Beyond Coaching: An Impactful Coaching Project Podcast

Podcast by Dr. Rob Ramseyer

Beyond Coaching: An Impactful Coaching Project Podcast

Beyond Coaching, a podcast from the Impactful Coaching Project, explores coaching and leading the 21st century athlete. The importance of the coach being a positive impact on their student-athletes hasn’t changed but the strategies for connecting with them has changed. This podcast interviews coaching and sport leaders about holistic coaching and the lessons they have learned over time. Beyond Coaching is podcast developed by the Impactful Coaching Project.

Listen onApple Podcasts

Listen onSpotify

Latest episodes

23 June 2025

Coaching That Lasts: Building Support Systems and Retention

Dr. Pete Van Mullen joins Rob to explore the intersection of coaching, teaching, and long-term retention. A former college basketball coach turned professor, Pete shares insights from his research on coach support systems, readiness assessments, and why teaching skills are essential for coaching success. The conversation offers practical takeaways for administrators and coaches looking to build sustainable, growth-centered programs.

Topics include:

Building coach support systems
Assessing coach readiness and development
The role of teaching in effective coaching
Rethinking “winning” in youth and high school sports

Books from the Impactful Coaching Project:

Coaching and Leading the 21st Century Athlete
Athletic Department Leadership and Developing Coaches
→ Available on Amazon: Visit Rob Ramseyer's Author Page

Listen & Subscribe:

impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com

beyondcoaching.alitu.com (Spotify & Apple links)

Learn more about Pete’s work at Sport Coach America.

00:00

39:03

13 June 2025

Best of May: Stress, Belonging, and the Quiet Work of Coaching

Beyond Coaching Podcast - Best of May Episode

In this special "Best of May" episode of Beyond Coaching, Dr. Rob Ramseyer revisits some of the most insightful and impactful moments from recent episodes. With guest experts Mitch Hull, David Shapiro, and Dr. Wendy Moehler Seib, Kelli Wegerer, and also parts of a recent podcast interview Rob did talking about team unity and culture with Matt Barker on "Playing With a Purpose" podcast. We dive deep into the psychology of coaching, the science of stress, and the importance of trust and belonging in building cohesive teams. These discussions highlight the core principles of the Impactful Coaching Project and offer valuable takeaways for coaches, athletic directors, and leaders in sports.

Resources:

Impactful Coaching Project Substack (impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com)
Subscribe to the Impactful Coaching Project Substack for weekly insights, strategies, and research that helps coaches coach the whole person. Stay updated with new content to support your journey in impactful coaching. Subscribe Here
ICP Books Books
Leading and Coaching the 21st Century Athlete and Athletic Department Leadership in Developing Coaches offer actionable strategies for coaches, athletic directors, and leaders. These books provide a comprehensive framework for coaching in a holistic, effective way. Get the books on Amazon.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Beyond Coaching.

Beyond Coaching is a podcast developed and produced by the Impactful Coaching Project, with the support of Friends University. The Impactful Coaching Project seeks to develop coaches who prioritize the whole person, and it is a thought leader in coaching the 21st-century athlete. Visit our Substack for more information and resources.

Listen to More Episodes:

Catch up on past episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

00:00

24:27

09 June 2025

Podcast Short: Standards or Winning

In this short episode, Rob and Dustin take on one of the dilemmas coaches face: Would you bench a key player to uphold team standards—even if it means sacrificing a win?

They reflect on real stories, personal missteps, and the evolution of their coaching philosophies—highlighting the difference between rules and standards, gray areas in leadership, and what fairness really looks like.

Key themes include:

Standards vs. winning: when consistency collides with competitive pressure
Why some rules get broken and others can’t
How coaches can apply care, honesty, and conviction during hard decisions
When bending once may cost you the season
The power of a team that cares—and holds each other accountable

This is a conversation about about leading with wisdom, maturity, and long-term perspective. Whether you're a veteran coach or just starting, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership decisions under pressure.

“Do hard things”—but do them the right way.

Mentioned:

The Impactful Coaching Project → impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com
ICP Books on Coaching → Books on Amazon

Join the conversation

Drop your questions or thoughts in the Substack comments—or email Rob or Dustin directly.

Subscribe to the Impactful Coaching Project newsletter for weekly content on leadership, team culture, and coaching in the real world.

00:00

10:05

27 May 2025

David Shapiro on Mentorship, Presence, and the Power of Intentional Relationships

In this episode, Rob is joined by David Shapiro—longtime nonprofit leader and national voice in youth development and mentoring. The conversation covers the complexity of mentoring, how trust is built through consistency, and why coaches must balance results with relationships. David shares stories from his time leading MENTOR and now the YMCA of Greater Boston, offering practical advice for both mentors and mentees.

Whether you’re building a team, leading an organization, or mentoring the next generation, this episode challenges you to lead with clarity and presence in a distracted, transactional world.

Topics Covered:

The difference between developmental and instrumental mentoring
Why effective mentoring starts with clearly defined expectations
How to coach for heart change, not just behavior change
Building trust in the quiet moments
Advice for young leaders seeking mentorship
Presence as a leadership superpower

Rapid Fire Segment:

Favorite book: The Leadership Moment
Favorite failure: Misreading how someone needed to be coached
Definition of success: Sustainability and consistency
Favorite podcast: The Daily Stoic
Life-changing belief: Being fully present and learning to read fiction

Resources + Links:

Listen to more episodes: https://beyondcoaching.alitu.com
Coaching tools, articles, and training: https://impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com
Books:
• Coaching and Leading the 21st Century Athlete
• Athletic Department Leadership and Developing Coaches
Available now on Amazon

00:00

37:21

23 May 2025

More Than a Player: Faith, Identity, and the Athlete's Soul

In this special episode of Beyond Coaching, Rob is joined by Dr. Wendy Moeller-Sieb, Assistant Professor of Theology at Friends University, and recent graduate Kelli Seiwert to explore the groundbreaking research they've conducted on the intersection of faith, identity, and college athletics.

Together, they dive into how student-athletes at a Christian university understand the body, spirituality, and performance—and what that means for coaches, parents, and sports leaders who want to do it right.

Topics Covered:

Why many athletes struggle to see their body as holy
How a coach’s actions shape team culture and spiritual development
The unseen emotional toll of injury and pressure to perform
When team belonging amplifies or undermines faith
Practical tips for coaches to engage injured players and avoid transactional leadership

Dr. Wendy Moeller – Assistant Professor of Theology, Friends University. Former college golfer with a deep passion for youth ministry and faith formation.

Kelli Seibert – Recent graduate in Christian Formation and Ministry and Psychology. Former college basketball player with lived experience in balancing faith and athletics.

Books from the Impactful Coaching Project:

Coaching and Leading the 21st Century Athlete
Athletic Department Leadership and Developing Coaches
→ Available on Amazon: Visit Rob Ramseyer's Author Page

Listen & Subscribe:

impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com

beyondcoaching.alitu.com (Spotify & Apple links)

00:00

37:12

12 May 2025

Harnessing Stress: Insights from Mitch Hull

In this episode of Beyond Coaching, Rob sits down once again with Mitch Hull to explore a surprising idea: stress isn't the enemy—how we view it is. Drawing on Kelly McGonigal’s TED Talk and Carol Dweck’s mindset research, Mitch shares practical strategies for reframing stress in high-performance settings, whether you're a coach, athlete, or parent.

Episode Highlights

[00:47] Kelly McGonigal’s TED Talk: Why stress isn’t inherently harmful
[01:21] Connecting stress perception with mindset and elite youth athletes
[03:20] Research linking stress beliefs to mortality risk
[04:32] “It’s not the stress, it’s the perception”
[06:08] Rory McIlroy’s mental approach to pressure
[07:31] Why “don’t be nervous” doesn’t work—and what to say instead
[10:06] The body’s physical response to stress and how to leverage it
[12:34] Rethinking the stress equation: caring × uncertainty
[15:29] The goal isn’t to eliminate stress—it’s to equip athletes to handle it
[16:54] Kevin Bullis’ one-time championship speech
[17:57] Giannis Antetokounmpo’s process-first mindset
[19:29] Modeling emotional regulation as a coach
[21:39] “Failure is not an option. It’s mandatory.” Why failing forward builds resilience
[22:47] What parents should ask kids at the dinner table
[23:38] Teaser for the next episode: youth sports and parents

Featuring

Mitch Hull – Former Olympic wrestling coach and performance consultant

Quotes from the Episode

“It’s not the stress—it’s how we react to it. If you see it as preparation, your body helps you perform.”

— Mitch Hull

“If you’re not nervous before a championship, there’s only one explanation: you don’t care. And that’s a bigger issue.”

— Mitch Hull

Buy Our Books

Coaching and Leading the 21st Century Athlete and Athletic Department Leadership and Developing Coaches are available now on Amazon. These books dive deeper into the principles discussed on the podcast and are must-reads for coaches, athletic directors, and leaders who want to grow themselves and their teams.

Buy now on Amazon.

Produced By

Beyond Coaching is a podcast developed and produced by the Impactful Coaching Project with support from Friends University. The Impactful Coaching Project is a thought leader in coaching the 21st century athlete and develops coaches who coach the whole person.

Subscribe and Learn More:

For more resources on coaching the whole person, visit impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com

00:00

24:30