All-Star Athlete Podcast

In episode #35 of the All-Star Athlete Podcast, we’re joined by Gagandeep Singh — a behavioral psychologist, performance consultant, and founder of Hello Excellence Consulting. Gagandeep helps athletes, engineers, and executives elevate their leadership, communication, and emotional resilience through psychology-backed, human-centered coaching. Gagandeep’s journey is one marked by curiosity, chall...

In episode #34 of the All-Star Athlete Podcast, we’re joined by Rosanna Tomiuk — a former professional water polo player for Team Canada turned executive coach at Novus Global, where she helps elite performers, Fortune 500 leaders, and athletes go beyond high performance into what’s called Meta Performance™.Rosanna’s story is one of resilience, reflection, and reinvention. From chasing the dream o...

In episode #33 of the All-Star Athlete Podcast, we’re joined by Anna Repetto — a former competitive gymnast turned fitness coach who’s been through just about every phase of health, from obsessive tracking and under-eating to finally finding balance, grace, and confidence in her body. Anna opens up about her early years as a high-level gymnast, how quitting the sport led to drastic changes in how...

In episode #32 of the All-Star Athlete Podcast, we’re joined by Nico Arcata — a lifelong athlete turned endurance junkie with his sights set on completing an Ironman before he turns 30. Nico grew up playing every sport under the sun, eventually focusing on basketball before shifting into a self-driven world of running, strength training, and long-term mental growth. In this episode, Nico opens up...

In episode #31 of the All-Star Athlete Podcast, we’re joined by Janelle Fellenz — a powerful voice in the world of wellness, yoga, and feminine embodiment. Janelle is a certified yoga instructor, retreat facilitator, and wellness coach who helps women reconnect with their bodies, break free from limiting beliefs, and fully embrace their inner radiance. In this episode, we dive deep into Janelle’s...

In episode #30 of the All-Star Athlete Podcast, we’re joined by Nika Sedghi — a former Division 1 water polo player turned bodybuilding champion, engineer, and nutrition coach. Nika opens up about her powerful post-college transformation: from struggling with weight and restrictive eating cycles to building a sustainable, high-performance lifestyle rooted in discipline, self-awareness, and outsmar...

In episode #29 of the All-Star Athlete Podcast, we’re joined by Brandy Huffhines — a former collegiate and professional basketball player whose story is grounded in grit, self-awareness, and betting on herself when the odds weren’t stacked in her favor. Brandy walks us through her journey from high school hoops to battling for minutes at Cal State Northridge, Long Beach & Chico State, all the...

In episode #28 the All-Star Athlete Podcast, we sit down with Ryan Shellow—a former D1 and professional goalkeeper whose journey through the soccer world is packed with resilience, frustration, and personal growth. From playing at Cornell to grinding through the U.S. lower divisions, Ryan opens up about the mental battles that came with injury, inconsistent playing time, and navigating locker room...

In this episode of the All-Star Athlete Podcast, we sit down with Maxie Haase—a fitness pro turned nutrition coach who’s been through the highs, lows, and burnouts of the wellness world. From being the “bigger girl” on the soccer team to teaching 27 group fitness classes a week, Maxie’s journey has been anything but linear. She’s now lost over 80 pounds, ditched the diet culture lies, and built a...

In episode #26 of the All-Star Athlete Podcast, I sit down with Andrew Truong, a Kids Confidence Coach, speaker, and creator of the Rebel Ninja app and GenA podcast. Andrew has worked with kids in over 11 countries, helping them build confidence, communicate with courage, and embrace their inner “ninja.”But this episode isn’t just about kids. It’s about the mental strategies, mindset tools, and co...

🎙️ Episode #25 – Jillian Herrmann: From Tragedy to Triumph — Healing Through Injury, Loss, and Mental StrengthIn episode #25 of the All-Star Athlete Podcast, I sit down with Jillian Herrmann, a former collegiate volleyball player whose life was turned upside down after a devastating car accident in 2021. Told she'd never compete again, Jillian not only reclaimed her athletic identity—she trans...

In episode #24 of the All-Star Athlete Podcast, I sit down with Ray Robinson, a former Division I football player from the University of Colorado, whose journey from high school injury to college football comeback is packed with grit, growth, and powerful lessons in mental resilience. After tearing his ACL and meniscus and missing his entire senior year of high school, Ray fought his way back to t...

In episode #23 of the All-Star Athlete Podcast, I sit down with Brennan Wheeler, a former Division II basketball player from California State University, Chico, whose journey through injury, pandemic disruptions, and mental health growth offers lessons that extend far beyond the hardwood. From a devastating knee injury that sidelined him for over a year to navigating the emotional impact of COVID-...

In episode #22 of the All-Star Athlete Podcast, I sit down with Brian Gallo, a former multi-sport athlete whose journey through collegiate football, semi-pro competition, and powerlifting has been anything but linear. From walking on at UMass to battling through four surgeries in four years, Brian’s story is one of relentless resilience, mental toughness, and the constant search for balance in the...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Aubrey Newland, a professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology at CSU Chico and an experienced mental performance coach. Dr. Newland shares her insights from working with high school, D2, and D1 athletes across a wide range of sports, including baseball, softball, track and field, volleyball, and more. We dive into the mental side of sport—from building confidenc...

In this episode, we sit down with Nicole Papayans, a dedicated dancer whose journey spans ballet, hip-hop, jazz, and song-team performances, among other styles. Nicole shares the highs and lows of her dance career, from her early passion for movement to the mental and physical challenges of competitive dance. She dives into the pressures of body image, the toll of toxic dance coaches and environme...

Brandt Pfeifer: Finding a Way to Feed Your Inner AthleteIn this episode, we sit down with Brandt Pfeifer, a former Division 1 football player turned professional golfer and DJ. Brandt shares his journey through elite-level sports, the mental battles of transitioning between disciplines, and the struggles of finding purpose beyond competition. From the intense, structured world of college football...

🎙️ Olivia Johnson: Overcoming Setbacks, Body Image Struggles & Finding StrengthIn this episode, we sit down with Olivia Johnson, a former Division 1 volleyball player whose career was cut short after suffering two ACL tears. Olivia shares her powerful journey through injury recovery, body image struggles, and the ups and downs of extreme weight-loss efforts—including liposuction, a tummy tuck,...

🎙️ Sam Warner: Resilience, Kindness & Embracing Your Own JourneyIn this episode, we sit down with Sam Warner, a former volleyball player turned fitness enthusiast, who shares her journey of personal growth, mental performance, and finding balance in life. Sam dives into the importance of kindness, giving back to others, and showing up even when things get tough. Sam emphasizes how embracing yo...

🎙️ Quinn Rawdin: Endurance, Mindset & Choosing the Hard PathIn this episode, we sit down with Quinn Rawdin, a former volleyball and basketball athlete turned endurance competitor. Quinn has embraced the world of marathons, ultra-marathons, and Hyrox events, constantly pushing his limits in pursuit of growth. His journey is defined by his commitment to taking the hard path—not because it’s easy...

🎙️ America Madueña Ruiz: Self-Reflection, Intuition & The Power of Asking for HelpIn this episode, we’re joined by America Madueña Ruiz, a dedicated athlete, coach, and advocate for self-awareness and mental resilience. America shares her journey through athletics, weightlifting, and personal training while opening up about her experiences with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and overco...

In this episode, we’re joined by Hailey Jackson, a former collegiate track and field athlete who walked on at Chico State and became an elite collegiate sprinter specializing in the 400m race. Hailey shares her journey from growing up on a farm where she participated in horseback riding to competing at a high level as a collegiate sprinter, how she built confidence over time, and the role of posit...

In this episode, we’re joined by Brandon Neal, a former football and lacrosse player who competed at Adrian College (D3) in Michigan. Now a high-performance coach, Brandon helps individuals build discipline, develop strong habits, and use faith as a shield against distractions and stress. He shares how identifying as a business athlete can transform your mindset, why habits and routines are crucia...

In this episode, we’re joined by Amalani Fukofuka, former MLB draftee and professional baseball player turned personal trainer and fitness coach. Amalani shares his powerful journey from being drafted in the 5th round out of high school, to navigating the challenges of professional baseball, and ultimately finding purpose in fitness after hitting rock bottom. This episode dives into the mental per...

Welcome to the All-Star Athlete Podcast! In this episode, we’re joined by Nahum Mendoza, former Division 1 and professional golfer, who shares the mental performance techniques that have fueled his success on and off the course. Drawing from his experiences in collegiate and professional golf, Nahum explores three essential pillars for peak performance: preparation, perspective, and patience. Whet...