Student Athlete Performance

Nick Lemke
  • 5.0 (4)
  • SPORTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

🎙️ Train Smarter. Fuel Better. Get Recruited. The Student Athlete Performance Podcast helps you maximize performance, improve nutrition, and stand out in recruiting. Hosted by Nick Lemke, RD, each episode features elite athletes, coaches, and experts sharing proven strategies on training, recovery, mindset, and college recruiting. Whether you’re an athlete, parent, or coach, get the tools you need to level up in sports and beyond. 📌 New episodes weekly—subscribe now!

  1. How Athletes Keep Going When Everything Feels Stacked Against Them

    2D AGO

    How Athletes Keep Going When Everything Feels Stacked Against Them

    Some athletes quit because they’re not good enough.Most quit because the road gets harder than they expected. In this episode, Nick sits down with Nate Paxton, whose journey includes homelessness, walking on to a Division I football program (Georgia State), earning a scholarship, playing professional football, and later returning to the college game as a coach. Nate shares what it took to keep showing up when everything felt stacked against him and how faith, discipline, and perspective shaped his path. This conversation is about resilience, delayed progress, and trusting the process when results don’t come on your timeline. What’s been the hardest part of your journey so far? 👉 Next week: Nate returns to break down the recruiting side of football: how athletes actually get seen, how to communicate with coaches, and how effort, consistency, and humility separate those who get opportunities from those who don’t. If you’re trying to figure out recruiting right now, don’t miss that episode. Connect with Nate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/npaxton98X (Twitter): https://x.com/Godsgift_Nate Follow Nick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerdX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/nicklemkerd

    32 min
  2. What Changes After You Commit Division 1 (And What Doesn’t)

    FEB 3

    What Changes After You Commit Division 1 (And What Doesn’t)

    Committing Division 1 sounds like the finish line. For most athletes, it’s where the pressure actually starts. In this episode, Nick sits down with Drew Wicklander, a 2026 baseball player committed to University of Portland, to walk through his full high school journey. From being the skinny freshman told he wasn’t physical enough, to transforming his body, committing D1, and navigating new challenges after that commitment. They break down slumps, setbacks, nutrition mistakes, training balance, staying consistent after success, and what actually matters for long-term development. Have you ever got COMFORTABLE because you got an offer, a spot on a team, etc.? Follow Drew IG: https://www.instagram.com/drew4wicklander/ Follow Nick IG: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerdX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/nicklemkerd

    27 min
  3. How Baseball Players Know When They’re Ready for the Next Level

    JAN 27

    How Baseball Players Know When They’re Ready for the Next Level

    How do baseball players actually know when they’re ready for the next level? In this episode, Nick sits down with Rob Hardy, a minor league pitching coach in the Chicago White Sox organization, to break down what real baseball development actually looks like. Rob shares why dominating your current level matters more than chasing exposure, how players should think about velocity in context, and the difference between training to improve versus just staying busy. They also discuss fall development windows, honest self-evaluation, injury risk, and why players who rush levels often stall long-term. This episode is essential for high school baseball players and parents trying to understand development timelines and next steps. Do you feel like you’re actually developing right now — or just staying busy? Connect with Rob Hardy X (Twitter): https://x.com/robhardy25 Follow Nick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerdX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/nicklemkerd

    37 min
  4. How High School Football Players Actually Get Recruited

    JAN 20

    How High School Football Players Actually Get Recruited

    Too many high school football players think recruiting happens to them.In reality, recruiting only works when athletes learn how to advocate for themselves. In this episode, Nick sits down with Jason Thedsombandith, head football coach at Redmond High School and former Division 1 assistant coach and recruiting assistant, to break down how recruiting actually works behind the scenes. They dive into Twitter as a recruiting tool, what college coaches really look for in game film, common mistakes athletes make with messaging, and how being realistic and proactive can completely change an athlete’s opportunities. This episode is a must-listen for high school football players and parents navigating the recruiting process. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason_theds/X (Twitter): https://x.com/CoachTheds Follow Nick: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerdX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/nicklemkerd

    38 min
  5. What High School Baseball Players Should Focus on When Time Is Limited | College Coach Perspective

    JAN 13

    What High School Baseball Players Should Focus on When Time Is Limited | College Coach Perspective

    When time feels limited and pressure is high, most high school baseball players try to do everything. More training. More metrics. More showcases. More stress. In this episode, Nick sits down with Jake Lindmeier, assistant baseball coach at Brookhaven College, to break down what actually matters for player development when results aren’t coming as fast as you want. They talk honestly about chasing metrics vs playing the game, understanding your role, building routines instead of doing random work, and what college coaches truly notice beyond numbers. This episode is for athletes and parents who feel behind, overwhelmed, or unsure what to prioritize.If you only had 5 months to get recruited, what would you focus on? Connect with Jake Lindmeier Twitter/X: https://x.com/jakelindy2021Follow Nick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerdTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nicklemkerdTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/nicklemkerd

    30 min
  6. How High School Athletes Can Handle Rejection, Setbacks, and Delayed Progress

    JAN 6

    How High School Athletes Can Handle Rejection, Setbacks, and Delayed Progress

    What do you do when you’re doing everything right, but the results still aren’t there? In this episode, Nick sits down with Hartnell College baseball player Boston Stanley to talk about rejection, setbacks, and delayed progress in high school athletics. From recruiting uncertainty to training plateaus and nutrition for leaning out, this conversation breaks down what actually matters when effort doesn’t immediately turn into outcomes. This episode is for athletes and parents navigating frustration, feeling behind, or questioning whether the work is worth it. What’s one area where you feel stuck or behind right now? 📲 Follow Nick Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd⁠TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@nicklemkerd⁠Twitter/X: ⁠https://twitter.com/nicklemkerd⁠

    33 min
  7. How Athletes Win in 2026 Without Doing More

    12/30/2025

    How Athletes Win in 2026 Without Doing More

    Athletes don’t fall behind because they don’t work hard enough. They fall behind because they work hard on the wrong things. As 2026 approaches, the athletes who separate themselves won’t be the busiest. They’ll be the most focused. In this episode, Nick breaks down how athletes actually win in 2026 by getting clear, simplifying their inputs, protecting their energy, and setting minimum standards that create momentum even when life gets busy. This is about clarity, alignment, and doing what actually moves the needle. What feels like it’s draining your time or energy the most right now? Follow Nick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerdTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nicklemkerdTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/nicklemkerd

    20 min
  8. The Hard Truth Athletes Need to Hear Before 2026

    12/23/2025

    The Hard Truth Athletes Need to Hear Before 2026

    Heading into 2026, a lot of athletes think the answer is simple: train harder, sacrifice more, and push through. But the truth is this: doing more is often the reason athletes burn out, plateau, or walk away from a sport they once loved. In this episode, Nick breaks down why identity-based pressure is crushing today’s athletes, why burnout isn’t laziness, and how clarity, recovery, and alignment matter more than endless grinding. This conversation connects training, nutrition, sleep, and mental load, and explains why the athletes who last actually do things differently. What feels hardest right now—burnout, pressure, or feeling stuck? Follow Nick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerdTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nicklemkerdTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/nicklemkerd

    26 min
See All (131)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

🎙️ Train Smarter. Fuel Better. Get Recruited. The Student Athlete Performance Podcast helps you maximize performance, improve nutrition, and stand out in recruiting. Hosted by Nick Lemke, RD, each episode features elite athletes, coaches, and experts sharing proven strategies on training, recovery, mindset, and college recruiting. Whether you’re an athlete, parent, or coach, get the tools you need to level up in sports and beyond. 📌 New episodes weekly—subscribe now!

Information