence
• Leadership and earning trust
• Doing hard things voluntarily
• The importance of relationships and support systems
• Building a personal philosophy and identity beyond achievement

If one thing from this episode resonates with you, that’s a win.

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