pisode 044 | We Have Lost Our Damn Minds | March 21, 2025

Welcome to The MentalCast, hosted by Dan Mickle and supported by Soul Performance Academy.

In this episode, Dan shares an unscripted rant about the chaotic and often unhealthy state of youth sports today. He dives into the financial burdens placed on families, the unrealistic expectations heaped on young athletes, and the increasingly out-of-control behaviors seen from parents and coaches on the sidelines.

Dan calls for a balanced approach that puts the well-being of children first — advocating for a return to the simple joys of sports and a greater focus on mental performance training. This episode is a call to action for everyone involved in youth sports to move beyond the obsession with winning and instead prioritize the emotional and physical development of young athletes.

Topics covered:

The financial pressures of modern youth sports

Unrealistic expectations placed on young athletes

Toxic behaviors from parents and coaches

Why we need to prioritize well-being over winning

The role of mental performance training in healthy sports development

A call to return to the joy of the game

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Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul