Best Building Block Baseball Podcasts (2024)

1
Aaron Makelky — HS Football Coach on Overcoming the Challenges of Culture-Building 47:12

6h ago47:12

47:12

In the Season 2 finale, I speak with Aaron Makelky. Aaron has served as a head high school football coach for 12 seasons in Wyoming, assistant for 4 seasons, and has also coached wrestling, basketball, and track. He is currently consulting with sports teams and elite individuals who want to learn mindset and mental conditioning skills. Our conversa…

1
Ben Kaplan and Danny Parkins, "Pipeline to the Pros: How D3 Small-College Nobodies Rose to Rule the NBA" (Triumph Books, 2024) 56:13

14m ago56:13

56:13

Today I talked to Ben Kaplan about his new book (co-authored with Danny Parkins) Pipeline to the Pros: How D3 Small-College Nobodies Rose to Rule the NBA (Triumph Books, 2024). Jeff Van Gundy. Brad Stevens. Frank Vogel. Mike Budenholzer. Tom Thibodeau. Sam Presti. Leon Rose. Before you knew his name, before he drafted your favorite player, before h…

1
Lee-Anne Gilchrist — How Parents Can Help Junior Golfers Access Opportunities 40:34

4d ago40:34

40:34

My guest today is Lee-Anne Gilchrist. Lee-Anne is currently the CEO of the Golf Performance Center & Academy, in Ridgefield, Connecticut working with young people from all over the world to nurture intrinsic motivation and unlock human potential. We discuss: How to introduce kids to golf Good motivators for golfers The opportunities available to yo…

1
Kristin J. Jacobson, "The American Adrenaline Narrative" (U Georgia Press, 2020) 57:56

26m ago57:56

57:56

Kristin J. Jacobson In her new book, The American Adrenaline Narrative (University of Georgia Press), Kristin Jacobson considers the nature of perilous outdoor adventure tales, their gendered biases, and how they simultaneously promote and hinder ecological sustainability. To explore these themes, Jacobson defines and compares adrenaline narratives…

1
Taylor Cook — Retired Hockey Pro and Mental Performance Coach on the Building Blocks of Success 43:31

2d ago43:31

43:31

Taylor Cook is a retired professional hockey player with over 25+ years of international experience. She currently works as a mental performance coach serving athletes and sports coaches. We discuss: How Taylor’s experience as an athlete serves her as a coach — and understanding the limits The education and training that contributes to her coaching…

1
Adolfo Gómez Sánchez — Pro Tennis Coach Shares the Formula for Optimal Performance 52:07

7d ago52:07

52:07

Adolfo Gómez Sánchez has dedicated over three decades to studying and modeling what drives optimal performance. Adolfo was a competitive athlete and is a performance mentor to professional athletes on the ATP and WTA tours, C-Suite executives of large multinational corporations, and performance artists such as Grammy nominated singers and opera sta…

1
Best of Sideline Sessions: Boundary-breaking football coach Jen Welter 48:30

16d ago48:30

48:30

This week, we're sharing a "Best Of" episode, going back to the series premiere with the amazing Dr. Jen Welter. In 2015, Jen became the first female coach in NFL history when she coached linebackers for the Arizona Cardinals. She was also the first woman to play a contact position in men’s professional football when she signed as a running back wi…

1
Jason Payne — High School Basketball Coach and Mental Performance Coach on Avoiding Burnout and Connecting with Today’s Student-Athletes 55:34

1M ago55:34

55:34

Jason Payne has coached the Varsity Boys Basketball team in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada for the past 24 seasons. He also works with teams and athletes as a Mental Performance Coach. It was a pleasure to speak with Jason about the following and more: How Jason got into coaching and why he almost quit in 2018, nearly 20 years into his career What h…

1
Connor Gettemy — Director of Sports Performance at Flagler College Helps Us Bust Strength Training Myths and Understand Weight Programs 56:39

2M ago56:39

56:39

Connor Gettemy is the Director of Sports Performance at Flagler College and Owner of Gett Strong Performance, both located in St. Augustine, Florida. At Flagler, whose sports teams compete at NCAA Division-II, Connor oversees a sports performance department that services over 400 athletes. Under his direction, Flagler has produced 169 All-Conferenc…

1
Adam Berg, "The Olympics that Never Happened: Denver '76 and the Politics of Growth" (U Texas Press, 2023) 44:50

1M ago44:50

44:50

If you don't recall the 1976 Denver Olympic Games, it's because they never happened. The Mile-High City won the right to host the winter games and then was forced by Colorado citizens to back away from its successful Olympic bid through a statewide ballot initiative. In The Olympics that Never Happened: Denver '76 and the Politics of Growth (Univer…

1
Mike Jarvis — Former NCAA Basketball Coach at St. John’s, GW and More Shares His Message to Coaches Who Want to Make Their Mark 48:50

2M ago48:50

48:50

Mike Jarvis is a well-known name to fans of college basketball. In his long career at the high school and NCAA Division-I levels, he coached future professionals, including Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing, won hundreds of games, and developed a number of future leaders. He coached first at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, where his players included E…

1
Aaron Fischman, "A Baseball Gaijin: Chasing a Dream to Japan and Back" (Sports Publishing, 2024) 1:06:32

1M ago1:06:32

1:06:32

Like many American boys, Tony Barnette yearned to one day make it to “The Show,” playing baseball professionally. The Arizona State pitcher was drafted in 2006 by the in-state Diamondbacks. Gradually ascending the minor-league ladder, it looked like this was the beginning of a blessed life, where he could play the game he loved on the grandest of s…

1
Troy Bassham — Mental Performance Coach for Golf and Shooting on the Habits and Attitudes of a Champion 1:12:16

2M ago1:12:16

1:12:16

Troy Bassham has been a mental performance coach, teaching mental management fulltime since 2004. He works with athletes of all ages and levels, from high school to professional. He has authored two books "Attainment, the 12 Elements of Elite Performance" and "Fore the Mind, the Mental Program for Golf" and is the mental coach for Crown Golf Academ…

1
Kurt Hines — HS Football Coach and Nationally-Known Speaker on the Power of WHY and How He Found His Coaching Philosophy 1:02:00

2M ago1:02:00

1:02:00

Coach Kurt Hines has been coaching football for more than 25 years. He is currently Head Coach at Coronado High School in California. We discuss: How Kurt got into coaching Differences in coaching on the east coast vs. west coast His core coaching philosophy How he turned it around when he was feeling overwhelmed When he learned from his mentors Le…

1
Confrence Call 1:03:19

2M ago1:03:19

1:03:19

The hosts discuss recent game sevens in basketball and hockey playoffs. They also debate whether certain players are overrated and discuss the upcoming NBA and NHL conference finals. In this part of the conversation, Kurt and Anthony discuss the NBA playoffs, specifically the Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers series and the Minnesota Timberwolves v…

1
Krissy Webb — Executive Director of Student ACES, Softball and Flag Football Coach on What it Means to “Create Champions” 56:57

2M ago56:57

56:57

Krissy Webb is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Student ACES, a 501c3 with the mission to create Champions. Through Student ACES, Krissy has positively impacted over 50,000 high school student-athletes and has taught them leadership skills, values, and character education to be successful men and women in the classroom, the athletic fields …

1
Dynamic Duo! 1:00:45

3M ago1:00:45

1:00:45

In this episode of the Shekel Up Podcast, Anthony and Hunter discuss various topics in the world of sports and sports gambling. They talk about the Buffalo Bills trading away their draft picks to the Kansas City Chiefs, the controversy surrounding Dan Quinn's shirt at a press conference, Bronny James' height discrepancy, the new playoff format in c…

1
Robert Castillo — Certified Mental Performance Consultant for MLB, NBA, and MLS Athletes and Coaches on the Key Skills for Success and Learning from Failure 58:29

3M ago58:29

58:29

Robert Castillo is a Certified Mental Performance Coach (CMPC) with the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. He has over 15 years of experience working with elite military service members, MLB, NBA, and MLS players and coaches, college athletes, and business executives, bringing to the table not only years of knowledge in research-based mental …

1
Dwain Chambers — Olympic Sprinter & Youngest-Ever World Championship Medalist — from The Learning Bridge with Richard Gerver 54:45

3M ago54:45

54:45

Today we're excited to bring you an episode from The Learning Bridge, a BE Podcast Network show hosted by Richard Gerver, one of the world’s leading thinkers on human potential, leadership, and organizational transformation. In this conversation, Richard speaks with Dwain Chambers. Having come from an abusive and challenging home, Dwain discovered …

1
Ding Dong! 1:02:38

3M ago1:02:38

1:02:38

In this episode of the Shuckle Up Podcast, the hosts discuss various topics in the world of sports, including Rashid Rice's off-field troubles, the NBA playoffs, and the surprising performance of the Minnesota Timberwolves. They express their disappointment in Rice's behavior and discuss the challenges of young athletes dealing with fame and money.…

1
Heather Sumlin — Master-Level Mental Management Coach on Controlling Your Mind Under Pressure 51:33

3M ago51:33

51:33

Heather Sumlin is owner of Sumlin Solutions, a company specializing in helping women reach their potential in sport, competition, and in life. Heather is a Master Level Mental Management Certified Coach trained personally by the Founder of Mental Management, Olympic Champion Lanny Bassham. We discuss: What is Mental Management? Why the mental game …

1
Jaakko Stenros and Markus Montola, "The Rule Book: The Building Blocks of Games" (MIT Press, 2024) 25:48

2M ago25:48

25:48

How games are built on the foundations of rules, and how rules—of which there are only five kinds—really work. Board games to sports, digital games to party games, gambling to role-playing games. They all share one thing in common: rules. Indeed, rules are the one and only thing game scholars agree is central to games. But what, in fact, are rules?…

1
What A Loser! 1:13:19

3M ago1:13:19

1:13:19

Join us in this action-packed episode as we dive into the latest sports headlines! First up, we dissect the thrilling aftermath of the NFL Draft, analyzing the biggest surprises, standout picks, and potential game-changers for the upcoming season. From first-round steals to unexpected trades, we leave no stone unturned in our comprehensive breakdow…

1
Jared Zeidman — NCAA Basketball Coach and Author of Nail the Recruiting Process on the Changing College Landscape, Must-Haves, and Red Flags for Getting Recruited 57:21

3M ago57:21

57:21

Welcome back, Sideline Sessions listeners (and a hearty welcome to our new listeners!) for the start of season two. I’m excited to bring you more conversations with a variety of coaches, performance experts, and influential stakeholders from across the sporting landscape. Today’s guest is Jared Zeidman, a basketball coach with 15 years’ experience …

1
Adam J. Criblez, "Kings of the Garden: The New York Knicks and Their City" (Three Hills, 2024) 49:42

3M ago49:42

49:42

In Kings of the Garden: The New York Knicks and Their City (Three Hills, 2024), Adam J. Criblez traces the fall and rise of the New York Knicks between the 1973, the year they won their last NBA championship, and 1985, when the organization drafted Patrick Ewing and gave their fans hope after a decade of frustrations. During these years, the teams …

1
From Play-In 2 Play-Offs 1:07:39

3M ago1:07:39

1:07:39

The conversation covers various NBA playoff games and discusses the performance of different teams and players. The host shares his thoughts on the games, including the Magic's inability to score, the Lakers' struggles against the Nuggets, and the Clippers' victory over the Mavericks. The conversation also touches on the issue of obesity in the US …

1
2024 Draft Special 1:52:20

3M ago1:52:20

1:52:20

In this Special edition episode of the Shekel Up Podcast, the hosts conduct a mock draft of the first round. They discuss the potential picks for each team and debate the value of different players. The conversation focuses on the top quarterbacks in the draft, including Caleb Williams and Drake May, as well as the impact of wide receiver Marvin Ha…

1
Self Reflection 1:27:12

4M ago1:27:12

1:27:12

In this episode, the hosts discuss various sports topics, including the WNBA, NHL playoffs, NBA playing games, and their predictions for the playoffs. They debate the pay disparity in women's sports and emphasize the importance of fan support. They also analyze the NHL playoff race and make predictions for the Stanley Cup Finals. In the NBA playing…

1
Jerry Grillo, "Big Cat: The Life of Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize" (U Nebraska Press, 2024) 1:03:21

3M ago1:03:21

1:03:21

Johnny Mize was one of the greatest hitters in baseball’s golden age of great hitters. Born and raised in tiny Demorest, Georgia, in the northeast Georgia mountains, Mize emerged from the heart of Dixie as a Bunyonesque slugger, a quiet but sharp-witted man from a broken home who became a professional player at seventeen, embarking on an extended t…

1
Building Blocks 1:15:35

4M ago1:15:35

1:15:35

In this episode of the Shekel Up Podcast, the hosts discuss the final four games of the college men's basketball tournament and the upcoming NHL playoffs. They analyze the performances of teams like Purdue, NC State, Alabama, and UConn. The hosts also share their predictions for the Frozen Four in NCAA hockey. Additionally, they debate whether Kait…

1
Robert M. Jarvis, "Gambling Under the Swastika: Casinos, Horse Racing, Lotteries, and Other Forms of Betting in Nazi Germany" (Carolina Academic Press, 2019) 1:12:42

3M ago1:12:42

1:12:42

Although much has been written about the Nazis, one aspect of their rule has been all but overlooked: gambling. While philosophically opposed to gambling, in practice the Nazis relied on gambling to prop up Germany's economy, earn hard currency, and wage war. In Gambling Under the Swastika: Casinos, Horse Racing, Lotteries, and Other Forms of Betti…

1
Kieran File, "How Language Shapes Relationships in Professional Sports Teams: Power and Solidarity Dynamics in a New Zealand Rugby Team" (Bloomsbury, 2022) 53:05

3M ago53:05

53:05

While the topic of relationships in professional sports teams is gaining greater attention from researchers and practitioners, the role that coach and athlete language plays in shaping these relationships remains largely unexplored. How Language Shapes Relationships in Professional Sports Teams: Power and Solidarity Dynamics in a New Zealand Rugby …

1
The Final Countdown 1:14:42

4M ago1:14:42

1:14:42

The hosts discuss the surprising outcomes of the NCAA basketball tournament, with many top teams being upset. They analyze the poor shooting performances of teams like UNC, Clemson, and Duke, emphasizing the importance of quality over quantity in shooting. They also touch on the dominance of UConn and the impressive performance of NC State. In addi…

1
Breakin' All Rules 1:04:58

4M ago1:04:58

1:04:58

In this episode of the Shekel Up podcast, the hosts discuss recent rule changes in the NFL, specifically regarding kickoffs and tackling techniques. They express their concerns about the impact on player safety and the future of defensive play. The conversation then shifts to the NCAA basketball tournament, with the hosts sharing their bracket pred…

1
Adam Lazarus, "The Wingmen: The Unlikely, Unusual, Unbreakable Friendship Between John Glenn and Ted Williams" (Citadel Press, 2023) 53:47

4M ago53:47

53:47

It was 1953, the Korean War in full throttle, when two men—already experts in their fields—crossed the fabled 38th Parallel into Communist airspace aboard matching Panther jets. John Glenn was an ambitious operations officer with fifty-nine World War II combat missions under his belt. His wingman was Ted Williams, the two-time American League Tripl…

1
Rachel S. Gross, "Shopping All the Way to the Woods: How the Outdoor Industry Sold Nature to America" (Yale UP, 2024) 36:39

4M ago36:39

36:39

Rachel S. Gross's Shopping All the Ways to the Woods (Yale University Press, 2024) tells the fascinating history of the profitable paradox of the American outdoor experience: visiting nature first requires shopping No escape to nature is complete without a trip to an outdoor recreational store or a browse through online offerings. This is the irony…

1
David Ostrowsky, "Roberto Alomar: The Complicated Life and Legacy of a Baseball Hall of Famer" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2024) 43:23

4M ago43:23

43:23

Roberto Alomar was not just a five-tool Hall of Famer; he was a magician on the diamond, a generational talent whose defensive wizardry left teammates and opponents breathless. Yet, despite his twelve All-Star selections and ten Gold Glove awards, he has remained one of the most contentious and enigmatic characters in baseball’s history. Roberto Al…

1
Bracket Maddness 1:03:02

5M ago1:03:02

1:03:02

In this episode of the Shuckle Up podcast, the hosts discuss the odds and predictions for the NCAA basketball tournament. They break down each region and make their bracket picks. They also discuss roommate etiquette and share their frustrations with messy roommates. The hosts then shift gears to discuss recent NFL trades and the impact they will h…

1
Free Agent Carousel 1:10:58

5M ago1:10:58

1:10:58

In this episode of the Shuckle Up Podcast, the hosts discuss NFL free agency and the signing of Saquon Barkley by the Philadelphia Eagles. They debate the impact of Barkley's age and injuries on his performance and fit with the Eagles. The conversation also covers the running back situation in Philadelphia and the potential impact of Barkley's sign…

1
Piotr Florczyk, "Swimming Pool" (Bloombury, 2024) 36:21

5M ago36:21

36:21

This instalment of the Object Lessons series focuses on the Swimming Pool (Bloomsbury, 2024). The book explores the pool as a place where humans seek to attain the unique union between mind and body. As a former world-ranked swimmer whose journey toward naturalisation and U.S. citizenship began with a swimming fellowship, Piotr Florczyk reflects on…

1
High Performance 48:42

5M ago48:42

48:42

In this episode of the Shekle Up Podcast, the hosts discuss various topics including Russell Wilson's future in football, Jason Kelce's retirement announcement, and highlights from the NFL Combine. They also touch on the performance of wide receivers, cornerbacks, and running backs during the Combine. The episode concludes with Hunter's Hockey Hits…

1
Ben Rothenberg, "Naomi Osaka: Her Journey to Finding Her Power and Her Voice" (Dutton, 2024) 43:27

5M ago43:27

43:27

In July 2021, Naomi Osaka—world number 1 women’s tennis player—lit the Olympic Cauldron at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The half-Japanese, half-American, Black athlete was a symbol of a more complicated, more multiethnic Japan—and of the global nature of high-level sports. Osaka is now about to start her comeback, after taking some time off following t…

1
Coming up next on Sideline Sessions 5:31

5M ago5:31

5:31

Thank you to all of you who have joined us for Season 1 of Sideline Sessions, and a special welcome to our new listeners! I wanted to share a short message about what to expect next on the show, along with an opportunity to support our next season with your ideas and recommendations. Listen to this short episode for: A preview of what's upcoming on…

1
Evan Unrau — Director of PeacePlayers Los Angeles and Former LA Clippers Manager of Youth Basketball, NCAA Division-I Coach, and WNBA Draft Pick on Transforming Lives Through Sport 35:17

6M ago35:17

35:17

Evan Unrau joined PeacePlayers United States in 2020 as the Director of their Los Angeles chapter. Prior to this role, she served as the Manager of Youth Basketball for the LA Clippers (NBA); was an assistant coach at Stanford, the University of Southern California, and UC-Santa Barbara; and was an Honorable Mention All-America as a player at the U…

1
Menage a Trois 1:02:38

6M ago1:02:38

1:02:38

In this episode of the Shekel Up Podcast, the hosts discuss the Super Bowl halftime show, Kyle Shanahan's choke job, the overtime rule change, Andy Reid's coaching prowess, Brock Purdy's performance, defensive efforts, Dre Greenlaw's injury, and the debate between Andy Reid and Bill Belichick as the greatest coach of all time. The conversation cove…

1
Brooke Knight — 12x Championship-Winning Baseball Manager and Former Professional Player on Taking Teams and Athletes from Good to Great 56:52

6M ago56:52

56:52

Brooke Knight is head coach of the Corvallis Knights of the West Coast Baseball League, a summer wood bat league for collegiate players, as well as CEO of Knight Financial Home Loans. Brooke is the most successful manager in West Coast League history, having skippered the Knights to 10 championships in his 15-year tenure at the helm, including the …

1
Happy Anniversary 1:11:59

6M ago1:11:59

1:11:59

in this episode of the shekel Up Podcast, the hosts discuss the upcoming Super Bowl and various prop bets. They also analyze the offensive and defensive strengths of the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. The hosts make predictions for the Super Bowl MVP and discuss the halftime show. They also discuss the passing and rushing yard over/und…

1
Jeff Howell — Navigating the college sports recruitment process 48:45

6M ago48:45

48:45

After helping his oldest son land at an NCAA Division-III college football program, today’s guest Jeff Howell uses his knowledge of the college sports recruitment process to help other student-athletes and their families navigate the process. The landscape can be complex and hard-to-understand, so it’s quite valuable to hear from Jeff. Our conversa…

1
Alex Squadron, "Life in the G: Minor League Basketball and the Relentless Pursuit of the NBA" (U Nebraska Press, 2023) 41:36

6M ago41:36

41:36

Welcome to the G League--the official minor league of the National Basketball Association. Life in the G: Minor League Basketball and the Relentless Pursuit of the NBA (University of Nebraska Press, 2023) is about the arduous quest to achieve an improbable goal: making it to the NBA. Zeroing in on the Birmingham Squadron and four of its players--Ja…

1
Edu Rubio — UEFA Pro Soccer Coach and Premier League Assistant Manager — The Learning Bridge with Richard Gerver 53:47

6M ago53:47

53:47

Today we're excited to bring you an episode from The Learning Bridge, a new Be Podcast Network show hosted by Richard Gerver, one of the world’s leading thinkers on human potential, leadership, and organizational transformation. In this episode, Richard speaks with Edu Rubio, a UEFA pro soccer coach who has been assistant manager for such storied c…

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