The Strength In Numbers Podcast

Flow state is one of the most powerful drivers of creativity, productivity, and fulfillment in our work—yet for coaches and others in high-demand careers it can feel impossible to access because of long days, constant distractions, and the feeling of being “on call” 24/7.

In this solo episode, I dive into what Flow State is and how to use “Flow Blocks” and “Flex Time” to access it more consistently. I also share strategies on what to do when you have no time—including Micro-dosing Flow Blocks, how to drop into Flow faster, leveraging Sequencing and Peak Exits, and getting okay with being bored.  

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

After 20 years as the Director of Performance and Nutrition at Gonzaga University, Mike Nilson joins the show to share why he stepped away from strength and conditioning to begin a new chapter as a financial advisor with Ten Capital. In his new role, Mike helps athletes navigate the world of NIL and how to manage their finances. 

We dive into the principles behind his career transition, how to build a personal philosophy and framework, and what studying a wide range of disciplines taught him about skill acquisition. Mike also delivers a masterclass on the power of commitments, how just five minutes a day can change your life, and the value of mapping out your future with clarity and purpose.

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Transition to New Beginnings

03:03 From Basketball to Strength Conditioning

06:03 Recognizing the Need for Financial Education

06:57 Transitioning to Financial Coaching

09:49 Overcoming Fears of Starting Anew

13:18 The Power of Daily Commitments

16:24 Principles, Strategies, and Techniques in Coaching

20:53 Connecting Different Fields of Knowledge

25:11 Crafting Personal Principles and Frameworks

27:59 Building Systems for Effective Delivery

30:52 Family First: Prioritizing Relationships Over Career

34:54 The Principle of Retirement: Timing and Decision Making

38:00 Commitment: Transforming Wants into Musts

42:41 Building Momentum: The Power of Small Wins

46:34 Discipline and Freedom: The Balance of Commitment

53:41 Nutrition and Commitment: The Importance of Consistency

Dan Braun, founder of Braun Performance + Rehab and host of the Braun Performance and Rehab Podcast with over 485 episodes, joins the show to share his expertise on bridging the gap between rehab and performance.

We dive into the key factors that can delay the return-to-play process, the skills strength coaches should develop to support athletes during rehab, and how to manage chronic injuries—like tendinopathies—in overworked athletes.

Dan also breaks down the biggest growth levers for his business, how he evaluates success beyond finances, and why he’s focused on scaling for greater impact. This episode is packed with actionable insights for coaches, clinicians, and anyone looking to improve athlete health and long-term performance.

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

04:47 Opportunities and Collaboration in Sports

07:34 The Importance of Teamwork in Return to Play

10:23 Understanding Return to Play: A Continuum

12:57 Avoiding Mistakes in Return to Play Assessments

16:06 Managing Chronic Injuries in Young Athletes

18:40 Balancing Workload and Recovery

21:32 Behavior Change in Young Athletes

30:27 Understanding Valgus and Athletic Performance

34:59 The Importance of Servant Leadership

39:02 Effective Communication in Coaching

41:50 Scaling Impact Through Efficiency

46:14 The Journey of Podcasting and Growth

49:57 Exploring the Nervous System and Success

55:51 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions

Founder of Spoken Nutrition, Jordan Bokser, joins the show to share the story behind building a supplement company designed to solve coaches’ problems and deliver products athletes can trust. We dive into how Spoken was created, how they crafted their formulas around transparency and effectiveness, and what it takes to build a brand people believe in.

Jordan also breaks down common mistakes in supplementation and nutrition, how you can improve results without even changing your diet, and strategies for influencing the mindset of resistant athletes—or even resistant staff. Beyond supplements, this episode gives a window into Jordan’s decision-making, his approach to business, and ultimately, his approach to life.

Wholesale – Spoken Nutrition

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Spoken Nutrition and Jordan Bokser

03:51 Building Trust and Authenticity in Business

06:17 The Importance of Feedback and Collaboration

08:38 Surrounding Yourself with Excellence

11:15 The Role of Education in Sports Nutrition

13:51 Creating a Supportive Community for Coaches

16:31 Mindset and Its Impact on Nutrition and Performance

22:59 Foundations Over Trends

24:27 The Importance of Recovery and Mindset

25:27 Coaching and Individualized Approaches

27:22 The Socratic Method in Coaching

28:29 Negotiation and Mutual Understanding

31:14 Fear of Abandonment in Coaching

32:24 Connecting with Employees and Their Purpose

34:14 The Power of Mission Statements

35:47 Approaching Business with Love

37:42 Aligning Personal and Company Whys

40:06 Educating the Market

43:01 Overcoming Self-Imposed Limitations

Co-founder of Durable Athlete and VP of Performance at Texas Pro Academy, Cristian Plascencia joins the show to share how he’s reshaping basketball development in Central Texas. Alongside Zach Urbanus, Cristian has built Texas Pro Academy into a one-stop environment where players get strength and conditioning, skill development, and competitive pickup runs all under one roof.

Cristian breaks down how to align strength and skill work for basketball players, his number one training priority, and what he looks for when watching athletes play to drive weight room decisions. He also shares how high school athletes with overloaded schedules can structure their weeks and what steps they can take to stay durable.

Beyond coaching, Cristian dives into what it takes to grow a business in the private sector and how to get high school teams to contract you out. This episode is loaded with takeaways for coaches and athletes striving to maximize performance and longevity.

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background of Cristian Plascencia

07:27 Collaboration and Team Dynamics in Training

09:48 The Importance of Stress Management in Training

12:41 Coordinating Strength and Skill Work

15:44 Training Strategies for High School Athletes

18:45 Simplifying Training for Optimal Performance

21:25 Analyzing Basketball Movement to Drive Weight Room Decisions

33:21 Building Capacity and Variability in Training

37:41 Crafting the Ideal Training Week

41:58 The Importance of Mental Breaks and Variety in Training

45:21 Growing a Training Business and Building Trust with Schools

58:14 Finding Work-Life Balance as a Coach

In this solo episode, I go behind the scenes on the process of writing the Strength In Numbers book. From the initial idea, to getting 100+ coaches to contribute, to the ins and outs of editing, publishing, and marketing, I share what went into making the book a reality. Whether you’ve thought about writing a book yourself or just want to know the story behind the pages, this episode gives you the full look inside.

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Inception of an Idea

05:53 The Process of Gathering Insights

08:15 Creating a Comprehensive Resource

10:43 Editing and Structuring the Book

13:13 Marketing and Launching the Book

15:40 Reflections on the Journey

18:13 The Impact of the Book

20:46 Future Aspirations and Closing Thoughts

Second Baptist School (Houston, TX) Director of Athletic Performance Nick Mascioli joins the show to dive into the “2K Score” he created to profile his athletes and drive engagement. He breaks down what tests determine the score, how he sets it up, and the results he has seen using it. 

Nick leads the Long-Term Athletic Development from Pre-K 3s all the way through High School, and we dive into what his goal is during each phase of his model. We also talk about the importance of serving the people who want to be served, prioritizing development of the middle school level, and making the weight room a place students can call home. 

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Athletic Development

03:24 The Importance of Teaching Fundamentals

05:54 Long-Term Athletic Development Phases

08:53 Creating a Fun and Engaging Environment

11:27 Shifting Focus from Winning to Lifelong Skills

14:05 Building Relationships in the Weight Room

17:02 The Role of Middle School in Athletic Development

19:46 Balancing Skill Acquisition and Engagement

22:13 Scaling Movements for Different Ages

25:11 The Evolution of Nick's Role

27:49 Gamifying the Weight Room Experience

33:20 The Evolution of Student-Teacher Dynamics

37:36 Data-Driven Training: The 2K Score

41:39 Balancing Competition and Motivation

45:13 Serving the Present: Coaching Philosophy

50:01 Living with Purpose: Faith and Coaching

54:46 Future Aspirations: Growth and Contentment

Pro basketball player De’Vion Harmon joins the show as the first athlete guest on The Strength in Numbers Podcast. Having played at three Power 5 programs (Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas Tech) and with two NBA G-League organizations (New York and Indiana), De’Vion brings a unique perspective to the conversation.

We dig into what types of coaching have helped him the most, how coaches can make a lasting impact, and what he would change about his own development if given the chance. De’Vion also shares how he would approach building a college roster and creating team chemistry while navigating the dynamics of NIL.

This episode flips the script, giving us a chance to learn directly from the athletes we coach—and the ones we aim to impact most.

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to De'Vion Harmon

04:08 The Importance of Coaching Relationships

06:39 Navigating Feedback and Self-Improvement

09:18 Adapting to the Changing Landscape of College Basketball

11:53 Building a Cohesive Team in a Transfer Portal Era

14:42 Understanding Roles and Expectations

17:19 Advice for High School Recruits

19:50 Reflecting on Recruitment Experiences

22:33 Transitioning from High School to College Basketball

28:05 Lessons from the G League Experience

30:35 The Impact of Structure on Player Development

33:12 Finding Balance: Coaching and Player Autonomy

36:46 The Importance of Work Ethic and Ownership

38:56 Lasting Lessons from Coaches

41:50 Building Strong Foundations for Success

45:17 The Role of Parents in Athlete Development

48:55 The Value of Playing Pickup Basketball

Charlotte Christian Director of Athletic Performance, X2 Baseball Director of Performance, and North Carolina NHSSCA State Director Kyle Jacksic joins the show to share how he balances multiple coaching roles while still delivering at the highest level.

Kyle breaks down his overall training philosophy, why failing fast is critical to his program succeeding, and how he built athlete buy-in and attendance numbers with lessons borrowed from Disney.

We also explore how his own injury background shapes the way he LEADS athletes through Return to Play, and why every coach should be a Dot Connector—not a Dot Collector. 

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Kyle Jacksic's Journey

04:08 Balancing Multiple Roles in Athletic Performance

06:59 Building a Private Training Business

09:48 The Importance of Support Systems

12:44 Navigating Career Growth and Family Planning

15:35 Creating a High-Quality Training Environment

18:16 The Role of Vulnerability in Coaching

21:00 Return to Play Philosophy and Its Impact

23:43 General Preparedness and Athlete Development

26:09 Adapting Training for Diverse Skill Levels

28:57 Complexity in Programming for Athletes

36:00 Adapting Training for Freshmen Athletes

38:19 The Importance of Failing Fast

42:38 Evolving Perspectives on Strength Training

46:21 Connecting Dots in Coaching Development

55:23 Balancing Information and Practical Application

Missouri State Women’s Basketball and Women’s Golf Strength Coach Nicole Jimenez joins the show to dive into what drives her pursuit of learning and how she filters the flood of coaching info. 

We also explore:

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

06:28 Pursuing Further Education

11:52 Personal Training and Experimentation

17:09 Balancing Skill and Adaptation

22:55 Holistic Programming in Athletic Training

28:06 Choosing Experience Over Immediate Pay

32:40 Sacrifices in Pursuit of Coaching Excellence

36:55 Seeking Feedback and Continuous Improvement