Becoming My Stronger Me

Text me your thoughts! Can attention actually be trained? In this episode of Becoming My Stronger Me, Coach Nassim explores the science behind focus, attention, and mental performance. Drawing from sport psychology, cognitive science, and performance research, we break down one of the biggest myths in sport—that focus is something athletes either have or don’t have. You’ll learn why attention is a...

Text me your thoughts! If you've ever been told to "just focus," this episode is for you. In the first episode of our Focus, Attention, and Flow mini-series, Coach Nassim explores why maintaining attention has become increasingly difficult in today's high-stimulation world. Drawing from research on attention, cognitive load, distraction, and multitasking, this conversation brea...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode of the Becoming My Stronger Me podcast, I sit down with Kate Crane , founder of Direction Over Perfection , former high-level equestrian athlete, and mentor dedicated to helping young adults navigate life and career decisions with greater confidence and clarity. Kate's journey is a powerful reminder that growth is rarely a straight line. From competing i...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode, I sit down with Kelly Findley—a longtime collegiate soccer coach, former professional player, and mentor who has spent decades developing athletes and leaders at the highest levels of the game. Kelly’s journey spans over 20 years in college soccer, with head coaching roles at programs like Liberty University, NC State, and Butler. But what makes this convers...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode, I sit down with Adam Roach—a former collegiate athlete turned coach, entrepreneur, and leader who is deeply committed to helping people build meaningful, sustainable success. Adam’s foundation in sport shaped the way he approaches performance, discipline, and growth. As a collegiate tennis player, he developed the mindset required to compete, adapt, and stay...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode, I sit down with Josh Sprague—an endurance athlete whose journey is defined by consistency, resilience, and a deep understanding of the mental side of performance. Josh has competed in hundreds of endurance events, including triathlons, trail races, and ultra-distance challenges. But what makes his perspective so valuable isn’t just the volume of races—it’s t...

Text me your thoughts! Performing under pressure isn’t about rising to the moment—it’s about returning to what you’ve trained. In this episode, Coach Nassim brings the Pressure, Stress, and Nerves mini-series to a close by focusing on how athletes actually execute when it matters most. Drawing from research on pre-performance routines, attention control, and self-regulation, this conversation brea...

Text me your thoughts! Nerves don’t mean something is wrong—they mean something is happening. In this episode, Coach Nassim breaks down what athletes actually experience in high-pressure moments, exploring the science behind nerves, anxiety, and arousal. Drawing from the Yerkes-Dodson Law and multidimensional anxiety theory, this conversation reframes anxiety as a natural and often helpful part of...

Text me your thoughts! Pressure isn’t just the moment—it’s how your brain interprets the moment. In this episode, Coach Nassim kicks off the Pressure, Stress, and Nerves mini-series by breaking down what actually happens in the brain and body when athletes feel pressure. Drawing from stress appraisal theory, challenge vs. threat research, and the psychophysiology of stress, this conversation expla...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode, I sit down with Ramon Lara—a UEFA B licensed football coach and mental performance trainer whose work bridges technical development and the psychology of high performance. Ramon brings a global perspective to the game, shaped by his experiences coaching in professional environments and learning across international football cultures. His approach goes beyond...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode, I sit down with Rod Underwood—a highly respected soccer coach, educator, and leader in player development with experience spanning youth, collegiate, and professional environments. Rod is widely known for his work as a Technical Director and his commitment to developing not just skilled players, but thoughtful, adaptable, and resilient athletes. With a backg...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode of Becoming My Stronger Me, Coach Nassim is joined by Shaun Smithson for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, athlete development, and building values-driven sport environments. Shaun brings a unique perspective shaped by his journey as an athlete, youth soccer coach, and national leader working with organizations that support coaches and athletes across...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode of Becoming My Stronger Me, Coach Nassim sits down with Gabe Hall, head men’s soccer coach at the University of Indianapolis, for a thoughtful conversation on athlete development, leadership, and building high-performance environments. With over two decades of experience working with youth national team players, future professionals, and collegiate athletes,...

Text me your thoughts! Confidence loss isn’t a failure — it’s a human response. In this episode, Coach Nassim closes the Confidence & Self-Belief mini-series by exploring what happens when confidence breaks due to injury, role change, deselection, or prolonged struggle. Drawing from injury psychology, attribution theory, and resilience research, the episode explains why confidence disruption i...

Text me your thoughts! Confidence doesn’t come from motivation alone — it’s supported by structure. In this episode, Coach Nassim breaks down how confidence is built and stabilized through what she calls the Confidence Equation: clarity, preparation, and meaning. Drawing from research on role clarity, performance preparation, self-concept, and development, the episode explains why confidence often...

Text me your thoughts! Confidence is one of the most talked-about concepts in sport — and one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, Coach Nassim launches the Confidence & Self-Belief mini-series by challenging the idea that confidence is something you either have or don’t have. Drawing from self-efficacy theory, mastery experience research, and developmental psychology, the episode expla...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode, Coach Nassim sits down with Anna Tuuri for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, service, and the many ways people can contribute to the beautiful game. Anna’s journey in soccer spans multiple roles—player, referee, coach, and podcast host—giving her a unique perspective on the sport and the communities that surround it. As a collegiate athlete and mul...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode, Coach Nassim sits down with Mara Watts, a pioneering figure in Australian women’s soccer whose journey reflects resilience, advocacy, and a lifelong commitment to the game. Mara competed during a time when opportunities for women in football were limited, representing Australia in the 1980s and contributing to the early foundation of what would become the mo...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode of Becoming My Stronger Me, Coach Nassim is joined by Dr. Kelly Flanagan—psychologist, author, speaker, and former mindset coach—for a meaningful conversation about emotional regulation, identity, and responding thoughtfully under pressure. Dr. Flanagan’s work challenges the idea that we need to fix or perfect ourselves to be worthy. Together, we explore how...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode, Coach Nassim sits down with Hugh Roberts II, a veteran professional soccer player, for an honest and thoughtful conversation about race, identity, and the realities of navigating the game as a Black athlete. After playing collegiately at George Mason University, Hugh built a decade-long professional career across the U.S. soccer landscape with clubs includin...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode, Coach Nassim sits down with Matheau Hall for a powerful conversation about playing for the love of the game and learning to take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow. Matheau reflects on his path through the college game and professional soccer in the U.S., as well as the international experiences that shaped his perspective through training and...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode of Becoming My Stronger Me, Coach Nassim sits down with Justin Wilson for a conversation about the transition from athlete to entrepreneur and how lessons from sport carry forward into business and life. Justin shares his journey as a soccer player and how competing in high-level environments shaped his discipline, mindset, and approach to challenges. We expl...

Text me your thoughts! In this episode of Becoming My Stronger Me, Coach Nassim sits down with Mabricio Wilson for a powerful conversation at the intersection of sport, identity, culture, and entrepreneurship. A former collegiate soccer player, Mabricio shares how his experiences in the game shaped his mindset, values, and approach to life beyond the field. He reflects on the transition from athle...

Text me your thoughts! Mental performance isn’t about having the right words—it’s about thinking clearly in the moments that matter. In this final episode of the Foundations Mini-Series, Coach Nassim explores how mental performance coaches think, drawing from reflective practice theory, coach cognition research, and decision-making literature. The episode focuses on how professionals observe behav...

Text me your thoughts! Wins and losses matter — but they don’t tell the full story of development. In this episode, Coach Nassim breaks down how to measure performance beyond outcomes, drawing from research on process vs. outcome goals, achievement goal theory, and deliberate practice. The conversation explores why over-reliance on results can distort confidence, increase pressure, and stall learn...