The Sport Fuels Life Podcast

"I'll Find a Way or Make One": Dana Mathewson's Story of Grit and Greatness

Champion wheelchair tennis player Dana Mathewson shares her remarkable journey from diagnosis with transverse myelitis at age 10 to becoming America's most accomplished wheelchair tennis player. With candid humor, Dana discusses her initial reluctance toward adaptive sports and how her mother's persistence led her to the court. ...

Fear Is a Passenger, Not the Driver: Jenn Drummond’s World Record Climb

In 2018, Jen Drummond survived a car crash that should have ended her life. Instead, it sparked a world-record journey that would redefine what’s possible—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

In this episode, Jen shares how that near-death experience became her “line in the sand” moment, propelling her from business owner and mom of seven to the first woman t...

The Champion's Mindset: USTA's Dr. Larry Lauer on Mental Performance

The difference between good and great in tennis often comes down to mental skills. Dr. Larry Lauer, Director of Mental Performance for the USTA, has revolutionized how players approach the psychological side of the sport.

"How you do what you do is way more important than the outcome," Lauer emphasizes. "You can't really get the outcome without the process."

As th...

Unstoppable: Shelby Baron's Journey to Paralympic Tennis

From struggling to keep up in PE class to becoming a two-time Paralympian, Shelby Baron’s story is a powerful testament to resilience, discovery, and the transformative power of adaptive sports. Born with spina bifida in Hawaii, Shelby found new possibilities through wheelchair tennis—ultimately representing Team USA in Rio and Tokyo.

In this episode, Shelby shares how her in...

ATP Coach Craig Boynton on Building Champions

Great coaching isn’t just about drills and strategy—it’s about connection, trust, and mindset. ATP coach Craig Boynton, who has worked with world-class players like Jim Courier, John Isner, and Hubert Hurkacz, knows that success starts with putting the player first:

"It’s not about the coach—it’s about the athlete."

He helps players balance physical skills ("hardware") with mental stren...

Game-Changing Coaching: Bill Riddle Previews the National HS Tennis Coaches Conference

We’re thrilled to have Bill Riddle join us today on the podcast! Bill is not only one of the most well-respected coaches in the country but also played a key role in helping us put together the National High School Tennis Coaches Conference. His passion for growing the game and his wealth of experience have been instrumental in shaping this uniqu...

CJ Beatty’s journey is the ultimate playbook for resilience, grit, and redefining success. Born and raised in Winston-Salem, NC, CJ discovered his love for baseball at just five years old. Fueled by passion and relentless determination, he worked tirelessly to elevate his game. A pivotal turning point came when a coach recognized his potential, challenging him to dream bigger and push further. This mentorship not only transformed C...

Ted Rath: The Blueprint for Peak NFL Performance (Former Eagles VP of Performance)

Gain exclusive insight from Ted Rath, former Vice President of Player Performance for the Philadelphia Eagles, as he shares his extensive 16-year NFL journey. From securing two NFL Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year awards to playing an integral role in the Rams' healthiest season and back-to-back Super Bowl runs with both the Rams and Eagle...

Parker Byrd Doesn’t Let a Prosthetic Leg Stop Him from Playing College Baseball and More

In sports, injuries are an unfortunate reality. While we often brace for accidents on the field, the most unpredictable ones can happen far away from the game.

Parker Byrd's life took an unimaginable turn before his freshman season at East Carolina University when he was involved in a life-threatening boating accident. At just 18 years old, Par...

From Army Veteran to Pickleball Pro: Jonny “Pickleball” Andrews’ Inspiring Journey

Today’s episode is all about pickleball—the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.—as we sit down with Jonny Andrews, also known as Jonny Pickleball. From serving his country as a U.S. Army veteran to carving out a niche as a professional pickleball player, Jonny found a new sense of joy, purpose, and community in a sport that has quickly become a nationw...

ATP Tennis Coach Chris Eaton Shares How He Transforms Teams Into Champions

Some say that coaching is both an art and a science.  In today’s Sport Fuels Life podcast, we hear from Chris Eaton, a British professional tennis player who continued his tennis journey as a coach in the U.S. at both the NCAA and professional levels.  He shares how he has been able to successfully influence team dynamics, leading to high-level victories on ...

Jean Francois Menard: Mastering High Performance from the Circus to the Olympics

In this Sport Fuels Life podcast episode, we have a very special guest who shares the valuable lessons he learned from working with Cirque Du Soleil.  This extraordinarily demanding contemporary circus provided a master class on high performance.

Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Jean Francois Menard is highly regarded in the field of performance psyc...

Boosting Confidence and Positive Self-Talk with Tami Matheny

If you’re looking for a little extra motivation or confidence, then you’ve come to the right place!  Confidence and overcoming adversity are today’s two main topics.

In this Sport Fuels Life podcast episode, we bring back returning guest, Tami Matheny.  She is a mental game coach, author, and Jon Gordon-certified trainer.  She has a background as an athlete playing basket...

Legendary Insights: Christopher Clarey on Federer, Nadal, and Elite Athletes

Christopher Clarey: Renowned Sports Journalist and Bestselling Author

Join us on today’s show as we sit down with Christopher Clarey, longtime New York Times sports journalist with over 30 years of experience covering global sports, including 15 Olympics, 6 World Cups, and more than 100 Grand Slam tennis tournaments.

As one of the world’s leading authoriti...

Allistair McCaw:  Allistair McCaw Explains how Mindset is Your Superpower

In this Sport Fuels Life podcast episode, we bring back a returning guest, Allistair McCaw!  He is a bestselling author and speaker who is an expert on leadership, team culture, and performance.

Born in Ireland and raised in South Africa, he is the youngest of four boys and has a background playing tennis.  When he first found a natural desire to be a champio...

James "The Iron Cowboy" Lawrence:  Triathlon Record Holder Explains How Failure is “An Opportunity to Succeed”

Join us as we talk with James Lawrence, a.k.a. the “Iron Cowboy”, a Canadian native (now living in Utah) who is most famous for his triathlon records. In 2015, he set the world record for the most Ironman distance triathlons completed in one year in 50 states over 50 days.  Then, in 2021, he followed up his own record with...

Tune into the podcast to dive into the extraordinary life of Zion Clark. From being born without legs to becoming a successful wrestler and motivational speaker & taking on the America’s Got Talent stage. His journey of constantly overcoming adversity while remaining confident and graceful throughout the process will leave you in awe. Zion shares his journey and offers advice for anyone trying to overcome obstacles on their roa...

Join our SFL hosts for a truly essential episode in which they dive into the importance of maintaining a strong mentality in the face of adversity. As an athlete, there are inevitable obstacles that you will face, whether it’s a scrape to the knee or a serious injury. Scott & Megan inspire you to keep a positive attitude along the journey and allow yourself to still feel involved in your team even when you’re off the field due ...