January 29, 2024 • 60 mins
Pat O'Malley shares his story, from swinging bats to opening up about the struggles we all face off the field, sets the backdrop for a conversation that moves beyond the scoreboard. Our dialogue takes a deep look into the world of coaching, mental health in sports, and the unshakable power of faith. We reminisce, laugh, and even dive into some of life's tougher questions, all through the lens of servant leadership and the resilience learned through the game of baseball.
Throughout the episode, we peel back the layers of what it means to be a coach and an athlete in today's complex world, where the mental game is just as important as physical prowess. From heartfelt personal stories to the shared experiences of those we've encountered, it becomes clear that authentic relationships are the bedrock of not only success on the field but also in life's grander journey. Pat's insights illuminate how simple acts of kindness and a true understanding of one another can have a ripple effect, touching lives in ways we might never fully comprehend.
Finally, we broach the delicate balance of faith and mental health, acknowledging the pressures that men in particular face to appear unbreakable. Pat opens up about his faith journey and the importance of embracing all forms of help—from therapy to medication—as gifts in our pursuit of mental health. We cap off our time together with a nod to the importance of being present for one another and a prayer for those in need, leaving our listeners with a sense of hope and the knowledge that no one has to navigate the challenges of life alone.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to another episode of catching up
with Christians.
I'm your host, Coach McCarty,alongside my boy, Pat O'Malley.
How's it going, Pat, Coach?
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I'm hanging man, how are you doing Coach?
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Dude.
I'm glad you're here, man.
It's a beautiful morning.
So if you want to mind tellingthe people who you are and how
you got into where you are, yeah, man.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Well, first and foremost, thanks for having me
have my own podcast.
It's always different being onthe other side of it.
So, it's fun, I like getting outof my comfort zone, I like to
talk to good people.
So first and foremost, thankyou to you.
Like Dan mentioned, I'm PatO'Malley.
I'm a former college player,former college coach.
I now have a mental healthnonprofit to keep going podcast
(00:40):
and I've been with NCSA Collegerecruiting the last five years,
so really involved in not onlythe mental health field, not
only in the game of baseball,but I know who I do it for and
that's my Lord Savor.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Amen to that.
That's powerful stuff rightthere.
So let's kind of talk a littlebit about you know, we've known
of each other for a long timebut really connected over the
last couple of ABCA conventions,just kind of, from my
perspective, went up to thebooth at NCSA and was like, hey,
man, what's up?
We just kind of hit it off fromthere.
(01:15):
I just wanted to hear maybeyour perspective on kind of our
first interactions and thosesorts of things.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, I think for first time listeners which I
love, this platform, obviouslyI've told you that's why we're
here.
Dan, you are just a sunshineman, like when you come into my
view, you know in person, evenon camera this morning, my mood
just instantly changes.
So you're one of those guysthat has that effect on people.
So when you asked me let's goFriday morning and 11, we were
(01:42):
supposed to shoot a little bitlater Absolutely, I'll drop
everything to work with you, dan.
So our first interaction, man,you had this ray of sunshine,
you had the energy of thepositivity which I crave, man.
So thank you for thatrefreshing interaction and just
what you've met to the game ofbaseball and the players and
coaches across the nation.
Man, it's flattering to be hereand you should be proud of what
you've done so far.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
I really appreciate that and I wanted to touch upon
this too, and I want thelisteners to really understand
this.
One thing I admire about Pat isand he we're a lot alike in
this similarity have youlistened to everything he's got
going?
It's servant ship, like he'sgiving out to others.
Like with the podcast, withNCSA, it's giving.
It's not to make his brandbigger, to make himself bigger,
(02:27):
like he is truly that servantleader and I think that's really
powerful.
With NCSA, their whole goal isto help kids get recruited.
With the podcast, it's tospread mental health awareness
and let people know they're notalone in the ups and downs of
life.
So it's like I resonate so muchwith that too, because a lot of
(02:47):
the things I'm trying to do isreally just try to make an
impact on people and if that'swhat we can do on this platform
and these other platforms, I'mdoing like that's what I really
love about the content you'reputting out there and the work
that you do from coaching, fromcoaching now at NCSA and with
the podcast and everything.
So keep doing what you're doing, man.
That's some really powerfulstuff and you're changing lives
(03:09):
one day at a time.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
No, I appreciate that man and what I'll say is you
are doing the same thing and Ilearned a lot from you.
From afar, right, like for along time I didn't really know
kind of what I was doing, right,you kind of go into cruise
control, but when you realizethere's a higher power involved,
you really start to find thatservant leadership and I
wholeheartedly believe I've gotto go until I can't go anymore,
(03:32):
because I know why I'm here.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
That's powerful right there, man.
That's good.
That's good stuff.
So let's talk a little bitabout your journey with.
Let's start about baseballspecifically.
You're just kind of like youplayed growing up, I'm assuming
played some college ball, thenyou went into the coaching and
then now with the NTSA side.
So how did that evolve?
Well, you know how did that go.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
I think it was the little boy with a dream man.
I looked back at it and I havethis mom.
My mom has been an absoluterock for me.
When I came up, I playedbaseball, basketball, football,
soccer.
I played all these sports and,dan, unfortunately, man, I never
grew.
I'm 5'9.
Reach week, reach week, baby,reach week.
I'm 5'9.
(04:17):
So when I wanted to playbasketball, that wasn't going to
happen I tried to play football.
My brother was 6'0, actuallywas the starting quarterback
over me when I was a senior, myyounger brother.
And then when I got intobaseball I'm like wow, it's my
last spring, this is my lastchance to play a sport in
college and I kind of ran withit.
So long-winded answer.
But just trial and error andbeing with good people trying
(04:40):
different things, that's how Igot to where I am in the game.
The people is what do it?
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Absolutely, absolutely, and I think you
agree on this part.
It's like the amount you canlearn and the impact you can
have in sports in general.
But let's talk baseballspecifically.
Like a lot of it, with thefailures and being able to deal
with the failures and the upsand downs that it creates, and I
(05:04):
think it really resembles a lotof what life is about and why I
love baseball so much.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
It ties in man.
Baseball and life are the same.
You're going to have ups anddowns, trials and shambulations.
You're going to have big upsand everything in between.
I think this game is reallytied into how life works.
I think it's built me into theman I am today and the one
that's still trying to grow.
I'm not even close to afinished product yet.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Absolutely, and that's a powerful statement
there, right, Like knowing thatyou still want to grow as a
person, Like I've always toldmyself and I've tried to
surround myself with people thatare like lifelong learners and
lifelong people that want togrow and better their selves
every day.
Because I think as soon as youbecome complacent and this is to
anybody that's listening assoon as you become like I got it
(05:50):
figured out like one thing'sgoing to probably come your way
and throw you off track and then, if that doesn't happen, you're
going to plateau.
And so I think just to keep areminder on growing in the areas
in life that you take, areasthat you want to grow, is really
important.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
No, I agree.
I think I journal every day andI write down.
This was growth and thencontinued growth.
It used to be for a long time.
What did I do well and what didI do really crappy?
But if you look at it from agrowth mindset, I'm going to
grow here.
Look at what I did today.
But how can I continue to grow?
Man, we got seasons.
Every season of life isdifferent.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Absolutely, absolutely.
That's an important part, right, like seasons, right.
I think that we need to hit onthat for a second to our
listeners, because it's not alifetime, it's not a life
sentence, it's a season and it'sa chapter in your life.
So I think, regardless of it'san up or down, to remember that
God is in it and God willintervene in that moment and
(06:50):
through these situations, and itcan be tough, but we know, with
God, that anything is possible.
And just a reminder that it isjust a season in your life and a
chapter, and yeah, amen, amen.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
I think God is not.
He's not putting us inpositions where he hasn't been
successful before.
We have all the tools, listenand put them to action with him
as a guy.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Absolutely that, 100% .
So now you, so you're a playerand you got into coaching a
little bit.
What was your?
You know what made you wannaget into coaching?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yeah, man, it's, I don't know.
I think the best quote I couldthink of is the guys that can't
play coach.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
And.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
I'm gonna be real, dan.
I was a good high school player, like I was a really good high
school player.
I thought I was one of the bestplayers in the air.
In my opinion and I look backat it, I was not a great college
player for a variety ofdifferent reasons, like you know
.
I knew I had the IQ at thatpoint for the game, but I knew I
was meant to do somethingdifferent besides play the game
(07:52):
at the next level.
It was a blessing.
So when I got into coaching at22 at Rock Valley College you
know Chad Herron shouted mycolleges.
He hired me right out ofcollege and I thought it was a
great way to stay in the gameand really see what I could do
and learn.
So college coaching it came outof nowhere.
It really did Right.
When I got done playing I wentfrom Rockford right to Rock
(08:13):
Valley and helped do my thingover there.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
That's incredible.
And then one thing I wannamention too.
You mentioned people who can'tplay, you know, tend to become
coaches and things, and I thinkthere's something to that and I
have a theory and I don't knowwhat your thoughts are.
I think it's because, in myopinion and I'm not dismissing
any coaches, I think all coachesare great but it's a lot easier
to teach, like the Aaron judgesof the world, like six, seven
(08:38):
and absolute freaks of athletes,to hit and be really good
players.
I'm not saying it doesn'trequire coaching, but the people
that are able to get thissimilar type of success or
outcomes to a kid that's five,four, or a guy that's not at
that like, at that you know,level, and I think that's where
coaches right can come in, theones that are really impactful
(09:01):
and have, you know, thatexperience, are able to take the
people that are maybe a littleless physically talented and can
break it down to where they canapply it to allowing them to
get better and grow, becausethat's my biggest thing.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
No, I agree, it's not cookie cutter man.
You got to go in there and one.
You have to make the athletebelieve in him or herself.
Yep, and I missed that when Iwas younger.
I thought it was about the X'sand O's, the physical specimen,
the physical stuff.
We didn't put enough emphasison making them believe in
themselves, the confidence, themental side, the mental
(09:36):
toughness, the mental healthissues.
I, truthfully, was not.
I was not aware.
I was too young, I didn't haveenough education on it.
So I love what you said.
There's guys that get out ofbed man hit bombs.
There's guys that get out ofbed and throw hard.
Yep, it's the in-between guysthat need to show development in
their everyday life and that'swhere coaches come in, big man.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Exactly exactly.
And I think there's differentlevels of coaches right that
like I've seen some amazingcoaches that like really dive in
with the youth game and likethey are able to break it down
so much better than I can and beable to allow that, you know,
eight, nine year old to grow,and it's like that's impressive
to see at that young age andthat coach being able to break
(10:16):
down maybe a more complicatedmechanic to someone younger at a
different, you know, phase oflife, and so I think that's
really powerful what youmentioned there, you know.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
And I want to talk about you.
Know you?
This is I know this is realquick before we get into the
mental health I want to talk alittle bit about NCSA and kind
of your passion behind that, howyou got involved and really
just kind of your visions ofbeing a part of that company.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Yeah, the whole thing is, by the grace of God, right.
I always laugh how I got intothat NCSA?
I was 22,.
I was coming off my firstseason at Rock Valley and I'll
be honest, I'll be verytransparent, dan.
I stumbled into a bar inChicago I'll never forget it and
I ran into a college teammate,josh Paparone, who I'm a player,
(11:07):
by the way.
Papi was a great outfield orgreat player on that team and
Oakton that I played with.
Josh looked at me and we had acouple of beers and he said
here's my business card, here'smy information.
I think you can be great here.
And I said, okay, you're right.
Like what did you say?
I've never had a quote, unquote, real job.
At that point I got the NCSA,never looked back.
(11:30):
I've been here for over fiveyears.
So it's just like God is sofunny, Like he'll just map
things out for you and not onlythat, but the baseball world
once again just has played sucha huge role in my life.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Absolutely, absolutely, and I think you also
have taken a great time to justfrom personal experience with
interaction with you, you're notthe guy that seems to burn
bridges and you're a guy thatwelcomes people up with open
arms.
You're a guy that I think that'ssomething that's often
overlooked.
Interactions and firstinteractions are really
important, right, because youmade an impact on that.
(12:06):
Yeah, you knew him prior, but,like even at the end of the day,
for him to be like, hey, youcould be a good fit, you had to
put something more out therethan just a typical interaction,
right, to be able to show thatyou could be a good fit For, I
think, the listeners.
It's valuable to remember thatthe way you carry yourself and
the way you have interactions,and the way you never know who
(12:29):
that person is going to be lateron down the road and where
they're in charge, and thosetypes of things that we just got
to be really careful and treateverybody the way you want to be
treated.
I think that's a silly thing,you know, I hear all the time,
but it's true, you know, andbecause you never know where
they'll be eventually, you knowthat's it, man.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
I wholeheartedly believe that love is the
strongest thing that we do.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
And if you have teammates this is for the
athletes listening or even theeveryday nine to five people.
Like we say in our pod, love isthe strongest thing we do how
we treat people.
You never know when thatco-worker is in a follow up with
you, when you a teammate three,four years, five years later is
going to go.
Pat, I always loved how you didthis.
(13:16):
Can you come do this to me?
There's power in that man, sotreating people, even when you
feel like you're getting cheated, you're not getting loved on
enough.
Kill them with kindness, man.
Do the best you can Kill themwith kindness.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
And you never know when you are at a point in your
life where you can use that.
Pick me up.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Yeah, same thing.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Yep, and until putting that out, it's going to
come back in, and I think that'swhat we're called to do as
Christians as well.
Right, like you want to be aresemblance of Jesus, and Jesus
hung out with all types ofpeople and we're around other
people, and he wasn't condemningof them Right, he did not.
He just loved them wherethey're at and prayed for them,
(13:58):
and I think that's an importantthing.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
No, it's strong and that tie in with our faith.
Right, like that's it, man,people are going to throw rocks
and threaten people that they'rethreatened by, and that's
usually insecurities that stemin them.
So the best thing that we cando is really go at every
situation with an open heart andnot know we don't know what
people are going through it andunderstand that as we go on,
(14:21):
100%.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
So let's dive into what my perspective is.
One of your biggest passions,if not your biggest passion, and
your bread and butter.
Right, so you talk about.
You got an amazing podcast.
Keep going podcast.
You know, I've tuned in for awhile, thank you, love, love the
episodes.
And I think it's a unique niche.
And the way why I say that isbecause, yeah, it's a mental
(14:47):
health podcast but it'sdefinitely tailored more to the
athletes in the.
You know the sporting communityand you touched upon this a
little bit earlier out it is aunderserved community.
Athletes and mental health.
I mean, I know from my personalexperience of seeing my siblings
grow up play sports, me beingaround sports all the time and
being around different coachesand different coaching styles,
(15:09):
philosophies.
You know, not picking on the oldschool listeners, but some of
the more old school list.
You know guys that I've coachedwith and people that I've seen
it's, it's, hey, you got togrind this out, hey, you can't
be soft, you got to, you know,and that's not the answer.
We've clearly seen wherethere's times where it can be
the answer, for sure, but wehave definitely seen the
(15:32):
negative impact on some of thosethings and on the mental health
side of it and I'm nowhere nearan expert.
I try to you know, like we'vetalked about already, but love
people where they're at and younever know what people are going
through.
You know emotionally andmentally and those such a thing,
so I just try to be that lightfor people.
(15:52):
But I just kind of want to talkabout you know how you got into
you know the mental healthspace, maybe the mental health
space what kind of one you needto start the podcast and that's
episode.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Yeah, I.
It's been a wild ride over thelast year.
Um, when we started the podcast, I stayed all the time on there
.
I never thought anyone wouldlisten.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
I'm going to be very transparent.
I thought if we could affectone person, I thought if we, if
we dropped one episode, I waslike maybe we can get to one
person, maybe we could save alife this year and maybe we
could be that light for somebodyelse.
When we got started me and myco-host, luke wheat, and now
we've added Jackie Tripp, who'sbeen amazing too.
(16:37):
It had Rich.
You're going to help us out too.
We've had a lot of great peoplein our corner, but when we
started, it truly was the impactone life and from an athlete
and a former coach that did not.
I did not live up to my end ofthe bargain in the mental health
stuff, in the mental training,in the mental performance,
because I was young, I was naive, I was uneducated.
(16:58):
I'm not making that excuseanymore, like we're making up
for lost time and I want thisgeneration and generations to
come to have our podcast andhave us as lifelines, because
you just never know that and II've been personally affected
and you know my co-host is myco-host now have been, and
(17:21):
several guys.
It's just I.
I want to make up for lost timeand this is a big thing I'm
passionate about.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, that's incredible and you know I want
to talk about.
You know, if there's coachesout here listening, what are?
Or maybe even just a leader,maybe a boss or things like that
, maybe what are some thingsmaybe they can implement in
their workspace or the team tobe able to prioritize mental
(17:49):
health or, you know, to check ontheir people and that type of
stuff.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Yeah, I'll be honest.
Did I say this a lot of ourepisodes?
Authenticity doesn't whisper atscreams.
When you have the opportunityto get to know somebody, when
you have the opportunity tobuild a relationship, take
advantage of it.
I've come to realize that thoserelationships create
professional opportunities andsuccess in the business world.
(18:15):
If you love on someone and youcare about them enough to talk
about things other than just howare your numbers this month?
Yep, amen, you, you just, itstarts to open this line of
communication, this level oftrust that when you go to war
and you need something big andyou need it quickly, that person
(18:35):
that you've bought in on itbecause you know that you're
going to give the same to them.
That relates to the established.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
That's true, that's that, and, first off, is that a
clothing line?
Because that needs to beclipped.
Thank, you.
That's a beggar dude that ispowerful, and I talked about
this a little bit on our firstepisode with a good buddy of
mine landed and he was awesome,by the way, he was awesome by
the way, he's incredible Goodbuddy of mine and he he had.
(19:01):
You know we talked a little bitabout how, how it's important to
talk about, like you said,instead of the numbers.
Or if you're in the businessworld, like how your sales quota
, or in baseball, how's thefastball look in the day, like
instead of you know all that'simportant but it's a given when
you're an employee, you knowthose are your expectations.
When you're an athlete, in yourpicture, you know these things
(19:24):
are, you know what you'refocused on anyway.
But you know we talked about ifyou can have a conversation, a
general conversation that'sauthentic, about life, the
amount and just whatever the kidwants to talk about or the
employee wants to talk about,the amount that you gain trust
in the relationship that yougain with that person is life
(19:48):
changing, is unbelievable Lifechanging.
I've lost track how many times Ihad guys from like college go
wait, you're talking to me aboutlike just random stuff.
Today I'm like, yeah, do you?
Like I already know what I'mgoing to get from you off the
mound dog?
Like I've been seeing you forthree months now, like I know
what to expect.
But how's the family?
How's?
You know your girlfriend,everything's ups and downs.
You doing all right.
(20:08):
You've been struggling in aslump Like how are you feeling?
And quickly you have guys beinglike man, he really cares about
me.
It's not a transactionalrelationship.
I think we're so caught up intransactional relationships in
this generation.
They say, okay, what can you dofor me in return for you know
something I can help you with.
So authentic is important.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
I agree, man it's.
Everybody asks how you're doing, but nobody ever asked how you,
how you feel and how are youhappy?
Are you happy, Right, Are you?
Are you at that point where youfeel good today, Like a quick
how are you?
It's great, in passing, right,but like if you got time, man,
man, this is the message I'mtrying to portray.
(20:52):
If you have time to makesomeone's day, go do it.
In my mind, I would look backat my pictures my first year at
22.
I'm coaching guys 2021.
I go to the mound and I, Dan,I've seen you, you, you got
famous mountain visits, man,I've never seen more eye contact
at a mountain visit from you,coach, and I wish I would have
(21:13):
seen that before you know,before I, you know, ended up not
coaching anymore.
The point I'm getting at withthe mountain visit stuff is like
hey Aaron, hey Danny.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Hey, your boys got you.
I believe in you.
Yeah, you've put the work in,go get it.
And that's in that faith andthat confidence and that
brotherhood, like those arethings that go outside of the
game.
It's X's and O's are great, butthat belief and that confidence
in yourself and your others isbig.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Absolutely.
And like two things I talkabout like for me, if you guys
want the secret sauce and moundvisits it's I would always go up
there and crack a joke.
I would take it totally off,totally off the game.
I'd say something you knowgoofy, stupid dad joke.
It wasn't even nothing crazy,it was just something silly.
And and I said look, man, youwant to be on the bump of we
(22:05):
didn't believe in you.
You want to be the.
This team wouldn't be behindyou if they didn't believe in
you.
Right, like, we trust you, webelieve we got faith in you.
And hey, you know, give yourbest effort.
And you know what.
Let's just compete here.
That's all we're asking and andhaving that conversation.
But you know that wording isway different than being like
(22:26):
what's wrong, johnny?
Like, why are you pissing thebed here?
Like we, we got the champ musicon the line or whatever that
looks like right a shift ofwords and meaning behind that
can really change the kid's lifein a way.
And I think that's a really,really important aspect to
(22:47):
coaching and interactions withothers Because, like I've said
again, guys, we got to driftaway from transactional
relationships in society.
We have to get past the likeyou said how are you is powerful
, or how are you doing, but like, are you happy?
How are you really?
Like, are you going to takethat extra step to really figure
(23:08):
out how they're doing?
Because people will give yousomething, that face value, but
that doesn't mean that's reallywhat's going on.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Right, right.
I think a value in a man'srelationships is so much more
valuable than the value of money, possessions and things like
that.
Absolutely, you know.
I really feel that way and Ithink, with my coworkers now and
people I've come across with,I'm just trying to dig deeper
and do it authentically, becauseeveryone gets and I do it too
(23:36):
everyone gets in those habits ofjust checking boxes and 2024,
man.
I want to really start to poundthose boxes in and continue to
feed and continue to go andcontinue to serve, because I
keep mentioning that thatservant leadership is so key in
my life.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Absolutely, and it's so apparent, man, and keep going
and we know you're going toreach those goals in 24.
And to anybody listening rightand you have a friend or you
know of someone, let them knowyou're there for them.
I think that's something huge,and I don't say this to Tupelo
Horn and all, but I'll just giveyou guys an example of my own
off-topic rant.
But that sometimes happens inpodcasts, Heck yeah, baby let's
(24:15):
go Basically, man, I had a kidin middle of school I was
friends with and he came over acouple of times growing up and I
didn't really know his own lifetoo well, I just knew him from
school.
He came over, turned out hewould.
Every time he came over hewould steal stuff.
And I just didn't realize thathe would steal and I was like,
(24:37):
hey, I have to distance myselffrom you, but you know what.
You have my number.
If there's ever a point in timeyou're really struggling, I'm
here for you.
I don't care about the thingsyou took, I don't care about the
money.
That was your dishonest.
I know there's something biggerat play here and I'm going to
take my own pride and ego out ofthis and do what Jesus would
want me to do here and be therefor you.
(24:58):
And I can't tell you it's not agood thing.
Necessarily.
That means there's a lot ofpeople struggling, but that's OK
.
Where I've taken phone calls toreally be there for someone and
I think that right there,regardless of what they've done
to you, if they burned you or ifthey've whatever, is such an
important value, because noone's life is worth a couple
(25:19):
hundred dollars that they mayhave took from you or an
experience they could have tookfrom you, like, be that extra
person, be willing to get burnedto save a life or to help
someone through a reallydifficult season, because,
although in your mind that itmay not be a super big thing
that they're going through,everybody's got a different
threshold, like for me.
(25:40):
People always say, oh, how areyou able to experience all this
pain?
It's like, well, that's all Iknow.
That's all I know is physicalpain.
So my threshold is a littledifferent.
I know people who have papercuts and it's like they're
having me breaking a bone.
I don't judge them, but theyhave different thresholds and
I'm still there for that personand supporting them where
they're at.
So that's really important.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
No, dan, that's an amazing story about who you are,
because we talked about itearlier.
Some people just don't have anyfeel man at this point in their
life.
Absolutely.
It doesn't mean that they won'tget there, and you also, once
again, have no idea what yourbody was going through.
Maybe he didn't have that athome and was trying to get it.
(26:22):
Yes, I always go back to thecookie story.
Have you ever heard the cookiestory of two men in an airport?
No, I got to know this one.
This is one of my personalfavorites.
He just brought it up and I'mgoing to kind of slam dunk it.
Yeah, you got two guys in anairport.
One guy sits down.
Another guy sits next to himwith a bag of cookies.
Guys, you know, grab him in acookie, puts a cookie in his
(26:44):
mouth, reads the paper, whatever.
A couple seconds later he looksover and the guy next to him is
eating his cookies out of thebag and the guy's like getting
pissed right, because you'venever been to an airport man.
Those cookies are probably $12,right, Like I don't know.
Right.
So like not only is this guytrying to mind his own business
being his own bubble, but eathis cookies and then go board
(27:04):
his flight.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Then this dude next to him is eating all of his
cookies, like literally eatingall his cookies.
He's not even getting a hand inanymore.
After everything, the two menget up, whatever.
Blah, blah, blah.
They walk to their flights,they go their separate ways.
The guy that was pissed offabout his bad cookies his bag is
sitting in his bag.
He never opened them.
(27:27):
The whole time he was eatingthe other guy's cookies and
didn't know.
Wow, that's powerful, becauseyou just don't know, right,
we're going to make mistakes.
You don't know.
That guy could have got pissedat him and he didn't.
He snapped there and was likeyou know what?
(27:47):
This guy could use some cookiestoday?
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Incredible man Dude that's an amazing story, dude.
But I did not know where thatwas going and I was like OK,
that is a lecture, dude, that isan amazing story.
But it's a great message it is.
It's like that person as muchas it's easy for us to get
frustrated.
They could have done the samething to us, right?
Because?
Speaker 2 (28:10):
we are flawed people.
We're humans.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
We all sin, we all fall short of the good, and so,
as much as it's easy to look atothers and be like what he's
doing, what they're doing, it'slike what are we doing, too?
We ain't perfect?
Speaker 2 (28:22):
No, not at all.
And I think, with our journeythrough Christ, with our
religion, with our faithbackground, we carry our cross
daily.
But, man, we stumble, we takesteps back, we let people down.
But if you keep and I alwayssay it if we keep going, we keep
that cross moving, we're notout of the fight yet.
(28:44):
There's a message, there's aspirit, there's someone that's
leading us where we need to go.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Absolutely, and that goes down to faith.
I remember my pastor said this.
I'm doing this stuff with mychurch right now, going back to
school to get my degree inministry.
It's been a great journey, butI just started.
I'm in this class right now.
It's called spiritual leadershipand one of the things we're
talking about is a littlelecture on like hurt, habits and
(29:11):
hangups, basically, and one ofthe things he was talking about
is a big topic is like church,and you'll see why I'm bringing
this up.
It's like people tend to forgetthat our church is still by
humans, and humans are flawed.
We've created the church LikeJesus when he was here, and the
church was important, but at theend of the day, look who is in
charge of the church?
It's humans, and no one knows.
(29:34):
Everyone knows.
No human's perfect and we areflawed.
And so I think sometimes we tryto put a expectation on someone
that they're above it or they'rehigher than something, but at
the end of the day, we're allbroken.
We're all struggling withdifferent things.
(29:55):
So I think it's reallyimportant to remember that.
Look, we're all at differentphases of our lives, we all have
things we're wrestling with andwe're all broken.
And so when we get hurt byothers, it's real quick for them
to not even them, but you don'tknow who you could have
possibly hurt and I don't meanto say that in like oh, you're a
terrible person.
I'm just saying it's good tokeep ourselves grounded because
(30:19):
you don't know where you're atand the actions that you might
have portrayed by accident.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
I think that's a beautiful point.
I really do, and that touchedme because we're at the point
now we're like, oh, in thechurch, there's issues in the
church, Dan.
There is, but there's issueseverywhere.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Your relationship with God is your relationship
with God.
At the end of the day, everyoneis trying to find their way.
Everyone is trying to get wherethey see success, where their
dream lies.
The second that we startvaluing our problems over other
people is a problem.
Everybody has their demons,their issues.
(31:02):
That's why we're sinners.
But everybody should be valuedand respected and understood to
the best of your ability.
That was so powerful, man,because I'm telling you, when
you realize that you're notbigger than anybody else and
you're here for a purpose, yourlife starts to change Absolutely
, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
And I think you have to really take a step back and
realize that too.
Just be like, ok, the things onearth aren't mine, it's God's
provided these things, and thatwe're just here living it, we're
the vessel for that.
And I think as soon as I wrapmy head around that, my shift in
and worries change, becauseit's like none of my material
(31:44):
things are mine, it's blessingsGod's provided.
And when you think of it likethat, then you're like wait a
minute.
You become way moreappreciative and you see how God
is moving in that moment andyou know you'll come through
again.
And so for me, being in a seasonright now of unknowns, with a
job and those types of thingsthat I'm going through with the
social media, it's like I'venever been happier in my own
(32:05):
life, like I'm in the most peaceI've ever been.
And people are like how youjust moved out and now you don't
have a job, you're startingsocial media Because I have so
much faith in God and he'stelling me you're at the will
that I have for your life,you're living it out.
It's just give me time, let itplay out Like you don't have any
clue.
There's people you guys don'thave any clue about having that
(32:29):
peace.
It is an overwhelming peace,even when things necessarily
aren't perfect.
Like I said, I just named a fewthings that I'm dealing with
right now, but I'm at the bestmental state I've ever been in,
because I feel like God has doneit before and we'll do it again
, and I'm doing what I feel ledto do, and so I have that
overwhelming sense of peace.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
You want to talk about clipping something?
You better clip that baby.
I'm fired up.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
I'm fired up.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
And here's why Because I wholeheartedly believe
that sometimes we're knockingon doors in the blessings in a
different neighborhood.
That's OK, and you know what?
That's awesome.
I'm going to keep knocking ondoors, trying different keys,
but once God hands me the keys,I'm in the neighborhood.
I'm ready to go.
I'm riding this thing with apromise, so that's it.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
Your blessing might not be in your neighborhood, but
that doesn't mean you're notgoing to stop knocking on doors,
absolutely, and that's a great,great way to put it, because
going from my journey right likegoing from coaching, travel,
all grown up, helping withlessons, doing all these things
then graduate high school, goingto college, and I'm thinking I
(33:37):
want to do this, whatever.
And being called to theministry right, that's where
I've been filled lead.
And I still love baseball, Istill love the game, but I feel
that there was something biggerat play there and I remember
when I was being like I don'tknow where to start, god was
just telling me to jump in.
Like God was like look, ifyou're going to do this thing,
(34:00):
you've got to have faith in me,from the bottom to the top and
beyond.
And it's like.
So I just dove in with noquestions asked.
And, yeah, it was tough, sure,but it's just really important
to remember that, like, all youneed is space to decide the
mustard seed right, things willgrow.
And I think it's just reallyimportant that you just continue
(34:22):
to try to put yourself in aposition to win and allow God to
do the rest, and allow to bepatient and allow God to
intervene and make a way whenthere seems to be no way, as
that song says.
But I think it's just animportant message for people to
listen to and to anybodylistening.
I just want to let you all knowthat there are better things
(34:42):
ahead that seek God and he willseek you, as he's already there
for you.
And when we seek Him, we tendto see the goodness that happens
in our everyday lives.
We don't take it for granted asmuch, right, we just, you see
the little things that sometimeswe often just are like, well,
(35:03):
it happens, it just your wholemindset shifts.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
We're here, like I keep bringing up to make an
impact, but like there's storms,man, there's gonna be storms.
Sometimes God's like just pickup a shovel, man.
Yeah, let's go, let's go.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
And that's you can hear the lesson right.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
You can hear it and not want to act on it, because
you're still beating down.
Keep carrying your cross, keeppicking up the shovel.
Man, we're going to write thestorm, with Him as our guide.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Amen, amen to that man, and that's some powerful
stuff.
Dude, this is so cool.
I love to hear your perspective.
I think you are so intelligentand have some really, really
fascinating perspectives.
In a great way, it's likebecause it's an underlook
community, I think, like withthe mental health stuff, and
(35:55):
it's continuing to grow andthings especially.
Let's just talk about athletesand males.
I know my own household love mydad to death, but he was
definitely a marine.
Okay, it was like let's grindthis thing out, like you're not
getting shot at, so like itain't that bad.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
And although that worked for me, I'm going to be
honest, it worked for me, but Iknow a lot of people that
wouldn't have worked for it, andso what I'm saying is like that
mental side of it is reallyimportant and it's something
that's really important for amale because we're not, we're
told to not cry, we're told tobe tough it out, we're told to
be these things, and then youknow we'll dive in that.
(36:42):
So what's your thoughts on themales right and mental health
and kind of you know that typeof stuff.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
I think that was a fantastic segue.
I just think that it's justviewed wrong because there's a
generational split and divide,like you just mentioned, with
your dad even being the Marines.
If your dad wasn't in theMarines, his dad and then his
dad before him taught them thatwhen you know what hit the fan,
(37:11):
rub some dirt on it and gettougher.
Yes, and this day and age, Ithink we can not only eliminate
that stigma, but we can put inhealthy habits.
Right, it's okay for guys to bevulnerable.
It's okay for guys to cry.
It's okay for guys to have somedays where they're not at 100%.
(37:35):
So, for our listeners right now, dan and thank you for giving
us this platform it's okay tohave those dark days.
Man, I was sitting and it'scrazy man, I'm sitting here in
Wrigley, where I started thisfaith journey again for the 90th
time, right, yeah, where Istarted my faith journey again.
I kind of flip flopped my life.
(37:56):
It started here in Chicago andI remember just when it all
switched.
It was okay.
I'm done putting on a front,I'm done trying to be the guy
for everybody else.
I have to be the guy for myself, and why?
So, to answer your question onthe mental health side for males
.
It's been depicted wrong.
We have to gain mentaltoughness, we have to get
(38:19):
treatment when needed and wehave to talk about our issues
because it's not just rub somedirt on it and rub off.
Speaker 1 (38:24):
Absolutely.
I have two things I want to say.
First thing, you said treatment.
Right, you used a story earlier.
I have a view that a lot of Iwant to say a lot.
I've heard times where churchesand people and I want to talk
about this in faith Facebookguys and I might get some
(38:44):
backlash from this, but Ibelieve this is something I
whole heart of believe.
I believe that God is possible,or Jesus and God can heal
people.
Right, god can make thingshappen.
But when you're struggling withanxiety and depression or
mental health, there isresources out there and I
(39:05):
believe God puts those resourceson the earth for us to be able
to access.
And I think sometimes peopleare like you just got to give it
to Jesus.
And when I say that it's like,yeah, I believe Jesus can do
that, but I also believe Jesusprovides resources, and what I
mean by that.
I don't know if you ever heardthis parable called two boats in
a helicopter, okay, and untilhe goes, this guy's drowning in
(39:27):
the water and this boat comesand says hey, man, you need help
.
He says no, I got Jesus.
Like God's got me, like I'mgood, he's drowning.
Another boat comes.
You know he's drowning, youknow guys say, hey, you, you
know you need help.
He's like no good, jesus isgoing to come save me.
Boom helicopter.
Same thing Dude ends up dying,gets to heaven.
He goes God, why didn't youhelp me?
(39:49):
He said I did.
He said I sent you two boats ina helicopter.
And I used that example for alot of things, because I am so
passionate about especially themental health space that you
need your faith and if you needmedication, that's okay.
If you need your faith and atherapist, that's okay.
God has provided those peoplewith those passions, with that
(40:11):
experience, to be able to helpyou where you're at.
And do I believe that God couldcure you right away from that?
Absolutely.
But do I believe that maybethere's other reasons?
Absolutely that he's not.
But there's resources that hehas put in people's hearts and
provided us with that we need toact on and we cannot be, I want
(40:32):
to say, ignorant, because Ihear it sometimes like you've
got to give it to Jesus and I'mlike, yes, that's important,
you've got to give your mentalhealth to Jesus.
But if you need medicine or youneed a therapist, god's giving
you that resource and we've gotto jump on that.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
I agree and I love that story, that parable,
because it's just a lot of timeswe're asking for God to do it,
we're asking for the answers,but we're not listening and
we're not appreciating thethings that are already with us,
and I think that's extremelypowerful.
I think going forward yes, giveit to God, let it marinate,
(41:11):
pray on it, talk about it, butwe have to go out there and
react and we have to once againpick up the shovel, carry our
cross.
We'll be rewarded for that.
We might not reap the benefitsof what we show that day For
sure.
It's an instant gratificationworld.
But we can choose to be thelong distance and putting in the
(41:31):
day-to-day effort.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
Absolutely and I love that and you really helped
finish that right.
Like Ali, you did a little bitthere Because I struggle wording
with it, because it can be atough topic to say, because I've
had people say to you so thatjust doesn't mean you doubt God
and you put limits on God.
Speaker 2 (41:48):
No, and I say no, not at all.
No, I actually make it morepowerful.
Speaker 1 (41:52):
I actually make it more appreciated.
Exactly, and I loved how youunderstood that and was able to
piggyback on that.
That was really powerful for meto listen to, because that's
something I tell a lot of peopleabout and that's one of the
avenues I feel I would like todo later on.
God bless all my heart.
It's like Christian counseling,because I feel like it's a.
I'd love to use biblicalprinciples along with the
(42:18):
medical side of it and that typeof stuff, because they need to
be blended.
It's not one way or another inmy opinion.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
I'm with you, I'm with you.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
That's awesome, so I want to dive into.
Maybe this is a tougherquestion, but I do believe
growing up, like I said, with mydad, it was a lot different
than a lot of people, I'massuming, but I also wouldn't
change it for anything Because Ilearned a lot.
(42:48):
So what is the blend of maybebeing soft but also being
attentive to your feelings andemotions?
Yeah, I think that's somethingthat we got to talk about.
Speaker 2 (42:59):
Yeah, I think in coaching and the professional
world there's a differencebetween mental health stuff and
not wanting to do what you'retold when things get tough.
There is, and there's, peopleout there that are fighting
battles I know nothing about.
Everybody has their demons.
But please do not use themental health side as a cop out,
(43:25):
as a sick day, as a don't, ifyou're not truly being affected
by it.
Please don't abuse it Becauseit's so serious Like I can't.
I'm telling you I was a guy for22 years that never experienced
any mental health issues.
I used to think it was not real.
I was one of those guys.
I was like this is fake, youdon't know, until you know.
(43:48):
When I got affected by it, Iwas like, oh my goodness, this
is what this is.
When my people started to getaffected by it, I understood I
could now help them.
So the point I'm trying to makeis, yes, we are ending the
stigma, we are getting mentalhealth out to the forefront, but
let's not use it as an excuseto not do what your boss wants
(44:10):
you to do or take the easy wayout and be lazy, because I think
there's a line.
There's a line there.
Speaker 1 (44:17):
Dude, that is real and that I think you hit the
nail on the head there.
I mean, that was.
That's amazing Because at theend of the day, listeners, we
won't know inside your mind andheart.
So, at the end of the day, yougot to be having the honest, the
honesty right, like you got tohave the integrity to, like you
said, not take advantage of itbut also be real.
(44:38):
But no one's going to end thisday in age because it's such a
serious topic and serious thing.
Everybody's going to take youseriously, so don't abuse it.
And, like you said and I thinkthat's in a beautiful way to put
it, and I just am all aboutjust trying to grow and learn
and understand differentmindsets and things like that.
(44:59):
And that was an amazing dudeway to put it.
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
Thank you, man.
How you do one thing is how youdo everything 100%, 100%.
Speaker 1 (45:11):
Let's transition here a little bit into athlete
specifically.
Right, you being an athlete andactually I want to say this
real quick, I was with you onthat one I had in my family.
The girls and women in myfamily had anxiety and
depression pretty heavily and Inever really had it.
(45:35):
And when I went into COVID andI went to Ohio and that type of
stuff, I inadvertently kind oflike isolated myself because I
was still focused on my careerand other things like that and I
started to experience thingsthat I necessarily I'm going to
(45:59):
be so honest Like you did I wasone of those people like because
probably the way I was raisedit's like, oh, you're just not
grinding it out, but when youreally experience that first
hand, your mindset changes inyour appreciation level and that
type of stuff, I think, changesright when you really
(46:23):
experience it first hand.
Speaker 2 (46:24):
No, I agree, and you truly and I use the quote all
the time you don't know what.
You don't know.
Truthfully, you have no ideauntil it hits you.
And in your situation, it waseither megadjustments or I'm
(46:45):
going to fall victim to this.
And for listeners out there that, like maybe Dan, today we can
impact someone that eitherhasn't gone through this yet or
is just starting to get throughthis, it's not a weakness, it's
a superpower.
I promise you that when you getthrough the storm, your
(47:07):
gratitude level, yourunderstanding for people's
feelings and your overall valueand your life in general is
going to change.
Amen to that.
So, dan, I can see it in yourlife because you were a guy that
people relied on for the lastcouple of years, since I've
known you in a lot of differentspaces.
(47:28):
So all of a sudden, you're notthe guy right now.
When you get to the other sideof that man, they're going to
look at you like a completelydifferent human being and a hero
.
I'm trying to use the point nowin our space where we're trying
to build a survival guy forpeople that are going through
this.
Speaker 1 (47:47):
That's real.
That's real.
I appreciate you realizing thatthat's a big, big thing.
And well, I asked a couple ofthings I want to talk about.
I know you got to get thoseprecious pieces clean.
Speaker 2 (47:59):
You know it, baby, you know it.
I put my phone in the charger,go ahead.
Speaker 1 (48:02):
For sure.
So last thing, one of the lasttwo things I'd love to touch up
on here Like, let's talk aboutathletes, specifically in the
mental health space a little bitmore.
Just talking about waterways,maybe coaches can implement,
maybe checkups or water, maybein your own life if you'd like
to share, if that's when youstarted, I don't know but just
(48:25):
talking about the athlete sideof the mental health, water,
maybe some reasons kids spiraland things like that.
Speaker 2 (48:32):
Yeah.
So I think some things thatcoaches can do and do it for us,
because we're not in thecollege coaching world anymore
and we would make changes.
Dan, I'm not going to speak foryou, but we would make some
changes on this front, Iguarantee so the coaches are
still doing this.
When you have your study halls,when you have time with your
(48:55):
position, guys, when you havedowntime in the day, circle up
your boys, circle up your girlsand talk to them about something
other than the sport.
Amen.
You don't have to say, dan,this is our mental health talk,
because then kids get reallylike, oh, I don't have mental
(49:15):
health.
Ok, kids are kids.
Coaches, open up dialogue andsay, tell me one good thing
about your week, and if you havea person in that group that's
going, come back to me or Idon't have anything.
I don't want to do this.
I found some people that youprobably should put more
(49:38):
attention to, start there,players, and then for the
players side, we have so muchavailable.
Use the tools.
If you need any of those tools,reach out to myself, reach out
to Dan, reach out to the podcast.
I'd love to have any athlete,any professional on and give you
(50:00):
those tools and talk this over.
I did it wrong for 25 years andI'll continue to make mistakes,
but don't let other peoplebecome victim to it.
I'm trying to double down now,dude that's powerful stuff and
it's simple.
Speaker 1 (50:15):
I think it's often.
For me it is Because, like yousaid, it's just a simple
conversation, bringing the guystogether.
You're not having to changeyour practice plan, you're not
having to change your week.
It's nothing, it's littlethings you can implement that
you won't even realize you'redoing to just make an impact on
somebody.
And I think, dude, that isamazing and so true.
(50:39):
And I want to give a shout outto somebody that I think does a
great job of this and he's aprivate sector guide.
Joey Kuna is actually someoneI'm about to go record a podcast
with today later on his podcastthe Farm System.
Tune into that everybody in thefuture.
The Farm System is a greatpodcast.
(51:00):
Talks a little bit about faith,baseball hitting, all that
great hitting guy, but he's gota gratitude ball at his place.
Speaker 2 (51:08):
Hey, dan, sorry I lost you there for a second.
You got me, yeah.
What I was going to say wasit's simple, but it's not easy.
It's not.
And if I could go back and Ithink you do the same we do some
of this stuff differently.
So, people that are inpositions of power right now,
(51:31):
let's dominate the nextgeneration of this, because it's
gone out.
Dude, that's real.
Speaker 1 (51:35):
That's so powerful and so true.
And I was just saying that.
I wanted to give a shout out tomy buddy, joey Kuna, and he's a
hitting guy in a private sector, but I think he does a great
job of this.
You go to a hitting facility.
He's got a gratitude wall, he'sgot a mental health wall and
it's amazing, like when he talksabout like he's gotten people
(51:57):
inadvertently to becomefollowers of Jesus because of it
.
He's gotten people.
So he's got his assistant,taylor.
She's amazing and she's amental health guru as well,
really big advocate andeverything like that.
But he's not shoving it downpeople's throats.
It's little actions he's takenevery day with his athletes that
come in there.
That you know.
I remember talking to him.
(52:18):
He said that first he said,guys, the gals, they would just
say, oh, I'm thankful for waterand then I'm thankful for this,
but after two years they'reputting like real paragraphs in
there and because it reallychanged their mindset and be
like what am I reallyappreciative of, or what am I
really struggling with, or thosetypes of things, and that is
real.
And that's someone who has agreat platform but is still
(52:41):
choosing to do some amazingthings that aren't baseball
related necessarily, and Iwanted to give a shout out to
him and the Farm System podcast.
I'm going to record a podcastwith him later today, which is
going to be awesome, but he justis one of the first people that
came to my mind, because I knowhe's actively doing that on a
private level and it's such animportant thing that I think a
(53:03):
lot of more people shouldembrace.
Speaker 2 (53:05):
We should find that we need to win more
relationships and games.
Speaker 1 (53:12):
Absolutely, and that's that's so.
Facts.
I mean, I, one of the thingsGod told me through my season is
, you got to go from winninggames to winning souls.
But that's that's what it, youknow, came down to, and I talked
to this a little bit in ourfirst episode.
I'm with my buddy, land andhe's.
We talked about this, we agreedon this.
If you're in sports, you'recompetitive.
(53:33):
99% of us, we want to win.
We're not signing up to lose.
So it's like that comes with agiven in being involved in
sports.
Now it's okay to shift yourfocus on other things that are
equally or, if not more,important.
And At the end of the day Iused this example because one of
my coaching buddies said thisto me Think about it like this
you could go 56 and 8, make itall day, the world series losing
(53:56):
its finals.
And what are you?
You're a loser.
You're a loser dog.
It's like to everybody lookingaround you you got a great
season.
Do you win the world series?
No, well, that's thanks.
And so it's like what are theways?
Can you measure success?
What are the ways Can you helpout people?
Because that's what the man andthey, that's what they're gonna
remember there they willremember a championship, but
(54:16):
will they remember that?
They're gonna remember thatconversation that might
positively impact them for therest of their life, or
Negatively?
I think we don't take thatenough to reel up to the heart.
Speaker 2 (54:26):
I'll say this and and I'll let you cap us off, dan I
use the quote on other podcasts.
I, when I am done on this earth, when it's my time and I have a
funeral, I hope there's threedifferent people there, I hope
there's family, I Hope there'sfriends and I hope there's
(54:48):
people that know nobody therethat I never thought of a
million years.
We've been impacted by my life.
Mmm, if that happens now, I'mGod willing it will.
I left my mark on this earthand and that's the I built souls
and relationships and I valuepeople and that's what I'd
strive to do.
Speaker 1 (55:07):
That's.
That's important now.
Last thing for our campus uphere.
We talked about this a littlebit, but will you mind doing a
short little testimony of whereyou're at in your faith or how
you got to where you are?
If there's a shorter version,it's probably not it for you.
Speaker 2 (55:21):
So my testimony of my faith has been a long journey.
I Went to Catholic schools akid.
By the time I got into highschool I was Bible-thumped out
of it.
I Go to a college in Jukko.
I go to a college at Rockfordthat might have had resources by
disregarded Went on the nextcouple years.
(55:43):
I'm wearing a cross with no,with no meaning I'm.
I'm sitting there wearing across that I look back at I'm
like wow, I'm just depictingnothing.
I'm just going through themotions Over the last two years
or so, with a lot of help frommentors and friends and family
and my girlfriend Ashton, who ITruly wouldn't be here without
(56:06):
her.
She's my entire world, she's myrock.
My faith got stronger when Istarted to put in the work into
it.
Mmm, I was disregarding all thetools that we've mentioned.
I wasn't doing the devotionals,I wasn't wearing my cross,
which is under here with pride.
I Wasn't doing the Bible studywork.
(56:28):
I wasn't.
I wasn't doing things the rightway and domino affecting my
life.
So when I changed with my faith, everything changed.
Speaker 1 (56:36):
Yeah, that's, that's deep.
I think you know I put a littlevideo out yesterday about the
two things you control in lifeas your effort and attitude
right, how are you trying andhow you respond to things?
And I think that ties into thisbecause you mentioned when you
put effort into it, you startedto reap the benefits.
You started to see God activelymove, and I think sometimes we
(56:56):
think that God's not moving, butwe have to seek after him to
see what he's doing in our lives, because often we'll be like,
oh, that was coincidence, orthat was this, that was this
you're, you're starting to putother labels on what God's
moving because you're notSeeking him.
And so I think that is powerfulmessage, man, and it's a faith
(57:18):
journey.
It's not a faith one way, it'sa faith, a journey right.
And so I think that's a reallyimportant for our listeners to
remember, guys, that don't behard on yourself, grow, take
baby steps every day, ask God tochange the desires of your
heart and he will reveal himselfto you and he will show you the
ways to follow him and Tofigure this thing out, this
(57:39):
thing called life.
And thank you, for we're cappingus off with that amazing
testimony man, god is so goodand, but you know, I think
another amazing part of thistestimony with both of us is
bringing people like us together, right like we, having
fellowship and having peoplethat have similar interests and
similar passions and havesimilar you know we.
(58:01):
You know Things we're trying toachieve and the impacts we're
trying to have on like lives.
That's really, you know, ourbiggest thing is what I love
being around you, man, cuz it'slike I see so much of myself in
you and and that type of stuff.
Speaker 2 (58:16):
Yeah, this is been an amazing hour, man.
We could talk literally for thenext five Sentis.
Okay, this platform is changinglives.
Speaker 1 (58:26):
I.
Speaker 2 (58:28):
Been touched by this day.
We're gonna leave thisconversation as different people
today.
So, I want to say thank you foreverything that you're doing
and everything you've done sofar, and I just want to give you
your flowers, man, because I'lltell you this the second that
you pick up your cross, man, andkeep it moving, the second your
life changes, man.
It can happen in a day.
Just just continue to put theworking.
Speaker 1 (58:49):
Absolutely Well.
I cap this off always with aprayer.
If you wouldn't mind, let's do aquick prayer to close us out
here and and, yeah, let's gofrom there.
You're heavenly father.
I want to bring us all togetherto you, gordon.
I don't know where people aregonna be at when they're
listening to this God, but Ijust want you to bring them with
the overwhelmed sense of peace,hope, and that there are
(59:09):
resources for mental health andDifferent things out there.
God, and I'm just so thankfulfor my relationship with Pat and
the impact that he's making onlives, god, and and that we're
just so thankful to call you ourfather and that we're able to,
you know, bring people to you,jesus, and you're just that's so
amazing and allowing us to beable to record this video, an
(59:30):
episode, god, and we're just sothankful for today, and I want
to ask you to just watch overPat and and the things that he's
going through.
Lord, and to anybody that'sstruggling with mental health,
god, I just want you to bringthat there's people out there
that can, you know, help themwith these things, and that
you're there with them and thatyou love them where they're at
and it's just season of the wiseand it's gonna get better and
(59:51):
there's resources out there tohelp them, lord, and I ask this
all in Jesus only name.
I pray amen.
Speaker 2 (59:57):
Amen that.
Dan, you're an absoluteblessing, brother.
I love you like a brother.
Speaker 1 (01:00:01):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 2 (01:00:02):
I got you, no matter what hey, sounds good, talk soon
.
Welcome back to another episode of catching up
with Christians.
I'm your host, Coach McCarty,alongside my boy, Pat O'Malley.
How's it going, Pat, Coach?
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I'm hanging man, how are you doing Coach?
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Dude.
I'm glad you're here, man.
It's a beautiful morning.
So if you want to mind tellingthe people who you are and how
you got into where you are, yeah, man.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Well, first and foremost, thanks for having me
have my own podcast.
It's always different being onthe other side of it.
So, it's fun, I like getting outof my comfort zone, I like to
talk to good people.
So first and foremost, thankyou to you.
Like Dan mentioned, I'm PatO'Malley.
I'm a former college player,former college coach.
I now have a mental healthnonprofit to keep going podcast
(00:40):
and I've been with NCSA Collegerecruiting the last five years,
so really involved in not onlythe mental health field, not
only in the game of baseball,but I know who I do it for and
that's my Lord Savor.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Amen to that.
That's powerful stuff rightthere.
So let's kind of talk a littlebit about you know, we've known
of each other for a long timebut really connected over the
last couple of ABCA conventions,just kind of, from my
perspective, went up to thebooth at NCSA and was like, hey,
man, what's up?
We just kind of hit it off fromthere.
(01:15):
I just wanted to hear maybeyour perspective on kind of our
first interactions and thosesorts of things.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, I think for first time listeners which I
love, this platform, obviouslyI've told you that's why we're
here.
Dan, you are just a sunshineman, like when you come into my
view, you know in person, evenon camera this morning, my mood
just instantly changes.
So you're one of those guysthat has that effect on people.
So when you asked me let's goFriday morning and 11, we were
(01:42):
supposed to shoot a little bitlater Absolutely, I'll drop
everything to work with you, dan.
So our first interaction, man,you had this ray of sunshine,
you had the energy of thepositivity which I crave, man.
So thank you for thatrefreshing interaction and just
what you've met to the game ofbaseball and the players and
coaches across the nation.
Man, it's flattering to be hereand you should be proud of what
you've done so far.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
I really appreciate that and I wanted to touch upon
this too, and I want thelisteners to really understand
this.
One thing I admire about Pat isand he we're a lot alike in
this similarity have youlistened to everything he's got
going?
It's servant ship, like he'sgiving out to others.
Like with the podcast, withNCSA, it's giving.
It's not to make his brandbigger, to make himself bigger,
(02:27):
like he is truly that servantleader and I think that's really
powerful.
With NCSA, their whole goal isto help kids get recruited.
With the podcast, it's tospread mental health awareness
and let people know they're notalone in the ups and downs of
life.
So it's like I resonate so muchwith that too, because a lot of
(02:47):
the things I'm trying to do isreally just try to make an
impact on people and if that'swhat we can do on this platform
and these other platforms, I'mdoing like that's what I really
love about the content you'reputting out there and the work
that you do from coaching, fromcoaching now at NCSA and with
the podcast and everything.
So keep doing what you're doing, man.
That's some really powerfulstuff and you're changing lives
(03:09):
one day at a time.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
No, I appreciate that man and what I'll say is you
are doing the same thing and Ilearned a lot from you.
From afar, right, like for along time I didn't really know
kind of what I was doing, right,you kind of go into cruise
control, but when you realizethere's a higher power involved,
you really start to find thatservant leadership and I
wholeheartedly believe I've gotto go until I can't go anymore,
(03:32):
because I know why I'm here.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
That's powerful right there, man.
That's good.
That's good stuff.
So let's talk a little bitabout your journey with.
Let's start about baseballspecifically.
You're just kind of like youplayed growing up, I'm assuming
played some college ball, thenyou went into the coaching and
then now with the NTSA side.
So how did that evolve?
Well, you know how did that go.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
I think it was the little boy with a dream man.
I looked back at it and I havethis mom.
My mom has been an absoluterock for me.
When I came up, I playedbaseball, basketball, football,
soccer.
I played all these sports and,dan, unfortunately, man, I never
grew.
I'm 5'9.
Reach week, reach week, baby,reach week.
I'm 5'9.
(04:17):
So when I wanted to playbasketball, that wasn't going to
happen I tried to play football.
My brother was 6'0, actuallywas the starting quarterback
over me when I was a senior, myyounger brother.
And then when I got intobaseball I'm like wow, it's my
last spring, this is my lastchance to play a sport in
college and I kind of ran withit.
So long-winded answer.
But just trial and error andbeing with good people trying
(04:40):
different things, that's how Igot to where I am in the game.
The people is what do it?
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Absolutely, absolutely, and I think you
agree on this part.
It's like the amount you canlearn and the impact you can
have in sports in general.
But let's talk baseballspecifically.
Like a lot of it, with thefailures and being able to deal
with the failures and the upsand downs that it creates, and I
(05:04):
think it really resembles a lotof what life is about and why I
love baseball so much.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
It ties in man.
Baseball and life are the same.
You're going to have ups anddowns, trials and shambulations.
You're going to have big upsand everything in between.
I think this game is reallytied into how life works.
I think it's built me into theman I am today and the one
that's still trying to grow.
I'm not even close to afinished product yet.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Absolutely, and that's a powerful statement
there, right, Like knowing thatyou still want to grow as a
person, Like I've always toldmyself and I've tried to
surround myself with people thatare like lifelong learners and
lifelong people that want togrow and better their selves
every day.
Because I think as soon as youbecome complacent and this is to
anybody that's listening assoon as you become like I got it
(05:50):
figured out like one thing'sgoing to probably come your way
and throw you off track and then, if that doesn't happen, you're
going to plateau.
And so I think just to keep areminder on growing in the areas
in life that you take, areasthat you want to grow, is really
important.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
No, I agree.
I think I journal every day andI write down.
This was growth and thencontinued growth.
It used to be for a long time.
What did I do well and what didI do really crappy?
But if you look at it from agrowth mindset, I'm going to
grow here.
Look at what I did today.
But how can I continue to grow?
Man, we got seasons.
Every season of life isdifferent.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Absolutely, absolutely.
That's an important part, right, like seasons, right.
I think that we need to hit onthat for a second to our
listeners, because it's not alifetime, it's not a life
sentence, it's a season and it'sa chapter in your life.
So I think, regardless of it'san up or down, to remember that
God is in it and God willintervene in that moment and
(06:50):
through these situations, and itcan be tough, but we know, with
God, that anything is possible.
And just a reminder that it isjust a season in your life and a
chapter, and yeah, amen, amen.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
I think God is not.
He's not putting us inpositions where he hasn't been
successful before.
We have all the tools, listenand put them to action with him
as a guy.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Absolutely that, 100% .
So now you, so you're a playerand you got into coaching a
little bit.
What was your?
You know what made you wannaget into coaching?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yeah, man, it's, I don't know.
I think the best quote I couldthink of is the guys that can't
play coach.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
And.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
I'm gonna be real, dan.
I was a good high school player, like I was a really good high
school player.
I thought I was one of the bestplayers in the air.
In my opinion and I look backat it, I was not a great college
player for a variety ofdifferent reasons, like you know
.
I knew I had the IQ at thatpoint for the game, but I knew I
was meant to do somethingdifferent besides play the game
(07:52):
at the next level.
It was a blessing.
So when I got into coaching at22 at Rock Valley College you
know Chad Herron shouted mycolleges.
He hired me right out ofcollege and I thought it was a
great way to stay in the gameand really see what I could do
and learn.
So college coaching it came outof nowhere.
It really did Right.
When I got done playing I wentfrom Rockford right to Rock
(08:13):
Valley and helped do my thingover there.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
That's incredible.
And then one thing I wannamention too.
You mentioned people who can'tplay, you know, tend to become
coaches and things, and I thinkthere's something to that and I
have a theory and I don't knowwhat your thoughts are.
I think it's because, in myopinion and I'm not dismissing
any coaches, I think all coachesare great but it's a lot easier
to teach, like the Aaron judgesof the world, like six, seven
(08:38):
and absolute freaks of athletes,to hit and be really good
players.
I'm not saying it doesn'trequire coaching, but the people
that are able to get thissimilar type of success or
outcomes to a kid that's five,four, or a guy that's not at
that like, at that you know,level, and I think that's where
coaches right can come in, theones that are really impactful
(09:01):
and have, you know, thatexperience, are able to take the
people that are maybe a littleless physically talented and can
break it down to where they canapply it to allowing them to
get better and grow, becausethat's my biggest thing.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
No, I agree, it's not cookie cutter man.
You got to go in there and one.
You have to make the athletebelieve in him or herself.
Yep, and I missed that when Iwas younger.
I thought it was about the X'sand O's, the physical specimen,
the physical stuff.
We didn't put enough emphasison making them believe in
themselves, the confidence, themental side, the mental
(09:36):
toughness, the mental healthissues.
I, truthfully, was not.
I was not aware.
I was too young, I didn't haveenough education on it.
So I love what you said.
There's guys that get out ofbed man hit bombs.
There's guys that get out ofbed and throw hard.
Yep, it's the in-between guysthat need to show development in
their everyday life and that'swhere coaches come in, big man.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Exactly exactly.
And I think there's differentlevels of coaches right that
like I've seen some amazingcoaches that like really dive in
with the youth game and likethey are able to break it down
so much better than I can and beable to allow that, you know,
eight, nine year old to grow,and it's like that's impressive
to see at that young age andthat coach being able to break
(10:16):
down maybe a more complicatedmechanic to someone younger at a
different, you know, phase oflife, and so I think that's
really powerful what youmentioned there, you know.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
And I want to talk about you.
Know you?
This is I know this is realquick before we get into the
mental health I want to talk alittle bit about NCSA and kind
of your passion behind that, howyou got involved and really
just kind of your visions ofbeing a part of that company.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Yeah, the whole thing is, by the grace of God, right.
I always laugh how I got intothat NCSA?
I was 22,.
I was coming off my firstseason at Rock Valley and I'll
be honest, I'll be verytransparent, dan.
I stumbled into a bar inChicago I'll never forget it and
I ran into a college teammate,josh Paparone, who I'm a player,
(11:07):
by the way.
Papi was a great outfield orgreat player on that team and
Oakton that I played with.
Josh looked at me and we had acouple of beers and he said
here's my business card, here'smy information.
I think you can be great here.
And I said, okay, you're right.
Like what did you say?
I've never had a quote, unquote, real job.
At that point I got the NCSA,never looked back.
(11:30):
I've been here for over fiveyears.
So it's just like God is sofunny, Like he'll just map
things out for you and not onlythat, but the baseball world
once again just has played sucha huge role in my life.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Absolutely, absolutely, and I think you also
have taken a great time to justfrom personal experience with
interaction with you, you're notthe guy that seems to burn
bridges and you're a guy thatwelcomes people up with open
arms.
You're a guy that I think that'ssomething that's often
overlooked.
Interactions and firstinteractions are really
important, right, because youmade an impact on that.
(12:06):
Yeah, you knew him prior, but,like even at the end of the day,
for him to be like, hey, youcould be a good fit, you had to
put something more out therethan just a typical interaction,
right, to be able to show thatyou could be a good fit For, I
think, the listeners.
It's valuable to remember thatthe way you carry yourself and
the way you have interactions,and the way you never know who
(12:29):
that person is going to be lateron down the road and where
they're in charge, and thosetypes of things that we just got
to be really careful and treateverybody the way you want to be
treated.
I think that's a silly thing,you know, I hear all the time,
but it's true, you know, andbecause you never know where
they'll be eventually, you knowthat's it, man.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
I wholeheartedly believe that love is the
strongest thing that we do.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
And if you have teammates this is for the
athletes listening or even theeveryday nine to five people.
Like we say in our pod, love isthe strongest thing we do how
we treat people.
You never know when thatco-worker is in a follow up with
you, when you a teammate three,four years, five years later is
going to go.
Pat, I always loved how you didthis.
(13:16):
Can you come do this to me?
There's power in that man, sotreating people, even when you
feel like you're getting cheated, you're not getting loved on
enough.
Kill them with kindness, man.
Do the best you can Kill themwith kindness.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
And you never know when you are at a point in your
life where you can use that.
Pick me up.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Yeah, same thing.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Yep, and until putting that out, it's going to
come back in, and I think that'swhat we're called to do as
Christians as well.
Right, like you want to be aresemblance of Jesus, and Jesus
hung out with all types ofpeople and we're around other
people, and he wasn't condemningof them Right, he did not.
He just loved them wherethey're at and prayed for them,
(13:58):
and I think that's an importantthing.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
No, it's strong and that tie in with our faith.
Right, like that's it, man,people are going to throw rocks
and threaten people that they'rethreatened by, and that's
usually insecurities that stemin them.
So the best thing that we cando is really go at every
situation with an open heart andnot know we don't know what
people are going through it andunderstand that as we go on,
(14:21):
100%.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
So let's dive into what my perspective is.
One of your biggest passions,if not your biggest passion, and
your bread and butter.
Right, so you talk about.
You got an amazing podcast.
Keep going podcast.
You know, I've tuned in for awhile, thank you, love, love the
episodes.
And I think it's a unique niche.
And the way why I say that isbecause, yeah, it's a mental
(14:47):
health podcast but it'sdefinitely tailored more to the
athletes in the.
You know the sporting communityand you touched upon this a
little bit earlier out it is aunderserved community.
Athletes and mental health.
I mean, I know from my personalexperience of seeing my siblings
grow up play sports, me beingaround sports all the time and
being around different coachesand different coaching styles,
(15:09):
philosophies.
You know, not picking on the oldschool listeners, but some of
the more old school list.
You know guys that I've coachedwith and people that I've seen
it's, it's, hey, you got togrind this out, hey, you can't
be soft, you got to, you know,and that's not the answer.
We've clearly seen wherethere's times where it can be
the answer, for sure, but wehave definitely seen the
(15:32):
negative impact on some of thosethings and on the mental health
side of it and I'm nowhere nearan expert.
I try to you know, like we'vetalked about already, but love
people where they're at and younever know what people are going
through.
You know emotionally andmentally and those such a thing,
so I just try to be that lightfor people.
(15:52):
But I just kind of want to talkabout you know how you got into
you know the mental healthspace, maybe the mental health
space what kind of one you needto start the podcast and that's
episode.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Yeah, I.
It's been a wild ride over thelast year.
Um, when we started the podcast, I stayed all the time on there
.
I never thought anyone wouldlisten.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
I'm going to be very transparent.
I thought if we could affectone person, I thought if we, if
we dropped one episode, I waslike maybe we can get to one
person, maybe we could save alife this year and maybe we
could be that light for somebodyelse.
When we got started me and myco-host, luke wheat, and now
we've added Jackie Tripp, who'sbeen amazing too.
(16:37):
It had Rich.
You're going to help us out too.
We've had a lot of great peoplein our corner, but when we
started, it truly was the impactone life and from an athlete
and a former coach that did not.
I did not live up to my end ofthe bargain in the mental health
stuff, in the mental training,in the mental performance,
because I was young, I was naive, I was uneducated.
(16:58):
I'm not making that excuseanymore, like we're making up
for lost time and I want thisgeneration and generations to
come to have our podcast andhave us as lifelines, because
you just never know that and II've been personally affected
and you know my co-host is myco-host now have been, and
(17:21):
several guys.
It's just I.
I want to make up for lost timeand this is a big thing I'm
passionate about.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, that's incredible and you know I want
to talk about.
You know, if there's coachesout here listening, what are?
Or maybe even just a leader,maybe a boss or things like that
, maybe what are some thingsmaybe they can implement in
their workspace or the team tobe able to prioritize mental
(17:49):
health or, you know, to check ontheir people and that type of
stuff.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Yeah, I'll be honest.
Did I say this a lot of ourepisodes?
Authenticity doesn't whisper atscreams.
When you have the opportunityto get to know somebody, when
you have the opportunity tobuild a relationship, take
advantage of it.
I've come to realize that thoserelationships create
professional opportunities andsuccess in the business world.
(18:15):
If you love on someone and youcare about them enough to talk
about things other than just howare your numbers this month?
Yep, amen, you, you just, itstarts to open this line of
communication, this level oftrust that when you go to war
and you need something big andyou need it quickly, that person
(18:35):
that you've bought in on itbecause you know that you're
going to give the same to them.
That relates to the established.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
That's true, that's that, and, first off, is that a
clothing line?
Because that needs to beclipped.
Thank, you.
That's a beggar dude that ispowerful, and I talked about
this a little bit on our firstepisode with a good buddy of
mine landed and he was awesome,by the way, he was awesome by
the way, he's incredible Goodbuddy of mine and he he had.
(19:01):
You know we talked a little bitabout how, how it's important to
talk about, like you said,instead of the numbers.
Or if you're in the businessworld, like how your sales quota
, or in baseball, how's thefastball look in the day, like
instead of you know all that'simportant but it's a given when
you're an employee, you knowthose are your expectations.
When you're an athlete, in yourpicture, you know these things
(19:24):
are, you know what you'refocused on anyway.
But you know we talked about ifyou can have a conversation, a
general conversation that'sauthentic, about life, the
amount and just whatever the kidwants to talk about or the
employee wants to talk about,the amount that you gain trust
in the relationship that yougain with that person is life
(19:48):
changing, is unbelievable Lifechanging.
I've lost track how many times Ihad guys from like college go
wait, you're talking to me aboutlike just random stuff.
Today I'm like, yeah, do you?
Like I already know what I'mgoing to get from you off the
mound dog?
Like I've been seeing you forthree months now, like I know
what to expect.
But how's the family?
How's?
You know your girlfriend,everything's ups and downs.
You doing all right.
(20:08):
You've been struggling in aslump Like how are you feeling?
And quickly you have guys beinglike man, he really cares about
me.
It's not a transactionalrelationship.
I think we're so caught up intransactional relationships in
this generation.
They say, okay, what can you dofor me in return for you know
something I can help you with.
So authentic is important.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
I agree, man it's.
Everybody asks how you're doing, but nobody ever asked how you,
how you feel and how are youhappy?
Are you happy, Right, Are you?
Are you at that point where youfeel good today, Like a quick
how are you?
It's great, in passing, right,but like if you got time, man,
man, this is the message I'mtrying to portray.
(20:52):
If you have time to makesomeone's day, go do it.
In my mind, I would look backat my pictures my first year at
22.
I'm coaching guys 2021.
I go to the mound and I, Dan,I've seen you, you, you got
famous mountain visits, man,I've never seen more eye contact
at a mountain visit from you,coach, and I wish I would have
(21:13):
seen that before you know,before I, you know, ended up not
coaching anymore.
The point I'm getting at withthe mountain visit stuff is like
hey Aaron, hey Danny.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Hey, your boys got you.
I believe in you.
Yeah, you've put the work in,go get it.
And that's in that faith andthat confidence and that
brotherhood, like those arethings that go outside of the
game.
It's X's and O's are great, butthat belief and that confidence
in yourself and your others isbig.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Absolutely.
And like two things I talkabout like for me, if you guys
want the secret sauce and moundvisits it's I would always go up
there and crack a joke.
I would take it totally off,totally off the game.
I'd say something you knowgoofy, stupid dad joke.
It wasn't even nothing crazy,it was just something silly.
And and I said look, man, youwant to be on the bump of we
(22:05):
didn't believe in you.
You want to be the.
This team wouldn't be behindyou if they didn't believe in
you.
Right, like, we trust you, webelieve we got faith in you.
And hey, you know, give yourbest effort.
And you know what.
Let's just compete here.
That's all we're asking and andhaving that conversation.
But you know that wording isway different than being like
(22:26):
what's wrong, johnny?
Like, why are you pissing thebed here?
Like we, we got the champ musicon the line or whatever that
looks like right a shift ofwords and meaning behind that
can really change the kid's lifein a way.
And I think that's a really,really important aspect to
(22:47):
coaching and interactions withothers Because, like I've said
again, guys, we got to driftaway from transactional
relationships in society.
We have to get past the likeyou said how are you is powerful
, or how are you doing, but like, are you happy?
How are you really?
Like, are you going to takethat extra step to really figure
(23:08):
out how they're doing?
Because people will give yousomething, that face value, but
that doesn't mean that's reallywhat's going on.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Right, right.
I think a value in a man'srelationships is so much more
valuable than the value of money, possessions and things like
that.
Absolutely, you know.
I really feel that way and Ithink, with my coworkers now and
people I've come across with,I'm just trying to dig deeper
and do it authentically, becauseeveryone gets and I do it too
(23:36):
everyone gets in those habits ofjust checking boxes and 2024,
man.
I want to really start to poundthose boxes in and continue to
feed and continue to go andcontinue to serve, because I
keep mentioning that thatservant leadership is so key in
my life.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Absolutely, and it's so apparent, man, and keep going
and we know you're going toreach those goals in 24.
And to anybody listening rightand you have a friend or you
know of someone, let them knowyou're there for them.
I think that's something huge,and I don't say this to Tupelo
Horn and all, but I'll just giveyou guys an example of my own
off-topic rant.
But that sometimes happens inpodcasts, Heck yeah, baby let's
(24:15):
go Basically, man, I had a kidin middle of school I was
friends with and he came over acouple of times growing up and I
didn't really know his own lifetoo well, I just knew him from
school.
He came over, turned out hewould.
Every time he came over hewould steal stuff.
And I just didn't realize thathe would steal and I was like,
(24:37):
hey, I have to distance myselffrom you, but you know what.
You have my number.
If there's ever a point in timeyou're really struggling, I'm
here for you.
I don't care about the thingsyou took, I don't care about the
money.
That was your dishonest.
I know there's something biggerat play here and I'm going to
take my own pride and ego out ofthis and do what Jesus would
want me to do here and be therefor you.
(24:58):
And I can't tell you it's not agood thing.
Necessarily.
That means there's a lot ofpeople struggling, but that's OK
.
Where I've taken phone calls toreally be there for someone and
I think that right there,regardless of what they've done
to you, if they burned you or ifthey've whatever, is such an
important value, because noone's life is worth a couple
(25:19):
hundred dollars that they mayhave took from you or an
experience they could have tookfrom you, like, be that extra
person, be willing to get burnedto save a life or to help
someone through a reallydifficult season, because,
although in your mind that itmay not be a super big thing
that they're going through,everybody's got a different
threshold, like for me.
(25:40):
People always say, oh, how areyou able to experience all this
pain?
It's like, well, that's all Iknow.
That's all I know is physicalpain.
So my threshold is a littledifferent.
I know people who have papercuts and it's like they're
having me breaking a bone.
I don't judge them, but theyhave different thresholds and
I'm still there for that personand supporting them where
they're at.
So that's really important.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
No, dan, that's an amazing story about who you are,
because we talked about itearlier.
Some people just don't have anyfeel man at this point in their
life.
Absolutely.
It doesn't mean that they won'tget there, and you also, once
again, have no idea what yourbody was going through.
Maybe he didn't have that athome and was trying to get it.
(26:22):
Yes, I always go back to thecookie story.
Have you ever heard the cookiestory of two men in an airport?
No, I got to know this one.
This is one of my personalfavorites.
He just brought it up and I'mgoing to kind of slam dunk it.
Yeah, you got two guys in anairport.
One guy sits down.
Another guy sits next to himwith a bag of cookies.
Guys, you know, grab him in acookie, puts a cookie in his
(26:44):
mouth, reads the paper, whatever.
A couple seconds later he looksover and the guy next to him is
eating his cookies out of thebag and the guy's like getting
pissed right, because you'venever been to an airport man.
Those cookies are probably $12,right, Like I don't know.
Right.
So like not only is this guytrying to mind his own business
being his own bubble, but eathis cookies and then go board
(27:04):
his flight.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Then this dude next to him is eating all of his
cookies, like literally eatingall his cookies.
He's not even getting a hand inanymore.
After everything, the two menget up, whatever.
Blah, blah, blah.
They walk to their flights,they go their separate ways.
The guy that was pissed offabout his bad cookies his bag is
sitting in his bag.
He never opened them.
(27:27):
The whole time he was eatingthe other guy's cookies and
didn't know.
Wow, that's powerful, becauseyou just don't know, right,
we're going to make mistakes.
You don't know.
That guy could have got pissedat him and he didn't.
He snapped there and was likeyou know what?
(27:47):
This guy could use some cookiestoday?
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Incredible man Dude that's an amazing story, dude.
But I did not know where thatwas going and I was like OK,
that is a lecture, dude, that isan amazing story.
But it's a great message it is.
It's like that person as muchas it's easy for us to get
frustrated.
They could have done the samething to us, right?
Because?
Speaker 2 (28:10):
we are flawed people.
We're humans.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
We all sin, we all fall short of the good, and so,
as much as it's easy to look atothers and be like what he's
doing, what they're doing, it'slike what are we doing, too?
We ain't perfect?
Speaker 2 (28:22):
No, not at all.
And I think, with our journeythrough Christ, with our
religion, with our faithbackground, we carry our cross
daily.
But, man, we stumble, we takesteps back, we let people down.
But if you keep and I alwayssay it if we keep going, we keep
that cross moving, we're notout of the fight yet.
(28:44):
There's a message, there's aspirit, there's someone that's
leading us where we need to go.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Absolutely, and that goes down to faith.
I remember my pastor said this.
I'm doing this stuff with mychurch right now, going back to
school to get my degree inministry.
It's been a great journey, butI just started.
I'm in this class right now.
It's called spiritual leadershipand one of the things we're
talking about is a littlelecture on like hurt, habits and
(29:11):
hangups, basically, and one ofthe things he was talking about
is a big topic is like church,and you'll see why I'm bringing
this up.
It's like people tend to forgetthat our church is still by
humans, and humans are flawed.
We've created the church LikeJesus when he was here, and the
church was important, but at theend of the day, look who is in
charge of the church?
It's humans, and no one knows.
(29:34):
Everyone knows.
No human's perfect and we areflawed.
And so I think sometimes we tryto put a expectation on someone
that they're above it or they'rehigher than something, but at
the end of the day, we're allbroken.
We're all struggling withdifferent things.
(29:55):
So I think it's reallyimportant to remember that.
Look, we're all at differentphases of our lives, we all have
things we're wrestling with andwe're all broken.
And so when we get hurt byothers, it's real quick for them
to not even them, but you don'tknow who you could have
possibly hurt and I don't meanto say that in like oh, you're a
terrible person.
I'm just saying it's good tokeep ourselves grounded because
(30:19):
you don't know where you're atand the actions that you might
have portrayed by accident.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
I think that's a beautiful point.
I really do, and that touchedme because we're at the point
now we're like, oh, in thechurch, there's issues in the
church, Dan.
There is, but there's issueseverywhere.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Your relationship with God is your relationship
with God.
At the end of the day, everyoneis trying to find their way.
Everyone is trying to get wherethey see success, where their
dream lies.
The second that we startvaluing our problems over other
people is a problem.
Everybody has their demons,their issues.
(31:02):
That's why we're sinners.
But everybody should be valuedand respected and understood to
the best of your ability.
That was so powerful, man,because I'm telling you, when
you realize that you're notbigger than anybody else and
you're here for a purpose, yourlife starts to change Absolutely
, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
And I think you have to really take a step back and
realize that too.
Just be like, ok, the things onearth aren't mine, it's God's
provided these things, and thatwe're just here living it, we're
the vessel for that.
And I think as soon as I wrapmy head around that, my shift in
and worries change, becauseit's like none of my material
(31:44):
things are mine, it's blessingsGod's provided.
And when you think of it likethat, then you're like wait a
minute.
You become way moreappreciative and you see how God
is moving in that moment andyou know you'll come through
again.
And so for me, being in a seasonright now of unknowns, with a
job and those types of thingsthat I'm going through with the
social media, it's like I'venever been happier in my own
(32:05):
life, like I'm in the most peaceI've ever been.
And people are like how youjust moved out and now you don't
have a job, you're startingsocial media Because I have so
much faith in God and he'stelling me you're at the will
that I have for your life,you're living it out.
It's just give me time, let itplay out Like you don't have any
clue.
There's people you guys don'thave any clue about having that
(32:29):
peace.
It is an overwhelming peace,even when things necessarily
aren't perfect.
Like I said, I just named a fewthings that I'm dealing with
right now, but I'm at the bestmental state I've ever been in,
because I feel like God has doneit before and we'll do it again
, and I'm doing what I feel ledto do, and so I have that
overwhelming sense of peace.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
You want to talk about clipping something?
You better clip that baby.
I'm fired up.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
I'm fired up.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
And here's why Because I wholeheartedly believe
that sometimes we're knockingon doors in the blessings in a
different neighborhood.
That's OK, and you know what?
That's awesome.
I'm going to keep knocking ondoors, trying different keys,
but once God hands me the keys,I'm in the neighborhood.
I'm ready to go.
I'm riding this thing with apromise, so that's it.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
Your blessing might not be in your neighborhood, but
that doesn't mean you're notgoing to stop knocking on doors,
absolutely, and that's a great,great way to put it, because
going from my journey right likegoing from coaching, travel,
all grown up, helping withlessons, doing all these things
then graduate high school, goingto college, and I'm thinking I
(33:37):
want to do this, whatever.
And being called to theministry right, that's where
I've been filled lead.
And I still love baseball, Istill love the game, but I feel
that there was something biggerat play there and I remember
when I was being like I don'tknow where to start, god was
just telling me to jump in.
Like God was like look, ifyou're going to do this thing,
(34:00):
you've got to have faith in me,from the bottom to the top and
beyond.
And it's like.
So I just dove in with noquestions asked.
And, yeah, it was tough, sure,but it's just really important
to remember that, like, all youneed is space to decide the
mustard seed right, things willgrow.
And I think it's just reallyimportant that you just continue
(34:22):
to try to put yourself in aposition to win and allow God to
do the rest, and allow to bepatient and allow God to
intervene and make a way whenthere seems to be no way, as
that song says.
But I think it's just animportant message for people to
listen to and to anybodylistening.
I just want to let you all knowthat there are better things
(34:42):
ahead that seek God and he willseek you, as he's already there
for you.
And when we seek Him, we tendto see the goodness that happens
in our everyday lives.
We don't take it for granted asmuch, right, we just, you see
the little things that sometimeswe often just are like, well,
(35:03):
it happens, it just your wholemindset shifts.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
We're here, like I keep bringing up to make an
impact, but like there's storms,man, there's gonna be storms.
Sometimes God's like just pickup a shovel, man.
Yeah, let's go, let's go.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
And that's you can hear the lesson right.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
You can hear it and not want to act on it, because
you're still beating down.
Keep carrying your cross, keeppicking up the shovel.
Man, we're going to write thestorm, with Him as our guide.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Amen, amen to that man, and that's some powerful
stuff.
Dude, this is so cool.
I love to hear your perspective.
I think you are so intelligentand have some really, really
fascinating perspectives.
In a great way, it's likebecause it's an underlook
community, I think, like withthe mental health stuff, and
(35:55):
it's continuing to grow andthings especially.
Let's just talk about athletesand males.
I know my own household love mydad to death, but he was
definitely a marine.
Okay, it was like let's grindthis thing out, like you're not
getting shot at, so like itain't that bad.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
And although that worked for me, I'm going to be
honest, it worked for me, but Iknow a lot of people that
wouldn't have worked for it, andso what I'm saying is like that
mental side of it is reallyimportant and it's something
that's really important for amale because we're not, we're
told to not cry, we're told tobe tough it out, we're told to
be these things, and then youknow we'll dive in that.
(36:42):
So what's your thoughts on themales right and mental health
and kind of you know that typeof stuff.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
I think that was a fantastic segue.
I just think that it's justviewed wrong because there's a
generational split and divide,like you just mentioned, with
your dad even being the Marines.
If your dad wasn't in theMarines, his dad and then his
dad before him taught them thatwhen you know what hit the fan,
(37:11):
rub some dirt on it and gettougher.
Yes, and this day and age, Ithink we can not only eliminate
that stigma, but we can put inhealthy habits.
Right, it's okay for guys to bevulnerable.
It's okay for guys to cry.
It's okay for guys to have somedays where they're not at 100%.
(37:35):
So, for our listeners right now, dan and thank you for giving
us this platform it's okay tohave those dark days.
Man, I was sitting and it'scrazy man, I'm sitting here in
Wrigley, where I started thisfaith journey again for the 90th
time, right, yeah, where Istarted my faith journey again.
I kind of flip flopped my life.
(37:56):
It started here in Chicago andI remember just when it all
switched.
It was okay.
I'm done putting on a front,I'm done trying to be the guy
for everybody else.
I have to be the guy for myself, and why?
So, to answer your question onthe mental health side for males
.
It's been depicted wrong.
We have to gain mentaltoughness, we have to get
(38:19):
treatment when needed and wehave to talk about our issues
because it's not just rub somedirt on it and rub off.
Speaker 1 (38:24):
Absolutely.
I have two things I want to say.
First thing, you said treatment.
Right, you used a story earlier.
I have a view that a lot of Iwant to say a lot.
I've heard times where churchesand people and I want to talk
about this in faith Facebookguys and I might get some
(38:44):
backlash from this, but Ibelieve this is something I
whole heart of believe.
I believe that God is possible,or Jesus and God can heal
people.
Right, god can make thingshappen.
But when you're struggling withanxiety and depression or
mental health, there isresources out there and I
(39:05):
believe God puts those resourceson the earth for us to be able
to access.
And I think sometimes peopleare like you just got to give it
to Jesus.
And when I say that it's like,yeah, I believe Jesus can do
that, but I also believe Jesusprovides resources, and what I
mean by that.
I don't know if you ever heardthis parable called two boats in
a helicopter, okay, and untilhe goes, this guy's drowning in
(39:27):
the water and this boat comesand says hey, man, you need help
.
He says no, I got Jesus.
Like God's got me, like I'mgood, he's drowning.
Another boat comes.
You know he's drowning, youknow guys say, hey, you, you
know you need help.
He's like no good, jesus isgoing to come save me.
Boom helicopter.
Same thing Dude ends up dying,gets to heaven.
He goes God, why didn't youhelp me?
(39:49):
He said I did.
He said I sent you two boats ina helicopter.
And I used that example for alot of things, because I am so
passionate about especially themental health space that you
need your faith and if you needmedication, that's okay.
If you need your faith and atherapist, that's okay.
God has provided those peoplewith those passions, with that
(40:11):
experience, to be able to helpyou where you're at.
And do I believe that God couldcure you right away from that?
Absolutely.
But do I believe that maybethere's other reasons?
Absolutely that he's not.
But there's resources that hehas put in people's hearts and
provided us with that we need toact on and we cannot be, I want
(40:32):
to say, ignorant, because Ihear it sometimes like you've
got to give it to Jesus and I'mlike, yes, that's important,
you've got to give your mentalhealth to Jesus.
But if you need medicine or youneed a therapist, god's giving
you that resource and we've gotto jump on that.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
I agree and I love that story, that parable,
because it's just a lot of timeswe're asking for God to do it,
we're asking for the answers,but we're not listening and
we're not appreciating thethings that are already with us,
and I think that's extremelypowerful.
I think going forward yes, giveit to God, let it marinate,
(41:11):
pray on it, talk about it, butwe have to go out there and
react and we have to once againpick up the shovel, carry our
cross.
We'll be rewarded for that.
We might not reap the benefitsof what we show that day For
sure.
It's an instant gratificationworld.
But we can choose to be thelong distance and putting in the
(41:31):
day-to-day effort.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
Absolutely and I love that and you really helped
finish that right.
Like Ali, you did a little bitthere Because I struggle wording
with it, because it can be atough topic to say, because I've
had people say to you so thatjust doesn't mean you doubt God
and you put limits on God.
Speaker 2 (41:48):
No, and I say no, not at all.
No, I actually make it morepowerful.
Speaker 1 (41:52):
I actually make it more appreciated.
Exactly, and I loved how youunderstood that and was able to
piggyback on that.
That was really powerful for meto listen to, because that's
something I tell a lot of peopleabout and that's one of the
avenues I feel I would like todo later on.
God bless all my heart.
It's like Christian counseling,because I feel like it's a.
I'd love to use biblicalprinciples along with the
(42:18):
medical side of it and that typeof stuff, because they need to
be blended.
It's not one way or another inmy opinion.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
I'm with you, I'm with you.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
That's awesome, so I want to dive into.
Maybe this is a tougherquestion, but I do believe
growing up, like I said, with mydad, it was a lot different
than a lot of people, I'massuming, but I also wouldn't
change it for anything Because Ilearned a lot.
(42:48):
So what is the blend of maybebeing soft but also being
attentive to your feelings andemotions?
Yeah, I think that's somethingthat we got to talk about.
Speaker 2 (42:59):
Yeah, I think in coaching and the professional
world there's a differencebetween mental health stuff and
not wanting to do what you'retold when things get tough.
There is, and there's, peopleout there that are fighting
battles I know nothing about.
Everybody has their demons.
But please do not use themental health side as a cop out,
(43:25):
as a sick day, as a don't, ifyou're not truly being affected
by it.
Please don't abuse it Becauseit's so serious Like I can't.
I'm telling you I was a guy for22 years that never experienced
any mental health issues.
I used to think it was not real.
I was one of those guys.
I was like this is fake, youdon't know, until you know.
(43:48):
When I got affected by it, Iwas like, oh my goodness, this
is what this is.
When my people started to getaffected by it, I understood I
could now help them.
So the point I'm trying to makeis, yes, we are ending the
stigma, we are getting mentalhealth out to the forefront, but
let's not use it as an excuseto not do what your boss wants
(44:10):
you to do or take the easy wayout and be lazy, because I think
there's a line.
There's a line there.
Speaker 1 (44:17):
Dude, that is real and that I think you hit the
nail on the head there.
I mean, that was.
That's amazing Because at theend of the day, listeners, we
won't know inside your mind andheart.
So, at the end of the day, yougot to be having the honest, the
honesty right, like you got tohave the integrity to, like you
said, not take advantage of itbut also be real.
(44:38):
But no one's going to end thisday in age because it's such a
serious topic and serious thing.
Everybody's going to take youseriously, so don't abuse it.
And, like you said and I thinkthat's in a beautiful way to put
it, and I just am all aboutjust trying to grow and learn
and understand differentmindsets and things like that.
(44:59):
And that was an amazing dudeway to put it.
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
Thank you, man.
How you do one thing is how youdo everything 100%, 100%.
Speaker 1 (45:11):
Let's transition here a little bit into athlete
specifically.
Right, you being an athlete andactually I want to say this
real quick, I was with you onthat one I had in my family.
The girls and women in myfamily had anxiety and
depression pretty heavily and Inever really had it.
(45:35):
And when I went into COVID andI went to Ohio and that type of
stuff, I inadvertently kind oflike isolated myself because I
was still focused on my careerand other things like that and I
started to experience thingsthat I necessarily I'm going to
(45:59):
be so honest Like you did I wasone of those people like because
probably the way I was raisedit's like, oh, you're just not
grinding it out, but when youreally experience that first
hand, your mindset changes inyour appreciation level and that
type of stuff, I think, changesright when you really
(46:23):
experience it first hand.
Speaker 2 (46:24):
No, I agree, and you truly and I use the quote all
the time you don't know what.
You don't know.
Truthfully, you have no ideauntil it hits you.
And in your situation, it waseither megadjustments or I'm
(46:45):
going to fall victim to this.
And for listeners out there that, like maybe Dan, today we can
impact someone that eitherhasn't gone through this yet or
is just starting to get throughthis, it's not a weakness, it's
a superpower.
I promise you that when you getthrough the storm, your
(47:07):
gratitude level, yourunderstanding for people's
feelings and your overall valueand your life in general is
going to change.
Amen to that.
So, dan, I can see it in yourlife because you were a guy that
people relied on for the lastcouple of years, since I've
known you in a lot of differentspaces.
(47:28):
So all of a sudden, you're notthe guy right now.
When you get to the other sideof that man, they're going to
look at you like a completelydifferent human being and a hero
.
I'm trying to use the point nowin our space where we're trying
to build a survival guy forpeople that are going through
this.
Speaker 1 (47:47):
That's real.
That's real.
I appreciate you realizing thatthat's a big, big thing.
And well, I asked a couple ofthings I want to talk about.
I know you got to get thoseprecious pieces clean.
Speaker 2 (47:59):
You know it, baby, you know it.
I put my phone in the charger,go ahead.
Speaker 1 (48:02):
For sure.
So last thing, one of the lasttwo things I'd love to touch up
on here Like, let's talk aboutathletes, specifically in the
mental health space a little bitmore.
Just talking about waterways,maybe coaches can implement,
maybe checkups or water, maybein your own life if you'd like
to share, if that's when youstarted, I don't know but just
(48:25):
talking about the athlete sideof the mental health, water,
maybe some reasons kids spiraland things like that.
Speaker 2 (48:32):
Yeah.
So I think some things thatcoaches can do and do it for us,
because we're not in thecollege coaching world anymore
and we would make changes.
Dan, I'm not going to speak foryou, but we would make some
changes on this front, Iguarantee so the coaches are
still doing this.
When you have your study halls,when you have time with your
(48:55):
position, guys, when you havedowntime in the day, circle up
your boys, circle up your girlsand talk to them about something
other than the sport.
Amen.
You don't have to say, dan,this is our mental health talk,
because then kids get reallylike, oh, I don't have mental
(49:15):
health.
Ok, kids are kids.
Coaches, open up dialogue andsay, tell me one good thing
about your week, and if you havea person in that group that's
going, come back to me or Idon't have anything.
I don't want to do this.
I found some people that youprobably should put more
(49:38):
attention to, start there,players, and then for the
players side, we have so muchavailable.
Use the tools.
If you need any of those tools,reach out to myself, reach out
to Dan, reach out to the podcast.
I'd love to have any athlete,any professional on and give you
(50:00):
those tools and talk this over.
I did it wrong for 25 years andI'll continue to make mistakes,
but don't let other peoplebecome victim to it.
I'm trying to double down now,dude that's powerful stuff and
it's simple.
Speaker 1 (50:15):
I think it's often.
For me it is Because, like yousaid, it's just a simple
conversation, bringing the guystogether.
You're not having to changeyour practice plan, you're not
having to change your week.
It's nothing, it's littlethings you can implement that
you won't even realize you'redoing to just make an impact on
somebody.
And I think, dude, that isamazing and so true.
(50:39):
And I want to give a shout outto somebody that I think does a
great job of this and he's aprivate sector guide.
Joey Kuna is actually someoneI'm about to go record a podcast
with today later on his podcastthe Farm System.
Tune into that everybody in thefuture.
The Farm System is a greatpodcast.
(51:00):
Talks a little bit about faith,baseball hitting, all that
great hitting guy, but he's gota gratitude ball at his place.
Speaker 2 (51:08):
Hey, dan, sorry I lost you there for a second.
You got me, yeah.
What I was going to say wasit's simple, but it's not easy.
It's not.
And if I could go back and Ithink you do the same we do some
of this stuff differently.
So, people that are inpositions of power right now,
(51:31):
let's dominate the nextgeneration of this, because it's
gone out.
Dude, that's real.
Speaker 1 (51:35):
That's so powerful and so true.
And I was just saying that.
I wanted to give a shout out tomy buddy, joey Kuna, and he's a
hitting guy in a private sector, but I think he does a great
job of this.
You go to a hitting facility.
He's got a gratitude wall, he'sgot a mental health wall and
it's amazing, like when he talksabout like he's gotten people
(51:57):
inadvertently to becomefollowers of Jesus because of it
.
He's gotten people.
So he's got his assistant,taylor.
She's amazing and she's amental health guru as well,
really big advocate andeverything like that.
But he's not shoving it downpeople's throats.
It's little actions he's takenevery day with his athletes that
come in there.
That you know.
I remember talking to him.
(52:18):
He said that first he said,guys, the gals, they would just
say, oh, I'm thankful for waterand then I'm thankful for this,
but after two years they'reputting like real paragraphs in
there and because it reallychanged their mindset and be
like what am I reallyappreciative of, or what am I
really struggling with, or thosetypes of things, and that is
real.
And that's someone who has agreat platform but is still
(52:41):
choosing to do some amazingthings that aren't baseball
related necessarily, and Iwanted to give a shout out to
him and the Farm System podcast.
I'm going to record a podcastwith him later today, which is
going to be awesome, but he justis one of the first people that
came to my mind, because I knowhe's actively doing that on a
private level and it's such animportant thing that I think a
(53:03):
lot of more people shouldembrace.
Speaker 2 (53:05):
We should find that we need to win more
relationships and games.
Speaker 1 (53:12):
Absolutely, and that's that's so.
Facts.
I mean, I, one of the thingsGod told me through my season is
, you got to go from winninggames to winning souls.
But that's that's what it, youknow, came down to, and I talked
to this a little bit in ourfirst episode.
I'm with my buddy, land andhe's.
We talked about this, we agreedon this.
If you're in sports, you'recompetitive.
(53:33):
99% of us, we want to win.
We're not signing up to lose.
So it's like that comes with agiven in being involved in
sports.
Now it's okay to shift yourfocus on other things that are
equally or, if not more,important.
And At the end of the day Iused this example because one of
my coaching buddies said thisto me Think about it like this
you could go 56 and 8, make itall day, the world series losing
(53:56):
its finals.
And what are you?
You're a loser.
You're a loser dog.
It's like to everybody lookingaround you you got a great
season.
Do you win the world series?
No, well, that's thanks.
And so it's like what are theways?
Can you measure success?
What are the ways Can you helpout people?
Because that's what the man andthey, that's what they're gonna
remember there they willremember a championship, but
(54:16):
will they remember that?
They're gonna remember thatconversation that might
positively impact them for therest of their life, or
Negatively?
I think we don't take thatenough to reel up to the heart.
Speaker 2 (54:26):
I'll say this and and I'll let you cap us off, dan I
use the quote on other podcasts.
I, when I am done on this earth, when it's my time and I have a
funeral, I hope there's threedifferent people there, I hope
there's family, I Hope there'sfriends and I hope there's
(54:48):
people that know nobody therethat I never thought of a
million years.
We've been impacted by my life.
Mmm, if that happens now, I'mGod willing it will.
I left my mark on this earthand and that's the I built souls
and relationships and I valuepeople and that's what I'd
strive to do.
Speaker 1 (55:07):
That's.
That's important now.
Last thing for our campus uphere.
We talked about this a littlebit, but will you mind doing a
short little testimony of whereyou're at in your faith or how
you got to where you are?
If there's a shorter version,it's probably not it for you.
Speaker 2 (55:21):
So my testimony of my faith has been a long journey.
I Went to Catholic schools akid.
By the time I got into highschool I was Bible-thumped out
of it.
I Go to a college in Jukko.
I go to a college at Rockfordthat might have had resources by
disregarded Went on the nextcouple years.
(55:43):
I'm wearing a cross with no,with no meaning I'm.
I'm sitting there wearing across that I look back at I'm
like wow, I'm just depictingnothing.
I'm just going through themotions Over the last two years
or so, with a lot of help frommentors and friends and family
and my girlfriend Ashton, who ITruly wouldn't be here without
(56:06):
her.
She's my entire world, she's myrock.
My faith got stronger when Istarted to put in the work into
it.
Mmm, I was disregarding all thetools that we've mentioned.
I wasn't doing the devotionals,I wasn't wearing my cross,
which is under here with pride.
I Wasn't doing the Bible studywork.
(56:28):
I wasn't.
I wasn't doing things the rightway and domino affecting my
life.
So when I changed with my faith, everything changed.
Speaker 1 (56:36):
Yeah, that's, that's deep.
I think you know I put a littlevideo out yesterday about the
two things you control in lifeas your effort and attitude
right, how are you trying andhow you respond to things?
And I think that ties into thisbecause you mentioned when you
put effort into it, you startedto reap the benefits.
You started to see God activelymove, and I think sometimes we
(56:56):
think that God's not moving, butwe have to seek after him to
see what he's doing in our lives, because often we'll be like,
oh, that was coincidence, orthat was this, that was this
you're, you're starting to putother labels on what God's
moving because you're notSeeking him.
And so I think that is powerfulmessage, man, and it's a faith
(57:18):
journey.
It's not a faith one way, it'sa faith, a journey right.
And so I think that's a reallyimportant for our listeners to
remember, guys, that don't behard on yourself, grow, take
baby steps every day, ask God tochange the desires of your
heart and he will reveal himselfto you and he will show you the
ways to follow him and Tofigure this thing out, this
(57:39):
thing called life.
And thank you, for we're cappingus off with that amazing
testimony man, god is so goodand, but you know, I think
another amazing part of thistestimony with both of us is
bringing people like us together, right like we, having
fellowship and having peoplethat have similar interests and
similar passions and havesimilar you know we.
(58:01):
You know Things we're trying toachieve and the impacts we're
trying to have on like lives.
That's really, you know, ourbiggest thing is what I love
being around you, man, cuz it'slike I see so much of myself in
you and and that type of stuff.
Speaker 2 (58:16):
Yeah, this is been an amazing hour, man.
We could talk literally for thenext five Sentis.
Okay, this platform is changinglives.
Speaker 1 (58:26):
I.
Speaker 2 (58:28):
Been touched by this day.
We're gonna leave thisconversation as different people
today.
So, I want to say thank you foreverything that you're doing
and everything you've done sofar, and I just want to give you
your flowers, man, because I'lltell you this the second that
you pick up your cross, man, andkeep it moving, the second your
life changes, man.
It can happen in a day.
Just just continue to put theworking.
Speaker 1 (58:49):
Absolutely Well.
I cap this off always with aprayer.
If you wouldn't mind, let's do aquick prayer to close us out
here and and, yeah, let's gofrom there.
You're heavenly father.
I want to bring us all togetherto you, gordon.
I don't know where people aregonna be at when they're
listening to this God, but Ijust want you to bring them with
the overwhelmed sense of peace,hope, and that there are
(59:09):
resources for mental health andDifferent things out there.
God, and I'm just so thankfulfor my relationship with Pat and
the impact that he's making onlives, god, and and that we're
just so thankful to call you ourfather and that we're able to,
you know, bring people to you,jesus, and you're just that's so
amazing and allowing us to beable to record this video, an
(59:30):
episode, god, and we're just sothankful for today, and I want
to ask you to just watch overPat and and the things that he's
going through.
Lord, and to anybody that'sstruggling with mental health,
god, I just want you to bringthat there's people out there
that can, you know, help themwith these things, and that
you're there with them and thatyou love them where they're at
and it's just season of the wiseand it's gonna get better and
(59:51):
there's resources out there tohelp them, lord, and I ask this
all in Jesus only name.
I pray amen.
Speaker 2 (59:57):
Amen that.
Dan, you're an absoluteblessing, brother.
I love you like a brother.
Speaker 1 (01:00:01):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 2 (01:00:02):
I got you, no matter what hey, sounds good, talk soon
.
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