Welcome back to the Third & 30 Podcast—where we believe opportunity is everything. In this episode, we dive deep into resilience, accountability, and mental toughness, exploring how growth is forged both on and off the field.

Host Praveen Mantripragada is joined by co-host Coach Jason Chadock for a powerful conversation centered on one core question: Is mental toughness something that can be taught—or does it only develop when life puts you to the test?

Our guest this week is Joe Buckner, entrepreneur, performance coach, and founder of Beautifully Savage. Joe’s story is one of raw transformation. From homelessness and incarceration to building a successful coaching and fitness brand, his journey is grounded in self-ownership, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of purpose.

Joe shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, motivation, and accountability, breaking down what it truly means to “fight” in business, relationships, and life—far beyond the physical sense. We discuss how to build strong culture through community, confront shame and past failures, balance growth with mental well-being, and lead with authenticity when the stakes are high.

This episode is an honest, no-excuses conversation about embracing discomfort, learning through adversity, and developing the mindset required to win when things are not going your way.

If you enjoy the show, please consider rating and reviewing the podcast—it helps us grow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for full episodes and clips, and follow Third & 30 on social media to stay connected.

Happy holidays to all our listeners, and thank you for being part of the Third & 30 community.

In this episode of the Third & 30 Podcast, Coach Praveen Mantripragada and Coach Jason Chaddock sit down with Coach Matt Carver, Assistant GM and instructor at DBAT Norco and longtime staple in the Northern Colorado baseball community.

From growing up on the ball fields of Cheyenne and Northern Colorado to leading athletes at The Edge and now DBAT, Matt shares how his journey—and especially his mother’s decade-long battle with cancer and her passing—shaped the way he coaches, mentors, and cares for kids beyond the box score.

The conversation starts with big-time college football buyouts and what happens to culture when a leader is suddenly removed, then zooms into the youth sports world, where the stakes feel just as real for kids and families.

They dive into:

• How adversity at home shows up on the field—and what great coaches do about it

• Burnout and early specialization in youth sports (and why multi-sport athletes win long term)

• The difference between “daddy ball” and healthy parental involvement

• Why fundamentals, athletic posture, and movement are the most overlooked skills in youth baseball

• The role of mentors and what long-term success really looks like for a coach

• The showcase culture, chasing metrics, and the myth that you have to be everywhere to be seen

Whether you’re a youth coach, parent, or league director, this episode is a powerful look at what it truly means to build athletes who are prepared for life—not just the next tournament.

🎧 If you care about player development, mental well-being, and keeping kids in love with the game, this one’s for you.

[00:00 – 02:10] Introduction Overview of Morgan Sharps’ basketball journey — from standout collegiate player to professional overseas athlete, and now a Graduate Assistant at Valparaiso University.

[02:11 – 09:30] Playing Career Highlights

• Early love for the game

• Time at Xavier University

• Transfer to Bowling Green State University

• Becoming BGSU’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made per game

• Growth and leadership as a player

[09:31 – 15:40] Professional Experience Overseas

• Playing professionally in Spain and Portugal

• Cultural adjustments and adapting her game

• Lessons learned from the European basketball experience

[15:41 – 22:50] Transition Into Coaching

• Decision to pursue coaching after her pro career

• Landing at Valparaiso as a Graduate Assistant

• Daily responsibilities and behind-the-scenes work

• Learning from mentors and shaping her coaching voice

[22:51 – 28:15] Leadership & Culture

• Morgan’s approach to building relationships with players

• Defining and reinforcing team culture

• What she loves most about impacting athletes off the court

[28:16 – End] Personal Reflections & Rapid Fire

• Favorite athletes growing up

• Advice for young players chasing their dreams

• Reflections on balancing life, career, and basketball