In this week’s episode, I sat down with Simon Thomas, Director of Performance & Operations for the Boston Red Sox.

After spending years in elite rugby environments across New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and MLR, Simon stepped into baseball with a completely fresh lens — and that’s what makes his perspective so powerful.

We talked about:

🔹 How the Red Sox build aligned systems that put players first, empower coaches, and connect every department around development.🔹 Why the mental game sets the ceiling in baseball — especially in a sport where failure is constant.🔹 What true culture looks like inside a massive organization, and why “words on the wall” only matter if people actually live them.🔹 The challenge of trust and stability in a system with constant roster movement and daily pressure.

On this week’s WellSport Podcast, we sat down with Bekah Shininger (@bekinreallife) — a marathoner (33 and counting) , creator, and community builder who’s redefined what mental toughness looks like.

We talked about everything from:💭 Why she started running to prove she was “capable of more”💄 Her belief that “you can be pretty and gritty” — authenticity as a form of strength🔥 How stacking the hard days (not just the sunny ones) builds grit🤝 The power of finding (and creating) your community in an individual sport

What I loved most? Bekah’s perspective that running — like any pursuit of excellence — is about freedom, expression, and growth through challenge.

Golf coach Mitch Farrer might be one of the best technical minds in the sport — but what stood out most in our conversation wasn’t swing mechanics. It was mindset.

We talked about how the best players don’t wait for pressure to find them — they train for it.

They build stress into practice, create consequence, and learn how to perform when their heart rate spikes.

Mitch put it perfectly:

“Simulate pressure in practice so the game feels easy. Most people do the opposite.”

We also unpacked:

• Why nerves are a sign that something matters

• How to practice confidence, not just mechanics

• Why experience under pressure is the best mental training there is

If you’re a coach or athlete, this episode is a reminder that mental performance isn’t something you “work on later” — it’s built into how you train today.

On Episode 46 we sat down with the Founder of the ⁠Performance Advisory Group⁠, ⁠Justin Su'a⁠. Justin has worked with multiple teams in the MLB, NFL, NHL, and the NBA and is someone I've looked up to since the start of my journey in this field.

We covered so much ground — from how his mission trip in Nicaragua helped shape his ability to communicate and empathize, to working with the top athletes in the world — but what stood out most was how he thinks.

Justin approaches performance through systems thinking that prioritizes:

🧠 Understanding variables that influences behavior

⚙️ Building intentional environments for consistency

💬 Asking better questions rather than giving quick answers

On Episode 46 we sat down with the Founder of the ⁠Performance Advisory Group⁠, ⁠Justin Su'a⁠. Justin has worked with multiple teams in the MLB, NFL, NHL, and the NBA and is someone I've looked up to since the start of my journey in this field.

We covered so much ground — from how his mission trip in Nicaragua helped shape his ability to communicate and empathize, to working with the top athletes in the world — but what stood out most was how he thinks.

Justin approaches performance through systems thinking that prioritizes:

🧠 Understanding variables that influences behavior

⚙️ Building intentional environments for consistency

💬 Asking better questions rather than giving quick answers

On Episode 46 we sat down with the Founder of the Performance Advisory Group, Justin Su'a. Justin has worked with multiple teams in the MLB, NFL, NHL, and the NBA and is someone I've looked up to since the start of my journey in this field.

We covered so much ground — from how his mission trip in Nicaragua helped shape his ability to communicate and empathize, to working with the top athletes in the world — but what stood out most was how he thinks.

Justin approaches performance through systems thinking that prioritizes:

🧠 Understanding variables that influences behavior

⚙️ Building intentional environments for consistency

💬 Asking better questions rather than giving quick answers

On Episode 45 we sit down with Dr. Alex Auerbach, performance psychologist for the Jacksonville Jaguars (and formerly with the Toronto Raptors).

One of the biggest takeaways? The role of AI in the future of mental performance.
We talk about:

• How journaling connects to neuroscience—and how using AI tools can surface patterns and insights athletes might miss on their own

• Why AI will become an essential between-sessions teammate to help athletes stay accountable and consistent

• The balance between human connection and technology in high-performance environments

• His mental skills pyramid for pros—from sleep and recovery, to composure strategies, to cognitive tools

• How acceptance and mindset shape performance at the highest levels

Alex made it clear: AI isn’t here to replace coaches or athletes—it’s here to augment performance and open new doors for growth.

On Episode 44 I sat down with Dr. Logan Hartnell, Director of Student-Athlete Wellness at Clemson University, to talk about:

• Building a truly integrated mental health + performance model

• How culture, trust, and connection break down stigma

• The new pressures college athletes face — NIL, social media, even sports betting — and how to support them

• Why knowing your “why” matters as much as any physical skill

This conversation left me fired up about where our field is headed. Logan’s perspective on creating spaces where athletes feel seen as people first is exactly the kind of shift the collegiate world needs.

🎧 Give it a listen if you’re passionate about athlete well-being, performance, and leadership.

🔥 New Episode with J Jaggers 🔥

On Episode 43 we sit down with J Jaggers. From 4x State Champ to 2x NCAA Champion to Associate Head Coach of The Ohio State Wrestling team — J’s journey is built on loyalty, blue-collar values, and a relentless competitive spirit.

In this conversation, we dive into:
💥 What separates elite athletes on the mental side💥 Balancing “work hard” with “work smart”💥 Building culture + loyalty in today’s transfer portal era💥 Lessons on leadership, coaching, and even parenting through sport

This one is packed with wisdom for athletes, coaches, and leaders.

🎧 Tune in now — link in bio.

On Episode 42 of The WellSport Podcast we sit down with Ryan Hawk — host of the top-ranked podcast The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk and best-selling author of Welcome to Management, The Pursuit of Excellence, & The Score that Matters Most.

We dive into:

✅ What separates elite performers from the rest

✅ How curiosity fuels growth & resilience

✅ Building habits that last under pressure

✅ The one question leaders should ask themselves every day