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Artwork for Way of Champions Podcast

Way of Champions Podcast

John O'Sullivan
Youth Sports
Coaching
Leadership
Team Culture
Player Development
Mental Health
Coaching Philosophy
Athlete Development
Sports Psychology
Performance Psychology
Mental Performance Coaching
Coaching Education
Mindset
Mental Health In Sports
Parenting In Sports
Emotional Intelligence
Team Dynamics
The Champion Sports Parent
Mental Resilience
Youth Development

The Way of Champions Podcast is hosted by Dr. Jerry Lynch and John O'Sullivan, team culture and performance specialists. Each week we connect you with the top minds in sports, coaching, leadership, and building championship programs so you can take your athletes and teams to the next level.

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Artwork for Way of Champions Podcast

Latest Episodes

This week we welcome Dusty May, Head Coach of the 2026 NCAA Champion Michigan Wolverines Men's Basketball team. He was hired in 2024 by Michigan and immediately turned the program around winning 18 more games than 2023 and leading the Wolverines back... more

This week we welcome back Erin Quinn to the podcast. Quinn has spent the last twenty years as the athletic director at Middlebury College in Vermont, being recognized as the National AD of the Year in 2021. Under his tenure, his teams have won 19 NCA... more

Daniel Coyle (@danielcoyle) is the New York Times bestselling author of The Culture Code, which was named best business book of the year by Bloomberg BookPal and Business Insider. Coyle has served as an adviser to many high-performing organizations, ... more

This week on the podcast, we are joined by three incredible guests: Kathy Delaney-Smith, Dr. Jonathan Jenkins, and Dr. Kimberly O'Brien.

Kathy Delaney-Smith is the winningest head coach in Ivy League women's basketball history. She spent 40 seasons... more

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Recent Guests

Daniel Coyle
New York Times bestselling author and author of Flourish
Episode: #477 Daniel Coyle, NYT Bestselling Author, on How to Flourish, Find Meaning, Joy and Fulfillment in Sports and Life
Jonathan Jenkins
Founder of Mental Fitness and Psychotherapy; Harvard Medical School teaching community; Patriots clinical psychologist; Red Sox behavioral sports psychologist
Mass General Brigham; New England Patriots; Boston Red Sox
Episode: #476 Mentlaity Wins with former Harvard Womens Basketball Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith,, NFL and MLB Sport Psychologist Dr Jonathan Jenkins, and Sport Psychologist and NCAA Champion Dr. Kimberly O'Brien
Kim O'Brien
Founder and director of Unlimited Resilience; Harvard ice hockey national champion; Athletes Better Together
Unlimited Resilience; Athletes Better Together
Episode: #476 Mentlaity Wins with former Harvard Womens Basketball Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith,, NFL and MLB Sport Psychologist Dr Jonathan Jenkins, and Sport Psychologist and NCAA Champion Dr. Kimberly O'Brien
Kathy Delaney-Smith
Former Harvard Women's Basketball head coach; author of Grit and Wit; veteran educator
Harvard University (retired)
Episode: #476 Mentlaity Wins with former Harvard Womens Basketball Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith,, NFL and MLB Sport Psychologist Dr Jonathan Jenkins, and Sport Psychologist and NCAA Champion Dr. Kimberly O'Brien
Ken Martel
Senior Director of Player and Coach Development at USA Hockey
USA Hockey
Episode: #475 The 20 Year Journey to Three Olympic Hockey Gold Medals with Ken Martel, USA Hockey Senior Director of Player and Coach Development
Joe De Sena
Founder and CEO of Spartan Race
Spartan Race
Episode: #474 Joe De Sena, Founder of Spartan Obstacle Course Racing, on Why We Need to Teach Our Kids to Do Hard Things
Jason Sacks
CEO of Positive Coaching Alliance
Positive Coaching Alliance
Episode: #473 Jason Sacks, CEO of Positive Coaching Alliance, on Educating One Million Coaches and Making Systemic Change in Youth Sports
Jean Côté
Professor of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen's University, expert on youth sport and coaching
Queen's University
Episode: #472 Dr. Jean Cote on Transformational Coaching, Enjoyment, and his new Research on the Factors that Promote Continued Interest in Youth Sports,
Champ Bailey
NFL Hall of Famer, former cornerback for Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos
Positive Athlete (representative)
Episode: #471 Champ Bailey, NFL Hall of Famer, on Being a Role Model for Teammates, and a Leader on and Off the Field

Host

John O'Sullivan
Co-host of a show focused on team culture, coaching excellence, and youth sports reform.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 432 ratings
  • Great for coaches

    Listening to way of champions should be required listening for all coaches. His passion for sports and the power influence and opportunity for coaches to impact young people’s lives is infectious

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LdubNichols
    United States3 years ago
  • Episode #294 - completely hyperbolizing and sensationalizing of physiology and injuries

    Completely brutal episode. So the answer is getting players to stop playing soccer? There is always a risk of injury. There was zero mention of recovery and allowing soccer players to make adaptations. And rehab for an ACL rehab does not cost $30,000. There are way more variables to the etiology of ACL injuries then just fatigue. Raymond’s rant completely sensationalized issues that are concerning with specialization of sports at an early age and playing/training volume of a youth athlete. This ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Crazydavoa
    Canada4 years ago
  • A Voice in the Wilderness of Youth Sports

    I greatly appreciate what John is doing to bring such significant people together. There is a unified sense of concern for the kids in youth sports and the need for coaches and parents to be aware of their influence with their kids. We need these reminders and tools to keep us focused on what is most important: the kid’s best. I continue to recommend these podcasts and I know this info will make me a better parent coach.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cincy Daniel
    United States4 years ago
  • Top class

    Oh the learnings are plentiful & such a help to all coaches on their journey.

    Thanks

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    John Slattery
    Ireland4 years ago
  • Great podcast

    John does an excellent job. He has outstanding guests and is a leader in this space. Highly recommend listening!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nbones32
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality interviews with a strong emphasis on coaching culture and practical takeaways for coaches and parents
Audio quality notes appear occasionally in feedback but do not dominate reception
Some episodes provoke debate about youth sports reform topics and the balance between competition and development
Listeners praise the host questions, guest variety, and actionable guidance for improving youth sports experiences
Consistently hosts insightful guests from sports science, leadership, and youth development fields

Top Sports Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#467 Katie Van Dyck, Antitrust Attorney, on the Negative Influence of Private Equity in Youth Sports Clubs, Leagues and Tournaments
Q: What can be done to combat private equity's negative influence in youth sports?
Katie suggests implementing measures to stop vertical integration and improve funding for youth sports to ensure accessibility for all children.
#467 Katie Van Dyck, Antitrust Attorney, on the Negative Influence of Private Equity in Youth Sports Clubs, Leagues and Tournaments
Q: What is your work and involvement in the Varsity brands lawsuit?
Katie explains her representation of cheer gyms against Varsity Brands, highlighting its monopolistic control over competitive cheerleading.
#468 Shane Battier, the "No Stats All Star" on his 2x NBA Championships, his All American High School and Collegiate Career, and the Importance of Modeling Championship Behaviors
Q: What are some key lessons you learned from your transition from basketball to your career afterward?
Battier emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and letting people in, sharing that he struggled with this after his playing career ended, but learned that relationships are vital for growth and success.
#468 Shane Battier, the "No Stats All Star" on his 2x NBA Championships, his All American High School and Collegiate Career, and the Importance of Modeling Championship Behaviors
Q: What was it like to play under Coach K at Duke?
Shane details how Coach K's superpower was competition, emphasizing that his approach helped Shane increase his performance by challenging him without promising immediate playing time.
#462 Joey Leonardo, 2026 Freeride World Tour Skier, on his Unique Pathway to Becoming a Professional Big Mountain Skier
Q: What is the role of parental support in your journey?
Joey acknowledges that he wouldn't be where he is without his parents' support, emphasizing that their encouragement helped him pursue his passion.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Way of Champions Podcast

What is Way of Champions Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A show centered on coaching, leadership, and the culture of sport, this program frequently dives into how to build healthier, more engaging environments for young athletes. Episodes commonly explore practical coaching education, team dynamics, performance psychology, and the broader youth-sports ecosystem, often featuring high-profile athletes, coaches, researchers, and authors who share actionable strategies for mentors, parents, and administrators. Notable recurring themes include mentorship, building championship cultures, mental skills, and reforms in youth sports to emphasize development and joy over early specialization and commercialization. The format tends to mix personal journeys with evidence-based guidance, offering listeners co... more

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How many listeners does Way of Champions Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Way of Champions Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Way of Champions Podcast:

1. Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais
2. Modern Soccer Coach Podcast
3. The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk
4. excellence, actually
5. The Pure Athlete Podcast

How many episodes of Way of Champions Podcast are there?

Way of Champions Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 590 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Way of Champions Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on Way of Champions Podcast?

Recent guests on Way of Champions Podcast include:

1. Daniel Coyle
2. Jonathan Jenkins
3. Kim O'Brien
4. Kathy Delaney-Smith
5. Ken Martel
6. Joe De Sena
7. Jason Sacks
8. Jean Côté

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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