Welcome to AthletesClass: The Pod.
We dive into the mental and emotional side of sports—the overlooked but critical piece of elite performance. Through real conversations with athletes, coaches, and experts, we explore the tools, habits, and mindset shifts that help athletes thrive under pressure, bounce back from setbacks, and play with confidence.
AthletesClass is part media platform, part educational movement, created to bring mental and emotional training to the forefront for amateur athletes everywhere.
Inside the Mind of an NFL Prospect: JT Byrne's 3-Week Countdown
The clock is ticking. With just 21 days left until the 2026 NFL Draft, the physical work is done—now, it's all about the mental game.We sit down with Georgia Tech Tight End prospect JT Byrne for an unfiltered look at the final three weeks of draft prep. Beyond the combine numbers and pro days, JT opens up about managing the emotional rollercoaster of draft season, the habits he developed, and the core mindset lessons he’s carrying with him to the next level.Whether you're an athlete navigating your own transition or a die-hard football fan, this conversation is a masterclass in peak performance and draft-day readiness.🏈 In this episode:— The reality of the 3-week draft countdown— Managing expectations and pre-draft anxiety— Training the mind for the NFL transition— JT's biggest takeaways from Georgia Tech
18 Feb 2026
Who Are You When the Jersey Comes Off? (feat. Caitlin Broadwell)
We are often told to "leave it at the door" when we step onto the field, but is that actually possible?
Today, Shaun sits down with Caitlin Broadwell—former LSU Beach Volleyball player, LPC, and author—to dismantle the myth that you can separate the athlete from the human.
In this episode, we cover:
The Holistic Wheel: Why sleep, social life, and mental health are performance metrics.
Toxic Perfectionism: The difference between healthy striving and the fear of failure.
Redefining Resilience: Why "grinding through it" isn't always the answer.
Life After Sport: Navigating the identity void when the game ends.
Caitlin also breaks down her new project, "Hanging Up The Jersey," a workbook designed to help athletes transition into life after competition without losing themselves in the process.
Connect with AthletesClass:
Instagram: @AthletesClass
Website: www.athletesclass.com
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oem4yqmjLl0
Learn more with Caitlin here: https://linktr.ee/hangingupthejersey?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=99fa1b3b-cafa-43f9-919a-2f0f2c73cfbf
6 Nov 2025
Life After College Sports: Finding Identity Beyond the Game with Ian Rice
What happens when your playing days are over — but your identity is still tied to being an athlete?
In this episode of the AthletesClass Pod, host Shaun Boyte talks with Ian Rice (https://start.ianakarice.com/), a former Division I javelin thrower at Cal Poly, about one of the hardest moments in an athlete’s life: the transition from sport to what comes next.
Ian shares his story of adaptability, resilience, and rediscovering purpose beyond competition. From switching sports and setting records to facing real loss and learning to “bounce forward,” he’s learned to turn every setback into data — fuel for growth.
Now, through his upcoming book The College Athlete’s Interview Playbook, Ian helps athletes apply the same systems, preparation, and confidence that made them successful in sport to launch meaningful careers after it.
You’ll hear about:
Letting go of your athletic identity — and what comes after
How to prepare mentally for the transition
Turning failure into feedback
The power of “reverse visualization”
Building confidence and purpose beyond the field
If you’re a college athlete, coach, or parent wondering what happens next — this conversation is for you.
Subscribe for more conversations exploring the mental and emotional side of sport.
23 Sept 2025
Steven Horne on Erasing Delusion and Building Mental Toughness
Cut in 7th grade. McDonald’s All-American nominee. A pro career spanning China, Japan, Korea, Iran, Finland, and Canada.
Steven Horne’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and growth. Today, as the founder of 360 Basketball, he’s mentoring the next generation of athletes not just on the court, but in academics, mindset, and even financial literacy in the NIL era.
In this conversation, we dive into:
What “erasing delusion” means for young athletes chasing the NBA dream
The difference between good players and D1/pro athletes
Mental toughness, pressure, and recovery in today’s game
The hidden challenges of injury, money, and contracts
Why development — as a player and a person — is everything
This episode is packed with lessons that go far beyond basketball.
🎙️ Hosted by Shaun Boyte | AthletesClass Podcast
20 Aug 2025
One Day at a Time with Tight End JT Byrne
Georgia Tech tight end JT Bryne joins the AthletesClass Podcast to talk about his journey from Carmel High to Oregon State, Cal, and now his final college season in Atlanta with the NFL in sight. We dive into adaptability, staying present, bouncing back from mistakes, and the mental systems that keep him locked in through the highs and lows of college football. JT’s goal is simple: play as long as he can. Part one of his story is here — part two comes after the NFL Draft.
29 Mar 2025
Paul Lundberg | Eighteen Years in the Stands
In this conversation, Shaun Boyte and Paul discuss the emotional journey of parenting young athletes, reflecting on the highs and lows of their experiences. They explore the transition from active participation in sports to the bittersweet end of their children's athletic careers, emphasizing the importance of being present and supportive without overstepping boundaries. Paul shares personal anecdotes about navigating his children's sports journeys, the challenges of managing emotions, and the significance of cherishing memories while offering advice to new parents about focusing on the process rather than outcomes.
7 Feb 2025
Feedback, Failure, and Mastery with Brianna Garza
In the episode, BriAnna Garza talks about her coaching and teaching philosophy which is absolutely on point, while hitting on many of the principles we learn in Season Zero. She has a beautiful ability to talk about her experience of working with WNBA players all the way down to stories about 4th graders with humility and approachability that certainly made me feel at ease.
https://shootersxshoot.app/
www.instagram.com/shootersxshoot70
22 Nov 2024
Lessons of an AD with Justin Clymo
Justin Clymo, a 25-year veteran of coaching, teaching, and now serving 15 years as an athletic director at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, CA, takes us through the lessons and perspectives he's gained along the way, including feedback loops, growth mindset, character over talent, the role of relationships, and navigating the new high school to college athlete landscape.
Justin also has a series of podcasts and more you can discover here: https://linktr.ee/contactspodcast
17 Sept 2024
Performance Anxiety with Kristen Ibsen
In this podcast, Kristen, a semi-professional soccer player and psych grad, shares her deeply personal and powerful story of struggling with performance anxiety as a young athlete.
Kristen is conducting market research and looking for collegiate student-athletes who experience performance anxiety.
Learn more here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kristen-ibsen-86838316b_marketresearch-studentathlete-performanceanxiety-activity-7219858497608273921-Q00F?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
25 Jun 2024
AthletesClass The Pod Trailer
Introducing the AthletesClass, a resource for athletes, coaches, and parents on the mental and emotional side of sports.
The journey of an athlete, from a youngster learning how fun sports can be to a professional feeling the enormous weight of a country, is full of significant and unprecedented moments: joy, disappointment, anticipation, extreme highs, and lonely lows. Yet the resources to navigate those stages, especially given the competitive landscape, feel scattered, inconsistent, and exclusive.
We are here to put a dent in that.
Our philosophy is about process over result. Internal motivation over external validation. About controlling what's within your control. Energy, effort, attitude.
We are glad you're here, now let's get to work.
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