Shows
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastChange Your Mindset with Interrogative Self-Talk ft. Ryan LavarnwayIn this episode, they are joined by Ryan Lavarnway, a former MLB player with an incredible career including winning a World Series with the Boston Red Sox and representing Team Israel at the 2020 Olympics. Ryan shares his incredible journey getting to the big leagues - notably, where he was sent up and down from the big leagues 26 times. Ryan’s mindset was shaped by the use of interrogative self-talk. Specifically he eloquently explains how four questions were the key to his success: Why not me? Why not more? Why not us? 2023-11-2928 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastAn Insider’s Perspective: GTHL Executive Director & Former Referee Scott OakmanWelcome to another episode of the "Beyond the X's and O's" podcast, your go-to destination for discussions on mindset and leadership within the world of sports. In this episode, hosts Dr. Cassidy Preston and Chris DiPiero take a unique turn as they welcome Scott Oakman, a seasoned referee with almost a thousand games under his belt and the Executive Director of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), the world's largest minor hockey league. Here's a brief overview of what to expect in this insightful conversation: Journey of a Referee: Scott shares his experiences as a...2023-11-1949 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastElevating Coaching: A Conversation with Luca GianinazziWelcome to the "Beyond the X's and O's" podcast, where we delve into the world of sports, focusing on mindset and leadership. In this episode, your hosts, Dr. Cassidy Preston and Chris DiPiero, welcome a special guest, Luca Gianinazzi, a 30-year-old head coach of a professional hockey team in Switzerland, Hockey Club Lugano, which competes in the Swiss National League. Luca's unique perspective on coaching and leadership is a fascinating look into the new era of coaching in the world of sports. He provides valuable insights and shares his experiences, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection, communication, and...2023-11-0953 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastThe Outdoor Rink Mentality with David GucciardiIn this episode, Cassidy interviews David Gucciardi, a prospect of the Washington Capitals. He discusses the work he has done on his mindset through his junior and college hockey career thus far. Here's a glimpse of what you can expect in this engaging episode: Developing His Emotional Regulation: David discusses his transition from a player where his emotions would get the best of him to someone who has learned to stay even keel. Staying Connected to the Love of the Game: David shares the story of how he developed his powerful alter ego, "ODR Gucc" t...2023-10-3115 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastWorking with 23 Different Million Dollar Companies aka Coaching in the NHL with Steve SpottIn this episode, we have a captivating conversation with Steve Spott, a long-time friend of Chris DiPiero and a respected figure in the hockey world. Steve's extensive hockey journey, from playing junior hockey to coaching in the NHL, provides a rich backdrop for our discussion. Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect: Authentic Communication: Learn the importance of clear and authentic communication in coaching, as well as the crucial role it plays in player development. Embracing Mindset Training: Discover how athletes are increasingly recognizing the value of mindset training and mental...2023-10-1147 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastNavigating the Challenges of Modern Hockey with Mike McKenzieIn this episode, we sit down with Mike McKenzie, General Manager of the Kitchener Rangers and a former St. Michael's Buzzers - where he was part of the championship team with Cassidy and Chris. Mike shares his wealth of experience, highlighting both the timeless principles and modern challenges of hockey. Here’s what you can look forward to: The Essentials Remain: Discover how some fundamentals of the game, like going to the net, battling, and contact, have remained unchanged despite the evolution of hockey. Social Media Pitfalls: Dive into a crucial discussion about th...2023-10-0556 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastThinking Differently about Embarrassment, Adversity, & Mindset with Louie CaporussoIn this episode, we have an engaging conversation with Louie Caporusso, a former St. Michael's Buzzers - where he was part of the championship team with Cassidy and Chris. Louie shares his journey as a professional hockey player and provides valuable insights for athletes, coaches, and parents. Here's what you can expect: Embracing Embarrassment: Louie talks about how healthy it can be to experience embarrassment and how it can lead to personal growth. The Beginner's Mindset: Discover the importance of adopting a mindset that recognizes you're never a finished product and that there's always room...2023-09-2853 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastStop Looking at the Clock and Get Immersed in the Process with Trevor LargeIn this episode, we're joined by a returning guest, Trevor Large, the head coach of Canisius College's hockey team. Trevor shares how he led his team to their first-ever NCAA tournament this past season. Here's a glimpse of what's in store: A Different Coaching Approach: Discover how Trevor has embraced a unique coaching philosophy focused on building culture, accountability, and trust. Mindset First: Learn about Trevor's radical shift away from obsessing over results and how he immerses himself in the coaching process instead. Strategic vs. Emotional Leadership: Explore the importance of maintaining a...2023-09-1257 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastThe Champion Teammate by Jerry Lynch and John O’SullivanJerry Lynch and John O’Sullivan are leadership, performance, and team culture specialists. Jerry and John co-host the Way of Champions Podcast, as well as the Way of Champions Transformational Leadership Conference, and both are national advisory board members of the Positive Coaching Alliance. Together they brought their extensive experiences together to write the book: the Champion Teammate. In today's episode, John joined us back on the podcast to dive into the book. Here's what you’ll discover: A Fresh Perspective: Switching your mindset from “what can I get?” to “what can I give?”. Defining a...2023-08-311h 06
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastStanding with Your Fear featuring Domenic DiVincentiisDomenic DiVincentiis is a prospect for the Winnipeg Jets, who currently plays for the North Bay Battalion. Over the past four years, he’s worked with Dr. Cassidy Preston to help give him a mental edge on and off the ice as he continues to climb the ranks. In this interview Dom discusses how he has personalized his mental game to work for him. He shares insights into his mindset and the lessons he learned that helped him earn the OHL goalie of the year and sign his entry level deal with the Winnipeg Jets. He...2023-08-2236 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastLeadership Lessons from Ted Lasso with Dan ArelThe hit Apple TV series Ted Lasso is a masterclass in going Beyond the X’s and O’s. So we invited Dan Arel to join us and breakdown our biggest lessons and takeaways from the show. Dan Arel has been coaching youth hockey for nearly a decade and is the Director of Coach & Player Development for the San Diego Oilers. In 2020, he was named The San Diego Gulls Foundation Coach of the Year. Arel is also a regular contributing writer to The Coaches Site, focusing on player development through small area games and good habits. D...2023-05-191h 21
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastThe Leaders of Sport are FailingThis assertion may be a little over the top - but Chris De Piero and I (Dr. Cassidy Preston) strongly feel it is warranted to say that the leaders of sport are failing. This episode of BXO’s is a follow-up to the ‘Is Hockey Broken?’ episode we recently did - which doesn’t just apply to hockey. Although the episode received a lot of support, it was also criticized by many - which drove us to double down and create this episode. People can and will disagree with us - we welcome those that...2023-04-1541 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastHow to Overcome Performance AnxietyPerformance anxiety is one of the leading reasons athletes struggle to perform when it matters most. In this podcast, we want to show you how to break through the limiting beliefs and cultural norms that perpetuate performance anxiety. This is a follow up to the How to Perform Under Pressure video recently posted. Here are the main concepts we unpacked to help athletes overcome performance anxiety: Building Up the Context Athletes, coaches, parents, and fans alike often attach too much meaning to the event or game. Athletes then...2023-03-2933 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastIs Hockey Broken?It is a hard yes - hockey is broken. This has a lot more to do with the structure than the people. Most people in hockey have good intentions but it is the structure of the game that does not foster an optimal environment. As a result, destructive behaviours and practices are normalized and repeated at all levels. Can it be fixed? It is less about ‘fixing it’ per-say but rather about getting better. But in order to improve something there needs to be clear measures of what to improve upon. 2023-03-1052 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastJourney to the Hockey Hall of Fame with Rane CarnegieRane Carnegie is a Motivational Speaker, minor hockey coach and the youngest grandchild of the late Hockey Hall of Famer Dr. Herb Carnegie. Rane was a former 1st round draft pick in the 2001 OHL draft. He went on to play semi pro in the AHL, ECHL, CHL and finished his career overseas in Sweden, Finland and France respectively. He has helped keep his grandfather’s legacy alive through the Carnegie Initiative and continuing the Futures Aces Hockey School. Dr. Herb Carnegie broke barriers and made hockey history by being part of the only “All Black Line” in the se...2023-01-141h 07
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastExamining the Minnesota Hockey Development Model with Mike SneeMike Snee is the Executive Director of College Hockey, Inc.'s. In this role he guides College Hockey Inc.'s marketing efforts to promote Division I men's college hockey and its work to help grow the number of institutions offering the sport. Snee is also a member of the Board of Directors of both USA Hockey and U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Prior to joining College Hockey Inc. Snee was the Executive Director for Minnesota Hockey. Before joining Minnesota Hockey, Snee spent nine years with Minnesota Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the NHL’s Minnesota Wi...2022-12-041h 09
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastCreating a Culture of AccountabilityIn this episode we decided to dive into accountability - a crucial component to any team or organization. We believe the standards of what is acceptable behaviour within the sport culture are changing, but without the proper structures of accountability real change will be slow. The shortcomings of Hockey Canada and other national sport organizations are prime examples of the importance of accountability - click here for a recent article that we make mention of in this episode. Accountability often gets this ‘bad wrap’ and gets interpreted as being overly critically, hard on people, and negative. But the re...2022-11-0632 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastBringing People Together with Lee MJ EliasLee Elias is a two-time award winning author and has coached at the international, professional, collegiate, and youth levels. He is also the founder of Hockey Wraparound and Game Seven Group. In addition, Lee’s professional experience includes having helped organizations such as the NHL, NBC, Hearst Media, A&E, Madison Square Garden, and several sports organizations. Lee is an acclaimed keynote speaker in both virtual and in person events, and is the co-host of Our Kids Play Hockey, a top podcast in the hockey market. Lee is passionate about his mission to make the world believe in trust an...2022-10-301h 08
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastChampionship Talk with Andrew CoglianoAndrew Cogliano has spent the past 15 seasons in the NHL amassing 1,140 games, of which he had a consecutive streak of 830 games. He recently won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche. He previously played for the San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, and Edmonton Oilers (the team who picked him in the 1st Round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft). Championships seem to follow Cogliano, as he has also won internationally representing Canada at the World Junior tournament, winning two gold medals, as well as being on the U-18 Canadian team that won gold, and representing Team...2022-10-1653 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastTaking Leadership from the Bench to the Boardroom with Joe BirchJoe Birch is the current Chief Operating Officer and Governor for the storied Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. Joe played in the OHL with the Rangers and the London Knights before finishing his playing career at Western University. He then embarked on a coaching career where he was an Assistant Coach with the St. Thomas Stars and had the chance to work with San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture. His next stop was working at the OHL Head Office for 12 years. There he created and developed the position of Director of Player Recruitment and Education Services, which...2022-09-251h 08
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastUncovering the Dark Side of Coaching with Cody RoyleCody Royle is the Head Coach of AFL Team Canada, the men’s national team for Australian Rules Football. He was born and raised in Australia, but has lived in Canada for over a decade now. Cody has spent the last number of years researching, interviewing, and writing about leadership, culture, and performance. As a result he is the author of two books on these subjects, Where Others Won’t and The Tough Stuff. In addition he has his own podcast titled, Where Others Won’t, where he has interviewed the likes of Joe Dumars, Adam Grant, Patti McCord, Michae...2022-09-111h 06
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastMental Health in Sport with HONE's Jessica Renney & Paula McQuaidJessica Renney and Paula McQuaid are the co-founds HONE Athletics, are both practicing Psychotherapists, and are Professional Members of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Growing up, Jessica was an avid athlete and her dad coached 13+ years in the NHL. Paula was also an avid athlete and has had the opportunity to work with Hockey Canada as a Mental Performance Consultant with the Women’s U-18 National Team, winning a bronze medal (2018), gold medal (2019) and silver medal (2020) at IIHF World Championships. They combined their athletic and professional experiences to create Hone Athletics. In our final episode of ou...2022-04-171h 08
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastShifting the Culture with Brock McGillisBrock McGillis is the first openly gay men’s professional hockey player, public speaker and a leading activist in the LGBTQ2S+ space. McGillis studied communications and sports community at Laurentian University and is certified in EDI from Cornell University. His rare combination of education and lived experience have allowed him to become an influential LGBTQ+ advocate, both in the world of sports and beyond. McGillis is an international speaker and brings his unique experiences to corporations, events, sports teams, and schools. His continuous work to shift the conversation around sports and pride has been highlighted in media formats ac...2022-03-271h 27
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastTransformational Coaching with Dr. Jean CôtéDr. Jean Côté is a professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University, where he served as the Director of the School from 2006-2019. He has published more than 160 refereed papers on a variety of sport psychology and youth sport topics and 50 book chapters. He is currently researching the examination of parents as “consumers” in the youth sport system and the impact of Transformational Coaching on athletes’ development. He has presented his work to both sport governing organizations and academic conferences throughout the world and has delivered many keynote addresses at major national and intern...2022-03-051h 07
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastCoaching Better Every Season with Dr. Wade GilbertDr. Wade Gilbert is an internationally renowned performance consultant and award-winning professor in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Fresno. He is author of the highly acclaimed book Coaching Better Every Season. Gilbert is a long-time advisor to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Coach Education Department and primary coach education consultant for USA Football. Specific to hockey, he has served as an advisor to leading hockey organizations and coaching staffs around the world, including USA Hockey, Hockey Canada, IIHF, NHL/NHLPA, WHL, and USHL. Most recently, Gilbert served as the mental performance coach for the 2020...2022-02-201h 11
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastChanging the Game Project with John O’SullivanJohn O’Sullivan is an internationally known TEDx Speaker and the founder of the Changing the Game Project. John is the author of two #1 bestselling books: Changing the Game and Every Moment Matters; he is also the host of the Way of Champions Podcast, one of the top-rated podcasts for coaches. John is a former collegiate and professional soccer player, and has coached for over 20 years on the youth, high school and college level. He has consulted with the US Olympic Committee, US Soccer, USA Football, US Lacrosse, USA Swimming, Ireland Rugby, Aussie Rules Football and many more. 2022-02-1359 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastThe Alter Ego Effect with Peak Performance Coach Todd HermanTodd Herman is a Peak Performance Coach, International Speaker, and WSJ Bestselling Author Of The Alter Ego Effect: The Power Of Secret Identities To Transform Your Life. Todd has been entrenched in the world of elite performers for over two decades working with the highest achievers in Sports and Business to help them achieve their most ambitious goals. Simply put, Todd Herman helps ambitious people do hard things. Todd provides a lot of great insights in this episode: How he got started, sharing his early experiences with Harvey Dorfman, Roger Clemens, and Ryan Smith Why we...2022-02-051h 07
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastA Practical Look at Building a New Era of CoachingIn this episode we double down on our season 2 Declaration of War by contrasting the ‘old school’ coaching mentality with the New Era of Coaching. This episode was not originally in the line-up, but we added it because of numerous messages we received in support of this season, some of which asked for more practical advice for how to overcome ‘old school’ ways of thinking. Plus there was an interesting message against this season and so we wanted to affirm that the ‘old school’ mentality is still lingering - we see it daily from many of the athle...2022-01-3045 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastHow to Build a Team of Leaders, with Leadership Coach Marc GuevremontSo many people talk about the importance of leadership, but Marc Guevremont actually has built a 20+ year career working with teams and coaches from major junior and NCAA levels, all the way to the NHL, to maximize their leadership and create cultures of excellence. In this episode, Guevremont drops a ton of knowledge and throws in some great examples to help coaches invest in developing their ‘soft’ skills of leadership and moving away from the ‘old school’ mentality. Specifically he breaks down the following: The relationship between leadership, trust, culture, and results Connection (thermometer) vs corre...2022-01-161h 30
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastIt's NOT All or Nothing: A Look at Process vs ResultsWe have enjoyed watching the All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs series on Amazon Prime. But we wanted to take a critical lens to this series to break down what effective leadership is and highlight why coaches should NOT take an all or nothing approach to results. We challenge coaches to be selective in what they take from these types of series (especially the Toronto Maple Leafs documentary) and not just imitate what is seen on the limited insider footage. One key assumption we challenge is about Process vs Results. Specifically, we break down some i...2022-01-0243 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastDeclaration of War Against the Old School Coaching MentalityThe theme this season is a Declaration of War Against the Old School Coaching Mentality. So we decided to start it off by making it clear what the Old School Mentality is (what we are fighting against) and contrast it with what we are fighting for (coaching and leadership principles that work). One of the key premises is that this contrast is not about Old School vs New School because many of the leadership values, strategies, and principles are time tested and have been around for decades. The problem instead lies in the limiting beliefs in the...2021-12-1945 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastMeasuring the Process with Todd Woodcroft2021-06-221h 11
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastWhat Drives Winning with Brett Ledbetter and Becky Burleigh2021-06-0746 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastLeadership Starts at the Top - Insights from the Coaches Site Founder Aaron Wilbur2021-05-171h 08
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastBalancing the 'Hard' and 'Soft' Leadership Styles with Glenn ClarkeOn this episode of Beyond the X's and O's, Dr. Cassidy Preston and Chris Depiero were joined by Glenn Clarke. Glenn is a fellow former University of Toronto Varsity Blue, competing alongside Chris back in their day!2021-05-071h 00
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastVulnerability in Coaching with Trevor Large2021-03-121h 11
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastGreat People Make Great Leaders with Michael Del Zotto2021-03-0452 min
Beyond the X's & O's PodcastPeople Focused Coaching with Dave Smith2021-02-2455 minBeyond the X's & O's PodcastTopher Scott from the Hockey Think Tank - Investing In Relationships2021-02-0458 minBeyond the X's & O's PodcastEpisode 4: Communicate to Connect2020-12-2219 minBeyond the X's & O's PodcastEpisode 3: Growing as a Coach & a Leader2020-12-2224 minBeyond the X's & O's PodcastEpisode 2: Know Your Why2020-12-1523 minBeyond the X's & O's PodcastEpisode 1: What is Leadership2020-12-1519 min
The CEP Mindset PodcastBeing a Champion | Chris DePieroOn today's episode of the CEP Podcast, Dr. Cassidy Preston is joined by his former coach Chris Depiero. Chris has coached both professionally and at the major junior level with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). As well, he is a former pro scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). 2020-06-1251 min