383 episodes

The Way of Champions Podcast is brought to you by Changing the Game Project and hosted by Changing the Game founder John O'Sullivan. Each week we connect you with the top minds in sports, coaching, leadership, and building championship programs so you can take your athletes and teams to the next level.

Way of Champions Podcast John O'Sullivan

    • Sport

The Way of Champions Podcast is brought to you by Changing the Game Project and hosted by Changing the Game founder John O'Sullivan. Each week we connect you with the top minds in sports, coaching, leadership, and building championship programs so you can take your athletes and teams to the next level.

    #378 John and Jerry Discuss our New Book The Champion Sports Parent, Managing Loss and Disappointment, and More

    #378 John and Jerry Discuss our New Book The Champion Sports Parent, Managing Loss and Disappointment, and More

    Welcome to a new edition of one of our famous fireside chats, where John and Jerry discuss some of the common questions we receive. This week we are discussing our new book The Champion Sports Parent, which will be released in late summer. The book is a companion to our 2023 bestseller The Champion Teammate, and is a guide to help  parents be the best they can be for their kids. We break down some of the chapters and themes and ways parents can help their athletes perform their best and become a champion teammate while using sports to fulfill a higher purpose in your child's human development.
    We also announce some exciting news, our third speaker for our August 9-11 Way of champions Conference in Denver, CO. We will be joined by Chris Armas, head coach for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.  Chris has been a long time MLS Head and assistant coach, as well as assistant at Manchester United and Leeds of the English Premier League. Chris played over 60 times for the US mens National Team, was the 2001 US Soccer Player of the year, and a 6x MLS all star. Chris wil be joined by fellow guest presenters all time winningest NCAA Basketball coach Tara VanDerveer from Stanford and 2x World Cup USA Rugby Coach Pete Steinberg!
    REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 WAY OF CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE IS OPEN! Save $100 if you sign up prior to June 30, and save 50% per person for groups of five or more. We are headed back to Denver, CO August 9-11 at Colorado Academy. Our hotel blocks do fill up, so join Jerry, John and a panel of  all star guest speakers for the coaching event of the summer. Click here to register and learn more.
    PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS! Programs such as UNC soccer and lacrosse, Syracuse lacrosse, Stanford Lacrosse, Middlebury College, Colby College, Rutgers University, and many other champions are using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next?
    Click here to visit John’s author page on Amazon
    Click here to visit Jerry’s author page on Amazon
    Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone.
    This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports.  Sprocket Sports is a new software platform for youth sports clubs.  There are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams.
    Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs.  So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at https://sprocketsports.me/CTG.
    Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will have access to never before released and bonus material, including:
    Downloadable transcripts of our best podcasts, so you don’t have to crash your car trying to take notes! A code to get free access to our online course called “Coaching Mastery,” usually a $97 course,

    • 58 min
    #377 Jamie Mittelman, Host of Flame Bearers Podcast, on the Importance of Telling the Stories of Women Olympians and Paralympians

    #377 Jamie Mittelman, Host of Flame Bearers Podcast, on the Importance of Telling the Stories of Women Olympians and Paralympians

    Jamie Mittleman (@flamebearers) is the Founder & Host of Flame Bearers. Founded while Jamie was receiving her Masters of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, Flame Bearers is the first global storytelling platform celebrating the stories of women Olympians and Paralympians. From household names to unsung heroes around the world, each featured story highlights the successes, struggles, and social issues that drive the world’s most prestigious athletes. Flame Bearers brings these champions’ stories to life via podcasts, videos, and live events. Jamie also has her MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and a Bachelors in International Studies from Middlebury College. A believer that it’s hard to be what you can’t see, Jamie is passionate about elevating voices that have historically been underrepresented and championing role models from all corners of the world. Today she shares those stories and some of her own, with Jerry and John.
    Website: http://flamebearers.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flame-bearers/
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FlameBearersPodcast
    Twitter: @flame_bearers: https://twitter.com/flame_bearers
    Instagram: @flamebearers: https://www.instagram.com/flamebearers/
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flamebearers
    REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 WAY OF CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE IS OPEN! Save $100 if you sign up prior to June 30, and save 50% per person for groups of five or more. We are headed back to Denver, CO August 9-11 at Colorado Academy. Our hotel blocks do fill up, so join Jerry, John and a panel of  all star guest speakers for the coaching event of the summer including all time winningest NCAA Basketball coach Tara VanDerveer from Stanford and 2x World Cup USA Rugby Coach Pete Steinberg! Click here to register and learn more.
    PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS! Programs such as UNC soccer and lacrosse, Syracuse lacrosse, Stanford Lacrosse, Middlebury College, Colby College, Rutgers University, and many other champions are using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next?
    Click here to visit John’s author page on Amazon
    Click here to visit Jerry’s author page on Amazon
    Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone.
    This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports.  Sprocket Sports is a new software platform for youth sports clubs.  There are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams.
    Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs.  So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at https://sprocketsports.me/CTG.
    Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will have access to never before released and bonus material, including:
    Downloadable tran

    • 59 min
    #376 Margaret Domka and Dr. Skye Arthur Banning from the US Center for Mental Health and Sport

    #376 Margaret Domka and Dr. Skye Arthur Banning from the US Center for Mental Health and Sport

    Margaret Domka is the Executive Director for the US Center for Mental Health and Sport (@mentalhealthandsport). She is a PhD Candidate at Clemson University where her research focus is mental health and sport. Additionally, she has done work in bringing mental health and sport initiatives to Veterans, individuals with paralysis, and Paralympic athletes. She is an ACT! Mental Health Awareness Certification and Mental Health First Aid instructor and holds the International Olympic Committee’s Certificate on Mental Health in Elite Sport. Margaret is also a former FIFA Women's World Cup referee and served on the USA panel of FIFA referees for 10 years. She continues to referee blind soccer, for the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football, and for Special Olympics. She also serves on the USYS Midwest Region Referee Advisory Committee and the USYS DE&I Committee.
    Dr. Skye Arthur-Banning is an associate professor at Clemson University who has been awarded over $1 million in grants to bring mental health and sport initiatives to Veterans, individuals with paralysis, and Paralympic athletes and is a Mental Health First Aid certified instructor. He is the head of officials for the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football, on the board of directors for the United States Association for Blind Athletes, a US Soccer National Referee Coach, and a former US Soccer National Referee.
    Today on the podcast we discuss the importance of bringing awareness to athlete, coach and parent mental health, the stigma against seeking help when you are struggling mentally, identity and performance in sport, and how to understand the spectrum of ailments ranging from serious mental disorders to the everyday simple struggles in sport that are not signs of declines in mental  health.
    Here is a link to the article in the Atlantic that we discuss regarding prevalence inflation. 
    Website: www.mentalhealthandsport.org
    REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 WAY OF CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE IS OPEN! Save $100 if you sign up prior to June 30, and save 50% per person for groups of five or more. We are headed back to Denver, CO August 9-11 at Colorado Academy. Our hotel blocks do fill up, so join Jerry, John and a panel of  all star guest speakers for the coaching event of the summer including all time winningest NCAA Basketball coach Tara VanDerveer from Stanford and 2x World Cup USA Rugby Coach Pete Steinberg! Click here to register and learn more.
    PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS! Programs such as UNC soccer and lacrosse, Syracuse lacrosse, Stanford Lacrosse, Middlebury College, Colby College, Rutgers University, and many other champions are using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next?
    Click here to visit John's author page on Amazon
    Click here to visit Jerry's author page on Amazon
    Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone.
    This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports.  Sprocket Sports is a new software platform for youth sports clubs.  There are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams.
    Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs.  So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at https://sprocketsports.me/CTG.
    Becom

    • 1 hr 7 min
    #375 Graham Betchart, Mental Performance Coach for UConn Mens Basketball and NBA All Stars, on Playing Present, the "Palms Down" Approach, and Being Your Authentic Self

    #375 Graham Betchart, Mental Performance Coach for UConn Mens Basketball and NBA All Stars, on Playing Present, the "Palms Down" Approach, and Being Your Authentic Self

    For over 20 years Graham Betchart has worked as a mental performance coach with the worlds top athletes and companies and is now sharing his wisdom through keynote speaking and music. For the past two years he has worked with University of Connecticut Men's Basketball Players, winning back to back NCAA titles, and has also worked with the NBA's Sacramento Kings as well as a who's who of individual NBA stars. 
    His gift is simplifying mental training and making it accessible for all. His unique vibe adn authenticity comes through in our chat, as well as through his videos and music he creates ot develop more mindful, mentally tough performers. His method and teachings are included in his two books Play Present (2014) and Founder (2023), and his website is www.capitolacoaching.com. You will want a pen and paper for this one as you will have a lot of notes to take!
    REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 WAY OF CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE IS OPEN! Save $100 if you sign up prior to June 30, and save 50% per person for groups of five or more. We are headed back to Denver, CO August 9-11 at Colorado Academy. Our hotel blocks do fill up, so join Jerry, John and a panel of  all star guest speakers for the coaching event of the summer including all time winningest NCAA Basketball coach Tara VanDerveer from Stanford and 2x World Cup USA Rugby Coach Pete Steinberg! Click here to register and learn more.
    PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS!: Programs such as UNC soccer and lacrosse, Syracuse lacrosse, Stanford Lacrosse, Middlebury College, Colby College, Rutgers University, and many other champions are using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next?
    Please click here and grab yourself a copy of The Champion Teammate today.  
    Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone.
    This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports.  Sprocket Sports is a new software platform for youth sports clubs.  There are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams.
    Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs.  So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at https://sprocketsports.me/CTG.
    Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will have access to never before released and bonus material, including:
    Downloadable transcripts of our best podcasts, so you don’t have to crash your car trying to take notes! A code to get free access to our online course called “Coaching Mastery,” usually a $97 course, plus four other courses worth over $100, all yours for free for becoming a patron. Other special bonus opportunities that come up time to time Access to an online community of coaches like you who are dedicated listeners of the podcast, and will be able to answer

    • 1 hr 22 min
    #374 Angela Hucles Mangano, 2x Olympic Gold Medalist for USWNT Soccer and General Manager of Angel City FC on Leadership and Building a Values-based Sports Environment

    #374 Angela Hucles Mangano, 2x Olympic Gold Medalist for USWNT Soccer and General Manager of Angel City FC on Leadership and Building a Values-based Sports Environment

    Angela Hucles Mangano is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist for US Soccer, two-time World Cup Bronze Medalist, former professional soccer player and the US Soccer Foundation’s 2009 Humanitarian of the Year.  She is currently the General Manager of Los Angeles’ women’s professional soccer team, Angel City FC, overseeing the sporting vision of the club, and all soccer operations including coaching, the first team, player care, medical and performance, sports science, and all wellness programs and resources.
     
    Her passion is in helping others achieve their goals and dreams and has over 35 years experience in the sports industry.  Angela has become a regular speaker on topics of leadership and the power of sport and its impact on personal growth and development. 
     
    Angela is a Past President of the Women’s Sports Foundation, founded by Billie Jean King, and was a soccer analyst for FOX, ESPN, and NBC during the Women’s World Cups, Olympic games, and ACC / SEC women’s and men’s college soccer.  
     
    She is also a founding owner Angel City FC,  along with Natalie Portman, Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm and other US Soccer stars. Angela received a B.A. degree in Anthropology from the University of Virginia’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences in 2000.
     
    REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 WAY OF CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE IS OPEN! Save $100 if you sign up prior to June 30, and save 50% per person for groups of five or more. We are headed back to Denver, CO August 9-11 at Colorado Academy. Our hotel blocks do fill up, so join Jerry, John and a panel of  all star guest speakers for the coaching event of the summer including all time winningest NCAA Basketball coach Tara VanDerveer from Stanford and 2x World Cup USA Rugby Coach Pete Steinberg! Click here to register and learn more. 
    PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS!: Programs such as UNC soccer and lacrosse, Syracuse lacrosse, Stanford Lacrosse, Middlebury College, Colby College, Rutgers University, and many other champions are using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? 
    Please click here and grab yourself a copy of The Champion Teammate today.  
    Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone.
    This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports.  Sprocket Sports is a new software platform for youth sports clubs.  There are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. 
    Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs.  So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at https://sprocketsports.me/CTG.
    Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will have access to never before released and bonus material, including:
    Downloadable transcripts of our be

    • 1 hr 7 min
    #373 Pete Steinberg, Former World Cup and Olympic Coach for USA Women's Rugby, on Leadership, Coach Well-being, and the Difference Between a Great Culture and a Performance Culture

    #373 Pete Steinberg, Former World Cup and Olympic Coach for USA Women's Rugby, on Leadership, Coach Well-being, and the Difference Between a Great Culture and a Performance Culture

    Pete Steinberg is a leadership and innovation expert with extensive experience consulting with top Fortune 500 professionals. He also has more than 20 years of experience as an elite rugby coach, coaching the USA Women’s Rugby Team at two World Cups and the Rio Olympics. As a former U.S., international, and Olympic sports coach and commentator for major outlets such as CBS, ESPN, and Fox Sports, Pete has a track record of bringing teams to victory. He has won 11 National Championships with the Penn State Women, MARFU Men, and Temple Women rugby teams. He has also worked with the Men’s Eagles and other age-grade programs within the U.S. National team pathway. Pete was the Head of Coach Development for USA Rugby, leading the program as it became integrated into the World Rugby programs.
    Pete is also the President of Innovative Thought, a business consultancy focused on leadership and organizational development. He supports clients in the areas of innovation, leadership, strategic planning, marketing, recruiting and organizational development. Pete works regularly as an executive coach for senior executives of global companies.
    Website: https://www.petesteinberg.com/
    Consulting Website: https://www.innovative-thought.com/
    Book Page: https://www.petesteinberg.com/book
    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Steinberg
    LinkedIn: @Pete Steinberg and @Innovative Thought
    Facebook: @Innovative Thought
    REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 WAY OF CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE IS OPEN! Save $100 if you sign up prior to June 30, and save 50% per person for groups of five or more. We are headed back to Denver, CO August 9-11 at Colorado Academy. Our hotel blocks do fill up, so join Jerry, John and a panel of soon to be named all star guest speakers for the coaching event of the summer! Click here to register and learn more. 
    PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS!: Programs such as UNC soccer and lacrosse, Syracuse lacrosse, Stanford Lacrosse, Middlebury College, Colby College, Rutgers University, and many other champions are using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? 
    Please click here and grab yourself a copy of The Champion Teammate today.  
    Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone.
    This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports.  Sprocket Sports is a new software platform for youth sports clubs.  There are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. 
    Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs.  So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at https://sprocketsports.me/CTG.
    Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will have access to never before released and bonus material, including:
    Downloadable t

    • 1 hr 26 min

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