In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle shares a story that almost never became an episode. After sitting down to write what he thought would be the next podcast, he stopped halfway through, looked at his notes, and realized he was writing something that no longer sounded like him. What followed was an unexpected conversation sparked by six handwritten words found in an old journal: "The podcast sounds like a podcast."

From that moment, Dan explores a question that reaches far beyond microphones and mental performance: What am I actually doing? The episode examines how athletes, coaches, parents, and leaders slowly drift away from the reasons they started in the first place. Through stories from coaching, reflections on identity, and lessons learned from working with neurodivergent athletes, Dan discusses the difference between improving and simply becoming an imitation of what we think success is supposed to look like.

Rather than offering a list of strategies or quick fixes, this episode is an invitation to pause, pay attention, and consider whether the life you're building still feels like your own. It's a conversation about rediscovering purpose, trusting your own voice, and finding your way back before the drift becomes the destination.

Topics covered

Contact the show: It Got Me Thinking at DanMickle.com

Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle

Episode 053 | A Conversation with Coach Gabe of Coquí Volleyball | June 2026

In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle sits down with Coach Gabe, founder of Coquí Volleyball Club, for a candid conversation about coaching, athlete development, and the realities of building a volleyball club in today's youth sports environment.

Gabe shares his journey from growing up in Puerto Rico, where volleyball became a lifelong passion, to serving in the Coast Guard, playing collegiately, and eventually creating a club dedicated to developing athletes who are often overlooked by larger programs. Together, Dan and Gabe discuss recruiting, parent expectations, club politics, mental performance, and the challenges of balancing athlete development with the business side of youth sports.

The conversation explores what it means to coach with both accountability and care, why relationships matter more than rankings, and how coaches can create environments where athletes feel challenged, supported, and prepared for long-term success.

Topics covered

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Episode 052 | You’re Not Supposed to Be Sure | April 2026

In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle takes on the pressure athletes and parents feel to make the “right” decision in youth sports. From tryouts to team selection, people search for certainty in a system that simply does not provide enough information to be sure.

Dan breaks down why this happens and shifts the focus to what actually matters: how athletes respond after the decision is made. He connects this idea directly to performance, showing how the need for certainty leads to hesitation and overthinking, while clarity comes from focusing on the next controllable action. The episode also highlights how uncertainty can be especially challenging for neurodivergent athletes and offers simple ways to create stability in those moments.

Topics covered

Contact the show: [email protected]

In this special year-end episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle steps away from the usual structure to offer a deeply personal reflection on 2025. Rather than teaching a skill or breaking down a framework, this episode serves as a State of the Universe check-in, part annual review, part integrity audit, and part honest reckoning with what it means to grow without losing alignment.

Dan reflects on a year that was less about progress and more about endurance. He explores what it felt like to survive an unsustainable pace, the quiet cost of chasing higher standards, and the realization that presence, not productivity, was often what suffered most. This episode is not a success story or a cautionary tale. It is an attempt to hold the year as it actually was, without forcing meaning or resolution too quickly.

Throughout the conversation, Dan examines the tension between personal growth and shared growth, the gap between being present in name versus in practice, and how integrity can quietly erode when bandwidth disappears. He also looks ahead to 2026 with a different goal, not clarity all at once, but alignment over time.

This episode is for anyone who made it through a hard year, kept showing up even when depleted, and is trying to figure out how to move forward without repeating the same patterns.

Contact the show: Buy Today!.

In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle challenges the common belief that sports automatically teach confidence, resilience, accountability, and leadership. While sports expose athletes to pressure, failure, and feedback, Dan explains why exposure alone does not equal development.

Dan breaks down why calling these abilities “soft skills” minimizes their importance and allows them to be overlooked in training environments. He explores how mental skills like emotional regulation, communication, and self trust are high demand cognitive skills that require structure, language, and intentional practice. A key theme of the episode centers on Dan’s philosophy of high standards, no expectations, explaining why expectations often show up as unspoken assumptions and pressure, while standards are clear, teachable behaviors athletes can actually train.

The episode also highlights how these gaps disproportionately affect neurodivergent athletes, where unstructured environments, vague feedback, and inconsistent communication increase stress and lead to misinterpretation of behavior rather than skill development.

In The Proper Atmosphere segment, Dan answers a question from a parent of a high school soccer player who is repeatedly told to “be more confident” without being taught how. Dan reframes confidence as a skill, not a personality trait, and offers practical guidance for supporting athletes without undermining coaches.

Topics covered:

Why exposure is not the same as development

The problem with labeling mental skills as “soft”

High standards versus expectations in coaching

How assumptions create pressure without clarity

Why neurodivergent athletes are impacted the most

Teaching confidence as a skill, not demanding it

Recommended Episodes:

Episode 042, Building Confidence for Success

Episode 038, One Hundred Fifty One

Episode 032, They Ain’t Coachable

Contact the show: Buy Today!.

Episode 049 | Buyer’s Remorse | December 2025

In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle explores buyer’s remorse in youth sports, a feeling that often surfaces after tryouts, team changes, and when the excitement of a new environment fades. Athletes, parents, and coaches begin questioning whether the switch they made was the right one.

Dan explains why these decisions are often made under pressure and why early discomfort is frequently mistaken for a bad decision. He discusses adjustment cost, communication breakdowns, and the importance of slowing down reactions before making another change. The episode also highlights how transitions can be especially challenging for neurodivergent athletes, where new routines, expectations, and communication styles increase cognitive load and require stronger support systems.

In The Proper Atmosphere segment, Dan answers a question from a parent navigating regret after switching clubs and offers practical guidance for separating discomfort from real problems, identifying progress beyond outcomes, and supporting the athlete through the transition.

Topics covered:

Recommended Episodes:

Episode 033, The Benefits of Losing

Contact the show: Buy Today!.

In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle explores the complicated and often misunderstood use of the word bully in youth sports. Are young athletes truly experiencing bullying in more situations, or have we started labeling every uncomfortable moment as something harmful?

Dan breaks down the growing confusion between bullying and accountability, looking at why this happens, how it affects athlete development, and how adults can better support young performers by using more accurate and consistent language. You will learn how feedback, correction, and emotional discomfort differ from actual bullying, and why mixing the two can create real problems for athletes, parents, and coaches.

The episode also highlights how neurodivergent athletes may interpret tone, structure, and pressure differently, making it even more important for adults to communicate with clarity and intention. This is a meaningful discussion about how to protect athletes who need protection while still teaching resilience, responsibility, and emotional regulation.

In The Proper Atmosphere segment, Dan answers a listener’s question about a young autistic athlete who feels targeted by her coach’s corrections and needs help distinguishing feedback from harm.

Topics covered:

Links Mentioned:

Contact the show: Buy Today!.

Episode 047 | A Conversation with Coach Nicole - Life Pivots, Coaching Philosophy, and Embracing Growth | June 2025

In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle interviews the inspiring Coach Nicole from USA Volleyball. Nicole shares her unique journey through multiple careers, ultimately dedicating her life to coaching volleyball.

Despite facing imposter syndrome, Nicole speaks about her “fake it till you make it” philosophy and how it has driven her to new heights in her professional life. She also shares how her supportive husband and a changing career landscape led her to coaching full-time — ultimately earning her recognition as USA Volleyball’s Girls Junior Beach Coach of the Year.

The conversation explores Nicole’s adaptive coaching philosophy, how she tailors her methods to different environments, and her insights on the shifting dynamics of volleyball coaching and international sport. Nicole’s story is a powerful testament to adaptability, passion, and resilience — and offers valuable lessons for coaches, athletes, and anyone pursuing growth in an uncertain world.

Topics covered:

Nicole’s career transition from private chef to full-time coach

Overcoming imposter syndrome in the coaching profession

How adaptability fuels growth in coaching

The importance of embracing diverse coaching environments

Building open dialogue and athlete-centered coaching

Insights from USA Volleyball’s NTDP programs

Nicole’s aspirations for international and Olympic-level coaching

Mentioned in this episode:

USA Volleyball’s National Team Development Program (NTDP)

Girls Junior Beach Coach of the Year award

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Episode 046 | Athlete Apathy - Rethinking Motivation in Youth Sports | June 2025

In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle tackles one of the most debated topics in today’s coaching circles: athlete apathy. Are today’s young athletes truly apathetic, or are coaches failing to ignite their spark?

Dan dives into an engaging conversation that challenges the common misconceptions about today’s youth in sports. You will explore how shifting coaching perspectives and embracing new methods can foster motivation and enthusiasm in athletes — rather than writing them off as unmotivated.

The episode also highlights the complexities of coaching neurodivergent athletes, emphasizing the importance of understanding each athlete’s unique motivations, learning styles, and needs.

In The Proper Atmosphere segment, Dan answers a listener’s question about how to support a player who feels discouraged by a coach’s negative comments about today’s athletes.

Topics covered:

Are athletes really apathetic — or are we missing their motivations?

How coaching methods can either inspire or stifle engagement

The importance of adapting coaching to generational needs

Understanding neurodivergent athletes and what drives them

Strategies for creating empowering sports environments

How to move from a participation model to true ownership of success

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Episode 045 | Honor The Past Without Being Trapped By It | May 30, 2025

Welcome to this enlightening episode of The MentalCast, where host Dan Mickle explores the complex relationship between tradition and progress in sports and coaching.

As athletes and coaches strive to honor time-tested customs while adapting to the evolving needs of modern sports, this episode asks a critical question: does tradition support growth, or does it sometimes hold us back?

Through thoughtful discussion, Dan examines how outdated practices can unintentionally create barriers to inclusivity, especially for neurodivergent athletes, and shares strategies for evolving traditions in ways that foster a more supportive and empowering atmosphere for all.

This is a must-listen conversation for anyone seeking to balance respect for the past with a forward-thinking approach to coaching and leadership.

Topics covered:

The value and limitations of tradition in sports

When honoring the past can become a barrier to progress

The impact of outdated practices on neurodivergent athletes

Strategies for evolving team culture to be more inclusive

How to balance respecting tradition with embracing modern needs

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul