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ATHLETE 1 PODCAST

Episodes

Why Baseball Celebrations Are Hurting The Game
May 6, 2026

Why Baseball Celebrations Are Hurting The Game

Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow: X | Instagram @Athlete1Podcast Website - https://www.athlete1.net Sponsor : The Netting Professionals https://www.nettingpros.com
What Every Baseball Coach Struggles With During the Season (How Coaches Fix It)
April 29, 2026

What Every Baseball Coach Struggles With During the Season (How Coaches Fix It)

Send us Fan Mail High school baseball seasons rarely fall apart because of talent. More often, it’s the challenges that show up during the season that quietly pull a team off track. So we asked four experienced coaches one question every coach eventually faces: What is the toughest in-season challe…
The 5 Biggest Lessons from 200 Baseball Coaching Conversations
April 22, 2026

The 5 Biggest Lessons from 200 Baseball Coaching Conversations

Send us Fan Mail Two hundred episodes sounds like a number until you realize what it represents: 200 chances to sit down with real coaches and talk about what actually builds players. I’m Coach Ken Carpenter, and this milestone is my thank-you note to every coach listening on the way to practice, a…
Can You Pitch in College Without Throwing 90? Here's How
April 15, 2026

Can You Pitch in College Without Throwing 90? Here's How

Send us Fan Mail The radar gun is loud, but it is not the whole story. I sit down with Crown College recruiting coordinator and pitching coach Ryan Vondracek, a former undersized high school lefty who barely touched 80 and still carved out a standout college pitching career. If you coach or play in…
Cal Ripken Jr. Wrestling Before Games? MLB Stories You Won’t Believe
April 8, 2026

Cal Ripken Jr. Wrestling Before Games? MLB Stories You Won’t Believe

Send us Fan Mail The majors look glamorous from the stands, but the real game is the pressure, the travel, and the personalities you share a clubhouse with. I’m joined by former MLB outfielder and longtime minor league manager Brad Komminsk, and he takes me straight into the moments most fans never…
Can You Really Give Baseball Players 'Permission to Fail' and Still Win?
April 1, 2026

Can You Really Give Baseball Players 'Permission to Fail' and Still Win?

Send us Fan Mail Your smoothest pregame infielder turns into a statue when the game starts, and you can almost see the thoughts rushing in. That flip isn’t random, and it isn’t a mystery flaw in his mechanics. It’s FOMU: the fear of messing up. I walk through why today’s Gen Z and Gen Alpha players…
5 Competitive Drills Every Baseball Coach Should Steal
March 25, 2026

5 Competitive Drills Every Baseball Coach Should Steal

Send us Fan Mail You can tell within the first few pitches whether a high school baseball team has been coached with intention. It's not on the scoreboard — it's in how they carry themselves, communicate on the field, and respond when things go sideways. Dell Lever, head coach at Chapin High School…
Why High School Umpires Are Quitting And How Coaches Can Fix It
March 18, 2026

Why High School Umpires Are Quitting And How Coaches Can Fix It

Send a text Last year, one state lost nearly a third of its umpires and not to retirement. They simply stopped showing up. I’m Coach Ken Carpenter, and I’m putting you in the plate shoes for a few minutes so you can feel what your local officials feel on a Tuesday afternoon after an eight-hour work…
The One Decision That Decides Most Baseball Games
March 11, 2026

The One Decision That Decides Most Baseball Games

Send a text The swing that wins on a showcase doesn’t always win with two strikes and a runner on second. We sat down with Cloverleaf head coach Aaron DeBord to unpack how to build hitters who make better in-game decisions, how to train under pressure, and how to align high school and travel progra…
Want More Playing Time? These 3 Habits Separate You From Everyone Else
March 4, 2026

Want More Playing Time? These 3 Habits Separate You From Everyone Else

Send a text If you’re banking on raw talent to carry you, this conversation will feel like a wake-up call. We break down the real separator in high school baseball—consistency—and show how it outperforms flash, hype, and one big showcase swing. From running out grounders during a slump to throwing …
The Most Important Trait Great Catchers Share—and How to Build Your Program Around It
Feb. 25, 2026

The Most Important Trait Great Catchers Share—and How to Build Your Program Around It

Send a text Looking for the blueprint to develop a catcher who actually wins you games—and a program that players never want to leave? We sit down with Gaetano Gianni, former Reds draft pick and 2025 NHSBCA Region 7 Coach of the Year, to unpack the skill stack that matters behind the plate and the …
7 Ways to Flip Your Inner Voice From Fear to Confidence
Feb. 18, 2026

7 Ways to Flip Your Inner Voice From Fear to Confidence

Send a text Pressure finds you in baseball—the question is whether your mind helps or hijacks the moment. We pulled back the curtain on the inner voice that shows up with two outs and the game on the line, and shared a simple system to turn stinking thinking into calm, repeatable execution. Drawing…
Cold-Weather Baseball Coaching: Practice Design That Works in the Midwest
Feb. 11, 2026

Cold-Weather Baseball Coaching: Practice Design That Works in the Midwest

Send a text Ever wonder how a Hall of Fame coach keeps his team sharp when the forecast says 30 degrees and snow? We sit down with Jeff Mielcarek, head coach at Toledo Central Catholic, to unpack the hard choices, smart practice design, and durable culture that thrive in northern Ohio. From heated …