Send us a text Join us as we celebrate our one year podcasting journey, reflecting on the triumphs and tribulations we've experienced along the way. Our favorite episode was Episode 9, highlighting Mark Campbell and 14u travel softball. We'll cover it all in this special anniversary episode! They discuss achieving top 1% status in active podcasts, favorite episodes, Lacie's personal growth, and her experiences in competitive travel ball. The episode also touches on Lacie's current challenges, in...
Nov 26, 2024•32 min
Send us a text In Episode 5 of 'Catching You,' Rusty and Lacie delve into the transformative years from 10U to 12U in youth softball. They candidly discuss the intricate balance between escalating sports demands and the personal growth of young athletes. As they navigate through this crucial period, they uncover the hidden challenges and unexpected joys that come with growing up in competitive sports. This episode is a must-listen for anyone involved in youth athletics, offering unique perspecti...
Nov 19, 2024•38 min
Send us a text In this episode of 'Catching You,' hosts Rusty and Lacie Ham welcome Jami Lobpries, CEO of Alliance Fastpitch, to discuss the crucial role of the Player Advisory Committee (PAC) and its impact on student-athletes' mental health and identity beyond sports. The episode also covers the significance of qualification processes in tournaments, the emotional transitions in college sports, and the effects of recruiting, transfer portals, and AI on athletics. Join in as they reminisce abou...
Nov 12, 2024•27 min
Send us a text Join co-hosts Rusty and Lacie Ham in this captivating episode featuring Jami Lobpries, CEO of Alliance Fastpitch, as they explore the multifaceted world of softball. Delve into the compelling stories of childhood games, parental support, and the significant impact of sports on mental health and relationships. This episode also highlights the formative experiences and challenges of parenting in youth sports, the inception of the USA Elite World Championships, and the collaborative ...
Nov 05, 2024•25 min
Send us a text Join Lacie, Rusty, and Cheri in this episode as they explore the vital role of advocacy in the college softball recruiting process. Through personal stories and expert insights, learn about the challenges and strategies involved in college recruitments, including navigating the transfer portal. Discover the importance of persistence, realistic expectations, and holistic development for aspiring athletes. Hear the impactful journey of Sarah Bhott, and gain valuable advice on levera...
Oct 29, 2024•26 min
Send us a text Join co-hosts Rusty and Lacie Ham in this engaging episode of 'Catching You' where they welcome Cheri Naudin, co-owner of Collegiate Sports Advocate. Cheri shares her rich background in softball, influenced by her father's dedication and her childhood in Orange County. The conversation explores her transition from corporate recruiting to sports recruitment and delves into her heartfelt experiences coaching her daughters and elite youth teams. Cheri provides valuable insights on th...
Oct 22, 2024•26 min
Send us a text Join co-hosts Rusty Ham and his daughter Lacie as they discuss Lacie's fall softball season, including her upcoming games against Cal State Bakersfield and her pitching progress. They also delve into the challenges of maintaining quality innings and dealing with unpredictable umpiring. The episode takes a deeper turn as Lacie shares her experiences with athlete mental health, highlighting her efforts in starting the Mindstrong Spartans initiative at San Jose State. Inspired by her...
Oct 15, 2024•30 min
Send us a text Join Rusty and his daughter Lacie, alongside Emily, as they reminisce over Lacie's 16-year softball journey and delve into the trials and triumphs shared on and off the field. From a little girl in a spray-painted helmet to a senior preparing for her last softball season, this episode explores the stumbles of recruitment during COVID, the emotional rollercoaster of student-athletics, and the steadfast family bonds that have carried them through. Set against a backdrop of a typical...
Oct 08, 2024•25 min
Send us a text Join Rusty Ham and his daughter Lacie as they share a heartfelt and candid conversation about Lacie's experiences and challenges during her junior year of college softball. The episode delves into her struggles with a persistent shoulder injury, the impact of having different pitching coaches, and the mental and physical hurdles she faced. Lacie's Remarkable Comeback: How She Battled Injury In Her Junior Year Lacie also shares her hopes for her senior year, the excitement of playi...
Oct 01, 2024•27 min
Send us a text In this solo episode of the Catching You Podcast, co-host Lacie Ham opens up about her personal experience with college recruiting in high school. Specifically, she shares the heartbreaking story of not receiving any calls from college coaches on September 1st of her junior year—a pivotal date in the college recruiting process. Lacie dives into her initial feelings of failure and self-doubt, but ultimately offers encouragement and advice to those in similar situations. She emphasi...
Sep 24, 2024•15 min
Send us a text In this heartfelt episode of Catching You, co-host Rusty Ham is joined by his daughter Lacie, who shares her experiences and reflections on returning home from college, her high school and travel softball journey, and college recruitment struggles due to various setbacks including a head injury and COVID-19. They discuss her transitions between different softball teams, key achievements, and memorable moments with her friends and teammates. Lacie also recounts winning the Alliance...
Sep 17, 2024•33 min
Send us a text In this episode of Catching You, co-host Rusty Ham chats with Coach Greg from Athletics Mercado, discussing his background in sports, transition from baseball to softball, and his extensive coaching career. They dive into the challenges and dynamics of coaching one’s own child, the significance of the recruitment process, and the realistic expectations for student-athletes. The conversation also touches on the implications of the transfer portal and the importance of picking the r...
Sep 10, 2024•34 min
Send us a text In this episode, we are live on TikTok with our return guest, Coach Margo. We delve into the experiences of transitioning from high school to college athletics, focusing on a Division 1 softball player. We explore the challenges of increased practice intensity, weight training, and the mental hurdles of competing at a higher level. Additionally, we touch on the supportive and competitive dynamics within the team, strategies for maintaining peak performance, and the crucial role of...
Sep 03, 2024•40 min
Send us a text In this episode of the 'Catching You Podcast,' co-host Lacie Ham welcomes her friend Des Rivera. They reminisce about their time on the Batbusters travel softball team and discuss Des' journey from starting softball due to her older sister's influence, moving through various teams, and ultimately playing for the University of Iowa. Des shares insights on her recruiting process, transferring experiences, and the challenges of sitting out a season due to NCAA rules. They also touch ...
Aug 27, 2024•33 min
Send us a text In Episode 7 of 'Catching You,' Rusty and Lacie Ham tackle the intense world of youth sports as they step into their second year of 12U softball. They delve into the grueling regimen of double days, revealing the dedication and exhaustion behind the scenes. The episode also unpacks the emotional rollercoaster of leadership struggles and team dynamics, offering a candid look at the challenges of young athletes striving for excellence. As they navigate these pivotal moments, Rusty a...
Aug 20, 2024•29 min
Send us a text In this solo episode of Catching You, co-host Rusty Ham shares an in-depth and heartfelt discussion about his journey and experiences as a parent in the youth sports landscape. Rusty provides updates on his daughter Lacie's new initiatives at San Jose State, including her podcast and the mental health organization 'Mind Strong Spartans'. He delves into the financial and emotional investments involved in travel ball sports, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining realistic exp...
Aug 20, 2024•30 min
Send us a text Join Rusty, Lacie, and surprise guest Emily in this episode of 'Catching You,' where they discuss Lacie's harrowing experience of getting hit by a line drive, the mental and physical challenges faced during her recovery, and the unyielding support from the softball community. This heartfelt episode delves into the family's journey through Lacie's softball career, dealing with recruitment challenges, handling slumps, and emphasizing the importance of support both on and off the fie...
Aug 13, 2024•35 min
Send us a text In this heartfelt episode of 'Catching You', co-hosts Rusty and Lacie delve into their unique father-daughter softball journey. Rusty opens up about the pressure he put on Lacie as a young athlete and the resulting emotional challenges. Now gearing up for her senior year at San Jose State, Lacie shares her thoughts on balancing sports, academics, and future aspirations. They discuss the importance of mental resilience, handling failure, and maintaining a positive mindset. Lacie al...
Aug 06, 2024•31 min
Send us a text In Episode 9 of 'Catching You,' Rusty and Lacie Ham delve into the pinnacle of travel softball - the PGF Nationals. After a season of triumphs, they confront the pinnacle challenge, where the stakes are higher, and the spotlight shines brightest. Discover how Lacie and her team navigated the intense pressures and high expectations of this prestigious tournament. Was their preparation enough to conquer the ultimate test of their skills and teamwork? Join us for an episode that reve...
Jul 30, 2024•35 min
Send us a text In this episode of the Catching You Podcast, host Lacie Ham interviews her good friend Sarah Bhatt about her softball journey, her close relationship with her father, and her exciting career with the Savannah Bananas. Sarah discusses her transition from playing high school and college softball to working in sports social media. The conversation delves into her early days in softball, her experience with various travel ball teams, and her recruitment challenges. Sarah also shares i...
Jul 23, 2024•33 min
Send us a text In this episode of the father-daughter podcast, the hosts delve into the complexities of mental health within the sports community. They explore various categories of mental wellness and the importance of seeking the right support. Special guest Megan Buning shares her journey from coaching to becoming a mental performance consultant. The conversation covers techniques for improving athlete performance, parent-athlete dynamics, and practical self-care tips. Megan also offers insig...
Jul 16, 2024•31 min
Send us a text Welcome back to Catching You! Join cohost Rusty Ham and his daughter Lacie Ham as they chat with Dr. Megan Matthews-Buning. Dive deep into Megan's softball journey, coaching at Florida State University, and the evolution of athlete recruitment. Megan shares her experiences from Little League to pitching for the University of South Carolina, and later, coaching in professional softball. Explore the challenges and triumphs of her career, impactful moments that led her to the field o...
Jul 09, 2024•34 min
Send us a text In this two-part episode, co-hosts Rusty Ham and his daughter Lacie sit down with special guest Sam Bannister to discuss the complexities of softball coaching and the role of parents. They delve into how parents' behavior impacts their children's performance and experiences in sports, with Rusty and Sam sharing their personal stories of pressure and support. The conversation highlights the importance of balancing coaching with parents’ involvement, the dynamics of high school vers...
Jul 02, 2024•34 min
Send us a text In this first part of a two-part interview, join co-hosts Rusty Ham and Lacie as they sit down with Sam Banister, a two-time national champion with the University of Arizona. Sam shares her journey from growing up in Petaluma, California, to becoming a standout player in travel softball and college. She discusses the recruiting process, her experiences with injury and mental resilience, and her path from athlete to travel softball coach. Don't miss this inspiring story about overc...
Jun 25, 2024•28 min
Send us a text In this episode of 'Catching You,' co-host Rusty Ham and his daughter Lacie are joined by special guest Delaney Spaulding. The conversation delves into Delaney's journey through UCLA, focusing on mental health challenges, athletic pressures, and the importance of strong support systems. Delaney shares her struggles with PTSD, her experiences with team hierarchies, and her path to recovery following a severe ACL injury. The discussion also highlights memorable moments from her soft...
Jun 18, 2024•27 min
Send us a text Join Rusty Ham and his daughter Lacie in this episode of 'Catching You' as they welcome special guest Delaney Spaulding. Delaney shares her journey from growing up in Rancho Cucamonga and playing softball in her childhood to becoming an Olympian and playing for UCLA. The conversation delves into her experiences with travel ball, the recruiting process, and the influence of her coaches and family. Delaney also provides insight on the controversial transfer portal and advice for you...
Jun 11, 2024•32 min
Send us a text In this heartfelt episode of Catching You, co-host Rusty Ham is joined by his daughter Lacie, who shares her experiences and reflections on returning home from college, her high school and travel softball journey, and college recruitment struggles due to various setbacks including a head injury and COVID-19. They discuss her transitions between different softball teams, key achievements, and memorable moments with her friends and teammates. Lacie also recounts winning the Alliance...
Jun 04, 2024•33 min
Send us a text In this heartwarming and inspirational episode, co-hosts Rusty Ham and his daughter Lacie reflect on Lacie's challenging journey in her softball career, which was marked by injuries, setbacks, and the global pandemic. Despite the numerous obstacles, Lacie's determination and resilience shine through as she shares her experiences of the recruiting process, the impact of COVID-19, and how she kept pushing forward to achieve her dream of playing college softball. The duo also celebra...
May 28, 2024•30 min
Send us a text In this episode of 'Catching You,' co-hosts Rusty and Lacie share their father-daughter journey through the world of competitive softball. The conversation covers the importance of selecting the right environment and influences for young athletes, highlighting their personal approach to choosing babysitters with strong academic and athletic backgrounds. They also address listener questions about moving through different age divisions in softball, trying out for new teams, and the ...
May 21, 2024•32 min
Send us a text In this solo episode of the Catching You podcast, co-host Lacie Ham discusses her journey as a San Jose State softball player, addressing listener questions about training frequency and recruiting advice for young athletes. Sharing her personal experiences, Lacie emphasizes the importance of persistence in the face of recruitment challenges and reflects on her career's highs and lows, including her recovery from a significant injury. She offers insights into the value of goal sett...
May 14, 2024•32 min
