Coaching Culture

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• Coach the Coach: How to Collect Before You Direct | Jody Carrington | Episode 462 05.07.2026 28min

  If the big people aren't okay, the little people don't stand a chance. That is the idea psychologist Dr. Jody Carrington has built her career on, and it flips the entire athlete development conversation on its head.In part one of this two part conversation, JP sits down with Dr. Jody Carrington, a clinical psychologist and founder of Carrington and Company who has spent decades studying emotional regulation in high pressure environments, from a locked psychiatric unit to elite sports organizations. She unpacks why the coach's own nervous system sets the ceiling for the team's, and why the answer to a dysregulated athlete is never more yelling.Whether you coach with intensity or with quiet steadiness, this episode will change how you think about the person running the room, not just the players in it.Chapters(00:00) Intro - Why Coach Regulation Matters(02:11) Meet Dr. Jody Carrington(02:47) Why She Focuses on Coaches(05:09) The Coach-Centered Approach(07:54) Do Good Coaches Screw Up Kids(09:36) The Hand Model of the Brain(15:33) The Tom Izzo Question(19:19) Cortisol and Your Nervous System(23:17) Collect Before You DirectTOC 3-2-13 Quotes | 2 Questions | 1 ResourceYour fast track to the episode's most actionable ideas."If the big people aren't okay, the little people don't stand a chance."- Dr. Jody Carrington"You don't lose your ability to be great. You don't lose the best golf swing you've ever taken in your life. You lose access to it."- Dr. Jody Carrington"We have to collect before we direct."- Dr. Jody Carrington2 Questions for Your TeamQ1: Where in your program are you investing in athlete performance but not in your own emotional regulation as a coach?Q2: Think of the last time you corrected an athlete in the moment. Had you collected enough relationship first for that correction to land?1 Resource to Go DeeperDr. Jody Carrington's Books, Podcast, and ResourcesHer ongoing work on emotional regulation, connection, and leadership under pressure goes deeper into everything covered in this episode.Visit drjodycarrington.com hereKey TakeawaysCoach Regulation Is the Missing Variable in Athlete DevelopmentYou Cannot Learn With Your Lid FlippedCollect Before You DirectIntensity Isn't the Problem, Timing IsYour Nervous System Gets Hijacked Before You Even Get Out of BedCoaching Is Development Work, Not Just Performance WorkGet the notes and tools:tocculture.comJoin TOC Coach - community, courses, and live coaching:tocculture.comBetter Coaches. Better Leaders. Better Culture.
• The Hardest Part of Leading Yourself | The Culture Captain: Level Two | Episode 461 28.06.2026 47min

  Is your best leader always your best teammate? JP Nerbun, Betsy Butterick, and Nate Sanderson are not so sure, and the answer says a lot about how you build culture this season.This episode continues an ongoing conversation around JP's new book, The Culture Captain, with the group digging into Level Two: leading yourself before you ever try to lead anyone else. They unpack why the chapter on effort was the hardest one JP wrote, what separates a Steph Curry from a Caitlin Clark on the leader versus teammate question, and why so many athletes hold back effort out of fear of being labeled a tryhard.Whether you are coaching the most obsessed competitor on your roster or the kid who just wants to enjoy the sport, this conversation will change how you think about effort, identity, and what it actually takes to lead yourself first.Chapters(00:00) Intro(01:02) Why Level Two Was Hardest to Write(03:26) Tom Brady & Raising Others 5-10%(09:13) Standards, Buy-In & Judgment(13:28) Caitlin Clark & Being Yourself(17:55) Great Leader vs. Great Teammate(24:37) One Behavior Every Leader Needs(28:30) Why Athletes Avoid Competing Hard(32:44) From Victim to Creator(40:55) The Hardest Part of Leading YourselfTOC 3-2-13 Quotes | 2 Questions | 1 ResourceYour fast-track to the episode's most actionable ideas."Two things can be true. I can uphold the standard and it increases the value or the connection with my teammate."- Betsy Butterick"My performance does not determine my worth or value in this world."- Nate Sanderson"It's not any single leadership behavior that unlocks leading yourself. It's putting in the work on ourselves, knowing that this is a lifelong journey."- JP Nerbun2 Questions for Your TeamQ1: When you rate your own effort this season, are you rating it the way your teammates and coaches would, or the way you wish they would?Q2: Is there a part of this season where you are telling yourself a victim story? What is one choice you actually have right now?1 Resource to Go DeeperThe Culture Captain by JP NerbunJP's newly launched book breaks leadership into three levels: knowing yourself, leading yourself, and leading others. This episode digs into Level Two, covering responsibility, effort, authenticity, compete, mental fitness, and selflessness.Visit tocculture.com hereKey TakeawaysLeading yourself is not a formula. It is a personal journey.A great leader is not always a great teammate.Curiosity beats correction when a leader cannot reserve judgment.The fear of being a tryhard is quietly shutting down effort.Moving an athlete from victim to creator starts with naming a choice.The hardest part of leading yourself is the moment you let yourself down.Get the notes and tools:tocculture.comJoin TOC Coach - community, courses, and live coaching:tocculture.comBetter Coaches. Better Leaders. Better Culture.
• The Mental Habits of Elite Coaches | Rustin Dodd & Elise Devlin, The Athletic | Episode 460 21.06.2026 34min

  Making athletes work harder is one thing. Making athletes better is something else entirely — and Rustin Dodd draws that line clearly in this episode.In part two of JP Nerbun's conversation with Rustin Dodd and Elise Devlin of The Athletic's Peak section, the discussion moves from habits and rituals into the heart of transformational coaching. Elise covers Dan Quinn's player PowerPoint presentations, Lisa Bluder's deep-dive into understanding Caitlin Clark, and what Tara Vanderveer's lasting player relationships reveal about the longevity of great coaching. Rustin breaks down the energy cost of being a coach and why the coaches who last build support systems around themselves. The episode closes with John Harbaugh's accountability frame and why "shoot the ball" might be the most important thing a coach can say.For coaches who want to understand what separates the ones athletes call ten years later from the ones they just remember.Chapters(00:00) Intro: Studying Great Coaches(01:30) The Best Part of the Job(03:09) The Common Trait of Great Leaders(06:54) Getting to Know Your Players(10:10) Tough Conversations and Real Relationships(12:00) Who Would You Want to Be Coached By(13:57) Tom Izzo and the Power of Intensity(15:07) Who Would You Want as a Teammate(18:40) Jared McCain and the Inner Game of Tennis(19:47) The Origin of Executive Coaching(21:15) Sports and Business Culture Feed Each Other(22:25) What Coaches Do to Be at Their Best(24:09) Ownership as a Leadership Skill(24:56) Who Would You Invite to Dinner(29:36) Final Advice: Curiosity and Optimism(31:23) Shoot the Ball: Trust as a Coaching MetaphorTOC 3-2-13 Quotes | 2 Questions | 1 ResourceYour fast-track to the episode's most actionable ideas."Being a coach that can get your players to work harder is easier than being a coach that can make them better. At the most basic level, it's giving people confidence."— Rustin Dodd"When you are losing a lot of energy and you have not a lot left, take what you do have left and give it to other people and it'll come back to you multiplied."— Elise Devlin"There's no better feeling than when your coach yells shoot it. I think about that as a metaphor — it's some level of trust, putting confidence in the person."— Rustin Dodd2 Questions for Your TeamQ1: Think about a player you know well enough to coach hard — and one you don't. What would it take to close that gap this week?Q2: When did you last own a bad day in front of your team? What did that cost you — and what did it build?1 Resource to Go DeeperThe Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy GallweyThe origin text for the entire executive coaching industry — referenced in this episode as foundational reading for understanding the inner life of an athlete. Jared McCain reads it. Steve Kerr coaches from it.Available on AmazonKey TakeawaysMaking Athletes Better Is Different from Making Them Work HarderThe Deeper You Know Your Athletes, the Better You Can Lead ThemTough Conversations Only Land When the Relationship Is RealCoaches Need a Support System TooOwnership Is a Leadership SkillCuriosity Is a Long-Term Coaching PracticeGet the notes and tools:tocculture.comJoin TOC Coach — community, courses, and live coaching:tocculture.comBetter Coaches. Better Leaders. Better Culture.
• The Mental Habits of Elite Athletes | Rustin Dodd & Elise Devlin, The Athletic | Episode 459 14.06.2026 38min

  Most coaches spend their careers shaping athletes. Rustin Dodd and Elise Devlin spend theirs learning from them — and what they've found might change how you coach.Rustin and Elise write NY Times feature, The Peak for The Athletic, a section devoted to the mental side of elite sports. In this episode with JP Nerbun, they unpack what a year of "I Tried" journalism has taught them: Kobe's silence practice, Michael Phelps' freestyle journaling, Buzz Williams writing four to five letters a day, an Olympian who approaches every failure with childlike curiosity, and a reminder from David Ortiz about what it actually means to bounce back. The thread running through all of it: curiosity.For coaches who want to understand what's going on inside their athletes — and maybe inside themselves — before it becomes a problem.Chapters(00:00) Intro: JP on The Athletic's Peak(02:39) Ted Lasso's Real-Life Inspiration(07:41) Elise: D1 Swimmer to Peak Journalist(11:48) The Performance Info Gap(13:01) How The Peak Section Was Born(16:18) What The Peak Is Not(19:20) I Tried: Living Athletes' Habits(21:31) Silence, Emotions, and Journaling(23:13) How Athletes Find Their Rituals(25:41) Curiosity: The #1 Athlete Trait(26:41) Buzz Williams Letter-Writing(28:38) Gratitude and Failure With Curiosity(30:53) The Power of Saying Yes(35:59) The Pat Riley Conditioning Test(36:31) 17s Story: Hardship as ConfidenceTOC 3-2-13 Quotes | 2 Questions | 1 ResourceYour fast-track to the episode's most actionable ideas."That feeling of somebody saying yes to me is so powerful. And I oftentimes try to think about: how do I do a version of that? How do I say yes to people?"— Rustin Dodd"I thought about it and I was like — I guess I don't have silence."— Elise Devlin"I view all my failures with childlike curiosity."— Olympian Olivia Smoliga, cited by Elise Devlin2 Questions for Your TeamQ1: When something goes wrong in practice or a game, is your first instinct to fix it, blame it, or get curious about it? Which of those responses is actually coachable?Q2: What is one mental tool or daily habit your athletes don't know about — and when did you last share it with them?1 Resource to Go DeeperThe Peak by Rustin Dodd and Elise Devlin | The AthleticThe Athletic's section devoted to the mental side of elite sports. The "I Tried" series is essential reading for any coach curious about what elite performance looks like from the inside.Visit The Athletic hereKey TakeawaysThe Best Athletes Are Obsessively CuriousReflection Teaches More Than Experience AloneSilence Is a Performance ToolTreat Failure Like a ScientistGratitude Does Real WorkSay Yes More Than You Think You ShouldGet the notes and tools:tocculture.comJoin TOC Coach — community, courses, and live coaching:tocculture.comBetter Coaches. Better Leaders. Better Culture.
• The Culture Captain: Building Leaders From the Inside Out | John O'Sullivan | Episode 458 09.06.2026 1t 19min

  JP Nerbun's 10-year-old daughter said something on the walk to the bus that stopped him cold: "She's climbing the mountain of achievement without any purpose." That one line is the heart of this entire conversation.This special episode drops on the launch day of JP's new book The Culture Captain — a field guide for athletes learning to lead from the inside out. JP sits down with longtime friend John O'Sullivan, founder of the Changing the Game Project and co-author of Captain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader (with Jerry Lynch). Two books. Same subject. Written simultaneously, on opposite sides of the Atlantic. They go deep on self-awareness as the foundation of leadership, why modeling behaviors beats locker room speeches, how to have a difficult conversation before you feel ready, and what it means to lead from the bench when things aren't going your way.Whether you coach athletes, lead a team, or are still figuring out who you are as a leader — this one is for you.Chapters(00:00) Intro — JP's Daughter & Book Launch(02:30) Why John Wrote Captain(05:52) Why JP Wrote The Culture Captain(15:54) The Fable Format — Why JP Chose Lily(19:00) The Four Levels of Leadership(25:13) Surprises from Writing(31:15) The Hardest Lesson to Put Into Words(34:05) Hard Conversations as Life Skills(39:15) From Sports to the Workplace(43:48) What Had to Be Left Out(47:08) Approaching a Difficult Teammate(53:05) Coaching the Reluctant Leader(59:43) Tom Brady on Playing Where You Love People(1:01:26) Success vs. Fulfillment(1:04:00) Lead From the Bench(1:09:02) How Will You Know the Book Succeeded?(1:12:43) Why This Book Mattered MostTOC 3-2-13 Quotes | 2 Questions | 1 ResourceYour fast-track to the episode's most actionable ideas."She's climbing the mountain of achievement without any purpose."— JP Nerbun's daughter, age 10"Success is the goal, but it's not the purpose. Fulfillment should be the purpose. This is what coaches need to provide."— John O'Sullivan"You pick up the cones and balls, you serve others. You do that and people go, man, if that's the captain doing it, I better do it too."— John O'Sullivan2 Questions for Your TeamQ1: Think of an athlete who is putting in the work but seems to have lost their joy. What would it look like to help them reconnect with purpose rather than achievement?Q2: What is it currently costing your team — in trust, momentum, or culture — to avoid a hard conversation that needs to happen?1 Resource to Go DeeperThe Culture Captain by JP NerbunA field guide for athletes learning to lead with purpose, values, and selflessness — told through a fable and backed by real stories from Tim Duncan, Tom Brady, Abby Wambach, and more.Get The Culture Captain at culturecaptain.netCaptain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader by John O'Sullivan & Jerry LynchQualities, responsibilities, and challenges for every team captain — grounded in research and real stories from high school to the pros.Visit changingthegameproject.comKey TakeawaysKnow Yourself Before You Lead AnyoneSelflessness Is the Hallmark of Great CaptainsModeling Behaviors Beats Locker Room SpeechesReluctant Leaders Are Still LeadersFulfillment, Not Success, Is the Real PurposeThe Difficult Conversation IS the LeadershipGet the notes and tools:tocculture.comJoin TOC Coach — community, courses, and live coaching:tocculture.comBetter Coaches. Better Leaders. Better Culture.
• Identity, Influence, and the Leadership Nobody Told You Was Already Yours | Culture Captain: Level One | Episode 457 07.06.2026 49min

  What does it mean to truly know yourself — not perform yourself, not brand yourself for public approval, but honestly know who you are at your core?JP Nerbun, Betsy Butterick, and Nate Sanderson explore that question in this roundtable, the first in a four-part series on JP's new book, The Culture Captain. Betsy shares the story of an athlete and what she filled in her personal definition led to an eye-opening statement about being "enough". This quiet act of self-definition opens a deeper conversation about identity, enoughness, and what it costs to resist the pressure to brand yourself for the world's approval. Nate brings a hard-won insight from a facilitation with student-athletes that challenges a core assumption most coaches hold about leadership readiness. JP is honest about the gap between success and fulfillment — and about the dark side of purpose itself, how even meaningful work can become obligation when fulfillment is measured in external terms. Betsy's Championship Soup exercise from a workshop at Stanford with Tara Vanderbeer gives every coach a practical way in. This is the beginning of a longer conversation — one level at a time.If the question "who are you?" has ever felt harder to answer than it should, this one is for you.Chapters(00:00) Intro(01:35) The Culture Captain Series Format(03:12) When Were You Invited to Know Yourself?(09:09) The "Child of God" Athlete and Enoughness(11:26) Do Athletes Know What Leadership Is?(12:27) Nate's Facilitation: What Athletes Revealed(16:06) Defining Leadership — No Clean Answer(20:01) Leadership as Wielded Influence(22:08) The Magnetic Personality Story(28:53) Leadership Is a Boat Anyone Can Board(30:58) Core Values — How Did You Find Yours?(35:23) The Soup Supper Exercise(37:15) Championship Soup at Stanford(40:43) Success Without Fulfillment(41:51) Division I Basketball vs. 200km Ultra(45:30) Identity Prison vs. Identity House(46:18) JP's Vulnerable Moment on FulfillmentTOC 3-2-13 Quotes | 2 Questions | 1 ResourceYour fast-track to the episode's most actionable ideas."Fulfillment has to be defined by you, and the meaning has to be made intentionally rather than just by what we see and what we hear."— Nate Sanderson"When I'm at my best, when I feel most at peace, when I feel most content, when I feel most truly myself — look back at those moments. And then ask: how do I bring that forward and offer it as a gift to my team, to the world?"— JP Nerbun"I believe leadership is a boat that anyone can board — if you have the desire to develop that awareness, to know yourself, to use your influence on purpose."— Betsy Butterick2 Questions for Your TeamQ1: When was the first time someone truly invited you to define who you are — not describe yourself to others, but honestly articulate who you are at your core? How has that shaped the way you invite athletes into self-discovery?Q2: Think of a recent coaching achievement. On a scale of 1–10, how fulfilled did it make you feel? What does that number tell you about whether you are living in your values?1 Resource to Go DeeperThe Culture Captain by JP NerbunThis episode explores Level 1 of JP's new book — Know Yourself. It's the foundation on which every leadership conversation is built. Get the book and episode tools at tocculture.com.Visit tocculture.comKey TakeawaysYou Can't Lead Others If You Don't Know YourselfLeadership Is Wielded Influence — Use It on PurposeYoung Athletes Often Need a "Level Zero" Before Level OneSelf-Definition Is an Act of ResistanceValues Are Unearthed, Not InventedSuccess Without Fulfillment Is the Warning Sign — and Success Is Often Defined for UsGet the notes and tools:tocculture.comJoin TOC Coach — community, courses, and live coaching:tocculture.comBetter Coaches. Better Leaders. Better Culture.
• Coach The Person: The Science of Transformational Conversations | Marcia Reynolds | Episode 456 31.05.2026 42min

  Most coaches think they're having conversations with their athletes. Marcia Reynolds says they're mostly just talking.In this episode, JP Nerbun sits down with Marcia Reynolds — executive coach, neuroscience researcher, and author of Coach the Person, Not the Problem — to unpack the science of what makes a coaching conversation actually transformational. Marcia explains why telling athletes what to do almost never leads to lasting change, breaks down the critical difference between coaching and mentoring, and shares a three-step pre-conversation practice that changes how you show up before a single word is spoken.If you coach athletes, lead a staff, or are navigating a difficult conversation at home — this one is for you.Chapters(02:11) Intro(03:56) Marcia's journey to coaching(06:26) Why telling people doesn't work(09:41) Coaching vs. mentoring(12:26) Coach the person, not the problem(18:41) The worst assumption a coach can make(21:11) Three steps before every conversation(26:11) Building the daily practice(29:11) Presence as the foundation(35:41) Reflective inquiry over questions(40:11) What coaching gives back to the coachTOC 3-2-13 Quotes | 2 Questions | 1 ResourceYour fast-track to this episode's most actionable ideas."You have not lived their life. You can't stand in someone's shoes. That's not possible. Coach slowly. Try to see what they see through their eyes. Don't assume you know."— Marcia Reynolds"Information doesn't change behavior. When I work with the creative center of the brain, when I'm reflecting what they're saying, so they listen to themselves and go, I said that, I believe that... that's when insights emerge."— Marcia Reynolds"We make coaching way too hard. When all I'm doing is relaxing into this conversation — just having a conversation with you, listening to what you're saying, offering back what I think you said that seems most important."— Marcia Reynolds2 Questions for Your TeamQ1: Before your next coaching conversation with an athlete, write your true intention in one sentence. Are you going in to fix them or to genuinely understand them? What shifts when you lead with honest curiosity?Q2: Think of a recent moment where you gave an athlete advice that didn't stick. What one question could have opened the door to their own insight instead?1 Resource to Go DeeperCoach the Person, Not the Problem by Marcia ReynoldsA practical guide to reflective inquiry — showing coaches how to activate real and lasting change by engaging the athlete's inner world rather than just the presenting behavior.Visit covisioning.com to learn moreKey TakeawaysInformation Alone Does Not Change BehaviorCoaching and Mentoring Are Not the Same ThingCoach the Person, Not the ProblemThree Things to Set Before Any Coaching ConversationReflective Inquiry Beats Great Questions Every TimeSelf-Awareness Is a Practice You Can BuildGet the notes and tools:tocculture.comJoin TOC Coach — community, courses, and live coaching:tocculture.comBetter Coaches. Better Leaders. Better Culture.
• The Art of Communication | Betsy Butterick | Episode 455 24.05.2026 48min

  The Art of Communication: Finding Your Voice as a CoachJP Nerbun sits down with co-host Betsy Butterick to explore how intentional communication transforms athlete relationships, team culture, and coaching identity.TOC 3-2-1: 3 Quotes, 2 Questions, 1 Resource3 Quotes Worth Writing Down"Anytime someone says 'that's just who I am,' what immediately comes up for me is — no, that's who you've been. You get to choose who you get to be in the next moment." — Betsy Butterick"If we hope to teach them, we first need to reach them. It is arguably much easier for one person — the coach — to shift how they communicate than it is to try to change an entire generation." — Betsy Butterick"When you speak quietly, people need to come closer, lean in. That was exactly the space I wanted to coach athletes in." — Betsy Butterick2 Questions for Your TeamWhen you communicate with your athletes before a big moment, are you trying to inspire them — or genuinely educate and invite them into something? What's the difference for your team?Are there phrases or habits in your coaching communication that fall under "that's just who I am"? What would it look like to ask instead: Is this who I want to be?1 Resource to Go DeeperKids These Days by Betsy Butterick — the practical communication guide for coaches working with today's athletes. Packed with immediately usable frameworks, real-world stories, and a resource section built to last.Visit: betsybutterick.comKey TakeawaysCommunication is a craft, not a personality trait. Betsy's communication didn't come from natural talent — it came from decades of intentional reps: journaling, coaching thousands of young athletes, and a relentless curiosity about language. The implication for every coach: this is buildable.Inspiring a room and inviting athletes in are not the same thing. Betsy's goal is never to inspire — it's to educate. But the best teaching carries emotional charge, and the question you ask after a lesson is what bridges information to behavior change. Don't just tell them. Ask them what they got from it.Yelling is a tool — use it like one. In a decade of coaching, Betsy raised her voice about seven times — and believes every player could still tell you exactly why. Coaches who rarely yell make every raised voice meaningful. Coaches who yell constantly give athletes nothing to read."That's just who I am" is a pattern, not an identity. When coaches or athletes use that phrase, it closes the door on growth. The reframe Betsy offers: that's who you've been — not who you have to be. Adapting your communication style isn't lowering your standards; it's what makes holding high standards possible.Accountability requires co-creation, not just enforcement. Most accountability conversations fail because expectations were never truly shared — they were just announced. When athletes help build the standard, they're far more likely to hold each other to it. Peer accountability only works after shared understanding exists.Action Items for Leaders and CoachesAudit Your Volume: Track how often you raise your voice this week. Is it a tool — or a habit you haven't examined?End With a Question: After your next team talk, close with one question that invites athletes to reflect on what they just heard.Spot the Pattern: Notice when you or your athletes say "that's just who I am." Replace it with: "That's who I've been — is it who I want to be?"Co-Create One Standard: Pick one expectation you've been enforcing alone. Build shared understanding around it with your athletes this week.ConnectGet episode notes and team culture tools: tocculture.comJoin the TOC Coach community (free): tocculture.comBetsy Butterick — blog, book, and resources: betsybutterick.comIf this episode was helpful, share it with a coach in your life who is working on their communication. And if you haven't already, subscribe so you never miss an episode of the Coaching Culture Podcast.
• The Real Reason Your Team Isn't Bought In 17.05.2026 31min

  🏆 What does "buy-in" actually mean and how do you build it as a leader? Every coach talks about buy-in. But most coaches struggle to define it, measure it, or create it in a consistent, repeatable way. In this episode, JP Nerbun, Nate Sanderson, and Betsy Butterrick break down what athlete buy-in really is, what it's NOT, and give you a practical, systematic approach to building genuine investment and commitment on your team. Whether you're a head coach, assistant coach, athletic director, or team leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about team culture, player motivation, and leadership communication.📌 IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: ✅ Why "buy-in" is misunderstood and what coaches actually mean by it✅ The difference between compliance, commitment, belief, and trust✅ How to treat your athletes like shareholders (and why it works)✅ The Minimum Buy-In concept, what's the floor for your team?✅ How co-creation increases athlete investment and ownership✅ Brené Brown's 5 C's of communication for leaders and coaches✅ How your own stories and triggers are silently undermining your culture✅ The Culture System framework: Establish → Support → Enforce⏱️ CHAPTERS:0:00 – Introduction: Why "Buy-In" Is the Most Overused Word in Coaching1:45 – What Coaches Actually Mean When They Say "Buy-In"4:10 – Compliance vs. Commitment vs. Belief: Knowing the Difference6:50 – The Dangerous Stories Coaches Tell Themselves About Athletes8:02 – Treating Your Roster Like Shareholders: The Investment Framework8:56 – Transactional vs. Transformational Leadership (You Can Be Both)11:30 – Not Everyone Invests the Same — and That's Okay13:00 – The High-Stakes Poker Table: Defining Your Minimum Buy-In14:18 – Real-World Example: Coaching an Amateur Gaelic Football Team in Ireland15:30 – How Much Should the Coach Decide vs. Co-Create With Athletes?17:53 – When Past Success Becomes a Leadership Trap19:30 – Dusty May, Curiosity, and What Championship Coaches Do Differently20:32 – The Shark Tank Framework for Coach-Athlete Negotiation21:47 – Brené Brown's 5 C's: A Communication Blueprint for Leaders23:40 – It's Not About Motivation — It's About Clear Communication25:00 – Internal Reflection: Examining Your Own Triggers Around Buy-In28:02 – The Transfer Portal, Gen Z Athletes, and the Stories We Tell30:09 – The Culture System Framework: Establish, Support, Enforce31:00 – How to Access TOC Coach and The Culture System Book🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED: 📘 The Culture System (Book by JP Nerbun):https://a.co/d/04obWTJ6 🌐 TOC Coach — Online Coaching & Leadership Development Platform:https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about 📩 Subscribe to The Coaching Culture Newsletter:https://tocculture.com/culture-toolbox 🎙️ ABOUT THE COACHING CULTURE PODCAST The Coaching Culture Podcast is hosted by JP Nerbun alongside Nate Sanderson and Betsy Butterick. Our mission is to help coaches and leaders grow — not just in strategy and X's and O's, but in the human side of leadership: building trust, developing culture, and creating environments where athletes and teams can truly thrive. New episodes every week. Subscribe so you never miss one. #CoachingCulture #TeamCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #AthleteMotivation #CoachingTips #BuyIn #TeamBuilding #SportsLeadership #CultureCoach #CoachingPodcast #HighSchoolCoach #CollegeCoaching #AthleteEngagement #PlayerBuyIn #GenZAthletes #LeadershipCoaching #TeamCohesion #CoachingCommunity #SportsCoaching #CultureSystem #MindsetCoaching #JPNerbun #NateSanderson #BetsyButterick #CoachDevelopment #WinningCulture #AthleteLeadership #TeamMotivation #CoachingLife #SportsPsychology
• How to Build a Transformational Culture from Scratch | Father Mike Schmitz | Episode 453 10.05.2026 48min

  What does transformational leadership actually look like in practice? Father Mike Schmitz, 15-year director of the Newman Center at UMD, sits down with coaches to share the leadership principles, culture-building strategies, and mentorship frameworks that have transformed thousands of lives on a secular college campus.Whether you're a coach, team leader, manager, or anyone invested in building high-performance culture, this conversation is packed with actionable wisdom on setting priorities, establishing boundaries, leading with authenticity, and developing the next generation of leaders.IN THIS EPISODE:How to identify your one true priority (and stop pretending you have many)The "rock analogy" for protecting your closest relationships during demanding seasonsWhy saying NO with conviction is an act of leadership — not selfishnessThe 3 pillars Father Mike used to build a transformational culture from scratchThe FACT (and FACE) framework for identifying and developing emerging leadersSmall group leadership: how to structure teams within teamsHow to lead authentically in a secular environment without compromising your valuesWhy Gen Z craves in-person connection more than any generation before themThe concept of "spiritual fatherhood" and what it means for coaches and mentors⏱️ CHAPTERS:00:00 — Introduction: Coaching through busy seasons of life02:45 — The Rock Analogy: Protecting your family during demanding seasons06:30 — Defining your TRUE priority (it's singular, not plural)10:15 — How to say NO without guilt — and why conviction sets you free15:40 — Knowing your limits: the wisdom of boundaries in leadership19:00 — Building a transformational culture from scratch (the 3 pillars)25:10 — Seen, Known, and Loved: the culture framework that changed everything29:30 — Bottom-up leadership: creating a culture where people correct you33:00 — Small group leadership: the FACT framework for identifying leaders39:20 — The Jenna story: how one person's faithfulness sparked a movement44:45 — Leading Gen Z: why in-person connection is the ultimate differentiator49:10 — How to create psychological safety so people speak freely53:00 — Spiritual fatherhood: reframing your role as a coach or mentor58:30 — Leading with faith in a secular environment🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS:📖 The Bible in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz: https://www.youtube.com/@UCzUZD3iCxkHmwYkCqYn8fBw 🏛️ UMD Newman Center: https://bulldogcatholic.org/📚 Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" (mentioned): https://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People-Powerful/dp/0743269519🎓 FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students): https://focus.org/🏆 Subscribe for more leadership and coaching conversations: https://www.youtube.com/@UC3vIljCBzwHcPyVIx9kiHvw transformational leadership, coaching leadership, building team culture, mentorship, leadership development, how to build culture, high performance teams, athlete development, Gen Z leadership, setting boundaries as a leader, how to say no, priority setting, small group leadership, servant leadership, authentic leadership, coach mentorship, spiritual leadership, team building strategies, leadership in sports, culture building, how to develop leaders, Father Mike Schmitz, Newman Center, FOCUS ministry, college coaching📌 If you found this valuable, share it with a coach, leader, or mentor in your life.🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss an episode on leadership, culture, and coaching.
• How to Manage the Culture Cancer | Episode 452 03.05.2026 36min

  Every coach will face a culture killer on their team. Whether it's a star player with a toxic attitude, an athlete stirring drama behind the scenes, or a kid whose behavior is slowly poisoning team morale — knowing how to respond is one of the most critical leadership skills a coach can develop.In this episode of the Coaching Culture Podcast, JP Nerbun, Nate Sanderson, and Betsy Butterrick get practical on how to identify culture killers early, avoid common coaching mistakes, and take action — even when you feel handcuffed by administration, politics, or roster constraints.🔑 What you'll learn:How to recognize culture cancer before it metastasizesWhy ignoring toxic behavior is the worst thing you can do (and what to do instead)The difference between behavior that hurts the individual vs. behavior that hurts the whole teamHow progressive consequences and restorative accountability actually workWhy "choose your hard" is the mindset shift every coach needsHow to give athletes an "out" without it feeling like manipulationThe role of captains, assistant coaches, and administrators in managing culture killers🎙️ About the Coaching Culture PodcastWe help coaches grow as leaders and build stronger team cultures — beyond the X's and O's. New episodes every week for coaches at every level and sport.📚 Resources Mentioned in This Episode:The Culture System by JP Nerbun — the final chapter dives deep into culture killers: https://a.co/d/00ccdd4lTOC Coach — online community, courses & coaching platform: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about🎧 Related Episode: Boomer Roberts at Purdue Northwest on radical accountability https://youtu.be/9dn51b3abe4?si=L_fePaO3VkvxB7ta🎧 Related Episode: Eric Lang at American International College on radical transparency https://youtu.be/QLoEshEfvpI?si=mRvYmiwD2WTs6vcj📌 CHAPTERS0:00 — Introduction: Every Coach Will Face a Culture Killer2:10 — What Is a Culture Killer? (And Why "Culture Cancer" Might Be More Accurate)4:00 — The Constraints Coaches Face: No-Cut Policies, Star Players & Administrative Pressure5:55 — Why Coaches Feel Powerless — And Why That's a Mistake7:47 — What Doesn't Work: The Most Common Coaching Mistakes With Toxic Athletes9:21 — "What We Permit, We Promote" — The Cost of Inaction11:03 — Ignoring Symptoms, Hoping Players Fix It & Addressing the Room Instead of the Individual13:00 — The Hero Complex in Transformational Coaching14:24 — Starting With Awareness: Having the Right Conversations16:57 — Trusting Your Intuition as a Coach (Even Without Cold Hard Facts)19:40 — In-Bounds vs. Out-of-Bounds: Behavior in the Team Space vs. Outside It21:30 — Radical Transparency: Lessons From a Division I Hockey Coach23:56 — When You Can't Remove Them: Giving Athletes an "Out"25:00 — Progressive Consequences in Action: Step-by-Step Accountability26:33 — Real Stories: When Athletes Opt Out — and When They Turn It Around28:00 — Setting Automatic "Trap Doors" for Behavior at the Start of the Season30:00 — "Choose Your Hard": The Toughest Truth in Coaching Culture31:36 — Culture Over Convenience: What You're Really Telling Your Team33:00 — Restorative Consequences and Navigating the Gray34:57 — Using Assistant Coaches, Captains & Parents to Share the Load34:57 — Wrap-Up + Resources: The Culture System & TOC CoachKeywords: coaching leadership, team culture, toxic team members, culture killers, transformational coaching, athlete accountability, team dynamics, coach development, sports leadership, building team culture, progressive discipline, restorative consequences, coaching podcast, locker room culture, leadership skills for coachesVisit us at: https://tocculture.comQuestions? Join the TOC Coach community and ask us directly!If this episode helped you, please share it with a fellow coach and leave us a review — it means the world to us. 🙏
• 451: How to Work through Negative Feedback as a Coach 26.04.2026 46min

  Taking hard feedback is one of the most underrated leadership skills — and most of us are doing it wrong.In this episode, JP, Betsy, and Nate get real about the emotional side of criticism: why feedback feels so personal for coaches and leaders, how to regulate before you respond, and the mindset shift that turns brutal feedback into your greatest tool for growth.Whether you're a coach, athletic director, team leader, or anyone who's ever been stung by a harsh comment — this conversation is for you.🎙️ In this episode, we cover:→ Why feedback hits differently when your work is your identity→ How to regulate your emotional response before reacting→ The difference between feedback as a verdict vs. feedback as information→ Practical tools: exit interviews, anonymous polling, and mid-season check-ins→ When to stand firm — and when to own it and grow→ How small language shifts completely change how feedback lands⬇️ SUBSCRIBE for weekly episodes on coaching culture, leadership development, and team building.💬 Join the TOC Coach Community → https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about⏱️ CHAPTERS0:00 Cold open & welcome2:36 What makes feedback so hard to take?3:03 Betsy: when feedback feels personal4:55 Nate: the paranoia about not knowing what's coming5:48 JP: proximity, relationship & the 2015 turning point7:33 Positive feedback experiences — what actually worked9:08 How your response to feedback shapes future feedback10:20 Betsy's coaching program breakthrough moment12:48 What to do when feedback feels like an attack14:30 Real coaching example: helping a coach put it down16:41 First steps when you're triggered — regulate first19:00 Own the hard feedback before it owns you21:04 The complexity of coaching decisions: playing time & perspective23:38 Is it true? Learning from feedback regardless of the answer25:01 Feedback as information, not a verdict26:37 The language shift that changes everything28:13 Rewriting harsh feedback so you can actually hear it30:51 How to ask for better feedback from your team33:07 Setting expectations early & capturing in-season intelligence35:45 Normalizing feedback & modeling how to receive it37:44 The Man in the Arena — and what Teddy got right (and wrong)40:17 When to stand firm vs. when to fold43:08 How going through hard feedback builds conviction🔍 KEYWORDSleadership development | coaching culture | how to take feedback | receiving criticism | coach mindset | athletic leadership | team culture | growth mindset for coaches | sports leadership podcast | feedback in the workplace | leadership skills | handling negative feedback | transformational coaching | emotional intelligence for leaders | coaching podcast#CoachingCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #CoachMindset #HardFeedback #AthleticLeadership #GrowthMindset #SportsLeadership #TeamCulture #TransformationalCoaching #CoachingPodcast
• Why I Stopped Believing in Safe Spaces (And What I Build Instead) | Daniel Coyle Part 2 | EP 450 19.04.2026 42min

  In Part 2 of our conversation with New York Times bestselling author Daniel Coyle, we go deeper into the mechanics of building high-performance teams, psychological safety vs. brave spaces, and what 13 years inside the Cleveland Guardians organization has taught him about leadership development, team culture, and coaching from the inside out.Whether you're a coach, athletic director, team leader, or culture builder — this episode will challenge the way you think about rules, growth, and connection. 🔥 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:Why "safe spaces" is the wrong goal — and what to build instead (brave spaces)How vague team rules create MORE accountability than specific onesThe difference between complicated vs. complex systems — and why it changes everything for leadersHow the Cleveland Guardians flipped their coach development model to drive growth from the inside outThe two types of attention every leader needs to understand: controlling vs. connectiveWhy powerful questions are the #1 leadership tool (and how to use them)Daniel's "daily rando" habit for building genuine connectionWhat "yellow doors" can teach you about leadership presence and openness⏱️ CHAPTERS0:00 – Introduction: Why This Conversation Matters0:41 – The Four H's Exercise: Building Connection Through Questions3:40 – Designing Constraints That Spark Vulnerability5:28 – Safe Spaces vs. Brave Spaces: What Psychological Safety Really Means7:01 – Team Rules, Standards & Norms: Why Vague Is Better10:30 – Complicated vs. Complex Systems: A Leadership Game-Changer13:46 – How Great Teams Self-Organize Like a River (Not a Machine)14:29 – Terry Francona's 4 Rules and Why They Work16:39 – Navigating a Complex Season Without Losing Your Mind18:04 – The "You're Going to Have a Great Time" Rule (Agency in Action)18:47 – Inside the Cleveland Guardians: Building a Culture of Mattering20:50 – How the Guardians Use Questions to Develop Coaches23:03 – Flipping Coach Development: From Expert-Driven to Inside-Out25:59 – Shared Development vs. Solo Development27:27 – Daniel's Role with the Guardians: Asking Dumb Questions30:00 – Controlling Attention vs. Connective Attention Explained32:46 – The "Daily Rando" Habit for Leaders33:51 – 3 Steps to Sum Up the Book: Notice, Ask, Listen35:14 – Yellow Doors: How Openness Fuels Flourishing37:12 – Fred Rogers and the People Who Loved You Into Being38:34 – Daniel's Little League Coach and the Power of Meaningful Moments39:39 – Outro: Safe Spaces vs. Brave Spaces Revisited + TOC Coach Community RESOURCES & LINKSDaniel Coyle's Book : https://danielcoyle.comPart 1 of This Conversation (Episode 450): https://youtu.be/ylxPptaE-0ETOC Coach Community (Free to Join): https://www.skool.com/toccoach/aboutJP's Article — "I've Got No Interest in Safe Spaces": https://tocculture.com/post/cause-ive-got-no-interest-in-safe-spaces📬 Subscribe to the Team Culture Toolbox Newsletter: https://tocculture.com/blogABOUT DANIEL COYLEDaniel Coyle is the New York Times bestselling author of The Culture Code, The Talent Code, and Hardball (the basis for the Keanu Reeves film). He has spent over 13 years as a consultant with the Cleveland Guardians and is one of the world's foremost experts on team culture, leadership development, and high-performance organizations.🎧 ABOUT THE COACHING CULTURE PODCASTThe Coaching Culture Podcast helps coaches, athletic directors, and leaders build stronger team cultures, develop leadership skills, and become better coaches. Hosted by JP, founder of TOC Culture and author of multiple leadership development programs. New episodes every week. Subscribe so you never miss one.#LeadershipDevelopment #CoachingCulture #TeamCulture #DanielCoyle #TheCultureCode #HighPerformance #PsychologicalSafety #BraveSpaces #CoachingPodcast #SportsLeadership #TeamBuilding #LeadershipCoaching #AthleteDevelopment #CoachDevelopment #Coaching
• What Thriving Teams Feel Like — And How to Build One | Ep 449 Daniel Coyle Pt 1 12.04.2026 34min

  What does it take to build a truly flourishing team? NYT bestselling author Daniel Coyle (The Culture Code, The Talent Code) returns to share insights from his powerful new book Flourish — and this conversation will change how you think about leadership, team culture, and what it means to matter.We explore the difference between belonging and mattering, why psychological safety isn't enough, and how the most transformational leaders don't motivate — they architect meaningful moments. From a small Vermont town that produced 11 Olympians, to the New England Patriots' Four H's exercise, to a $90 million deli in Michigan, Coyle unpacks the hidden machinery behind teams that truly thrive.Whether you're a sports coach, executive leader, or team builder, this episode delivers simple, actionable strategies you can use today.🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss Part 2 — where we unpack the difference between safe spaces and brave spaces, and why we're getting psychological safety wrong.📩 Get the show notes + free resources: https://tocculture.com🧠 Join TOC Coach: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about📚 Daniel Coyle's new book Flourish: https://a.co/d/058n8AqK📚 The Culture Code (Ep 245 & 246): https://youtu.be/Zlero0ksd3g?si=6JvF9k6U387X7YNR🗓️ Leadership Retreat (April 2026): https://tocculture.com🏆 In This Episode You'll Learn:Why mattering is more powerful than belonging — and what most coaches get wrongThe Four H's Exercise used by the New England Patriots to build instant connectionHow the "emptiness epidemic" is quietly killing your team's performanceWhy answers divide teams and questions unite themThe simple leadership habit of creating meaningful moments (without a course or a program)How vulnerability builds trust — not the other way aroundWhat a $90 million deli can teach every coach about contribution and cultureWhy pausing is the most productive thing a high-performance team can doThe difference between flourishing and performance — and why top teams that skip this fall apart⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 — Intro: Why The Culture Code and Flourish Changed Everything03:24 — Interview Begins: Why Flourish Is More Personal Than Coyle's Other Books04:17 — The "Emptiness Epidemic" — Success Without Fulfillment07:09 — Why This Book Is So Timely: We Only Become Our Best Through Others10:01 — How Flourish Builds on The Culture Code11:47 — Flourishing vs. Thriving: Is There a Difference?12:37 — The Core Question: What Is "Aliveness"?15:35 — Mattering vs. Belonging: The Crucial Distinction17:15 — What Coaches Miss: Creating Belonging Without Mattering19:46 — Steve Kerr, the Warriors & the Video Intern Who Changed a Game20:09 — Mattering Creates Contribution — Not Just Safety22:05 — Creating an Oasis: How to Build a Village, Not a Freeway23:20 — What Teams Actually Crave: Family, Brotherhood, Sisterhood26:50 — The Coach as Architect of Meaningful Moments27:22 — Why Every Coach Should Learn Facilitation (and Executive Coaching)28:55 — Vulnerability Builds Trust — Not the Other Way Around30:41 — Does Your Schedule Facilitate Meaningful Relationships?31:20 — Mattering Moments Can Be Created On the Fly31:42 — Good Leaders Ask Deep Questions They Don't Know the Answer To32:15 — The "Connective Energy Business": What Great Teams Are Really Doing32:57 — Answers Drive Us Apart. Questions Bring Us Together.34:01 — Coming in Part 2: Safe Spaces vs. Brave Spaces & Getting Psychological Safety Right🔑 Keywords / TopicsLeadership development | Team culture | High-performance teams | Daniel Coyle | The Culture Code | Flourish book | Psychological safety | Team building | Executive coaching | Sports coaching | Mattering vs belonging | Meaningful leadership | Team facilitation | Coaching culture | Community building | Employee engagement | Team cohesion | Leadership podcast | Vulnerability in leadership | Sports psychology
• You Can't Give What You Don't Have: Coach Burnout, Losing Seasons & What Actually Helps | Ep. 448 05.04.2026 42min

  📧 Join the TOC Coach Community: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/aboutAre you a coach running on empty? In this episode of The Coaching Culture Podcast, host JP Nerbun sits down with co-hosts Nate Sanderson and Betsy Butterick to tackle one of the most overlooked challenges in sports leadership: coach burnout.Whether you're grinding through a losing season, leading disengaged athletes, or simply feeling depleted with nothing left to give — this conversation is for you. JP, Nate, and Betsy break down what burnout actually looks like, why it happens, and the practical leadership strategies that help coaches recover, rebuild, and lead sustainably for the long term.🔑 IN THIS EPISODE✔ How to recognize the signs of coach burnout before it's too late✔ Why stress without recovery destroys leadership effectiveness✔ How to coach through a losing season without losing your identity✔ What to do when your athletes are disengaged and you care more than they do✔ The counterintuitive truth: sometimes doing LESS makes you a better leader✔ How joy and burnout can coexist — and why protecting joy matters✔ Practical non-negotiables every leader needs to prevent burnout✔ The "Last Time Meditation" — a Stoic tool for coaches under pressure⏱ CHAPTERS0:00 — Is burnout inevitable? JP introduces the question2:41 — What does burnout actually feel like? Nate breaks it down4:56 — Betsy's light bulb analogy: how burnt-out coaches stop shining7:00 — Coaching through a losing season: where do you even start?11:23 — Process vs. results: why coaches can't afford to pick just one13:28 — Real coaching call: "Do I tell my team how much is on the line?"14:57 — The Last Time Meditation: a Stoic tool for high-pressure moments16:53 — Disengaged athletes: the frustration that drains coaches most18:03 — John Wooden's advice to Sue Enquist — and what it means for you22:18 — The three questions that build a roadmap for athlete engagement22:49 — Joy and burnout: how they coexist and why it matters27:13 — Doing less to get more — Betsy's coaching college basketball story27:53 — The dance party principle: why play is a leadership recovery tool29:48 — Your personal non-negotiables: what do YOU need to perform?31:13 — Who are you okay letting down? The hardest leadership question31:38 — Delegation as a burnout prevention strategy35:13 — Final message from Betsy: start with self, start small36:05 — Final message from Nate: know thyself and protect your energy38:41 — JP's practical tip: the journal + phone-free routine that recharges you41:00 — Book recommendation: "Kids These Days" by Betsy Butterick: https://a.co/d/0graCkQr🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS📧 Join the TOC Coach Community: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about📘 Connect with JP Nerbun: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpnerbun📚 Books & Resources Mentioned:→ "Peak Performance" by Brad Stulberg & Steve Magness: https://www.amazon.com/Peak-Performance-Elevate-Burnout-Science/dp/162336793X→ "The Obstacle Is the Way" (Stoicism / Last Time Meditation): https://www.amazon.com/Obstacle-Way-Timeless-Turning-Triumph/dp/1591846358#CoachBurnout #CoachingLeadership #SportsCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #CoachingCulture #AthleteEngagement #LosingStreak #MentalHealthForCoaches #SportsLeadership #CoachLife #HighSchoolCoaching #CollegeCoaching #LeadershipPodcast #GrowthMindset #CoachingTips #BurnoutRecovery #TeamCulture #WinningCulture #CoachingMindset #LeadBetter
• 🏒 Significance Over Success: Leadership Lessons from a Hockey Coach | EP 447 Justin Simpkins Pt. 2 29.03.2026 33min

  🤝 Join TOC Coach for FREE — Better Coaches, Better Leaders, Better Culture: https://www.skool.com/toccoachWhat does it really mean to lead with purpose? In Part 2 of our conversation with Justin Simpkins — founder of Prairie Hockey Academy (PHA), host of the Grit and Growth Podcast, and author of Significance Over Success — we go deep on transformational leadership, building character through sport, and what it takes to grow as a leader, parent, and human being. Whether you're a coach, parent, athlete, executive, or anyone pursuing meaningful growth, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and honest conversation.📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED 📗 Significance Over Success by Justin Simpkins & Shane Sowden→ https://www.amazon.com/Significance-Over-Success-Redefining-Obsessed/dp/B0G3KBGBSK 🎙️ Grit and Growth Podcast (hosted by Justin Simpkins & Shane Sowden)→ https://www.youtube.com/@UCZbN7FpyDHLRQomRWst0Y0A 📬 GET THE FREE EPISODE NOTES:Subscribe to the Team Culture Toolbox at 👉 https://tocculture.com/culture-toolboxGet weekly thoughts on leadership, culture, and coaching delivered to your inbox. 🏫 READY TO GO DEEPER?Join the TOC Coach Community (free) or unlock Premium Access — https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about→ 12 full coaching courses→ Live trainings & office hours with JP→ The Playing Time System Course (eliminate playing time drama for good)🔑 KEY TOPICS & LEADERSHIP CONCEPTS COVERED ✅ Transformational Leadership in Sports✅ Character Development Through Athletics✅ Level 5 Leadership (Jim Collins / Good to Great)✅ Self-Awareness & Personal Growth✅ Purpose-Driven Coaching✅ Building a Winning Culture✅ Grit, Resilience & Mental Toughness✅ Significance Over Success Mindset✅ Youth Sports Leadership Development✅ Habits, Burnout & Leading Yourself First✅ Team Manifesto & Co-Creating Core Values✅ Coaching Youth Athletes with Integrity#leadershipdevelopment #transformationalleadership #sportsleadership #coachingleadership #YouthSportsCoach #gritandgrowth #SignificanceOverSuccess #purposedrivenleadership #characterdevelopment #Level5Leadership #mentaltoughness #goodtogreat #hockeyleadership #athleteleadership #personalgrowthpodcast #coachingculture #BuildingCulture #leadershippodcast #sportsmotivation #growthmindset
• He Built a Hockey Academy to Develop Leaders, Not Hockey Players | Ep. 446 | Justin Simpkins Pt 1 22.03.2026 33min

  How do you build a championship culture that goes beyond the scoreboard? Justin Simpkins, founder of Prairie Hockey Academy, shares how he turned a small-town Saskatchewan hockey program into one of Canada's premier character development academies — and why the secret to elite athletic leadership has nothing to do with winning.In this episode, we dive deep into transformational leadership in sports, character-based coaching, and what it actually takes to build a culture where athletes don't just become better players — they become better people.Whether you're a coach, athletic director, parent, or leader, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership development, team culture, and the true purpose of sport.🏒 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:Why "hockey is just a vehicle" is the philosophy changing youth sportsThe concept of meekness as power under control — and why it's the foundation of servant leadershipThe difference between demanding and demeaning in coachingWhy hiring for character beats hiring for credentials every timeHow player development plans keep coaches focused on what mattersWhat the Ritz-Carlton principle has to do with building elite team cultureWhy love is the real "secret sauce" in transformational coaching⏱️ CHAPTERS:0:00 – Introduction to Prairie Hockey Academy & Justin Simpkins4:42 – Power Under Control: Meekness, Servant Leadership & Intentional Coaching7:25 – Selling a Character-First Vision in a Competitive Hockey World8:11 – The Turning Point: When Athletes Wanted to Come Back9:16 – Building Culture from the Inside Out: Staffing & Coaching Philosophy12:26 – Don't Chase Credentials — Hire for Heart & Growth Mindset14:10 – Operationalizing Values: Player Development Plans & Character Sessions23:45 – Being Recognized as Canada's Premier Character Development Academy24:55 – Advice for Athletic Directors & Club Leaders: Know Your Why28:34 – First Things First: Why Sport Doesn't Automatically Build Character33:12 – Key Takeaways from JP & Nate🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED:🌐 TOC Culture (Thrive On Challenge): https://tocculture.com📧 Subscribe to the Team Culture Toolbox Newsletter: https://tocculture.com/culture-toolbox🏒 Prairie Hockey Academy: https://www.prairiehockey.ca/📚 Significance Over Success: https://www.amazon.com/Significance-Over-Success-Redefining-Obsessed/dp/B0G3KBGBSK🎙️ ABOUT THE COACHING CULTURE PODCAST:The Coaching Culture Podcast is built to help coaches, leaders, and culture builders become better at what they do — on and off the field. Hosted by JP and Nate, each episode features honest conversations with coaches and leaders who are doing the hard work of building transformational teams and cultures.👉 Subscribe so you never miss an episode.⭐ Leave us a 5-star review if this episode added value.📲 Share this episode with a coach or leader in your life.
• How Coaching Competency Unlocks Team Culture | Ep 445 Tyler Coston & Mark Cascio 15.03.2026 18min

  Can you build a high-performance culture if you're not developing yourself as a coach? In this episode of the Coaching Culture Podcast, JP is joined by Tyler and Mark from SAVI Basketball for a powerful conversation on coaching competency, leadership credibility, and why your effectiveness as a coach directly impacts your team culture.We dig into why "culture eats strategy for breakfast" — but bad coaching makes you want to throw up. If your players can't trust that you'll make them better, no amount of team-building activities will save your culture.🔑 In this episode, you'll learn:Why coaching competency is the foundation of team cultureHow hypocrisy from leadership silently erodes everything you're buildingWhy you must be believable as a coach before culture can thriveThe difference between a Level 1 and Level 3 cultureWhere to start if your coaching is the ceiling on your team's performanceHow to lead yourself first before leading others⚠️ This is Part 1 of a 2-part conversation. Part 2 drops March 17th on the Savvy Basketball YouTube channel — link below.📌 LINKS MENTIONED:🏀 SAVI Basketball YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@SAVI-Coaching🎙️ Tyler's episode (Ep. 217) → https://youtu.be/HrkA8g3e8CA?si=Ays8sAvSVzcFpgnx🎙️ Mark's episode (Ep. 189 – Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast) → https://youtu.be/wbOtCjugmbw?si=Rd35ydLvRKMpXgtL👥 Join TOC Coach Community → https://www.skool.com/toccoach🎧 Part 2 on SAVI Basketball (March 17th) → https://www.youtube.com/@SAVI-Coaching⏱️ CHAPTERS:0:00 – Introduction & Guest Overview1:08 – The Big Question: Does Coaching Competency Affect Culture?1:52 – Where to Find Part 2 (Savvy Basketball)3:02 – Mark's Take: When Does Incompetency Become a Culture Problem?4:04 – Level 1 vs. Level 3 Culture Explained5:27 – Tyler: "Bad Coaching Makes You Want to Throw Up"6:09 – The Believability Factor: If Coaches Aren't Credible, Culture Dies7:40 – What Ted Lasso Gets Right About Coaching Competency8:34 – Why Culture Without Craft Is Just Kumbaya9:25 – Standards + Relationships = Performance & Experience10:07 – Hypocrisy Kills Culture From the Top12:17 – The Two Questions Every Player Asks Their Coach13:13 – Where Should a Coach Start to Get Better?14:07 – Bob Starkey & The Power of Becoming World-Class at One Thing16:01 – Mark's Consulting Insight: Peeling Back the Layers16:59 – Start With Standards: Leading Yourself First17:18 – Outro & TOC Coach Community🏆 ABOUT THE COACHING CULTURE PODCASTThe Coaching Culture Podcast helps coaches become better leaders, build stronger team cultures, and grow as coaches. Hosted by JP, with guests from across sports and leadership.#CoachingCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #CoachingTips #TeamCulture #HighPerformance #SportsLeadership #BasketballCoaching #CoachDevelopment #SAVIBasketball #CultureBuilding #LeadershipCoaching #AthletesDevelopment #SportsCoaching #WinningCulture #CoachingMindset
• How to Support Subs and Reserves in the Role | Ep 444 | Sammy Lander Part 2 08.03.2026 26min

  Are you coaching your substitutes — or just managing them? 🏆In Part 2 of our conversation with Sammy Lander — specialist subs coach and founder of the Finishers Academy — we go deep into one of the most overlooked leadership challenges in sports: how to coach, develop, and inspire athletes who aren't in the starting lineup.Sammy brings battle-tested strategies from English professional soccer that every coach and leader can apply — from building bench identity and simulating game scenarios in training, to supporting athletes emotionally after they've been dropped. If you want to build a stronger team culture, reduce playing time issues, and become the kind of leader your athletes never forget, this episode is for you.🎧 Missed Part 1? Watch it here: https://youtu.be/tetQUcx74Fs?si=RcPiEksrhG4sba4p⚡ WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:✅ Why substitutes need their OWN coaching system — not a watered-down version of starter prep✅ How to use identity (Finishers, Impactors) to transform bench culture and team cohesion✅ Practical in-game warm-up strategies to keep subs physically ready at any moment✅ How to have the "you've been dropped" conversation with confidence and care✅ The Steve Kerr training method that extended his NBA career — and what it teaches every coach✅ How to build a "substitution union" subculture that players actually buy into✅ Why players out of the lineup may need MORE coaching attention than starters⏱️ CHAPTERS:0:00 – The Steve Kerr substitute method: training for your role0:45 – Introduction: Sammy Lander, Finishers Academy & Part 2 overview2:25 – How to build an authentic bench culture (not prescribed behaviors)5:21 – The goalkeeper coach parallel: why subs deserve specialist coaching6:33 – Building a sub identity: Finishers, Impactors & the Bench Mob10:13 – Rebuilding confidence after being dropped & keeping players physically ready18:00 – The subs coach role: what it looks like & how to implement it on your staff23:00 – Sammy's key quote: "I'm not here to make you feel good about being a sub"26:00 – Where to find Sammy & the Finishers Academy🔗 CONNECT WITH SAMMY LANDER:📘 Book — Finishers: https://www.amazon.com/Finishers-Sammy-Lander/dp/1917380062💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammy-lander-070810144/📬 GET THE FREE EPISODE NOTES:Subscribe to the Team Culture Toolbox at 👉 https://tocculture.com/culture-toolboxGet weekly thoughts on leadership, culture, and coaching delivered to your inbox. 🏫 READY TO GO DEEPER?Join the TOC Coach Community (free) or unlock Premium Access — https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about→ 12 full coaching courses→ Live trainings & office hours with JP→ The Playing Time System Course (eliminate playing time drama for good)📌 ABOUT THE COACHING CULTURE PODCAST Hosted by JP Nerbun & Nate Sanderson, the Coaching Culture Podcast helps coaches and leaders build better teams, stronger cultures, and more meaningful relationships with their athletes. New episodes every week.🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode!#CoachingCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #SportsCoaching #TeamCulture #AthleteLeadership #CoachingTips #BenchPlayers #SubstituteCoaching #FinishersAcademy #SammyLander #SportsLeadership #CoachingPodcast #TeamBuilding #PlayerDevelopment #HighPerformance #SoccerCoaching #FootballCoaching #LeadershipPodcast #CultureBuilding #CoachEducation
• How to Coach Subs and Reserves for High Performance | EP 443 | Sammy Lander Part 1 01.03.2026 28min

  🤝 Join TOC Coach for FREE — Better Coaches, Better Leaders, Better Culture: https://www.skool.com/toccoachWhat does it really mean for an athlete to matter — not just belong? In this episode, we sit down with Sammy Lander, the world's first Substitution Coach, to explore one of the most overlooked challenges in team sports: developing, empowering, and leading the athletes who aren't in the starting lineup.Sammy breaks down the psychology of the substitute role, why bench players disengage, and what coaches at every level can do right now to build a culture where every player — starter or finisher — is bought in, prepared, and performing.Whether you coach youth sports, high school, college, or at the professional level, this conversation is packed with practical leadership lessons that go far beyond the sideline.📩 Get weekly culture tools delivered to your inbox — subscribe to the Team Culture Toolbox: https://tocculture.com/culture-toolbox💡 In this episode, you'll learn:→ The difference between belonging and mattering — and why it changes everything→ How to have honest, trust-building conversations with athletes who aren't starting→ Why vague language like "go win us the game" quietly destroys bench performance→ What basketball gets right about substitute roles that football still hasn't figured out→ How to use the bench as a mirror for your team's culture→ What the "Substitution Union" is and how to build one with your team📖 Get Sammy's book Finishers:https://www.amazon.com/Finishers-Sammy-Lander/dp/1917380062🐦 Follow Sammy on X:https://x.com/sammy_landerr⏱ Chapters:0:00 – Introduction & Welcome1:45 – Mattering vs. Belonging: What Athletes Really Want6:30 – Giving Substitutes a Process to Follow11:00 – Real Example: A Player Who Went 7 Games Without Playing16:20 – How to Convince a High-Level Athlete to Embrace a Bench Role22:10 – What Basketball Gets Right About Substitute Roles27:00 – Coaching Mistakes: Vague Language & Low Expectations33:15 – The Role of the Substitution Coach Explained39:40 – How Subs Reveal the Truth About Your Team Culture45:00 – What a Great Sideline Looks Like & The Substitution Unioncoaching leadership, athlete development, team culture, sports leadership, how to motivate bench players, substitute coaching, player development, coaching psychology, team building, leadership for coaches, bench players, role players in sports, coaching communication, high performance culture, sports coaching tips#CoachingCulture #SportsLeadership #AthleteDevelopment #CoachingTips #TeamCulture #PlayerDevelopment #SammyLander #Finishers #SportsCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment