What if the difference between breakthrough performance and crushing disappointment isn't talent, training, or even opportunity—but the story you're telling yourself about who you are and what you're capable of?

In this transformative conversation, developmental coach Dr. Cara Miller reveals how self-authorship—the fundamental belief that you are the narrator of your own experience—becomes the foundation for sustained excellence in athletics and life. Drawing from constructive developmental psychology, Dr. Miller breaks down why traditional compliance-based coaching falls short and how we can train athletes to think, not just perform.

Key Insights:

 * How culture killers like entitlement and resentment destroy team potential before it ever develops
 * The critical connection between body awareness, emotional intelligence, and clear decision-making under pressure
 * Why teaching athletes to feel, not just think, creates transferable life skills that compound over time
 * The subtle but powerful difference between teaching behavior versus training thinking patterns
 * How leadership as service transforms team captains from badge-wearers into bridge-builders

This isn't just about winning games—it's about authoring a life of intentional growth, meaningful contribution, and sustainable excellence. The skills that create championship athletes are the same ones that create exceptional leaders, partners, and human beings.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train  
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com [http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com/]

#SportspsychologyPodcast #SelfAuthorship #AthleticPerformance #CoachingMindset #LeadershipDevelopment #MentalTraining #TeamCulture #YouthSports #HighSchoolCoaching #CharacterDevelopment

058 - Self-Authoring Performance w/ Dr Cara Miller

Discover the game-changing framework that revolutionized Tex's approach to developing both movement excellence and character. In this transformative episode, learn the powerful four-stage system: Define, Model, Shape, and Reinforce.

What You'll Master:

 * Crystal-clear movement instruction that accelerates learning
 * Why modeling matters more than words (leveraging mirror neurons)
 * "Confrontation with love" - shaping growth without breaking relationships
 * The principle "if you permit it, you promote it" for technique and character
 * Creating feedback loops that elevate your coaching impact

Beyond Movement - Building Leaders: This framework transcends athletics, becoming a blueprint for developing integrity, respect, and personal growth. Every interaction becomes an opportunity for intentional transformation.

Transform how you teach, learn, and grow - both on the field and in life.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

#MotorLearning #CoachingMethodology #Athletedéveloppement #LeadershipDevelopment #SportsCoaching #MovementCoaching #CoachEducation #TeachingFramework #CharacterBuilding #CoachingTips

057 - Teach Anyone Anything

Performance coach Pat Nolan is building something different in Parker, Colorado. From training NFL combine prospects to developing high school leaders, Pat's approach challenges conventional wisdom about athletic development and youth sports.

We explore his strong stance against sports specialization, sharing why college coaches now avoid over-showcased youth players and how Trevor Baptiste played three sports before dominating professional lacrosse. Pat discusses using productive "trash talk" to build mental toughness and teaches a simple filter for handling criticism.

From scaling his team of coaches to creating accountability systems, Pat reveals his vision for making Pivotal Performance the "third home" for every athlete and transforming his entire community through athletic development.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com [http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com/]

#SportsPerformance #YouthAthletics #LeadershipDevelopment #SportsSpecialization #LacrosseTraining #AthleteCoaching #MultiSportAthlete #MentalToughness #HighSchoolSports #PLL #NFLCombine

056 - Pivotal Sports Performance w/ Pat Nolan

Here's how to turn every practice into a laboratory for developing the next generation of leaders. In this transformative episode, we explore how intentional practice design becomes the foundation for building authentic leadership that extends far beyond the field of play.

Discover how to systematically create leadership opportunities within every training session - from pre-practice setup to post-drill reflection. This isn't about appointing captains and hoping for the best; it's about architecting experiences that develop leadership skills through purposeful repetition and gradual empowerment.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-trainEducation - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com [http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com/]

#LeadershipDevelopment #AthleticCoaching #PracticeDesign #TeamCaptain #CharacterBuilding #SportsLeadership #CoachingPhilosophy #YouthDevelopment #EmpowermentThroughSports #HolisticTraining #TedLasso

055 - Turn Practice into a Leadership Lab

What happens when a seven-time CrossFit Games competitor discovers that true fitness extends far beyond the gym walls? In this compelling conversation, Margaux Alvarez takes us on her journey from a multi-sport Montana kid to the pinnacle of competitive fitness, and ultimately to her mission of redefining what it means to be fit.

Margaux competed at the CrossFit Games from 2013-2019, witnessing the sport's golden era firsthand. But her story isn't just about athletic achievement - it's about the profound realization that movement and mindset are inseparable, and that the strongest athletes train both their bodies and their minds.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com [http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com/]

#CrossFitGames #FitnessMotivation #MentalToughness #CrossFitAthlete #MindsetTraining #FunctionalFitness #WomenInFitness #VisualizationTechniques #TrainHeroic #HolisticFitness

054 - Redefining Fitness w/ Margaux Alvarez

"Sports don't teach lessons, coaches do." Pick up the tools to ensure your athletes develop leadership skills that will serve them in college, careers, and as future parents—not just on the field now. 

Tex McQuilkin cracks open his recent article published in the Beyond Strength Journal of Psychology and Sport, exploring how coaches can maximize leadership development opportunities "between the whistles."

Tex introduces the powerful concept of Social Emotional Leadership and his "CASEL in Cleats" framework—a practical application of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) designed specifically for teenage and college athletes. Moving beyond traditional skill development, this episode focuses on those crucial moments during warm-ups, water breaks, and conditioning that can transform athletes into leaders.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

#SportsCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #YouthSports #SocialEmotionalLearning #CharacterBuilding #CoachEducation #SportsPsychology #TeamBuilding #HighSchoolSports #AthleteLeadership #SocialEmotionalLeadership

053 - Social Emotional Leadership in Sports

What does it take to perform at your best when it matters most? Former NFL linebacker Brian Peters thought he knew—until his playing career ended and he discovered the real secret wasn't just physical training.

In this episode, Brian shares his evolution from a player "chasing edges" to becoming a nervous system regulation expert who travels the country in a 26-person mobile sauna, teaching everyone from professional athletes to firefighters how to achieve what he calls "predictable excellence."

If you've ever wondered how elite performers stay calm under pressure or how to build unshakeable confidence in any domain, this conversation offers a roadmap from someone who's lived on both sides of peak performance.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

Go Texans 🤘

#NervousSystemRegulation #BreathingForPerformance #HumanOptimization #PredictableExcellence #NFLMindset #PerformanceCoaching #StressManagement #HighPerformanceHabits #MentalPerformance #LeadershipDevelopment #Texans #Sorinex

052 - Predictable Excellence w/ Brian Peters

If Part I opened your eyes to Raphael's philosophy, Part II will completely transform how you approach skill development and athlete communication. We dive deep into the gap between teaching skills in isolation and building habits that transfer to game situations.

Raph leads a masterclass in state-dependent learning, his skill acquisition model, and Efficiency vs Force. He also shares how he taught his son Raider to attack ground balls despite his fear of failure - and why rewarding the right decision matters more than the outcome.

Plus: An intimate look at the immersive apprenticeship experience that shaped Tex's development as a Coach - from ocean swims to deciphering workout codes to building habits that transfer from training room to competition.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

Education - Why They Won't Listen: Coaching Modern Athlete - listen.captainsandcoaches.com [https://listen.captainsandcoaches.com/]

#SkillAcquisition #StateDependentLearning #HabitBuilding #BaseballCoaching #SportsPerformance #MotorLearning #AthleteTraining #PerformanceUnderPressure #CoachingCommunication #SportsPsychology #RaphRuiz

051 - Accelerated Skill Acquisition - Raph Ruiz - Part II

Raphael Ruiz transformed his coaching philosophy when he realized stronger athletes weren't necessarily better performers. This master strength and conditioning coach has trained everyone from Olympic athletes to middle schoolers, from professional boxers to high schoolers sprinting in socks and lifting rusty equipment. 

Raph's philosophy is both practical and profound, offering insights that will change how you think about coaching, leadership, and human development.

In Part 1 of this interview, Tex & Raph regale some fun stories from Tex's apprenticeship, Raph shares his evolution from traditional strength training to movement-based coaching focused on "skill acquisition" - training how athletes actually move in their sport rather than just how much they can lift - and they discuss calculated coaching of well-behaved vs obedient athletes.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

Education - Why They Won't Listen: Coaching Modern Athlete - listen.captainsandcoaches.com [https://listen.captainsandcoaches.com/]

#CaptainsAndCoaches #StrengthAndConditioning #MovementTraining #CoachingPhilosophy #AthleteDevelopment #YouthSports #SkillAcquisition #SportsPerformance #CoachingTips #FunctionalMovement #LeadershipDevelopment #RaphRuiz

050 - League of Shadows- Raph Ruiz - Part I

What happens when a CrossFit Games competitor trades the podium for the classroom? Dr. Allison Brager joins us to share her remarkable journey from elite athlete to neurobiologist to military leader, and now professor at West Point.

Neurobiologist specializing in sleep and circadian rhythms, former CrossFit Games competitor, Army officer, and author of "Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain." She currently serves on advisory boards for NATO, US Special Operations Command, and multiple research organizations, and is heading to West Point to teach leadership psychology.

We dive deep into the identity trap that ensnares athletes who build their entire sense of self around competition, exploring why backup plans aren't just smart—they're essential. Allison shares hard-earned lessons about the evolution every athlete must face: from competing to coaching, from personal achievement to developing others.

Old Bull Training Program - 7 Day Free Trial: https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

#FromPodiumToProfessor #LeadershipDevelopment #WestPoint #AthleteEvolution #CrossFit #MilitaryLeadership #CoachingMindset #ArmyFitness #CrossFitGames #SummerStrong #neuroscience

049 - From Platform to Professor w/ Allison Brager

The Fast-Track to Becoming a Game-Changing Leader.

Discover how the greatest minds in sports build winning cultures. Dive into raw, no-nonsense conversations with elite coaches and captains who've been in the trenches. We're not here for fluff – expect:

 * Hard-hitting strategies to skyrocket your team's performance
 * Insider tips on building unbreakable team chemistry
 * Career-defining lessons from both victories and failures

Whether you're calling plays or taking the field, we're building you up, not breaking you down. 

Ready to raise your game? Let's do it together.

Press play. Listen and lead with purpose. Become the leader your team needs.

Tex McQuilkin

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