Student Athlete Performance

🎙 Don’t Just Pass the Eye Test—Pass the Performance Test Want to be elite? You don’t need more protein—you need a system. In this solo episode, Nick Lemke breaks down why the top athletes in the world (like Kobe, LeBron, and Tom Brady) all had systems—and how you can build one too. Whether your challenge is lack of time, picky eating, or not knowing what to eat, this episode gives real talk and re...

Not every D1 dream ends with a championship. Some end in injury. In burnout. In silence. In this honest and powerful conversation, Nick sits down with George Mawanda-Kalema , former D1 basketball player at Brown University, to talk about the internal battles most athletes face but few talk about—until it’s too late. 🧠 What You’ll Learn: – What D1 life is really like off the court– How to deal wit...

It’s easy to say yes when everyone else is cheering you on. But sometimes, the path that looks shiny—whether it’s a tournament, a showcase, a D1 offer, or even a dream job—might actually be pulling you away from your true goals. In this solo episode, Nick shares a personal story about turning down a high-profile opportunity to work with pro athletes—an opportunity that almost everyone told him to...

Ever felt overlooked, benched, or doubted as an athlete? Coach Eric Holtz knows that story—and more. From getting kicked off his college team for attending a friend’s funeral to making a pro baseball comeback at 41, Eric’s journey is the ultimate lesson in resilience, belief, and sweat equity. As the former Head Coach of Israel’s Olympic Baseball Team, Eric shares powerful insights on what it real...

Skipping breakfast isn’t just affecting you at school—it’s showing up in how you perform at 4PM practice. Whether you're trying to gain weight, lean out, or just have more energy for training—this episode is for you. Nick breaks down exactly what skipping breakfast does to your energy, recovery, and focus. And even if you do eat breakfast, it might not be the right kind. You’ll learn how to fu...

“Training hard” doesn’t always make you faster. In fact, most athletes are doing speed work wrong—and wasting valuable training time. In this episode, Coach Laura Stark of Stark Strong Performance breaks down the myths, mechanics, and mindset behind true speed development. We dive into: The difference between running and actually training speed Her “4 Pillars of Running” every athlete needs to und...

Low energy? Headaches? Sore for days? It might not be your training—it might be your hydration. In this episode, Nick breaks down one of the most underrated performance killers : dehydration. Athletes are showing up to practice under-fueled, under-recovered, and under-hydrated—and it’s costing them strength, speed, focus, and energy. You’ll learn exactly how much water you need, what your pee colo...

Most athletes won’t even hit one grand slam in their life—Coach Haley Colwell hit two in the same inning . She’s in the NCAA record books, has built championship-level programs from scratch, and now coaches JUCO athletes on how to perform when it matters most. In this episode, Coach Colwell shares what it really takes to rise in big moments, how to stand out in a losing or overlooked program, and...

There’s a lot of advice out there—but most of it is slowing you down. From TikTok trends to gym bro science, athletes are constantly fed nutrition advice that sounds smart… but ends up holding them back. In this solo episode, Nick breaks down 10 things he does not recommend —including almond milk, BCAAs, “cheat meals,” skipping breakfast, and a whole lot more. If you're serious about fueling for p...

If you're stuck, plateauing, or not seeing the results you want—this might be why. In this solo episode, Nick breaks down the #1 mistake he sees athletes make across the board : staying in their comfort zone. Whether it’s doing the same training program for months, eating like every other high schooler, or brushing off advice you “already know”—comfort is the enemy of growth. Nick shares 5 pow...

🏈 How to build championship habits, prepare for key moments, and perform when it matters. 🎧 If you’re trying to play at the next level—or just become the best version of yourself—this episode is for you. Coach Keith Ross just led Sumner High School to its first football state title in over 50 years. But this isn’t just a story about winning. It’s about the habits, mindset, and risks that made it...

Your words matter. Your habits matter. And your example matters most. Whether you realize it or not, your athlete is absorbing everything—how you talk about food, how you handle stress, and how you react after a loss. In this episode, Nick shares 5 lessons every parent of an athlete needs to hear—from creating a supportive food environment to teaching kids why , not just what , they should be doin...

Most athletes are training their bodies daily... but neglect their mind. And that mental gap is why so many athletes don't perform when it counts. Today’s guest, mindset coach Ron Smedley , is here to change that. In this powerful episode, we break down what legendary mental toughness actually looks like—and how athletes can start building it. Whether you struggle with confidence, performing under...

Whether you believe Jesus is God or just a good man—every athlete needs to hear this. Jesus didn’t live for the spotlight, the approval, or the clout. He lived with purpose, made sacrifices, rested well, and showed us how to stay grounded no matter what we’re facing. In this episode, Nick breaks down 5 powerful lessons from the life of Jesus that can completely shift how you approach training, com...

You’re in the gym. You’re grinding. But what if the way you’re training is actually holding you back? In this episode, Nick sits down with veteran performance coach Sal Marinello to break down the biggest problems in youth athletic development today. From overloaded weight rooms to early specialization, trendy gimmicks, and poor movement patterns—Sal explains why many athletes are working hard, bu...

You don’t need a perfect meal plan—you need better habits. In this episode, Nick breaks down one of the biggest struggles athletes face: staying consistent with nutrition. Whether you’re trying to gain muscle, have more energy for workouts, or simply perform better—this episode gives you the exact steps to create structure that actually sticks. From what to eat, to how often to eat, to what to do...

Everyone loves velocity—but if you can’t play defense, you can’t play. In this episode, Nick sits down with Coach Joe Caracci to break down the biggest fielding mistakes athletes make and how to fix them. Joe shares the 5 “elite fundamentals” that build instincts, consistency, and game-ready defenders—plus how his online system is helping athletes take their development into their own hands. Wheth...

You don’t get to college and figure it out—you show up ready. In this episode, Nick breaks down exactly why nutrition is no longer optional for athletes who want to play early, stay healthy, and perform at a high level. From Power 5 football offers to NBA stars who had to learn the hard way—this episode is packed with real examples and real talk about how elite athletes fuel their edge. And why wa...

You’ve heard the phrase a thousand times: “Control what you can control. But what IS in your control? In this episode, Nick is joined by Trevor Conner , mental performance coach and author of ACE It! , to unpack why this common mindset advice can leave athletes confused, frustrated, and focused on the wrong things. They dig into how to simplify your focus, let go of outcomes, and start showing up...

You made all this progress in the off-season—gaining strength, adding muscle, improving your speed… and then the season starts, and it all starts slipping away. In this episode, Nick breaks down one of the most frustrating challenges athletes face: losing weight—and performance—in-season. If you've ever felt flat, slow, or sore halfway through the season, this is likely why. And the good news?...

📉 More calories doesn’t automatically mean more muscle, more energy, or better performance. In fact, most athletes are asking the wrong question when it comes to nutrition. In this episode, Nick breaks down why obsessing over calorie numbers can backfire —and what you should focus on instead if you actually want to grow, recover, and dominate on the field. Backed by research and real-life results...

If you want to be an elite football player, speed is non-negotiable. But how do you actually train for it? Can you gain weight and still get faster? How often should you be training speed? What are the biggest mistakes athletes make when trying to improve? In this episode, I sit down with Jacob Cabezudo of CAB Training , one of the top speed and agility coaches for football players. He’s worked wi...

Eggs are $14 a dozen . Grocery prices are climbing. And if you’re an athlete trying to fuel your body, it can feel impossible to eat well without draining your wallet. But here’s the truth: you CAN eat like an elite athlete on a budget —you just need the right strategies. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly how to get high-protein, high-quality meals for cheap , where to shop, and how to ta...

Just because you’re from a small town doesn’t mean you can’t compete at a high level. Chelan County, Washington has produced college athletes like Evan Reister (college baseball), NBA players like Joe Harris, and future WNBA talent like Hailey Van Lith. So what does it take to get noticed and play at the next level when you don’t have access to the same facilities, exposure, and resources as athle...

If you want to get recruited, your nutrition cannot look like every other high schooler’s. College coaches aren’t just looking for good stats—they want athletes who are strong, durable, and ready to compete at the next level. In this episode, I break down four levels of nutrition and exactly what separates a high school athlete’s diet from a college, D1, or even pro-level diet. What You’ll Learn i...