Cool Hand Dross

About Cool Hand Dross

Cool Hand Dross is a candid podcast about mental health, books, and the stories we carry—especially the ones we avoid until life forces us to listen. The show blends raw monologues, personal storytelling, and cultural reflections to explore anxiety, recovery, identity, creativity, and the pursuit of a more genuine life. Each episode weaves together: 📚 Books & Writing 🧠 Mental Health 🫙 True Tales from the Mason Jar 🎭 Culture Call Outs This podcast is for readers, writers, and deep thinkers who feel restless, reflective, or slightly out of step with the current world—and still believe stories heal, words save lives, and change is possible.

Publisher

Cool Hand Dross

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

6 Dec 2025

Latest episode

27 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

48 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Oct 2026

   Show Up Anyway: From Episode 3 to 47 — Why Discipline Beats Motivation | Episode 47

   What happens when we keep showing up, even when we don't feel like it? Forty-seven episodes into Cool Hand Dross, an unexpected invitation reminded me why consistency, discipline, and perseverance matter more than motivation. When I was just three episodes into this podcast, entrepreneur, CEO coach, and speaker Dan "Big D" Sachkowsky reached out through Instagram. Forty-four episodes later, I found myself sitting in his home studio, being interviewed by Dan and his co-host, Anthony D'Angelo. One question stuck with me: How often do you not feel like recording your podcast? My answer? Every. Single. Time. In this behind-the-scenes episode, we reflect on the power of showing up, building meaningful relationships, and pursuing something worthwhile without knowing where it might lead. We explore why discipline outlasts motivation, how consistency creates unexpected opportunities, and why reading, critical thinking, and intellectual independence remain essential to personal growth. Along the way, we share a memorable day with some great people, including my co-pilot Kevin Jr., and give a special shout-out to my man Vinnie D of One Brick Media. The lesson? Consistency doesn't guarantee success. But quitting guarantees we won't discover what might have happened if we'd kept going. Whether we're building a business, developing a creative project, improving our health, or simply trying to become better versions of ourselves, the message is the same: We don't always know what we're building while we're building it. Keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep moving forward. Resist and multiply. #CoolHandDross #ShowUpAnyway #Consistency #SelfDiscipline #PersonalGrowth

2. 

   20 Oct 2026

   Michael Blanchard: Youth Sports, Coaching, Parenting & Building Character | Episode 46

   Veteran educator, wrestling coach, father, and author Michael Blanchard joins Cool Hand Dross for a conversation about youth sports, coaching, parenting, leadership, competition, character, and what kids actually need from the adults around them. Michael is the author of The Path Forward: Youth Sports and More, a book that examines the culture surrounding youth athletics and asks an important question: What are youth sports really supposed to be about? Winning matters. Competition matters. But so do growth, resilience, discipline, confidence, teamwork, and learning how to handle adversity. In this episode, Scott and Michael dig into what happens when those priorities get out of balance—when pressure builds, parents become too invested in outcomes, coaches lose perspective, and the scoreboard starts to matter more than the kids playing the game. Drawing from years in education, wrestling, coaching, and parenting three boys, Michael shares his perspective on how adults can create a healthier, more meaningful sports experience for young athletes. They talk about: The purpose of youth sports Coaching young athletes Parenting athletes without adding unnecessary pressure Winning versus long-term development Building character through competition Leadership and accountability Wrestling and the lessons it teaches Handling failure, setbacks, and adversity The role of parents and coaches in athlete development Keeping youth sports focused on the kids And how adults can occasionally remember to behave themselves in the bleachers At its best, youth sports can teach lessons that last far beyond the final whistle. But that only happens when the adults involved keep the bigger picture in mind. Michael Blanchard, author of The Path Forward: Youth Sports and More on Cool Hand Dross. Cool Hand Dross explores mental health, books, culture, life, reinvention, and the stories and experiences that shape who we become. #YouthSports #YouthSportsParenting #Coaching #Parenting #SportsParenting #Wrestling #AthleteDevelopment #Leadership #CharacterDevelopment #SportsCulture #Education #CoolHandDross

3. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Reading Is Now an Act of Rebellion: America’s Reading Decline and Fight for Your Mind | Episode 45

   Americans are reading less, literacy scores are declining, and our attention is increasingly shaped by algorithms, short-form content, and constant digital distraction. In this solo episode of Cool Hand Dross, we revisit the idea that reading is now an act of rebellion, not because books are disappearing, but because deep reading, critical thinking, and independent thought are becoming harder to protect. The episode explores the decline of reading in America, falling literacy and reading-proficiency levels, the difference between basic literacy and critical literacy, and why authoritarian systems have historically benefited from controlling information and limiting independent thought. We also look at what reading gives us that scrolling does not: patience, reflection, concentration, intellectual friction, and the ability to sit with complicated ideas before reacting. And this isn’t a call to read difficult books just to prove a point. The challenge is much simpler: find something you genuinely enjoy, put the phone down, create twenty quiet minutes, and read. In this episode: America’s declining reading and literacy trends Why critical thinking matters in a democracy Reading, propaganda, and independent thought How algorithms compete for our attention Why deep reading can be meditative The importance of reading for pleasure Helping kids become lifelong readers AI, information overload, and the growing value of judgment How to rebuild a reading habit without turning it into homework Reading is not just about books. It is about protecting your attention, curiosity, and ability to think for yourself.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

11 ratings

Contact Cool Hand Dross

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.