In this episode of What It Takes, Paul Reddick and Coach Marla Townsend sit down with Jessica Mendoza, Olympic gold medalist, Stanford All-American, ESPN MLB analyst, and one of the most important voices in softball.

Jessica talks about the growth of professional softball, the pressure young athletes face today, what nerves really mean, the difference between winning gold and receiving silver, the lessons she learned from her father, and why coaches may be the most important people in a young athlete’s life.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Paul introduces Jessica Mendoza and her impact on softball and broadcasting.

01:00 – Jessica talks about moving from college softball coverage into MLB broadcasting.

03:00 – The softball “family” and why this moment in the sport feels so meaningful.

06:00 – Why investment, staff, resources, and infrastructure are changing professional softball.

09:00 – The global growth of softball, including Japan, Mexico, and the future beyond the Olympics.

12:00 – Jessica explains nerves, doubt, butterflies, and why pressure usually means you care.

15:00 – Gold vs. silver: why receiving silver feels so different from winning bronze.

18:00 – Marla shares the story of her daughter chasing down Jessica’s home run ball.

21:00 – The Olympics, respect, and how sport can bring people together across countries and cultures.

24:00 – Jessica talks about the pressure young athletes face today.

27:00 – Why so many kids are burning out between ages 14 and 16.

30:00 – Jessica reflects on her father as a coach and what he taught her about influencing young people.

33:00 – How one local role model changed Jessica’s dreams and helped her see college softball as possible.

36:00 – What it really takes to get better every day and why athletes need a plan.

39:00 – Jessica talks about gratitude, giving back, and what softball has given her.

41:00 – Why the softball world feels more intimate and united than other sports communities.

43:00 – Jessica shares one of the most important lessons about being a great teammate.

45:00 – Jessica’s favorite places from her travels, including Mount Rushmore and Japan.

46:56 – Jessica closes with a message about moving women’s sports forward together.

Check out:

https://marlatownsend.com

and

https://Jessica-mendoza.com

In this powerful conversation, Coach Marla Townsend and Paul Reddick sit down with one of the most respected voices in softball, Coach Morgan Stuart.

Morgan shares her journey from late-start softball player to national champion at the University of Washington, and opens up about the mental struggles that followed one of the biggest successes of her career. After winning a national title, she found herself trapped by expectations, fear, and pressure, leading to one of the toughest seasons of her life.

Together, they dive deep into what coaches, parents, and athletes often miss about performance: the connection between confidence, identity, habits, emotions, and growth.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why success can sometimes create more pressure than failure

• The hidden dangers of tying your identity to performance

• How great coaches recognize what’s really going on beneath the surface

• Why habits and character matter more than motivation

• What college coaches are actually looking for in athletes

• How parents can better support their players through struggles

• Why vulnerability may be one of the most important leadership skills in sports

• The difference between becoming a great player and becoming your best self

This is an honest conversation about confidence, coaching, pressure, growth, and what it truly takes to thrive both on and off the field.

If you’re a player, parent, or coach trying to navigate the mental side of sports, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Check out:

https://marlatownsend.com

https://morgan-stuart.com

https://marlatownsend.com

0:00 — Welcome to the What It Takes Podcast

0:42 — Dream, Determination & Drive: the three pillars

1:47 — How to know if your dream is real (or just wishful thinking)

3:22 — Why a coach's belief in you is worth more than your own inner voice

6:11 — "A coach writes on a player in permanent marker" — Jessica Mendoza

7:28 — The coaching integrity story: what players remember for 20 years

9:03 — Why the coaching profession is "the weirdest job in the world"

13:22 — The transfer portal is killing team chemistry — here's why

22:14 — The one recruiting secret: watching players before they knew she was there

26:00 — "Who they are when no one's watching says everything"

38:52 — "The proud will be eaten by the hungry" — every single time

39:19 — Tom Brady, second-round pick: what stats can't measure

44:46 — What champions look like behind closed doors (hint: sweatpants & no glory)

54:03 — "You deserve all the stress" — the most powerful reframe in sports

57:15 — How to win the ballgame of life