Today Matters Podcast With Steve Pinkston

Steve Pinkston
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Daily

Today Matters with Coach Pinkston delivers daily motivation and mental performance strategies for athletes, coaches, and high achievers. Each episode gives you tools to build confidence, resilience, and focus—so you can perform your best and make every day count.

  1. 18h ago

    Ep 290 Choose the Hard Road — Every Challenge Builds the Competitor You're Becoming

    Growth doesn't happen when life is easy—it happens when we choose to lean into difficult moments instead of running from them. In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explores why the greatest competitors don't avoid challenges—they welcome them as opportunities to become stronger, wiser, and more resilient. Through stories from sports, leadership, education, and everyday life, you'll discover how adversity shapes character, why discomfort is often the price of improvement, and how your response to hard things determines the person you're becoming. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by setbacks, difficult practices, injuries, or failure, this episode will help you shift your perspective. You'll learn that challenges aren't obstacles standing in your way—they're opportunities preparing you for what's ahead. Today’s Action Step:  "Every challenge is an opportunity to grow. I don't fear hard things because hard things develop who I'm becoming." Step One: Reframe One Current Challenge. Write down one difficult situation you're facing. Now underneath it, write: "This challenge is teaching me..." Finish the sentence honestly. Step Two: Replace "I Have To" With "I Get To." Step Three: Find the Lesson Before the Outcome. At the end of today, ask yourself:  "What did today teach me?" About Today Matters Today Matters is your 2–4 minute daily boost of motivation for athletes, parents, and coaches. Hosted by Coach Steve Pinkston, each episode delivers a simple mental performance strategy to help you win the day. Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance. 1-on-1 Coaching Programs Team Consulting Leadership Development Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week. Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

  2. 1d ago

    Ep 289 Keep the Promise — Build Confidence Before You Need It

    Confidence isn't magic, luck, or something reserved for naturally gifted athletes. It's built one decision, one workout, and one promise at a time. In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston shares why lasting confidence doesn't come from winning—it comes from preparing with purpose and consistently doing what you said you would do. Through stories from sports, business, leadership, and everyday life, you'll discover how elite performers create confidence long before the game begins. You'll also learn why self-trust is the foundation of mental toughness and how keeping small promises to yourself creates the belief you need when pressure is at its highest. If you've ever struggled with confidence, this episode will show you that confidence isn't something you wait for—it's something you build every single day. Today’s Action Step:  "Confidence isn't something I wait to feel—it's something I build through preparation, effort, and keeping promises to myself." Step One: Make One Daily Promise. Step Two: Keep a Confidence Journal. Step Three: Prepare Like the Game Starts Today. About Today Matters Today Matters is your 2–4 minute daily boost of motivation for athletes, parents, and coaches. Hosted by Coach Steve Pinkston, each episode delivers a simple mental performance strategy to help you win the day. Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance. 1-on-1 Coaching Programs Team Consulting Leadership Development Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week. Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

  3. 2d ago

    Ep 288 Win the Conversation — Your Mindset Is Your Greatest Competitive Advantage

    Every athlete has talent. Every team has competition. But the greatest separator isn't speed, strength, or skill—it's the conversation happening between your ears. In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explores why your mindset may be your greatest competitive advantage and how your daily thoughts either build confidence or quietly sabotage performance. Through stories from sports, leadership, and everyday life, you'll discover why elite performers don't wait to feel confident—they choose thoughts that help them perform with courage and purpose. You'll also learn practical ways to replace excuses with empowering beliefs, reset your mindset after mistakes, and become intentional about the words you repeat to yourself. Because the strongest competitor isn't always the most talented—it's the one who consistently wins the battle within.   Today’s Action Step:  "My mindset is my greatest competitive advantage. I choose thoughts that make me stronger, not excuses that make me weaker." Number one: Audit your self-talk. Number two: Replace every excuse with a solution. Number three: Build a daily winning statement.   About Today Matters Today Matters is your 2–4 minute daily boost of motivation for athletes, parents, and coaches. Hosted by Coach Steve Pinkston, each episode delivers a simple mental performance strategy to help you win the day. Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance. 1-on-1 Coaching Programs Team Consulting Leadership Development Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week. Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

  4. 3d ago

    Ep 287 Gratitude Is Fuel — Unlock the Power Hidden in What You Already Have

    Most people think gratitude is something you practice after success. Elite performers understand it's often what creates success. In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explores why gratitude isn't just a feel-good habit—it's a powerful performance tool. Whether you're an athlete chasing a championship, a coach building culture, or a parent supporting a young athlete, gratitude can improve resilience, increase confidence, strengthen relationships, and help you perform at your best under pressure. Through stories from sports, leadership, adversity, and everyday life, you'll discover how gratitude shifts your focus from what's missing to what's possible. You'll learn practical ways to use gratitude to combat negativity, recover from setbacks, and build the mindset needed to thrive in competition and life. Because when gratitude becomes your fuel, you'll never run out of reasons to keep moving forward. Today’s Action Step:  24-Hour Challenge For the next 24 hours, eliminate unnecessary complaining. Every time you're tempted to complain, replace it with one thing you're grateful for. Notice how it affects your mood, your energy, and your interactions. About Today Matters Today Matters is your 2–4 minute daily boost of motivation for athletes, parents, and coaches. Hosted by Coach Steve Pinkston, each episode delivers a simple mental performance strategy to help you win the day. Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance. 1-on-1 Coaching Programs Team Consulting Leadership Development Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week. Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

  5. 4d ago

    Ep 286 Energy Is a Choice — Become the Person Who Changes the Room

    Every room has energy. Every team has energy. Every family has energy. The question is: What kind of energy are you bringing? In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explores one of the most powerful leadership skills in sports and life: choosing your energy. Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, leader, or teammate, your attitude and energy affect everyone around you. You'll learn why energy is contagious, how elite performers manage their mindset during adversity, and practical strategies for becoming a positive force in every environment you enter. Through stories from sports, leadership, business, and everyday life, you'll discover how to stop being a thermometer that reacts to circumstances and start becoming a thermostat that influences them. Because when you learn to choose your energy, you don't just change your own performance—you change the people around you. Today’s Action Step:  24-Hour Challenge For the next 24 hours, become the most encouraging person in every room you enter. Look for opportunities to encourage. Compliment effort. Express gratitude. Support others. Watch what happens to the people around you—and to you. About Today Matters Today Matters is your 2–4 minute daily boost of motivation for athletes, parents, and coaches. Hosted by Coach Steve Pinkston, each episode delivers a simple mental performance strategy to help you win the day. Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance. 1-on-1 Coaching Programs Team Consulting Leadership Development Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week. Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

  6. 5d ago

    Ep 285 Fail Forward — Turn Setbacks Into Strength

    What if your biggest setback could become your greatest advantage? Every athlete, coach, and parent faces failure. A missed shot. A tough loss. A season-ending injury. A dream that doesn't work out the way you planned. The difference between those who stay stuck and those who succeed isn't talent—it's how they respond. In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explores why failure isn't the opposite of success—it's part of the process of becoming successful. Through powerful sports stories, real-life examples, and practical coaching insights, you'll learn how elite performers use mistakes, losses, and adversity as fuel for future growth. You'll discover how to reframe failure, develop resilience, and build the confidence that comes from overcoming challenges. If you've ever felt discouraged by a setback, this episode will help you turn that experience into your next breakthrough. Today’s Action Step: 24-Hour Challenge The next time something doesn't go your way—today, tomorrow, whenever it happens—pause and ask: "What is this trying to teach me?" Not: "Why is this happening to me?" But: "What is this teaching me?" Watch how that changes your perspective. About Today Matters Today Matters is your 2–4 minute daily boost of motivation for athletes, parents, and coaches. Hosted by Coach Steve Pinkston, each episode delivers a simple mental performance strategy to help you win the day. Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance. 1-on-1 Coaching Programs Team Consulting Leadership Development Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week. Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

  7. 6d ago

    Ep 284 Confidence Is a Muscle — Build Unshakable Belief Through Reps

    Many athletes think confidence is something you're born with. You're either confident or you're not. But that's not how confidence works. Confidence isn't a personality trait. It's a skill. And like any skill, it can be developed. In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explores why confidence is more like a muscle than a feeling. Through stories from sports, leadership, and everyday life, you'll learn how confidence is built through preparation, experience, courage, and repeated action. You'll discover why waiting to feel confident is a mistake, how elite performers develop belief through reps, and one simple daily action you can start using immediately to build unshakable confidence. If you've ever doubted yourself, struggled with fear, or wondered how great athletes seem so confident under pressure, this episode will show you the truth: Confidence isn't found. It's built. Today’s Action Step:  24-Hour Challenge For the next 24 hours, do one thing you've been putting off because it feels uncomfortable. One thing. Not ten. One. Then ask yourself:  "Did I survive?" The answer will almost certainly be yes.  And that's how confidence grows. One courageous rep at a time. About Today Matters Today Matters is your 2–4 minute daily boost of motivation for athletes, parents, and coaches. Hosted by Coach Steve Pinkston, each episode delivers a simple mental performance strategy to help you win the day. Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance. 1-on-1 Coaching Programs Team Consulting Leadership Development Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week. Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

  8. Jul 8

    Ep 283 The 2-Minute Reset — How to Bounce Back Faster Than Everyone Else

    One bad play doesn't ruin a game. One mistake doesn't ruin a season. One difficult moment doesn't ruin a day—unless you allow it to. In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston introduces the powerful concept of the 2-Minute Reset, a simple mental performance strategy used by athletes, coaches, leaders, and high performers to recover quickly from mistakes, setbacks, stress, and adversity. You'll learn how breathing, focus, visualization, self-talk, and intentional action can help you regain control in just minutes. Through stories from sports, leadership, business, and everyday life, you'll discover why resilience isn't about never getting knocked down—it's about how quickly you get back up. If you've ever struggled with frustration, anxiety, mistakes, or feeling stuck, this episode will give you practical tools to reset, refocus, and move forward stronger. Because champions aren't perfect. They're just better at recovering. Today’s Action Step:  24-Hour Challenge Over the next 24 hours, use the phrase: "Next Play." Every time something goes wrong. A mistake. A frustration. A setback. A disappointment. Pause. Breathe. Say: "Next Play." Then focus on what comes next. Notice how much energy you save. About Today Matters Today Matters is your 2–4 minute daily boost of motivation for athletes, parents, and coaches. Hosted by Coach Steve Pinkston, each episode delivers a simple mental performance strategy to help you win the day. Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance. 1-on-1 Coaching Programs Team Consulting Leadership Development Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week. Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

See All (100)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Today Matters with Coach Pinkston delivers daily motivation and mental performance strategies for athletes, coaches, and high achievers. Each episode gives you tools to build confidence, resilience, and focus—so you can perform your best and make every day count.

Information