The Next Season Podcast

044 – Johnny Martin Returns (pt. 2 of 2)

Part 1 was the warmup. Part 2 is game time. Johnny leads us through a live values exercise — step by step — that will challenge you to do more than name what matters. It will ask you what you're actually willing to lose to keep it. Real values have to be clear, tested, and behavioral. If they don't cost you anything, they're just words. Athletes, ATLAS athletes, coaches — this one's for all of you. Notebook out. 👉 Learn more about 1:1 Coaching for active athletes and ATLAS athletes at nextseasonathletes.com 00:00 Intro & Highlights 01:45 Real vs Processed Relationships 02:36 Discipline in What We Consume 04:31 The Dichotomy of Discipline & Mental Health 06:35 Athletes & Veterans Transition 08:03 Mindset as the Separator 10:54 Underdog Beliefs & Environment 11:52 Values Exercise Framework 15:12 Choose Five Values 15:38 Turn Values Into Behaviors 16:19 Run a Values Audit 18:44 The Cost of Values 20:59 Work Without Recognition 23:22 Revisit Values Over Time 25:50 Coaching Without Judgment 27:27 Closing Thoughts & Gratitude

044 – Johnny Martin Returns (pt. 1 of 2)

Johnny Martin is back. When it comes to coaching high performers, Johnny is a legend. You don't need notoriety and fame to make an impact - and Johnny has impacted elite athletes, veterans and business leaders for years. If you haven't heard Episode 026, go there first. This conversation picks up where that one left off — and it gets real from the first sentence. In Part 1, we get into curiosity as a performance tool, what real confidence actually looks like, how the best coaches show up the same in every room, and the three questions Johnny uses with every high performer navigating transition. This one is for athletes, coaches, and anyone who wants to perform at a higher level — in sport or in life. Subscribe and hit the notification bell so you're ready for part 2. Trust me, you won't want to miss it. 👉 Learn more about 1:1 Coaching for active athletes and ATLAS athletes at nextseasonathletes.com 00:00 Intro & Highlights 01:19 Coaching Active Athletes & ATLAS Athletes 03:10 The Identity of Athletes at Turning Points 06:15 Missing the Game & Radical Ownership Shift 07:37 Time Boundaries & Showing Up 10:07 Curiosity & Three Non-negotiables 12:57 Rapid Fire Warmup 17:38 Success Goes Beyond You 19:13 Curiosity About Real Ones vs Imposters 22:13 Curiosity About Authenticity (& Three Authenticity Pillars) 25:12 Character at Home 27:03 Curiosity About Alter Egos & Control 28:10 Curiosity & Coaching High Performers 30:47 Curiosity & Social Media 33:30 Closing Thoughts, Prep for Part Two, Support & Gratitude

043 – Let Go to Move Forward

There's a moment every athlete knows. You're in a funk, you're slumping, you're losing confidence, you're not performing like you used to — and instead of moving forward, you grip tighter. To the stats. To the reputation. To the player you remember being. To the past. That grip feels like effort — doing the work you're supposed to do. But what if it's actually a trap? When your identity is anchored to a past version of yourself, your brain treats the gap between then and now as a threat — and it shifts from performance mode into survival mode. Tight muscles. Overthinking. Playing not to fail instead of playing to win. You're not broken. Your brain is responding normally, but that doesn't mean it's what's best in these situations. It's trying to keep you safe, but it's holding you back. This episode is about learning to put down the old version — not because it didn't matter, but because you can't build who you need to become if both hands are gripping so tight to who you were. 👉 Learn more about 1:1 Coaching for active athletes and ATLAS athletes at nextseasonathletes.com 00:00 Intro & Highlights 01:19 Spring Reset & Quitting 03:44 High School Identity 05:44 College Reality Check 07:23 Winter Break Quit 08:24 Mental Highlight Reel 10:35 Brain Threat Response 13:02 Letting Go Science 15:54 Reset Routines Cues 19:28 Build New Identity 22:49 Reinvent To Last 24:38 Closing Thoughts, Assessments, Support & Gratitude

042 – Suffering & Self-Reliance for Athletes

We don’t feel suffering or pain because of life's challenges. As an athlete, you may not be struggling because of the pressure and the competition. We struggle because we try to avoid that suffering. We try to avoid the pain. We try to stay clear of the challenges.  We resist. In this episode, I break down suffering, self-reliance, pressure, grit, and resilience - and what they actually mean in real life. Drawing from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay Self-Reliance and powerful conversations with Tony Robbins, Alex Hormozi, Chris Williamson and Arthur Brooks, we talk about: *  Why pressure builds identity *  Why confidence comes after courage *  Why avoiding discomfort weakens you *  And how suffering can shape you instead of crush you If you’re in a hard season - on the field or after sport - this one’s for you. 👉 Learn more about 1:1 Coaching for active athletes and ATLAS athletes at nextseasonathletes.com

041 - Who Are You When Your Game Ends?

In the old myth, Atlas loses a fight and is condemned to carry the sky forever — not for a moment, but for a lifetime. Knees bent. Back hunched. No recognition. No help in sight. That’s what life feels like for a lot of athletes after the game ends. And that’s why I built ATLAS Athletes. This episode marks the official launch of ATLAS — a new coaching program for athletes adjusting to life after sport. Not the pressure of game day, but the quieter, heavier pressure that follows: identity loss, uncertainty, responsibility, and the question nobody prepares you for... “If I’m not an athlete anymore… who am I?” In Episode 041, I break down: * why athletes often struggle more after sport than during it * how identity tied to performance becomes a trap * why grinding harder stops working in real life * and how ATLAS helps athletes rebuild direction, confidence, and purpose without carrying everything alone This is for ATLAS Athletes — former competitors, transitioning athletes, and high performers who still feel the weight long after the lights go off. The game may be over. Your life isn't. This is the start of your Next Season. 👉 Learn more about ATLAS Athletes at nextseasonathletes.com   00:00 Intro & Attention 00:48 The Myth of Atlas: A Deeper Meaning 02:12 The Pressure and Weight of Life 05:01 Identity Beyond Athletics 08:26 A Mindset Shift 11:06 Announcing: Athletes Adjusting to Life After Sport 16:52 Practical Actions for ATLAS Athletes - 1: Name Your Throughline 19:40 Practical Actions for ATLAS Athletes - 2: Stack Bricks of Evidence for Confidence 20:49 Practical Actions for ATLAS Athletes - 3: Win the Inning 21:50 Wrap-Up & Closing Thoughts