Evolving Athletes Podcast with Coach Vinny

Colby Cohen was scoring championship goals one day and being told he sucked by an NHL coach the next. Most high performers fail because they focus entirely on the physical work while completely ignoring the ecosystem that is actually controlling their mindset. This conversation takes you deep into the brutal reality of the NHL grind and the exact moment an unexpected trade forces you to confront your true identity. We move past the highlight reels to reveal why you cannot win this game alone and why your circle is either your greatest competitive advantage or your biggest psychological liability.  You will learn how to trade the myth of the self made athlete for a radical level of self awareness especially when the system is designed to move on without you the second you stop providing value. By the end of this episode you will understand how to audit your own environment and build a mindset that can sustain the weight of elite performance.  It is time to stop trying to outwork a toxic system and start architecting your own evolution behind the headlines of the NHL. Key Takeaways for Your Evolution The Word Economy: Why speaking less gives you more authority as a leader. The Skinny Pyramid: Why talent is common but character is the filter for the NHL. The Majority Shareholder Model: How to lead through partnership rather than power. The Collective Mindset: Why your mindset is a reflection of who you allow in your circle. Shownotes: 00:00 The Day Colby's NHL Dream Died 06:01 The Danger Of Early Arrogance 10:01 Why You Must Play Up Against Older Peers 20:11 When Talent Is Not Enough To Stay On The Team 27:45 Surviving The National Team Boot Camp 35:44 The Truth Behind The Frozen Four Winning Goal 46:37 The Meeting Where My Coach Said I Sucked 51:03 The High Standard High Support Coaching Model 60:07 The Shock Of A Sudden NHL Trade 73:07 Handling Failure And Identity Shifts 85:56 Transitioning From The Ice To The Broadcast Booth 99:02 Why You Must Audit Your Circle To Win

Most leaders think they are guiding their teams but they are actually just passing on their own stress. If you cannot find peace within yourself, you can never lead others to greatness . In this episode, you will learn how to fix your nervous system and why your body is the best tool you have to heal.   We explain how to find safety in the middle of a mess and why changing the way you talk about your limits can help you get better faster. You will also discover why your identity is not tied to your work and how to start leading with peace.    What You Will Learn In This Episode The Power of Language: Why shifting from "injury" to "limitation" changes your body's ability to heal. Safety in Chaos: How to train your nervous system to stay calm when everything feels like it is falling apart. The Identity Trap: Why your success in business or sports is not who you are . You are the Technology: Why your body is more powerful than any expensive recovery tool you can buy. The Peace Test: The one simple question that reveals if you are leading from trauma or leading from peace.   Shownotes 00:00 - The simple test for leaders who want to win 04:30 - Why your past problems are hurting your team  09:00 - Stop letting your job define who you are  16:00 - The truth about why you give too much to others  22:30 - Change this one word to heal your body faster  33:00 - How to stay calm when everything feels like chaos  39:30 - Why you are the best technology you will ever own  54:50 - The hidden cost of always being stressed  56:10 - Can you pass the peace test right now  58:10 - Simple steps to fix your nervous system today     

He was a top student by day and an addict by night, until a "storm" nearly took his life and changed sports history . George Mumford is the "Mindful Assassin" behind the greatest dynasties in basketball. He is the man Phil Jackson called to teach Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant how to find clarity under the highest pressure on earth. In this episode, Coach Vinny and George Mumford reveal the specific mindset shifts that turn talent into legendary status. George explains how he went from a chaotic childhood of 13 siblings to the Chicago Bulls locker room. You will learn why your thinking dictates your success, how to handle the "stress of success," and how to unlock the "masterpiece" already living inside you. What you will learn in this episode: The Double Life: How George managed being a high-achiever while battling addiction. The Stress of Success: Why the 1993 Bulls needed a mindset coach after winning three championships. The Two Wolves: How to choose between the "Wolf of Fear" and the "Wolf of Love". No Struggle, No Swag: Why the hard times in your life are what create your "swag" and greatness. The Power of Presence: How meditation and being "still" can save your life and improve your game. The 5 Stages of Leadership: Why Michael Jordan had to change how he led his teammates. Mamba Mentality: The truth about how Kobe Bryant used mindfulness to become an "assassin" on the court. Show Notes 00:00 - The man who helped MJ and Kobe win 02:14 - Why great coaches work together 03:50 - Entering the 1993 Chicago Bulls locker room  05:17 - How to handle the stress of being number one  07:58 - Growing up with 13 kids  15:45 - Proving the world wrong when they say you can't  19:47 - The secret: You are what you think about  23:00 - Choosing between fear and love  30:56 - How to start over when life gets hard  38:41 - You are more than your job: The Bill Russell lesson  41:10 - Turning a crisis into a win  46:13 - Leadership lessons from Michael Jordan  51:46 - How to lead a team through "trickle-down" leadership  59:10 - Healing your body with the power of your mind  01:08:00 - The real Mamba Mentality  01:15:55 - How to see the greatness in other people  01:24:00 - How to become your own coach and find silence  01:32:30 - The one truth for the next generation of athletes    

Most people wait for a promotion to lead. C.J. Appenzeller proves that true leadership requires no title, it requires a choice. In this episode, we sit down with C.J. Appenzeller, a man who built a high performance empire from a 180 square foot closet. From training youth athletes to Major League Baseball stars, C.J. reveals the gritty reality of what it takes to grow through struggle. You will learn why clear is kind is the ultimate leadership hack , the simple morning routine that drives world class focus , and why you must never transfer your power to others. Key Takeaways: Leadership Without a Title: Why you must show up as a leader even when you are a small fish in a big pond. Do Not Transfer Your Power: The powerful lesson on refusing to let external circumstances control your internal state. The Grizzled Spirit: How to build the calluses and mental strength required to handle the days you want to quit. Clear is Kind: Why being vague with your team is actually the definition of being mean. The 3 Minute Routine: A simple framework of gratitude, scripture, and leadership study to prime your focus. This is not just a talk about sports, it is a masterclass in becoming the leader your team deserves. Shownotes: 01:47 – Childhood "bracketology" and the first taste of leadership 06:18 – The Motherly advice: Don't transfer your power 18:41 – The coach who threw the glove over the fence and ran away 27:27 – Breaking into a batting cage to start a business 33:36 – The "crippling" anxiety of wanting your athletes to succeed 41:44 – Walking on fire to break a scarcity mindset 50:44 – Silencing the ego to fuel curiosity 51:44 – The 3-minute morning habit for mental clarity 01:03:01 – Clear is Kind: Why being vague is actually mean 01:12:55 – Holding professional athletes focused in a distracted world 01:22:34 – Full Circle: The first pro athlete's retirement message

In this episode of the Evolving Athletes podcast, host Coach Vinny sits down with Ben Mayfield Smith, founder of Matter Athletica, to discuss the brutal reality of what happens when your identity collapses. At 21, Ben lost his professional sports career, his trade, and his future in a single car accident. Facing "learned hopelessness" and the edge of a bridge, he made a decision that changed everything: he refused to let his circumstances have a "second win". This isn't just a story of survival, it's a masterclass in Identity Reconstruction. Ben breaks down his philosophy of Intentional Suffering, explaining how to use high-pressure environments to build "cognitive hypertrophy". If you are currently in the "boring middle" of your development or struggling to align your habits with your goals, this conversation is your blueprint. Key Takeaways: The Second Win: Why Ben chose to live simply to deny his "enemies" another victory. Intentional vs. Passive Suffering: How to choose your struggles so life doesn't choose them for you. Cognitive Hypertrophy: Building mental muscle through physical load. The Identity Trap: Why a 12-week program will never work if you don't change who you are. The Boring Middle: How to survive the isolation that comes with high-level growth. Shownotes: 00:00 The Evolving Athletes Mission 01:26 Introducing Ben Mayfield Smith 05:41 Using AI as a Tool for the Human Brain 07:11 Growing Up in an Australian Pressure Cooker 12:19 The Hard Truth About Fatherly Critique 18:35 A Sacrifice Realized: Perspective on Parents 34:08 The Crash: Losing Sport, Trade, and Self 38:39 The Decision to Live: Denying the "Second Win" 46:12 Why Life is Just One Big Game 56:16 Surviving the "Boring Middle" of Growth 01:06:37 The Science of Intentional Suffering 01:14:58 Rebuilding Identity Through Nutrition 01:22:25 When Coaches Fail Their Clients 01:27:03 The One Truth: Ownership of Effort   Connect with Ben Mayfield-Smith Instagram: @ben_mayfieldsmith_ Connect with Coach Vinny & Evolving Athletes: Instagram: @evolvingathletespodcast Instagram: @coachvinnymalts Listen & Subscribe: YouTube: Evolving Athletes with Coach Vinny If this episode sparked a shift in your perspective, please leave a 5-star review and share it with another athlete looking to evolve. #EvolvingAthletes #Mindset #HighPerformance #Leadership #IdentityTransformation

Justin Kavanaugh (Coach Kav) is one of the most sought-after performance coaches in the world, having guided athletes to medals across six Olympic cycles and working with NFL stars for over two decades. But his path to the top started with a tragedy, falling 25 feet through a roof, breaking his back, and losing his own athletic dreams.   In this episode, Justin dismantles the traditional advice given to high performers. He explains why the popular self-help mantra "how you do one thing is how you do everything" is actually a recipe for burnout. We dive deep into why focusing on your weaknesses is the fastest way to get cut from a team and why you should double down on your strengths instead.   We also discuss: The Athlete's Ear: How to filter out the noise and only listen to the voices that matter. Delusional Ambition: Why you must be delusional about your goals but insanely realistic about your current ability. The Integrity Gap: The shocking difference between integrity in sports and integrity in the business world. Faking It: The skill of "banging on the walls" to satisfy a coach when you disagree with them. Whether you are an athlete chasing a roster spot or an entrepreneur trying to scale, Justin's brutal honesty about what it takes to win will change how you view your daily work.   Shownotes: 00:00 - Introduction 01:25 - The Firefighter Mentality & Hard Work 04:53 - Why "How You Do One Thing" Is A Lie 09:30 - Don't Chase Greatness, Let It Chase You 12:51 - Team Sports vs. Individual Sports Accountability 20:27 - The 3 Pillars Every Coach Needs 25:35 - Developing The "Athlete's Ear" 29:11 - Build A Canoe, Not A Cruise Ship 33:44 - "Banging On The Walls" To Satisfy Coaches 40:54 - Stop Fixing Your Weaknesses 47:36 - Be Delusional About Goals, Realistic About Ability 51:28 - In-Season vs. Off-Season Training Cycles 01:05:39 - The Career-Ending Injury (Falling 25 Feet) 01:17:34 - Applying Sports Strategy To Business Executives 01:21:00 - The Integrity Gap: Business vs. Sports   FOLLOW THE PODCAST ⬇️ Instagram: @evolvingathletespodcast Facebook: @evolvingathletespodcast Tiktok: @evolving.athletes Youtube: @EvolvingAthleteswithCoachVinny   CONNECT WITH COACH VINNY ⬇️ Instagram: @coachvinnymalts LinkedIn: @Vince Malts   CONNECT WITH COACH KAV ⬇️ Website: https://athletehq.com/ Instagram: @coachkav LinkedIn: @justinkavanaugh

Conventional wisdom is always at least 50 years behind what really matters. My coach for the past three years, Dr. Jeff Spencer, joins the Evolving Athletes podcast today for an absolute masterclass in performance. He is the "corner man to champions," having worked with Olympic gold medalists, Tour de France winners, and world-class leaders. This conversation is a direct challenge to the "hustle culture" that dominates sports and business. We reveal the counter-intuitive truths that separate the good from the truly elite. In this episode, we discuss: The #1 myth about "hard work" that is killing your performance. Why your environment (proximity) is more important than your effort. The biological conflict: why your brain is wired for fear, not success. The "foxhole test": The real difference between a boss and a true leader. Why adaptability is the #1 trait of a true professional. The simple "scorecard" that will transform your personal relationships.   Shownotes: 00:00 - Intro 05:50 - The Olympian Dream & The Cannonball 08:40 - The Proximity Principle: Awakening Hidden Talent 15:36 - Moving from "Believing" to "Knowing" 20:13 - The Myth of the "Hardest Worker" 26:15 - Conventional Wisdom is 50 Years Wrong 32:27 - Why Child Prodigies Never Pan Out 36:17 - Your Biology's 24/7 Conflict: Fear vs. Talent 40:48 - The True Definition of a Leader 43:09 - The "Foxhole" Leadership Test 56:15 - Peak Performance Starts at Home 01:05:00 - The "Leaves on the Grate" Relationship Lesson 01:17:17 - The Champion's Mind vs. The Human Mindset 01:25:33 - Why Billions Are Wasted on "Talent" 01:29:13 - The "Spiritual" Side of Team Harmony   FOLLOW THE PODCAST ⬇️ Instagram: @evolvingathletespodcast Facebook: @evolvingathletespodcast Tiktok: @evolving.athletes Youtube: @EvolvingAthleteswithCoachVinny CONNECT WITH COACH VINNY ⬇️ Instagram: @coachvinnymalts LinkedIn: @Vince Malts CONNECT WITH DR. JEFF SPENCER ⬇️ Website: www.drjeffspencer.com Instagram: @dr.jeffspencer LinkedIn: @Dr. Jeff Spencer

What separates a good coach from an elite leader?  How do you build a top-tier career when you have "no traditional pipeline" and the odds are stacked against you? In this leadership masterclass, Vinny Malts sits down with D1 Head Coach Tom Peffall to deconstruct the "blue-collar" mindset that beats the odds. This isn't just a hockey conversation; it's a blueprint for anyone who needs to grind their way to the top. Tom and Vinny are two high-level leaders who share the raw, unconventional truths about what it really takes to succeed. For you, the listener, this episode is packed with actionable frameworks for your own life and career. In this episode, you will learn: - The "Honest, Not Sensitive" framework for building an elite team culture. - Why you must prioritize "Compete" and "Battle" over complex "Systems" . - The "lost art" of proving your value to get your foot in the door when you have no connections. - How to turn your unconventional background into your greatest strength. - The "3 Zones of Mindset" Vinny uses with pro athletes to manage high-pressure situations . This conversation is a powerful lesson in resilience, patience, and the psychology of high performance. (00:00) - Intro: Tom Peffall's Unconventional Path (01:16) - "That's Where It Started For Me": The Evolving Athletes Origin Story (02:31) - How Vinnie & Tom First Met (04:31) - A Lesson in Adaptability  (05:49) - Facing a Future You Can't Predict (07:49) - The Grind to Get In: (10:23) - "That's How I Got to the NHL... Working For Free"  (12:28) - Facing the Brutal Reality of the Grind (15:26) - Why the 9-to-5 "Cubicle Job" Is Not an Option  (17:02) - The "Spiritual Side" of High Performers  (18:21) - The "Philly Edge": How a "Blue Collar Town" Mindset Fuels You  (24:00) - The "Mentor Journal" (29:00) - A Masterclass in Leadership (37:41) - KEY FRAMEWORK: "We're Going To Be Honest, Not Sensitive" (40:03) - The "3 Zones of Mindset" (Offensive, Neutral, Mindless)  (42:30) - KEY PHILOSOPHY: Why "Compete" ALWAYS Beats "Systems"  (47:18) - Leaders Must "Jump in the Foxhole With Them" (48:30) - How to Model "Compete" as a Leader  (53:39) - "You Can't Fake Action... That's Your Reputation"  (57:28) - A Leader's True Legacy: "I Hope It Has Nothing to Do With Hockey"   FOLLOW THE PODCAST ⬇️ Instagram: @evolvingathletespodcast Facebook: @evolvingathletespodcast Tiktok: @evolving.athletes Youtube: @EvolvingAthleteswithCoachVinny CONNECT WITH COACH VINNY ⬇️ Instagram: @coachvinnymalts LinkedIn: @Vince Malts

What if you could reduce concussions by 85%... not with a new helmet or more neck strengthening, but by training your eyes? This week, Coach Vinny Malts sits down with Dylan Seeley , a performance coach and chiropractor whose work in brain health, nutrition , and vision training is so advanced, he jokingly calls it "witchcraft". After his own rugby career was filled with concussions, Dylan dedicated himself to finding the hidden mechanics of performance that most athletes and coaches completely overlook. In this deep dive, Dylan and Vinny break down the invisible forces that define an athlete's career, from the neurological to the psychological. They discuss why athletes are like "wild animals" who struggle to be "caged" in a corporate office , the myth of the "grind," and the difference between "maximizing" and "optimizing"  your potential. In this episode, you will learn: The shocking story of the D1 football program that cut its concussion rate from 13 to 2 per year (and the one thing they did). How "Cognitive Load" can exhaust you physically, even when you aren't moving. The Athlete Identity Crisis: How to navigate the "deep depression" and find purpose when the game is over. The "Wild Animal" Analogy: Why high-performers fail in cultures that aren't competitive . The single question most adults can't answer (and why it's the key to your success) . Why "Grind Culture" is failing leaders and how it backfires. This conversation is a must-listen for any athlete, coach, or leader who wants to understand the next frontier of human performance.   SHOW NOTES: (00:00) - Welcome to Evolving Athletes (01:07) - What Dylan Does: It's "Witchcraft" & Problem Solving (02:41) - Dylan's First Love for Sport: From T-Ball to "Violent" Rugby (05:08) - How Rugby Led to Neurology: "I racked up so many concussions" (07:48) - The Turning Point: Sucking at the Gun Range (09:08) - The 85% Stat: How Vision Training Reduced Concussions (11:18) - When the Brain Realized It Could Be Trained (13:53) - The Athlete Identity Crisis: Losing Rugby to Injury (18:05) - Vince's Story: Post-Career Depression & Finding Mindset Performance (19:23) - The "Wild Animal" Analogy: Why Athletes Struggle in Corporate Jobs (24:21) - The Mental Side of Injury: Why "Undeserved" Concussions Last Longer (28:44) - Case Study: The Athlete Whose Eye "Shut Off" at 140 BPM (30:59) - Vince's "Italian Sub" Analogy: Performance is a Recipe (35:09) - The "Shiny Object" Trap vs. Kobe Bryant's Fundamentals (36:55) - The "Multiverse" Skill: Thinking Multiple Steps Ahead (44:05) - Cognitive Load: Why Thinking Is More Tiring Than Punching (46:09) - The Biggest Lie About Vision Training (Sexy Drills vs. "Boring" Basics) (55:18) - The Easiest Way to Create Buy-In: Suffer With Your Athletes (58:25) - Challenging "Grind Culture": Is It Healthy? (01:04:51) - A "Cheat Code" to Calm Your Nervous System (Oculocardiac Reflex) (01:08:29) - Maximize vs. Optimize: The Secret to Holistic Performance (01:13:08) - The "Dante's Inferno" Metaphor: Be the Guide, Not the Hero (01:20:23) - The Root of the Issue: What Do You Really Want? (01:23:44) - Data vs. Human Connection: Stop Talking About People and Talk To Them (01:25:49) - The Tragic Story That Became Dylan's "Why" (01:30:01) - Advice to His Younger Self: "Be Motivated by Success, Not by Avoiding Failure" (01:31:18) - Where to Find Dylan Seeley   FOLLOW THE PODCAST ⬇️ Instagram: @evolvingathletespodcast Facebook: @evolvingathletespodcast Tiktok: @evolving.athletes Youtube: @EvolvingAthleteswithCoachVinny   CONNECT WITH COACH VINNY ⬇️ Instagram: @coachvinnymalts LinkedIn: @Vince Malts   CONNECT WITH DR. DYLAN ⬇️ Instagram: @dylan_seeleydc

Join Coach Vinny Malts and legendary performance coach Scott Livingston for a powerful conversation on purpose, identity, and the science of human evolution. Scott, founder of Reconditioning HQ, worked for decades at the highest levels of professional and Olympic sport, including the NHL, before making a defining career pivot to mentorship. Scott shares the internal dissonance he felt at the peak of his career and how unlearning the traditional definition of winning was key to finding true balance and legacy.   In this must-listen episode, you'll learn: Why Scott left the NHL to honor his purpose of challenging convention and creating change. The fundamental role of neurology (visual and vestibular systems) in all performance. If you want to fix an output (like anxiety or dysfunction), you must work with the input. The crucial difference between focusing on weakness versus addressing a deficit.  Why "good enough" is the secret weapon for high achievers, and how to stop hyper-obsessing over great. Scott's revelation that you will never arrive, and why process over outcome is the only sustainable path. The biggest mistake coaches and leaders make, and how to fix it by becoming a better listener. TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Intro: The Legacy of Scott Livingston 01:55 - From Homemade Gyms to Elite Sport 06:48 - Why Playfulness is Key to Training 11:14 - Finding Your Circuitous Path 12:59 - Scott's Definition of True Failure 13:54 - The Traumatic NHL Pivot 17:10 - How a Mentor Saved My Career 24:30 - Why I Left the NHL for Purpose 30:16 - The Biggest Coaching Mistake 34:28 - The Neurology of Performance (Reconditioning HQ) 37:07 - Inputs, Outputs, and Threat 40:35 - Why Mental and Physical are the Same 47:20 - Weakness vs. Performance Deficit 49:49 - The Athlete Confidence Paradox 56:44 - The Good Enough Mindset 58:34 - Your Identity is Not Your Title 1:03:43 - Unlearning Winning I Will Never Arrive 1:07:46 - Balance is a Mixing Board (Not a Scale) 1:08:53 - My Aha Moment in Fatherhood 1:16:26 - The Visual & Vestibular Systems 1:22:57 - Advice to My Younger Self 1:25:54 - The Purpose of the Podcast 1:28:26 - The Evolving Athlete Final Takeaway 1:30:54 - How to Connect with Scott FOLLOW THE PODCAST ⬇️ Instagram: @evolvingathletespodcast Facebook: @evolvingathletespodcast Tiktok: @evolving.athletes Youtube: @EvolvingAthleteswithCoachVinny   CONNECT WITH COACH VINNY ⬇️ Instagram: @coachvinnymalts LinkedIn: @Vince Malts   CONNECT WITH SCOTT ⬇️ Instagram: @kingopain

The Evolving Athlete Podcast is officially launching soon, and we are not holding anything back. This first season is kicking off with crucial conversations featuring leaders and experts who have mastered the art of high-level performance. This isn't just listening, it's getting access to the people who possess the strategies for achieving sustained success, no matter the arena.  Don't miss a single step in your evolution. Follow us across all our platforms for daily mindset strategies, clips, and episode announcements: FOLLOW THE PODCAST ⬇️ Instagram: @evolvingathletespodcast Facebook: @evolvingathletespodcast Tiktok: @evolving.athletes Youtube: @EvolvingAthleteswithCoachVinny CONNECT WITH COACH VINNY ⬇️ Instagram: @coachvinnymalts LinkedIn: @Vince Malts