This podcast episode features an insightful conversation between Coach Hughes and Doug Flutie, a renowned athlete known for his remarkable football career and inspiring personal journey. Flutie’s story spans from his early days as an undersized quarterback to a celebrated career in both the NFL and CFL, demonstrating resilience, leadership, and motivation against the odds. The discussion explores his approach to leadership, the importance of discipline, mental preparation, and continuous learning, and how these principles helped him defy expectations throughout his 21-year career.

Beyond sports, Doug shares his profound experiences as a father to a son with autism, revealing how adversity shaped his purpose beyond football. He has channeled his drive into founding a successful autism foundation, which has raised millions and positively impacted many lives. The episode emphasizes themes of perseverance, humility, vulnerability, the power of teamwork, and self-care, making it a compelling narrative about overcoming challenges and striving to be the best version of oneself in all areas of life.

In this insightful episode of the Be Best You podcast, Coach Hughes interviews Bill Blum, founder and CEO of Alpine Business Systems, about the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and its transformative impact on business, education, healthcare, and society at large. Bill brings over 37 years of experience in business systems and technology integration, offering a grounded, practical perspective on how AI can be leveraged effectively by individuals and organizations, especially small and medium-sized businesses.

In this episode of the - Be Best You - podcast, Coach Hughes speaks with Jennifer Wallace, a bestselling author and founder of the Mattering Institute. Her book, *Never Enough*, addresses feelings of inadequacy in young people and the pressure to prove their worth. Her upcoming book, releasing in 2026, will focus on “mattering” — the need to feel valued and contribute to one's community.

They discuss how the lack of mattering causes anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem in both youth and adults, particularly in competitive environments. Research shows that affluent, high-achieving youth are two to six times more likely to experience mental health issues because they base their self-worth on achievements rather than intrinsic value.

Jennifer emphasizes the importance of intrinsic values like kindness and personal growth. She introduces the “SAID” framework (Significant, Appreciated, Invested in, Depended on) as a way to foster a culture of mattering, which can help reduce burnout.