The Mental Mettle Podcast

Matt Thomann
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Helping coaches forge mental toughness in student-athletes

  1. 1d ago

    Ep. 175: "Excuses Satisfy Those Who Make Them" with Ron Spencer

    What do you do when things don't go the way you planned? Do you make excuses—or do you figure out what you can do next? In this episode of the Mental Mettle Podcast, I sit down with veteran Illinois basketball coach and athletic director Ron Spencer for a conversation about mental toughness, adversity, accountability, and what it means to take responsibility for your response when life gets difficult. Ron has spent more than 30 years coaching basketball, won a state championship, and has experienced plenty of adversity along the way. But some of his most important lessons didn't come from basketball. He shares the story of failing seventh grade, the influence his mother had on his toughness, and the phrase a teacher gave him that has stayed with him ever since: “Excuses satisfy those who make them.” We also talk about turning around a struggling basketball program, starting a state championship season 1–4, and being down 16 points in the state championship game before asking his team, “Is this how it's going to end?” Then the conversation gets much more personal as Ron shares his battle with cancer, losing 50 pounds during treatment, his mother's cancer diagnosis, and the decision to return to coaching just days after completing chemotherapy. Throughout it all, one theme keeps coming back: You may not control what happens to you, but you can control what you do next. And Ron's story offers an important lesson for coaches: mental toughness isn't just about teaching athletes to fight through adversity. It's also about modeling accountability, owning your mistakes, and being willing to say, “I was wrong.” If you're a coach, parent, or athlete, I think there's something valuable in this conversation for you. Work With Mental Mettle Coaching Mental Mettle Coaching works with individual athletes, teams, coaches, and schools to develop the mental skills that help athletes perform, respond, and grow through adversity. 🌐 www.mentalmettlelifecoaching.com Free Resource for Parents Want to help your athlete develop resilience without trying to become their coach? Check out my free Resilient Parent's Playbook: The Resilient Parent's Playbook If you enjoyed the episode, like, subscribe, and share the Mental Mettle Podcast with a coach, parent, or athlete who could benefit from it.

  2. Sep 28

    Ep. 174: Prepare Them. Build Their Confidence. Then Let Them Play. | Coach Jeremy Adolphson

    What does it really take to develop mentally tough athletes? For Jeremy Adolphson, the answer has changed dramatically over his 28 years in education and 26 years as a head football coach. Jeremy admits that for much of his career, he believed mental toughness was developed by making athletes tired, uncomfortable, and battle-tested. But experience changed his perspective. Today, he believes athletes need to be prepared, confident, and clear about their roles so they can perform when the biggest moments arrive. In this episode, we talk about: 🏈 Why conditioning isn't the same as developing mental toughness 🏈 Building confidence through skill and preparation 🏈 Making practice look like the game 🏈 Creating roles around what athletes do well — including the story of “The Jake” 🏈 Giving athletes solutions instead of simply correcting mistakes 🏈 Practicing failure and adversity 🏈 Why coaches have to model the mental toughness they expect from their athletes 🏈 Building a culture where athletes feel comfortable asking questions and learning Jeremy Adolphson is the Athletic Director, Math Teacher, PE Teacher, and Head Football Coach at Monmouth-Roseville High School in Monmouth, Illinois. He is in his 28th year of education, 26th year as a head football coach, and 16th year leading the Monmouth-Roseville Titans. He has over 100 career wins and multiple playoff runs. This conversation is a great reminder that sometimes developing mental toughness doesn't mean making athletes tougher. It means preparing them to be ready. Connect with Jeremy X/Twitter: @MonRoseFB Connect with Mental Mettle Coaching Website: https://www.mentalmettlelifecoaching.com Mental Mettle Podcast: https://www.mentalmettlelifecoaching.com Follow Mental Mettle Coaching for more content on mental toughness, coaching, confidence, and developing athletes. If you enjoyed this episode, like, subscribe, and share it with a coach who could use it. And always remember to Forge Your Mettle. #MentalMettle #MentalToughness #Coaching #HighSchoolFootball #AthleteDevelopment #SportsPsychology #CoachMentality #Leadership

  3. Sep 21

    Ep. 173: Mental Toughness Doesn’t Just Happen | Raphael McMaster

    Mental toughness doesn’t just happen. We spend years teaching athletes the skills of their sport. We train their bodies. We develop their technique. We build strength, speed, and conditioning. But what about the mental skills? In this episode of The Mental Mettle Podcast, I sit down with Raphael McMaster, Founder and Executive Director of Indivisible Arts, mindset coach for the Mira Costa Basketball Team, and creator and author of the Fundamental Life Tools book and curriculum. Raphael’s work centers around mindful awareness, emotional resilience, human potential, and developing practical tools that people can use to navigate life more effectively. Indivisible Arts was named Hermosa Beach’s Non-Profit of the Year in 2025, and Raphael has also been named Hermosa Beach Person of the Year. His background is incredibly diverse. He has worked in art, photography, music, design, entrepreneurship, snowboards, and clothing—including product design for Puma and award-winning website work, including a site created for Matthew McConaughey. But his passion today is helping people develop the mental tools necessary to pursue their potential. Raphael and I talk about why mental skills need to be developed and practiced, just like physical skills. We dive into the Fundamental Life Tools, mindful awareness, breathing, visualization, gratitude, compassion, forgiveness, and the importance of practicing these tools before you need them. We also talk about something I believe strongly: athletes have three skill sets—the game skills, physical skills, and mental skills. We have spent decades intentionally developing the first two. It's time to give the mental game the same attention. And these skills aren't just for athletes. They're life skills. In this episode: Why mental toughness needs to be trainedThe Fundamental Life ToolsWhy practice is essential to using mental skills under pressureMindful awareness and staying presentVisualization and the power of imaginationForgiveness and moving forward after mistakesBuilding emotional resilienceThe role of coaches and parents in developing athletesWhy mental skills should be developed before adversity hitsPursuing human potentialTurning mental concepts into practical toolsConnect with Raphael on Instagram: 📸 Instagram: @indivisible_arts 📸 Instagram: @resin_hermosa 📸 Instagram: @mcmaster.peace Connect with Mental Mettle Coaching: Mental Mettle Coaching www.mentalmettlelifecoaching.com The Mental Mettle Podcast Hosted by Coach Matt Thomann If you're a coach, parent, or athlete who believes the mental game deserves the same attention as the physical game, this conversation is for you. The mental game isn't something you simply have. You build it. You practice it. You Forge your Mettle.

  4. Sep 14

    Ep. 172: "Find Something That Makes You Dream" with Travis Vaughn

    What happens when you find something that makes you dream—and then decide to pursue it even when it's hard? In this episode of the Mental Mettle Podcast, I sit down with Travis Vaughn of Upward Sports and Upward Running to talk about running, faith, mental toughness, community, setbacks, and the pursuit of goals that push us beyond our comfort zones. Travis shares his own seven-year journey toward qualifying for the Boston Marathon, including injuries, setbacks, and the mental shifts that helped him keep moving forward. We also talk about the mental side of running, the power of community, how faith fits into competition and endurance, and why focusing on what you can control can change the way you approach difficult challenges. But ultimately, the message is simple: “Find something that makes you dream and makes you want to go achieve something that you've never done before. Make it hard. Do hard things.” Whether you're an athlete, coach, runner, or simply someone looking for the next challenge, I think there's something valuable in this conversation. Connect with Travis & Upward Running Upward Running: Upward Running Kinda Fast Podcast: Kinda Fast Podcast — Upward Running Kinda Fast is hosted by Claire Boyce and Travis Vaughn and covers running, training, faith, and the real-life challenges that come with pursuing your goals. Upward Sports: Upward Sports Connect with Mental Mettle Coaching Mental Mettle Coaching If this conversation resonates with you, subscribe to the Mental Mettle Podcast and share it with an athlete, coach, runner, or someone who needs a reminder that doing hard things can be exactly what helps us grow. #MentalMettle #MentalToughness #TravisVaughn #DoHardThings #Running #FaithAndSports #MentalPerformance #AthleteDevelopment

  5. Sep 7

    EP. 171: "Always another mountain" with Ripon Coach Lauren Busalacchi

    Lauren Busalacchi is entering her 14th season as the head women’s basketball coach at Ripon College, after spending three years as an assistant and two years as a part-time assistant. During her time at Ripon, she has built one of the most successful programs in the Midwest, winning eight consecutive Midwest Conference championships, making five NCAA Tournament appearances, and earning induction into the Ripon College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2025. She has also been named the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association’s Private College Coach of the Year twice and has led her staff to seven consecutive Coaching Staff of the Year honors. But this conversation isn't really about the championships. It's about what happened when Lauren realized that X's and O's weren't enough. After struggling early in her tenure—including a 2–21 season—Lauren recognized that building a successful program required something deeper: an intentional culture. That led her to the Tribal Leadership model, which now provides the framework for the language, behaviors, and culture within Ripon's program. Lauren and I talk about what it means to intentionally build culture, how coaches can teach athletes to respond to adversity, and why mental toughness can't simply be demanded—it has to be trained. We also dig into two concepts that have become important parts of the Ripon program: E + R = O and the Chinese proverb, “Behind the mountains, there are more mountains.” Lauren believes one of the most important responsibilities of leadership is to continually help and challenge people to respond better. We may not control the events we experience in life, but we do have control over our responses—and those responses affect everyone around us. We talk about vulnerability, asking for help, player ownership, leadership, adversity, family, faith, and the ongoing challenge of becoming better leaders and coaches. Because no matter how much success you've had, you never really arrive. There is always a next mountain. Connect with Lauren & Ripon College Women's Basketball Facebook: Ripon College Women's Basketball Instagram: @riponwomensbasketball Connect with Coach Matt Thomann & Mental Mettle Coaching Mental Mettle Coaching: www.mentalmettlelifecoaching.com matt@mentalmettlecoach.com Mental Mettle Coaching helps athletes, coaches, and educators develop the mental skills necessary to handle adversity, build confidence, and perform at their best. Forge Your Mettle.

  6. Aug 31

    EP. 170: "Attack the Process". Building Mental Toughness with Jeremy Clodfelder.

    In this episode of the Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann sits down with Jeremy Clodfelder, Head Football and Softball Coach at Paris High School, for a powerful conversation about leadership, mental toughness, personal growth, and what it really takes to build a strong culture. With more than 20 years of coaching experience, three rebuilt football programs, over 100 career football victories, and a record-setting career as a softball coach, Jeremy brings a wealth of experience to the conversation. But his greatest lessons haven't necessarily come from winning. They've come from overcoming adversity, confronting his own struggles, and learning how to lead differently. Jeremy believes mental toughness is a skill. Just like any other skill, it has to be intentionally developed and trained. In this episode, we talk about: • Why you shouldn't just trust the process—you have to attack the process • The power of standard over feelings • Jeremy's Code of Standards: Consistency, Ownership, Discipline, and Excellence • Why winning is a byproduct rather than the ultimate goal • How to hold young athletes accountable while still giving them grace • Why coaches need to be demanding without demeaning • Creating environments where athletes feel safe enough to be vulnerable • Why mental toughness requires daily, intentional practice • Discovering your personal "burn" and what drives you to show up • Jeremy's powerful mantra: Master Your Mirror • How coaches can develop mental skills as part of their everyday culture This is a conversation about overcoming challenge and adversity, continually pursuing peak performance, and becoming the kind of coach who develops more than athletes. Connect with Jeremy Clodfelter 📧 Email: coachclodcompanies@gmail.com Facebook: Jeremy Clodfelder Instagram: @jeremy_clodfelder X: @Coach_Clod LinkedIn: Jeremy Clodfelder Speaking: Leadership • Culture • Mental Conditioning Connect with Coach Matt Thomann Mental Mettle Coaching Helping coaches, parents, and young athletes develop the mental skills necessary to perform, grow, and thrive. 🌐 Website: www.mentalmettlelifecoaching.com 🎙️ The Mental Mettle Podcast: Helping coaches develop mentally tougher athletes through better coaching and intentional mental skills training. If you got something from this episode, like, subscribe, and share it with another coach. And always remember to Forge Your Mettle.

  7. Aug 24

    Ep. 169: Better Youth Coaching. Better Development. Better Athletes. — Dan Stratford

    In this episode of the Mental Mettle Podcast, I sit down with Dan Stratford, owner and partner at Kick It 3v3 Soccer, for a conversation that goes far beyond soccer. Dan and I dig into a problem I think every youth sports coach and parent needs to think about: Are we giving our youngest athletes the coaching they actually need? Too often, the youngest players get the least experienced coaches, even though coaching young athletes requires a very different skill set. We talk about why youth coaches need to understand the developmental stage of the kids they're coaching—and why development should be the priority over simply winning games. We also get into the role of 3v3 soccer and why small-sided games can be such a powerful developmental tool. More touches. More decisions. More creativity. More opportunities to make mistakes, solve problems and learn. Some of the big ideas we discuss:  Why our youngest athletes may need our best coaches Why development is always winning, but winning isn't always development The danger of parents tying their ego to their child's success  Why being on the "best" team isn't necessarily best for development  How small-sided games encourage creativity and decision-making  Why kids shouldn't be coached like miniature professional athletes  How we can redefine what "winning" means in youth sports  And ultimately, why we have youth sports in the first placeDan brings decades of experience as a player, coach, parent and youth-sports leader to this conversation, and I think there's something here for coaches and parents in every sport, not just soccer. Learn more about Dan and Kick It 3v3 Soccer: Kick It 3v3 Soccer About Coach Matt Thomann & Mental Mettle I'm Coach Matt Thomann, an ICF-certified coach and the founder of Mental Mettle Coaching, where I help athletes, coaches and educators develop the mindset and mental skills needed to perform, lead and thrive. Through individual coaching, team coaching, professional development and speaking, Mental Mettle focuses on building confidence, resilience, self-awareness and mental toughness. 🌐 Mental Mettle Coaching: mentalmettlelifecoaching.com

  8. Aug 17

    Ep. 168: It's Supposed to Be Hard. How to Use Adversity in Athletics to Build Mental Toughness.

    What if we stopped trying to protect athletes from adversity and started teaching them how to use it? In this solo episode of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann takes on one of the most important—and misunderstood—aspects of athletics: adversity. Sports are supposed to be hard. That’s the point. The losses, mistakes, pressure, disappointment, difficult practices, setbacks, and failures that athletes experience aren't just obstacles standing in the way of success. They are opportunities to develop the skills that will matter long after the final whistle. Coach Matt breaks down how athletes, parents, and coaches can change their mindset around adversity and use it to build confidence, resilience, perseverance, and the ability to face difficult things without running from them. In this episode, you'll hear: For athletes: How to stop asking, “Why is this so hard?” and start asking, “What can I learn from this?”For parents: How to support your child through adversity without rescuing them from it.For coaches: How to create adversity that is purposeful—not punitive.Why the right amount of adversity should stretch but not snap an athlete.Why the best coaches combine high expectations with high levels of love and connection.How difficult experiences can become evidence that builds confidence.Why winning and losing aren't the ultimate measure of what an athlete gains from sports.How athletics can prepare young people for the mandatory adversity that life will eventually bring.The goal isn't to make kids suffer. The goal is to help them learn that they can do hard things. Because we don't use adversity to create better athletes. We use athletics to create better people. That’s the real purpose of building mental mettle. Connect with Mental Mettle Coaching: 🌐 www.mentalmettlelifecoaching.com PARENTS:  Check out the free email course: The Resilient Parent's Playbook If you enjoyed the episode, like, subscribe, and leave a comment. And share it with an athlete, parent, or coach who needs to hear that sometimes... It’s supposed to be hard. #MentalMettle #MentalToughness #YouthSports #AthleteMindset #SportsParent #Coaching #MentalPerformance #Resilience #SportsPsychology #AthleteDevelopment

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Helping coaches forge mental toughness in student-athletes

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  • Creator
    Matt Thomann
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    177
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Mental Mettle Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Mental Mettle Podcast