Ep: 157: Full Send: Paralympic Powerlifter Ashley Dyce on Persistence and Progress

Ep: 157: Full Send: Paralympic Powerlifter Ashley Dyce on Persistence and Progress

In this episode of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Matt sits down with Team USA para powerlifter Ashley Dyce, who was born with spina bifida and has fought her way onto the world stage through a decade of relentless commitment. Ashley shares how she went from discovering the Paralympics on TV to representing the United States, what it really looks like to stick with one path for 10+ years, and how she’s handled injuries, surgeries, missed lifts, and seasons that felt like setbacks instead of breakthroughs. She talks about chasing a 300 lb bench, preparing for the Paralympic Games, and using both her faith and sports psychology tools to stay locked in when progress isn’t linear. We get into: * Choosing a lane and committing fully to para powerlifting * Coming back from injuries and health issues without quitting on the dream * How faith and sports psychology work together in her mental game * Practical tools: visualization, music, and routines to manage nerves on the big stage * Competing as a woman with a disability and why representation matters If you’ve ever wondered how far you can go by going “full send” on one goal—and refusing to back off when it gets hard—Ashley’s story is a powerful example of what persistence and progress really look like. Subscribe for more conversations on mental toughness, mindset, and high performance from athletes, coaches, and performers at the highest level. Timestamps (approximate): 00:00 Intro 00:40 Ashley’s journey into para sports 03:30 Discovering para powerlifting 05:00 From 135 to chasing 300 on bench 08:00 Failing in the gym and building real resilience 11:30 Injuries, surgery, and non-linear progress 18:00 Training, recovery, and daily life as a Team USA athlete 19:30 Faith as a foundation for mental toughness 21:30 Working with a sports psychologist 24:30 Visualization, nerves, and reframing anxiety as excitement 28:30 Competing on the Paralympic stage 31:00 Representation, purpose, and lifting for something bigger than medals 34:00 Ashley’s goals and final thoughts on persistence and progress Follow Ashley: www.instagram.com/ashley_dyce/ [https://www.instagram.com/ashley_dyce/] To learn more about the American Paragons Foundation: americanparagons.org [https://americanparagons.org/] For more information about Mental Mettle Coaching: Sign up here for the FREE Resilient Parents Playbook: www.resilientparentsplaybook.com [http://www.resilientparentsplaybook.com/] Contact: matt@mentalmettlecoach.com [matt@mentalmettlecoach.com] for a free coaching session with Coach Thomann www.mentalmettlecoach.com [http://www.mentalmettlecoach.com/]

Ep. 156: Raising Superheroes: Megan Gilmore on Mental Health & Well‑Being for Kids

In this episode of The Mental Middle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann sits down with Megan Gilmore—founder and executive director of Larksong, certified coach, and author—to talk about how early we should be building mental health and well‑being skills in kids. (Spoiler: much earlier than most people think.) We cover: * Why well‑being and “mental health” for kids should start as early as physical health * How a single caring adult can radically buffer a child from adversity (ACEs vs. PACEs) * The science showing that well‑being education boosts grades, graduation rates, and resilience * Megan’s children’s book that turns brain parts into fun characters kids can understand * “Mind Bandits” (kids’ version of limiting beliefs) and how to help children name and tame them * Larksong’s Superhero Camp: a five‑day experience that teaches kids real tools for stress, emotions, and self‑talk * Why parents and teachers don’t have to be experts to start this work—they just have to start If you’ve ever wondered: “How young is too young for mindset and mental skills?” or “Am I going to mess my kid up if I try this and don’t know what I’m doing?” …this conversation will give you both the why and some concrete how. 🔗 Learn more about Larksong & Superhero Camp Website & Superhero Camp info: www.larkssong.com/superherocamp [https://www.larkssong.com/superherocamp] (Volunteering, sponsoring, and donating options are all there.) 📚 Megan’s Children’s Book Amy Dala and the Answer Amy Dala and the Answer: 9781087933382: Amazon.com: Books [https://www.amazon.com/Amy-Dala-Answer-Megan-Gilmore/dp/1087933382] Resilent Parent's Playbook by Mental Mettle Coaching. resilientparentsplaybook.com Contact Coach Thomann matt@mentalmettlecoach.com

Ep. 155: Time on Feet: How Kyle Thompson Uses Adversity to Chase Excellence

Regional Superintendent and ultramarathoner Kyle Thompson joins The Mental Mettle Podcast to break down how “time on feet” in the mountains has reshaped the way he leads, parents, and lives. Kyle is the Regional Superintendent of ROE #11 in Charleston, Illinois, and a 100-mile finisher who believes deeply in intentional adversity—choosing hard things on purpose so you’re ready for the hard things you don’t choose. In this conversation, we cover: * How a simple question from his kids (“What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?”) completely changed his life * Why he prefers 90-degree runs, 2 a.m. training sessions, and brutal trail conditions * The mental and physical battle of his first 100-miler at Grindstone (106 miles, 35+ hours, cold rain, and massive elevation) * DNFs, disappointment, and what failure in ultrarunning has taught him about leadership * The difference between optional adversity (what you choose) and mandatory adversity (what life throws at you) * How trail running and ultras have made him a calmer, more resilient leader and parent We also dig into the work Kyle has done with Mental Mettle Coaching: * Why he brought me in to do an 8-session group coaching series with his ROE #11 team * How that coaching helped his staff with self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and vulnerability * The culture shift that happens when a team feels genuinely invested in, not just managed * Why he actively promotes my professional development and coaching to superintendents and schools across his region If you’re an educator, coach, or leader who: * Wants to build real resilience (not just talk about “grit”) * Is curious how endurance training and leadership intersect * Is looking for PD that actually focuses on the adults in the room, not another buzzword program …this episode will give you a clear picture of what intentional adversity looks like in real life—and how it can transform both your work and your life. ——— WORK WITH MENTAL METTLE COACHING → Group coaching & PD for schools, districts, and teams → Coaching for educators, leaders, and coaches who want to build real mental mettle matt@mentalmettlecoach.com www.mentalmettlecoach.com Listen, share, and if this resonated, consider passing it along to a leader or educator who needs to hear it.

Ep. 154: Secrets Behind the Third Skill Set: Mental Performance

Unlock the real difference-maker in sports performance: your mind. In this solo episode of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann reveals the Secrets Behind the Third Skill Set: Mental Performance—the hidden skill set that separates average athletes from consistent peak performers. You already train skills and strength. But if you’re not training your mindset on purpose, you’re leaving a huge part of your potential on the table. In this episode, Coach Thomann breaks down exactly how he coaches mental performance for athletes and why it works: What the “third skill set” is—and why most athletes never train it How neuroplasticity lets you literally rewire your brain for confidence and composure The two keys to lasting mindset change: Recognition + Repetition How to stop wasting energy on uncontrollables and dominate what you can control The ACE Framework (Attitude, Communication, Effort) that athletes write on bags, bats, cleats, and guns (for competitive shooters) How to change your self-talk from brutal and negative to a powerful inner coach Why “positive toughness” and gratitude beat fake positivity and empty slogans How values work explains burnout, frustration, and losing the joy in your sport What an actual mental performance coaching session looks like with real athletes How these mental skills transfer to life: school, relationships, adversity, and career Coach Thomann also shares his personal story—battling cancer, a stroke, PTSD, and panic attacks—and how the same mental skills for athletes he now teaches helped him rebuild his own mindset and life. 🔊 This episode is for you if you’re a… * Athlete who chokes under pressure, overthinks, or struggles with confidence * Parent who sees your kid spiraling mentally and doesn’t know how to help * Coach who keeps saying “be more mentally tough” but doesn’t have a system to train it You’ll walk away with a clear picture of what mental performance training is, how it works, and why mastering the third skill set can completely change how you compete and how you handle adversity. 🔗 Free Resource for Parents: Check out Coach Thomann’s free course, The Resilient Parent’s Playbook, to learn how to support your athlete’s mindset at home without accidentally feeding anxiety or negativity.  www.resilientparentsplaybook.com 📩 Interested in Mental Performance Coaching? Coach Thomann works with individual athletes, teams, and schools. To inquire about coaching or PD for coaches, reach out at: matt@mentalmettlecoach.com www.mentalmettlecoach.com Listen to more episodes of The Mental Mettle Podcast for tools, stories, and strategies to help athletes forge real resilience and confidence—on and off the field.

Ep. 153: "Raging Psychopath" to Transformational Coach with Lee Mateer

In this episode of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann sits down with 24-year coaching veteran and fellow Millikin alum, Coach Lee Mateer of Taylorville High School. By his own words, Lee used to be “the raging psychopath” on the sideline — yelling, screaming, cursing, and tying his entire identity to wins and losses. He was the classic old school, outcome-obsessed coach who wore misery and grittiness like a badge of honor. Then life hit at home. Lee’s transformation didn’t begin at a clinic or in a playbook. It began with deep personal struggle: watching his daughter enter high school and battle an eating disorder rooted in crippling anxiety. Seeing his own child waste away and suffer shook everything he thought he knew about toughness, mental health, and what today’s kids are actually fighting through. That crisis forced him to confront his ego, his fear, and his entire coaching philosophy. In this conversation, we dig into: * How an old school “tough guy” coach became the self-described “raging psychopath” on the sideline * His daughter’s battle with anxiety and an eating disorder—and how it broke him and opened his eyes * Why that personal struggle became the turning point for his coaching, parenting, and faith * Moving from yelling, fear, and control to connection, standards, and real trust * The three “sins” he sees in all of us: fear, ego, and laziness—and how they show up in coaches * How trauma and past experiences drive emotional volatility in athletes and adults * Building a 17-lesson leadership and character curriculum into his strength program * Getting teenage athletes to honestly reflect on jealousy, fear, and toxic masculinity * Why you can still demand toughness and excellence without being a miserable coach * How faith and Scripture reshaped his definition of success on and off the field If you’ve ever felt burned out, bitter, or trapped in the old school vs new school coaching battle—and especially if something at home has made you question everything—this episode will hit close to home. This conversation is exactly what my Ember to Inferno program is about—helping coaches intentionally develop that third skill set: * Mental skills * Emotional regulation * Response to adversity * Program standards and culture systems Coaches go to clinics every year to sharpen their press, their zone defense, their ball-screen offense. But if you truly believe culture > X’s and O’s, your professional development should reflect that. If you’re thinking, “I love this stuff, but I don’t know how to start,” that’s where I come in. Contact: matt@mentalmettlecoach.com [matt@mentalmettlecoach.com] for a free coaching session with Coach Thomann www.mentalmettlecoach.com [http://www.mentalmettlecoach.com/] mentalmettle | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree [https://linktr.ee/mentalmettle] Sign up here for the FREE Resilient Parents Playbook: www.resilientparentsplaybook.com [http://www.resilientparentsplaybook.com/]