In this conversation, Curtis Pelletier interviews Jordan Comadena, a catching coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates, discussing his unique journey from being a walk-on at Purdue University to becoming a bullpen catcher and eventually a catching coach. They explore the evolution of catching techniques, the importance of building relationships with pitchers, managing emotions in high-pressure situations, and the significance of routine and preparation in a player's development. Jordan shares insights on mentorship, particularly from Clint Hurdle, and reflects on the challenges of balancing family life with a demanding coaching career.


Takeaways

Jordan Comadena's journey from walk-on to catching coach is inspiring.
Building relationships with pitchers is crucial for a catcher.
Modern catching techniques are evolving, focusing on skill development.
Emotional intelligence is key in managing players' performance.
Routine and preparation significantly impact a player's success.
Family life can be challenging for coaches during the season.
Mentorship from experienced coaches like Clint Hurdle is invaluable.
Catchers have a unique opportunity to impact the game defensively.
The importance of communication and trust between players and coaches.
Players need to learn to separate their offensive and defensive roles.


Titles

From Walk-On to Catching Coach: Jordan Comadena's Journey
The Evolution of Catching: Insights from Jordan Comadena


Sound bites

"It's a crazy story of events."
"Jacob won the gold glove in 2021."
"The bat comes last for catchers."


Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jordan Comadena's Journey
02:40 Transition from Bullpen Catcher to Coach
05:37 The Evolution of Catching Techniques
08:35 Skill Development and Player Relationships
11:22 Strategic Game Management in the Dugout
14:14 Organizational Development and Catching Philosophy
16:54 Emotional Intelligence in Catching
19:56 Impact of Defense on Game Performance
26:39 The Pressure of Performance
31:16 Routine vs. Raw Talent
37:33 Balancing Family and Career
41:05 Reflections on Career Progression
43:34 Mentorship and Life Lessons

Keywords
awareness, capacity, emotional intelligence, coaching, personal growth, chaos, order, blame, performance psychology, suffering

Summary
In this episode, Curtis Pelletier breaks down why awareness without capacity leads to collapse. He challenges the habit of seeking validation instead of building structure and explains how emotional intelligence functions as an internal operating system, not a personality trait. The discussion moves through chaos and order, blame versus responsibility, and the real role of a coach in developing capability. Suffering is framed as a teacher, not an enemy, and structure is positioned as the bridge between insight and resilience.

Takeaways
Awareness without capacity creates failure, not progress.
Blame is avoidance dressed up as explanation.
Balance is an ongoing correction, not a middle ground.
A real coach builds independence, not dependence.
Emotional intelligence governs behaviour under pressure.
Structure prevents collapse when stress rises.
Suffering refines character when it is faced directly.
Chaos grows when responsibility is outsourced.
Order creates freedom when applied properly.
Growth is the repeated alignment of awareness and capacity.

Titles
Why I Work in the Dark
The Price of Needing Approval

Sound Bites
“Why I work in the dark.”
“A real coach makes you more capable.”
“EQ is the ability to hold reality without breaking.”

Chapters
00:00 Why I Work in the Dark
02:03 The Price of Needing Approval
05:07 Awareness vs Capacity
07:09 Emotional Intelligence as an Operating System
09:04 Why Blame Creates Chaos
10:55 When Opinions Replace Responsibility
15:01 Balancing Chaos and Order
19:47 What a Coach Is Actually For
25:31 Applied Performance Psychology
28:40 Baseball as a Life Model
33:45 Suffering and Meaning
37:06 What Emotional Intelligence Really Is

This version hits harder, reads cleaner, and actually matches what you’re saying instead of sounding like a therapy brochure.

In this episode of the Mindset U Playbook, Curtis Pelletier reconnects with Tanner Swanson, the director of catching for the New York Yankees. They discuss Tanner's journey through coaching, starting from his time at the University of Washington to his current role with the Yankees. Tanner shares insights on the evolution of catching techniques, emphasizing the importance of adapting to new data and analytics in player development. He reflects on the challenges of introducing innovative catching styles, particularly the knee-down stance, and how it has transformed the way catchers approach their roles in the game. Tanner also highlights the significance of mental skills in coaching, focusing on building trust and maintaining a consistent mindset among players.

Keywords

Tanner Swanson, New York Yankees, catching techniques, player development, analytics in baseball, mindset coaching, knee-down stance, baseball coaching, catcher training, mental skills

Takeaways

• "You continue to want to push and sharpen your craft."
• "I kind of wake up every day with this panic that we're missing something."
• "The act of doing and being available and saying yes to things before you maybe feel ready was a really positive thing for my journey."
• "It's hard to be stagnant in this industry; the expectations are so high."
• "You want to feel the ground; we're anchored to the ground."
• "It's about influencing, not necessarily selling concepts to players."
• "You have to know the player and how they respond to feedback."
• "The quality of hitter that we're seeing at the position right now is much different than it was five, seven, ten years ago."
• "You have to get that piece; you just lose credibility with the people you're trying to impact."
• "Focus on improving yourself rather than comparing to others."

Titles

• Revolutionizing Catching: Insights from Tanner Swanson
• The Evolution of Catching Techniques with Tanner Swanson

Sound Bites

• "It's hard to be stagnant in this industry."
• "I wake up every day with this panic."
• "I don't have many non-negotiables."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Reconnection

01:39
The Journey to the Yankees

06:34
Innovative Catching Techniques

10:19
Understanding Pitch Framing

16:44
Implementing New Techniques in Real Time

20:52
Shifting Scouting Philosophies

24:12
The Impact of the Challenge System

25:32
Understanding Umpires and Their Impact

27:04
The Mental Game: Coaching Mindsets

29:23
Building Relationships with Young Players

31:44
Adapting Techniques for Individual Players

34:04
Non-Negotiables in Catching Development

38:06
Advice for Aspiring Coaches

40:09
The Importance of Influence in Coaching

In this conversation, Curtis Pelletier and Raegyn Hall, the head of goalkeeping for the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy. They discuss Raegyn's journey from player to coach, the importance of building a supportive culture among goalkeepers, and the methodologies used in training young talent. Raegyn emphasizes the significance of mental resilience, consistency, and the evolving nature of goalkeeping in modern soccer. The conversation also touches on the use of data analytics in coaching and the importance of recovery and physical management for goalkeepers.

Sound Bites

• "We want to produce first team players."
• "You need to trust the process."
• "I smash balls for a living."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Raegyn Hall and His Journey

02:49
Raegyn's Coaching Philosophy and Experience

05:24
The Whitecaps Academy Structure and Culture

08:24
Goalkeeping Culture and Support Systems

11:11
Recruitment and Development in the Academy

13:56
Pathways for Young Players and Future Opportunities

16:47
Opportunities and Pathways for Young Goalkeepers

18:54
The Importance of Consistency in Goalkeeping

23:23
Building Trust and Resilience in Young Athletes

27:03
The Role of Mental Anchors in Performance

30:46
Adapting Training for Modern Goalkeeping

38:36
Continuous Learning and Evolving Coaching Methods

43:28
The Importance of Planning and Coordination in Coaching

49:41
Quantifying Success in Goalkeeping Training

55:40
Managing Physical Load and Recovery for Goalkeepers

In this conversation, Curtis Pelletier and Chris begs, a former professional baseball player and current coach, discuss his journey from independent baseball to the SF Giants the national team and his transition into coaching. They explore the importance of mental performance, the launch of OTU and Oppotaco, a comprehensive baseball program, and the significance of grassroots development in the sport. Chris shares insights on dealing with failure, emotional management, and the role of parents and coaches in player development.

Takeaways

• Coaching is more stressful than playing.
• Enjoying the moment can alleviate pressure.
• You can only control what you can control.
• Mental performance is crucial for success.
• Grassroots development is essential for baseball growth.
• Involvement of parents can enhance player accountability.
• Quality production can elevate educational content.
• Understanding the game is vital for young players.
• Failure is a part of baseball; managing it is key.
• Open-mindedness is necessary for learning and growth.

Titles

• From Player to Coach: Chris's Baseball Journey
• The Mental Game: Insights from Chris

Sound Bites

• "I was just having fun."
• "It was a game changer for me."
• "I had nothing to lose."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Background

02:37
Journey Through Independent Baseball

05:30
Joining the National Team and Olympic Aspirations

08:13
Transitioning from Player to Coach

11:05
The Launch of Alpo Taco

13:37
Target Audience and Program Focus

16:32
Involvement of Parents and Coaches

19:08
Production Quality and Future Plans

22:23
Grassroots Development in Baseball

25:11
Mental Skills and Performance

27:58
Dealing with Failure and Emotional Management

30:39
Final Thoughts and Advice

In this conversation, Curtis Pelletier and Jill Payne discuss the importance of energy management, self-awareness, and emotional regulation in both personal and professional contexts. Jill shares her journey as a leadership and culture coach, emphasizing the significance of understanding one's energy levels and how they affect mood and performance. They explore the challenges of parenting, the concept of burnout, and the necessity of self-regard in achieving personal goals. The discussion highlights practical tools for managing energy and emotions, fostering a supportive environment in teams, and the importance of dialogue in parenting and coaching.

www.jillpayne.ca

Takeaways

• You're in control of how you feel.
• Burnout is just a lack of capacity.
• Self-awareness is the first step to change.
• You can feel better within hours using tools.
• The issues we face look different with varying energy levels.
• Creating check-in points can help manage energy.
• Self-regard is crucial for performance.
• Parenting requires emotional regulation and self-compassion.
• Team dynamics can impact individual performance.
• You can shift your energy quickly with awareness.

Titles

• Mastering Energy Management for Leadership
• The Power of Self-Regulation in Parenting

Sound Bites

• "You can create check-in points."
• "You're in control of how you feel."
• "You can feel better within hours."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Leadership and Culture Coaching

02:58
The Journey of Energy Management

05:46
Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation

08:37
The Impact of External Validation

11:39
Burnout and Capacity

14:31
Unbecoming and Self-Regard

17:21
Creating a Supportive Environment

20:15
The Evolution of Coaching Methods

25:52
Empowering Self-Support in Team Dynamics

28:37
Navigating Team Dynamics and Corporate Culture

29:16
The Challenges of Parenting and Self-Regulation

37:40
Building Capacity and Emotional Regulation

46:23
The Power of Choice in Emotional Well-Being

This is the first solo episode of 2026.
And it’s not a hype talk.

If you’re setting goals right now
or you’ve already started making changes
this episode is meant to catch you before motivation fades.

Because most people don’t fail at change due to laziness or lack of discipline.
They fail because they misunderstand how change actually works.

In this episode, we go deep into the psychology, behavior, and identity behind real transformation.

We talk about why you don’t add your way to change.
You unbecome your way there.

Why repairing energy leaks matters more than stacking habits.
Why fixing your nervous system matters more than forcing discipline.
Why silence and space are the parts people skip and why that’s where growth actually stabilizes.

We break down survival mode and why so many high-functioning people work their entire lives just to stay alive, never learning how to actually live.

We unpack the lie that growth must always be painful
and walk through the four pillars of real change
physical
emotional
mental
spiritual

and why focusing on only one, especially the physical, leads to burnout, relapse, or identity collapse.

You’ll hear a real example of a common goal like “less screen time”
and why vague goals fail
how to set realistic paths instead of fantasy expectations
and how habits like scrolling are rarely about discipline and almost always about what we’re avoiding or chasing.

This episode is about peace.
About space.
About learning how to sit without urgency.
About knowing who you are without achievement, performance, or noise.

It’s not about quitting ambition.
It’s about removing the chaos that keeps ambition hollow.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly chasing the next version of yourself
if stillness makes you uncomfortable
if success hasn’t brought the calm you expected

this episode will land.

This isn’t about becoming someone new.

It’s about shedding who you no longer are
and learning how to live from choice instead of survival.

This is the final episode of 2025.

After more than 70 episodes, countless conversations, and a year of deep listening, one truth kept surfacing over and over again: most people don’t need more motivation, more goals, or more pressure. They need clarity. They need regulation. They need to stop running.

In this solo episode, I slow everything down.

We talk about why your goals won’t stick unless your nervous system is regulated.
Why a new year won’t magically fix habits you can’t maintain right now.
Why open loops drain your energy and why closure doesn’t have to be comfortable or pretty to be effective.
Why so many people are exhausted not from work, but from unresolved thoughts, emotions, and decisions.

We dig into the myth that suffering equals success, especially for men.
The lie that pain is required to be disciplined.
Why the gym helps but doesn’t cure depression.
Why alcohol numbs trauma instead of healing it.
And why awareness and EQ are the real foundation for change.

This episode is about unbecoming.
Unbecoming what you learned to survive.
Unbecoming identities built on pressure and performance.
Unbecoming habits that numb instead of heal.

It’s a call to close loops, face what you’ve been avoiding, regulate before you chase, and enter 2026 from a grounded place instead of another cycle of force.

This isn’t hype.
It’s not a resolution speech.
It’s a reset.

If you’re ready to stop running and actually change how you live, this one is for you.