Especially for Athletes Podcast
Especially for Athletes (“E4A”) is a movement designed to inspire athletes, and those with whom they associate, to maximize their athletic potential and to use their talents, social influence, and their "Sportlight" to assist and lift others. E4A is seeking to build a culture of athletes focused on changing lives through better use of the attention and influence that accompanies their position. E4A provides education, training and motivational tools to inspire athletes to focus on doing more, and becoming more than just a great athlete.Schools, teams, youth organizations, and individual athletes are encouraged to become E4A certified and join the growing group of athletes of all ages and skill levels including college and professional athletes in committing to the E4A promise and wearing proudly their Eyes Up-Do the Work wrist band.
Episodes
What if feeling discouraged, uncomfortable, or afraid doesn't mean you're mentally weak—but that you're actually developing resilience?
In this episode of the Especially for Athletes Podcast, Dustin Smith and Justin Miller sit down with Vera Jo Bustos (Coach VJ), a former professional basketball player, three-time college All-American, author, and founder of Mentality Solutions.
Coach VJ shares practical mental performance stra...
In this episode of the Especially for Athletes Podcast, we're replaying our interview from episode #150 with (former Utah Jazz) Golden State Warriors forward George Niang—a seasoned NBA veteran whose journey from Iowa State star to ten-year pro is packed with lessons every athlete should hear.
George opens up about the emotional side of being traded, how to embrace your role without losing your identity, and why simply showing...
What do NBA teams really look for when evaluating players?
Utah Jazz Director of Operations Austin Ainge joins the Especially for Athletes Podcast to share lessons from a career spent evaluating talent and building professional basketball teams.
Austin discusses why character matters in scouting, what great leadership really looks like, why the best leaders also know how to follow, and why “losing yourself in th...
At 20 years old, former Spanish Fork High School three-sport athlete and football captain Hunter Rasmussen was accidentally shot in the leg during a hunting trip. Doctors later told him he had been approximately ten minutes from bleeding to death.
What followed were weeks in the hospital, multiple surgeries, a life-threatening infection, and ultimately the amputation of his lower leg. But Hunter’s story didn’t en...
Southern Utah University gymnast Kendall McGuire joins Dustin Smith and guest host Justin Miller for a conversation about the mindset behind competing at the NCAA level.
Kendall shares her journey from beginning gymnastics at two years old to competing for one of the nation’s top gymnastics programs, along with her work as a sideline reporter for SUU football and her aspirations to someday work in the NFL or ...
Mental health is becoming an increasingly important part of the conversation in sports. In this episode of the Especially for Athletes Podcast, we sit down with Braden Brown, Associate Athletic Director of Mental Health for BYU Athletics, to discuss how athletes can train their minds just like they train their bodies. Braden explains why working with a mental health professional can be every bit as valuable as working with a streng...
Former BYU safety and current Las Vegas Raiders defensive back Tanner Wall joins the Especially for Athletes Podcast to discuss resilience, leadership, mental preparation, and why pursuing excellence in every area of life makes you a better athlete.
Tanner shares his remarkable journey from preferred walk-on to All-Big 12 safety, the lessons he learned from Kalani Sitake and Jay Hill, and why competing with respect...
Every athlete experiences highs and lows.
The difference between athletes who continue to grow and those who burn out isn't talent—it's how they think.
Former BYU baseball standout Bryker Hurdsman joins the Especially for Athletes Podcast to discuss the mental side of sports, why staying emotionally steady matters, why athletes should enjoy playing multiple sports, and how focusing on the process instead of the outcome changes ...
A brain surgeon recently shared a powerful observation:
"If you do too much for your kids, you build your self-esteem by stealing theirs."
That one sentence sparked one of our favorite parenting conversations.
Why do parents feel compelled to rescue their children from every disappointment? What happens when we remove every obstacle from our athlete's path? And how do we help our children become resilient without abandoning th...
A viral 9U baseball video has parents everywhere talking.
After a young player hits what should have been the biggest home run of his life, an opposing coach appeals a technicality that erases the moment. Was it within the rules? Yes. Was it the right thing to do?
In this episode, Shad Martin and Dustin Smith discuss what youth sports are really supposed to accomplish. Are we trying to win youth games—or raise resilient adults?
...
In this week's Especially for Athletes podcast, Shad Martin and Dustin Smith explore one of the foundational principles of Especially for Athletes: Seek to Be Your Best, Not the Best. Through the story of Polish sprinter Ewa Swoboda's emotional celebration after a personal record and Kobe Bryant's powerful perspective on becoming an "overachiever," they discuss why comparison steals joy and how athletes can find lasting fulfillment...
In this week's Especially for Athletes podcast, Shad Martin and Dustin Smith tackle one of the greatest challenges facing youth sports today: patience. Too often athletes are labeled too early as stars or failures before their bodies, confidence, and abilities have fully developed. Through powerful insights about development, confidence, work ethic, and a moving story from Cameron Stewart about his son Tyson, Shad and Dustin remind...
In this powerful episode of the Especially for Athletes Podcast, Shad Martin and Dustin Smith discuss men's mental health, the stigma surrounding emotional struggles, and the courage required to ask for help. Using the story of NBA All-Star Kevin Love and his public battle with panic attacks and anxiety, they explore why mental health deserves the same attention and care as physical injuries. Whether you're an athlete, coach, paren...
A conversational interview hosted by Dustin Smith, alongside Justin Miller, with former NFL quarterback Ty Detmer. The coaches discuss the evolving landscape of youth sports, contrasting the mindset and environments of modern student-athletes with past generations. They dive deep into the impacts of social media, the complexities of the modern college recruiting system, and the timeless importance of football IQ, baseline fundament...
In this episode of the Sportlight Podcast, Shad Martin and Dustin Smith revisit a powerful lesson from Paralympian and former BYU football player Jeff Griffin. After a tragic accident ended Jeff’s dream of playing football, he learned that resilience is not always about refusing to quit—it is sometimes about having the courage to redirect your energy and dream a new dream. This episode is especially meaningful for athle...
In this episode of the Especially for Athletes podcast, Dustin Smith and Shad Martin revisit a powerful insight shared by former NFL All-Pro Eric Weddle about the “fine line between average and great.” What follows is a deep discussion on consistency, sacrifice, self-motivation, preparation, humility, and the daily habits that separate people who merely dream from people who actually develop greatness.
The conver...
What separates athletes who reach their potential from those who fall short?
In this episode of the Especially for Athletes podcast, Dustin Smith sits down with Brandon Doman (former San Francisco 49er and BYU QB & Coach) and Justin Miller (former Southern Utah University QB) for a powerful conversation about preparation, self-belief, opportunity, grit, patience, and leadership.
With more than 30 years of combined coaching and pl...
In this week’s Especially for Athletes podcast, professional golfer and former BYU standout Keanu Akina shares what it really means to “Win the Hour”—and why smart work beats just working harder. From grinding alone across Europe to learning how sleep, nutrition, and balance actually fuel performance, Keanu opens up about the unseen challenges of chasing a dream at the highest level. He also shares powerful ...
In this week’s Especially for Athletes podcast, former University of Utah tight end Cole Fotheringham shares how a simple shift in mindset—seeing your opponent as your “dance partner”—can unlock your best performance and change the way you compete. He opens up about overcoming fear-based thinking from coaches, parents, and within himself, and how learning to play free instead of fearful transformed bot...
We sat down with former Southern Utah University QB, and long-time E4A member Justin Miller. He reflected on how the principles of E4A have shaped him and helped him as he has navigated his athletic career. We also talked about the difference of being present and being engaged.
Key Takeaways from the Podcast
- Being present is not enough—be engaged. True influence comes when we give our full attention to the people around u...
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