In today's episode, I am sharing a co-hosted parent workshop from 2021 with Coach Nicole Dennis, a mental performance coach, on growth mindset. We explore how understanding and developing a growth mindset can transform athletic performance, especially for young pitchers. Episode Highlights: • Creating awareness about fixed-mindset language and behaviors • The power of "yet" • Praising the process and effort rather than talent or natural ability • Using intentional conversations to get curious ab...
Jul 02, 2025•44 min
This week, I am sharing our Mentorship Call from January with Jordan Roberts. She takes us on her journey with Coach Kara and our Warriors about how she went from a college catcher at the University of Florida to a professional player with Athletes Unlimited, revealing how mental performance tools transformed her game and life. Episode Highlights: • Key mental tools: journaling and breathwork • Forging mental resilience through repeated exposure to challenges • Value of creating an identity outs...
Jun 25, 2025•46 min
This week, I sat down with Lucinda Snyder, a mental performance coach, yoga, and mindfulness instructor. She reveals how mindfulness and meditation transform athletic performance and help teams win championships. She shares why she became a mental performance coach and the importance of teaching athletes to anchor themselves in the moment. Episode Highlights: • Mindfulness is a conscious choice • Athletes need techniques to anchor themselves in the present • Five minutes of mindfulness practice ...
Jun 18, 2025•33 min
This week's episode takes you back to one of our mentorship calls from 2021 featuring Riley Sartain-Vaughan. She answers questions from our Fearless Warriors about Leadership and how she used mental skills during her time at Texas A&M and in the pros with This is Us Softball. Episode Highlights: • Succeeded through relentless effort and self-awareness • Understanding your own unique strengths is crucial • Intangibles that require zero talent: attitude, effort, and accountability • Consistent...
Jun 11, 2025•41 min
For this week's episode, Coach Kara interviewed her high school volleyball and softball coach, Marlie Davis. Coach Davis, better known as Coach D, shares her approach to mental skills training that helped shape athletes' mindsets long before it became mainstream in the sports world. Her 33-year coaching career across multiple sports reveals how implementing mental skills extends far beyond the playing field. Episode Highlights: • Daily affirmations require athletes to identify specific strengths...
Jun 04, 2025•41 min
In this week's episode, I interviewed Ellie Cooper, a former Florida State University (FSU) softball player and the Director of Player Performance for FSU's softball team. She shared her experiences from struggling college freshman to mental performance coach and how the mental game transformed her athletic career and coaching philosophy. Episode Highlights: • Creates an environment where athletes can express their authentic selves • Focuses on teaching how to respond to adversity • Advocates fo...
May 28, 2025•43 min
May is Mental Health Awareness Month: In this week's episode, I share a parent workshop from 2023 with Alex (Madsen) Hinger, LMHP. We discussed the importance of mental health on and off the field for players and parents! Episode Highlights: • Breathing techniques provide immediate anxiety regulation • Reframing thoughts provides productive thinking • Guided meditation grounds athletes in the present moment • Sleep hygiene is vital for mental health • Positive reinforcement from parents builds t...
May 21, 2025•30 min
Are you considering joining the Fearless Warrior Program? Then this week's episode is for you! I invited a few of our Fearless Parents to come and share the good, the bad, the skepticism, and all their doubts they had when first discovering Fearless. They share how the program helped their daughters both on and off the field and how much it helped them reach their potential as softball players. If you have questions about whether this program is right for your daughter, this episode is full of i...
May 14, 2025•39 min
What is the Fearless Warrior Program anyway? Tune in to find out more! https://www.fearlesswarriorprogram.com/join More ways to work with Fearless Fastpitch Learn about our proven Mental Skills Program, The Fearless Warrior Program Book a One on One Session for your Athlete Book a Mental Skills Workshop for your Team or Organization Follow us on Social Media Facebook @fearlessfastpitchmentaltraining Instagram @fearlessfastpitch X @CoachAB_ YouTube @fearlessfastpitch5040...
May 13, 2025•24 min
Coach Kara and I answer burning questions from parents about mindset challenges in sports. We discussed practical strategies to tackle common issues, from balancing coaching and parenting roles to managing game-day nervousness. • Mental skills training is preventative care, not a reactive solution • Controlling the controllable when facing frustrating team situations • High school and travel ball provide opportunities for growth • Supporting athletes by praising their process rather than outcome...
Apr 30, 2025•51 min
Brooke Miller, a dietitian and former college softball pitcher, gives us the lowdown on how to take care of our bodies as athletes. She shares insights on athletic performance nutrition, the importance of fueling for success, and navigating identity transitions beyond sports. Episode Highlights: • Proper nutrition directly affects energy, brain function, and reaction time • For optimal performance, include protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats • Hydration and electrolytes are crucial • The tr...
Apr 23, 2025•36 min
This week, I'm taking you behind the scenes of my fitness journey. I recently had a great conversation with my friend, Dr. Angie Brown, DPT, on her Real Life Runners podcast, where I explored how I utilize mental skills in the gym and the significant impact it's had on my approach to exercise as a busy mom and entrepreneur. Episode Highlights: • Focusing on process goals rather than outcome goals • Creating confidence conditioning statements • Using a "wins, mistakes, betters" journaling techniq...
Apr 16, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Megan Faraimo, a professional softball pitcher for the Toyota Red Terriers in Japan and Team USA silver medalist, shared her journey with our Warriors in our October 2024 Mentorship Call. She provides powerful insights into how mental skills have shaped her successful career despite facing continued challenges at every level. Episode Highlights: • Uses reframing as her primary mental skill • Visualizes her potential as "being the best" by using mental imagery • Values discipline and monotonous w...
Apr 09, 2025•30 min
We are re-airing a parent workshop with Coach Ashley Carter for this week's episode! She is a hitting coach for D1 Hampton University and a mental performance coach. She gives us the inside scoop on what she looks for in a collegiate athlete and answers questions about the college recruiting process. Episode Highlights: • Steps in the recruiting timeline • Create a list of potential colleges your athlete would like to attend • Camps and clinics that are a good fit • College coaches look beyond s...
Apr 02, 2025•34 min
We are airing our Mentorship Call from last week with Maleah Andrews! She is a college softball standout who shares her journey from multi-sport high school athlete to record-breaking infielder and batter at Western Washington University. Episode Highlights: • Playing multiple sports develops skills that transfer between games • Communication matters when you get into a slump • Her decision to go to a DII school rather than a D1 school • Maintain identity beyond softball to preserve the love for...
Mar 26, 2025•30 min
For this week's episode, I interviewed Lindsey Wilson, a former collegiate and professional basketball player turned mental performance coach! She gave us insight into her 20-year career and the impact mental skills training had on her athletics and beyond. Episode Highlights: • Practice concrete, actionable mental tools rather than vague concepts • Community is crucial for both athletes and entrepreneurs facing setbacks • The challenges in sports are essential elements of who athletes become • ...
Mar 19, 2025•40 min
For this week's episode, Coach Kara and I provide an overview of our first in-person mental skills camp! Mental skills training is transforming softball, giving players the tools they need to handle the mental challenges of the game without their gloves or bats. During the camp, we had stations that covered how to catch negative thoughts, develop breathing techniques, create routines, and recover from failure. Episode Highlights: • Why mental skills training is crucial in softball • Mental skill...
Mar 12, 2025•44 min
For this week's episode, I host the Mather brothers and discuss their journey with the Omaha Stockmen. We dissect how mental skills strategies lead to enhanced gameplay and improved team cohesion. We discussed how these strategies helped pave the way for a 4th championship title. Episode Highlights: • The importance of mental performance coaching in a team setting • How they used mental strategies to help individual players • Fostering a positive team culture through mental resilience • How the ...
Mar 05, 2025•37 min
For this week's episode, I'm sharing a parent workshop I hosted during a previous Mental Skills Challenge Week! I dive into the vital need for effective communication between parents and young athletes. Focusing on tools and strategies that foster emotional safety, I provide insights on navigating tough conversations and building lasting connections. Episode Highlights: • Discussing the challenges of parent-athlete communication • Importance of emotional awareness in young athletes • Introducing...
Feb 26, 2025•43 min
For this week's episode I got the opportunity to interview my former teammate and friend, Kelsey Gaston! Kelsey and I were teammates at Concordia University where she played in the infield. After graduating, Kelsey went on to go to PT school and is now a practicing physical therapist. Kelsey’s journey from competitive athlete to a fulfilled physical therapist highlights the complexities of athletic identity and the emotional challenges faced post-competition. It encourages listeners to embrace t...
Feb 19, 2025•43 min
We've got another archive Guest Speaker call we are sharing with you today! In 2020 Bella Norton a catcher for the University of Indiana came and shared her story with our warriors. Her story highlights the significance of mental resilience and teamwork in sports. Through her struggles and triumphs, Bella teaches that identity is rooted in character, not merely performance statistics. Episode Highlights: • Bella's recruitment experience and challenges with exposure • The importance of academic p...
Feb 12, 2025•33 min
We reached way back to 2020 in our guest speaker files to share this awesome conversation with former Michigan State Spartan, McKenzie Long. In this episode, Kenzie shares her journey of identity transformation after serious injuries sidelined her athletic career at Michigan State. Through challenges, faith, and community support, she shares how she learned that worth is rooted in self, not performance. Episode Highlights: • Importance of mindset in overcoming adversity • The struggle of identit...
Feb 05, 2025•35 min
This is the 5th installment in our "Mindset Myths" series. Today, I challenge the popular notion of "mental toughness," asserting that it often leads to emotional suppression and unrealistic expectations in athletes. I also share with you what term I use instead, and my reasoning around that decision. Episode Highlights: • Why I don't use the word mental toughness • The difference between mental toughness and mental strength • How the term mental strength can give the power back to your athletes...
Jan 29, 2025•19 min
On today's episode we bust the myth that our athletes need to "visualize success." We discuss the varying abilities of athletes to visualize, the importance of tailoring techniques to individual learning styles, and how coaches can better prepare their teams. Episode Highlights: • Debunking the myth about instant visualization success • Comparing the learning process of mental skills to physical skills • Recognizing individual differences in athletes' ability to visualize • The relevance of apha...
Jan 22, 2025•9 min
Today we are re-releasing our conversation with Shelly Mowinkel, Milford Softball Head Coach. We discuss building strong relationships with athletes, integrating mindset training, and fostering a culture of accountability and support within a high school sports program. Episode Highlights: • Joy as a core value in coaching • Integrating mental performance tools into training • Understanding personality colors for tailored coaching • Implementing micro-goals and celebrating small wins • Navigatin...
Jan 15, 2025•52 min
This episode is the next installment of our "Mindset Myths Busted" series. Today I bust the myth that mantras alone are effective tools for building confidence. I discuss how superficial affirmations often fall short and teach you what to say instead. Episode Highlights: • Exploring the concept and limitations of mantras • The 'dirty jersey' analogy to illustrate deep-seated issues • Transitioning to more actionable belief statements • Emphasizing actions over mere words for true confidence If y...
Jan 08, 2025•11 min
Today's episode is the second installment in our "Myths Busted" series. Today we tackle the myth that there are "good" and "bad" emotions. In this episode, we explore how emotions are merely responses to situations and why suppressing them might just be the quickest way to amplify them. Drawing from insights shared our recent Confidence Camp, we explore how the meanings we attach to emotions shape our mindset and performance. Whether you're an athlete striving for mental resilience, a coach nurt...
Dec 18, 2024•11 min
Today's episode is the first installment in our "Myths Busted" series. Today we tackle the myth that "confidence is a feeling". In this episode I discuss why treating confidence as a mere emotion can lead to self-doubt and learn how to nurture genuine confidence through preparation and action. We explore how athletes can build a resilient mindset that isn't swayed by the highs and lows of feeling emotions. Episode Highlights: Where Confidence comes from Why "fake it until you make it" doesn't wo...
Dec 11, 2024•7 min
Today's episode is an interview I did with DJ Hillier on his podcast, The Mindset Advantage Podcast. In our conversation, we talk all about how to have conversations with young athletes that will help them increase in confidence. We talk about real-life advice for how to navigate conversations with teenagers, from the car ride home to coaching in the dugout. Episode Highlights: How and why to start with the belief before the skills How to overcome limiting beliefs 3 P framework for coaching and ...
Dec 04, 2024•58 min
Jennifer Fangmeier is the head softball coach at Blair High School in Nebraska. As a coach, she has focused on intentionally building a culture that fosters unity and success and has done that by keeping her program athlete focused. In our episode today, she talks about how fostering mentorship relationships between her athletes as well as prioritizing rest has helped shaped a team culture that consistently performs well at the highest levels. Episode Highlights: How to create a positive team cu...
Nov 27, 2024•32 min
