The Mental Cast

Fixing Dan - Part 2 (Ep. 037)

Episode 037 | Being a Better Coach - Part 2: Empathy | April 2023
Continuing the five-part Being a Better Coach series, this episode of The MentalCast dives into one of the most critical (and often overlooked) coaching skills: empathy.
Host Dan Mickle explores what empathy really means in a coaching context, how it can transform relationships with athletes, and why it is essential for building trust and fostering a positive team culture.
If you are looking to strengthen your connection with your athletes and lead with greater understanding, this is an episode you will not want to miss. And as always, this episode is also available on YouTube!
Topics covered:
The true meaning of empathy in coaching
How empathy builds trust and team cohesion
Recognizing and responding to athletes' emotional needs
Balancing empathy with accountability
Practical ways to develop and demonstrate empathy as a coach
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Filling Big Shoes (Ep. 036)

Episode 036 | Taking over a successful program | March 2023
Taking over a successful program can be incredibly rewarding — but it also brings unique challenges. In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle explores some of the common issues new coaches face when stepping into an already established and successful team.
Dan shares practical tips for making the program your own while still honoring its history and past achievements. Whether you are a coach about to take over a winning team or simply interested in leadership transitions, this episode offers valuable insight into balancing respect for tradition with the need to create your own path.
And as always, this episode is now also available in video format on YouTube!
Topics covered:
Challenges of taking over a successful program
Honoring past traditions while creating new ones
Building trust with athletes, staff, and the community
Navigating expectations and managing pressure
Tips for putting your unique stamp on a winning culture
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Fixing Dan - Part 1 (Ep. 035)

Episode 035 | Fixing Dan - Part 1 | February 2023
As shared in the Season 4 finale, The MentalCast is kicking off Season 5 with a new focus, host Dan Mickle’s personal journey of self-reflection and growth.
In this first installment of the Fixing Dan series, Dan begins exploring the values that matter most to him and how he can do a better job of living them day-to-day. This is a raw, honest look into the process of personal development and not polished, not perfect, but very real.
And for the first time, the podcast is also available with video on YouTube!
Topics covered:
Why it was time to focus on personal growth
Defining core values
Reflecting on how well we actually live those values
Creating a path toward better alignment and authenticity
The start of a new season of self-reflection
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

State of the Universe 2022 (Ep. 034)

Episode 034 | State of the Universe 2022 | December 2022
It is time for the annual recap and roadmap episode of The MentalCast! In this special year-end reflection, host Dan Mickle shares a personal and unscripted look back at 2022 — the challenges, the lessons learned, and the growth that came with it.
Dan also offers a candid look ahead, sharing his intentions and plans for 2023, both personally and professionally. If you are someone who enjoys real talk about the ups and downs of life and performance, this is an episode you will connect with.
Topics covered:
Honest reflections on the struggles of the past year
Lessons learned from 2022
Personal and professional growth goals for 2023
Why opening up about challenges matters
The importance of creating an intentional roadmap for the year ahead
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

The Benefits of Losing (Ep. 033)

Episode 033 | Benefits of Losing | December 2022
Losing sucks…no question about it. But in this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle digs into why losing and failure can actually be some of the most powerful tools for growth.
Too often, we slap shallow motivational sayings on the back of t-shirts and leave it at that. Dan challenges us to go deeper: to truly examine how we can use loss and failure to drive personal and team development. The key is understanding how to process setbacks in a way that leads to meaningful progress, both on and off the field.
If you are tired of cliché advice and ready for a more authentic conversation about failure and growth, this is your episode.
Topics covered:
Why failure is necessary for growth
Moving beyond empty motivational clichés
How to process losing in a healthy, productive way
Strategies for helping athletes grow through setbacks
Reframing failure as opportunity
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

They Ain’t Coachable (Ep. 032)

Episode 032 | They Ain't Coachable | November 2022
In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle challenges the common narrative that players today “aren’t coachable.” Maybe the issue is not the players — maybe it is how we, as coaches, are trying to reach them.
Dan explores the importance of truly knowing who your players are: beyond their positions or what they contribute on the field. Building meaningful relationships and adapting to generational shifts are key to effective coaching. Today’s athletes are not weaker or "less" in any way — they are unique to their time and situation. And it is on us as coaches to evolve with them.
Topics covered:
Rethinking what it means to be "coachable"
Why understanding your players matters more than ever
Building stronger coach-athlete relationships
How generational shifts impact coaching approaches
Moving away from outdated coaching narratives
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Pump the Brakes (Ep. 031)

Episode 031 | Pump The Brakes | October 2022
Are we headed toward a cliff in the youth sports world? Possibly. Can we avoid it? Absolutely.
In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle explores the growing concerns in youth sports from burnout to corruption to declining participation. The problem is not one group or issue; it is a systemic challenge that requires everyone at the table: coaches, parents, players, administrators, and officials.
Dan shares why the time to pump the brakes is now — before things slide further. This is not a blame game, but a call for education, collaboration, and collective solutions. The clock is ticking, but change is still within reach.
Topics covered:
Current risks and trends in youth sports
The need for collaborative solutions
Why finger-pointing does not work
The role of education in driving change
How all stakeholders can help fix the system
Resources mentioned:
Washington Post Article — "Billions flow through youth sports. And some of it keeps disappearing."
Shitty Haiku (Volume 1) by Dan Mickle
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

The Grey (Ep. 030)

Episode 030 | A Personal Look at Living in the Grey | September 2022
In this deeply personal episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle returns from a month-long hiatus to open up about his ongoing mental health journey — specifically, what it feels like to live in “the grey.”
There is a space between happiness and depression where many people quietly exist, though it is rarely discussed. Thanks to reading Jay Glazer’s book Unbreakable, Dan was able to better understand this space, give it a name, and begin building a plan to combat it. This episode offers an honest look at the struggles Dan faces and aims to encourage others who might also be living in this in-between space.
One of the most personal and vulnerable episodes of the series, this conversation is for anyone seeking connection, understanding, or simply the reassurance that they are not alone in their struggles.
Topics covered:
Understanding what it means to live “in the grey”
The personal challenges of navigating this mental space
How Unbreakable by Jay Glazer inspired new awareness and action
Tools and resources that help manage mental well-being
Breaking the silence around this often hidden experience
Resources mentioned:
Unbreakable by Jay Glazer
The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
Headspace Meditation App and Website
Best Self Journal
Shitty Haiku (Volume 1) by Dan Mickle
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Pam Brant Interview (Ep. 029)

Episode 029 | Interview with travel writer, Pam Brant | June 2022
In this episode of The MentalCast, we go back to our roots with a new interview format. Host Dan Mickle sits down with travel writer, blogger, and volleyball super-fan Pam Brant for a wide-ranging conversation about reinvention, resilience, and finding new passions.
Pam shares her journey of becoming a travel writer, her experiences as a proud "volley mom," and the pivots she had to make when COVID disrupted her original life path. Often we hear about new ventures after they are well-established — this conversation brings you the raw, ground-level experience of starting fresh and building something new.
It is an inspiring look at how adaptability, creativity, and passion can lead to exciting new opportunities.
Topics covered:
The journey to becoming a travel writer and blogger
Life as a "volley mom" and the volleyball community
Pivoting and reinventing yourself after COVID
Building something new from scratch
Lessons in resilience and adaptability
Guest links:
Volleyball and Sunsets on Facebook
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul

Legos and Scrabble (Ep. 028)

Episode 028 | Legos and Scrabble | May 2022
In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle shares a personal story that starts with his childhood dislike of Legos and the board game Scrabble — and evolves into a deeper reflection on the fear of other people’s opinions (FOPO).
What began as frustration over not being "good enough" at these activities turned out to be less about ability and more about fear of judgment. Dan explores this journey of self-awareness and digs into the research and psychology behind FOPO, offering insights that can help all of us better understand how fear of external opinions can quietly shape our decisions and confidence.
If you have ever hesitated to try something new or second-guessed yourself based on what others might think, this episode will hit home.
Topics covered:
How childhood experiences can shape fear of judgment
Understanding the concept of FOPO (Fear of Other People’s Opinions)
How FOPO impacts confidence, performance, and risk-taking
Strategies to identify and reduce the influence of FOPO
Personal reflections on growth and overcoming limiting beliefs
Resources mentioned:
Tips to Soothe Your Worries of What Others Think of You
Are You Limited by the Fear of What Other People Think? by Leah Cox
Contact the show: podcast@mentalcast.com
Follow Dan on social: @RealDanMickle and @717Soul