The Standard

Erin Sarles

This isn't motivation. This is a movement. The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. Hosts Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe brings raw, truth-packed conversations with athletes, coaches, and leaders about identity beyond performance, discipline that lasts, and legacy that matters. 20-25 minutes of hard-hitting truth you won't hear anywhere else. Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.

  1. 2d ago

    36 Years, 1,401 Games, and the Legacy Beyond Wins | Ep. 54 Tim Neiman

    868 wins. 36 years. 14 Coach of the Year awards. And Tim Neiman will tell you straight — none of that is the point. Tim Neiman is the DeSales University Head Coach with one of the most decorated careers in NCAA Division III baseball history. In 36 years and 1,401 games, he has built a .638 winning percentage, nine NCAA Tournament appearances, eleven conference championships, and a College World Series appearance in 2003. Thirteen of his players have signed professional contracts. He has been inducted into four halls of fame. He served as an associate scout for both the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Milwaukee Brewers. He is also the author of two books — What is Your LEGACY and Team Killers — host of the Straight Lines Podcast, creator of From the Trustees Chair, a TV color analyst, and a board member for the Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley and St. Luke's Health Network. But here is what sets Tim apart from every other coach with a long resume: he has spent 36 years asking the question most coaches never get around to. Not "how do we win?" — but "what are we building, and who are these young men becoming?" In this episode, Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe sit down with Tim to talk about what sustained excellence actually requires, what team killers look like before they destroy a program, and what legacy means when the final out is made and the scoreboard goes dark. In this episode: — The biggest lie culture sells coaches and players about what it takes to build sustained excellence — What 36 years at one institution taught Tim about building programs that last — What "team killers" are, how they show up, and how to eliminate them before they spread — How his experience as a professional scout shaped the way he develops and evaluates players — What legacy beyond wins and championships actually looks like — What coaches, parents, and players need to understand about choosing the right environment This one is for every coach building a program. Every player trying to understand what character and competition really mean. Every parent trying to choose the right environment for their athlete. Connect with Tim: Straight Lines Podcast Books: What is Your LEGACY & Team Killers From the Trustees Chair The Standard Podcast™ — Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard. Support the show CONNECT WITH US: 🌐 Website: blueprintbluechip.com 📸 Instagram: @blueprintbluechip 💼 LinkedIn: Erin Sarles 📧 Email: erin@erinsarles.com FREE RESOURCE: Join the 5-Day Reset™ — designed for athletes ready to build identity, discipline, and purpose beyond the game. 👉 blueprintbluechip.com/blueprintfoundationschallenge SUPPORT THE SHOW: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyShare this episode with an athlete, parent, coach, or leaderFollow us on social media and join the conversationBOOK ERIN TO SPEAK: Looking for a speaker who challenges comfort and calls out truth? Erin is available for team workshops, parent seminars, and leadership events. 📩 erin@erinsarles.com ABOUT THE STANDARD PODCAST™: This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Hosted by Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe, co-founders of Blueprint to Bluechip™, The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. We bring raw, truth-packed 20-25 minute conversations about identity, discipline, and legacy that goes beyond the scoreboard. New episodes drop every Monday. Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.

    51 min

  2. 5d ago

    Building Authentic Athlete Brands and the First NIL Children's Book | Ep. 53 Greg Glynn

    Most athletes get one shot at NIL. The ones who build something lasting are the ones who knew who they were before the deal arrived. Greg Glynn has spent 20 years helping athletes get to that place. Greg is the Founder & CEO of Pliable Marketing — a marketing, public relations, and broadcasting company and NIL agency based in Augusta, Maine. He is the only NIL agent in the country who holds Accreditation in Public Relations through the Public Relations Society of America. He is a registered sports agent in multiple states, holds NIL certifications from Front Office Sports, Sports Management World Wide, and CleanKonnect, and represents more than 35 high school, college, and professional athletes across a wide range of sports. He is also a former broadcaster who called more than 1,000 sporting events — including serving as the voice of the Portland Pirates in the American Hockey League — a professor at Sports Management Worldwide, creator of Pliable's 10-Step Athlete Branding Playbook, host of the award-winning Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast, and author of The Magic Cleats — the first-ever children's book based on NIL. His work has been featured in Sports Illustrated, the Wall Street Journal, and the Boston Business Journal. He has been nominated for Mainebiz's Business Leader of the Year and Innovator of the Year. In this episode, Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe sit down with Greg to talk about what authentic athlete branding actually looks like — what the NIL industry gets wrong, what athletes need to build before the first brand deal arrives, and what it means to use a platform for purpose instead of just profit. In this episode: — The biggest lie the NIL industry is selling athletes and families — What separates athletes who build lasting brands from those who chase quick deals — What the 10-Step Athlete Branding Playbook actually teaches athletes about themselves — How Greg's broadcasting background shapes the way he helps athletes tell their story — What character-driven branding looks like in practice — including athletes using NIL to fund childhood cancer research — What coaches, parents, and programs need to understand about preparing athletes for this landscape This one is for every athlete building their brand. Every parent navigating NIL decisions without a roadmap. Every coach who knows the job extends beyond the field. Connect with Greg: Website: PliableMarketing.com Podcast: Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast Book: The Magic Cleats Phone: 1-707-PLIABLE The Standard Podcast™ — Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard. Support the show CONNECT WITH US: 🌐 Website: blueprintbluechip.com 📸 Instagram: @blueprintbluechip 💼 LinkedIn: Erin Sarles 📧 Email: erin@erinsarles.com FREE RESOURCE: Join the 5-Day Reset™ — designed for athletes ready to build identity, discipline, and purpose beyond the game. 👉 blueprintbluechip.com/blueprintfoundationschallenge SUPPORT THE SHOW: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyShare this episode with an athlete, parent, coach, or leaderFollow us on social media and join the conversationBOOK ERIN TO SPEAK: Looking for a speaker who challenges comfort and calls out truth? Erin is available for team workshops, parent seminars, and leadership events. 📩 erin@erinsarles.com ABOUT THE STANDARD PODCAST™: This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Hosted by Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe, co-founders of Blueprint to Bluechip™, The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. We bring raw, truth-packed 20-25 minute conversations about identity, discipline, and legacy that goes beyond the scoreboard. New episodes drop every Monday. Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.

    43 min

  3. Jun 8

    From UCLA to NFL to Entrepreneur — Leveraging Athletic Discipline for Business Success | Ep. 52 Demetric Felton

    The discipline that built the athlete can build the business. Most people know that. Almost nobody knows how to actually do it. Demetric Felton does. A UCLA graduate and professional football player with NFL experience, Demetric is now an entrepreneur and founder focused on creating opportunities that connect sports, innovation, and leadership. His career taught him three things that most business schools never will: resilience under real pressure, adaptability when the plan falls apart, and the kind of preparation that separates those who perform when it counts from those who don't. In this episode, Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe sit down with Demetric to talk about what the athletic-to-entrepreneurial transition actually looks like — what transfers, what doesn't, and what athletes get wrong when they try to make the leap. This isn't a story about leaving football. It's a story about understanding that the same standards that built an elite athlete can build an elite founder — if you're willing to do the inner work first. In this episode: — The biggest lie culture sells athletes about transitioning to business — What UCLA and NFL experience actually taught Demetric about performance and preparation — What separates athletes who succeed in entrepreneurship from those who struggle — How to leverage competitive drive and team-building instincts in a startup environment — What current athletes need to be building right now before the career ends — What it looks like to connect sports, innovation, and leadership in a way that creates real impact This one is for every athlete thinking about the next chapter. Every entrepreneur who wants to understand what athletic discipline actually looks like applied to business. Every young competitor who is building something bigger than a stat line. Connect with Demetric: demetric_felton7 The Standard Podcast™ — Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard. Support the show CONNECT WITH US: 🌐 Website: blueprintbluechip.com 📸 Instagram: @blueprintbluechip 💼 LinkedIn: Erin Sarles 📧 Email: erin@erinsarles.com FREE RESOURCE: Join the 5-Day Reset™ — designed for athletes ready to build identity, discipline, and purpose beyond the game. 👉 blueprintbluechip.com/blueprintfoundationschallenge SUPPORT THE SHOW: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyShare this episode with an athlete, parent, coach, or leaderFollow us on social media and join the conversationBOOK ERIN TO SPEAK: Looking for a speaker who challenges comfort and calls out truth? Erin is available for team workshops, parent seminars, and leadership events. 📩 erin@erinsarles.com ABOUT THE STANDARD PODCAST™: This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Hosted by Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe, co-founders of Blueprint to Bluechip™, The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. We bring raw, truth-packed 20-25 minute conversations about identity, discipline, and legacy that goes beyond the scoreboard. New episodes drop every Monday. Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.

    26 min

  4. Jun 5

    Helping Athletes Design a Fulfilled Life After Sports | Ep. 52 Steven Davis Jr.

    The jersey comes off. The identity crisis begins. For most athletes, leaving the game isn't just a career transition — it's a loss of self. The structure, the team, the purpose, the identity — all of it changes at once. Most people aren't talking about that. Steven Davis Jr. is. Steven Davis Jr. is a Master Certified Life Coach, 3X author, athlete transition coach, facilitator, and host of the Transition Talks podcast. He is the founder of Strive Higher After Sports — built from his own experience navigating life after athletics — and serves as an Alumni Engagement Director, bringing a connector's heart to everything he builds. His personal mantra is S.H.E.D. — Striving Higher Every Day — a daily commitment to grow, take action, and embrace failure as a stepping stone to success. His mission is helping athletes rediscover who they are beyond the jersey and design a life filled with joy, purpose, and resilience. In this episode, Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe sit down with Steven to talk about what athlete transition really looks like — the identity shift that nobody prepares athletes for, what it takes to rebuild a sense of self beyond the sport, and why the athletes who thrive after the game are the ones who do the inner work first. In this episode: — The biggest lie culture tells athletes about life after sports — Why leaving the game is an identity crisis, not just a career change — What S.H.E.D. means and how it became the foundation of Steven's life and work — How design thinking applies to building a life after athletics — What athletes need to understand about purpose, identity, and transition — What coaches, parents, and athletic departments can do to better prepare athletes for life beyond the game This one is for every athlete who has ever felt lost after the final whistle. Every parent wondering how to prepare their kid for life after sports. Every coach who knows their job is bigger than wins and losses. Connect with Steven: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stevedav Podcast: Transition Talks The Standard Podcast™ — Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard. Support the show CONNECT WITH US: 🌐 Website: blueprintbluechip.com 📸 Instagram: @blueprintbluechip 💼 LinkedIn: Erin Sarles 📧 Email: erin@erinsarles.com FREE RESOURCE: Join the 5-Day Reset™ — designed for athletes ready to build identity, discipline, and purpose beyond the game. 👉 blueprintbluechip.com/blueprintfoundationschallenge SUPPORT THE SHOW: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyShare this episode with an athlete, parent, coach, or leaderFollow us on social media and join the conversationBOOK ERIN TO SPEAK: Looking for a speaker who challenges comfort and calls out truth? Erin is available for team workshops, parent seminars, and leadership events. 📩 erin@erinsarles.com ABOUT THE STANDARD PODCAST™: This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Hosted by Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe, co-founders of Blueprint to Bluechip™, The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. We bring raw, truth-packed 20-25 minute conversations about identity, discipline, and legacy that goes beyond the scoreboard. New episodes drop every Monday. Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.

    45 min

  5. Jun 1

    From Big Ten Champion to Mental Strength Coach — Pushing Through Psychological Resistance | Ep. 51 Joel Honigford

    Most people think mental toughness is something you either have or you don't. Joel Honigford knows better — because he's lived both sides of that lie. Joel is a Mental Strength and Conditioning Coach who specializes in pushing teams and individuals through the psychological resistance that keeps holding them back. He played for the University of Michigan, where he was a two-time Big Ten champion, before signing with the Arizona Cardinals. He's competed at the highest levels of college and professional football — and he's spent his post-playing career translating everything he learned about what separates good from great into a coaching methodology built on structure, mindset, and leadership. This isn't motivation. It's mental conditioning. In this episode, Erin Sarles sits down with Joel to talk about psychological resistance — what it is, why it's the real barrier between where athletes are and where they're capable of going, and what it actually takes to build mental frameworks that hold up when everything is on the line. In this episode: — The biggest lie the sports industry sells athletes about mental strength — What Big Ten championships and professional football taught Joel about performing under pressure — Why motivation fades and mental frameworks don't — How to identify the specific psychological resistance holding you back — What coaches and leaders need to understand about building mental strength in others — The structure-based approach to raising the standard — for individuals and teams This one is for every athlete who has the physical tools but keeps getting in their own way. Every coach trying to build a mentally tough team. Every leader who needs to perform consistently when the pressure is real. Connect with Joel: Instagram: @Joel_Honigford59 Website: HonigfordPS.com The Standard Podcast™ — Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard. Support the show CONNECT WITH US: 🌐 Website: blueprintbluechip.com 📸 Instagram: @blueprintbluechip 💼 LinkedIn: Erin Sarles 📧 Email: erin@erinsarles.com FREE RESOURCE: Join the 5-Day Reset™ — designed for athletes ready to build identity, discipline, and purpose beyond the game. 👉 blueprintbluechip.com/blueprintfoundationschallenge SUPPORT THE SHOW: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyShare this episode with an athlete, parent, coach, or leaderFollow us on social media and join the conversationBOOK ERIN TO SPEAK: Looking for a speaker who challenges comfort and calls out truth? Erin is available for team workshops, parent seminars, and leadership events. 📩 erin@erinsarles.com ABOUT THE STANDARD PODCAST™: This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Hosted by Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe, co-founders of Blueprint to Bluechip™, The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. We bring raw, truth-packed 20-25 minute conversations about identity, discipline, and legacy that goes beyond the scoreboard. New episodes drop every Monday. Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.

    39 min

  6. May 29

    The Neuroscience of Performing Under Pressure | Ep. 50 Dr. Kiersten Janjigian

    What actually happens in your brain when the stakes are highest? Most athletes train the body. Fewer train the mind. Almost none train the brain — and there's a difference. Dr. Kiersten Janjigian is a neuroscientist and mental performance consultant with a Ph.D. in Cognitive Motor Neuroscience and dual board certifications in biofeedback and neurofeedback. Her research focuses on the cortical dynamics underlying applied sport psychology and the state of the brain under stress — using EEG as her primary neuroimaging tool. She works at the intersection of brain, behavior, and physiology to help athletes, leaders, and high performers execute when it matters most. In this episode, Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe sits down with Dr. Janjigian to talk about what the science actually reveals — what's happening neurologically when athletes choke, freeze, or fall apart under pressure — and what evidence-based mental performance looks like when it's done right. This isn't motivation. This is science. In this episode: — The biggest lie performance culture sells about pressure and stress — What EEG research shows us about the brain in high-stakes moments — Why most mental performance training misses the mark — How to work with your neurophysiology instead of against it — What separates athletes who execute under pressure from those who don't — Practical tools for improving decision-making and emotional regulation This one is for every athlete who's ever performed below their ability when it mattered most — and every coach, parent, and leader who wants to understand why. Connect with Dr. Janjigian: Website:  https://www.drkierst.com/ The Standard Podcast™ — Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard. Support the show CONNECT WITH US: 🌐 Website: blueprintbluechip.com 📸 Instagram: @blueprintbluechip 💼 LinkedIn: Erin Sarles 📧 Email: erin@erinsarles.com FREE RESOURCE: Join the 5-Day Reset™ — designed for athletes ready to build identity, discipline, and purpose beyond the game. 👉 blueprintbluechip.com/blueprintfoundationschallenge SUPPORT THE SHOW: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyShare this episode with an athlete, parent, coach, or leaderFollow us on social media and join the conversationBOOK ERIN TO SPEAK: Looking for a speaker who challenges comfort and calls out truth? Erin is available for team workshops, parent seminars, and leadership events. 📩 erin@erinsarles.com ABOUT THE STANDARD PODCAST™: This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Hosted by Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe, co-founders of Blueprint to Bluechip™, The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. We bring raw, truth-packed 20-25 minute conversations about identity, discipline, and legacy that goes beyond the scoreboard. New episodes drop every Monday. Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.

    36 min

  7. May 25

    From Grey Cup Champion to Mental Performance — The CRUSH-IT System | Ep. 49 Jaime Elizondo

    From Grey Cup Champion to Mental Performance Expert: Jaime Elizondo's Journey to Elite Execution The difference between high potential and elite performance isn't talent — it's the mental performance systems that allow someone to execute consistently when everything is on the line. Jaime Elizondo has spent 25+ years discovering and developing these systems, first as a championship coach and now as a Certified High-Performance Coach helping others break through to elite execution. As a former professional head football coach, Grey Cup Champion with extensive CFL experience and NFL background, Jaime has lived performance at the highest levels. This championship coaching experience provides the foundation for his current work as creator of the CRUSH-IT Mental Performance System, where he combines real-world elite performance knowledge with cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology. Through his CRUSH-IT and MAP (Mental, Athletic, Performance) processes and High-Performance Habits methodology, Jaime helps individuals and teams understand that elite performance is not about having more talent — it's about having better mental performance systems. His approach addresses the mental performance barriers that keep talented people from reaching their full capability. In this episode of The Standard Podcast™, Jaime shares: How his Grey Cup Championship and coaching experience shaped his understanding of elite performanceThe biggest lies about mental performance and what it takes to execute under pressureWhy most people with high potential never reach elite executionHow the CRUSH-IT Mental Performance System bridges theory and practical applicationBuilding championship culture through evidence-based High-Performance HabitsWhether you're an athlete with untapped potential, a leader building championship culture, or a high-performer who wants to execute consistently when it matters most, Jaime's insights provide practical frameworks for breakthrough performance. This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Connect with Jaime: https://jaimeelizondo.com/ Support the show CONNECT WITH US: 🌐 Website: blueprintbluechip.com 📸 Instagram: @blueprintbluechip 💼 LinkedIn: Erin Sarles 📧 Email: erin@erinsarles.com FREE RESOURCE: Join the 5-Day Reset™ — designed for athletes ready to build identity, discipline, and purpose beyond the game. 👉 blueprintbluechip.com/blueprintfoundationschallenge SUPPORT THE SHOW: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyShare this episode with an athlete, parent, coach, or leaderFollow us on social media and join the conversationBOOK ERIN TO SPEAK: Looking for a speaker who challenges comfort and calls out truth? Erin is available for team workshops, parent seminars, and leadership events. 📩 erin@erinsarles.com ABOUT THE STANDARD PODCAST™: This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Hosted by Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe, co-founders of Blueprint to Bluechip™, The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. We bring raw, truth-packed 20-25 minute conversations about identity, discipline, and legacy that goes beyond the scoreboard. New episodes drop every Monday. Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.

    37 min

  8. May 22

    Cultivating Truth and Rediscovering Identity in Christ | Ep. 48 Troy Dennison

    From Business to Ministry: Troy Dennison on Cultivating Truth and Rediscovering Identity in Christ In a culture that often defines identity through performance, achievement, and external validation, Troy Dennison offers a different foundation for life and leadership. As founder of Cultivating Truth and regional leader within the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Western Montana, Troy has spent over 30 years helping athletes, coaches, and leaders discover their true identity in Christ and fulfill their God-given purpose. Troy's unique background spans entrepreneurship, executive pastoral leadership, and ministry, giving him authentic understanding of both business leadership and spiritual formation. His work with FCA involves faithfully engaging relationally, equipping scripturally, empowering spiritually, and mobilizing leaders across Western Montana to live, minister, and lead in truth. Rooted in his personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Troy's mission centers on coaching, equipping, motivating, and releasing individuals to rediscover their true identity, engage God's leadership, perform by the power of His Spirit, and fulfill their God-given purpose in fellowship with Him and others. In this episode of The Standard Podcast™, Troy explores: The biggest lies culture tells athletes and leaders about identity and successHow to rediscover your true identity in Christ rather than performanceWhat it means to engage God's leadership and perform by the power of His SpiritBuilding legacy that extends beyond achievement to kingdom impactScripture-based leadership principles for authentic transformationWhether you're an athlete searching for identity, a coach trying to lead with purpose, or a leader seeking to understand what it means to live and lead in truth, Troy's insights provide biblical foundation for life beyond performance. This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Connect with Troy: Ministry: Cultivating Truth Organization: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (Western Montana) Support the show CONNECT WITH US: 🌐 Website: blueprintbluechip.com 📸 Instagram: @blueprintbluechip 💼 LinkedIn: Erin Sarles 📧 Email: erin@erinsarles.com FREE RESOURCE: Join the 5-Day Reset™ — designed for athletes ready to build identity, discipline, and purpose beyond the game. 👉 blueprintbluechip.com/blueprintfoundationschallenge SUPPORT THE SHOW: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyShare this episode with an athlete, parent, coach, or leaderFollow us on social media and join the conversationBOOK ERIN TO SPEAK: Looking for a speaker who challenges comfort and calls out truth? Erin is available for team workshops, parent seminars, and leadership events. 📩 erin@erinsarles.com ABOUT THE STANDARD PODCAST™: This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Hosted by Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe, co-founders of Blueprint to Bluechip™, The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. We bring raw, truth-packed 20-25 minute conversations about identity, discipline, and legacy that goes beyond the scoreboard. New episodes drop every Monday. Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.

    31 min
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About

This isn't motivation. This is a movement. The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. Hosts Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe brings raw, truth-packed conversations with athletes, coaches, and leaders about identity beyond performance, discipline that lasts, and legacy that matters. 20-25 minutes of hard-hitting truth you won't hear anywhere else. Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.

Information

  • Creator
    Erin Sarles
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Standard
  • Show Website
    The Standard