The Freshman Foundation® Podcast

Michael Huber
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Sports

The Freshman Foundation® Podcast is preparing young athletes and families for every next step in their athletic journey. ATHLETES: To learn how you can become a confident problem solver and coach yourself, visit https://michaelvhuber.com.

  1. Sep 1

    FFP96: How problem gambling led Jake Sanford from baseball to a bigger purpose

    ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction — rehabbing a torn Achilles (twice) and the road back 01:44 — Growing up in Halifax, Nova Scotia — hockey, baseball, and choosing a path 03:17 — Drafted 105th overall by the Yankees after starting baseball five years later than most 05:00 — The bad habits he avoided by not starting the game at five years old 08:14 — The “goldfish mindset” — the parallel between athletes and gamblers 08:27 — Cold-emailing nearly 300 schools to find a college opportunity 10:08 — Junior college at McCook, Nebraska — walking on, switching positions, and grinding 14:04 — Earning a scholarship to Western Kentucky University 15:48 — A .398 average, 23 home runs, and the Conference USA Triple Crown 16:41 — The pre-draft process — meetings, workouts, and getting scouted by the Yankees 19:44 — Gambling as normal entertainment — before things changed 21:57 — The Biloxi story — the slot machine, the $3,500, and chasing “that rush” 24:07 — Why athletes are especially prone to compulsive gambling 27:07 — The shame of gambling — hiding the losses, showing off the wins 29:05 — His first trip to the casino at 19 — and how the habit escalated 30:13 — The $600K signing bonus, “feeling invincible,” and living a double life 34:25 — Owing teammates money — and how it started to hurt the organization 36:37 — The financial reality of minor league pay 38:19 — Getting released by the Yankees 41:39 — The Instagram DM that led him to Epic Global Solutions 44:13 — “We're anti-gambling harm” — presenting at 45 schools in a year 46:36 — The moments that make it worth it — student-athletes coming forward 48:53 — What's next — Team Canada, the 2028 Olympics, and a possible coaching path 50:50 — Jake's closing advice: ask for help before it gets too late 🤝 CONNECT WITH JAKE SANFORD 📷 Jake Sanford's Instagram 🤝 CONNECT WITH MIKE HUBER 🧠 10-Day "Level Up Your Mental Game" Challenge 📩 Free mental performance insights for athletes, parents, and coaches 🌐 Michael Huber's Website

    FFP96: How problem gambling led Jake Sanford from baseball to a bigger purpose

  2. Aug 18

    FFP95: Behind the Desk: An Athletic Director on Parents, Coaches, and Conflicts

    ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction 00:33 – Building Athletic Department HQ from scratch — and why it's already taken off 02:05 – The feedback from ADs and administrators already putting the content to use 04:07 – Getting coaches to buy in — the "old school" mindset and why excellence means continued evolution 06:06 – Why King's Academy leans into mental performance and staying ahead of the curve 07:56 – The marketing side of athletics — enrollment, visibility, and the reality of NIL 10:23 – Staying "on mission" while balancing competition and admissions 13:11 – Why athletics can't be the only reason a family chooses a school 14:58 – Relationship-building with athletes — avoiding pitfalls before the hard conversation arrives 18:12 – The value of assistant coaches — finding people who can fill the gaps you can't 19:24 – "Playing coach" vs. coaches who genuinely care — and the responsibilities that get in the way 21:57 – Having favorites — investment, effort, and earning a coach's attention 26:11 – Staying mission-driven as a team — and what happens when everyone's rowing the same direction 27:45 – Having his daughter under the same roof at King's Academy 29:49 – Derek's vision for the future of Athletic Department HQ 32:56 – Staying on-brand and resisting the urge to chase followers 35:59 – The story behind the viral Netflix parody video 37:44 – What that video reveals about empathy — seeing the other side of the desk 38:43 – Why "not everything needs a response" when handling upset parents 40:25 – "If your kid isn't in danger, it's gonna be okay" — advice for parents 40:42 – Derek's closing advice: be mission-driven, not scoreboard-driven   🤝 CONNECT WITH DEREK CHIRCH 📷 The Athletic Department Instagram 🎥 The Athletic Department YouTube Channel 📷 The King’s Academy Athletics  🤝 CONNECT WITH MIKE HUBER 🧠 10-Day "Level Up Your Mental Game" Challenge 📩 Free mental performance insights for athletes, parents, and coaches 🌐 Michael Huber's Website

    FFP95: Behind the Desk: An Athletic Director on Parents, Coaches, and Conflicts

  3. Aug 5

    FFP94: Is Pitching SCARIER Than Jumping Off A Cliff?

    ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction 02:18 – When baseball started to become a bigger part of Luke's life — and the freshman-year "practice squad" tryout 05:02 – Training with Tread Athletics, playing up in a men's league, and watching the velocity — and the belief — start to climb 05:54 – Internal vs. external motivation, and why one strikeout can become permanent proof 07:17 – His dad's analytical approach to early development — J-Bands, Plyo balls, and a "prepare the right way" mindset 09:36 – High school ball, two conference titles, and "the most natural I've ever felt playing baseball" 11:18 – Trust, presence, and what it means to compete free of outcome 12:39 – Being held accountable to character, not results — the culture at Seton Hill 16:18 – The jump from a great high school experience to a humbling freshman fall 19:01 – Redshirting, elbow pain, and a slow-burn recovery that built more than an arm 20:32 – "Do I belong here?" — patience as an undervalued skill 22:58 – Being where your feet are, and what separates guys who actually develop 25:02 – Summer ball in the NECBL and the Cape, and the line: "I got so much better at throwing strikes once I stopped believing I was bad at throwing strikes" 29:21 – The transfer portal — chasing outcomes vs. chasing values 31:04 – Mechanical or mental? How to tell the difference when command breaks down 35:59 – Coaching the individual, not the system — Luke's coaching philosophy 43:55 – Inside EPD Pitching — who he works with, and why he'd rather watch a guy pitch when no one knows he's watching 46:10 – Using "proof" to reframe a bad outing 47:21 – Reset routines — the mound walk-off, the breath, the refocus cue 48:46 – The umpire-blame text message — a lesson in locus of control 53:21 – The cliff-jumping story — trusting the pitch the same way you trust the water 56:12 – Awareness, emotional regulation, and identity as the real mental game 1:00:22 – Why guys who tie their identity to performance actually care the most — and just need to learn to organize the energy 1:01:40 – Where to find Luke and EPD Pitching   🤝 CONNECT WITH LUKE DESCHENES 📷 Follow Luke on Instagram 🤝 CONNECT WITH MIKE HUBER 🧠 10-Day "Level Up Your Mental Game" Challenge 📩 Free mental performance insights for athletes, parents, and coaches 🌐 Michael Huber's Website

    FFP94: Is Pitching SCARIER Than Jumping Off A Cliff?

  4. May 19

    FFP93: What if great coaching means letting athletes figure it out?

    ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction  02:00 – Why failure is an accumulation of lessons — and how athletes respond to it differently  07:00 – The Constraints-Led Approach and what authentic skill development actually looks like  10:00 – Multi-sport development, early specialization, and what diversification really builds  14:00 – Playing with boys until age 14 — and how that shaped Kerri's development and coaching  18:00 – Being coached hard versus being coddled — and what today's athletes are missing  24:00 – Redefining success beyond makes and misses 30:00 – Why decision-making is the number one skill in basketball  35:00 – Emotion as a constraint on decision-making — and how to train it 42:00 – Reset routines, journaling, and building emotional regulation into practice  50:00 – Be dangerous, be curious, be delusional — identity beyond the sport  56:00 – Outlasting everyone versus outworking everyone  01:00:00 – You don't have to lone wolf it — and why finding the right people matters  01:04:00 – "Your emotions will not be too big for me" 🧠 SHOW NOTES In Episode 93, I sit down with Coach Kerri Kuzbyt of Transforming Basketball to talk about what player development looks like when you train the whole athlete — not just the skill. Kerri played five years of Division I basketball in Canada and four years professionally in Australia, Spain, and Germany. She didn't encounter the Constraints-Led Approach until the final two years of her pro career. The difference it made was night and day — and it's the foundation of everything she does today. We discuss: Why failure is the fastest path to growth — and how the environment you create determines whether athletes use it as a catapult or a crutch. Why context is king. Five hundred reps in an empty gym don't transfer to a contested game. Training has to be representative of the environment — including the emotional and physical constraints of competition. Why decision-making is the number one skill in any sport — and why emotion is the primary constraint on it. How emotional regulation is a trainable skill, not a personality trait. Reset routines, journaling, and intentional practice under pressure are the tools that build it. The difference between outworking everyone and outlasting everyone — and why showing up at 40% capacity and giving it everything you have that day is still a win. Why identity beyond sport is the foundation of sustainable confidence — and what it means to be dangerous. Why you don't have to lone wolf it — and what it looks like to find people who can hold your emotions without flinching. 🤝 CONNECT WITH COACH KERRI KUZBYT 📷 Coach Kerri's Instagram  🏀 Transforming Basketball's Instagram 🌐 Transforming Basketball's Website 🤝 CONNECT WITH MIKE HUBER 🧠 10-Day "Level Up Your Mental Game" Challenge 📩 Free mental performance insights for athletes, parents, and coaches 🌐 Michael Huber's Website

    FFP93: What if great coaching means letting athletes figure it out?

  5. Apr 28

    FFP92: Who's At Your Athlete's Table?

    ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction  01:30 – The #1 challenge Nick faces working with young athletes: consistency, not knowledge  03:30 – How Nick structures the initial intake meeting  06:00 – Getting athletes to buy into the "why" behind the plan  08:00 – Experimentation and the A/B test approach to building habits  10:00 – Building trust — and playing mediator between athletes and parents  12:00 – Earning your seat at the athlete's table  14:00 – The counseling side of being a dietitian — and why it matters more than the science  18:00 – Parents texting at 2am — and what Nick does with that  20:00 – Nick's background as a college baseball catcher at Mercy College and Queens College  24:00 – Two serious injuries and how they led him to nutrition  27:00 – Florida State, interning with Eric Cressy at CSP, and spring training with the Blue Jays  30:00 – Why young athletes can spot someone who doesn't care — and why it matters  33:00 – Starting with the school day: building structure where it already exists  36:00 – Adapting to weekends, tournaments, and travel  40:00 – Progress isn't pass/fail — it's an investment  43:00 – A Division I catcher, one flat week, and Nick's response: "And?"  46:00 – Finding motivation for the next goal after goal A is achieved  51:00 – Autonomy, competence, relatedness — and why all three have to be present  54:00 – What mental performance and nutrition have in common  55:00 – Nick's final message to every high school athlete: don't wait 🧠 SHOW NOTES In Episode 92, I sit down with Nick Valenti — registered dietitian and founder of a sports nutrition practice — to talk about what it really means to build the right team around a young athlete. Nick calls it the table. It's the sports coach, the strength-and-conditioning coach, the mental performance coach, and the dietitian. Everyone talking. Everyone with a role. And at some point, each person has to be willing to step into the lead — and trust the others to do their job. Nick has earned his seat at a lot of those tables. And this conversation is about what that actually takes. He was a catcher at Mercy College and Queens College. Tore his ankle on the first play of his college career. Transferred. Tore his labrum a week before the season at his new school. Two years in the rehab room, watching PT guys work, asking questions, learning how the body responds to stress and recovery. That experience didn't just change his career path — it changed how he thinks about athletes and what they need. After Florida State, an internship with Eric Cressy at CSP, and a spring training stint with the Toronto Blue Jays, Nick built a practice that now works with athletes from youth through the professional level. We discuss: Why consistency — not knowledge — is the real challenge in working with young athletes. How Nick earns trust before he builds a plan — and why the first few weeks are never about the scale. Why athlete autonomy is non-negotiable. If they feel like you're just another adult telling them what to do, they'll tune you out, too. What it means to play mediator between athletes and parents — and how Nick navigates that without losing either one. The counseling skills Nick developed as a dietitian — and why he believes they're 10x more important than the nutrition science itself. How autonomy, competence, and relatedness show up in nutrition the same way they show up in mental performance. Nick also shares the story of a Division I catcher with a pro future who walked into a weekly meeting devastated — because his weight stayed flat for one week. After months of consistent gains. Nick's response: "And?"  It's a small moment. But it says everything about what it means to truly be in an athlete's corner. If you've ever wondered what the right support system actually looks like for a developing athlete — and what it takes to build one — this episode is an honest, experienced answer to that question. 🤝 CONNECT WITH NICK VALENTI 📷 Instagram: @valenti_nick  🌐 Website: 👉 https://limnt.com/ 🤝 CONNECT WITH MIKE HUBER 🧠 10-Day "Level Up Your Mental Game" Challenge 📩 Free mental performance insights for athletes, parents, and coaches 🌐 Michael Huber's Website

    FFP92: Who's At Your Athlete's Table?

  6. Apr 14

    FFP91: The High School to College Transition: What No One Tells Baseball Players

    ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction  01:15 – How Dan and Trevor met — high school teammates to business partners  03:30 – How Backside Groundballs Media started during COVID  06:00 – Their experience as college coaches and why they left  09:00 – Transitioning from coaching to media  12:00 – What they've learned traveling to college programs  18:30 – The analytics vs. old-school baseball debate  22:30 – Why compete and baseball IQ are coming back  26:00 – Leadership lessons from the best college coaches  30:00 – What great programs are actually teaching  36:30 – The biggest challenges freshmen face on campus  40:00 – The weight room, durability, and the physical demands of college baseball  42:00 – Adjusting to college life — freedom, stress, and identity  46:00 – Coach-player communication and how players can advocate for themselves  51:00 – The "de-recruiting" effect and managing expectations  54:00 – The transfer portal — what it's doing well and what it's costing players  59:00 – Do freshmen have unrealistic expectations about playing time?  01:03:00 – What it actually takes to have a chance at professional baseball  01:10:00 – Final takeaways: being tough and vulnerable, and leading with humility 🧠 SHOW NOTES In Episode 91, I sit down with Dan Galati and Trevor Powers — former college coaches and co-founders of Backside Groundballs Media — to talk about what the high school-to-college transition in baseball actually looks like for the players living it. Dan and Trevor have done something unique. They've traveled to college programs across the country, sat in film sessions, watched practices, and had real conversations with the coaches building these programs from the inside. What they've seen has shaped how they think about player development — and what they believe young athletes are missing. We discuss: Why compete and baseball IQ have become the great differentiators at the college level. What the best college coaches are actually teaching — and how they build culture. The biggest physical and mental challenges freshmen face when they arrive on campus. Why the transition from "recruited athlete" to "one of the guys" is harder than players expect. How the transfer portal is changing the landscape — and what it might be costing players developmentally. What it truly takes to have a shot at playing beyond college. Dan and Trevor also share what they've taken away from conversations with some of the top coaches in college baseball — including a lesson from Penn State's Mike Gambino that Dan says changed how he thinks about what it means to be both tough and vulnerable at the same time. If you've ever wondered what separates the players who thrive at the college level from the ones who struggle — or how young athletes can put themselves in the best position to succeed — this episode gives you a clear, honest, and experienced perspective. 🤝 CONNECT WITH DAN GALATI & TREVOR POWERS 🌐 Backside Groundballs Media: https://backsidegbmedia.beehiiv.com/ 📷 Instagram: @backsidegroundballsmedia X: @BacksideGB 🤝 CONNECT WITH MIKE HUBER 🧠 10-Day "Level Up Your Mental Game" Challenge 📩 Free mental performance insights for athletes, parents, and coaches 🌐 Michael Huber's Website

    FFP91: The High School to College Transition: What No One Tells Baseball Players

  7. Mar 31

    FFP90: What do college baseball coaches actually look for?

    ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction 01:15 – Bryan’s background and coaching journey 03:30 – What it takes to climb the coaching ladder 06:00 – What coaches actually look for when recruiting 09:00 – Why behavior and body language matter 12:00 – Recruiting as a two-way street 15:30 – How athletes can show genuine interest 18:30 – Division I vs Division III: understanding fit 22:30 – Playing time, academics, and lifestyle differences 26:00 – What makes a great recruiter 29:30 – What coaches expect from athletes in the recruiting process 33:00 – The transition from high school to college baseball 36:30 – Why the game “speeds up” at the next level 39:30 – Physical and mental demands of college baseball 42:00 – Time management, routines, and habits 45:00 – Communication between coaches and players 48:00 – Building trust and team culture 51:00 – The evolving role of coaching 54:00 – Bryan’s experience with burnout and growth 57:30 – The role of parents in the recruiting process 1:00:00 – The #1 piece of advice for high school players 🧠 SHOW NOTES In Episode 90, I sit down with Bryan Torresani, Head Baseball Coach at DeSales University, to discuss what college coaches are really looking for in recruits — and how players can better prepare for the next level. For many athletes, the recruiting process feels like a constant evaluation. Players often focus on statistics, velocity, and exposure, trying to prove they belong at a certain level. But Bryan explains that what separates players often comes down to something much simpler — and harder to measure. How they respond to failure. How they carry themselves on the field. And how they handle the daily demands of development. We discuss: Why coaches pay close attention to behavior and body language How recruiting is a two-way street — and why communication matters The differences between Division I and Division III baseball What freshmen struggle with most when they arrive on campus Why time management, routines, and habits are critical for success How coaching has evolved to become more relationship-driven Bryan also shares practical advice for players preparing for college baseball, including the importance of strength training, building routines, and taking ownership of the recruiting process. If you’ve ever wondered what truly stands out to college coaches — or how players can position themselves for success beyond high school — this episode provides a clear and honest perspective. 🤝 CONNECT WITH BRYAN TORRESANI 🌐 DeSales Baseball: 👉 https://athletics.desales.edu/sports/baseball 📷 Instagram: @btorr12 📷 X: @torr_b12 🤝 CONNECT WITH MIKE HUBER 🧠 10-Day "Level Up Your Mental Game" Challenge 📩 Free mental performance insights for athletes, parents, and coaches 🌐 Michael Huber's Website

    FFP90: What do college baseball coaches actually look for?

  8. Mar 17

    FFP89: What Separates High School Baseball Players Who Get Recruited?

    ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – What high school players should focus on during the season 03:45 – Why competing and helping your team win matters most 07:30 – What to do if you’re not getting the role you expected 11:15 – Why the high school season prepares players for summer recruiting 15:20 – Learning to compete instead of analyzing outcomes 19:30 – The challenge of staying patient early in the season 23:45 – Why players should communicate with their coaches 27:30 – Varsity vs JV: how to think about game reps 31:40 – What college coaches are actually watching in games 36:00 – Why tools and metrics aren’t enough 40:15 – The importance of body language and competing on every pitch 44:30 – In-season development: strength training, reps, and routines 48:00 – Time management and building habits for college baseball 51:00 – Sam’s advice for every high school player: build your process 🧠 SHOW NOTES In Episode 89, I sit down with Sam Sharf of RPP Recruiting to discuss what high school baseball players should really focus on during the season. For many athletes, the spring season feels like a constant evaluation. Players worry about statistics, playing time, and whether college coaches are watching. But Sam explains that the high school season plays a different role in the recruiting process. Instead of chasing exposure or obsessing over results, players should focus on competing, developing a consistent process, and helping their team win games. We discuss: Why players should embrace their role — even if it’s not what they expected How the high school season prepares athletes for summer recruiting Why college coaches look closely at competitiveness and body language The difference between tools, metrics, and game performance Why developing strong habits now prepares players for college baseball Sam also shares practical advice on in-season development, including strength training, getting extra reps, and managing time effectively during the season. If you’ve ever wondered how much the high school season actually impacts recruiting — or how players can make the most of their opportunities — this episode provides a clear roadmap. 🤝 CONNECT WITH SAM SHARF 🌐 Website: 👉 https://rocklandpeakperformance.com/ 📷 Instagram: @RPP_Recruiting @RPP_Baseball @sharfsam_ 🤝 CONNECT WITH MICHAEL HUBER ⚾ Spring Training for the Mind 👉 https://tinyurl.com/HuberSpringTraining 📩 Free mental performance insights for athletes, parents, and coaches: 👉 https://michaelvhuber.com/newsletter 🌐 Website: 👉 https://www.michaelvhuber.com 📷 Instagram: @michaelvhuber 🤝 CONNECT WITH MIKE HUBER 🧠 10-Day "Level Up Your Mental Game" Challenge 📩 Free mental performance insights for athletes, parents, and coaches 🌐 Michael Huber's Website

    FFP89: What Separates High School Baseball Players Who Get Recruited?
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About

The Freshman Foundation® Podcast is preparing young athletes and families for every next step in their athletic journey. ATHLETES: To learn how you can become a confident problem solver and coach yourself, visit https://michaelvhuber.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Huber
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    97
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2021, Michael Huber, Follow The Freshman LLC
  • Show Website
    The Freshman Foundation® Podcast