Shows
Jason Zuk, The Social Psychic™Special Guest Michael Huber, Certified Mental Performance Consultant, Author & Podcaster Discusses Helping Young Athletes & Their FamiliesMichael Huber is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® accredited by the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. He is also a father, experienced business advisor, athlete, and mentor.The primary focus of Michael’s practice is serving young athletes and their families. His work is motivated by the desire for others to get the best out of the abilities and resources at their disposal. Michael believes that mental performance coaching is about becoming aware of mental emotional challenges, removing those roadblocks, and taking intentional action to improve as a person and performer.Michael ret...
2022-01-271h 04
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP29: How does Mike Huber help young athletes be their best?How does @michaelvhuber help young athletes to be their best?I started the @freshmanfoundation podcast with the hope of shedding light on the mental and emotional challenges associated with the transition from high school to college sports through the eyes of others.From day one, this podcast has been about learning from others in hopes of understanding the difficult transition better. However, after 30 episodes, I’ve realized that I have done a very poor job of explaining who I am and what I do to help others perform their best.In this episode, I...
2021-12-1435 min
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP28: How is performance coach Gena Bradshaw walking the walk in training young athletes to be their best?How is performance coach Gena Bradshaw walking the walk in training young athletes to be their best?For some athletes, developing their health and fitness are a necessary evil that comes with the task of playing competitive sports. However, for others, it is a core value that permeates every aspect of their lives. My guest on this episode, Gena Bradshaw, is a two-time cancer survivor, former college track and field athlete, and performance coach working with young athletes. Gena’s personal experiences and family background underpin her passion for health and wellness.In Epi...
2021-12-0749 min
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP27: What drives former D1 and Olympic swimmer David Karasek to help performers make their dreams come true?What drives former D1 and Olympic swimmer David Karasek to help performers make their dreams come true?Many athletes have big goals and aspirations. However, it is not as common for those athletes to align their thoughts, feelings, and actions with those dreams. One of the roles of mental performance coaches is to help athletes perform at their optimal level by helping them to develop strategies that bring their actions into alignment with their performance goals.My guest on this episode, David Karasek, is a former collegiate and Olympic swimmer, who has immersed himself in...
2021-11-3058 min
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP26: How did Brown University women’s basketball player Charlee Arthur control the controllables in her college recruiting process?How did Brown University women’s basketball player Charlee Arthur control the controllables in her college recruiting process?The college recruiting process can be extremely stressful under normal circumstances. However, over the last year and a half, high school student-athletes have faced the very unique challenges associated with COVID. My guest on this episode, Charlee Arthur, is one of those athletes. Charlee went through the most critical period of her recruiting process during the pandemic. Further, Charlee was rehabbing from a major shoulder surgery that time. Talk about frustrating.Charlee is currently a fre...
2021-11-2341 min
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP25: How is Andrew Petcash leveraging his athletic experiences to disrupt the sports technology industry?How is Andrew Petcash leveraging his athletic experiences to disrupt the sports technology industry?College athletes often struggle to accept life after sport because a big part of their identity is lost. Finding purpose after college sports can be a huge challenge. However, athletes that apply their passions in a creative and entrepreneurial way go on to earn professional success.My guest on this episode, Andrew Petcash, is one of those athletes. Andrew is a former Division I basketball player for Boston University and now a sports technology innovator.Andrew is an entrepreneur...
2021-11-161h 10
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP24: Who is Averee Dovsek and Why is She a Role Model to Student-Athletes?Who is Averee Dovsek and Why She is a Role Model to Student-Athletes?Many young people look up to college and professional athletes strictly because of their performance. However, they often know very little about the person behind the performer. My guest on this episode, Averee Dovsek, is a Division I golfer at Hofstra University. Perhaps more importantly, she is a flat out hustler. Averee is a journalist, content creator, and entrepreneur all while tackling the rigors of being a Division I student-athlete.In Episode 24, Averee talks about her drive to be successful i...
2021-11-0947 min
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP23: How is Carrie Jackson helping athletes build the mental skills necessary to rebound from injuries?How is Carrie Jackson helping athletes build the mental skills necessary to rebound from injuries?Unfortunately, injuries are a part of the athletic experience. Many athletes go to great lengths to recover physically after a serious injury. However, the psychological recovery from injury may be more elusive.My guest on this episode, Carrie Jackson, is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant and expert on the psychology of injury. Carrie is the co-author of Rebound: Train your mind to bounce back stronger from sports injuries.In Episode 23, Carrie talks about her experiences working with injured...
2021-11-0243 min
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP22: How has Noah Luskus used a growth mindset to become a nationally ranked collegiate Spikeball athlete?How has Noah Luskus used a growth mindset to become a nationally ranked collegiate Spikeball athlete?Many high school athletes retire from competitive sport before entering college simply because they are forced to do so. However, my guest on Episode 22, Noah Luskus chose to forego swimming competitively in college. Instead, Noah enrolled at his dream school, the University of Georgia as a student. As a freshman, Noah found Spikeball, which started as a hobby and turned into a competitive passion after much hard work and dedication.Noah discusses his choice not to swim c...
2021-10-2656 min
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP20: How has former professional baseball player AJ Murray used persistence to achieve success on and off the field?How has former professional baseball player AJ Murray used persistence to achieve success on and off the field?Even the most decorated athletes can struggle when transitioning upward to higher levels of sport. Often, an athlete that is a “big fish in a small pond” in high school can become one of many when arriving at the collegiate or professional level.My guest on this episode, AJ Murray, was the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year in New Jersey in 2011. His accomplishments at Westfield High School helped him earn a scholarship to Georgia Tech. However, as a...
2021-10-1254 min
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP19: How is former Division I basketball player Tonya Sims using her experiences to help young players navigate the recruiting process today?How is former Division I basketball player Tonya Sims using her experiences to help young players navigate the recruiting process today?The college sports recruiting process has changed drastically over the past 20 years, most notably through the use of technology and social media. Athletes today are challenged with using the resources at their disposal to create a clear and compelling brand for college coaches.My guest on this episode, Tonya Sims, was a high school All-American, member of the University of Wisconsin women’s basketball team, and former WNBA player. Tonya has seen the...
2021-10-0551 min
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastHow did MLB Top 50 draft pick Matt Mikulski go from Fordham University to the big leagues?How did MLB Top 50 draft pick Matt Mikulski go from Fordham University to the big leagues?There is a tremendous amount of talent at all levels of baseball. You don’t need to be a Division I player in a top conference, such as the ACC or SEC, to be noticed and ultimately, drafted to play professionally. My guest on this episode, Matt Mikulski, is a perfect example of this. He was recruited by Fordham as an undersized left-handed pitcher and ultimately, worked hard to develop into one of the best pitchers in America as a s...
2021-09-2842 min
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP17: How is Divine Franklin helping Clemson Football to be the best in the classroom too?How do college student-athletes find their way academically in their freshman year?Athletic departments across America have academic success teams that focus on bringing a vast array of resources to incoming freshmen in order to make their transition to as college seamless as possible. Divine Franklin is that person for Clemson University’s football program, one of the two most successful programs in the United States over the past 10 years or so. In this episode, Divine talks about how Clemson has built a culture of academic excellence that aligns with its on-field performance. Divi...
2021-09-2145 min
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP16: How is Erica Suter helping young female athletes get strong on and off the field?How is Erica Suter helping young female athletes get strong on and off the field?My guest on Episode 16 of The Freshman Foundation Podcast is Erica Suter, a former college soccer All-American and innovative strength and conditioning coach.Erica shares her passion for teaching young females the fundamentals of physical movement. Erica’s coaching practice emphasizes the importance of functional movement patterns, considering balance, body control, stability, and deceleration. Most importantly, Erica discusses the importance of serving as a strong role model to young female athletes by instilling discipline, commitment, and autonomy-supportive behaviors.
2021-09-1454 min
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP15: How did Darryll Stinson find his true purpose after college football?How did Darryll Stinson find his true purpose after college football?The Freshman Foundation Podcast is back with guest Darryll Stinson, former Division I football player, mentor, speaker, and suicide survivor. Darryll talks about how he lost himself in the quest to be a professional athlete and how he found a new purpose in life after football. It wasn't until Darryll learned the power of vulnerability that he transformed his purpose into helping others.Darryll is an incredible guy. Any student-athlete, parent, or coach will benefit from listening to his story this week's...
2021-09-0757 min
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP Bonus: Former Michigan State QB Bill Burke on Beating Tom Brady, Playing for Nick Saban, and Learning Life Lessons Under CenterBill Burke on Beating Tom Brady, Playing for Nick Saban, and Learning Life Lessons Under CenterQuarterback is probably the single most important and difficult single position in team sports. The position demands athleticism, intelligence, poise, and elite decision-making skills. Those who excel at the position must be truly gifted and even so, it is not a guarantee of a professional career.My guest on this episode, Bill Burke, is a perfect example of this. Bill played quarterback at Michigan State University - my dear alma mater - from 1996 to 1999. During that time, Bill started...
2021-08-311h 07
The Freshman Foundation® PodcastFFP14: Casey Jacox, Creator & Host of The Quarterback DadCastIn Episode 14, Mike talks with Casey Jacox. Casey is a father, a husband, a friend, a coach, an author, and a business leader who strives to lead by example through authenticity, vulnerability, and positivity. Casey was also starting quarterback at Central Washington University, the school that produced 17-year NFL quarterback Jon Kitna.Casey opens up about his challenges as a college athlete, specifically how the adversity associated with major injuries have helped mold him into who he is today. Casey also talks about the challenges of parenthood and how he has been inspired to help other fathers...
2021-06-0155 min