Athlete Builder

He sprints every play. Never dogs a rep. And never gets the ball. Why? He doesn't know the routes...or he does, BUT doens't know something else. In Part 3 of the Build Champion Athletes series, Jim Beebe breaks down Knowledge — the second inch in the head, and the quiet limiting factor nobody talks about. Effort without mastery is just fast confusion. Using a wide receiver's route tree, Jim shows...

Talent isn't what separates the ones who make it — and Scott Bird has spent 31 years proving it, coaching Max Scherzer, 37 All-Americans, and a room full of future pros across five major programs. In this one he breaks down how he diagnoses what an athlete actually needs (it starts with a conversation, not a test), why he rated a future 3× Cy Young winner's work ethic "average" as a freshman — and...

Two athletes do the same workout — one gets 10x better. In this episode of Build Champion Athletes, Jim Beebe talks with Matt Wietlispach, strength coach for Syracuse women's basketball and a former pro baseball player who was told he wasn't good enough and outworked everyone anyway. They get into committed vs. compliant, what actually makes a great coach, how to hunt an athlete's limiting factor,...

You know this athlete: talented and hard-working, but a bad play sets them off and lingers for days. That's not talent — it's the inch above the neck. In Episode 2 of Build Champion Athletes, Jim Beebe breaks down the mindset block — the first of the six inches and the one that drives the rest. The four levels of athlete, anchoring the decision to a Why, the lie every athlete tells themselves, and...

Every coach has that athlete — talented, works hard, and suddenly stuck. The plateau isn't a talent problem or an effort problem. It's a diagnosis problem. In Part 1 of the Build Champion Athletes series, Jim Beebe breaks down the exact framework he uses to figure out why any athlete plateaus — and how to find the ONE inch to work on next instead of chasing "the one thing" or grinding harder at wh...

Two athletes take the exact same supplement. One gets stronger. The other feels off for days — and nobody knows why. The difference is in their DNA. In this episode of Athlete Builder Jim Beebe sits down with Garrett Hill — Officer with Gene Companion, former University of Missouri tight end, and one-time West Point appointee — to open a brand-new lens on building the athlete's body: genetics. Gar...

This was live on 6/9/26. We do live shows weekly. Hit me up if you want to participate live with our guests! What does it take to not quit when everything in your body is telling you to? Retired Navy SEAL Jeff Gum has the answer — he made it through Hell Week while fighting rhabdo, and he's spent the decades since turning that resilience into a teachable system. In this special edition of Office H...

Same Genetics. First-Round Pick Brother. Zero Excuses. | Brennan & Jake Thieneman Athlete Builder Podcast  ·  Brennan & Jake Thieneman  ·  All In Performance · Mindset · Football · Walk-On EPISODE SUMMARY   "Jake sat down in the Giants locker room after a decade of maxing out everything he had. Saquon Barkley sat across from him. He watched him run. And he knew — with total peace — that if he had...

What First Responders, Pro Baseball Players & Busy Athletes All Get Wrong About Food | Megan Lautz Athlete Builder Podcast  ·  Megan Lautz, RD  ·  Nutrition · First Responders · Performance · Lifestyle EPISODE SUMMARY   "You're not gonna run a pediatric code and come back to the station wanting a salad. That's just not how humans work." Most nutrition advice assumes you work nine to five, sleep ei...

Athlete Builder Podcast | Episode #140 Midnight Practice, Broken Wrists & All-American: The JB Baker Story He broke a bone in his wrist two weeks before Nationals. Didn't tell a soul. Then competed anyway — and became an All-American. Justin "JB" Baker is an elite hammer thrower, former college football player at Northern Iowa, high school coach in Kansas City, and mental performance coach with th...

Episode Summary In Episode #139 of the Athlete Builder Podcast, Jim Beebe sits down with Shelton Bynum, Director of Football Strength & Conditioning at Colorado State University and former Division 1 football player at UNC Chapel Hill. Shelton shares powerful insights on what separates average athletes from elite competitors, including the mindset shifts required to move from high school football...

Episode Summary In Episode #138 of the Athlete Builder Podcast, Jim Beebe sits down with strength coach Pete Remmes to discuss the realities of athlete development from youth sports all the way to the NFL. Pete shares his journey from playing football in Maine to Springfield College, then working at powerhouse programs including Florida State, Texas A&M, Iowa, Indiana, and in the NFL with the Bill...

What separates good golfers from elite performers? In Episode #137 of the Athlete Builder Podcast, I sit down with PGA Professional Greg Towne , Head Coach of Indiana State Women's Golf, to break down the mental, emotional, and performance demands of elite golf . From competing at the highest levels to coaching future pros, Greg shares what it really takes to succeed—not just physically, but menta...

What does it take to build a champion's mindset ? In this episode of Athlete Builder, I sit down with Briggs Pittman —former 82nd Airborne soldier, national-level jiu-jitsu referee, and elite-level competitor—to break down what separates average athletes from those who win at the highest level. This conversation goes way beyond sports. We dive into: How elite performers train their minds under pre...

Ohio State Football Coaches Clinic Takeaways | Leadership, Culture & Mental Performance (Episode #135) What does it actually take to build an elite program? In this solo episode of the Athlete Builder Podcast, Jim Beebe breaks down his experience at the Ohio State Football Coaches Clinic (4/16/26-4/18/26)—one of the most respected coaching events in the country. From Ryan Day's leadership framewor...

What does it really take to compete at the highest level in college cheer? In this episode, we sit down with Jena Robinson , Head Cheer Coach at Marian University, to break down the physical, mental, and emotional demands of competitive cheer—and why it might be one of the most underrated sports out there. From two-minute routines under pressure to building a culture rooted in trust, resilience, a...

🔥 From the Weight Room to Life: Building Elite Athletes with Chris Smith 🔥 In this episode of Athlete Builder, we sit down with Christopher Smith , Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year at Warren Central HS, to break down what it really takes to develop elite athletes — mentally, physically, and spiritually. Chris shares how training becomes therapy , why confidence is built through reps , a...

Episode Summary This episode features Adam Feit—professor, strength & conditioning coach, and mental performance coach—discussing the intersection of physical training, coaching philosophy, and sports psychology. The conversation moves from his journey as an athlete and coach into deeper territory around mindset, fear, identity, and long-term athlete development. Feit emphasizes that coaching is l...

Athlete Builder Podcast – Building Resilience Through the Grind Host: Jim Beebe Guest: Anton Talamantes – Army Veteran, Wrestler, Coach, MMA Practitioner In this episode of the Athlete Builder Podcast, host Jim Beebe sits down with Anton Talamantes , a former Army Cavalry Scout, elite wrestler, and coach dedicated to helping others build strength—both mentally and physically. Anton shares his jour...

Athlete Builder Podcast – The Jim & Jim Show Host: Jim Beebe Guest: Jim Artman – Army Ranger Sniper Veteran, Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Extreme Resilience In this episode of the Athlete Builder Podcast, host Jim Beebe welcomes Army Ranger sniper veteran and entrepreneur Jim Artman for a wide-ranging conversation on resilience, purpose, and personal growth. Known as the "Jim & Jim Show," the two d...

In this conversation, Jim Beebe interviews Andrew Knueven, a strength and conditioning coach with a military background. They discuss Andrew's journey from the Marines to coaching, the cultural differences between military and athletics, and the challenges of navigating the NIL landscape in college sports. Andrew shares insights on building a strong team culture, the importance of humility in lear...

Summary In this conversation, Dr. Pam Arnell discusses her work with 22-0, an organization dedicated to reducing veteran suicide rates. She shares insights into the trauma healing process, the importance of reframing negative experiences, and the role of music and storytelling in recovery. The discussion also highlights the significance of understanding Gold Star and Green Star families, as well a...

In this conversation, Jim Beebe interviews Alex Rogers, a former Navy SEAL and current professional fighter, about his journey from military service to the world of Jiu-Jitsu and event promotion. Alex shares his experiences during BUD/S training, the challenges he faced, and the lessons he learned about resilience and confidence. He discusses his transition to Jiu-Jitsu, his passion for the sport,...

In this episode of Mental Edge Office Hours, Jim Beebe and Brad Davison discuss the importance of raising standards in athletic performance, focusing on mental fitness, growth mindset, and resilience. They explore how daily habits, embracing challenges, and responding to failure contribute to an athlete's development. The conversation emphasizes the significance of being coachable, controlling res...

In this conversation, Jim Beebe interviews Lexi, a double board-certified nurse practitioner, about her journey in health and fitness, emphasizing the importance of strength training, hormone therapy, and mental fortitude in athletic performance. Lexi shares insights on how muscle health correlates with longevity and discusses the role of wrestling in developing mental resilience. The conversation...