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In this special Q&A episode of Forged: Youth Legacy Within, Mariel invites editor Kyle Donen out from behind the mic and into the conversation. Both former competitive volleyball players, they reflect on how the landscape of mental health and performance training in sport has evolved over the past two decades, and what’s still missing.

Through candid questions and stories from their playing and coaching days, Mariel and Kyle explore the emotional weight of injury, the tools they wish they’d had as young athletes, and the power of preparation through visualization. They speak honestly about what it means to show up for athletes not just as competitors, but as people, and how great coaching can shape the rest of a person’s life.

This episode is filled with warmth, insight, laughter, and a powerful reminder that while you can’t change the past, you can still use your experience to build something better for the next generation.

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What if fear rather than skill is the biggest thing holding your athlete back? In this powerful episode, legendary Canadian basketball coach and mental toughness trainer Shawnee Harlee joins Mariel to dismantle the culture of fear-based performance in youth sports. From “playing not to lose” to the paralyzing weight of FOPO (Fear of People’s Opinions), Shawnee breaks down how athletes, parents, and coaches unknowingly sabotage potential. Together, they explore the antidotes: emotional intelligence, courageous self-awareness, and the radically underused skill of self-forgiveness.

You’ll learn why confidence isn’t reliable, how to shift from outcome to process, and the two words every athlete needs after a mistake: “That’s okay.” Whether you're a parent in the stands, a coach on the bench, or an athlete in the game—this episode gives you the tools to change the story.

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Shawnee Harle is a powerhouse in the world of coaching and mental performance, with over 27 years of elite experience that spans courts, classrooms, and boardrooms. As a two-time Olympian and former Assistant Coach for Team Canada Women’s Basketball, Shawnee has stood on some of the sport’s biggest stages; bringing grit, heart, and wisdom to every team she touches.

Her coaching résumé isn’t just about wins and titles, it’s about transformation. Shawnee holds a Master’s Degree in Coaching Studies and is a Chartered Professional Coach (ChPC), a designation of excellence from the Coaching Association of Canada. She is also a Master Coach Developer and Master Learning Facilitator for Canada’s National Coaching Certification Program, where she helps shape the next generation of coaches to lead with clarity, courage, and connection.

What makes Shawnee truly stand out is her commitment to mental and emotional performance. She doesn’t just build athletes, she builds resilient, antifragile humans. With a fierce passion for helping individuals find their inner fire, Shawnee helps youth athletes, parents, and coaches alike understand that true greatness comes from mastering the space between the ears. She teaches how to turn fear into fuel, pressure into poise, and setbacks into comebacks.

A straight-shooter with a sharp mind and an even bigger heart, Shawnee Harle equips people not just to compete; but to lead, to rise, and to thrive under pressure. Whether on the court or in life, she believes everyone deserves the tools to win from within.

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What if your biggest moment on the world’s stage was undone by a single thought? In this powerful conversation, tennis pro turned performance coach Jeff Salzenstein sits down with Mariel to unpack the mindset traps that sabotage success, even at the top. From playing Michael Chang in front of 24,000 fans to battling a 15-year-old slump and rewriting his own mental narrative, Jeff shares the turning points that reshaped his career—and life. You’ll hear about the “Champion’s Poem” that kept him grounded, the surprising advice he gives to athletes about failure, and the emotional story of his brother’s transformation and tragic loss. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent, this episode is packed with tools to reframe limiting beliefs, lean into growth, and lead with heart.

Jeff's bio and information:

Jeff Salzenstein isn’t just another high-performance coach—he’s lived it.

A former top-100 world-ranked tennis player, two-time Stanford All-American, national champion, and team captain, Jeff spent decades performing under pressure on some of the world’s biggest stages, including the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, and the French Open.

Today, as an executive performance coach, leadership speaker, and seasoned entrepreneur, Jeff helps high-achieving leaders and teams Own Their Zone™—so they can unlock excellence, thrive under pressure, and build resilience without sacrificing their well-being.

The problem isn’t a lack of talent or ambition. It’s the nonstop pressure to perform at peak levels—day after day, quarter after quarter. Over 55% of leaders report elevated stress that erodes communication, culture, focus, innovation, productivity, and long-term energy.

Most stress management strategies only add more complexity and confusion. But elite performers don’t just grind harder—they train differently. They master the longevity game by expanding their capacity mentally, physically, and emotionally to handle pressure with precision.

Through his transformational Own Your Zone™ framework, Jeff equips leaders to:

Expand mental, emotional, and physical capacity to handle high-stakes pressure

Apply the same fundamentals elite athletes and performers use to stay at the top

Navigate adversity, conflict, and failure with confidence and composure

Balance ambition with strategic recovery and long-term sustainability

Build resilience, sharpen focus, and sustain energy through uncertainty

Jeff’s journey—from elite athlete to executive coach and entrepreneur—has been shaped by reinvention, adversity, and a relentless commitment to growth. He’s battled career-threatening injuries, high expectations, and personal setbacks—not just to survive, but to evolve.

With over 25 years of research and real-world experience in high-stakes performance, Jeff helps leaders model what elite performers do to stay grounded, focused, and at their best—even under relentless pressure.

As the world accelerates and demands intensify, Jeff offers more than inspiration—he delivers a proven path to help leaders perform at their peak, prevent burnout, and create high-performance cultures built to last.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jeffsalzenstein/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsalzenstein/
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www.jeffsalzenstein.com