The Mental Mettle Podcast

Matt Thomann
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Arts
  • Updated Weekly

Helping coaches forge mental toughness in student-athletes

  1. 1d ago

    Ep: 157: Full Send: Paralympic Powerlifter Ashley Dyce on Persistence and Progress

    In this episode of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Matt sits down with Team USA para powerlifter Ashley Dyce, who was born with spina bifida and has fought her way onto the world stage through a decade of relentless commitment. Ashley shares how she went from discovering the Paralympics on TV to representing the United States, what it really looks like to stick with one path for 10+ years, and how she’s handled injuries, surgeries, missed lifts, and seasons that felt like setbacks instead of breakthroughs. She talks about chasing a 300 lb bench, preparing for the Paralympic Games, and using both her faith and sports psychology tools to stay locked in when progress isn’t linear. We get into: Choosing a lane and committing fully to para powerliftingComing back from injuries and health issues without quitting on the dreamHow faith and sports psychology work together in her mental gamePractical tools: visualization, music, and routines to manage nerves on the big stageCompeting as a woman with a disability and why representation mattersIf you’ve ever wondered how far you can go by going “full send” on one goal—and refusing to back off when it gets hard—Ashley’s story is a powerful example of what persistence and progress really look like. Subscribe for more conversations on mental toughness, mindset, and high performance from athletes, coaches, and performers at the highest level. Timestamps (approximate): 00:00 Intro 00:40 Ashley’s journey into para sports 03:30 Discovering para powerlifting 05:00 From 135 to chasing 300 on bench 08:00 Failing in the gym and building real resilience 11:30 Injuries, surgery, and non-linear progress 18:00 Training, recovery, and daily life as a Team USA athlete 19:30 Faith as a foundation for mental toughness 21:30 Working with a sports psychologist 24:30 Visualization, nerves, and reframing anxiety as excitement 28:30 Competing on the Paralympic stage 31:00 Representation, purpose, and lifting for something bigger than medals 34:00 Ashley’s goals and final thoughts on persistence and progress Follow Ashley: www.instagram.com/ashley_dyce/ To learn more about the American Paragons Foundation: americanparagons.org For more information about Mental Mettle Coaching: Sign up here for the FREE Resilient Parents Playbook: www.resilientparentsplaybook.com Contact: matt@mentalmettlecoach.com for a free coaching session with Coach Thomann www.mentalmettlecoach.com

    56 min

  2. May 25

    Ep. 156: Raising Superheroes: Megan Gilmore on Mental Health & Well‑Being for Kids

    In this episode of The Mental Middle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann sits down with Megan Gilmore—founder and executive director of Larksong, certified coach, and author—to talk about how early we should be building mental health and well‑being skills in kids. (Spoiler: much earlier than most people think.) We cover: Why well‑being and “mental health” for kids should start as early as physical healthHow a single caring adult can radically buffer a child from adversity (ACEs vs. PACEs)The science showing that well‑being education boosts grades, graduation rates, and resilienceMegan’s children’s book that turns brain parts into fun characters kids can understand“Mind Bandits” (kids’ version of limiting beliefs) and how to help children name and tame themLarksong’s Superhero Camp: a five‑day experience that teaches kids real tools for stress, emotions, and self‑talkWhy parents and teachers don’t have to be experts to start this work—they just have to startIf you’ve ever wondered: “How young is too young for mindset and mental skills?” or “Am I going to mess my kid up if I try this and don’t know what I’m doing?” …this conversation will give you both the why and some concrete how. 🔗 Learn more about Larksong & Superhero Camp Website & Superhero Camp info: www.larkssong.com/superherocamp (Volunteering, sponsoring, and donating options are all there.) 📚 Megan’s Children’s Book Amy Dala and the Answer Amy Dala and the Answer: 9781087933382: Amazon.com: Books Resilent Parent's Playbook by Mental Mettle Coaching. resilientparentsplaybook.com Contact Coach Thomann matt@mentalmettlecoach.com

    1h 5m

  3. May 18

    Ep. 155: Time on Feet: How Kyle Thompson Uses Adversity to Chase Excellence

    Regional Superintendent and ultramarathoner Kyle Thompson joins The Mental Mettle Podcast to break down how “time on feet” in the mountains has reshaped the way he leads, parents, and lives. Kyle is the Regional Superintendent of ROE #11 in Charleston, Illinois, and a 100-mile finisher who believes deeply in intentional adversity—choosing hard things on purpose so you’re ready for the hard things you don’t choose. In this conversation, we cover: How a simple question from his kids (“What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?”) completely changed his lifeWhy he prefers 90-degree runs, 2 a.m. training sessions, and brutal trail conditionsThe mental and physical battle of his first 100-miler at Grindstone (106 miles, 35+ hours, cold rain, and massive elevation)DNFs, disappointment, and what failure in ultrarunning has taught him about leadershipThe difference between optional adversity (what you choose) and mandatory adversity (what life throws at you)How trail running and ultras have made him a calmer, more resilient leader and parentWe also dig into the work Kyle has done with Mental Mettle Coaching: Why he brought me in to do an 8-session group coaching series with his ROE #11 teamHow that coaching helped his staff with self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and vulnerabilityThe culture shift that happens when a team feels genuinely invested in, not just managedWhy he actively promotes my professional development and coaching to superintendents and schools across his regionIf you’re an educator, coach, or leader who: Wants to build real resilience (not just talk about “grit”)Is curious how endurance training and leadership intersectIs looking for PD that actually focuses on the adults in the room, not another buzzword program…this episode will give you a clear picture of what intentional adversity looks like in real life—and how it can transform both your work and your life. ——— WORK WITH MENTAL METTLE COACHING → Group coaching & PD for schools, districts, and teams → Coaching for educators, leaders, and coaches who want to build real mental mettle matt@mentalmettlecoach.com www.mentalmettlecoach.com Listen, share, and if this resonated, consider passing it along to a leader or educator who needs to hear it.

    1h 9m

  4. May 11

    Ep. 154: Secrets Behind the Third Skill Set: Mental Performance

    Unlock the real difference-maker in sports performance: your mind. In this solo episode of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann reveals the Secrets Behind the Third Skill Set: Mental Performance—the hidden skill set that separates average athletes from consistent peak performers. You already train skills and strength. But if you’re not training your mindset on purpose, you’re leaving a huge part of your potential on the table. In this episode, Coach Thomann breaks down exactly how he coaches mental performance for athletes and why it works: What the “third skill set” is—and why most athletes never train it How neuroplasticity lets you literally rewire your brain for confidence and composure The two keys to lasting mindset change: Recognition + Repetition How to stop wasting energy on uncontrollables and dominate what you can control The ACE Framework (Attitude, Communication, Effort) that athletes write on bags, bats, cleats, and guns (for competitive shooters) How to change your self-talk from brutal and negative to a powerful inner coach Why “positive toughness” and gratitude beat fake positivity and empty slogans How values work explains burnout, frustration, and losing the joy in your sport What an actual mental performance coaching session looks like with real athletes How these mental skills transfer to life: school, relationships, adversity, and career Coach Thomann also shares his personal story—battling cancer, a stroke, PTSD, and panic attacks—and how the same mental skills for athletes he now teaches helped him rebuild his own mindset and life. 🔊 This episode is for you if you’re a… Athlete who chokes under pressure, overthinks, or struggles with confidenceParent who sees your kid spiraling mentally and doesn’t know how to helpCoach who keeps saying “be more mentally tough” but doesn’t have a system to train itYou’ll walk away with a clear picture of what mental performance training is, how it works, and why mastering the third skill set can completely change how you compete and how you handle adversity. 🔗 Free Resource for Parents: Check out Coach Thomann’s free course, The Resilient Parent’s Playbook, to learn how to support your athlete’s mindset at home without accidentally feeding anxiety or negativity.  www.resilientparentsplaybook.com 📩 Interested in Mental Performance Coaching? Coach Thomann works with individual athletes, teams, and schools. To inquire about coaching or PD for coaches, reach out at: matt@mentalmettlecoach.com www.mentalmettlecoach.com Listen to more episodes of The Mental Mettle Podcast for tools, stories, and strategies to help athletes forge real resilience and confidence—on and off the field.

    1h 10m

  5. May 4

    Ep. 153: "Raging Psychopath" to Transformational Coach with Lee Mateer

    In this episode of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann sits down with 24-year coaching veteran and fellow Millikin alum, Coach Lee Mateer of Taylorville High School. By his own words, Lee used to be “the raging psychopath” on the sideline — yelling, screaming, cursing, and tying his entire identity to wins and losses. He was the classic old school, outcome-obsessed coach who wore misery and grittiness like a badge of honor. Then life hit at home. Lee’s transformation didn’t begin at a clinic or in a playbook. It began with deep personal struggle: watching his daughter enter high school and battle an eating disorder rooted in crippling anxiety. Seeing his own child waste away and suffer shook everything he thought he knew about toughness, mental health, and what today’s kids are actually fighting through. That crisis forced him to confront his ego, his fear, and his entire coaching philosophy. In this conversation, we dig into: How an old school “tough guy” coach became the self-described “raging psychopath” on the sidelineHis daughter’s battle with anxiety and an eating disorder—and how it broke him and opened his eyesWhy that personal struggle became the turning point for his coaching, parenting, and faithMoving from yelling, fear, and control to connection, standards, and real trustThe three “sins” he sees in all of us: fear, ego, and laziness—and how they show up in coachesHow trauma and past experiences drive emotional volatility in athletes and adultsBuilding a 17-lesson leadership and character curriculum into his strength programGetting teenage athletes to honestly reflect on jealousy, fear, and toxic masculinityWhy you can still demand toughness and excellence without being a miserable coachHow faith and Scripture reshaped his definition of success on and off the fieldIf you’ve ever felt burned out, bitter, or trapped in the old school vs new school coaching battle—and especially if something at home has made you question everything—this episode will hit close to home. This conversation is exactly what my Ember to Inferno program is about—helping coaches intentionally develop that third skill set: Mental skillsEmotional regulationResponse to adversityProgram standards and culture systemsCoaches go to clinics every year to sharpen their press, their zone defense, their ball-screen offense. But if you truly believe culture > X’s and O’s, your professional development should reflect that. If you’re thinking, “I love this stuff, but I don’t know how to start,” that’s where I come in. Contact: matt@mentalmettlecoach.com for a free coaching session with Coach Thomann www.mentalmettlecoach.com mentalmettle | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree Sign up here for the FREE Resilient Parents Playbook: www.resilientparentsplaybook.com

    1h 10m

  6. Apr 27

    Ep 152: "Throwing it into the pole" with Olympian Joe Brown

    Today’s episode of The Mental Mettle Podcast is all about what you do after you hit rock bottom, in sport and in life. My guest is Olympian discus thrower Joe Brown (@joethethrower on Instagram)—one of only a handful of Division II athletes to make it all the way to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Joe is the: 2019 NCAA Division II national champion in the discus (won on his final attempt)4x USATF national qualifier (every year since 2021)4th place finisher at the 2023 USA Championships, earning a spot on the Pan American Games team (5th place finish)Bronze medalist at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials—again, on his final throw in a historic competition, punching his ticket to ParisCurrently ranked 31st in the world and in the top 100 male discus throwers of all timeBut this conversation is not just a highlight reel. When Joe talks about “throwing it into the pole,” he means it literally—slamming the discus into the metal pole of the cage under massive pressure at the Olympic Trials and nearly knocking himself out of contention. On his very last attempt, with his Olympic dream and his entire career on the line, he had to decide: walk away, or step back into the ring one more time. That moment in the stadium mirrors the rest of his life. Joe opens up about years spent in a destructive loop with alcohol—training hard all week and then erasing it with blackout weekends, drinking alone, using it to numb grief and depression, and “throwing it into the pole” in his own life over and over again. We get into: The resilience it takes to keep fighting after you fall flat on your face on the biggest stageThe mental framework behind being able to win on your final throwThe discipline required to train in solitude with no coach, no teammates, and no cheerleadersHow he handled doubt, depression, grief, and self-sabotage while still chasing an Olympic dreamThe tools he built through construction work with his dad, books, meditation, visualization, and trial and errorWe also dive into Joe’s “Olympic Decisions” series on Instagram—where he breaks tough moments down into simple but powerful choices (confidence or curiosity, belonging or independence, etc.) and uses those choices to come back from failure instead of being crushed by it. If you’ve ever felt like you keep slamming into the same wall—whether in competition, with alcohol, or in your own patterns—Joe’s story is a blueprint for how to step back into the ring and take one more throw. To learn more about the American Paragons Foundation: americanparagons.org For more information about Mental Mettle Coaching: Sign up here for the FREE Resilient Parents Playbook: www.resilientparentsplaybook.com Contact: matt@mentalmettlecoach.com for a free coaching session with Coach Thomann www.mentalmettlecoach.com mentalmettle | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree

    1h 9m

  7. Apr 20

    Ep. 151: Before the Crisis – How Coach Chad Cluver’s Habits Shape Team Adversity Response

    Before the crisis hits, your team has already decided how it will respond. In this episode of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann sits down with IBCA Hall of Fame coach Chad Cluver to unpack how daily habits, standards, and relationships shape a team’s response to adversity long before the big moment arrives. Across 36 years on the sidelines and over 450 career wins, Coach Cluver has built competitive, resilient teams by putting culture before X’s and O’s. In this conversation, we dive into: In this episode, you’ll learn: Why culture must come before schemes—especially when flipping a struggling programHow clearly defining roles, standards, and expectations transforms team chemistryPractical ways to teach emotional regulation, vulnerability, and next-play mentalityHow to train responses to adversity instead of labeling kids as “tough” or “soft”What adversity actually reveals about your preparation, habits, and relationshipsHow to give players real ownership with tools like code words, communication systems, and feedback loopsWhy coaches say culture matters most—but often invest PD time only in X’s and O’sIf you’ve ever thought: “My kids just aren’t mentally tough,”“We fall apart when things get hard,” or“I believe in culture… but I don’t know how to build it,”…this episode will give you both a mindset framework and concrete ideas you can use with your team tomorrow. 🔥 Want Help Building This in Your Program? This conversation is exactly what my Ember to Inferno program is about—helping coaches intentionally develop that third skill set: Mental skillsEmotional regulationResponse to adversityProgram standards and culture systemsCoaches go to clinics every year to sharpen their press, their zone defense, their ball-screen offense. But if you truly believe culture > X’s and O’s, your professional development should reflect that. If you’re thinking, “I love this stuff, but I don’t know how to start,” that’s where I come in. Contact: matt@mentalmettlecoach.com for a free coaching session with Coach Thomann www.mentalmettlecoach.com mentalmettle | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree Sign up here for the FREE Resilient Parents Playbook: www.resilientparentsplaybook.com

    1h 10m

  8. Apr 13

    EP. 150: Do All Your Labor as Unto the Lord: Faith, Failure, and the Hammer with Olympian Alex Young

    On this episode of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Matt sits down with 2020 Olympian and NCAA national champion hammer thrower Alex Young to talk about what it really means to “do all your labor as unto the Lord.” Alex grew up in Laverne, Tennessee as a football and weight-room kid before a high school coach pulled him into track and field. Inspired by watching Reese Hoffa at the Olympics, he took up the throws as a sophomore, went on to win a Tennessee state title in the shot put, and eventually became an NCAA champion in the weight throw and a World Championships finalist in the hammer. But this conversation isn’t just about results—it’s about what happens when they stop coming. Alex and Matt dig into: How Alex discovered throwing and chose track over footballBecoming SLU’s first-ever Division I national championMaking Team USA, the 2020 Olympics, and finishing 12th at Worlds in 2022Then having the worst professional seasons of his career in 2023–2024Losing confidence, changing coaches, and rebuilding from the bottomWhy he now competes for an “audience of One” and what that actually looks likeThe scripture that anchors him: “Do all your labor as unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:23)Learning to truly enjoy the process—even when the outcome hurtsHis thesis on self-talk, neuromuscular efficiency, and why what you say to yourself shows up in your bodyThe difference between real mental toughness and just grinding yourself into the groundHow he talks to younger athletes about finding their “superpower” and building confidence the right wayIf you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or believer who cares about faith, performance, and real resilience—not just motivational slogans—this episode is for you. If you found this helpful, hit subscribe for more conversations on mental performance, resilience, and mindset from athletes across all sports. To learn more about the American Paragons Foundation: americanparagons.org For more information about Mental Mettle Coaching: Sign up here for the FREE Resilient Parents Playbook: www.resilientparentsplaybook.com Contact: matt@mentalmettlecoach.com for a free coaching session with Coach Thomann www.mentalmettlecoach.com mentalmettle | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree

    1h 7m
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About

Helping coaches forge mental toughness in student-athletes

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Thomann
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    159
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Mental Mettle Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Mental Mettle Podcast

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