Especially For Athletes Podcast

Welcome to the Especially for Athletes Podcast for parents, coaches, and athletes. The SPORTLIGHT refers to the time in an athlete’s life when they have increased ability to affect the culture around them and the increased opportunity to learn life’s lessons through sports. This podcast aims to help parents and coaches capitalize on their athlete’s precious time in the “SPORTLIGHT”.

E4A Podcast - E180 - Coach VJ on Confidence, Pressure & Mental Strength What if feeling discouraged, uncomfortable, or afraid doesn't mean you're mentally weakโ€”but that you're actually developing resilience? In this episode of the Especially for Athletes Podcast, Dustin Smith and Justin Miller sit down withย Vera Jo Bustos (Coach VJ), a former professional basketball player, three-time college All-American, author, and founder of Mentality Solutions. Coach VJ shares practical mental performance strategies to help athletes, parents, and coaches rethink resilience, manage pressure, and build lasting confidence. In this episode, you'll discover: โ€ข Why resilience doesn't feel good when you're actually developing it. โ€ข How to turn pregame nerves and butterflies into excitement. โ€ข Why mental performance training is just as important as physical preparation. โ€ข The difference between confidence built on validation and confidence built from within. โ€ข Why the pressure of a playoff game shouldn't change the skills you've practiced. โ€ข How mindset, self-talk, and courage help athletes perform under pressure. โ€ข Why athletes sometimes need to stop listening to themselves and start talking to themselves. โ€ข How parents can help young athletes develop independence by allowing them to face challenges. โ€ข Why you should never tell yourself "no" before giving yourself an opportunity to succeed. Coach VJ also explains the difference between mental health and mental performance, shares lessons from studying Kobe Bryant, and challenges athletes to step outside what she calls their "dead zone." Whether you're an athlete preparing for a big game, a parent supporting a young competitor, or a coach helping your team develop mental strength, this conversation offers valuable insights you can put into practice. Learn more about Coach VJ: Mental Performance Coaching:ย https://www.mentalitysolutions.com Speaking and Events:ย https://www.coachvj.com Especially for Athletes Our mission is to help athletes recognize the influence they have and use it to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Eyes Up. Do the Work. #EspeciallyForAthletes #CoachVJ #MentalPerformance #MentalStrength #Resilience #SportsPsychology #AthleteMindset #Confidence #WinTheHour 00:32:17 - Meet Coach VJ: From Professional Athlete to Mental Performance Coach 00:36:05 - Why Resilience Doesn't Feel Good 00:38:55 - Escape Your Comfort Zone: Enter the Dead Zone 00:40:36 - Mental Performance vs. Mental Health 00:44:13 - The Body Buzz: Turning Butterflies into Excitement 00:50:13 - How to Handle Pressure in Big Games 00:52:18 - It's Not Just Another Gameโ€”But the Skills Are the Same 00:56:51 - Where Does Your Confidence Come From? 00:57:48 - Three Outer Sources of Confidence 01:01:49 - Training Your Body, Craft, and Mind 01:02:49 - Three Inner Sources of Confidence 01:05:17 - The Power of Self-Talk: Words of Power or Poison 01:06:17 - Why Courage Comes Before Confidence 01:07:30 - Make Somebody Else Tell You No 01:08:56 - How Comparison Steals Confidence 01:10:49 - Kobe Bryant and the Mental Game 01:15:25 - Do Male and Female Athletes Need Different Coaching? 01:16:57 - Why Parents Must Let Athletes Struggle 01:19:16 - Connect with Coach VJ โธป Especially for Athletes: โ€ข Website: https://e4a.org โ€ข Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/ โ€ข X: https://x.com/E4Afamily โ€ข Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/ โ€ข YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQ Join the conversation using #E4APodcast โธป Credits: Hosted by Dustin Smith & Shad Martin Produced by E4A and IMAGINATE STUDIO #EyesUpDoTheWork #E4APodcast
E4A Podcast - E180 - Coach VJ on Confidence, Pressure & Mental Strength
16 hours ago
What if feeling discouraged, uncomfortable, or afraid doesn't mean you're mentally weakโ€”but that you're actually developing resilience? In this episode of the Especially for Athletes Podcast, Dustin Smith and Justin Miller sit down withย Vera Jo Bustos (Coach VJ), a former professional basketball player, three-time college All-American, author, and founder of Mentality Solutions. Coach VJ shares practical mental performance strategies to help athletes, parents, and coaches rethink resilience, manage pressure, and build lasting confidence. In this episode, you'll discover: โ€ข Why resilience doesn't feel good when you're actually developing it. โ€ข How to turn pregame nerves and butterflies into excitement. โ€ข Why mental performance training is just as important as physical preparation. โ€ข The difference between confidence built on validation and confidence built from within. โ€ข Why the pressure of a playoff game shouldn't change the skills you've practiced. โ€ข How mindset, self-talk, and courage help athletes perform under pressure. โ€ข Why athletes sometimes need to stop listening to themselves and start talking to themselves. โ€ข How parents can help young athletes develop independence by allowing them to face challenges. โ€ข Why you should never tell yourself "no" before giving yourself an opportunity to succeed. Coach VJ also explains the difference between mental health and mental performance, shares lessons from studying Kobe Bryant, and challenges athletes to step outside what she calls their "dead zone." Whether you're an athlete preparing for a big game, a parent supporting a young competitor, or a coach helping your team develop mental strength, this conversation offers valuable insights you can put into practice. Learn more about Coach VJ: Mental Performance Coaching:ย https://www.mentalitysolutions.com Speaking and Events:ย https://www.coachvj.com Especially for Athletes Our mission is to help athletes recognize the influence they have and use it to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Eyes Up. Do the Work. #EspeciallyForAthletes #CoachVJ #MentalPerformance #MentalStrength #Resilience #SportsPsychology #AthleteMindset #Confidence #WinTheHour 00:32:17 - Meet Coach VJ: From Professional Athlete to Mental Performance Coach 00:36:05 - Why Resilience Doesn't Feel Good 00:38:55 - Escape Your Comfort Zone: Enter the Dead Zone 00:40:36 - Mental Performance vs. Mental Health 00:44:13 - The Body Buzz: Turning Butterflies into Excitement 00:50:13 - How to Handle Pressure in Big Games 00:52:18 - It's Not Just Another Gameโ€”But the Skills Are the Same 00:56:51 - Where Does Your Confidence Come From? 00:57:48 - Three Outer Sources of Confidence 01:01:49 - Training Your Body, Craft, and Mind 01:02:49 - Three Inner Sources of Confidence 01:05:17 - The Power of Self-Talk: Words of Power or Poison 01:06:17 - Why Courage Comes Before Confidence 01:07:30 - Make Somebody Else Tell You No 01:08:56 - How Comparison Steals Confidence 01:10:49 - Kobe Bryant and the Mental Game 01:15:25 - Do Male and Female Athletes Need Different Coaching? 01:16:57 - Why Parents Must Let Athletes Struggle 01:19:16 - Connect with Coach VJ โธป Especially for Athletes: โ€ข Website: https://e4a.org โ€ข Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/ โ€ข X: https://x.com/E4Afamily โ€ข Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/ โ€ข YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQ Join the conversation using #E4APodcast โธป Credits: Hosted by Dustin Smith & Shad Martin Produced by E4A and IMAGINATE STUDIO #EyesUpDoTheWork #E4APodcast E4A Podcast - E180 - Coach VJ on Confidence, Pressure & Mental Strength

E4A Podcast - E180 - Coach VJ on Confidence, Pressure & Mental Strength

Especially for Athletes 16 hours ago

In this episode of the Especially for Athletes Podcast, we replay our interview from episode 150 with (former Utah Jazz) Golden State Warriors forward George Niangโ€”a seasoned NBA veteran whose journey from Iowa State star to ten-year pro is packed with lessons every athlete should hear. George opens up about the emotional side of being traded, how to embrace your role without losing your identity, and why simply showing up every day gives you an edge over most. He shares stories from locker rooms with NBA superstars like Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Greenโ€”and what their work ethic taught him about staying ready. We dive into core E4A principles like Win the Hour, Be Resilient, and Compete Without Contempt, as George shares powerful insights on: โ€ข Why work ethic is a competitive advantage โ€ข Balancing humility with hunger โ€ข The importance of being coachable and consistent โ€ข How a simple high-five or kind word can change someoneโ€™s life โ€ข And how to use your SportLight to lift others This conversation is loaded with wisdom, humor, and heartโ€”and itโ€™s a must-listen for athletes, coaches, and parents alike. ๐ŸŽง Listen now, share with a teammate, and remember to keep your eyes up and do the work. โธป Especially for Athletes: โ€ข Website: https://e4a.org โ€ข Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/ โ€ข X: https://x.com/E4Afamily โ€ข Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/ โ€ข YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQ Join the conversation using #E4APodcast โธป Credits: Hosted by Dustin Smith & Shad Martin Produced by E4A and IMAGINATE STUDIO #EyesUpDoTheWork #E4APodcast #GeorgeNiang #goldenstatewarriors E4A Podcast - E179 - Golden State Warriors Forward Georges Niang

E4A Podcast - E179 - Golden State Warriors Forward Georges Niang

Especially for Athletes October 1, 2026 12:09 am

What do NBA teams really look for when evaluating players? Utah Jazz Director of Operations Austin Ainge joins the Especially for Athletes Podcast to share lessons from a career spent evaluating talent and building professional basketball teams. Austin discusses why character matters in scouting, what great leadership really looks like, why the best leaders also know how to follow, and why โ€œlosing yourself in the teamโ€ can improve both performance and happiness. He also shares insights on handling social media and outside noise, developing resilience, taking mental health seriously, competing fiercely without hating your opponent, and what professional teams look for beyond talent. From high school athletes to coaches and parents, this conversation offers a fascinating look inside professional sportsโ€”and a reminder that the athletes who make the biggest impact aren't always the loudest. They're the ones who make everyone around them better. Timestamps: 00:32:17 - Getting Started with Austin Ainge 00:35:51 - Welcome & Austin's Basketball Background 00:37:30 - Building Teams Around the World 00:39:08 - How NBA Teams Evaluate Talent 00:40:57 - Character Matters: What Scouts Look For 00:42:08 - What Makes a Great Leader? 00:44:11 - Great Leaders Also Know How to Follow 00:45:09 - Lose Yourself in the Team 00:47:32 - The โ€œHoly Grailโ€ of Talent and Character 00:50:34 - Humility: Think of Yourself Less 00:52:37 - Individual Goals vs. Winning 00:54:49 - Win the Hour: Cutting Out the Noise 00:57:30 - The Impact of Social Media on Athletes 01:00:41 - Mental Health in Professional Sports 01:04:32 - Why Coaches Should Take Mental Health Seriously 01:06:40 - Building Resilience in Young Athletes 01:09:16 - Compete Without Contempt 01:11:50 - Dustin's Legendary 120-Foot Putt 01:12:56 - Closing Thoughts โธป Especially for Athletes: โ€ข Website: https://e4a.org โ€ข Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/ โ€ข X: https://x.com/E4Afamily โ€ข Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/ โ€ข YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQ Join the conversation using #E4APodcast โธป Credits: Hosted by Dustin Smith & Shad Martin Produced by E4A and IMAGINATE STUDIO E4A Podcast - E178 - Utah Jazz Director of Operations Austin Ainge

E4A Podcast - E178 - Utah Jazz Director of Operations Austin Ainge

Especially for Athletes September 22, 2026 11:37 pm

At 20 years old, former Spanish Fork High School three-sport athlete and football captain Hunter Rasmussen was accidentally shot in the leg during a hunting trip. Doctors later told him he had been approximately ten minutes from bleeding to death. What followed were weeks in the hospital, multiple surgeries, a life-threatening infection, and ultimately the amputation of his lower leg. But Hunterโ€™s story didnโ€™t end there. In this episode of the Especially for Athletes Podcast, Hunter shares the remarkable journey from the moment of the accident through years of recovery and learning to walk again. He talks about the lessons sports had unknowingly taught him for this moment, what resilience means when progress literally happens one step at a time, the importance of taking care of yourself without becoming consumed with yourself, and how keeping your โ€œeyes upโ€ can help you see both the road ahead and the people around you. Hunter also shares the role his faith played throughout the experience, including moments in the hospital when he struggled to understand how everything could possibly โ€œwork out.โ€ This is a powerful conversation about resilience, perspective, faith, service, and continuing to move forward when life looks nothing like you expected. Socials: Instagram-ย @1_legged_hunter TikTok-1leggedhunter Timestamps: 00:32:17 - Meet Hunter Rasmussen 00:35:27 - Hunterโ€™s Story: Sports, Hunting & Growing Up 00:37:30 - Choosing to Serve a Mission 00:39:29 - Returning Home & Starting Life Again 00:40:34 - The Hunting Trip That Changed Everything 00:41:52 - Realizing He Had Been Shot 00:42:27 - The Makeshift Tourniquet That Saved His Life 00:44:12 - โ€œYour Life Flashes Before Your Eyesโ€ 00:45:22 - Fighting to Stay Awake 00:46:37 - โ€œEverythingโ€™s Going to Work Outโ€ 00:47:29 - Emergency Surgery & Compartment Syndrome 00:48:39 - Unable to Move His Foot 00:49:25 - Hearing the Word โ€œAmputationโ€ 00:50:27 - A Life-Threatening Infection 00:51:35 - Losing His Leg 00:52:29 - Only a 10โ€“15% Chance of Keeping His Knee 00:53:23 - The Turnaround Doctors Couldn't Explain 00:54:35 - Learning to Walk Again 00:57:58 - What Resilience Means to Hunter 00:59:15 - How Sports Prepared Him for Adversity 01:00:25 - โ€œJust Keep Goingโ€ 01:02:43 - What โ€œEyes Up, Do the Workโ€ Means to Hunter 01:05:20 - Looking Up Helps You See Others 01:06:27 - Take Care of Yourselfโ€”Then Help Others 01:09:17 - Reframing Difficult Experiences 01:13:03 - Faith, Adversity & the Story of Joseph 01:15:47 - Pits, Potiphar, Prisonโ€”and Your Pharaoh Moment โธป Especially for Athletes: โ€ข Website: https://e4a.org โ€ข Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/ โ€ข X: https://x.com/E4Afamily โ€ข Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/ โ€ข YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQ Join the conversation using #E4APodcast โธป Credits: Hosted by Dustin Smith & Shad Martin Produced by E4A and IMAGINATE STUDIO E4A Podcast - E177 - Just Take the Next Step with Guest Hunter Rasmussen

E4A Podcast - E177 - Just Take the Next Step with Guest Hunter Rasmussen

Especially for Athletes September 15, 2026 9:54 pm

Southern Utah University gymnastย Kendall McGuireย joins Dustin Smith and guest host Justin Miller for a conversation about the mindset behind competing at the NCAA level. Kendall shares her journey from beginning gymnastics at two years old to competing for one of the nationโ€™s top gymnastics programs, along with her work as a sideline reporter for SUU football and her aspirations to someday work in the NFL or NHL. The conversation dives into the unique mental demands of gymnastics, overcoming fear after falls, Simone Biles and the โ€œtwisties,โ€ mental health in athletics, body image and developing a healthier relationship with food. Kendall also shares one of the most powerful ideas from the episode: athletes often spend too much time thinking about everything they have to sacrifice and not enough time recognizing everything they gain. Instead of thinking, โ€œI have to go to practice,โ€ Kendall learned to think,ย โ€œI get to go.โ€ She explains how that simple reframe helped her appreciate the friendships, strength, discipline, opportunities and experiences gymnastics gave her. Kendall also discusses being fully present in practice, SUU Gymnasticsโ€™ motto to โ€œunderthink it,โ€ accepting accountability, learning from failure, becoming comfortable with discomfort and leaning on teammates who care enough to tell you the truth. A great conversation for athletes, parents and coaches about gratitude, resilience, mental health and learning to enjoy the process. Eyes Up. Do the Work. Timestamps: 00:32:17 - Welcome & Meet Kendall McGuire 00:33:48 - Life as an SUU Sideline Reporter 00:37:50 - Kendallโ€™s Dream of Working in Sports Media 00:39:11 - Fear, Falling & the Mental Side of Gymnastics 00:42:12 - Simone Biles, the Twisties & Athlete Mental Health 00:47:26 - Body Image, Nutrition & Eating Disorders in Gymnastics 00:55:36 - The Sacrifices Behind Becoming a College Gymnast 00:57:42 - โ€œI Get Toโ€ Instead of โ€œI Have Toโ€ 00:59:33 - Growing Up Without Being Attached to Social Media 01:00:22 - Staying Present in Practice 01:02:17 - SUU Gymnastics: โ€œUnderthink Itโ€ 01:03:48 - How Athletes Can Keep Sports Fun 01:05:23 - Reframing Sacrifice as Opportunity 01:07:09 - Stop Focusing on What Youโ€™re Missing 01:08:36 - Resilience After Setbacks 01:13:18 - The Teammate Who Told Kendall the Truth 01:16:31 - Getting Out of Your Own Head 01:19:36 - โ€œWhat If It All Goes Right?โ€ 01:21:05 - Finding People Who Truly Support You 01:22:04 - Support Without Making Excuses 01:24:39 - Growth Requires Getting Uncomfortable 01:27:33 - Final Thoughts & Good Luck to Kendall 01:28:35 - Eyes Up. Do the Work. โธป Especially for Athletes: โ€ข Website: https://e4a.org โ€ข Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/ โ€ข X: https://x.com/E4Afamily โ€ข Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/ โ€ข YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQ Join the conversation using #E4APodcast โธป Credits: Hosted by Dustin Smith & Justin Miller Produced by E4A and IMAGINATE STUDIO E4A Podcast - E176 - Southern Utah University Gymnastย Kendall McGuire

E4A Podcast - E176 - Southern Utah University Gymnastย Kendall McGuire

Especially for Athletes September 2, 2026 1:34 am

Mental health is becoming an increasingly important part of the conversation in sports. In this episode of the Especially for Athletes Podcast, we sit down withย Braden Brown, Associate Athletic Director of Mental Health for BYU Athletics, to discuss how athletes can train their minds just like they train their bodies. Braden explains why working with a mental health professional can be every bit as valuable as working with a strength coach, nutritionist, or position coachโ€”and why asking for help should be viewed as a commitment to getting better, not a sign of weakness. We also discuss handling pressure and intrusive thoughts, perfectionism and imposter syndrome, competing without becoming combative, the unique pressures facing female athletes, what parents can do to support their kids, and the importance of developing an identity beyond sports. This is an important conversation for athletes, parents, and coaches who want to better understand the mental side of sports. Timestamps: 00:32:17 - Meet Braden Brown: Mental Health at BYU Athletics 00:33:12 - How Mental Health in Sports Has Changed 00:36:01 - What Braden Does With BYU Athletes 00:38:13 - Breaking the Stigma Around Mental Health 00:39:27 - Asking for Help Is a Sign of Strength 00:43:08 - Why Elite Athletes Are Talking About Mental Health 00:45:34 - Train Your Mind Like You Train Your Body 00:47:13 - Understanding Yourself as an Athlete 00:50:09 - Handling Pressure: Notice, Accept, Commit 00:52:30 - Perfectionism, Anxiety & Imposter Syndrome 00:54:54 - Compete Without Being Combative 00:58:55 - Mental Health & Female Athletes 01:02:32 - What Parents of Athletes Need to Know 01:03:39 - Parents: Listen More, Coach Less 01:05:51 - Talk to Your Kids About More Than Sports 01:07:09 - The Danger of an Athlete-Only Identity 01:08:27 - Who Are You Without Your Sport? 01:14:01 - Building an Identity Beyond Athletics 01:15:52 - How Serving Others Helps Mental Health 01:20:50 - Keep Youth Sports Fun 01:24:41 - Closing Thoughts & Connecting With Braden โธป Especially for Athletes: โ€ข Website: https://e4a.org โ€ข Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/ โ€ข X: https://x.com/E4Afamily โ€ข Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/ โ€ข YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQ Join the conversation using #E4APodcast โธป Credits: Hosted by Dustin Smith & Shad Martin Produced by E4A and IMAGINATE STUDIO E4A Podcast - E175 - Associate Athletic Director of Mental Health for BYU Athletics, Braden Brown

E4A Podcast - E175 - Associate Athletic Director of Mental Health for BYU Athletics, Braden Brown

Especially for Athletes August 20, 2026 1:56 pm

Subscribe
Subscribe on YouTube

Subscribe