Way of Champions Podcast

John O'Sullivan

Youth Sports

Love, Effort, Attitude, Discipline

Coaching Philosophy

Athletic Performance

Mindset

Coaching

Sport and Performance Psychology

Motivational Interviewing

Mental Performance Coaching

Performance Psychology

Coaching Strategies

Team Dynamics

Growth Mindset

Fear Of Failure

Team Culture

USA Hockey

Mental Health

Polyvagal Theory

Leadership Development

Emotional Intelligence

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.

429 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	568	Founded	9 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	How ToEducationSports

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Latest Episodes

#461 Linda Flanagan: How Money and Mania Have Ruined Kids Sports, Why it Matters, and How to Take Back the Game (replay)

After a recent visit to the US House of Representatives, John has been thinking a lot about the business of youth sports and how we can fix the many issues plaguing it. In this replay of episode 293, John has a discussion with Linda Flanagan a freela... more

26 Dec 2025 • 1 hr 5 min

#460 Joe Baker, Author of "The Tyranny of Talent" on Defining, Identifying, and Developing Talent While Never Losing Sight of Long Term Engagement

Dr. Joe Baker (@bakerjtoronto) is the Tanenbaum Research Chair at the University of Toronto, Canada. He is a world-leader in research on talent identification, developing sport expertise, relative age effect, and high performance athlete development ... more

18 Dec 2025 • 1 hr 5 min

#459 Harrsion Bernstein, Founder of Soldiers to Sidelines, on Giving our Former Soldiers the Ability to Serve Again Through Coaching

Harrison Bernstein is the founder of Soldiers To Sidelines (STS) and has served as executive director since May 2014. STS evolved from a passion project to a burgeoning nonprofit once Harrison resigned from coaching college and professional football ... more

11 Dec 2025 • 1 hr 2 min

#458 Gary Gait, Syracuse University Men's Lacrosse Head Coach: "It's not men's or women's lacrosse. it's just lacrosse."

Jerry and John are so thrilled to welcome back Gary Gait to the podcast. Gait is widely considered the greatest men's lacrosse player of all time, and his remarkable playing career features a winning theme at every level. A three-time NCAA Champion, ... more

3 Dec 2025 • 1 hr 16 min

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Recent Guests

Joe Baker

Tannenbaum Chair in Sports Science, Data Modeling and Sport Analytics at the University of Toronto, and author of "The Tyranny of Talent"

University of Toronto

Episode: #460 Joe Baker, Author of "The Tyranny of Talent" on Defining, Identifying, and Developing Talent While Never Losing Sight of Long Term Engagement

Harrison Bernstein

Founder of Soldiers to Sidelines and a former collegiate football player

Soldiers to Sidelines

Episode: #459 Harrsion Bernstein, Founder of Soldiers to Sidelines, on Giving our Former Soldiers the Ability to Serve Again Through Coaching

Gary Gait

Head coach of Syracuse University Men's Lacrosse and considered one of the greatest players in lacrosse history

Syracuse University

Episode: #458 Gary Gait, Syracuse University Men's Lacrosse Head Coach: "It's not men's or women's lacrosse. it's just lacrosse."

John Lind

Director of Education and Research at the Swedish Ice Hockey Association

Swedish Ice Hockey Association

Episode: #457 John Lind, Sweden Ice Hockey Director of Education and Research, on Developing as Many Kids as Possible, as Long as Possible, in the Best Environment Possible

Sean Mullin

Award-winning filmmaker and writer, director, producer of Brothers on Three

Episode: #456 Sean Mullin, Writer and Director of Brothers on Three: The Story of West Point Rugby

Dr. Sue Schimmel

Clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with professional and collegiate athletes.

NHL, Major League Soccer, NFL, PGA, US Olympic and Paralympic Committee

Episode: #454 Dr. Sue Schimmel and Maureen Breeze, Authors of Playing the Long Game, on Tools for Parenting Elite and College Athletes

Maureen Breeze

Leadership development specialist and certified executive coach.

NASA, Arrow Electronics, Kraft Heinz, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Episode: #454 Dr. Sue Schimmel and Maureen Breeze, Authors of Playing the Long Game, on Tools for Parenting Elite and College Athletes

Jenny Levy

Head Coach of University of North Carolina Women's Lacrosse, 4-time NCAA Champion, and National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Inductee

University of North Carolina

Episode: $453 Jenny Levy, 4x NCAA Champion Coach of UNC Women's Lacrosse on Demanding Failure in Practice, Building Stronger Relationships Through Casual Conversations, and Being a Lifelong Learner

Betsy Butterick

Author of Kids These Days, communication specialist for coaches.

Episode: #452 Betsy Butterick, Author of Kids These Days: "You need to reach them before you teach them!"

Hosts

John O'Sullivan

Host of discussions centered on youth sports coaching and athlete development, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to facilitate impactful conversations with experts.

Jerry Lynch

Co-host focusing on building strong team cultures and enhancing performance through effective coaching practices.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 429 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
Canada3 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

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Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the depth of knowledge provided by the guests, fostering a better understanding of coaching and athlete development.

Some feedback suggests a desire for a variety of sports represented in the guest list, reflecting a push for inclusivity across different athletic domains.

Many find the content valuable for both coaches and parents, as it offers actionable insights to improve youth sports experiences.

The podcast is praised for its strong emphasis on emotional intelligence and relationship-building within sports.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#169	Finland/Sports
Apple Podcasts	#173	South Africa/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#460 Joe Baker, Author of "The Tyranny of Talent" on Defining, Identifying, and Developing Talent While Never Losing Sight of Long Term Engagement

Q: Should we retire the word 'talent'?

While there are arguments for retiring the term, it's important to understand its complexity rather than simply eliminating it.

#460 Joe Baker, Author of "The Tyranny of Talent" on Defining, Identifying, and Developing Talent While Never Losing Sight of Long Term Engagement

Q: Why is the importance of joy emphasized in athlete development?

Joy is essential for long-term athlete engagement; without short-term enjoyment, athletes are more likely to drop out of sports.

#460 Joe Baker, Author of "The Tyranny of Talent" on Defining, Identifying, and Developing Talent While Never Losing Sight of Long Term Engagement

Q: What exactly is talent?

Talent is defined as individual differences that can affect a person's likelihood of success.

#459 Harrsion Bernstein, Founder of Soldiers to Sidelines, on Giving our Former Soldiers the Ability to Serve Again Through Coaching

Q: What was the journey that led you to create Soldiers To Sidelines?

Harrison discusses how his experiences as a strength coach and witnessing veterans return home without purpose inspired him to create this nonprofit to leverage their skills in coaching.

#458 Gary Gait, Syracuse University Men's Lacrosse Head Coach: "It's not men's or women's lacrosse. it's just lacrosse."

Q: How do you manage building team chemistry quickly when coaching a national team?

Selecting the right staff and creating a strong belief among players was crucial in quickly building camaraderie.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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?

This podcast focuses on enhancing coaching and sports leadership, aiming to help coaches, athletes, and parents better understand youth sports dynamics. It features discussions with experts across various sports and training methodologies, emphasizing relatable themes such as team culture, emotional intelligence, athlete development, and parent-coach relationships. The content enriches listeners with actionable insights and strategies to foster a positive, supportive environment for athletes, making it invaluable for anyone involved in youth sports. A unique aspect is its focus on the psychological and emotional challenges faced both by athletes and those guiding them, making it particularly resonant for coaches and parents who seek to prio... 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. Glass and Out
3. The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk
4. The Jon Gordon Podcast
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 568 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. Joe Baker
2. Harrison Bernstein
3. Gary Gait
4. John Lind
5. Sean Mullin
6. Dr. Sue Schimmel
7. Maureen Breeze
8. Jenny Levy

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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