The BTB Project Podcast

In this episode #125 of the BTB Project Kollman shares insights on finding fulfillment in life and career decisions. Starting with an encouragement to living a life rich in passion and purpose, Kollman outlines eight tips that are pivotal for achieving fulfillment. These include aligning with one's values, exploring interests, defining a personal mission, building positive relationships, setti...

In episode #124 of the BTB project, host Kollman Gearhart a former athlete and motivational coach, talks with guest Amy Smith about the power of community, overcoming challenges, and the significance of embracing one's own journey. Amy, a pioneer in sports and a staunch advocate against harassment in women's professional football, shares her story of resilience and empowerment. The discuss...

In this episode #123, Kollman Gearhart former athlete and motivational coach, shares insights from his recent travels to New York with his son, emphasizing the profound impact of maintaining perspective in our lives. Through his observations and personal reflections, Kollman explores how seeing things from different angles can unlock gratitude, foster empathy, and lead to personal growth. He discu...

In this episode of the BTB project #122, host Kollman Gearhart interviews Iliana Stowers, a former Division 1 golfer from Montgomery, Texas and discusses her unique journey. Iliana shares her experiences growing up as a multi-sport athlete and how she ultimately focused on golf, leading to success in Division 1. They explore Iliana transition from a student-athlete to a professional in sales, disc...

In this BTB short episode #121, I share experiences and insights on the demanding and selective nature of becoming a Division I athlete, both from a personal perspective and as a parent of a high school athlete aspiring to run at the Division I level. I break down the statistical likelihood of high school athletes making it to Division One in sports like cross country and tennis, emphasizing the i...

In this episode #120 of the BTB Project, host Kollman Gearhart interviews Claudia B. (Swope) a Nashville-based singer-songwriter who recently competed on 'The Voice' as part of John Legend's team. Claudia shares her musical journey, from forming a rock band in high school to studying at the Berklee College of Music, and emphasizes the importance of perseverance, preparation, and stayin...

In this BTB Short episode #119 I share a recording of a coffee talk I had with a client about my personal journey navigating the turbulent waters of job hunting after being laid off 15 months ago. It outlines the emotional rollercoaster of going through numerous job interviews, facing rejections, and the precarious hope pinned on job offers that ultimately fall through. Despite the frustrating pro...

This episode of the BTB Project #118 features an in-depth interview with Sam Sippel and Jett Middleton, key players of the Boise State men's tennis team. Host Kollman Gearhart explores their personal stories of overcoming adversity and injuries to pursue collegiate tennis. Sam, from Germany, shares his transition from facing numerous injuries and working in various jobs to securing a college s...

In this episode of the BTB project #117, Kollman Gearhart delves into the role of inner promises and how they can inadvertently hold us back from living our fullest lives. Touching on personal experiences, Kollman reflects on the importance of forgiveness, not just towards others, but towards oneself, to overcome these self-imposed barriers. The discussion highlights how these inner vows, while in...

In episode #116 of the BTB project, host Kollman Gearhart interviews Colorado tennis legend Jeff Salzenstein. They discuss the tragic loss of Jeff's younger brother, Erik, to a drug overdose and delve deep into the topic of addiction. Jeff shares his brother's struggle with addiction, from the early symptoms to his eventual transformation. They explore the importance of connection in battling addi...

In todays BTB Short episode #115 we discuss the importance of practicing gratitude regularly for a fulfilling and joyful life, even during tough days. The episode not only addresses how to acknowledge negative thoughts but also emphasizes on detaching yourself from them and visualizing positive memories to cultivate a sense of gratitude. It takes the listeners through a detailed exercise aimed at...

In episode #114 of the BTB Project, host Kollman Gearhart interviews Jacob Fox, co-founder of the music concept Songhouse based in Nashville, Tennessee. Jacob shares his extraordinary journey that led him not only to co-create Songhouse but also to help empower musicians to embrace vulnerability, resilience, and the pursuit of their dreams. The two discuss the meaning of grit in both personal and...

In this episode #113 In this BTB short, we delve into understanding and managing unexpected events and change in our lives. We discuss the story of how a sudden change in a high school athlete's routine taught us valuable lessons about adaptability and preparedness. Get insights on embracing change, being proactive in the face of adversity, understanding the value of consistency, and mastering...

This episode #112 of the BTB Project Podcast features an inspiring conversation with Nashville-based musician, Ethan Phillips. From his musical journey starting in Georgia, to his decision to move to Nashville, Ethan shares his experiences, struggles, and victories as an artist aiming to make a difference. He discusses his songwriting process and the life-changing encounter that helped him regain...

In this BTB Short episode #111, we dive into the importance of having a mindset driven by dreaming big and setting massive goals. He urges listeners to define success beyond conventional standards and aim for brilliance. Kollman also lays out a roadmap for achieving success, highlighting the necessity of maintaining daily habits, setting achievable goals, fostering continuous learning, attaining a...

In this episode #110, Kollman Gearhart, the host of the BTB Project, welcomes Dennis Cook, a member of Songhouse, a Nashville-based platform that helps artists and writers tell their stories through music. Dennis opens up about his own journey of overcoming dark times in his life, echoing the power of music to inspire, heal and connect people. This heartwarming conversation underlines the power of...

In this episode #109 of the BTB project, host Kollman Gearhart talks about seeing desperation not as a downfall, but as the driving force to reach extraordinary heights. Kollman shares personal stories about his struggle with his mother's addiction and his own journey to success, reflecting on how desperation has changed his life. He provides actionable steps to embrace desperation, set clear...

In this engaging episode #108 of the BTB Project Podcast, host Kollman Gearhart sits down with the charismatic Rob Chilcoat, a two-time NCAA Division I National Champion in men's volleyball and the current Associate Head Volleyball Coach at Brown University for the women's team. They discuss Rob's coaching journey, the importance of finding the ideal student-athlete, the significance o...

In this empowering episode #107 of the BTB Project Podcast, Kollman Gearhart, a former athlete and motivational coach, delves into the topic of 'reinventing oneself'. He shares his journey of transitioning from being an elite athlete to becoming a coach and later a family man, detailing the challenges he faced and the success he achieved by making difficult decisions. Kollman offers listen...

In episode #106 of the BTB Project I interview the second half of the dynamic HS doubles tennis team Casey Ahrendsen. We delve into Casey's journey as a four-time state tennis champion at Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs and her dual athletic participation in volleyball and tennis. Casey discloses her decision to focus on tennis over club volleyball, how her competitive spirit...

In this episode #105 of the BTB (Built To Be) Project, host and motivational coach, Kollman Gearhart, explores the concept of confidence. He discusses how confidence can inspire others and enhance personal development while emphasizing empathy for others' feelings. Kollman discusses how societal norms can suppress the expression of confidence due to fear of offending others, and he encourages...

Episode #56 BTB Project: A Resilience Story - From a Mother's battle of addiction to College Sports Stardom & Achieving Your Potential. Kollman Gearhart, a motivational coach and former athlete, shares his journey from a troubled childhood marked by his mother's addiction, weight struggles, and mental health challenges to becoming a celebrated Division One college tennis player. Despit...

In this episode #104, We discusses the essence of motivation, dedication, mentorship and overcoming adversity with Jake Lysagard. Jake is the director of the junior performance program at the No-Quit Tennis Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada. He shares his inspirational journey from being a one-star recruit to playing at the University of Nebraska and then coaching. Jake reveals his unique perspective o...

In this motivational BTB Short episode #103, host Kollman Gearhart discusses his personal struggle with education, sharing his experience overcoming challenges with learning disabilities, a low ACT score, and self-doubt while pursuing his dream to play college tennis. Kollman emphasizes the power of optimism and provides practical strategies to instill a positive mindset, such as setting realistic...

In episode #102 of the BTB Project, host Kollman Gearhart sits down with the accomplished Ally Aronson, a four-time state champion in high school tennis. They discuss Ally's journey, her relationship with doubles partner Casey Ahrendsen, and her winning mindset and approach. Ally, having explored diverse sports interests including soccer and cross country, speaks on the importance of problem-s...