Captains & Coaches Podcast

Performance coach Pat Nolan is building something different in Parker, Colorado. From training NFL combine prospects to developing high school leaders, Pat's approach challenges conventional wisdom about athletic development and youth sports. We explore his strong stance against sports specialization, sharing why college coaches now avoid over-showcased youth players and how Trevor Baptiste played...

Here's how to turn every practice into a laboratory for developing the next generation of leaders. In this transformative episode, we explore how intentional practice design becomes the foundation for building authentic leadership that extends far beyond the field of play. Discover how to systematically create leadership opportunities within every training session - from pre-practice setup to post...

What happens when a seven-time CrossFit Games competitor discovers that true fitness extends far beyond the gym walls? In this compelling conversation, Margaux Alvarez takes us on her journey from a multi-sport Montana kid to the pinnacle of competitive fitness, and ultimately to her mission of redefining what it means to be fit. Margaux competed at the CrossFit Games from 2013-2019, witnessing th...

"Sports don't teach lessons, coaches do." Pick up the tools to ensure your athletes develop leadership skills that will serve them in college, careers, and as future parents—not just on the field now.  Tex McQuilkin cracks open his recent article published in the Beyond Strength Journal of Psychology and Sport , exploring how coaches can maximize leadership development opportunities "between...

What does it take to perform at your best when it matters most? Former NFL linebacker Brian Peters thought he knew—until his playing career ended and he discovered the real secret wasn't just physical training. In this episode, Brian shares his evolution from a player "chasing edges" to becoming a nervous system regulation expert who travels the country in a 26-person mobile sauna, teaching everyo...

If Part I opened your eyes to Raphael's philosophy, Part II will completely transform how you approach skill development and athlete communication. We dive deep into the gap between teaching skills in isolation and building habits that transfer to game situations. Raph leads a masterclass in state-dependent learning, his skill acquisition model , and Efficiency vs Force. He also shares how he taug...

Raphael Ruiz transformed his coaching philosophy when he realized stronger athletes weren't necessarily better performers. This master strength and conditioning coach has trained everyone from Olympic athletes to middle schoolers, from professional boxers to high schoolers sprinting in socks and lifting rusty equipment.  Raph's philosophy is both practical and profound, offering insights that...

What happens when a CrossFit Games competitor trades the podium for the classroom? Dr. Allison Brager joins us to share her remarkable journey from elite athlete to neurobiologist to military leader, and now professor at West Point. Neurobiologist specializing in sleep and circadian rhythms, former CrossFit Games competitor, Army officer, and author of "Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain." Sh...

True champions aren't built through specialization - they're forged through foundations that last a lifetime. We visit Houston, Texas to sit down with Ben Fairchild, the movement visionary behind some of professional sports' most remarkable comebacks. Ben shares why multi-sport development builds adaptable, resilient athletes and shares real-world assessment strategies that reveal an athlete's tru...

How do you coach a million-dollar athlete​s ​w​ith all the talent in the world ​a​nd varying levels of motivation? Tampa Bay Rays ​S​&C Coach Andrew Mitchell ​s​hares his experience with the "Skill W​ill Matrix" – a simple but powerful framework that's transforming how he communicates with everyone from injured veterans to rising prospects. C​oach Mitchell shares his unconventional journey fro...

Derek Woodske challenges everything you think you know about athletic success. While the sports world obsesses over superstars, Derek reveals why championships are actually built by the "glue guys" - the unsung heroes who hold teams together when everything falls apart. Drawing from his experience coaching across multiple sports and levels, Derek shares the raw psychology behind delayed gratificat...

What if the most crucial skill for extraordinary success isn't talent, strength, or speed - but the ability to adapt and transform in the face of any challenge? Stephanie Mock Grubbs, the trailblazing Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Houston Astros and the first female coach in franchise history, has mastered what she calls the "best ability" - adaptability - transforming how we d...

True leadership isn't just about being tough—it requires the poet, the science, and the warrior working together. That's the philosophy of Rudy Reyes, Marine Force Recon veteran and star of Fox's "Special Forces World's Toughest Test." From raising his brothers out of a Kansas City boys' home to leading elite military units and training world champions on reality TV, Rudy has learned that sustaina...

This episode isn't just about training methodology - it's about redefining what it means to pursue excellence in every area of life. We travel to FAST Performance in Denver, CO to chop it up with Joel Raether, S&C coach for the Colorado Mammoth and leader in hunter performance. We discuss Joel's process-oriented approach to reframing failure as fuel for growth, the art of "connecting the dots"...

What if the real victory in athletics isn't found on any scoreboard, but in the character forged through intentional training and genuine coaching? In this powerful conversation with Underground Strength Coach Zach Even-Esh, we dive deep into the transformative potential that lies within every training session. With only 5.6% of high school athletes continuing at the collegiate level, we're forced...

The best player ON your team is not always the best leader FOR your team – a lesson professional lacrosse player Jack Hannah learned firsthand during his journey from All-American midfielder to team captain at the highest levels of the sport. In this episode, Jack shares his unique perspective on leadership, drawing from his experience captaining his team in college and running with the PLL Waterd...

From puck drops to power cleans, Matt Shaw shares the story of how ice meets iron in the pursuit of hockey excellence at the University of Denver. Shaw has spent 13 years building the S&C foundation behind multiple NCAA National Championship hockey teams. In this episode, he takes us behind the scenes of championship hockey development - from the ice rinks where future NHL stars are made to th...

Olympic level coach Justin Kavanaugh shares the profound impact of environment on athletic development. Coach Kav shares how leaders emerge naturally when properly nurtured, the critical stages of coachability, and why the timing of feedback can make or break an athlete's growth.  Discover the three critical components every successful environment must have: will, circumstances, and skill. Co...

Ever wonder how Olympic champions build unshakeable mental fortitude? Dr. Zanis pulls back the curtain on his work with gold medalists revealing how they created an environment where these champion shooter continue to thrive on the world's biggest stage. Zanis unpacks the revolutionary biopsychosocial model that's transforming coaching approaches at all levels, from youth sports to Olympic trainin...

Tap into gamification to capture and keep the attention of youth athletes and shift from "joysticking" young players to empowering them with agency! In this episode, Patrick Chapla shares how his POWLAX approach creates engaging practice plans where players develop critical decision-making skills through guided discovery rather than constant instruction. You'll learn practical strategies for build...

Olympic-caliber coaching meets heartfelt wisdom in this powerful conversation with University of Tennessee's Matt Kredich. Discover how this championship swimming coach builds a culture of shared purpose where individual athletes become part of something greater.  Matt opens up about his personal transformation as a leader as we dive deep into the challenges of today's collegiate swimming lan...

Journey from benchwarmer to battle tested coach as we dive into the remarkable journey of Judd Lienhard, founder of the MASS Method and former US Army Ranger. Once overlooked on his high school team, Judd transformed into an all-conference collegiate linebacker before serving in elite military units, where he redefined fitness as "the ability to thrive in your environment." Discover how personal d...

What separates elite athletes from the rest? The ability to find calm in the chaos. In our next episode, we go inside the high-intensity training ground where UTSA Football's strength coaches are mastering this critical balance. Coaches Ryan Filo and Jared Ka'aiohelo invite us into their world—a carefully orchestrated environment of controlled chaos where leadership qualities emerge under pressure...

In this profound conversation, Ben Mayfield-Smith reveals how his career-ending spinal injury became the foundation for his revolutionary approach to human potential. Discover the precise architecture behind meaningful achievement—designing a life aligned with your deepest values rather than pursuing hollow goals. Ben's five-year visioning process transforms vague aspirations into immediate moment...

What if everything you've been told about "grinding" and "hustling" has been undermining your potential? Former Navy SEAL & physician Dr. Kirk Parsley reveals why elite performers are radically rethinking sleep. Drawing from his groundbreaking work with military operators, Doc Parsley exposes how chronic sleep deprivation sabotages the very neural mechanisms responsible for peak decision-makin...