The Freshman Foundation® Podcast

Michael Huber

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

    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

    1h 13m
  2. FFP92: Who's At Your Athlete's Table?

    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

    59 min
  3. FFP91: The High School to College Transition: What No One Tells Baseball Players

    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

    1h 17m
  4. FFP90: What do college baseball coaches actually look for?

    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

    55 min
  5. FFP89: What Separates High School Baseball Players Who Get Recruited?

    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

    54 min
  6. FFP88: Are pitchers chasing the wrong thing?

    Mar 3

    FFP88: Are pitchers chasing the wrong thing?

    ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction 02:15 – “The job of a pitcher is to get outs” 06:30 – Velocity vs command: what actually matters 10:45 – The turning point in Scott’s professional career 15:30 – Why chasing feelings leads to inconsistency 19:40 – Building a repeatable cue under pressure 24:10 – ADHD, anxiety, and self-awareness on the mound 29:20 – Why pitchers need hobbies outside of baseball 33:45 – The case for multi-sport development 39:30 – Travel ball culture and burnout 44:50 – When should athletes specialize? 48:30 – Why football might be the ideal second sport 53:00 – Scott’s advice for every young pitcher: build your process 🧠 SHOW NOTES In Episode 89, I sit down with Scott Shuman, Head Pitching Coach at RPP Baseball, to explore a simple but powerful message for pitchers: Don’t chase feelings. Build your process. Scott shares how his early success as a hard-throwing prospect eventually exposed a gap in his development — he had velocity, but he didn’t yet have a plan. That changed when he learned to simplify his approach, attach cues to feelings, and build a repeatable mental process he could rely on when pressure increased. We discuss: Why analytics without command can be misleading How pitchers can build self-awareness under stress Why bullpen success doesn’t always translate to games The mental cost of year-round baseball Why hobbies and multi-sport play support long-term growth If you’ve ever watched a pitcher spiral after one bad inning — or wondered why confidence feels fragile in big moments — this episode will give you a practical framework for building something more stable than emotion. 🤝 CONNECT WITH SCOTT SHUMAN @RPP_Baseball @ShumanPerformance 💬 CONNECT WITH MICHAEL HUBER ⚾ Spring Training for the Mind A free mental preparation guide for baseball families who want to build confidence before the pressure shows up. 👉 https://tinyurl.com/HuberSpringTraining 📩 Free mental performance insights for athletes, parents, and coaches: 👉 https://michaelvhuber.com/newsletter 🌐 Website: 👉 https://www.michaelvhuber.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

    51 min
  7. FFP87: What If the REAL Problem Isn't Your Swing?

    Jan 25

    FFP87: What If the REAL Problem Isn't Your Swing?

    ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – The intersection of mechanics and mindset 06:00 – Why chasing fixes leads to short-term change 10:00 – Finding the “core” instead of treating surface problems 14:00 – The “watermelon patch” approach to sustainable growth 18:00 – How honesty builds trust between coach and athlete 23:00 – Cam’s story: from failure to freedom 31:00 – Why coaches can only take players as deep as they’ve gone 36:00 – Building bridges between mechanics, neuroscience, and belief 42:00 – The role of parents in creating a healthy environment 50:00 – What true confidence and self-belief look like 56:00 – Why doubt can actually fuel growth 1:03:00 – How bravery transforms performance — and life 🧠 SHOW NOTES In Episode 87, I sat down with Cameron Ginger, a hitting instructor and founder of Mental Meets Mechanics, to explore how true performance change starts from the inside out. Cam explains why most athletes and coaches focus on the wrong layer of the system — chasing surface-level fixes instead of addressing the deeper beliefs that drive behavior. We explore the difference between thinking different and thinking differently, what happens when the brain’s survival system hijacks performance, and how patience, honesty, and trust create lasting change. He also shares personal stories about hitting rock bottom, rebuilding his identity, and learning how to help athletes do the same — not through force or mechanics alone, but through compassion and self-awareness. If you’ve ever wondered how mental and mechanical skills truly meet, this episode will give you a blueprint for developing confidence that lasts far beyond the cage. 🤝 CONNECT WITH CAMERON GINGER Instagram: @propelhitting Website: https://www.propelhitting.co/ 🤝 CONNECT WITH MICHAEL HUBER Email: michael@ftbcoaching.com Website: https://www.michaelvhuber.com Newsletter: https://michaelvhuber.com/newsletter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/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

    1h 13m
  8. FFP 86: What Happens When Young Athletes Stop Fighting Their Insecurities?

    10/21/2025

    FFP 86: What Happens When Young Athletes Stop Fighting Their Insecurities?

    Free mental performance tips for young athletes, parents, and coaches: 👉 https://michaelvhuber.com/newsletter Work with me: 👉https://calendly.com/michaelvhuber/mike-huber-15-minute-meeting-clone ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction 02:00 – Why insecurity is part of every athlete’s experience 06:00 – How coaches and parents unknowingly reinforce doubt 10:00 – The problem with “just relax” and other empty advice 14:00 – Why bravery matters more than fearlessness 18:00 – The “3 B’s”: body, breath, and brain as anchors under pressure 22:30 – How Callum’s tennis journey shaped his work with athletes 27:00 – Preparing for failure: why athletes need to expect adversity 31:00 – The role of acceptance in emotional control and performance 36:00 – Why environment and culture fuel insecurity 40:30 – What “Liquid Sports Psychology” really means 44:30 – Callum’s advice for every young athlete: “You’re not alone.” 🧠 SHOW NOTES In Episode 86, I sit down with Callum Gowling, founder of Liquid Sports Psychology in the U.K., to explore why confidence doesn’t come from fighting insecurity — it comes from accepting it. We discuss the false promise of “mental toughness,” why advice like “just relax” can do more harm than good, and how athletes can learn to manage their body, breath, and brain when pressure hits. Callum also shares how his own tennis career and personal insecurities shaped his mission to normalize the emotional side of sport — reminding athletes, coaches, and parents that everyone feels fear and doubt. If you’ve ever wondered how acceptance can actually enhance performance, this episode will challenge how you think about confidence. 🤝 CONNECT WITH CALLUM GOWLING Instagram: @liquidsportspsychology Website: (Add when available) 💬 CONNECT WITH MICHAEL HUBER Website: https://www.michaelvhuber.com Newsletter: https://michaelvhuber.com/newsletter HS to College Transition Preparation: https://michaelvhuber.com/course Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelvhuber X: https://x.com/mhubercmpc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefreshmanfoundation 🤝 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

    49 min
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5
out of 5
17 Ratings

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
    94
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2021, Michael Huber, Follow The Freshman LLC
  • Show Website
    The Freshman Foundation® Podcast

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