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Car Ride Conversations

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by Valerie Alston

4.8(13 reviews)
77 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
69

Podcast Authority

Beta
GoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
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Quality72
Social91
YouTube72
Engagement51
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Podcast Overview

The ultimate podcast for parents, coaches, and youth sport athletes who want to unlock the secrets to mental toughness, confidence, and resilience. Whether you're on your way to practice, a big game, or just tackling the daily grind, these bite-sized episodes are designed to spark meaningful conversations to equip young athletes with actionable tools to thrive in school, sports and life while building strong relationships with their parents, one car ride at a time. Hosted by Valerie Alston, former D1 athlete, sport psychology expert, and resilience coach, each episode dives into key topics like building effective self-talk, staying calm under pressure, and bouncing back from setbacks. With real-life stories, practical tips, and relatable insights, you'll discover how to support your youth sport athlete's journey while strengthening your connection along the way. Buckle up and join us for a ride full of inspiration, growth, and the skills needed to become Confident, Calm, and Clutch! Questions? Comments? Ideas? ✉️ Email me: valerie.alston@valstoncoaching.com Follow Me On: 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valstoncoaching 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valstoncoaching ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valstoncoaching9666 ✨ For exclusive tips, tools, and updates, join my newsletter: 📬 https://www.confidentcalmclutch.com/newsletter

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

1/3/2025

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69

Podcast Authority

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GoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Pod Engine
Quality72
Social91
YouTube72
Engagement51
Learn more
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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for How to Stay Composed When the Game Gets Chaotic

July 13, 2026

How to Stay Composed When the Game Gets Chaotic

<p>Overwhelmed in the Game? Simplify: 3 Ways to Reduce Mental Load and Play Your Best </p><p>Host Valerie Alston explains how chaos in sports can overwhelm athletes by maxing out limited cognitive capacity, leading to slower processing, hesitation, rushed decisions, missed cues, and errors. Instead of trying to think more, she teaches listeners to simplify by focusing on “What’s important now?” and “What is my job for the next five seconds?” She shares three practical tools to reduce mental load: narrowing to a single controllable cue (“the win”), grounding in the present with “feet and breath” or a physical anchor, and using a practiced reset routine—release, refocus, respond. She also advises parents and coaches to avoid adding to athletes’ cognitive load with too many instructions, especially for younger kids, and offers a weekly challenge to build a personalized chaos-to-composure plan plus family discussion questions.</p><p>00:00 Simplify the Chaos</p><p>00:41 Meet the Host</p><p>01:54 Why Overwhelm Happens</p><p>04:23 Cognitive Overload Signs</p><p>06:09 Whats Important Now</p><p>08:45 Grounding in the Moment</p><p>12:22 Reset Routine Steps</p><p>15:48 Parents and Coaches Cues</p><p>18:31 Weekly Challenge Plan</p><p>19:49 Car Ride Questions</p><p>23:03 Wrap Up and Next Steps </p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Discussion questions: </strong></p><ol><li>What does it feel like in your body or mind when a game starts becoming too chaotic?</li><li>What is one situation in your sport where you tend to think about too many things at once?</li><li>When that situation happens, what could your ‘What’s Important Now?’ answer be?”</li><li>What role do your parents play in adding to the chaos? Are there things they do during games that add to the chaos?</li></ol><br/><p></p><p></p><p>Thanks for joining me on Confident, Calm, and Clutch Car Ride Conversations! If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a moment. Share it with other parents or coaches who could use a little extra inspiration on the go.</p><p>For exclusive tips, tools, and updates join my newsletter at<a href="http://www.confidentcalmclutch.com/newsletter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> www.confidentcalmclutch.com/newsletter</a></p><p>For more specific tips on building mental toughness, buy my book<a href="https://www.confidentcalmclutch.com/confidentcalmandclutchbook" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Confident, Calm and Clutch: How to build confidence and mental toughness for young athletes using sports psychology</a></p><p>If you are a coach looking for ways to build mental toughness into your practices then check out my coaching resources (books, assessments, conversation starters, community and more) <a href="https://www.confidentcalmclutch.com/coaches" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p></p><p>Parents join my Facebook group to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1XBC48thLu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Help Your Athlete Gain Mental Toughness for Parents</a></p><p>Have an idea for a topic? Submit your idea<a href="https://valstoncoaching.typeform.com/carridetopic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> here.</a></p><p>Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email me: valerie.alston@valstoncoaching.com</p><p><strong>Follow Me on:</strong></p><p>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valstoncoaching</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valstoncoaching</p><p>YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valstoncoaching9666</p><p></p><p>Watch every episode of Car Ride Conversations here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOjguEFjF88w5Wl-eA9dlkwLk7f_sI12V" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOjguEFjF88w5Wl-eA9dlkwLk7f_sI12V</a></p>

Episode thumbnail for The Mental Game of the World Cup: Lessons Every Young Athlete Should Notice

July 6, 2026

The Mental Game of the World Cup: Lessons Every Young Athlete Should Notice

<p>Watch the World Cup Differently: Mental Toughness Lessons for Young Athletes </p><p>Valerie Alston challenges sports families to watch the World Cup by focusing on mindset rather than the ball, using knockout-round moments to teach mental toughness. She highlights how quickly momentum shifts in soccer and the importance of emotional flexibility—responding to the current reality and “playing the score on the scoreboard, not the one in your head.” She explains that pressure doesn’t require rushing, emphasizing deliberate routines and the cue “slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” She also discusses intentional body language after mistakes, composure late in games, and how top teams solve problems together through communication, encouragement, and solution-focused resilience. </p><p>00:00 Watch the Mindset</p><p>01:18 Momentum and Emotional Flexibility</p><p>03:26 Play the Scoreboard</p><p>04:37 Pressure Without Rushing</p><p>06:24 Slow Is Smooth</p><p>07:11 Body Language and Composure</p><p>09:33 Team Resilience Together</p><p>10:52 Watch for the Hidden Skills</p><p>11:53 Family Conversation Prompts</p><p>14:46 Wrap Up and Next Steps </p><p></p><p><strong>Discussion questions: </strong></p><ol><li><strong>When you watched the World Cup this week, who impressed you the most—not because they scored, but because of how they handled pressure?</strong></li><li><strong>After you make a mistake in your sport, what does your body language usually communicate to your teammates?</strong></li><li><strong>What's one situation in your sport where slowing down instead of speeding up would actually help you perform better?</strong></li><li><strong>If someone watched only your attitude—not your statistics—what would they learn about you as a teammate?</strong></li></ol><br/><p></p><p>Thanks for joining me on Confident, Calm, and Clutch Car Ride Conversations! If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a moment. Share it with other parents or coaches who could use a little extra inspiration on the go.</p><p>For exclusive tips, tools, and updates join my newsletter at<a href="http://www.confidentcalmclutch.com/newsletter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> www.confidentcalmclutch.com/newsletter</a></p><p>For more specific tips on building mental toughness, buy my book<a href="https://www.confidentcalmclutch.com/confidentcalmandclutchbook" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Confident, Calm and Clutch: How to build confidence and mental toughness for young athletes using sports psychology</a></p><p>If you are a coach looking for ways to build mental toughness into your practices then check out my coaching resources (books, assessments, conversation starters, community and more) <a href="https://www.confidentcalmclutch.com/coaches" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p></p><p>Parents join my Facebook group to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1XBC48thLu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Help Your Athlete Gain Mental Toughness for Parents</a></p><p>Have an idea for a topic? Submit your idea<a href="https://valstoncoaching.typeform.com/carridetopic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> here.</a></p><p>Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email me: valerie.alston@valstoncoaching.com</p><p><strong>Follow Me on:</strong></p><p>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valstoncoaching</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valstoncoaching</p><p>YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valstoncoaching9666</p><p></p><p>Watch every episode of Car Ride Conversations here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOjguEFjF88w5Wl-eA9dlkwLk7f_sI12V" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOjguEFjF88w5Wl-eA9dlkwLk7f_sI12V</a></p>

Episode thumbnail for How to Pay for College Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Money)

June 29, 2026

How to Pay for College Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Money)

<p>How to Pay for College: Scholarships, FAFSA Timing, and Family Money Talks </p><p>Valerie Alston and guest Shelly Howard discuss how sports families can fund college through early, honest conversations about what parents can contribute, whether loans are on the table, and the student’s role in earning merit scholarships. Howard explains four “buckets” of money, notes scholarships can be pursued as early as fourth grade, and emphasizes getting a clear estimate of what colleges expect you to pay using a Student Aid Index (SAI) calculator. She highlights that FAFSA considers not only income but where assets are held, and warns planning should start well before late junior year. The episode stresses that the biggest money can come from choosing the right, more generous college and from students building a strong “resume” of authentic leadership and activities. They offer conversation starters like the “millionaire” game to gauge values and financial literacy, and share resources including books and a 30-minute discovery call at collegereadyplan.info.</p><p>00:00 College Cost Wakeup</p><p>02:16 Funding Starts With Talk</p><p>04:46 Scholarship Buckets And FAFSA</p><p>08:07 Student Merit Mindset</p><p>13:19 Where To Find Scholarships</p><p>17:24 Family Money Talk Starters</p><p>18:20 Millionaire Game And Debt</p><p>23:03 Resources And Wrap Up </p><p><u><a href="http://www.collegereadyplan.info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.collegereadyplan.info</a></u></p><p><u><a href="http://www.collegereadyplan.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.collegereadyplan.com</a></u> </p><p></p><p></p><p>Thanks for joining me on Confident, Calm, and Clutch Car Ride Conversations! If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a moment. Share it with other parents or coaches who could use a little extra inspiration on the go.</p><p>For exclusive tips, tools, and updates join my newsletter at<a href="http://www.confidentcalmclutch.com/newsletter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> www.confidentcalmclutch.com/newsletter</a></p><p>For more specific tips on building mental toughness, buy my book<a href="https://www.confidentcalmclutch.com/confidentcalmandclutchbook" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Confident, Calm and Clutch: How to build confidence and mental toughness for young athletes using sports psychology</a></p><p>If you are a coach looking for ways to build mental toughness into your practices then check out my coaching resources (books, assessments, conversation starters, community and more) <a href="https://www.confidentcalmclutch.com/coaches" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p></p><p>Parents join my Facebook group to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1XBC48thLu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Help Your Athlete Gain Mental Toughness for Parents</a></p><p>Have an idea for a topic? Submit your idea<a href="https://valstoncoaching.typeform.com/carridetopic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> here.</a></p><p>Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email me: valerie.alston@valstoncoaching.com</p><p><strong>Follow Me on:</strong></p><p>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valstoncoaching</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valstoncoaching</p><p>Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@valstoncoaching9666</p><p></p><p>Watch every episode of Car Ride Conversations here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOjguEFjF88w5Wl-eA9dlkwLk7f_sI12V" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOjguEFjF88w5Wl-eA9dlkwLk7f_sI12V</a></p>

77 total episodes available

Recent guests on Car Ride Conversations

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Valerie Alston

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Justin Bogers

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Justin Boger

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Valerie Alston's father

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Ireland

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What is Car Ride Conversations?

The ultimate podcast for parents, coaches, and youth sport athletes who want to unlock the secrets to mental toughness, confidence, and resilience. Whether you're on your way to practice, a big game, or just tackling the daily grind, these bite-sized episodes are designed to spark meaningful conversations to equip young athletes with actionable tools to thrive in school, sports and life while building strong relationships with their parents, one car ride at a time.

Hosted by Valerie Alston, former D1 athlete, sport psychology expert, and resilience coach, each episode dives into key topics like building effective self-talk, staying calm under pressure, and bouncing back from setbacks. With real-life stories, practical tips, and relatable insights, you'll discover how to support your youth sport athlete's journey while strengthening your connection along the way.

Buckle up and join us for a ride full of inspiration, growth, and the skills needed to become Confident, Calm, and Clutch!

Questions? Comments? Ideas? ✉️ Email me: valerie.alston@valstoncoaching.com

Follow Me On: 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valstoncoaching 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valstoncoaching ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valstoncoaching9666

✨ For exclusive tips, tools, and updates, join my newsletter: 📬 https://www.confidentcalmclutch.com/newsletter

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates daily.

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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

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