In this episode, Tex sits down with Tim Fletcher [@timfletcherco], founder of RE/ACT and the LIFT program, to talk about the hidden driver behind so much of sports culture: shame.

Tim breaks down what shame actually is. Not the emotion most people think of, but the belief underneath it. He explains the difference between big T trauma and little t trauma, the kind that comes not from what happened to you, but from what should have happened and didn't. He unpacks how that belief shapes identity, drives unhealthy motivation, and follows people straight into adulthood, into locker rooms, and onto sidelines.

Tex and Tim connect these ideas directly to coaching. How do coaches build competitive environments without leaning on fear? What happens when a coach uses shame instead of standards? And when ruptures happen between a coach and an athlete, because they will, do you punish the pain or repair it?

This episode is for every coach who carries responsibility for young people. Your words carry weight. Understanding where shame comes from is the first step to leading without it.

Learn more about Tim Fletcher's work, including the LIFT program, at timfletcher.ca.

Coach Education Courses:
"Funishment: Reframing Discipline in Athletics"
https://fun.captainsandcoaches.com/

"Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete"
https://listen.captainsandcoaches.com/