Are you frustrated watching an athlete crush it one day… then coast the next? You see the talent, you know the toughness is there—but something’s missing: consistent effort.

In this episode, I break down a raw comment from a coach and dad: “He has the toughness to handle challenges, but he doesn’t always push himself to his limits.”

Why does that happen? And more importantly—what can you do about it?

We dive into the psychology and neuroscience 🧠 behind why athletes hold back, explore how to close the gap between capability and consistency, and unpack the mindset blocks that keep players from going all in.

Whether you're a coach, parent, or athlete, this episode delivers actionable strategies to help unlock full potential and build mental toughness that lasts.

This one’s for anyone who knows growth happens outside the comfort zone—but wants the secret to help getting there consistently - and the secret may surprise you.

Episodes Mentioned:

011 - Strategies to Overcome an Athlete's Biggest Mental Challenges (Part 1 of 2)

012 - MORE Strategies to Overcome Common Athlete Pain Points (Part 2 of 2)

021 - The Pain Point Series Pt 3: I wish he realized how much his character shaped his opportunities

0:00 – Intro: The Gap Between Capability and Consistency

1:26 – The Yellowstone Wildfire

2:16 – Pain Point: He's tough, be he doesn't always push his limits.

4:46 – Digging Deeper - The Brain Mechanics of Effort and Hesitation

9:22 – Where Growth Happens (Comfort in Discomfort)

13:05 – Intensity Personified: David Goggins & the 40% Rule

14:51 – The Secret

16:16 – If I Were in Your Shoes (and I am) / Understanding Why Athletes May be Holding Back

18:42 – Perspectives from Experts in Sports Performance & Training

19:36 – Questions to Ask (Awareness, Trust & Ownership)

23:26 – Action Steps for Parents, Coaches & Athletes

23:48 – Effort & Mindset Tool 1: Find Your Next Gear

24:22 – Effort & Mindset Tool 2: Beat Your Yesterday (& Screw Everyone Else's)

25:05 – Effort & Mindset Tool 3: Reframe Discomfort

27:02 – Sticks & Thorns: A Lesson from the Eagle Nest

28:14 – Closing Thoughts & How You Can Help

Former pro baseball player Jason Aspito shares his journey from high school standout to a decade in professional baseball. We dive into:

🔥 The reality of recruiting & the draft process

⚾ Balancing individual goals & performance with a team culture

🧠 The mental side of baseball—goals, resilience, handling failure, overcoming injuries & adapting to new roles

📈 Transitioning from player to coach & life beyond the game

This is another episode packed with insights for high school, college & pro players, parents and coaches.

Find & Follow Jason:

https://x.com/aspito28

https://dcssportscomplex.com/

00:00 Intro

02:04 Growing Up & Competing as a Multi-Sport Athlete

04:56 College Recruitment & Showcases: Then & Now

07:23 Freshman Year at the University of Texas: Ups, Downs & Seeking Opportunity

12:13 Transferring from Texas to LA - Self-Advocacy the Right Way

19:25 Draft Day Disappointment & Becoming a Pro

23:40 Lots of Gloves in the Bag: The Value of Versatility

24:46 Coaching and Mentoring Young Players

25:38 The Mental Game: The Separator & What I Wish Was Taught More

28:56: What to Do When The Game Beats You Up & Spits You Out

30:55 Traded: Changing Organizations, Culture & Injuries

32:14 Seeing the End of the Road

34:00 The Identity of a Retiring Ballplayer

35:34 Lessons, Current Endeavors & Final Thoughts: Competing, Chunking, The Process, Adversity, Culture, Be Like Howie

Athletes - You may have heard this before: "You've got a ton of physical gifts, and God-given skills and abilities. BUT…" And what comes after the BUT is the hard truth - your talent isn't enough.

In Episode 021 of the Next Season Podcast I dive into one of the most important traits that will impact your opportunities on the field and in life: YOUR CHARACTER.

You'll learn about what character really means, what coaches look for, the brain science of character, and practical steps you can take to work on it.

This is the same format I did in episodes 11 and 12 - taking questions and comments directly from parents and coaches to help address some of the biggest challenges they face with their athletes.

011 - Strategies to Overcome an Athlete's Biggest Mental Challenges (Part 1 of 2)

012 - MORE Strategies to Overcome Common Athlete Pain Points (Part 2 of 2) 

Got more questions or challenges? Drop a comment, send me a DM, or email.

00:00 Introduction to Episode 021 - Character Traits

01:42 The Hard Truth About Talent

04:21 The Character Traits of Next Season Athletes

05:46 Character - According to Sports Psychology & Coaches

07:58 What is Character, Really? (The Brain Processes of Character Formation)

12:52 Practical Steps for Athletes to Develop Character

14:33 Tool 1 - Repetition & Recognizing Small Wins

15:33 Tool 2 - Pre-Decide Your Ideal Response

16:31 Tool 3 - Define Character Non-Negotiables

17:15 Tool 4 - Surround Yourself with High-Character People

17:41 Tool 5 - Own Your Mistakes (Publicly)

18:18 Tool 6 - Do Hard Things on Purpose

18:56 Tool 7 - Teach Character To Someone Else

19:50 Honest Self-Awareness - Would You Play You?

20:38 Impressive on Paper vs Impressive in Real Life

21:10 Closing Gratitude & How You Can Support

In this episode I chat with my former college teammate Dustin Pease - a Baltimore native, D1 Freshman All-American, Pitcher of the Year, professional pitcher and owner of Pease Baseball Professionals. We dive into his lessons learned as a youth, to his journey becoming a college standout, to his gritty pro career.

Dustin shares how he embraced his unique sidearm delivery and mindset to succeed despite being undersized.

We also discuss his transition to coaching, the founding of PBP and the importance of mental toughness, hard work and creating a culture for his players.

This is a must-watch for athletes, parents and coaches.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

02:28 Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

07:19 Lessons From a Plumber

11:12 Adapting & The Importance of Grabbing Attention

17:27 "Overnight Success" - College Career

20:33 Struggles and Realizations in College and Pro Career

21:50 Confidence

23:40 Baseball Must Be FUN

24:22 Building a Culture

25:42 Dustin's Pro Journey

28:37 A Wedding Rehearsal & Serendipitous First Pitch

30:47 The End of the Road

33:54 The New Purpose & Entrepreneurship

37:06 Closing Thoughts

ATHLETES: Are mental challenges draining your brain?

Your mental game can be your greatest asset—or your biggest liability. In this episode, I’m uncovering the 5 hidden leaks that are silently draining your mental focus, energy and confidence.

I’ll break down my top 5 mindset killers that are destroying your performance & mental health. I'll also share actionable strategies to stop them to regain agency and control - on the field and in life.

Don’t let these internal obstacles hold you back—your brain is too powerful to let them win.

Whether you're a current athlete or transitioning out of the game, this episode is for you…and I'm talking to myself too.

Mentioned in this episode:

Next Season Podcast 011 - Strategies to Overcome an Athlete's Biggest Mental Challenges (Part 1 of 2)

Next Season Podcast 012 - MORE Strategies to Overcome Common Athlete Pain Points (Part 2 of 2)

00:00 Intro & Benefits of Being an Athlete

01:10 Life's Not All Puppies & Ice Cream (the Mental Struggles of Athletes)

02:50 The Ones That Didn't Make the Cut

04:11 Mental Challenge #1: Increased Pressure & Expectations

10:06 Mental Challenge #2: Exposure to Criticism & Judgement

16:38 Mental Challenge #3: Mental Fatigue from Constant Competition

22:56 Mental Challenge #4: Over-Reliance on Routine & Structure

27:21 Mental Challenge #5: Identity Foreclosure & Post-Career Transition

32:14 Closing Reminders, Gratitude & How You Can Help

Athletes: Are your brains wired differently than non-athletes? YES! Years of physical training, mental training, stress, wins, losses, goals achieved and goals missed, pain, joy and discipline wire your brain to give you mental superpowers that others may not have.

In this episode I'm giving you my top 5 mental strengths that athletes have, plus I'm giving you a bonus superpower at the end! You'll learn what they are, what's happening in your brain, and specific things you can do to make the most of your athlete brain.

Resources & videos mentioned in this episode:

Next Season Podcast 007 - Unlocking Elite Effort https://youtu.be/pCG6wKtyn6M?si=DcWIFsX-gssgfjSP

Next Season Podcast 008 - Ambition Without Attachment https://youtu.be/0dnK-zEMmrQ?si=hp1hC7Vl2UL0dFGm

Next Season Podcast 010 - Mental Toughness https://youtu.be/pQBpEQuSSWk?si=T-x7U2ViauH6FLPW

Next Season Podcast 013 - We Suck at Goal Setting https://youtu.be/kPwEfh5PLak?si=ARU6KWqgI_PCHVaK

Next Season Podcast 014 - Turn Your Goals Into Habits https://youtu.be/H25eHDXz4SU?si=7ZvAjNtyEB3-ffd-

The Science of Hitting a Major League Fastball (Insider Science) https://youtu.be/RENLMum5wz4?si=D9jGUq_oazRaV6Vn

Next Season Athletes Focus Matrix - https://www.nextseasonathletes.com/free-stuff

Play Sports for a Quieter Brain: Evidence From Division I Collegiate Athletics (Journal: Sports Health) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31813316/

00:00 Intro & the Athlete's Brain

00:40 Top 5 Superpowers of an Athlete's Brain

03:50 Superpower 1: Heightened Focus & Concentration

11:31 Superpower 2: Elevated Grit & Resilience

17:57 Superpower 3: Greater Neuroplasticity

23:53 Superpower 4: Decision Making Under Pressure

29:49 Superpower 5: Higher Level Goal-Oriented Thinking

33:44 Bonus Superpower: Managing Pain & Discomfort

37:27 Wrap Up, Gratitude & How You Can Help

Imposter syndrome is real, and it's a lot more common than you might think. I’ve lived it too - from high school baseball to college - and still damn near every day in my professional work. In this episode, I share my experiences with imposter syndrome, break down what it is, why it happens to us, what's happening in our brains, and I give you 5 legit strategies to it.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong, this one’s for you.

00:00 My Introduction to Imposter Syndrome

02:19 "Why Would Anyone Listen to Me?"

03:45 What is Imposter Syndrome?

06:21 Roots & Causes of Imposter Syndrome

09:53 Neuroscience Behind Imposter Syndrome & What's Happening in Your Brain

12:59 Imposter Syndrome in Baseball

14:51 Neuroplasticity & Strategies to Defeat Imposter Syndrome

16:05 Strategy 1: Challenge Your Thoughts

17:47 Strategy 2: Acknowledge Achievements Objectively

18:54 Strategy 3: Progress Over Perfection

20:41 Strategy 4: Stop Comparing!

21:49 Strategy 5: Normalize Imposter Syndrome

25:05 Final Thoughts, Reminders & Gratitude

Do you ever feel like one mistake defines your entire performance? Do you catch yourself overthinking and expecting the worst? Does the pressure to be perfect hold you back? Do you assume others are talking about you and judging you negatively? Find yourself saying "always" and "never" even if it's not true?

You're not alone. The human brain defaults to negative thinking - and it's so common this phenomenon has a name: Automatic Negative Thoughts, or ANTs. Left unchecked, these ANTs can infest your mind, derail your performance and steal your enjoyment.

In this episode, we cover:

1. The differences between thoughts, feelings, emotions and moods
2. A breakdown of the 9 ANTs that you are likely dealing with every day
3. A simple 3-step strategy to stomp out these ANTs 

00:00 Glory Days & Missing the Opportunity of a Lifetime

01:34 The Human Brain Defaults to Negative Thinking

02:29 An Intro to ANTs

04:01 Revisiting Thoughts, Emotions, Feelings & Moods

04:30 Thoughts (and Dark Thoughts)

06:58 Emotions

08:22 Feelings

11:13 Moods

13:40 Recognizing the ANT Infestation

14:12 ANT 1: Always & Never Thinking

15:36 ANT 2: Focusing on the Negative/Discounting the Positive

17:29 ANT 3: Catastrophizing & Worst Case Scenarios

19:25 ANT 4: Mind Reading & the Spotlight Effect

21:11 ANT 5: Thinking with your Feelings

22:30 ANT 6: Guilt Beatings, Shaming & Perfectionism

24:08 ANT 7: Labeling

25:03 ANT 8: Personalization

26:35 ANT 9: Blame

28:31 Three Steps to Fight the ANTs: Awareness, Challenging, Replacing

32:14 Wrap-Up & Gratitude

Can changing your beliefs improve your performance?

Your beliefs may shape your game as much as any other skill or ability - and science shows it. In Episode 015 of the Next Season Podcast, we explore the science behind self-belief, placebo effects, and how your brain and body respond to what you think.

Stay open-minded - and you can transform your performance on the field and in life.

00:00 The Power of Belief

02:17 Defining & Disentangling the Elements of Self-Belief

07:04 The Rosenthal Experiment

10:53 Belief in Sports Performance

18:49 The Placebo Effect

23:51 The Role of Self-Talk

28:51 Harnessing Faith and Building Resilience

31:54 Wrap-Up

This is episode 014 of the Next Season Podcast! In episode 013, I gave you a better way to set and pursue goals using a brain-based, next-level framework.

In this episode, we're going to take those goals and turn them into habits using neuroscience-backed tips and tools. We'll start with some brain mechanisms and processes, and bust the 21-day habit myth. Then, I'll share 5 practical strategies or tools to create habits that stick. These insights will help you build a sustainable system that actually helps you achieve your goal and drive life-long growth. Let's go!

00:00 Introduction - Turning Goals into Habits

02:22 Habits & the Brain: Long-Term Potentiation & Long-Term Depression

06:58 Goal & Habit Cycles: Key Brain Regions & Neurochemicals

13:00 Debunking the 21-Day Habit Myth

16:27 Tool 1: Create-a-Player Identity & Never Summit Goals

19:31 Tool 2: Habit Stacking

22:41 Tool 3: The Sweet Spot Rule

25:45 Tool 4: Using Failure as Feedback, Short-Term Memory & Chunking (Win the Inning)

28:27 Tool 5: Creating Friction in Bad Habits

30:22 My Challenge to You & Wrap-Up