https://marlatownsend.com

0:00 — Welcome to the What It Takes Podcast

0:42 — Dream, Determination & Drive: the three pillars

1:47 — How to know if your dream is real (or just wishful thinking)

3:22 — Why a coach's belief in you is worth more than your own inner voice

6:11 — "A coach writes on a player in permanent marker" — Jessica Mendoza

7:28 — The coaching integrity story: what players remember for 20 years

9:03 — Why the coaching profession is "the weirdest job in the world"

13:22 — The transfer portal is killing team chemistry — here's why

22:14 — The one recruiting secret: watching players before they knew she was there

26:00 — "Who they are when no one's watching says everything"

38:52 — "The proud will be eaten by the hungry" — every single time

39:19 — Tom Brady, second-round pick: what stats can't measure

44:46 — What champions look like behind closed doors (hint: sweatpants & no glory)

54:03 — "You deserve all the stress" — the most powerful reframe in sports

57:15 — How to win the ballgame of life

In this powerful conversation, Coach Marla Townsend and Paul Reddick sit down with one of the most respected voices in softball, Coach Morgan Stuart.

Morgan shares her journey from late-start softball player to national champion at the University of Washington, and opens up about the mental struggles that followed one of the biggest successes of her career. After winning a national title, she found herself trapped by expectations, fear, and pressure, leading to one of the toughest seasons of her life.

Together, they dive deep into what coaches, parents, and athletes often miss about performance: the connection between confidence, identity, habits, emotions, and growth.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why success can sometimes create more pressure than failure

• The hidden dangers of tying your identity to performance

• How great coaches recognize what’s really going on beneath the surface

• Why habits and character matter more than motivation

• What college coaches are actually looking for in athletes

• How parents can better support their players through struggles

• Why vulnerability may be one of the most important leadership skills in sports

• The difference between becoming a great player and becoming your best self

This is an honest conversation about confidence, coaching, pressure, growth, and what it truly takes to thrive both on and off the field.

If you’re a player, parent, or coach trying to navigate the mental side of sports, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Check out:

https://marlatownsend.com

https://morgan-stuart.com

In this episode of What It Takes, Paul Reddick and Coach Marla Townsend sit down with Jessica Mendoza, Olympic gold medalist, Stanford All-American, ESPN MLB analyst, and one of the most important voices in softball.

Jessica talks about the growth of professional softball, the pressure young athletes face today, what nerves really mean, the difference between winning gold and receiving silver, the lessons she learned from her father, and why coaches may be the most important people in a young athlete’s life.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Paul introduces Jessica Mendoza and her impact on softball and broadcasting.

01:00 – Jessica talks about moving from college softball coverage into MLB broadcasting.

03:00 – The softball “family” and why this moment in the sport feels so meaningful.

06:00 – Why investment, staff, resources, and infrastructure are changing professional softball.

09:00 – The global growth of softball, including Japan, Mexico, and the future beyond the Olympics.

12:00 – Jessica explains nerves, doubt, butterflies, and why pressure usually means you care.

15:00 – Gold vs. silver: why receiving silver feels so different from winning bronze.

18:00 – Marla shares the story of her daughter chasing down Jessica’s home run ball.

21:00 – The Olympics, respect, and how sport can bring people together across countries and cultures.

24:00 – Jessica talks about the pressure young athletes face today.

27:00 – Why so many kids are burning out between ages 14 and 16.

30:00 – Jessica reflects on her father as a coach and what he taught her about influencing young people.

33:00 – How one local role model changed Jessica’s dreams and helped her see college softball as possible.

36:00 – What it really takes to get better every day and why athletes need a plan.

39:00 – Jessica talks about gratitude, giving back, and what softball has given her.

41:00 – Why the softball world feels more intimate and united than other sports communities.

43:00 – Jessica shares one of the most important lessons about being a great teammate.

45:00 – Jessica’s favorite places from her travels, including Mount Rushmore and Japan.

46:56 – Jessica closes with a message about moving women’s sports forward together.

Check out:

https://marlatownsend.com

and

https://Jessica-mendoza.com

What does it really take to build championship players?

In this episode of What It Takes, Paul Reddick and Coach Marla Townsend sit down with one of the most respected coaches in softball, Shonda Stanton, head coach of the AUSL Chicago team and former longtime head coach at Indiana and Marshall.

Coach Stanton shares the habits, mindset, and leadership principles that have shaped her career and transformed countless athletes. From competing against Coach Townsend, to building winning cultures, to teaching players how to become energy-givers instead of energy-takers, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom for players, parents, and coaches.

If you’re looking for insights on leadership, resilience, confidence, and what separates elite competitors from everyone else, you won’t want to miss this episode.

00:00 – Coach Marla introduces longtime friend, competitor, and coaching legend Shonda Stanton.

01:00 – The story behind the famous tarp slide and how competition created lifelong friendships.

03:30 – Shonda’s coaching journey from player to Marshall, Indiana, and professional softball.

06:00 – Why coaching is about creating positive collisions that change lives.

10:50 – Inside the AUSL: What it’s like coaching the best softball players in the world.

15:40 – Why confidence grows through failure, not by avoiding it.

20:10 – Become a “rat”: The daily habits that separate elite athletes from everyone else.

24:00 – Hustle, anticipation, and why every play reveals a player’s mindset.

28:40 – Energy-givers vs. energy-takers and how championship teams are built one behavior at a time.

33:15 – Developing leaders instead of followers and helping athletes own their role.

37:45 – The incredible story of a player who transformed from overlooked athlete to scholarship leader.

42:30 – Why coaches should challenge players instead of protecting them from adversity.

48:00 – Scholarships, opportunities, and preparing athletes for life beyond the game.

52:15 – The lasting impact of great coaches and the responsibility of pouring into the next generation.

56:00 – Final thoughts on leadership, legacy, and what it truly takes to succeed on and off the field.

Connect with Coach Shonda Stanton

• Head Coach, Indiana Hoosiers softball

• Head Coach, Chicago Bandits in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League

• Check out the One Day Softball App for drills, coaching, and player development resources.

and check out:

https://marlatownsend.com

What do the world's greatest athletes have in common?

According to award-winning journalist, former collegiate softball player, filmmaker, and Yogi Berra's granddaughter, Lindsay Berra, they all obsess over the little things.

In this episode of What It Takes, Paul Reddick and Coach Marla Townsend sit down with Lindsay to discuss the habits, mindset, preparation, nutrition, recovery, curiosity, and lifelong learning that separate elite performers from everyone else.

From covering Major League Baseball and the Olympics to producing an award-winning documentary about her legendary grandfather, Lindsay shares remarkable stories and practical lessons that every athlete, coach, and parent can apply immediately.

Whether you're trying to become a better player, coach, parent, or simply live a healthier life, this conversation is packed with timeless wisdom.

00:00 – Paul and Marla welcome award-winning journalist, filmmaker, former softball player, and Yogi Berra's granddaughter, Lindsay Berra.

02:00 – Growing up as a Berra: what it was really like having one of baseball's greatest legends as a grandfather.

04:00 – Why Lindsay chose journalism and storytelling instead of following the family into professional baseball.

07:00 – The surprising trait Lindsay sees in nearly every elite athlete she has covered.

10:00 – Why failure doesn't bother great competitors the way it bothers everyone else.

13:00 – Confidence comes from preparation, not positive thinking.

15:00 – The biggest lesson from elite performers: don't expect results you haven't earned.

18:00 – The incredible habits Lindsay witnessed while covering the world's greatest athletes.

20:00 – What tennis players taught her about preparation, recovery, and professionalism.

22:00 – Why high performers become students of everything, including nutrition, sleep, language, and recovery.

25:00 – Small changes create massive results: practical advice for improving nutrition and health.

28:00 – Why today's athletes have opportunities previous generations never had.

31:00 – Longevity in sports: can athletes extend greatness into their 40s?

33:00 – Messi, Ronaldo, Tom Brady, and what modern athletes are teaching us about extending careers.

36:00 – Why sleep, nutrition, and recovery may be the biggest competitive advantages available today.

40:00 – NIL, youth sports, and how the business of athletics continues to evolve.

43:00 – The power of storytelling and preserving the history of sports.

47:00 – Behind the scenes of Lindsay's award-winning Yogi Berra documentary.

50:00 – Why Yogi Berra's story is really the story of the American Dream.

53:00 – Lessons from Yogi that extend far beyond baseball.

56:00 – Lindsay's advice for athletes, coaches, and parents who want to build a lasting legacy.

58:00 – Final thoughts, where to follow Lindsay's work, and closing reflections.

Check out:

https://marlatownsend.com

What if the biggest setback of your athletic career became the greatest gift of your life?

In this episode of What It Takes, Paul Reddick and Coach Marla Townsend welcome one of softball's most respected voices, Amanda Scarborough. From her All-American career at Texas A&M to becoming one of ESPN's premier softball analysts, Amanda has experienced nearly every side of the game.

She shares the incredible influence her father had on her career, the lessons she learned from competing at the highest level, why preparation creates confidence, and how a career-ending injury completely changed the direction of her life.

Amanda also opens up about broadcasting, coaching, leadership, faith, and why helping the next generation of players has become her true calling.

Whether you're a player, coach, or parent, this conversation is packed with wisdom about resilience, perspective, and what it really takes to succeed.

00:00 – Paul and Marla welcome ESPN softball analyst and former All-American Amanda Scarborough.

01:00 – The powerful influence Amanda's father had on her career, from learning softball to falling in love with broadcasting.

05:00 – Why great athletes learn to think the game before they ever step on the field.

08:00 – Amanda's journey from Texas to Texas A&M and competing at the highest level of college softball.

12:00 – What separates elite competitors from everyone else.

16:00 – Why confidence is built long before game day.

20:00 – Lessons learned from failure, adversity, and pitching under pressure.

25:00 – Amanda reflects on the evolution of softball and the incredible growth of the women's game.

30:00 – Behind the scenes of becoming one of ESPN's lead softball broadcasters.

35:00 – Why preparation is one of the greatest competitive advantages in sports and in life.

40:00 – The relationship between coaching, communication, and helping athletes believe in themselves.

45:00 – Advice for parents raising young athletes and creating a healthy sports experience.

50:00 – Why the game is bigger than wins and losses, and how softball prepares players for life.

55:00 – The injury that changed Amanda's career forever and ultimately led her to coaching and broadcasting.

58:00 – Amanda shares how what once felt like the worst day of her career became the turning point that revealed her true purpose.

1:00:00 – Final reflections on gratitude, legacy, and why Amanda cannot imagine her life without coaching and giving back to the game.

Here's where you can find Amanda:

Website: Pitching-Angel.com

Facebook: Amanda Scarborough – Softball Pitching Angel

Instagram: @PitchingAngel and @AmandaScarborough

Get Coach Marla’s COMPETE Performance Hub. It gives your athlete the same mental game tools used by elite competitors... with personal audio coaching from Coach Marla built right in - https://marlatownsend.com

Who is Coach Marla Townsend?

Before she became one of the most respected softball coaches and mentors in the game, she was a fiercely competitive little girl playing football with the neighborhood boys, learning lessons that would shape the rest of her life.

In this special episode of What It Takes, Paul Reddick turns the microphone around and interviews his co-host, Coach Marla Townsend. Marla shares the experiences that shaped her coaching philosophy, the influence of her family, the mentors who changed her life, and why she believes coaching is ultimately about helping people become who they were created to be.

She also talks about leadership, faith, competition, the evolution of softball, and the responsibility every coach has to develop not only better players, but better people.

If you've ever wondered what drives Coach Marla and why so many athletes and coaches have been impacted by her, this episode will give you the answer.

00:00 – Paul introduces a special two-part series where he and Coach Marla interview each other.

00:55 – Marla's childhood: growing up around competition, playing football with neighborhood boys, and learning to love competing.

03:00 – The early influences that shaped her competitive spirit and work ethic.

05:15 – How athletics opened doors and created opportunities that changed her life.

07:45 – The mentors and coaches who helped shape her philosophy.

10:30 – Why coaching is about developing people first and athletes second.

13:15 – The moment Marla realized coaching was her life's calling.

16:00 – Lessons learned from decades of coaching players through success, failure, and adversity.

18:45 – What separates athletes who continue to grow from those who plateau.

21:00 – Why today's coaches have a greater responsibility than ever before.

23:00 – The importance of helping athletes become confident leaders away from the field.

25:30 – How softball prepares young women for life long after the final game.

27:15 – Why the future of softball has never been brighter.

29:00 – Marla's message to coaches: remember that you're shaping dreams, building character, and influencing lives far beyond wins and losses.

30:30 – Closing thoughts and where to learn more about Coach Marla Townsend.