The Thinklete Podcast

In this episode, Derek sits down with Special Olympics athlete leaders Declan Fawcett and Amanda Harrinauth, along with Alyssa Cress, Manager of Inclusive Leadership Development for Special Olympics North America, to explore the true meaning of leadership, inclusion, and opportunity.

Together, they share how Special Olympics has created a space where athletes can not only compete, but lead—amplifying their voices, shaping their communities, and breaking down misconceptions around intellectual disabilities.

From powerful personal stories to practical insights on coaching, parenting, and mentorship, this conversation highlights a simple but important truth:

Inclusion isn’t about doing more—it’s about listening, understanding, and creating space for every athlete to thrive.

You’ll learn:

• How leadership opportunities transform confidence and identity
• Why “nothing about us without us” is critical in sport and life
• What great coaches and mentors do differently
• How parents and communities can better support neurodivergent and differently wired athletes

This episode is a reminder that being different isn’t a limitation—it’s an edge.

Learn more about Special Olympics at SpecialOlympics.org

Follow: @SONorthAmerica

#ChooseToInclude #neurodivergentathletes #differentisyouredge

What if the biggest threat to your child’s development isn’t failure… but the environment they’re in?

In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Frazier—best-selling author of The Bullied Brain and The Gaslit Brain—to unpack the hidden impact of bullying, toxic coaching, and psychological abuse in youth sports.

A former award-winning educator who taught at the University of Toronto, Jennifer left her career after exposing the coverup of student abuse—fueling her mission to bring brain science into youth sports.

Her work has reached #1 on Amazon in sport psychology, been endorsed by leading neuroscientists, and influenced organizations across North America.

In this conversation, we break down how “old school coaching,” verbal abuse, and humiliation don’t just hurt feelings—they can actually change brain development in young athletes.

You’ll learn:

• How bullying impacts the brain
• Why toxic environments are often normalized
• Warning signs parents miss
• Why neurodivergent athletes are more vulnerable
• How to build healthier, high-performing environments

🎯 Because toughness should never come at the cost of a child’s brain.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Cat Lutz, Director of Mental Performance at IMG Academy, to break down what truly separates elite athletes from the rest—and why it has far more to do with mindset than talent.

With over a decade of experience working with athletes from youth to professional levels—and a background as a Division I athlete and professional basketball player herself—Cat brings both lived experience and elite-level expertise in sport psychology.

We explore how IMG Academy builds high-performing athletes through a holistic system that integrates mental performance, coaching, academics, and family support. The conversation dives deep into confidence, resilience, and the mental skills that actually drive long-term success—especially for neurodivergent athletes.

You’ll learn:

• The real traits that separate elite athletes (beyond physical ability)
• How to support neurodivergent athletes by leaning into their strengths
• Why overcoaching hurts performance—and what to do instead
• Simple tools like breathwork, focusing on controllables, and reframing challenges
• How to build confidence and resilience in everyday moments

Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, this episode delivers practical strategies and a powerful new perspective on performance, development, and what it really takes to win—on and off the field.

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-lutz44

IG: @610_Performance

Youth sports should build confidence, resilience, and character. But too often, pressure, comparison, and adult expectations get in the way.In this episode of Thinklete, Derek Shunk sits down with John O’Sullivan, internationally recognized TEDx speaker and founder of the Changing the Game Project. Since launching the organization in 2012, John has helped schools, clubs, and sports organizations around the world create healthier environments for young athletes.John is the author of three #1 bestselling books — Changing the Game, Every Moment Matters, and Champion Teammate — and host of the Way of Champions Podcast, one of the most respected podcasts in the world for coaches.A former collegiate and professional soccer player with over 20 years of coaching experience, John has consulted with organizations including the US Olympic Committee, US Soccer, USA Football, USA Lacrosse, USA Swimming, Ireland Rugby, and Aussie Rules Football. He also serves on the National Advisory Boards for the Positive Coaching Alliance and the National Association for Physical Literacy.In this conversation, Derek and John break down what the best coaches in the world actually do differently—and how parents and coaches can reshape the youth sports experience so kids don’t just perform, they grow.In this episode we discuss:• The biggest mistakes parents make in youth sports• Why early performance is a poor predictor of long-term success• The dangers of early specialization and year-round competition• How to develop resilience, confidence, and intrinsic motivation in young athletes• Why fun and joy are essential for long-term athlete developmentThe ultimate message: kids get one childhood — youth sports should make it a great one.🎙️ Follow John at instagram.com/ctgprojecthq✔️ Check out his website: https://changingthegameproject.com/

On this episode of Thinklete, Derek Shunk sits down with Emma Lapierre, an Accredited Social Worker specializing in athlete mental health, to explore the unique mental pressures athletes face—especially neurodivergent athletes navigating performance, perfectionism, emotional regulation, and burnout.

Emma shares both professional insight and personal experience as a former athlete, offering practical guidance for parents and coaches supporting neurodivergent kids in sports. Derek also opens up about real challenges he’s faced as a parent of a neurodivergent athlete, leading to an honest conversation about pressure, confidence, coaching environments, and building sustainable mental strength.

If you're a parent, coach, or athlete trying to balance competition, confidence, and mental health, this episode provides practical strategies and a powerful reminder: success in sport starts with understanding how each athlete’s brain works.

About Emma LapierreEmma Lapierre is an Accredited Social Worker with a background in mental health and sport social work. She supports young athletes and their families as they navigate performance pressure, confidence challenges, and the emotional ups and downs that come with competitive sport. Drawing on both professional training and lived experience, Emma has a strong interest in supporting neurodivergent athletes to identify their strengths and thrive in sport.

Learn more about Emma:🌐 www.rysewellbeing.com.au📧 [email protected]
📱 Instagram:@mindfultherapistem@rysewellbeing

On almost every team, there are young athletes who want to succeed. They look capable. They understand the game. They care. But something isn’t clicking.They’re inconsistent. They overreact. They miss instructions. And too often, they get labeled lazy, unfocused, or "uncoachable".But what if the issue isn’t effort? What if it’s processing??In this episode, Derek sits down with Dr. Timothy Baghurst and Dr. Christopher Stanley, co-authors of Reach Every Athlete, to explore how coaches can better support athletes with hidden disabilities and neurodivergent conditions — including ADHD, autism spectrum differences, learning disabilities, processing challenges, and more.This conversation challenges the one-size-fits-all coaching model and reframes breakdowns in performance as understanding gaps — not discipline failures.This episode is not about lowering standards. It’s about coaching with more precision.Because when you understand how an athlete processes the world, you don’t reduce expectations — you remove unnecessary barriers.If you’re a parent, volunteer coach, high school coach, or athletic director, this is a must-listen conversation.🎙️ About Out Guests:Dr. Christopher Stanley is a sport and performance psychology professor and coach specializing in athlete development and neurodivergence in sport. He co-authored Reach Every Athlete, helping coaches better support athletes with hidden disabilities and processing differences.

Learn more about Dr. Stanley ➡️ https://www.uws.edu/faculty/byname/ch...Dr. Timothy Baghurst is Director of FSU COACH at Florida State University and a leading scholar in athletic coaching education. He co-authored Reach Every Athlete, focusing on practical strategies to help coaches create more effective, inclusive environments.Learn more about Dr. Baghurst ➡️ https://www.timbaghurst.com/📕 Purchase their book, 'Reach Every Athlete' ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Reach-Every-At...

Every parent says they just want what’s best for their kid.But in youth sports, that line gets blurry fast.When does support turn into pressure?When does coaching cross into control?And how do you raise a competitive athlete without damaging the relationship?In this episode of Thinklete, Derek sits down with Ben Cecchini, author of Full-Time Parent… Part-Time Coach, to unpack the real challenges parent-coaches face today.This conversation dives into:How to be caring, fun, and fair in youth sportsThe difference between intention and impact in communicationWhy the post-game car ride matters more than you thinkPraising the process vs. praising performanceTeaching grit without yellingUsing breathwork and emotional regulation as a coachLetting go of ego in youth sportsRaising resilient athletes without burnoutBen shares practical tools for balancing competitiveness with connection — and why your primary job is always to be a parent first.If you’re coaching your child…If you’ve ever left a game frustrated…If you care about long-term development more than trophies…This episode is for you.📚 Learn More from Ben Cecchini ⬇️📸 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/givengrow.co/?hl=en🌱 Give & Grow:https://www.giveandgrow.co📘 Full-Time Parent… Part-Time Coach: A Practical Guide for How to Be a Caring, Fun, and Fair Youth Sports Coachhttps://www.amazon.ae/Full-Time-Parent-Part-Time-Coach-Practical/dp/0578706458

Talent gets you noticed. Character keeps you in the room.

In this powerful episode of the Thinklete Podcast, Derek sits down with former NFL defensive back, Vernon Kearney, to talk about what truly separates elite athletes from the rest, neurodivergent or not.

After playing at Lane College and spending time with the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Cleveland Browns, Coach Vern transitioned from professional football to purpose-driven impact. Today, he’s the founder of Peak Performance Outreach, where he develops speed, strength, and agility — but more importantly, discipline, emotional regulation, accountability, and mental toughness in young athletes.

This conversation goes far beyond drills and combine prep.

Coach Vern shares:

• Why coachability is the #1 trait of elite athletes

• How to build grit without breaking a child’s confidence

• Why emotional kids don’t need to be silenced — they need to be guided

• The importance of learning how to lose

• How mental training (yes, even chess) shapes game-day performance

• What parents and coaches can do if they don’t have access to elite training

• Why discipline, order, and structure create freedom

Derek also shares personal insight from having his own son train under Coach Vern — and the transformation that happens when physical training is paired with intentional mental development.

Whether you’re a parent of a neurodivergent athlete, a coach trying to build stronger character in your players, or someone who believes success is built long before the spotlight — this episode will challenge and inspire you.

Because in the end, it’s not about the hill.
It’s about who you become running it.

Check Out Coach Vern's Peak Performance Outreach:

https://www.peakperformanceoutreach.com/

www.instagram.com/peakperformanceath_

On this episode of Thinklete, Derek Shunk sits down with John O’Sullivan, internationally recognized TEDx speaker, youth sports expert, and founder of the Changing the Game Project, an organization dedicated to helping parents and coaches create environments where young athletes can thrive.

John is the author of three #1 bestselling books — Changing the Game, Every Moment Matters, and Champion Teammate — and host of the Way of Champions Podcast, one of the top-rated podcasts in the world for coaches.

A former collegiate and professional soccer player with more than 20 years of coaching experience at the youth, high school, and college levels, John has consulted with organizations including the US Olympic Committee, US Soccer, USA Football, USA Swimming, USA Lacrosse, Ireland Rugby, and Aussie Rules Football. He also serves on the National Advisory Boards for the Positive Coaching Alliance and the National Association for Physical Literacy.

In this conversation, Derek and John discuss how modern youth sports have shifted toward pressure, early specialization, and adult agendas—and what parents and coaches can do to create environments where kids develop confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of sports.

Topics include:

• Why youth sports should prioritize development over results• The dangers of early specialization and year-round competition• How parents influence their child’s sports experience• Why great coaching is built on relationships, not just tactics• How to help young athletes develop resilience and confidence

The biggest takeaway: sports should develop better people, not just better players.

🎙️ Follow John at instagram.com/ctgprojecthq✔️ Check out his website: https://changingthegameproject.com/

In this episode of the Thinklete Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Ross Greene, author of The Explosive Child and Lost at School, to challenge everything we’ve been taught about discipline, behavior, and defiance.

Dr. Greene’s core belief is simple—and disruptive: kids do well if they can. When they don’t, the issue isn’t motivation or attitude—it’s unmet skills and unsolved problems.

This conversation covers:

• Why behavior is a signal, not the problem

• Why punishment and rewards fail to build skills

• How environment shapes regulation and resilience

• The power of collaborative problem solving over control

• What parents and coaches can do when kids keep struggling

This episode is for parents, coaches, and educators who feel stuck in power struggles—and are ready for a better way to help kids grow without lowering expectations.

🎧 Listen, rethink discipline, and start solving the right problems.

Follow Dr. Ross Greene:

Website: https://livesinthebalance.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livesinthebalance/

Website: https://cpsconnection.com/

Documentary: https://www.thekidswelose.com/