Forged Youth | Legacy Within
Forged Youth: Legacy Within What if the conversations you needed most as a teen athlete were finally being had, openly, honestly, and with purpose? Forged Youth: Legacy Within is the podcast that equips youth athletes (ages 12–24), their parents, and coaches with the mental tools, emotional resilience, and life insight to rise above the noise and grow into strong, intentional human beings. Each episode features real, raw conversations with professional athletes, CEOs, and cultural leaders sharing what they wish they knew when they were younger. We unpack topics like mental grit, overcoming adversity, identity beyond sport, and building a life of purpose, even when things fall apart. Hosted by former elite athlete and mental health advocate Mariel Nichole Anderson, this podcast is your companion through the messy middle of chasing big dreams, and becoming someone even bigger in the process. Because you weren’t born to just survive sport. You were made to be forged by it.
Episodes
In this episode, Mariel introduces a new member of the Forged Youth team: former professional hockey player, Jordan Owens. After a 12-year pro career that took him across North America and Europe (including signing with the New York Rangers and playing in top leagues in Denmark, Germany, Italy, and the UK), Jordan now helps others develop the mindset, clarity, and discipline needed to pursue their potential, both on a...
In this powerful and personal episode, Mariel is joined by longtime friend and 5th-degree black belt Mike Blom, a dedicated martial artist and national-level competitor, who’s getting ready to represent Canada at the ITF World Championships in Croatia.
From ninja turtles and Power Rangers to the intense, disciplined world of Taekwondo, Mike shares the deeply human side of martial arts. He opens up about what it really ...
🎙️ Inside Volleyball Tryouts: Playing Time, Fair Play & Earning Your Spot
In this special episode, Mariel sits down in person with editor and longtime volleyball coach Kyle to dig deep into the real conversations happening around youth volleyball. From the evolution of "Fair Play" rules to the pressure of earning playing time, this candid discussion unpacks the growing tension between development and com...
🎙️ Inside Volleyball Tryouts: Playing Time, Fair Play & Earning Your Spot
In this special episode, Mariel sits down in person with editor and longtime volleyball coach Kyle to dig deep into the real conversations happening around youth volleyball. From the evolution of "Fair Play" rules to the pressure of earning playing time, this candid discussion unpacks the growing tension between development and com...
What does it really take to develop an elite athlete and how can parents best support their child’s journey?
In this episode, former professional ice hockey coach Alex Stein shares his insights on the fundamentals of high performance. From building confidence through intentional practice to developing resilience through adversity, Alex highlights the habits and mindset that separate good athletes from great ones.
Alex a...
What does it take to perform under pressure and actually thrive there? Serbian professional boxer Jelena Janicijevic discovered the power of visualization, mindfulness, and mental training tools that helped her push through fear, overcome setbacks, and achieve history as the first Serbian woman to medal at the European Boxing Championship. Now, as a mentor to young athletes, Jelena reflects on the value of internal mo...
Behind Canadian National Team cyclist Tyler Rorke’s rise is a foundation built by his parents, not just in early rides to practice, but in the way they navigated disappointment, pressure, and big decisions alongside him. When Tyler was cut from Junior Worlds, their steady support helped him process the setback, find his own motivation, and grow stronger for the long game. In this episode, Tyler's parents reflect ...
How do you support your young athlete’s mental toughness without hovering? In this Q&A episode, Mariel and Kyle dig into questions from parents about building resilience, avoiding burnout, and balancing mental and physical training. From stepping back to let kids take ownership, to knowing when to step in and support, they share personal stories, practical tools, and honest insights. You’ll also hear a powerful an...
When a setback shut the door on Tyler Rorke’s biggest dream as a youth cyclist, he chose not to walk away, he doubled down. In this episode, Canadian National Team sprinter Tyler joins Mariel to talk about the path that didn’t go as planned, and how rejection from Junior Worlds became the catalyst that launched his elite career. He shares what it really looks like to train full-time while staying grounded, how he mana...
In this episode, Mariel sits down with Jon Giesbrecht: Director of Mental Performance for the Vancouver Bandits and self-proclaimed "Basketball Whisperer." Together, they unpack the real meaning of mental training in sport, why breath awareness is foundational, and how athletes can move from panic to performance through grounded routines and emotional regulation. Jon shares practical tools athletes can use o...
In this special Q&A episode of Forged: Youth Legacy Within, Mariel invites editor Kyle Donen out from behind the mic and into the conversation. Both former competitive volleyball players, they reflect on how the landscape of mental health and performance training in sport has evolved over the past two decades, and what’s still missing.
Through candid questions and stories from their playing and coaching days, Marie...
What if fear rather than skill is the biggest thing holding your athlete back? In this powerful episode, legendary Canadian basketball coach and mental toughness trainer Shawnee Harlee joins Mariel to dismantle the culture of fear-based performance in youth sports. From “playing not to lose” to the paralyzing weight of FOPO (Fear of People’s Opinions), Shawnee breaks down how athletes, parents, and coaches unknowingly...
What if your biggest moment on the world’s stage was undone by a single thought? In this powerful conversation, tennis pro turned performance coach Jeff Salzenstein sits down with Mariel to unpack the mindset traps that sabotage success, even at the top. From playing Michael Chang in front of 24,000 fans to battling a 15-year-old slump and rewriting his own mental narrative, Jeff shares the turning points that reshape...
From Volleyball Courts to Life’s Crossroads | Mariel’s Story of Grit and Survival
What if the mental skills you learn in sports could actually save your life? For mental performance coach Mariel Anderson, they did.
In this powerful episode, Mariel takes us deep into her journey, from being a homeschooled kid who barely knew how to play sports, to discovering her love for volleyball, rising as a national athlete, and tr...
This is the last episode under our old brand of 'Probably Important Podcast'. We believe this was the perfect transition between a podcast that was geared soley towards the general umbrella of 'mental health' to the new focus of elite athletes ages 12-24, their parents and coaches; with the mission of making mental training techniques accessible to all! Seth is the perfect example of the power beh...
This is the second last episode of 'Probably Important Podcast', before we turn the page to our new chapter of 'Forged Youth | Legacy Within'.
In this powerful episode, Mariel sits down with Bob Conlin, ontological coach, father, and founder of transformative men's retreats. Bob shares his raw journey through addiction recovery, the life-altering challenges of becoming a father during a high-ri...
Hello all of you incredible humans who are proactive about gaining resources and tools!
We wanted to give you a quick update. For those of you who are here for the first time and expecting it to be a podcast geared towards elite youth athletes, their parents, & coaches; you are in the right place!
The first 46 episodes of this podcast were recorded over the last year and a half when it was 'The Probably Importa...
This isn’t just another podcast episode. It’s an unmasking.
Formerly known as Probably Important, we’re now Forged Youth: Legacy Within—a space where transformation isn’t just talked about, it’s lived. In this episode, Mariel sits down with coach, retreat leader, and modern alchemist Alex Terranova to explore the raw terrain of what it means to be a man in emotional evolution.
Alex talks candidly about the grief of infe...
In this powerful episode, Mariel sits down with Thomas Scaria—coach, author, marathoner, and advocate for living authentically—to explore what it truly means to rise through adversity. From the shock of personal loss and career upheaval to finding strength in long-distance running, Thomas shares the transformative journey that led him to develop his unique framework: "Resilience Plus Rise."
Listeners will hea...
In this episode, Josh and Mariel take a deep dive into the essentials of mental health and effective communication within relationships. They start by unpacking the often-overlooked skill of active listening and the role empathy plays in truly hearing one another. By sharing personal experiences and practical examples, they highlight the importance of being able to recognize and respond to each other’s emotional needs...
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