Rebekah Allick | Friction

Introducing our latest episode on the Max Out Mindset Podcast with guest athlete, Rebekah Allick, a sophomore middle blocker from the University of Nebraska! 

Rebekah shares her journey of resilience and growth after the tough loss in the National Championship to Texas in the 2023 NCAA Volleyball Tournament. Learn how she faced her anxiety head-on and made a promise to be more authentic and invest in her team's relationships. She is a strong advocate for mindset training and strategies, and this episode is worth the listen.

Max out Mindset for Volleyball book and services here.

Instagram: @max_out_mind_Jess and on Twitter: @JessKnecht

Twitter: @Doc_elitemind

Hannah and Lauren Camenzind | Plan, Approach, and Mindset

Welcome to the Max Out Mindset podcast! Today, we have two amazing guests, Hannah and Lauren Camenzind, University of Arkansas softball athletes. These talented twin sisters have achieved incredible success in high school and during their first season in college. 

In this episode, we'll dive into their competitive bond and how it fuels their performance on the softball field. They'll share the importance of routines and how they contribute to their success. Plus, we'll learn more about why the power of self-talk builds confidence and the commitment to daily improvement that's necessary to thrive. 

Hannah and Lauren will also discuss the value of accountability and how building relationships through vulnerability has been a key factor in their team's success. Get ready to be inspired by their journey and learn valuable insights from these exceptional athletes. 

Order Dr. Widman's book Max Out Mindset for Softball: A Guide For Coaches, Athletes, Teams & Parents To Help You Be In The Best Position To Max Out When It Matters The Most.

Instagram: @max_out_mind_Jess and on Twitter: @JessKnecht

Instagram: @max_out_mindset Twitter: @Doc_elitemind

Coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth | The Power of Positive Coaching

Amanda Burbridge | Driven. Powerful. Unified.

Coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth | The Power of Positive Coaching

We are very excited to welcome back Coach Booth, Head Coach of Creighton University's volleyball team, to the Max Out Mindset podcast. She was our first guest on the podcast in February 2020. Lots have changed in the world since our last visit, but one thing that hasn't changed is her team's continued ability to put themselves in a position to max out. Her teams since 2014 have posted an impressive record of 156-11 in the Big East Conference and have had an amazing run of nine straight conference championships and eleven straight NCAA tournament appearances.

Coach Booth shares many valuable insights on what it takes for a coach to maintain consistency over time and, more specifically, to help her athletes max out in both life and sport. For anyone in the high-performance space, you will love some of the timely lessons about protecting your culture, growing through adversity, and harnessing the power of effective communication. Her vulnerability shines through in her role as a coach, parent, and human being.

Listen to the first podcast with coach booth here

Max out Mindset for Volleyball book and services here

Amanda Burbridge | Driven. Powerful. Unified.

Amanda is the head volleyball coach at Sandra Day O'Connor High School (AZ), the 2023 6A State Champions. She is also the Club Director at Revolution Volleyball Academy (RVA). She was inducted into ASU's Hall of Fame in 2010 and was an AVCA All-American in 2000.

We discussed the team's journey and learned how they leaned into their second scorecard. Amanda shares the importance of mindset training, and that confidence needs to be trained like any physical skill. This episode provides insight for athletes, teams, and coaches at any level!

Max out Mindset for Volleyball book and services here.

Instagram: @max_out_mind_Jess and on Twitter: @JessKnecht

Twitter: @Doc_elitemind

Max out Mindset for Volleyball book and services here.

Ana Bellinghausen | The Power of GRIT

I am so excited to welcome Ana to the Max Out Mindset podcast. She is an elite young woman who is the epitome of what it means to me gritty. I promise you she is a budding superstar in the sports media world, and the biggest reason, besides her innate talent, is that nobody will ever outwork her. We talk about the same mindset skills that she employs, such as visualization and mindfulness, to help her perform at a high level, often under pressure. I absolutely love her mantra, "If you can see it, be it." Her insights will help any high performer understand the mechanics of what it takes to max out when it matters the most!

Max out Mindset for Volleyball book and services here

Instagram @max_out_mind_Jess and on Twitter @JessKnecht.

Twitter: @Doc_elitemind

Diane Mendenhall | The Great Ones Adjust

 Diane is the President of Nebraska Pro Volleyball, home of the Omaha Supernovas. She has spent a large part of her life in and around the sport of volleyball. We discuss her journey that has led to this exact moment in time where she can use all of her experiences to help the Pro Volleyball League be a smashing success. It was fun to discuss mindset and the role that it plays in maximizing performance. After listening to the way Diane thinks about organizations, teams, leaders and people, you will know why she is the perfect person to drive success in the inaugural season for the Omaha Supernovas.

Max out Mindset for Volleyball book and services here

Alvano For The Win

We welcome Tristan Alvano, a true freshman starting kicker for the University of Nebraska football team, to the Max Out Mindset podcast. You will learn how he trains his mental skills through meditation and visualization.
Tristan was a record-breaking kicker for Omaha Westside High School. Alvano set state all-class records for most field goals in a game and in a season, while his 27 career field goals were the most in Class A history. He was honored as a first-team high school All-American as a senior. Alvano made 16 field goals as a senior, the most in a season in the history of Nebraska high school football, regardless of class. In Westside's state championship victory over Gretna, he kicked five field goals, including a 50-yarder and a 45-yard game-winner as time expired. His five field goals were the most in any state playoff game in Nebraska history and tied for the most field goals in any high school game in state history. That performance earned him a full-ride scholarship to the University of Nebraska football team. 

After a contested fall camp, he was named the starting kicker for the Huskers.

Order Dr. Widman's new book Max Out Mindset for Volleyball or Max Out Mindset for Softball here A Guide For Coaches, Athletes, Teams & Parents To Help You Be In The Best Position To Max Out When It Matters The Most.

Ruby Meylan | Passion, Drive and Leaning Into a Growth Mindset to Max Out in Life and Sport

Welcome Nebraskan and current University of Washington softball pitcher to the Max Out Mindset podcast. She has had tremendous success in high school and that success continued during her first year in college.  It was so fun to hear her story and learn how she leans into a growth mindset to navigate the adjustment to the college softball world. She is a big believer in learning from setbacks and using coaches, teammates and her own mindset strategies to help elevate performance. Like most high performers we get to visit with on the podcast, Ruby struggles at times but she has great awareness of what she struggles with and strategies such as visualization, deep breathing and the use of routines to help her perform at her best.

Order Dr. Widman's new book Max Out Mindset for Volleyball or Max Out Mindset for Softball at www.maxoutmindset.com A Guide For Coaches, Athletes, Teams & Parents To Help You Be In The Best Position To Max Out When It Matters The Most.

Jordy Bahl | You Need to be Strong to be Vulnerable

Coach Todd Petersen | Be Secretariat

Jordy Bahl | You Need to be Strong to be Vulnerable

One of the GOAT’s of college softball, Jordy Bahl, joins Coach Jess and I on the Max Out Mindset podcast. She just won her 2nd National Championship in college softball. She was 5-0 while pitching 24 2/3 innings of shut-out softball in the 2023 College World Series, while being named the MVP of the College World Series,

This episode is jam-packed with mindset strategies to help any high performer improve in their craft and life. Jordy is open about some of the challenges she has faced in the past year and discusses her strategies to help overcome those challenges. She makes it very clear-vulnerability is a strength. Jordy is not one to brag about her accomplishments. Still, she has been a part of softball championships in high school, Club, and most recently now with back-to-back championships at the University of Oklahoma. Her honesty and integrity shine through in one of the best podcasts of 2023!

Order Dr. Widman's new book Max Out Mindset for Softball: A Guide For Coaches, Athletes, Teams & Parents To Help You Be In The Best Position To Max Out When It Matters The Most

Coach Todd Petersen | Be Secretariat

Welcome Coach Todd Petersen to the Max Out Mindset podcast. As one of the best coaches in the history of Nebraska High School and Club Softball, he shares many nuggets to help other coaches and athletes max out when it matters the most. He has continued a long pattern of success as the head coach of Papillion-Lavista High School softball, and has coached arguably the most talented high school team ever to suit up in Nebraska. Yet, even during those years, he was always making sure that there weren’t barriers that would get in the way of his team performing at the highest level. You will learn about his “Be Secretariat” mantra that he brought to those “dynasty” teams, but it is really how he thinks about every team. It’s also great to learn from a coach that has been willing to evolve with an emphasis on building relationships better than ever with his athletes and coaching staff. I really enjoyed this conversation.

Order Dr. Widman's new book Max Out Mindset for Volleyball or Max Out Mindset for Softball at www.maxoutmindset.com A Guide For Coaches, Athletes, Teams & Parents To Help You Be In The Best Position To Max Out When It Matters The Most.

Kristen Kelsay | Leading with Integrity

Coach Kelly (Kuebler) O'Connor | Confidence in Value Systems

Kristen Kelsay | Leading with Integrity

The University of Minnesota Associate Head Volleyball Coach, Kristen Kelsay, joins the Max Out Mindset podcast! She shares the wisdom she gained from her seven years of experience as an assistant coach in the Big Ten, including four with Michigan State (2015-18) and three with Northwestern (2019-21). Learn from her experience as a college athlete at Michigan State under former Head Coach, Cathy George, and how it led to jump-starting her coaching journey. Hear insights into her time as a Gopher with Head Coach, Keegan Cook.

This episode provides insight into how coaches and athletes can build the second 'C' of the Elite Mindset, confidence. Her own confidence and coaching style draws on her values: being kind, acting with integrity, and always returning to her faith. We dive into learning there is strength in vulnerability and the gift of having a mentor. The gloves are off in this episode!

 Learn more about mindset training with Coach Jess at www.maxoutmindset.com. Follow her on Instagram @max_out_mind_Jess and on Twitter @JessKnecht.

Coach Kelly (Kuebler) O'Connor | Confidence in Value Systems

Coach Kelly brings a wealth of experience from competing on elite teams and has coached at the college (USC), high school, and club levels in AZ/CA. Her philosophy of training a “complete player” stems from these experiences. She uses this knowledge in her coaching to bring out the best version of each player. She also brings wisdom to training the 3rd ingredient of confidence, the coach's role! 

As an athlete, Kelly attended USC as an outside hitter, where she was a four-year starter. She competed in various USA volleyball programs, including Olympic Festivals and the 1995 World University Games.  She trained in Japan under Dr. Arie Selinger, who led USA volleyball to a Silver Medal.  After graduation, she played professionally overseas in Brazil and Puerto Rico and ended her career on the AVP Beach Tour, being nominated for Rookie of the Year.  Her favorite part of the sport has always been being on a team and her teammates.

 Learn more about mindset training with Coach Jess at www.maxoutmindset.com. Follow her on Instagram @max_out_mind_Jess and on Twitter @JessKnecht.

Coach Tonya Johnson | Empowering Women in Volleyball

Welcome LSU Women’s Head Volleyball Coach Tonya Johnson to the Max Out Mindset podcast. She has been very successful at all levels of her sport, including as a player and coach. She is in her second year as head Volleyball coach at LSU. It will become apparent in this conversation that Coach has a very high level of emotional intelligence. You will learn how she models the behavior that she wants from her team. There are gems and nuggets galore throughout the podcast. Enjoy!

Order Dr. Widman's new book Max Out Mindset for Volleyball: A Guide For Coaches, Athletes, Teams & Parents To Help You Be In The Best Position To Max Out When It Matters The Most

Phekran Kong (PK) | Grace & Gratitude

Welcome Phekran Kong (PK) from the University of Louisville Volleyball team to the Max Out Mindset Podcast! PK is a 6'3" middle blocker who played a valuable role in her team's historic appearance in the 2022 NCAA Women's Volleyball National Championship.

PK shares why grace and gratitude allow her to stay composed during competition. Having a goldfish memory helps her mind not to dwell in the past but to stay present in the moment. She also shares why her teammates and coaches play a significant role in her success on/off the volleyball court!

Learn more about mindset training with Coach Jess at www.maxoutmindset.com. Follow her on Instagram @max_out_mind_Jess and on Twitter @JessKnecht.

Coach Taras Liskevych | On the Volleyball Mount Rushmore

Coach Taras Liskevych | On the Volleyball Mount Rushmore

Please welcome Coach Liskevych, who shares his views on maxing out when it matters the most. He talks about the highs and lows of decades spent coaching and teaching his craft. He has been successful at every level of his sport, including as the head coach of the USWNT. Coach is also the co-founder of the AVCA, so one can fully understand his impact on the world of volleyball. As a co-owner of The Art of Coaching, he has been able to help coaches at all levels of experience be better at their craft as well.

Order Dr. Widman's new book Max Out Mindset for Volleyball at www.maxoutmindset.com A Guide For Coaches, Athletes, Teams & Parents To Help You Be In The Best Position To Max Out When It Matters The Most

Sue Ziegler | Coaching for All the Right Reasons

Sue Ziegler | Coaching for All the Right Reasons

Coach Ziegler is one of the best ever to coach high school volleyball in the State of Nebraska. She has won State Championships in Track and Field as well as Volleyball. Her team at Lincoln Lutheran recently finished a historical season in which they went undefeated and won back-to-back State Championships. I love her focus on culture and having fun as ingredients that lead to success. There are nuggets galore that Coach shares on what it takes to put a team in the best position to max out in life and sport.

Order Dr. Widman's new book Max Out Mindset for Volleyball at www.maxoutmindset.com A Guide For Coaches, Athletes, Teams & Parents To Help You Be In The Best Position To Max Out When It Matters The Most

Coach Jess Interviews Lindsay Krause

Coach Jess Interviews Skyler Pierce

 Lindsay Krause | Overcoming Perfectionism

Today we welcome Lindsay Krause to the Max Out Mindset Podcast. Lindsay is a current volleyball student-athlete at the University of Nebraska. She was named to the 2022 Academic All-Big Ten and 2021 Big Ten All-Freshman Team and is an Assistant Coach with Premier Nebraska 16 Gold.

Lindsay was a multi-sport athlete in high school and captured four Nebraska Class B State Volleyball Championships! She shares how mindset training provided successful strategies to own her self-talk to play confident on the court

She shares insight about the importance of mental health and encourages athletes to utilize their resources if they need help. Listen to how she overcomes perfectionism and failure!

Want to learn more about mindset training with Coach Jess? Please visit www.maxoutmindset.com. Follow Coach Jess on Instagram @max_out_mind_Jess and on Twitter @JessKnecht.

Skyler Pierce | Humble Confidence

Skyler Pierce joins the Max Out Mindset podcast! She is a Husker Volleyball Commit ('28) and the #4 ranked prospect in the Class of 2024 by PrepVolleyball.com. She is also the Metro Sports KC Player of the Year/MVP and a member of USAV's NTDP.

She's a fierce multi-sport athlete from Kansas, competing on Dynasty's 17 Black club volleyball team and at Olathe Northwest High School (basketball and volleyball). Her commitment to servant leadership shows in her athletic achievements, academic excellence, and community service. Her humility and focus on the team above herself help this high performer achieve big goals. 

Listen to how she handles the pressure of the national stage, and what commitment looks like to be elite. She shares why mindset training is so vital to improving her confidence.

Want more information on mindset training? Please visit www.maxoutmindset.com. Follow Coach Jess on Instagram @max_out_mindset_jess and Twitter @JessKnecht.

Coach Jess Interviews Grace Heaney

Coach Jess Interviews Jaiden Centeno

Grace Heaney | Growth Mentality

Today Coach jess interviews  Grace Heaney to the Max Out Mindset Podcast! She is a Purdue Volleyball Commit ('27) and is the #14 ranked prospect in the Class of 2023, by PrepVolleyball.com. 

As a multi-sport athlete, she has found success on high-level teams in Premier Nebraska 18 Gold and Elkhorn North High School (basketball, track & field, and volleyball). Her commitment to bettering herself for the team demanded she steps up in new ways. Grace is committed to changing her body language/attitude to be the best leader. Mindset training, family, and faith keep her grounded as she navigates the pressure as a high-performing athlete.

Want to learn more about mindset training? Please visit www.maxoutmindset.com. Follow Coach Jess on Instagram @max_out_mindset_jess and on Twitter @JessKnecht.

Jaiden Centeno | Strength in Vulnerability

Former University of Nebraska Omaha libero and Premier Nebraska 16 Gold Assistant Coach, Jaiden Centeno, shares her powerful testimony of how vulnerability and mindset training increased her confidence to max out in the postseason competition.

Jaiden shares how much mental health matters. At 16 years old, she suffered a season-ending hip injury that led her to understand the strength it takes to ask for help. Loneliness, not playing the sport she loved, and questioning when she could compete again impacted her mental health. Listen to how she breaks down the mental health stigma surrounding collegiate athletes and learn why she finally bought into mindset training during her senior season!

Learn more about Coach Jess and Max Out Mindset! Please visit www.maxoutmindset.com. Follow Coach Jess on Instagram @max_out_mind_Jess and on Twitter @JessKnecht

Norah Sis | Fun, Faith and being Fearless

Today we welcome Norah Sis to the Max Out Mindset Podcast. Norah is a current volleyball student-athlete at Creighton University. She was named the 2022 Big East Volleyball Player of the Year, won a Gold Medal at the Pan American Cup with USA Volleyball's U21 Team and was an AVCA Third Team All-American in 2021.

Norah was a multi-sport athlete in high school and chose to pursue her volleyball career in college. She shares the value and importance of mindset training when she needs to improve her confidence on the court. Her commitment and confidence helped her stay composed when it mattered most in some of the NCAA's biggest matches. 

Fun, faith and being fearless are three traits that best describe her! Grab a pen and a piece of paper because she provides key advice for the prospective/current athlete. 

Want to learn more about mindset training with Coach Jess? Please visit www.maxoutmindset.com. Follow Coach Jess on Instagram @max_out_mind_Jess and on Twitter @JessKnecht.

Coach Elise Fulcher | Premier Nebraska 16 Gold Head Coach

Head 16 Gold Coach, Elise Fulcher, from Premier Nebraska Volleyball joins the Max Out Mindset Podcast. She provides valuable insight and experience as a club, high school and former Division 1 volleyball coach!

Elise was also a former collegiate athlete who overcame injuries to find her true passion in the sport. Listen as she shares how adversity and intentional mindset training helped her team max out when it mattered most. Consistency in her training and coaching is an important ingredient in her team's success.

Learn more about mindset training with Coach Jess? Please visit www.maxoutmindset.com. Follow Coach Jess on Instagram @max_out_mind_Jess and on Twitter @JessKnecht.

Lexi Zeiss | 17-year-old World Champion with the Golden State of Mind: Joy, Compassion, Competition & Mindfulness.

The Golden State Warriors have a set of Core Values that guides them. They call it the Golden State of Mind. When I think about Lexi Zeiss, those same four values come to mind. You will never meet a more joyful & compassionate student-athlete. But she is a fierce competitor as well. Over the past couple of years, she has learned to be mindful, which allows her to be present and aware of her thoughts, feeling & emotions. She has gone from a relatively unknown on the National stage at the beginning of 2022 to be a member of the USA Gymnastics National Team that took home the Gold at the World Championships in the Fall of 2022! It’s an incredible journey to this point in her life, but you find out that Lexi is also an incredible person. I hope you enjoy listening to her passion, joy, and wonderful insights on the Max Out Mindset podcast. Lexi Zeiss 2 x U.S. National Team Member USA Gymnastics Worlds Team – 2022 Pan American Championships All Around Silver Medalist - 2022

TKN | Dreaming Big with AVP Beach Team of the Year Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss

It was awesome to bring back Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss to talk about their transition to professional beach volleyball and what makes their partnership tick so well. I always say you must have enough talent to compete for championships, but how well you attack the non-technical aspects of your sport often determines if you and your team can max out when it matters the most. One of the few positive events to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic was the unlikely partnership of Taryn and Kristen while playing for the Beach Volleyball program at LSU. Even though they went undefeated while paired together during their last season at LSU, winning AVCA Beach Pair of the year, their rapid ascent to the top professional ranks in their first full year on the AVP Tour in 2022 has surprised many people. I have known Taryn since her days at Creighton University, where she played indoor volleyball, and have had the pleasure to watch her grow as a person and in her sport, so nothing surprises me with her—and if you know Kristen, she is the engine that drives home excellence. I love talking about growth through adversity, so it should not surprise you that my favorite part of our conversation was their performance struggles during 2022. But that laid the foundation for their next growth level, leading them to be named the AVP Beach Team of the year in 2022!

Coach Russell Brock | The Definition of Being Intentional in Volleyball and Life

Welcome Coach Brock, LSU’s head beach volleyball coach to the Max Out Mindset Podcast. Coach Brock’s 2021-22 team word for the year was Intentional. Part of their success was finding ways to be intentional in all aspects of their lives, which translated to on-court performance. When I think of Coach Brock and why he has been able to be successful in his life and, in particular, in the building of one of the great beach volleyball programs, it is because of his commitment to being intentional as well. You will love many of his insights and there are nuggets galore for anybody who is a high performer trying to get their team or themselves to max out when it matters the most. Follow Dr. Widman@doc_elitemind

Coach Rhonda Revelle | Hall of Fame Coach with a Hall of Fame Mindset

Join me in welcoming Coach Rhonda Revelle to the Max Out Mindset podcast. She is one of the most positive coaches I know, and it was an honor to discuss her career, both the highs and the lows. Her deliberate focus on gratitude and appreciation is reflected in her career as a Hall of Fame coach with a resume of success over several decades. My favorite part of the conversation was discussing the challenges and the growth that surfaced during the adversity over the past couple of years. I loved hearing about her feelings for the most recent team that finished its season in the Spring of 2022. There was genuine love and appreciation for the team and many of the parents/athletes that stood by her during some of her darkest times. It was not surprising to me the vulnerability Coach Revelle demonstrated during our conversation. Her wisdom will help many navigate the challenges of being a high performer, whether in life or sport.

Shannon Smolinski | Director of Premier Nebraska Volleyball

Today we welcome Shannon to the Max Out Mindset Podcast. We talk all things volleyball with a focus on the teachings and philosophy of Premier Volleyball Nebraska. It becomes clear that Shannon’s mission is in complete alignment with Premier regarding how to help grow young women to max out in sport and life. We certainly spend time talking about the role that mindset training plays in overall performance. We talk about the growth of Club volleyball in general and the incredible growth that has taken place at Premier. Her joy and passion for volleyball and for teaching young women shines throughout our conversation. Enjoy! Work with Dr. Widman; maxoutmindset.com Follow Dr. Widman on Twitter @doc_elitemind

Jordan Thompson | A Pattern of Making History in Volleyball

Please welcome Jordan Thompson to the Max Out Mindset podcast. This is as good of a conversation as I've ever had due to her willingness to share her story in an honest and vulnerable way. She discusses her struggles with imposter syndrome, maintaining composure and her self-talk. She also has wonderful strategies to deal with all of these issues so that she can max out when it matters the most. Her journey is full of making history in her sport, both at the NCAA and Olympic level. She has also had her share of ups and downs that also played out during the Olympic games of 2021 resulting in the first gold medal for volleyball in US history. I was so impressed with Jordan as an athlete and person! Enjoy!

Coach Trish Siedlik | Making History and Evolving Go Hand In Hand

In 2019, entering her 14th season as the Head Coach of Bellevue University Volleyball, she wanted to do things better than ever. She was already a highly successful coach by many measures, but she wanted to be able to give more to her team. Her plan included evolving herself as a coach to model the behaviors she wanted the team to display and build better connections with them. She also wanted to give them more mindset tools to help them stay confident and composed in the biggest moments. It’s always fun to watch this process occur with the normal fits and starts but eventually lead to something really wonderful over time. She shared some incredible insights and was willing to share some of her vulnerabilities on this podcast. In 2021, her team advanced to the NAIA National Tournament quarterfinals for the first time since 2000. There is no question in my mind that her willingness to evolve was part of the equation as to why her team could put themselves in the best position to max out when it mattered the most. Enjoy!

David Hunt | Elite Volleyball Coach, Culture Builder

Coach David Hunt has been a force in the volleyball world at virtually every level. He has worked at the highest levels in both Men’s and Women’s volleyball, including in the Olympics and the international world. He articulates his journey, vision, and gratitude for his mentors on the podcast. His growth mindset and willingness to become vulnerable as a coach shine throughout. He has just transitioned back to the women’s game as the Associate Head Coach for the University of Texas. It was very enjoyable to learn from him, and I look forward to watching him continue to shine.

Jess Knecht | The Power of Choice | Elite Mindset Coach

Jess Knecht is a former multi-sport athlete who currently coaches high school and club volleyball. Her coaching style reflects a huge emphasis on mindset training. She has made a tremendous impact over the past few years in her coaching/mentoring role with individual high-performing athletes. She shares many wonderful insights and nuggets about developing and training the whole person. Her take on perfectionism is one of many I loved. We are also so excited that she is bringing her talent, passion, personality, and energy to the Max Out Mindset team.

Damon Benning | The Power of Vulnerability and Evolution

Damon is known for many different things during his lifetime. National Championship Husker athlete, award-winning sports radio co-host, high school football coach, husband, father, and son. But life hasn’t always been easy for him, making his story and insights compelling. I have always loved listening to him because of his intellectual curiosity and thoughtfulness about many challenging issues facing human beings. His willingness to be vulnerable in this setting and share his struggles and successes pleasantly surprised me. Ultimately, I love people with a growth mindset and are willing to evolve.

Coach Katie Tarman | Max Out Through Love, Trust and Mental Toughness

Coach Tarman is a former Division I volleyball player at Kansas State who has been a head coach for Papillion La-Vista South high school for the past three seasons. The title of one of Meatloaf's songs fits her head coaching journey fairly well-Two Out of Three Ain't Bad! We discuss her journey as a former player, including one of her regrets. We discuss the last three seasons which have included two State Championships and how she trains them to max out when it matters the most. Her 2021 team went undefeated, and the success of that team will certainly stand the test of time and go down as one of the best in Nebraska's high school history. You will love her insights and the wonderful nuggets she shares to help high performers max out in life and sport.

Coach Ben and Angie Boldt | Living Their Values On and Off the Court

Today on the Max Out Mindset podcast, I have a husband-and-wife team. Their four years of coaching at Concordia University Volleyball have taken this team to heights never reached, including a couple of Elite Eight finishes the past two years in the NAIA National Tournament. They do a wonderful job of staying process-focused. They do an equally great job of staying true to the team's Core Values. Both of these have helped them this year, more than ever, stay focused on improvement rather than the win-loss record. It paid off in the 2nd half of the fall 2021 season, culminating in a tremendous run in the GPAC Conference Tournament, followed by a deep run in the National Tournament. I always say that one of the key ingredients of great teams is to have complementary roles and crush these roles. The Boldt’s do just that for their “coaching team” with the beneficiary being Concordia Volleyball.

Coach Dani Busboom Kelly | Winning Is Her Middle Name

Today on the podcast is Coach Dani Busboom Kelly. She played volleyball at the University of Nebraska and won a National Championship in 2006. As an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska, she helped them win a National Championship again in 2015! In 2016 she became the head volleyball coach at the University of Louisville and took the program to historic heights reaching the Final 4 in 2021. She was named the 2021 AVCA East Region Coach of the Year. All she does is win!

John Baylor | Attacking the High-Performance World in Business and Sport

He is the founder of John Baylor Prep, OnToCollege, and he is the voice of Husker Volleyball. He is passionate about helping young people get into the college of their choice and get as much scholarship money as possible. He certainly has a love and passion for all things Husker Volleyball and, in my opinion, is the greatest volleyball announcer on the planet. This role has also given him a unique view into Husker Volleyball's inner workings. He has one of the all-time great sayings that goes something like this, "My job tonight, describe what I saw. Mission Accomplished!" John is intelligent, insightful, and has a wonderful way with the English language. We address many topics related to high performance, and he also shares his unique insights into why Coach Cook and Husker Volleyball are so special. By the podcast's end, I feel the listeners will also say about John, "Mission Accomplished."

Kim Hill | Success, The Power of Vulnerability, Role Clarity, and Role Acceptance

Kim Hill is one of the most decorated volleyball players in U.S. history. She has been on the United States women’s national volleyball team during a stretch where they won a gold medal at the 2014 World Championships and a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics. She was a member of the first U.S National team to ever win a gold medal in the 2020 Olympic Games! Her focus on the importance of the non-technical skills of volleyball, such as working on vulnerability, building relationships, role clarity, and role acceptance, stood out to me as drivers of getting her teams to max out. She is now on the board of LOVB and was just named the volunteer coach for the Long Beach State women’s volleyball team.

Coach Alicia Williams | Making History in Volleyball

Alicia Williams won back to back championships at Iowa Western in 7 months! It is so hard to repeat as National Champions in any sport, let alone seven months apart! Alicia Williams shared her thoughts about the team before the match. "I am in disbelief at what this team has done in the last week. The joy and passion of coming together with a common goal are unmatched. I have never hugged so many players more than I have in the last two days! They are incredible and so fun. I love each and every one of them. Let's see what happens tonight." How cool is it to feel this way about your team and their journey before the final outcome is even known? It is so fun to collaborate with a team that buys into training all the necessary ingredients required to be in a position to max out when it matters the most. Developing an elite mindset can be trained like any physical skill, and Iowa Western put in the work. In Set 5, they were the tougher team—the fearless team, and it showed especially in the last 5 points of the match. Today on the podcast, we explore her journey as a player, an assistant coach, to back-to-back national championships, and Alicia Williams Named NJCAA Volleyball Coach of the Year. Alicia is currently the head volleyball coach at Bradley University.

Coach Renee Saunders | A Master at Getting Her Teams to Max Out When it Matters the Most

Welcome to a repeat guest on the Max Out Mindset podcast—Coach Renee Saunders. She is one of the nation's top high school volleyball coaches at Skutt Catholic HS in Omaha, Nebraska. Her team has won 7 State championships in a row—a record in Nebraska! She was named one of two National High School Coaches of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) for 2020. We focus on the journey of her past two seasons as she shares several nuggets that will help other coaches continue to build their culture and learn additional strategies to help their teams max out when it matters the most.

Jordan Larson | the GOAT of Women’s Volleyball

How can I not be more excited for the Part II interview with Jordan Larson? In my humble opinion, she is the best female volleyball player in United States history. Her accolades are too many to mention, and they can be summed up in two words-The GOAT! As usual, my guests will hear an unfiltered, honest conversation about what it took for Jordan to elevate her performance on the biggest stage in the volleyball world while doing everything she could to model the behaviors she wanted for those she helped to lead as well. She displayed vulnerability by sharing her worries about the Olympic journey, her fears of not reaching their end goal, and her unusual emotional display in the hours leading up to the Olympic Gold Medal match. In the end, she talks about all the non-volleyball skills that the USWNT worked on to gain a competitive advantage and come up with the ultimate prize-a Gold Medal!