All Episodes
Real conversations about raising, coaching, and understanding neurodivergent athletes.
Mindset. Emotion. Environment. Performance — and how alignment changes everything.
RECENT EPISODES
Listen & Subscribe!
-
Helping Neurodivergent Athletes Handle Pressure, Mistakes, and Competition
Alyssa Cress is the Manager of Inclusive Leadership Development for Special Olympics North America, where she works to expand athlete leadership opportunities across the region after starting her journey as…
-
The Bullied Brain: What Coaches Are Doing That Harms Kids
What if the biggest threat to your child’s development isn’t failure—but their environment? In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Frazier—best-selling author of The Bullied Brain and The Gaslit…
-
Inside IMG: How Elite Athletes Are Actually Built
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Cat Lutz, Director of Mental Performance at IMG Academy, to explore what really separates elite athletes—and it’s not just talent. Drawing from…
-
The Youth Sports Problem No One Wants to Talk About
In this episode of Thinklete, Derek Shunk sits down with youth sports expert John O’Sullivan to discuss how parents and coaches can create better environments for young athletes. They explore…
-
Helping Neurodivergent Athletes Handle Pressure, Mistakes, and Competition
In this episode of Thinklete, Derek Shunk sits down with Accredited Social Worker and athlete mental health specialist Emma Lapierre to discuss the unique pressures neurodivergent athletes face in competitive…
-
The Athlete You’re Frustrated With Might Be Processing Differently
Many athletes want to succeed—but something doesn’t click. They understand the game and care, yet they’re inconsistent, miss instructions, or get labeled lazy or unfocused. In this episode, Derek sits…
-
Parent First. Coach Second: Raising Competitive Kids Without Losing the Relation
Every parent wants what’s best for their kid—but in youth sports, that line can get blurry. In this episode of Thinklete, Derek sits down with Ben Cecchini, author of Full-Time…
