Find a Way: Resilience, Leadership, and the People Who Shape Us with Merril Hoge

Former NFL player, longtime ESPN analyst, author, and speaker Merril Hoge joins Ed Molitor on The Athletics of Business to share the mindset behind three words that have shaped his life: Find a Way. From discovering football as a child and covering his bedroom wall with goals, to a devastating childhood accident, an NFL career, and a battle with cancer, Merril shares how preparation, perspective, and action helped him navigate some of the most difficult moments of his life. He also reflects on the people who shaped him along the way—including Walter Payton, Chuck Noll, Tony Dungy, and his own children—and the lessons he carried forward into leadership, coaching, parenting, and business. Throughout the conversation, Merril explains why great leaders model the standards they expect from others, why winning and learning are both part of growth, and why "Find a Way" is not about following someone else's path. It is about taking responsibility for finding your own. OUR GUEST Merril Hoge played in the NFL for 8 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears; he was also a football analyst for ESPN for 21 years Hoge is an inspirational speaker who speaks all over the country, impacting people and companies to grow through self-reflection and taking action to Find Their Way. He is also on the board of the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research and a member of the NFL Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee. In 2018, Hoge helped launch Your Call Football and is the author of Find a Way: Three Words That Changed My Life and Brainwashed: The Bad Science Behind CTE and the Plot to Destroy Football. Hoge continues to find new ways to make a positive impact with his mind, heart, and energy. Whether that be through his educational work, advocacy, or motivational engagements, he is a force for positive change and inspiration. He lives in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE Why commitment means giving everything you have to the goal in front of you. How "Find a Way" became a mindset for taking action when circumstances feel overwhelming Why finding a way does not mean following someone else's path—it means discovering what works for you Why modeling may be one of the most powerful tools a leader has How a "win or learn" mindset changes the way we respond to setbacks What Chuck Noll, Tony Dungy, and Walter Payton taught Merril about leadership, influence, and character Why parents and coaches should create environments where young people can learn, fail, adjust, and grow How patience and perspective can change the way we lead our children, teams, and ourselves   RESOURCES & LINKS  Merril Hoge Website: Merril Hoge (For speaking inquiries) LinkedIn: Merril Hoge Twitter/X: Merril Hoge Instagram: merrilhoge Books: Find A Way | Brainwashed Ed Molitor LinkedIn: Ed Molitor Website: coeffex.com YouTube Channel: The Athletics of Business    TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – The mindset behind "Find a Way" 01:54 – Merril Hoge's childhood dream of playing in the NFL 03:44 – Building resilience when others doubt your goals 05:23 – The corkboard that changed Merril's life 07:02 – Why giving everything you have matters 08:30 – Learning from mentors and influences 09:28 – The childhood accident that nearly cost Merril his hand 13:09 – The moment everything changed on the farm 17:49 – Finding a way through cancer and adversity 20:01 – The diagnosis that tested Merril's mindset 21:57 – The words from his daughter that changed everything 23:25 – How Walter Payton shaped Merril's life 28:41 – The responsibility of impacting others 30:51 – The power of visualization and preparation 34:51 – Lessons from youth sports and coaching 37:22 – Why failure is an opportunity to learn 39:17 – The leadership lessons of Chuck Noll 42:14 – The power of leading through example 44:43 – Parenting, patience, and perspective 47:16 – Tony Dungy's influence and leadership lessons 56:37 – Final thoughts and where to connect with Merril Hoge  

What does it take to build a championship team, grow a nationally recognized brand, and create a lasting culture that performs under pressure? In this episode of The Athletics of Business, Ed Molitor welcomes back JJ Gottsch, CEO of the Austin Gamblers. They dive into the leadership, culture, and disciplined execution behind one of PBR Teams' most successful organizations. JJ shares how the Gamblers' success began with ownership that did more than set a bold vision. They backed it with trust, resources, and support, giving the team what it needed to build a year-round brand around a five-month competitive season and strengthen a locker room filled with world champions. JJ and Ed also dig into the moments when growth begins with seeing an opportunity others miss. From creating new opportunities for women in bull riding to expanding the team's international presence, JJ's stories show what can happen when leaders are willing to ask, "What could this become?" and then bring the right people together to make it real. One of the most powerful stories comes from the team's annual trip to Brazil. Navigating an unfamiliar language, culture, and daily routine gave the riders a deeper appreciation for what some of their teammates experience while living and competing far from home. What began as a team-building trip became an opportunity to build empathy, deepen trust, and strengthen the way they supported one another. Ultimately, JJ's stories point back to a simple truth: greatness is rarely complicated. It is built through consistency, discipline, trust, focus, and the willingness to keep showing up and doing the work. OUR GUEST After spending 25 years helping run Nolan Ryan's various sports holdings under the Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainment Umbrella, JJ made a jump to professional bull riding in February of this year. He's heading up the Austin Gamblers, one of the eight founding franchises of the new PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series. JJ Gottsch is the longest-tenured employee with Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainment and has played a key role in the development of both the Round Rock Express (Houston Astros Triple-A) and Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros Double-A). He was promoted to his current position, COO, in January 2015. In this role, he oversees all business operations for the Express, RS3 Turf, RS3 Strategic Hospitality, as well as the company's growing entertainment division. Gottsch was president of the Hooks for the club's first five years, where his leadership and experience helped them draw more than two million fans in their first four seasons.  Prior to his position in Corpus Christi, Gottsch served as assistant general manager for the Express during the first six years of the organization's existence. Gottsch helped lead the franchise to record-setting attendance numbers, establishing a new Double-A home attendance record with 660,110 fans in the club's first year, eclipsing the old attendance mark that had stood for 20 years. The franchise would proceed to break its own attendance standard in each successive season with Gottsch on board as a steadying influence. A former player, Gottsch's professional career included time with the Butte Copper Kings in the Pioneer League and the Perth Baseball Club in the Western Australia Baseball League. At the collegiate level, Gottsch played for Creighton University as well as TCU, where he was a member of the Horned Frogs1994 Southwest Conference Championship and NCAA Regional team.  He transferred to TCU after spending three years at Creighton, where he was a shortstop on the 1991 Bluejay team that advanced to the College World Series.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: How the Austin Gamblers created a year-round brand around a five-month competitive season What it meant to represent the United States during America's 250th anniversary celebrations in Brazil How JJ recognizes opportunities and pressure-tests ambitious ideas before dismissing them Why great ideas depend on the people and resources needed to execute them How the growth of women's professional sports is creating opportunities across the entire sports ecosystem Why bull riding's courage, authenticity, intensity, and fast-paced format connect with modern audiences How consistency, discipline, loyalty, trust, and focused execution shape JJ's definition of greatness   RESOURCES & LINKS  JJ Gottsch LinkedIn: JJ Gottsch Facebook: JJ Gottsch Twitter: JJ Gottsch Website: Austin Gamblers Twitter - @Austin_Gamblers Facebook - Austin Gamblers   Ed Molitor LinkedIn - Ed Molitor Website - coeffex.com YouTube Channel - The Athletics of Business   Timestamps   00:00 – The ownership behind every championship team 01:16 – JJ Gottsch returns to The Athletics of Business 02:02 – Four years of growth across PBR Teams 03:28 – Why success starts and ends with ownership 05:38 – Inside the Austin Gamblers' championship culture 07:42 – Building stronger relationships through Brazil 10:49 – Representing America during its 250th anniversary 14:47 – The moment the significance finally became real 17:23 – Turning ambitious ideas into meaningful experiences 19:53 – Creating new opportunities for women in bull riding 23:57 – What professional bull riding gets right 27:43 – Building a niche sport versus promoting baseball 31:39 – Why bull riding must be experienced live 33:13 – Trading cowboy boots for dancing shoes 35:46 – The Austin Gamblers lightning round 38:13 – What greatness looks like today 40:58 – Why becoming elite requires focus 43:28 – Final thoughts and closing  

What if the most powerful thing a coach does never shows up in a box score? Every athletic department tracks wins and losses. Many track all-state selections, district championships, and tournament appearances. But the metrics that often matter most — the ones tied to connection, resilience, attendance, joy, accountability, academic growth, and long-term student development — have largely gone unmeasured. Until now. In this episode of The Athletics of Business Podcast, Ed Molitor is joined by Kyle Craighead and Joshua Childs to talk about the transformational impact coaches have on student athletes and how data is finally helping bring that impact to light. Their work gives coaches, athletic directors, and school leaders a way to measure what many have always felt but have not always been able to prove: great coaching reaches far beyond wins, championships, and the scoreboard. Kyle and Joshua unpack how the Coaching Effects Survey helps uncover the hidden metrics of coaching, why fun is one of the most overlooked indicators of student engagement, and what the data reveals about the coaches who challenge athletes most effectively. The answer may surprise you. It is not simply the toughest coaches who create the most growth. It is the ones who connect first, build trust, create structure, and then challenge their athletes from a place of care. The conversation also explores one of the biggest issues facing youth sports today: the risk of pricing out and excluding the very kids who could benefit most from having a great coach in their lives. Kyle and Joshua make a powerful case that athletics should not be viewed as an extracurricular activity. It is a co-curricular experience that plays a critical role in shaping young people, building life skills, and keeping students connected to school, community, and purpose. This is a conversation about coaching, culture, data, and what it really means to measure success. Because the true impact of a coach is not always found in the final score. Sometimes, it is found in who a student becomes because someone believed in them, challenged them, and helped them see what was possible.   OUR GUESTS Kyle Craighead is the President & Chief Product Officer for EverRise. With over 15 years of experience in public education as a teacher, coach, athletic director, school administrator, and district administrator, he has had the opportunity to serve various grade bands and demographics in the K-12 setting. Kyle has now brought his school-system experience to EverRise the last three years to measure the importance and effectiveness of key relationships, such as teachers with students, coaches with athletes, and administrators with teachers.  He has studied the effects of interim assessments and modifying instructional practices that lead to improved outcomes on summative assessments. Kyle is an adjunct professor at Lipscomb University, teaching classes on Strategic Change, Instructional Leadership, Coaching for Change, and Collaborative Leadership in Schools. Kyle is dedicated to improving the educational and athletic experiences of students, student-athletes, teachers, coaches, and all educational leaders.  Joshua Childs is the Senior Advisor of Research and Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at The University of Texas at Austin. His research examines the role of inter-organizational networks and cross-sector collaborations to address complex educational issues.  He also investigates collaborative approaches involving organizations (local, state, and national) that have the potential to improve academic achievement and opportunities for students in urban and rural schools.   This includes ways to improve student engagement and attendance in school, interscholastic athletics, and expanding educational opportunities through concentrated policy design and implementation. Joshua is a Co-PI (Principal Investigator) of the Expanding Computing Education Pathways Alliance, a consortium of 30 states focused on broadening participation in computer science. A former Division I athlete, Joshua graduated from Plano West High School (TX).    WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: Why the most meaningful impact of coaching often goes unmeasured How student-athlete feedback reveals what coaches truly make possible The six pillars that shape trust, growth, connection, and performance Why connection and psychological safety must come before challenge How great coaches create accountability without fear The overlooked role fun plays in athlete engagement and development How data can strengthen coaching without becoming punitive Why athletics should be viewed as a co-curricular part of education How coaches can help reduce absenteeism and improve student outcomes Why mentorship may be the most valuable outcome sports provide RESOURCES & LINKS  Kyle Craighead & Joshua Childs Website - EverRise LinkedIn - Kyle Craighead LinkedIn - Joshua Childs   Ed Molitor LinkedIn - Ed Molitor Website - coeffex.com YouTube Channel - The Athletics of Business   Timestamps   [00:00] Dynamic Intro [01:40] Welcoming Kyle Craighead & Joshua Childs [02:17] EverRise's mission and measuring real coach impact [03:52] The Coaching Effects Survey explained [07:50] The six pillars: Connection, psychological safety, structure, communication, skill development, and challenge [10:35] Thought experiment: The coaches who impacted your life [13:30] Kyle's journey using these tools as an administrator [18:12] Powerful story of a football coach's emotional response to his data [24:36] How connection leads to better challenge and resilience [31:28] How data drives daily habits and continuous improvement [35:54] Speaking the language of decision-makers with data [43:40] Joshua's journey and passion for expanding access to sports [48:22] Where to learn more about EverRise [55:50] Final thoughts and call to action  

What happens when a sport's history is bigger, deeper, and more culturally revealing than the story most people have been told? Soccer has always been part of the American sports landscape. Union soldiers played it during the Civil War. Crowds of 46,000 showed up for soccer in New York in the 1920s. Pelé brought nearly 200 journalists with him when he played for the New York Cosmos. But the real story is not just about soccer. It is about how culture is built, how momentum grows, how narratives take shape, and how the stories we choose to tell can either limit what people see or expand what they believe is possible. In this episode of The Athletics of Business Podcast, Ed Molitor welcomes back filmmaker Phil Wall to talk about his latest project, the three-part Roku docuseries Soccer Meets America. What started as a project without a personal hook became a discovery process. Phil uncovered a rich and surprising history of soccer in the United States while exploring a bigger question: what happens when we stop asking whether something matters and start looking at the impact it has already made? He also opens up about the leadership lessons behind the camera: directing a larger production team, learning to delegate, admitting what he did not know, and trusting others to help bring the vision to life. The conversation then moves into one of Phil's greatest strengths: storytelling. He shares why the best stories are not about the teller, but the audience. For leaders, coaches, and business professionals, that is where the real lesson lives. This is a conversation about culture, leadership, humility, and the power of stories to shape how people see themselves, their teams, and what is possible next.   OUR GUEST Phil Wall is an award-winning writer, director, and showrunner working across features, series, and commercials. His work is rooted in nonfiction storytelling, with an interest in character-driven stories across scripted, documentary, and hybrid forms. He is the showrunner, director, and writer of Soccer Meets America, a three-part docuseries produced with Vox Creative in association with Verizon and now streaming on The Roku Channel. His feature documentaries include The Book Keepers, winner of both the Jury Prize and Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at the Austin Film Festival, and The Standard, which debuted at #4 on the iTunes documentary chart.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: How Phil Wall uncovered the deeper story behind Soccer Meets America Why soccer's roots in America go far beyond the 1994 World Cup How the 1994 World Cup helped shape the future of professional soccer in the U.S. Why St. Louis became a powerful example of how local culture is built How media, technology, and pop culture helped bring soccer into the mainstream Why Phil believed soccer's place in America no longer needed to be defended How the next wave of U.S. soccer challenges us to rethink what success really means What leading a larger creative team taught Phil about delegation, trust, and clarity Why admitting what you don't know can build stronger trust as a leader How great storytelling starts with the audience, not the storyteller   RESOURCES & LINKS  Phil Wall Website: philwall.film Watch Soccer Meets America - Available now on the Roku Series GORUCK: www.goruck.com Episodes 135 and 136 - Phil Wall's earlier appearance on The Athletics of Business   Ed Molitor LinkedIn - Ed Molitor Website - coeffex.com YouTube Channel - The Athletics of Business   References The Two Escobars - ESPN 30 for 30 documentary (written by Nick Sprague) The Book Keepers - Phil Wall's documentary following his father after his mother's death The Standard - Phil Wall's previous project The FIFA+ app - Where to find classic World Cup documentaries Telstar - The first international transatlantic broadcast satellite (1962   Timestamps   [00:00] Dynamic intro [01:28] Welcoming Phil Wall back to the podcast [02:13] The origin story behind Soccer Meets America [03:26] How personal relationships helped launch the project [05:11] Discovering the forgotten history of soccer in America [06:19] The World Cup bid that changed everything [07:19] St. Louis and America's early soccer culture [10:23] Soccer's rise, disappearance, and reemergence in American media [14:31] Commercialization, broadcasting, and soccer's unique challenges [16:23] The business side of building professional soccer [17:52] Technology, television, and the growth of the sport [19:43] The untold story of women's soccer in America [21:20] The future of soccer heading into the 2026 World Cup [31:23] Why soccer no longer needs validation [33:27] How this project stretched Phil as a filmmaker [35:37] Learning to lead and collaborate on a larger team [38:24] Where to watch Soccer Meets America [39:21] The fundamentals of great storytelling [45:55] Final reflections and closing thoughts  

Most people spend their lives trying to avoid failure. Gavin Mlinar has built his life around walking straight into it. From leaving home to pursue freestyle skiing as a teenager, to returning after multiple knee injuries to earn a starting role on the football field, to walking away from a successful executive career without a clear plan for what came next, Gavin has repeatedly chosen uncertainty over comfort. And more often than not, those decisions began with a simple phrase: "Yes, I'll figure it out." In this episode of The Athletics of Business Podcast, Ed Molitor is joined by Gavin Mlinar,  a former Wall Street equity research founder, VP at a Japanese company, and two-time finisher of the 29,029 Everesting challenge. Together, they explore the surprising connections between endurance athletics, leadership, and the art of saying "yes" before you figure it out. Gavin shares his journey from Division III football and the USA Junior Olympic ski team to corporate leadership, startup life, and the humbling world of 36-hour vertical climbing challenges. He opens up about fainting before lunch on his first attempt, ignoring his coaches for 20 weeks, and finally finishing under the worst weather conditions in event history. But the real throughline? A philosophy he learned from his father, a 747 pilot who treated everyone like they were in his home: lead with help, and let the rewards take care of themselves. Because success isn't about controlling outcomes. It's about enjoying the process, embracing toddler logic, and showing up for others without expecting anything in return.   OUR GUEST Gavin Mlinar is the CEO and Founding Member of Blacklisted Consulting, a sourcing and procurement consulting firm that helps organizations save money while optimizing the way they buy goods and services. A former Wall Street Equity Analyst and Investment Banker, Gavin has leveraged his negotiating and communication skills, industry expertise, and passion for problem-solving into a successful career in sourcing, procurement, and supply chain leadership. Throughout his career, he has negotiated large, complex, multi-million and multi-billion-dollar agreements with many of the world's leading IT, Professional Services, and Corporate Services suppliers, helping organizations drive efficiency, accelerate growth, and achieve significant cost savings. But Gavin's journey has been guided by a philosophy that extends far beyond business: say YES, then figure it out. That mindset has shaped everything from earning a starting spot on his high school varsity football team without a reputation, to competing on the USA Junior Olympic skiing team, to launching multiple businesses and leading teams through change and uncertainty. A husband of 19 years, proud father of two, and lifelong believer in growth over comfort, Gavin brings a practical, relatable perspective to leadership and performance. One of his proudest accomplishments was completing the 29029 Everesting Challenge on his third attempt after failing twice—a powerful reminder that failure is only final when you stop showing up. Whether negotiating billion-dollar contracts, leading organizations through transformation, or speaking to audiences about leadership and resilience, Gavin's message remains consistent: success is rarely about having all the answers. It's about having the courage to take the next step, learn along the way, and keep moving forward.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: Why failure is often learning in disguise Lessons from elite athletics that translate directly into leadership and business How endurance challenges reveal strengths and blind spots under pressure The importance of listening beyond simply hearing words How feedback loops accelerate growth and performance Why preparation matters more than motivation during difficult challenges How leaders learn to embrace diverse perspectives and different motivations What toddler logic teaches us about learning, resilience, and persistence Why relationships create opportunities that strategy alone cannot How serving others first can become a powerful business advantage    RESOURCES & LINKS  Gavin Mlinar Website - http://yesyourway.com LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavin-mlinar-2295b83/ Blog: https://yesyourway.com/blogs/one-more-ascent Book: https://www.amazon.com/Yes-Your-Way-Success-Dont/dp/B0FC5M9GHQ   Ed Molitor LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/themolitorgroup/ Website - https://coeffex.com/podcast YouTube Channel - The Athletics of Business - https://www.youtube.com/@theathleticsofbusiness   Timestamps [00:00] Dynamic intro [01:35] Meet Gavin Mlinar [02:35] Building businesses and embracing entrepreneurship from an early age [04:00] Learning communication through cold-calling and rejection [05:07] From freestyle skiing to collegiate football [09:48] Choosing between athletic dreams and practical realities [12:52] The "Say Yes and Figure It Out" mindset [13:50] COVID, burnout, and a life-changing turning point [15:40] Discovering the 29,029 Everesting challenge [18:39] The first endurance challenge and a humbling setback [21:31] Missing the lessons hidden in plain sight [22:42] Heart rate training and endurance fundamentals [25:19] Why failure became one of Gavin's greatest teachers [27:44] Patience, listening, and slowing down [29:10] Leadership lessons from managing people with different motivations [31:27] Toddler logic and the power of continuous learning [33:49] Building systems, feedback loops, and preparation habits [36:37] Learning from mistakes and improving performance [38:17] Family challenges, Alzheimer's, and staying focused [40:14] Finishing the challenge and trusting the process [41:46] The success of Say Yes and Figure It Out [42:19] Leading with generosity and helping others first [43:12] The influence of Gavin's father and treating people with respect [46:55] How helping others unexpectedly created new opportunities [49:20] Final reflections and closing thoughts   

What if the best captain on your team is not the loudest, most talented, or most popular player? For John O'Sullivan and Dr. Jerry Lynch, true captaincy is not about status. It is about skill, choice, relationships, and the daily behaviors that help a team become more connected, accountable, and resilient. In this episode of The Athletics of Business, Ed Molitor is joined by  John and Jerry to discuss their new book, Captain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Leader. Together, they unpack why leadership in sports is often misunderstood, why teams should stop automatically handing captaincy to the best player, and why every athlete has the ability to develop leadership from the inside out. John and Jerry explore what great captains actually do: they build trust, model the standard, serve their teammates, communicate with courage, and protect the culture when things get hard. They also explain why influence is relational, not positional, and why the most effective leaders are often the ones willing to do the unseen work. From self-awareness and servant leadership to tough conversations, kindness, accountability, and gratitude, this conversation is a powerful reminder that leadership is not something you wait to be given. It is something you choose to practice every day.   OUR GUESTS John O' Sullivan John O'Sullivan is an internationally known TEDx Speaker and the founder of the Changing the Game Project, which he started in 2012.  He is the author of two #1 Bestselling books, Changing the Game and Every Moment Matters, and a leading youth sports blogger, while being a host of the Way of Champions Podcast, one of the top-rated podcasts in the world for coaches. Former collegiate and professional soccer player, and has coached for over 20 years on the youth, high school, and college levels. He has consulted with US Olympic Committee, US Soccer, USA Football, US Lacrosse, USA Swimming, Ireland Rugby, Aussie Rules Football, and many more John is on the National Advisory Board for the Positive Coaching Alliance and the National Association for Physical Literacy.   Dr. Jerry Lynch Jerry first learned about extraordinary performance and excellence as a nationally ranked competitive athlete sponsored by Nike, running world-class times from 5,000 meters to the marathon, setting an American record in the half-marathon, winning a National Championship, and many other races against athletes half his age.  He took what he learned about himself and life from his competitive days and parlayed it into a dynamic, successful career helping athletes and coaches in all sports to use his performance and leadership strategies to up their game and discover the best version of themselves. Dr. Lynch has been recognized as one of the top five in his profession nationwide. He has worked with teams, coaches, and athletes in the NBA, Pro Lacrosse, Major League Soccer, with men's and women's basketball, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, golf, and other sports at the universities of North Carolina, Duke, Maryland, California, Syracuse, Stanford, Harvard, and Middlebury. Dr. Lynch is the author of 18 books in over 10 languages and the founder and director of WAY OF CHAMPIONS, a human potential and performance consulting group helping others master the deeper inner game for sports, business, and life. Jerry is a dynamic, entertaining, inspirational, provocative, and humorous teacher and speaker with topics on leadership, coaching, team culture building, winning the relationship game, and core value development.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: Why captaincy is a skill that can be taught, practiced, and developed. Why the best player is not always the best leader on the team. How coaches and teammates can identify real leaders through behaviors, traits, and trust. Why influence comes from relationships, not titles or positional power. How captains serve as the bridge between coaches, teammates, and the team culture. Why great leaders must learn to have hard conversations with courage and respect. The difference between being liked, being respected, being nice, and being kind. Why self-awareness is the foundation of exceptional leadership. How elite athletes like Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant modeled servant leadership. Why gratitude, joy, and service can elevate both leadership and performance.   RESOURCES & LINKS John O' Sullivan & Dr. Jerry Lynch Website: https://changingthegameproject.com/  Website:  www.wayofchampions.com  Get the Book: Captain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader Way of Champions Podcast on Apple Podcast Jerry's LinkedIn  Jhon's LinkedIn    Ed Molitor LinkedIn: Ed Molitor  Website: CoEffex YouTube Channel: The Athletics of Business   TIMESTAMPS ● 00:01:07 Why winning takes more than talent ● 00:02:00 Introducing Captain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Leader ● 00:03:10 Why teams often choose captains for the wrong reasons ● 00:05:24 Why captaincy should be treated as a skill ● 00:10:08 Why captains are connectors between coaches and teammates ● 00:11:53 Why influence comes from relationships ● 00:14:45 The hardest conversations captains must learn to have ● 00:16:00 Why respect matters more than being liked ● 00:19:15 The three-part structure of Captain ● 00:26:44 Why self-awareness is the competitive advantage ● 00:33:45 The difference between being nice and being kind ● 00:39:18 Tim Duncan and the power of leading by example ● 00:42:37 How Kobe Bryant learned to bring teammates along ● 00:45:36 Where to find the book, podcast, and leadership resources  

What changes when the work you lead is deeply personal? For Jeff Schaffnit, his career in the pharmaceutical industry is directly connected to his son, Carter, who was born with severe hemophilia. That personal experience shaped not only the work Jeff chose to pursue, but the kind of leader he strives to be. In this episode of The Athletics of Business, Ed Molitor and Jeff dive into what it takes to build a culture where purpose and performance strengthen one another. Jeff shares why patient stories serve as a North Star for his team, how he evaluates talent through the lens of heart, mind, and execution, and why great teammates put the patient and the team ahead of individual recognition. He also explores the human side of leadership: building trust, calling out silos, coaching instead of simply telling, developing future leaders, creating space for vulnerability, and helping people manage their time and energy in demanding environments. As AI continues to influence healthcare and business, Jeff offers a powerful reminder: technology may change how the work gets done, but the future still belongs to leaders and organizations that keep humanity at the center.   OUR GUEST Jeff Schaffnit is the General Manager and Head of Rare Blood Disorders at Sanofi, where he leads work focused on serving patients and families impacted by rare blood disorders. With more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Jeff is known for his ability to build and inspire high-performing teams, design effective commercial organizations, and translate complex challenges into clear, pragmatic strategies that deliver results. His leadership approach combines a strong strategic lens with disciplined execution, enabling teams to perform in dynamic and highly regulated environments. His connection to this work is deeply personal. Jeff's son, Carter, was born with severe hemophilia, an experience that helped shape Jeff's career and continues to influence the way he leads. For Jeff, the mission is not abstract. It is about helping patients live fuller lives and building teams that understand the responsibility and privilege of serving them. At his core, Jeff believes that performance is built through people—through clarity, alignment, trust, and a shared commitment to purpose. And ultimately, the true measure of success is the impact that work has on patients' lives. Jeff holds an MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: How Jeff's son's hemophilia diagnosis shaped his career and personal mission. Why patient stories keep teams connected to the meaning behind their work. How Jeff builds culture around purpose-driven performance. Why he looks for heart, mind, and execution when building a team. What great teammates understand about collaboration, ego, and accountability. Why trust begins with listening, especially when leading new people or teams. The difference between coaching someone and simply telling them what to do. How leaders can model wellness, boundaries, and energy management. Why Jeff's team encourages people to "Find Your Five" and reclaim meaningful time. Why vulnerability has been one of Jeff's most important leadership growth areas. How leaders can transform while performing without losing sight of the human impact. Why a leader's most important job is developing the team. Why Jeff believes the future of leadership and healthcare must remain human first.   RESOURCES & LINKS  Jeff Schaffnit LinkedIn: Jeff Schaffnit Sanofi: Sanofi US Article: To Drive Value in Hematology Research, We Must Prioritize the Patient Experience   Ed Molitor LinkedIn: Ed Molitor  Website: CoEffex YouTube Channel: The Athletics of Business   TIMESTAMPS 00:01:19 What gets Jeff out of bed every morning 00:02:18 Jeff's personal connection to hemophilia 00:04:40 Why patient stories anchor the team's purpose 00:06:31 AI in healthcare and the importance of human connection 00:07:46 Building culture through heart, strategy, and execution 00:09:55 What makes someone a great teammate 00:10:53 Calling out silos and protecting the culture 00:12:51 How patient stories bring culture to life 00:16:08 The damage caused by micromanagement 00:17:06 How leaders build trust with new team members 00:24:42 Owning your mindset as a leader 00:32:20 Why vulnerability does not always come naturally 00:35:00 Why a leader's real job is developing the team 00:37:16 Development is a two-way street 00:38:28 Advice Jeff would give his younger self 00:39:54 Building meaningful networks and mentorships 00:40:50 Why the future of leadership is still human first  

What keeps a coach grounded after more than 40 years, over 900 wins, 27 NCAA Tournament appearances, five consecutive Women's Final Fours, and a national championship? For Bob Starkey, the answer has never been about the record.  It has always been about the relationships. In this episode of The Athletics of Business Podcast, Ed Molitor is joined by one of the most respected assistant coaches in women's college basketball for a conversation about leadership, preparation, connection, and the standards that build great teams. Bob traces his coaching philosophy back to Alan Osborne, the junior high coach who invested in him not just as a player, but as a young person. From there, he shares the lessons he learned from some of the most influential leaders in sports, including Dale Brown, Don Meyer, Sue Gunter, George Raveling, Nick Saban, and John Wooden. Those lessons shaped the way Bob approaches everything: loyalty, work ethic, initiative, preparation, failure, resilience, and the daily discipline of becoming the best version of yourself. Bob also opens up about the personal journey that has shaped his leadership, including his wife Sherri's battles with MS and breast cancer, and how her attitude through adversity taught him the power of perspective, gratitude, and choosing your response every single day. From the Foxhole Test and defensive sticker helmets to journaling, rereading books, morning meditation, and the "Next Best Action" mindset, this episode is filled with practical wisdom for coaches, leaders, and anyone committed to building something real. Because great teams are not built by talent alone. They are built through trust, preparation, connection, accountability, and the people willing to stand in the foxhole with you.   OUR GUEST Bob Starkey is one of the most accomplished assistant coaches in the history of women's college basketball. He has been part of nearly 1,000 collegiate victories, 27 NCAA Tournaments, 10 Elite Eight appearances, and five consecutive Women's Final Fours. In 2023, he was part of the LSU Tigers staff that won the national championship under head coach Kim Mulkey. Bob served as acting head coach for LSU during its 2007 Final Four run and has coached at Marshall University, West Virginia State, LSU under Dale Brown, Sue Gunter, and Kim Mulkey, as well as Texas A&M under Gary Blair. He is the author of The Art of Being an Assistant Coach and publishes Hoop Thoughts, where he shares insights on coaching, leadership, and personal development. Bob is also deeply committed to community impact and serves on the board of directors for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, supporting the fight against cancer.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: How a junior high coach shaped Bob Starkey's lifelong approach to leadership Why the greatest coaches measure impact through relationships, not records Lessons on leadership from Dale Brown, Don Meyer, George Raveling, Nick Saban, and John Wooden Why loyalty, work ethic, initiative, and preparation remain timeless standards How failure becomes a teacher when leaders are willing to examine it honestly Why "the process" starts with controlling today and taking the next best action How daily habits, reflection, reading, and journaling build consistency over time Why storytelling creates buy-in, belief, and deeper connection with a team What the "Foxhole Test" reveals about trust, accountability, and true teammates How transformational leadership stays rooted in connection, attitude, and hard conversations RESOURCES & LINKS  Bob Starkey Visit LSU Website to learn more about Coach Starkey - https://lsusports.net/sports/wbball/roster/coach/bob-starkey/  X (Twitter) - https://x.com/CoachBobStarkey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopcoachbobstarkey/ Hoop Thoughts Newsletter: https://hoopthoughts.blogspot.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Being-Assistant-Coach-coaching/dp/B0006QL0FM Ed Molitor LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/themolitorgroup/ Website - https://coeffex.com/podcast YouTube Channel - The Athletics of Business - https://www.youtube.com/@theathleticsofbusiness  Referenced: Legacy — James Kerr Atomic Habits — James Clear The Coffee Bean — Damon West & Jon Gordon The Daily Stoic / Ryan Holiday The Pyramid of Success — John Wooden

What does it take to build a championship culture that lasts? For Scott Howard, it starts with mentorship, trust, relationships, and a commitment to putting the team above yourself. In this episode of The Athletics of Business, host Ed Molitor reconnects with longtime friend Scott Howard, currently completing his 11th season with the Denver Nuggets organization after nearly four decades in basketball, including 17 years coaching in the college game and over two decades in the NBA. At the heart of this conversation is what truly builds championship culture. Scott shares how growing up in Iowa Falls, Iowa shaped his values around humility, community, accountability, and relationships. He reflects on the mentors who changed his life, including the legendary George Raveling, Pat Riley, and Leonard Hamilton, and the lessons they taught him about leadership, trust, consistency, and serving something bigger than yourself. From stories about Pat Riley's "Core Covenant" and "Disease of Me," to George Raveling's philosophy of giving without keeping score, this episode is filled with practical leadership lessons for coaches, executives, team builders, and anyone trying to create an environment where people can thrive together. Scott also opens up about the evolution of his own leadership journey, what he learned through decades in coaching and the NBA, and why the strongest organizations are built on alignment, trust, accountability, and relationships that endure long after the scoreboard changes. If you care about leadership, mentorship, culture, and the kind of trust required to build winning teams, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends.   OUR GUEST Scott Howard is completing his 11th year with the Denver Nuggets front office and his first as Director of College Scouting. He was originally hired as Director of College Scouting before the 2015-16 season. He was General Manager of the Nuggets' GLeague team, the Grand Rapids Gold from 2021-2023, and Director of Player Personnel from 2021-2025. Prior to joining the Nuggets, Howard was part of the Charlotte organization, both the Bobcats and then the Hornets, as their Director of Scouting. He spent the previous season as a scout with the Milwaukee Bucks. His next stop was with the Toronto Raptors as Director of International Player Personnel, where he was responsible for all aspects of player personnel outside of North America and coordinated player workouts ahead of the NBA Draft. He also served as a scout for the Washington Wizards from 2000-2004. Howard also spent 17 years as a collegiate coach, including seven seasons at the University of Miami, three seasons at the University of Nebraska, and one season each at Southern Illinois, Drake, and Southern California. In addition to his Nuggets career, Howard has a company called "Winning Matters Most" where he does public speaking and consulting. Howard received his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1983 from Iowa State University, where he was a two-year letterman for the basketball team. He earned his master's degree in educational administration from the University of Iowa in 1985 while serving as a volunteer assistant and graduate assistant coach.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: How growing up in a small town shaped Scott's lifelong commitment to relationships, community, and giving back Why some of the hardest moments in your career can become the foundation for long-term growth What true mentorship really looks like and how it shapes who we become How George Raveling modeled generosity, curiosity, and paying it forward The difference between being motivated "to have" vs "to be" and why it changes everything Why trust is essential to building a championship culture How Pat Riley's concepts of the "Core Covenant" and the "Disease of Me" apply far beyond sports Why some of the most impactful mentors in your life may be younger than you What it means to "borrow other people's brilliance" and how humility accelerates growth How alignment, accountability, and trust shape winning teams and sustainable organizations RESOURCES & LINKS  Scott Howard LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/scott-howard-789927158/ Website - https://www.nba.com/nuggets/ Ed Molitor LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/themolitorgroup/ Website - https://coeffex.com/podcast YouTube Channel - The Athletics of Business - https://www.youtube.com/@theathleticsofbusiness Referenced: The Winner Within — Pat Riley Showtime — Pat Riley Unraveling George Documentary Timestamps [00:00] Introduction [01:00] Introduction to Scott Howard & his Denver Nuggets journey [03:01] Reconnecting after 20+ years [04:27] Iowa Falls: small towns, great people [08:23] Walking on at Iowa State & pursuing D1 coaching [11:44] The price: fired 3x, volunteer coaching, never quitting [12:07] Resilience & reframing through setbacks [13:32] "I'm not letting someone else define who I am." [15:20] The Unraveling George doc & Coach Raveling [17:26] Raveling: educator first, rare in coaching [20:12] Preparing coaches for life, not just the game [21:56] Losing Raveling and his mother in the same season [26:07] "I don't keep score," Raveling's most powerful line [28:47] "Never forget the bridges that got you across" [37:07] The Kevin McKinnon story: players leading players [39:11] Doing work that matters, not climbing the ladder [43:01] Pat Riley as mentor & the book that changed everything [44:00] The Winner Within: Innocent Climb & Disease of Me [45:04] Motivated "to be" vs. "to have" [50:38] The "best day" problem in pro sports [52:38] When trust breaks, the blame game starts [53:41] Learning from mentors  

Why do the same teams keep winning without the most talent? Is it because they've learned to embrace the grind, celebrate small wins, and lead people as humans first—so they'd run through a wall for each other? In this episode of The Athletics of Business Podcast, host Ed Molitor is joined by Meghan Long, Area Vice President of US Surgical Sales at BioTissue. As a former Division I Lacrosse captain at UNC-Chapel Hill, Meghan understands what it takes to build a winning culture. Today, she brings those same principles into her work, leading high-impact growth and turnaround efforts across the medical device, biotech, and pharmaceutical industries over the past 14 years. Meghan shares how the core principles of elite athletics—direct communication, discipline, working within constraints, and genuine care for people—translate directly into building high-performing teams in business. She opens up about taking over a team that hadn't hit quota in 13 years, and how she rebuilt trust, created alignment, and generated momentum by focusing on people first, not just performance. Throughout the conversation, Meghan reinforces a simple but powerful truth: when people feel seen, supported, and challenged, they respond differently. They take ownership. They commit to each other. And that's where real performance begins. If you've ever faced a turnaround, stepped into a struggling team, or are looking to elevate how you lead and develop people, this conversation will give you a practical and grounded perspective on what it takes to build a culture that lasts. Listen now to learn how to create belief before the scoreboard reflects it—and how to build a team that competes, connects, and wins together.   OUR GUEST Former Athlete, Forever Leader. Meghan Long is a veteran sales leader with 14 years of experience driving high-velocity growth across Medical Device, Biotech, and Pharma. Currently serving as Area Vice President of US Surgical Sales at BioTissue, Meghan has delivered some of the most remarkable turnarounds in her industry — including hitting quota for the first time in 13 years, growing a region 248% year-over-year, and leading a division to $50M in revenue. She's worked with private equity-backed organizations, launched new products, and built winning cultures from the ground up. A UNC Chapel Hill graduate and former Division I lacrosse captain, Meghan brings the same competitive drive and leadership to the boardroom that she brought to the field.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: How discipline, consistency, and effort shape high-performing teams Why direct, honest communication builds trust faster than avoiding hard conversations The role of small wins in creating momentum before results show up How constraints can drive better thinking and stronger execution What it takes to rebuild a struggling team without focusing on the past Why "one team, one heartbeat" cultures outperform individual-driven teams How treating people as humans—not roles—drives commitment and effort The importance of leveraging individual strengths to elevate team performance How listening, vulnerability, and connection strengthen leadership impact Why repetition and belief are essential to building and sustaining culture  RESOURCES & LINKS  Meghan Long LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/meghan-l-083805a Website - https://biotissue.com/   Ed Molitor LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/themolitorgroup/ Website - https://coeffex.com/podcast YouTube Channel - The Athletics of Business - https://www.youtube.com/@theathleticsofbusiness    2026 Coaching Effect Summit – Driven by Data, Powered by People May 5‑6 in Omaha, NE (Tenaska Center) CLICK HERE TO JOIN US: https://coeffex.com/2026-coaching-effect-summit   Timestamps [00:00] Dynamic Intro [00:59] Introduction to Meghan Long [02:34] Meghan's background: athletics, leadership, and UNC [05:40] Early influences and discipline from a young age [07:39] Choosing UNC and the impact of Coach Jenny Levy [08:46] The power of direct communication in leadership [11:35] Growth through tough feedback and early setbacks [14:09] Building confidence through effort and consistency [17:49] Why small wins create winning cultures [18:01] Rebuilding teams and achieving turnaround success [20:11] Innovation and creativity under constraints [24:33] "There's a time to carry and a time to be carried." [28:20] Empowering and leveraging individual strengths [31:21] Building "one team, one heartbeat." [33:44] Rewriting team identity and future vision [35:08] Adapting to change in a fast-moving industry [35:59] Developing talent and promoting from within [37:57] What prepares someone for leadership [40:00] Why transformation journeys are most fulfilling [40:40] Mentoring women in male-dominated industries [43:18] The impact of mentorship and giving back