Good Stuff Sports

Jeremy Bhandari wrote a tremendous book for young atheletes called 'Trust the Grind'. I talked to Jeremy about some of the lessons that can be found in the book, and we barely scratched the surface. There is so much knowledge and insight from championship caliber athletes from a variety of different sports from MMA to the NFL that any young athlete will gain something to enhance their mental and physical performance.

There's really not a cooler sound than a tennis ball being hit. I can't even do an impression. I love tennis. It's a great game. I was so excited to talk to Esther Forrester from Brainiac Tennis about her program, and what she does. Now get out there and work on your backhand! Deuce!

Happy Thanksgiving! Getting the opportunity to speak to the ground breaking and barrier smashing Dr. Jen Welter was a privilege. We talked about football, and never letting an obstacle stand in the way of our dreams. Dr. Jen was the first female coach to work on an NFL sideline. She played tackle football, and we got into a fairly in depth conversation about the difference between having football instinct and being coachable. It was so interesting to hear about how her education has helped her to be a successful coach. Make sure you check out when Dr. Jen is coming to your town to lead a football clinic.

It's time for a lesson in GaGa! The sport of champions that so many grew up playing at summer camps. Talon Athletics is going to bring the joy and competition of GaGa to you. It's time to get in the pit for some rage in the cage! Talon Athletics hosts GaGa tournaments and camps, so check them out. Armond and Scott know what they're talking about and they'll make you a GaGa believer!

This is the coolest. I talked to Jonathan Horton who is an author, speaker, ninja warrior, and medal winning Olympic gymnast. It was amazing to hear Jonathan's story and talk about his athletic achievements. We talked about his book, 'If I Had Known: Life Lessons From An Olympic Pro Athlete', his experiences at the Olympics, his training, risk taking, and his time as a competitor on American Ninja Warrior. Jonathan's openness and honesty when talking about what it takes to be an elite athlete was eye opening for me as I have never gotten the chance to hear the details that go into the life of a world class gymnast.

Sometimes things don't work out the way we plan. That's the case for EZ the main character in Bob Katz's "EZ And The Intangibles". It's a basketball story, but more so it's a story of resilience that young athletes will relate to and learn from. Bob and I talked about hoops, refereeing, youth sports, and about his book. Enjoy!

Joel did it! He hiked the entire Wild West Trail. It was great to catch up with Joel Salvino, and I was amazed and in awe as he shared his stories and triumphs from his (long) time on the trail and off the grid. You can actually see some of the amazing wilderness that Joel hiked on his youtube channel. It's worth a watch. Were there bears? I don't know! You'll have to listen to find out. Check out the Wild West Trail Instagram as well. Such beautiful photos! Photo cred: Joel Salvino (@the_WWT)

I had a blast talking with Frank Gallo from Rolie Polie Guacamole about his bands brand new song 'Ay Batta Batta'. The band's first new single since 2014! It's the perfect soundtrack to your World Series viewing. It'll get the littlest little leaguer and the biggest big leaguer pumped to swing the bat and catch some fly balls! Frank and I had a wide ranging chat about training for the New York Marathon, Primus, and the greatness of Randy 'Macho Man' Savage. To hear more from Frank you can always go back to episode #134 where I talk to Frank and his dad Lou about their 'Like Father Like Son' project.

Team Handball! It's an Olympic Sport and it is so fun to play. I talked to Mila Manevska from the DC Diplomats who taught me all about this incredible sport. You'll really understand how this is a global sport and why so many people really love to play the game!

I got a chance to speak to Molly Stinson from Kids Obstacle Challenge. It was awesome. We talked about what Kids Obstacle Challenge is and how much fun kids have participating and getting ultra muddy. She also assured me that it wouldn't be too difficult for a fella like me (out of shape dad-type). Give it a listen and if you're in the Bay Area you can sign up using discount code GOODSTUFF15 for their upcoming event on September 15 and 16. Use this code for each registration and receive 15% off any wave time until sales end on September 15, 2018, at 8 p.m.! Nice!

If you need inspiration to get outdoors and see the world then you have got to check out Hiker Steve. He's all about helping people cultivate their passion for being outside. In many cases it's a family affair for him too. He loves to hike with his son. Be sure to check out his website to stay updated on everything that he's up to. He shares many beautiful photos and is a very good social media-er.

Lisa and Mike like to go on vacation. Don't you? The main difference is that Lisa and Mike like to go on bicycle vacations. They ride their bikes everywhere! They've even started bringing their kids along. They document their trips of their Youtube Channel. You'll learn a lot from hearing how they prepare and be super jealous of some of the places that they've been! Here's a special treat - Mike also has a career as a musician for kids! He's the guy behind 7 kids albums, Howdy Toons and Rainbow Songs (a kids music program) You won't want to miss that part of the conversation. Stick around for his gargantuan song 'Gigantosaurus'.

Have you ever done any long distance backpacking or hiking? I've tried a little, with no success. Joel Salvino on the other hand loves it! So much so that he's trying to create a new connected trail system called the Wild West Trail in the Idaho area that would be the HUGE! I learned a ton during this talk about supplies and gear and what it takes to plan for a long hike.

The Canadian National Pond Hockey Championships! What are the Canadian Pond Hockey Championships? You'll need to listen to the source, John Teljeur, teach us about what makes Pond Hockey different. It sounds like a complete blast. In fact, it sounds like "Pondemonium" (that's not my joke. I wish I were that clever).

Courtney Miller is an award-winning women's lacrosse player. She taught me a lot about women's lacrosse throughout the course of this conversation. She has played at the D1 college level, and has been playing for the Israeli National Women's Team for the last several seasons. Courtney has recovered from a torn ACL to return to the sport that she loves. Her story is guaranteed to inspire you.

Jodi Norgaard and Kara Thom from Go! Go! Sports Girls have created some unique and creative sports themed dolls and accompanying stories for girls (or anyone) who love sports. They encourage young athletes to "be fierce and sparkle" as well as the ingenious hashtag #athleteisthenewprincess. It was great to hear how the idea came to be as well as where the dolls have taken Jodi and Kara (ie. The White House!). These dolls make great holiday gifts... if you know what I'm saying.

Nora Ballard is (amongst other things) a film director and her movie 'Waterbabies' is all about synchronized swimming. I was so excited to talk to Nora about what she learned about those who compete in synchronized swimming. It's a sport that I don't know much about at all. As you'll hear, Nora learned quite a bit about how they practice, and how synchronized swimming is a metaphor for life. You can watch Nora's movie right here: https://vimeo.com/122649495

Hockey is a great sport. It's fast paced and so fun to watch live. I had never thought about what it would be like to be a parent to a young hockey player. Luckily, I had a resource to fill me in. Neil Wattier, who is the host of The Hockey Parent Podcast, shared his experiences living the life of a hockey family. I learned a ton about the game and about the dedication that it takes to help a young athlete realize their dreams. Be sure to subscribe to Neil's show, and tell a friend about Good Stuff Sports as well!

Toby Pechner joins me on Episode 6 of Good Stuff Sports to talk about his love of the San Francisco Giants as well as his time as a "Ball Dude" with the team. Ever wondered about what ball boys/bat boys do? What's the game like for them? Toby has answers! He also makes a bet with Zachy about who will win the Superbowl (we recorded a while ago). You need to hear that. Additionally, Assistant Producer Zachy joins me to give his prediction for the upcoming Baseball season. Spring is here! Let's play ball!

Mini Golf! You love it, I love it, everyone loves it! Mr. Tee (Tom) and The Pink Putter (Robin) take their love of Mini Golf to an amazing level. They have a website called a A Couple of Putts where they review various mini golf courses around the country. They've also designed several mini golf holes, and they shared some awesome advice on how young mini golf enthusiasts can build their own holes at home!