John has built a career designing high performance training spaces and helping athletes, executives, and high achievers raise their standards. We talk about the mindset shift from sports to business, why preparation builds confidence, and why being a great teammate starts with doing your job. This conversation goes deep into discipline, leadership, and the standards it takes to win in any arena.

This is a great interview with former Boston College football player turned elite gym designer, trainer, and founder of The Cave.

If you are an athlete, coach, parent, or someone building something big, you will take a lot from this one.

What we cover in this episode:

• John's Boston College football journey and the lessons that carried into life after sports

• The high school grind and why most people end up with regrets

• The athlete mindset that translates into business and entrepreneurship

• Why standards matter and how to stop lowering the bar

• Confidence, fear, and the power of preparation

• Creating training environments where people feel safe and perform at their best

• The Cave, John's private gym concept built for elite performance and elite vibes

• Pattern recognition, problem solving, and building value for life

About John Damon:
John Damon is a gym designer and performance focused trainer who has designed gyms from 1,000 to 150,000 square feet. He is the founder of The Cave, a private training space built on intentional design, high standards, and a world class experience.

Connect with John Damon:

Website: https://johndamon.com/
Instagram: @johnddamon

Scott Birnbaum (CEO & Founder of Booster) joins Shane Larson on The Gametime Guru Podcast to break down how Booster is changing sports fundraising for high school teams, booster clubs, and youth programs.

The cost of athletics keeps rising, travel, equipment, team meals, uniforms, tournament fees — and many schools don't have the budget to cover it. Scott explains why traditional fundraisers (popcorn, candy, shoot-a-thons) often fall short, and how Booster takes a different approach: fundraising through content and community, with a subscription model designed to create recurring revenue for teams.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• Why fundraising has become essential for high school sports programs

• The biggest hidden costs coaches are trying to cover (especially travel + meals)

• How Booster works as a fundraising platform built around team content

• Why community-based support beats one-time product fundraisers

• How parents, athletes, and student creators can help tell the team's story

• Booster's roots in NIL and where the platform is headed next

If you're a coach, athletic director, parent, booster club leader, or sports business fan, this episode will give you a fresh look at how fundraising can actually feel exciting — and more sustainable.

Learn more about Booster: https://booster.club/

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Willie Wright is a former NFL offensive lineman and the current Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development for Bronco Life at Boise State University. In this episode, Willie breaks down what student-athlete development actually looks like behind the scenes, how the NIL era is reshaping college athletics, and why the transition to life after sports can be difficult for athletes who don't go pro.

We get into the reality of being an undrafted NFL lineman, the week-to-week pressure of roster decisions, and what it feels like to be cut while still trying to stay ready. Willie also shares the practical resources he's helping Boise State athletes use right now, including financial literacy, career exposure, networking, and professional development—so they're prepared for what's next long before the final whistle.

If you're a student-athlete, a parent of an athlete, a coach, or someone navigating that "what's next" moment after sports, this episode will give you frameworks you can apply immediately.

In this episode we cover:

• NIL and the financial reality after college sports
• Life after football and athlete identity transition
• Undrafted NFL experience, practice squads, and roster cuts
• Boise State Bronco Life: personal and professional development
• Financial literacy, networking, and career exploration for athletes

The biggest lesson from football: keep going

Follow and subscribe for more weekly interviews on The Gametime Guru.