The Sport Fuels Life Podcast

Jean Francois Menard: Mastering High Performance from the Circus to the Olympics

Jean Francois Menard: Mastering High Performance from the Circus to the Olympics

In this Sport Fuels Life podcast episode, we have a very special guest who shares the valuable lessons he learned from working with Cirque Du Soleil.  This extraordinarily demanding contemporary circus provided a master class on high performance.

Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Jean Francois Menard is highly regarded in the field of performance psychology.  At the age of 25 and fresh out of graduate school, he joined the world-famous entertainment company Cirque Du Soleil, where he coached circus artists to handle immense physical pressures and perform their best (up to 450 times a year).  Five years later, he founded Kambio Performance and has since become a sought-after mental performance specialist.

During the past four Olympic Games, the athletes he coached won 17 medals for Canada.  His private clients are proven winners: Olympic gold medalists, X-Games and Super Bowl Champions, surgeons, musicians and corporate leaders.

Jean Francois Menard is a professional speaker for organizations such as the FBI, PepsiCo, RedBull, Cisco, RBC and NASA and is also a bestselling author of two books: "Train Your Brain Like an Olympian" and "Team Chemistry".

His insights on achieving high performance are helpful to athletes, coaches, and more!

Boosting Confidence and Positive Self-Talk with Tami Matheny

Boosting Confidence and Positive Self-Talk with Tami Matheny

If you’re looking for a little extra motivation or confidence, then you’ve come to the right place!  Confidence and overcoming adversity are today’s two main topics.

In this Sport Fuels Life podcast episode, we bring back returning guest, Tami Matheny.  She is a mental game coach, author, and Jon Gordon-certified trainer.  She has a background as an athlete playing basketball and tennis at Lenoir-Rhyne College, as well as coaching men’s and women’s tennis at the University of South Carolina Upstate.  She shares her knowledge to help people in all walks of life (not just athletes) with confidence, motivation, focus, mental toughness, leadership, and teamwork.

Tami emphasizes the importance of focusing on the process, not the outcome.  She shares ways that you can regain confidence and learn to have more positive self-talk.  She also has a new book to check out called Challenge Deeper!

Listen to our podcast to learn more!

Legendary Insights: Christopher Clarey on Federer, Nadal, and Elite Athletes

Legendary Insights: Christopher Clarey on Federer, Nadal, and Elite Athletes

Christopher Clarey: Renowned Sports Journalist and Bestselling Author

Join us on today’s show as we sit down with Christopher Clarey, longtime New York Times sports journalist with over 30 years of experience covering global sports, including 15 Olympics, 6 World Cups, and more than 100 Grand Slam tennis tournaments.

As one of the world’s leading authorities on tennis, Clarey shares fascinating insights into the routines and mindsets of elite athletes like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, subjects of his bestselling book "THE MASTER" and the upcoming "THE WARRIOR." Discover the habits that set these athletes apart and how we can apply their lessons to our own lives.

Tune in to hear behind-the-scenes stories of these legendary figures, and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to excel at the highest levels of sport.

Connect with Christopher Clarey:

• Instagram: @christophclarey
• X (formerly Twitter): @christophclarey
• Substack: Tennis & Beyond | christopherclarey.substack.com

Allistair McCaw: Allistair McCaw Explains how Mindset is Your Superpower

Allistair McCaw:  Allistair McCaw Explains how Mindset is Your Superpower

In this Sport Fuels Life podcast episode, we bring back a returning guest, Allistair McCaw!  He is a bestselling author and speaker who is an expert on leadership, team culture, and performance.

Born in Ireland and raised in South Africa, he is the youngest of four boys and has a background playing tennis.  When he first found a natural desire to be a champion (at a young age), he started by making a vision board to guide him down the right path.

He later found success on the world stage in the Duathlon as a five-time World Championship competitor.  His experience as an athlete became as much about the journey as the destination.

His powerful mindset has resulted in his becoming a sought-after keynote speaker and consultant for numerous organizations, corporations, Olympians, Grand Slam champions, NCAA colleges and professional sports teams.  He has recently published a new book called Mindset is Your Superpower.

Listen to our podcast to learn more!

 

Connect with Allistair McCaw

Instagram:  @Bechampionminded

Twitter: @AllistairMcCaw

Facebook: @AllistairMcCawpage

 

"At the end of the day, it doesn’t come down to who has the most talent or intelligence. It comes down to who is willing to make the choices that others are not willing to make. Like who is willing to shoot baskets in the dark when everyone else is sleeping? Who is willing to prepare more for an interview? Who is willing to work on their craft when no one is watching? That’s what separates the good from the great." Allistair McCaw

James "The Iron Cowboy" Lawrence: Triathlon Record Holder Explains How Failure is “An Opportunity to Succeed”

James "The Iron Cowboy" Lawrence:  Triathlon Record Holder Explains How Failure is “An Opportunity to Succeed”

Join us as we talk with James Lawrence, a.k.a. the “Iron Cowboy”, a Canadian native (now living in Utah) who is most famous for his triathlon records. In 2015, he set the world record for the most Ironman distance triathlons completed in one year in 50 states over 50 days.  Then, in 2021, he followed up his own record with “Conquer 100;” he completed 100 consecutive Ironman length triathlons with his family being a key part of his journey and travel party.

We also like the fact that he had the “courage to suck” without caring what other people thought.  It seems his wife signed him up for a four-mile fun run on Thanksgiving one year.  He didn’t want to do it at first, but he did it anyway because he couldn’t bear the thought of wasting money on the registration.  He stuck with it and accomplished some incredible undertakings in the sport!  He hated running and still does.

Now he has a book, The Iron Cowboy, and his own company, with his daughter as the CEO.  In his story, he embraces the perspective that failure is not possible, only an opportunity to succeed.

Listen to our podcast to hear the full story!

Unstoppable: Zion Clark’s Story – Conquering Challenges with Grit and Perseverance

Tune into the podcast to dive into the extraordinary life of Zion Clark. From being born without legs to becoming a successful wrestler and motivational speaker & taking on the America’s Got Talent stage. His journey of constantly overcoming adversity while remaining confident and graceful throughout the process will leave you in awe. Zion shares his journey and offers advice for anyone trying to overcome obstacles on their road to reaching their dreams.

The Inevitable Ups & Downs of being an Athlete - Scott & Megan

Join our SFL hosts for a truly essential episode in which they dive into the importance of maintaining a strong mentality in the face of adversity. As an athlete, there are inevitable obstacles that you will face, whether it’s a scrape to the knee or a serious injury. Scott & Megan inspire you to keep a positive attitude along the journey and allow yourself to still feel involved in your team even when you’re off the field due to injury. Tune in to get more tips from our amazing hosts and really understand how team mentality transcends sports.

Chris Norton Intro Clip

Getting Knocked Down and Getting Up Stronger - Chris Norton

Join us for an inspiring episode as we welcome Chris Norton, a beacon of resilience and determination. After suffering a life-altering spinal cord injury on the football field, Chris was given only a 3% chance to ever move again.  That prognosis did not account for his relentless hard work, unwavering spirit, and positive attitude. Tune in to learn more about how his remarkable journey and experiences continue to touch lives of people all over the world.

SFL Podcast Hosts Truly Soar

Sport Fuels Life sparks inspiration and builds community through the shared journey of athletic triumphs and personal growth. This year our Sport Fuels Life podcast will celebrate its third year of content.  The start of a new year is the perfect time to reintroduce our hosts and share the why behind this movement for new listeners or even veterans who might need a reminder on the power of sports.