The Mental Cast

Episode 028 | Legos and Scrabble | May 2022 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle shares a personal story that starts with his childhood dislike of Legos and the board game Scrabble — and evolves into a deeper reflection on the fear of other people’s opinions (FOPO). What began as frustration over not being "good enough" at these activities turned out to be less about ability and more...

Episode 027 | Say Goodbye | April 2022 Season 4 kicks off with this reflective episode of The MentalCast, where host Dan Mickle explores the concept of walking away — how to recognize when it is time, why it is sometimes necessary, and the personal and professional growth that can come from making that difficult choice. This episode also gets a little personal, as Dan shares his own experiences an...

Episode 026 | Why I Walked Away | November 2021 Continuing the theme of openness and personal reflection, in this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle shares from the heart about why he made the difficult decision to walk away from his role as a youth club director. This unscripted and unedited conversation dives into the challenges he faced with organizational culture, the personal toll it...

Episode 025 | I Wasn't Prepared | September 2021 In what may be the most open and vulnerable episode of The MentalCast to date, host Dan Mickle takes the mic solo to share where he has been over the past two months and the personal struggles he has been navigating. This unscripted and unedited conversation dives into Dan’s experience with burnout: what it looked like, how it impacted him, and how...

Episode 024 | Chat with Dr. Laura Cobb - LPC, NCC, and CFLE. | July 2021 Episode 6 of Season 3 brings us a powerful conversation between host Dan Mickle and Dr. Laura Cobb — life coach, licensed professional counselor (LPC), nationally certified counselor (NCC), and certified family life educator (CFLE). Dan and Dr. Laura dive into the topic of imposter syndrome and how our past challenges shape w...

Episode 023 | Chat with Sadie Evans - Author, Speaker, and Podcast Host | June 2021 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle has a thoughtful conversation with Sadie Mae Evans — accomplished author, speaker, and podcast host. Dan and Sadie discuss what inspired her to write her books, what continues to drive her forward, and how her experiences with early adversity helped shape her power...

Episode 022 | Chat with Joanna Pohorski - Accountability and Mindset Coach | May 2021 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle sits down with UK-based accountability and mindset coach Joanna Pohorski for an engaging conversation about business planning, personal growth, and staying accountable in an ever-changing world. Joanna shares the framework behind her Accountability Mindset progra...

Episode 021 | Chat with Tracy Lamourie - Public Relations Guru and Social Justice Warrior | May 2021 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle chats with international PR powerhouse Tracy Lamourie. They dive into the world of public relations — what it really takes to launch a PR business, why everyone (yes, everyone) should consider working with a PR professional, and how the pandemic ha...

Episode 020 | Chat with Colin C. Thompson - Founder of Oligye Enterprises | February 2021 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle has a fascinating conversation with Colin C. Thompson, founder of Oligye Enterprises, personal development and career transition coach, and blockchain innovator. Colin joins the podcast from Shanghai, bringing a global perspective to their discussion. Dan and...

Episode 019 | Chat with Anne-Marie Brandt - Marketing Guru | February 2021 We kick off Season 3 of The MentalCast with a thoughtful conversation between host Dan Mickle and solopreneur Anne-Marie Brandt, owner of Team Brandt Marketing. Dan and Anne-Marie, friends for over 30 years, dive into the topic of saying no — and the value of truly taking a break without guilt. In today’s hustle-driven cult...

Episode 018 | Chat with Brent Magnussen - Author, Public Speaker, and Fmr. Army Engineer | November 2020 This episode of The MentalCast features a dynamic conversation between host Dan Mickle and Brent Magnussen, author of Roger Up!, public speaker, and former Army engineer. Dan and Brent dive into the power of routines, goal setting, and mindset — all themes central to Brent’s book and speaking w...

Episode 017 | Chat with Jay Hosack - George Mason Men's Volleyball Head Coach. | November 2020 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle sits down with friend and fellow coach Jay Hosack, head coach of George Mason University Men’s Volleyball. Dan and Jay dive into the realities of the coaching ladder — how to move up in the coaching ranks, and the often overlooked question: Should you mo...

Episode 016 | Chat with Claudio Reilsono - Carnegie Mellon Baseball Head Coach and | November 2020 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle has an engaging conversation with Claudio Reilsono, head baseball coach at Carnegie Mellon University, professional scout with the Global Scouting Bureau, public speaker, and author. Dan and Claudio discuss the differences between coaching at the col...

Episode 015 | Chat with Karl France - NYU Men's Volleyball Assistant Coach (Part 1) | October 2020 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle sits down with long-time friend Karl France, assistant coach for NYU Men’s Volleyball. This conversation was sparked by a casual discussion between the two during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what unfolded was a thoughtful deep dive into language, perc...

Episode 014 | Chat with Erik Weiss - Little League Baseball Umpire | September 2020 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle has an insightful conversation with Erik Weiss, a Little League umpire based in Stockton, California. After hosting many coaches and athletes on the show, Dan thought it was time to hear directly from the officials who help keep the game running. Dan and Erik dive...

Episode 013 | Chat with Donald Reeser Jr. - His Weight Loss Journey | August 2020 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle sits down once again with long-time friend Donnie Reeser for Part 2 of their conversation series. This time, the focus is on Donnie’s remarkable weight loss journey over the past year and the physical and mental challenges that came with it. While this conversation i...

Episode 012 | Chat with DJ Roueche - Lakers/AVP/Olympic DJ | July 2020 In this high-energy episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle sits down with the always entertaining DJ (Jeremy) Roueche. DJ Roueche is currently the official DJ for the Los Angeles Lakers, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, and was one of the DJs for the Rio Olympic Games in beach volleyball. He is also half of the L.A.-based...

Episode 011 | Chat with Kyle Wagner Baseball Guru and Educator | July 2020 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle sits down with coach and educator Kyle Wagner for a long-awaited conversation about coaching youth sports and keeping the game fun and meaningful. A former standout high school baseball player, Kyle went on to play Division I baseball at Wake Forest University and spent a y...

Episode 010 | Chat with Jen Fry | June 2020 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle sits down with educator and speaker Jen Fry ( JenFryTalks.com ) to explore the intersection of sports, leadership, and social justice. Together they discuss how coaches and athletes can foster inclusive environments, lead with awareness, and embrace the kind of uncomfortable conversations that drive real...

Episode 009 | Chat with Trevor Ragan of The Learner Lab | June 2020 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle sits down with Trevor Ragan from The Learner Lab for an engaging conversation about Trevor’s personal journey, from growing up in the Midwest to working with Duke Basketball, creating Train Ugly, and launching The Learner Lab podcast. Trevor is a well-known voice on learning scien...

Episode 008 | Coaching Burnout | January 2020 Coaching burnout is one of the most common topics that comes up when The MentalCast host Dan Mickle works with coaches and managers. While many people recognize the late stages of burnout, they often miss the early warning signs and opportunities to take preventive action. In this episode, Dan explores the root causes of coaching burnout and shares act...

Episode 007 | Donald Reeser Jr. Interview - Part 1| January 2020 In this special three-part series of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle sits down with local entrepreneur and dart player Donald Reeser, Jr., the owner of Reeser’s Soft Ice Cream. Recorded casually in the parking lot of their favorite local spot, Nick’s 114 Café, this first episode in the series dives into the mental challenges and uniq...

Episode 006 | Effect of Sports Injuries on the Mind | December 2019 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle explores a critical but often overlooked topic: the psychological effects of sports injuries on athletes. While much of the conversation around injury focuses on physical recovery, Dan dives into how injuries can impact an athlete’s mental health, confidence, identity, and overall...

Episode 005 | Be A Tim! | October 2019 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle explores the concept of accountability, both personally and professionally. Through the story of his friend and mentor, Tim, who serves as Dan’s own accountability partner for podcasting, Dan highlights the importance of having people who challenge us to stay on track. He also discusses how to build accountab...

Episode 004 | Traditions | August 2019 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle takes a thoughtful look at the role of traditions in our lives, from the playing field to the boardroom. We often follow traditions without much reflection, but what purpose do they serve? Are they helping or holding us back? Dan explores how to evaluate traditions in your personal and professional life, how...