About Athletes IN Sports: Uncovering Life Lessons through Sports
Athletes IN Sports | Built By Sport.
Show up. Get better. Go all in.
Every kid deserves the chance to play.
Through conversations with college, professional,
and retired athletes, we uncover how they handled
pressure, built mental toughness, balanced academics,
and developed character beyond the game.
For parents raising athletes who will win at life
after sport.
For athletes figuring out what comes next when
the jersey comes off.
For anyone who believes opportunity gets built
through partnerships not sponsorships.
Hosted by Max Smith, Bridget Smith & Andrew Deters.
Powered by InSports Foundation — 100K+ kids impacted
since 2013.
Brett Larson: The Black Dot Theory & Building a New Era of Gopher Hockey | Ep. 31
Brett Larson grew up a block from the rink in Duluth. He wanted the black Lange skates every kid had. His mom couldn't afford them, so she spray-painted his brown leather ones black instead.
Now he's the new head coach of Minnesota Gopher men's hockey.
Brett sat down with us in Monticello on the day of the InSports town takeover — 300 kids on the football field that morning, a business luncheon that afternoon — and talked about what actually builds a winner.
In this episode:
The Black Dot Theory. Put one black dot on a sheet of white paper. What do you see? Brett picked this up from a podcast and now teaches it to his players, because it explains why a great game can fall apart over one turnover — and why your kid comes off the ice remembering the one thing that went wrong.
He admits he does the thing he swore he wouldn't. Brett says he would have been the parent telling everyone not to load up on summer hockey. Then he found himself putting his own kid in it. If you've ever wondered whether you're doing too much, this is the part to hear.
The weekend that made him a coach. As a freshman at UMD, his name wasn't on the travel roster for the Boston trip. He stayed home alone while the team was on the road. He calls it the biggest motivating factor of his career — and it's why he knows exactly what to say to a player who gets benched.
Why he isn't bringing a new system. Culture and recruiting, that's it. His words: "I know for a fact there's not a coach out there right now that's got a forecheck we've never seen before."
China, COVID, and a shootout. Three years in Denmark. Two in Germany. Coaching at the Olympics during a pandemic with hazmat suits spraying the sidewalks, and a quarterfinal loss in a shootout after his team never lost a game in regulation.
NIL, loyalty, and walking away. What he really thinks about where college hockey is heading, and why his staff has said no to bidding wars on purpose.
And the line the whole episode runs on: "The only way you'd fail is if somehow you took the love of the game away from your kids."
Brett's dad played at UMD. His mom was a teacher. He was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings and found out in the basement of a friend's grad party. Through St. Cloud, Duluth, Ohio State, the World Juniors and the Olympics, his philosophy hasn't moved: you can only do the best you can.
Hockey fan, coach, or parent driving home from a game — this one's for you.
Show up. Get better. Go all in.
Hosted by Max Smith + Bridget Smith. Powered by InSports Foundation (www.insportsfoundation.org). 100K+ kids impacted since 2013. To help more kids get in the game, visit insportsfoundation.org.
7 Jul 2026
Dear Mom, You Should Take the Job | Concordia AD Rachel Bergeson | Ep. 30
When Rachel Bergeson was offered her dream job as Athletic Director at Concordia College, she said no. Not because she didn't want it. Because she didn't think she was ready.
A year later, she changed her mind. And the reason she changed her mind is the reason you're going to remember this episode forever.
In Episode 30 of the Athletes IN Sports Podcast, Rachel sits down with Andrew Deters to share the full story — including the moment her 9-year-old son Tyden left a note on the floor that changed everything.
The note said: "Dear Mom, you should take the AD job."
This episode is about:
Why she turned down the AD job the first time (and what she was really afraid of)
The conversation with her husband that made her say yes (he gave up three coaching seasons so she could take the job)
The Division III philosophy that nobody talks about — and why it's producing the most well-rounded athletes in the country
The four football players who left the sideline to sing the national anthem with the choir
Bucky Burgau, her dad, who is still throwing batting practice at age 76
The parenting philosophy that destroyed her backyard: "You're not raising grass, you're raising boys"
Why everything can get figured out on a wiffle ball field
Rachel also shares the origin story of the InSports Foundation, which started in a Concordia dorm room in 2016 when Max Smith and his classmates turned a class project into a nonprofit that has now impacted over 60,000 kids.
If you're a mom who's ever turned down an opportunity because you didn't feel ready — or a parent who's trying to figure out what really matters in youth sports — this episode is for you.
About Rachel Bergeson: Rachel Bergeson is the Athletic Director at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. A Cobber lifer — she grew up on campus (her grandpa coached there, her mom worked in the registrar's office for 44 years, and her dad Bucky Burgau was the head baseball coach and equipment manager). She played at Concordia, then returned as an assistant women's basketball coach before moving into athletics administration. She took the AD job after initially turning it down, and now leads one of the most distinctive D3 athletic programs in the country. Rachel lives in Moorhead with her husband and their two sons, Tyden and Tate.
Links:
InSports Foundation: insportsfoundation.org (www.insportsfoundation.org)
Concordia College Athletics: gocobbers.com (https://www.gocobbers.com/)
Athletes IN Sports Podcast: athletesinsportspodcast.com (https://www.athletesinsportspodcast.com/)
Follow InSports Foundation on Instagram: @insportsfoundation (https://www.instagram.com/insportsfnd/?hl=en)
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @athletesinsportspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/athletesinsports/?hl=en)
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the Athletes IN Sports Podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Share this episode with a mom who's ever doubted herself, a parent who's trying to figure out youth sports, or anyone who loves a good story about courage, family, and chasing your dreams.
9 Jun 2026
Korey Dropkin: Missing the Olympics Twice Made Me an Olympic Medalist | Ep. 29
What does it take to keep chasing a dream after coming up just short—not once, but twice?
In this episode of the Athletes IN Sports Podcast, Olympic Silver Medalist Korey Dropkin shares his incredible journey from missing the Olympic team in both 2018 and 2022 to standing on the podium at the 2026 Winter Olympics as part of the first U.S. mixed doubles curling team to win an Olympic medal.
Korey opens up about the heartbreak of falling just short, the mental battles that followed, the role sports psychology played in his development, and how learning to separate his identity from his sport ultimately helped him reach the highest level of competition. He also shares valuable lessons for athletes, parents, and coaches about resilience, perseverance, pressure, and finding purpose beyond the scoreboard.
Whether you're chasing a big goal, navigating setbacks, or helping a young athlete pursue their dreams, this conversation is packed with insights that extend far beyond the curling rink.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How Korey overcame the disappointment of missing the Olympics twice
Why the mental side of performance became his biggest breakthrough
The importance of finding your identity outside of sports
What Olympic pressure really feels like
Advice for parents raising young athletes
Why perseverance often matters more than talent
🎙️ Athletes IN Sports Podcast
Inspiring conversations with athletes, coaches, and leaders who share the lessons sports teach us about life.
This episode is brought to you by:
🏅 InSports Foundation
Providing scholarships, free camps, and opportunities to help more kids experience the life-changing impact of sports.
Learn more: https://insportsfoundation.org (https://insportsfoundation.org)
💼 Innovative
Helping organizations create better workplaces through furniture, architectural products, and workplace solutions.
Learn more: https://innovativeos.com (https://innovativeos.com)
Follow Athletes IN Sports:
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LinkedIn: Athletes IN Sports
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