The Mario Soto Sports Psychology Podcast

"Talent isn't enough". These are the words from Andy Rojo, Regional Director of USA Baseball and founder of Rising Prospects Talent Showcase and College Exposure Camps. Andy has been involved in baseball for over 35 years having played for some of the best coaches in the sport, later joining the coaching world at Riverside Community College and Long Beach State.

In this Episode, Andy reveals what college coaches and scouts are looking for from potential players, and some of the mistakes that families make, specialization vs being an athlete, navigating programs and schools - crucial listening for both players and parents.  In addition, we talk about the challenges that coaches of every level need to be ready or prepare themselves for if they choose to be successful in this journey.  He shares his 4 absolutes that every young coach should hear and so much more in this valuable discussion. 

Outliers in the world of performance come in many shapes, sizes, and all corners of the universe. We tend to hear about them in the world of sport and business but exceptional and uncommon performers exist all around us. Having a trained eye for elite standouts, it didn’t take long for me to see these qualities in Chef Craig Strong.

Menu selections like Oxtail Risotto, Short Rib Cigars, House made Ravioli and Lobster or even a gourmet burger that really tastes like a gourmet burger are some of the features he offers at his Laguna Beach restaurant called Ocean at Main. He cultivated his art form from having worked around the world, bringing those experiences to complement his passion for life, creating an experience for both diners and his staff. There is a genuine energy about Chef Craig that becomes contagious which comes from his philosophy to wanting to change the model for how restaurants and specifically the kitchens are run so that the failure rate decreases. Simply stated, Craig Strong is different and his work shows it and we are the beneficiaries of his artistry.

About Chef Craig Strong

Chef Craig Strong, whose 25-year career in luxury hotels and resorts earned him a Michelin star from his time at The Langham Huntington Hotel &  Spa in Pasadena, has come full circle to his native Southern California roots with the recent opening his own restaurant - Ocean at Main. In its first year, the critically acclaimed restaurant was honored as a Best New Restaurant by Orange Coast Magazine, one of Modern Luxury's 10 Most Exciting New Restaurants, and was named among OC Register critic, Brad Johnson's 75 Best Places to Eat. Chef Strong previously held the title of Executive Chef at the prestigious Studio at Montage in Laguna Beach for nine years.

From the coasts of California to Washington, DC, and Barcelona to Hong Kong, Chef Strong has cooked all over the world; his dishes draw inspiration from the culture and cuisine that make these places unique. From growing up in San Diego and cooking with produce from the family garden, Chef Strong is now sharing his Coastal California cuisine at Ocean at Main with the community he has embraced for the past decade.

www.oceanatmain.com

Head Coach Ralph Grajeda knows what it’s like to be part of a championship program. He also knows about the difficulty of taking over a program long steeped in tradition from a legend in the sport. Having won as a player, assistant coach, and now head coach, Ralph Grajeda shares what helped shape his coaching philosophy, the pressure of being the head baseball coach at Yucaipa High school, and the impact of mentorship, and a few of the standards learned from past coaches which he uses today.

Everything we watch on film or tv has some sort of action sequence and few people know about the world of the stunt performer.  

Julie Michaels and Peewee Piemonte are arguably one if not the most successful husband and wife team in the business of stunt coordinating, breaking barriers, advocating for stunt performers, while striving to practice a life of balance, positivity, and faith.  This husband and wife team extraordinaire started in the entertainment business as actors and successfully transitioned their drive and purpose into the stunt world and along the way winning Emmy’s, raising a lovely family, and mentoring others.  

They graciously agreed to share their experiences with me in this episode to educate those wanting to step into their world and to help share their message of faith for all.

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For more information about how I work with performers, visit my website www.mariosoto.com and send me a message. 

In this episode, I have the honor of speaking with Michelle Morris, 3x NCEA champion at the University of Georgia and now an elite equestrian trainer in the Southern California area. She opens up about the competitive experience as an amateur, high level collegiate athlete and how the skills she learned early on by great teachers and mentors helped shape who she is today. - - - - 

For more information about how I work with athletes, visit my website www.mariosoto.com and follow @mariosportsdoc

Lindsay Davis is a former team USA figure skater who has had the rare history of competing as both an individual and pairs performer.

From an early age, Linsday found a passion for her craft and in this 30 minute conversation she shares her journey, the challenges parents and skaters experience, the disappointments in her career and how she plans to apply her master’s degree education as a Sport Psychology Consultant to help young skaters.

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For more information about how I work with athletes, visit my website www.mariosoto.com and follow me @mariosportsdoc on most social media platforms. 

Grady Birk is a 19 year old Jr. Hockey player currently with the Manitoba Dauphin Kings. We discuss what it’s like to be working towards his dream of becoming a collegiate and eventual NHL player, the highs and lows, and how sport psychology has helped slow the game down and provided him with tools to get out of his own way.

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For more information about how I work with Athletes, visit my website www.mariosoto.com

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a firefighter?

In this episode, I have the honor of sharing what it’s like being a Firefighter in a modern world with two Southern Californian Fire (Joe and Derek).  We talk about the highs and lows, why society has forced the Fire Services to evolve, the hidden struggles that are now part of today’s dialogue, and how mental resiliency has become part of the academy curriculum and on-going training so that our firefighters and first responders can have a better on the job performance as well as quality of life after fire. 

Thank you Joe and Derek for your service!

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For more information about how I work with First Responders, visit my website www.mariosoto.com

Mario sits down with La Sierra University's Head Baseball Coach Gabe Gamboa and a few of his players to discuss how they've implemented various sports psychology priciples in their team's season.