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Getting cut is one of the rawest, most emotional moments in youth sports and for many families, tryout season feels more like heartbreak season. In this Q&A episode, Mariel and Jordan break down what really happens to an athlete’s confidence, identity, and motivation when they don’t make the team, and why a parent’s reaction in the first 10 minutes can shape everything that comes next.

They share their own stories of being cut, the shame, the tears, and the turning points, while unpacking how to help young athletes process disappointment without spiraling into victim mentality. Instead of blaming coaches or shielding kids from discomfort, the episode digs into how to validate the pain and redirect it into growth, emotional regulation, and a clearer understanding of what being an athlete truly requires.

This episode reframes being cut as an essential part of the athlete journey: a moment that can ignite self-awareness, leadership, accountability, and resilience when handled with the right mindset at home. Whether your child is devastated, angry, embarrassed, or ready to quit altogether, this conversation gives you the tools to anchor them, support them, and help them find their next step with confidence.

If your athlete was recently cut or if tryouts are looming, this is the episode you’ll want to hear together.

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Dr. Claire joins the podcast for a powerful conversation that every parent, coach, and athlete needs to hear. With a background in neuroscience, physiology, and youth mental health, she breaks down what’s actually happening inside the bodies and brains of young athletes and why so many are struggling with burnout, fatigue, chronic stress, and emotional overwhelm.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Claire explains how sleep, screen exposure, stress hormones, and daily nervous system health play a larger role in performance than most people realize. She shares why kids today are showing up more dysregulated, more exhausted, and more anxious than previous generations and how that directly impacts their ability to focus, recover, perform, and adapt to sport.

This conversation goes well beyond “mental toughness.” Dr. Claire offers a clear, compassionate look at how modern stress loads are shaping athlete development, why traditional coaching methods often fall short, and what adults need to understand about the brain-body connection if we want kids to succeed long-term.

If you’ve ever wondered why your athlete can’t sleep, can’t calm down, can’t recover, or can’t seem to feel confident consistently, this episode gives you the science and the solutions in a way that finally makes it all make sense.

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In this conversation, Daria Albers opens a window into what true high-level performance really requires. A world-class mental performance coach and former professional fighter, Daria works globally with UFC athletes, Special Operations Forces, and top-tier performers across sport and business. Her approach blends psychology, mindfulness, nervous system training, and embodied awareness into a style of coaching that is as grounded as it is transformative.

Drawing from backgrounds in physical therapy, psychology, MBSR, MBCT, and systemic theory, Daria has built a powerful mental training system that helps people stay calm under pressure, sharpen their focus, and untangle the patterns that hold them back. Her work is rooted in values, responsibility, and presence, offering athletes a way to come back to themselves instead of constantly chasing outcomes or relying on forced “mental toughness.”

Throughout the episode, Daria reflects on her own evolution from fighter to coach, a journey marked by discipline, humility, and a deep commitment to understanding the mind. She talks about the emotional and spiritual layers of performance, the importance of inner alignment, and why real confidence comes from awareness rather than suppression. Her perspective challenges the traditional model of pushing harder and instead invites athletes to train with clarity, curiosity, and heart.

This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt stuck, burnt out, overtrained, or disconnected from the passion that once fueled them. Daria’s insights offer a new way forward that integrates science with humanity and teaches athletes to perform from a place of internal strength, not external pressure.

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In this week's Q&A, Mariel and Jordan dig into one of the most confusing issues facing youth sports today: the blurry line between a firm, well-intentioned coach… and one who crosses into harmful territory.

Throughout the episode, they dive into the pressures today’s coaches face, the rise of “old school” intensity, and the ways young athletes (especially girls) respond differently to certain coaching styles. Mariel reflects on growing up under a brutally demanding coach and how those high-pressure environments both shaped her resilience and revealed where the line gets crossed. Together, they talk through when discomfort becomes growth, when it becomes damage, and how parents can support their athletes without becoming over-involved.

This episode is full of hard truths and practical guidance for anyone trying to navigate the realities of modern sport. Whether you’re a parent who’s unsure how to interpret a coach’s intensity, an athlete learning to advocate for yourself, or a coach striving to get it right, this conversation offers the perspective and nuance that’s been missing from the sidelines

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In this episode, Dr. Joel Kerr breaks down what young athletes actually need to thrive and the answers may surprise you. He calls on parents to step into the role of “recovery coach”: creating a safe emotional environment, supporting real nutrition, and protecting sleep, rather than critiquing performance or chasing stats. He explains how the student athlete exists in a triangle alongside the coach and the parent, where all three need aligned goals and values to support healthy development

Dr. Joel Kerr or as his athletes affectionally call him, "Dr. J" is an accomplished performance manual therapist, educator, and the visionary founder of BASE – Building an Athletic Structure for Exercise – a comprehensive clinical framework and educational system built to bridge the gap between manual medicine and performance care. With over 17 years of experience working with professional athletes, particularly within basketball, Dr. J has earned a reputation as a forward-thinking leader committed to redefining how clinicians and coaches assess, treat, and train the human body. Holding a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and over 5,000 hours of postgraduate training in Sport Neurofunctional Acupuncture, Dr. J brings a deep understanding of integrated systems, movement science, and evidence-informed care. His ability to seamlessly blend manual therapy, exercise prescription, and neurofunctional techniques has made him a trusted provider among pro athletes seeking longevity, recovery, and performance optimization. Beyond the treatment table, Dr. J is a passionate educator. He has served as a clinical instructor and mentor to hundreds of aspiring clinicians through continuing education programs, college courses, and private mentorship. In 2022, he co-developed the BASE curriculum alongside his wife, Dr. Claire Bacareza, with the mission to equip a new generation of manual medicine clinicians with the tools to observe movement, apply clinical reasoning, and intervene with purpose. BASE emphasizes passive and dynamic interventions, functional anatomy, movement literacy, and performance rehabilitation. BASE is not just a course—it’s a community. At its core, it supports the development of what Dr. J calls the “BASE Eye”: the cultivated skill of observing movement quality before intervention. This concept is central to the BASE system, which prioritizes effectiveness in real-world conditions, blending clinical experience, anatomical understanding, and human connection. The result is a powerful and flexible framework that enhances patient outcomes and builds clinician confidence. Dr. J's work has recently extended into international sport, where he is currently involved in building partnerships with Olympic organizations, athletic federations, and emerging sport performance hubs.Driven by purpose and guided by values of resilience, observation, and collaboration, Dr. J is on a mission to elevate the standard of care in performance and rehabilitation. He continues to build a "homeBASE" of clinicians, coaches, and movement professionals who are committed to learning the language of the body—and helping others return to, or remain in, motion.

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In this episode, Mariel sits down with Brett Devloo, a blind skateboarder, sponsored athlete, and living example of what grit really looks like. Brett lost his vision at 16. But instead of giving up the thing he loved most, he got back on his board and refused to stop skating.

He shares how he learned to trust his body without his sight, why losing his vision actually removed his fear, and how having the right coach and community changed the course of his life. Brett opens up about breaking his femur in a major skate accident, the brutal recovery process, and what it took mentally to get back on the board again.

This is an episode about resilience, creativity, showing up on the days that feel impossible, and finding your way forward when the usual path doesn’t exist. If you need a reminder that you are capable of more than you think, this is it.

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In this Q&A, Mariel and Jordan break down one of the most common moments in youth sport: when an athlete feels like they’re “too good” for the level they’re training at or feels stuck in an environment that doesn’t match their goals. They share why there’s no such thing as wasted practice time, and how the mindset an athlete brings to each session matters more than the environment itself.

From using lower-level reps intentionally, to the power of deliberate practice, to turning the car ride home into a supportive conversation instead of performance pressure, this episode gives athletes and parents real, practical ways to grow confidence and skill, no matter the situation.

They also touch on visualization, how to keep sport fun, and why curiosity beats coaching when you’re a parent supporting your athlete.

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In this episode, Mariel sits down with Andrew Marshall, a Certified Master Coach and 3rd-degree Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, to explore the mindset lessons that turn good athletes into exceptional humans. From his early years in baseball and football to finding his true calling in martial arts and coaching, Andrew shares how pain, injuries, and setbacks shaped his philosophy of growth. Together, they unpack the dangers of perfectionism, the balance between competitiveness and joy, and the importance of belonging over fitting in. Andrew’s story is a roadmap for athletes, parents, and coaches who want to build resilience, develop self-awareness, and create long-term success, both in sport and in life.

"I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, and have spent a number of years living on the Big Island of Hawai’i with my wife and son. Growing up, all I wanted to do was be outside and play sports. Baseball and football were my main focus. After high school, I turned to Jiu Jitsu, boxing, and MMA. Following a series of setbacks and injuries, I committed fully to Jiu Jitsu and began exploring coaching as my professional path. That journey led me deep into healing, mindset, and personal transformation. I immersed myself in meditation, spiritual disciplines, nutrition, physical therapy, functional strength training, and advanced coaching methods. Over time, I built a coaching practice focused on helping others embody their highest potential, not just in their professional performance, but as whole human beings. In my younger years, I struggled with mindset, physical health, and simply knowing how to take care of myself. I’m grateful now to offer others the kind of guidance I once needed, so they can live with strength, clarity, and alignment, and fully step into the truth of who they are." - Andrew

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