The Sport Fuels Life Podcast

Tom Rees, Head Men’s & Women’s Tennis Coach at Georgia Gwinnett College and NAIA National Champion, joins us to share what coaching both sides has taught him about communication, culture, and building trust.

This conversation goes beyond gender — it’s about understanding the athlete in front of you and adapting how you lead.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why buy-in starts with explaining the why

• What culture really looks like when the coach isn’t there

• How positive reinforcement builds confident, high-performing teams

• Why giving athletes a voice changes ownership and effort

• How confidence is built through action, not just mindset

A practical, real-world look at how great coaches connect — and get the best out of their players.

“Culture is what happens when the coach isn’t there.”

Brian Garber, ATP Tour coach and current coach to Ethan Quinn (World No. 56), joins us for a powerful conversation on what it really takes to develop competitors — not just players.

From becoming a Division II head coach at just 23 to working across the WTA and now the ATP Tour, Brian shares a coaching philosophy built on simplicity, ownership, and trust.

In this episode, we dive into why less instruction often leads to better performance, how to help athletes become decision-makers, and why the best coaches know when to step back and let players figure it out.

You’ll also hear practical takeaways on:

• Simplifying the game for better execution

• Helping athletes diagnose their own mistakes

• Designing practices that actually transfer to competition

• Building players who can think, adjust, and compete on their own

“The more you say, the less they hear. The less you say, the more they start to figure it out.”

Jennifer Ketterly, Associate Director of Sports Performance at the Duke Sports Sciences Institute and performance nutrition consultant for the Charlotte Hornets, joins us for a practical, science-backed conversation on the three pillars of performance nutrition: fueling, hydration, and recovery.

With more than 25 years of experience across collegiate and professional sport, Jennifer explains why carbohydrates are the non-negotiable fuel for high-intensity sport, how to individualize hydration using sweat rate, and why the **4Rs of recovery—Rehydrate, Refuel, Repair, and Rest—**are critical for sustained performance. She also addresses under-fueling in female athletes, warning signs of RED-S, and simple strategies coaches and athletes can apply immediately.

🎧 Listen to learn how intentional nutrition decisions directly impact performance when it matters most.

Dr. Jack Groppel joins us for a compelling conversation on performance, recovery, and what makes coaching a truly noble profession.

One of the world’s leading sports psychologists and human performance experts, Jack shares his journey from self-taught athlete to pioneering leader in performance science—and the moment when just 17 words from a mentor changed the trajectory of his life.

In this candid discussion, Jack explains why elite coaching goes far beyond technical instruction. He breaks down the critical relationship between stress and recovery, explores the psychology of competitive excellence, and shares insights gained from decades of working with world-class athletes.

This episode dives into mental resilience, performance under pressure, and what truly separates good coaches from great ones. Jack also shares lessons from his upcoming memoir, Mountains Within, offering perspective from both his professional success and personal journey.

Whether you’re a coach, athlete, parent, or leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about performance—and remind you why coaching matters.

The Miracle League: When the Game Includes Everyone, Miracles Happen

The Miracle League is more than baseball — it’s a movement rewriting what’s possible.

What started with one field in Georgia has grown into 345+ communities worldwide, giving every child, regardless of ability, the chance to play. Through a powerful buddy system, players with disabilities are paired with peers, breaking barriers and building lifelong friendships.

“We’re not segregating that population like they’ve been their entire life… that bond is being built off the baseball field.”

In this episode, you’ll hear inspiring stories — like Lauren’s, who was born blind with brittle bone disease and found freedom through baseball:

“If I could play the game of baseball… I could do anything in this world.”

Tune in to learn how the Miracle League is transforming communities, one swing at a time — and why two new leagues are launching every month to keep the momentum going.

"I'll Find a Way or Make One": Dana Mathewson's Story of Grit and Greatness

Champion wheelchair tennis player Dana Mathewson shares her remarkable journey from diagnosis with transverse myelitis at age 10 to becoming America's most accomplished wheelchair tennis player. With candid humor, Dana discusses her initial reluctance toward adaptive sports and how her mother's persistence led her to the court. Her impressive career includes reaching World No. 7 in singles, World No. 4 in doubles, and becoming the first American wheelchair tennis player to win a Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.

Dana reveals the competitive spirit and "bulldog mentality" that fueled her success, along with cherished memories from the Paralympic Games. Now navigating retirement—a transition she describes as an athlete's "first death"—Dana is embracing new roles in coaching and philanthropy while discovering her identity beyond competition.

Her guiding philosophy, "I'll find a way or make one," has applications far beyond tennis, offering listeners powerful insights on resilience, problem-solving, and finding your path when life presents unexpected challenges.

Fear Is a Passenger, Not the Driver: Jenn Drummond’s World Record Climb

In 2018, Jen Drummond survived a car crash that should have ended her life. Instead, it sparked a world-record journey that would redefine what’s possible—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

In this episode, Jen shares how that near-death experience became her “line in the sand” moment, propelling her from business owner and mom of seven to the first woman to climb the Seven Second Summits—the second-highest (and often most technical) peaks on every continent. And she didn’t stop at seven—she climbed nine mountains to account for global boundary disputes.

From transforming her home into a training facility to preparing for death on a freezing Canadian glacier, Jen’s story is one of resilience, mindset, and purpose. She opens up about training during Zoom calls, balancing family with ambition, and learning that progress isn’t linear—it’s acclimatized.

“You don’t get rid of fear,” she says. “But you don’t have to let it drive the car.”

If you’re an athlete, coach, or anyone chasing a big goal, this conversation is packed with inspiration, mindset shifts, and hard-earned wisdom.

Listen now to discover how fear became a passenger—and purpose took the wheel.

The Champion's Mindset: USTA's Dr. Larry Lauer on Mental Performance

The difference between good and great in tennis often comes down to mental skills. Dr. Larry Lauer, Director of Mental Performance for the USTA, has revolutionized how players approach the psychological side of the sport.

"How you do what you do is way more important than the outcome," Lauer emphasizes. "You can't really get the outcome without the process."

As the USTA's first full-time mental skills specialist since 2013, Lauer has witnessed the stigma around mental training diminish significantly. Today's players increasingly recognize mental skills as essential components of athletic development.

His approach centers on collaboration between mental coaches and tennis coaches, creating consistent messaging for players. Effective coaching balances challenge with support: "When you get after a kid... you don't make it personal. You make it about the behavior, never about them as a person."

Lauer champions integrating character development into daily training. Mental skills like resilience, focus, and discipline aren't just performance enhancers but valuable life tools. "If you're resilient and tough-minded, super professional... these character things... need to be part of your training every day."  

Tune in to hear Dr. Lauer break down what it really takes to develop mentally tough, high-performing athletes — and how coaches can lead the way.

Unstoppable: Shelby Baron's Journey to Paralympic Tennis

From struggling to keep up in PE class to becoming a two-time Paralympian, Shelby Baron’s story is a powerful testament to resilience, discovery, and the transformative power of adaptive sports. Born with spina bifida in Hawaii, Shelby found new possibilities through wheelchair tennis—ultimately representing Team USA in Rio and Tokyo.

In this episode, Shelby shares how her introduction to adaptive sports opened doors she never imagined, how a last-minute phone call changed her life, and why the Tokyo Paralympics challenged her in unexpected ways. Now working with USTA player development, she’s paying it forward to support the next generation of athletes.

Whether you're an athlete, coach, or someone looking for inspiration, this episode offers powerful insights on inclusion, independence, and the joy of sport.

Key Themes:

• Adaptive sports as a life-changing force

• Inclusion in athletics

• Mental resilience & rediscovering joy

• The power of community in Paralympic sport

• Shelby’s ongoing impact through player development

“When I was younger, I didn’t even know what adapted sports were... I definitely did not know that this was the path for me.”

ATP Coach Craig Boynton on Building Champions

Great coaching isn’t just about drills and strategy—it’s about connection, trust, and mindset. ATP coach Craig Boynton, who has worked with world-class players like Jim Courier, John Isner, and Hubert Hurkacz, knows that success starts with putting the player first:

"It’s not about the coach—it’s about the athlete."

He helps players balance physical skills ("hardware") with mental strength ("software"), using data-driven insights to refine performance:

"Feelings can lie, but the numbers don’t."

But success isn’t just about grinding—it’s about staying fueled by joy. Whether it’s a high-five at practice or drawing energy from the crowd, happiness fuels performance:

"Pick out someone cheering for you. That energy might be the difference between winning and losing."

✔ Build trust—strong relationships lead to better coaching.
✔ Use data to improve—let numbers guide decisions.
✔ Joy fuels success—happy athletes play better.

Tune in to hear Boynton’s insights on coaching, performance, and the mindset behind building champions.