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Game Changers - Athlete Edition

Game Changers - Athlete Edition

By: Game Changers - Athletes
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 Game Changers: Athlete Edition is the ultimate mindset and performance podcast bridging the gap between elite athletics and lifelong achievement. Hosted by Kortney Harmon, a former D1 softball pitcher turned high-performance business coach, and Julie Jones, a Hall of Fame coach and mental performance specialist, this show delivers powerful insights that transform athletes into champions both on and off the field. Each episode combines decades of elite coaching experience with real-world success strategies, featuring captivating interviews with accomplished coaches and athletes who share their journeys, challenges, and breakthrough moments. Whether you’re a current athlete looking to level up your game, a coach seeking fresh perspectives, or someone eager to harness the athlete mindset for success in any arena, this podcast delivers actionable strategies and motivation to help you break through barriers and reach your full potential. From mental toughness and resilience to leadership and post-athletic career success, Game Changers: Athlete Edition equips you with the tools and mindset needed to excel in all aspects of life. Join Kortney and Julie weekly as they share proven techniques, inspiring stories, and practical wisdom that will help you become the game changer you’re meant to be. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Follow @GameChangersPod on social media for daily motivation and exclusive content. DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health-related advice from your healthcare professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and Game Changers - Athlete Edition podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Episodes
  • Fueling Champions: The Power of Proper Nutrition - Part 1

    Fueling Champions: The Power of Proper Nutrition - Part 1
    Aug 29 2025
    Game Changers: Athlete Edition – Episode: Brian Parana (Part 1) Show Description In this insightful episode of Game Changers Athlete Edition, hosts Kortney Harmon and Julie Jones welcome sports nutrition expert and high school health coach Brian Parana. Brian, a former competitive runner and triathlete, brings over two decades of experience working with individuals on optimizing health, fitness, and performance—especially for young athletes. In part one of his conversation with the Game Changers team, Brian dishes practical, no-nonsense advice on fueling athletic excellence, demystifying protein intake, nutrient timing, and building food habits that stick for life. Whether you’re a parent, an athlete, or a coach, this episode is packed with relatable stories, actionable nutrition strategies, and a clear-eyed approach to developing a healthy relationship with food. Episode Highlights Meet Brian Parana Family, fitness, and food: Brian shares his background as a husband, father of four active kids, and someone passionate about nutrition and travel. Professional focus: 23+ years of coaching people of all ages and health backgrounds, with an emphasis on lifelong nutrition—not just quick fixes. How Nutrition Fuels Performance Brian and Julie reflect on learning about sports nutrition before it was mainstream, and how nutrition shaped their own athletic journeys. Nutrient timing: The importance of eating carbohydrates before activity for performance and recovery. Misconceptions: Debunking myths like “pizza is always bad before a game,” and emphasizing individualized, context-driven choices. Young Athletes and Common Nutrition Mistakes Distraction and under-preparedness: Today’s young athletes often lack nutritional awareness and a plan for fueling. Impact on performance: Poor food choices or skipping meals affects training intensity, recovery, and long-term results. “Every yes is a no”: Choosing snacks like goldfish and pretzels over balanced meals means missing out on vital recovery and energy. Protein, Carbs, and Building the Athletic Plate Practical rules: Strive for balance—one-third protein, one-third veggies or fruit, one-third starch. Protein demystified: General guideline for high school athletes: 0.8–1.0 grams of protein per pound of body weight, adjusted for sport and goals. Visualize portions: A deck of cards = about 3–4 ounces = ~30 grams protein. Spread intake between 3–4 meals; don’t chase extreme protein supplement routines. Carbohydrates for energy: The more intense your sport and training, the more carbs (think rice, potatoes, pasta) you need to support performance and sleep. Practical Planning & Life Hacks for Busy Athletes Plan to automate: Brian shares automation and routines that help families (and athletes) stay consistent with nutrition, even with busy schedules. Prep over “winging it”: Whether it’s packing lunch the night before or meal prepping on weekends, successful nutrition comes down to forethought, not luck. The power of triggers: Setting alarms, post-it reminders, or family routines ensures food decisions are proactive, not reactive. Mindset and Motivation Tie nutrition to “your why”: When good nutrition is connected to performance goals and personal aspirations, it becomes far more meaningful—and sustainable. Habits, not hacks: Brian emphasizes real behavior change—moving more, eating better, and practicing portion control—over fads, quick fixes, or supplements. Key Takeaways for Athletes and Parents Nutritional awareness is a game-changer: What you eat and when you eat matters for training, recovery, and overall results. Balanced meals trump endless snacking: Prioritize real, whole foods, not convenience snacks. Preparation is a superpower: Set yourself up for success by planning and prepping, not leaving nutrition to chance. Protein and carbs are your friends: Don’t be afraid of either; just get them in the right amounts for your sport and body. Building habits takes intention: Use reminders, routines, and language that empower you to make better choices, not just for a season but for life. Connect food to outcomes: Remind yourself (and your athletes!) that every food decision is either fueling or draining your performance. Quotes from the Episode “Every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else.” “I want people saying, ‘Brian taught me how to eat balanced meals, be more prepared with my food, and practice portion control.’” “You have to slow down a little bit to be able to speed back up.” “If you’re saying yes to handfuls of goldfish crackers, you’re saying no to a balanced meal—so which will really help you recover and perform?” Connect & Share Follow us on social media @GameChangersPod Subscribe to Game Changers wherever you listen to podcasts Share this episode with your team, a parent, or anyone who wants to elevate their nutrition ...
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    33 mins
  • From the Yips to Starting Lineup: How One Freshman Overcame Mental Paralysis

    From the Yips to Starting Lineup: How One Freshman Overcame Mental Paralysis
    Aug 15 2025
    Game Changers: Athlete Edition - Episode with Josie Owen-Kren (Part 2) Show Description In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with Michigan soccer player Josie Owen-Kren, hosts Julie Jones and Kortney Harmon dive deeper into the mental challenges of college athletics. From overcoming "the yips" to learning how to communicate with different coaching styles, Josie shares how she transformed from a tentative freshman into a confident starter. This episode explores the crucial skills of adaptation, communication, and finding your voice while still being coachable - lessons that extend far beyond the soccer field. Episode Highlights The Mental Game: Overcoming "The Yips" Josie opens up about experiencing what she calls "the yips" - a period where she couldn't connect a simple pass for four straight days. This happened because she was so focused on not making mistakes that she actually made everything worse. The Pressure Cooker: "I have four days to prove that I can play. So I didn't want to do anything wrong. So now I'm trying not to do everything wrong and I'm actually doing everything wrong because I'm trying not to do it wrong." The Breaking Point: Even simple decisions like playing the ball backward to her center backs or goalkeeper became impossible. She was so mentally locked up that she would only play forward - directly to the opposing team. The Power of Letting Go The turning point came when Josie made a controversial decision that actually saved her mental game: she temporarily stopped listening to her coaches. Finding Her Game Again: "I kind of stopped listening to my coaches for a minute... I was like, I'm just gonna play my game. I started doing that and started enjoying soccer again." This wasn't rebellion - it was about quieting the mental noise and getting back to her natural instincts before slowly incorporating coaching feedback. Translating Coach Speak into Player Action Working with Julie, Josie learned how to take coaching instructions and translate them into her own language and movement patterns, rather than trying to completely change her game. The Key Insight: "It was more of, like, almost taking what she says and turning it into, what am I good at? And how do I apply it to what I'm already good at?" Communication Across Different Coaching Styles Josie had to learn to communicate with Brian, a male assistant coach whose harsh, direct style was completely different from what she was used to. The lesson? Coaches won't change their communication style for you - you have to figure out how to work with them. The Reality Check: "Any time he said something, it was hard for me to take it in because I didn't quite understand what he was saying. The way he said it wasn't how I would have received it." The Spring Turnaround: From Uncertainty to Starting Despite feeling confident going into spring meetings, Josie received lukewarm feedback from coaches who still weren't sure about her abilities. But instead of getting discouraged, she used this as motivation. The Meeting That Stung: Her coaches said her confidence was up but she was still indecisive, and they needed to "see how the games go." The Breakthrough Moment: In her second spring game against Notre Dame, Josie not only started but received Player of the Game honors from her captains. She started every game after that. Coach's Surprise: "You know, like, I kind of just threw you in there to see how you would react. And you hung with everyone. Like, you played great. Like, nobody was expecting it." Rediscovering the Joy of Playing A crucial element in Josie's transformation was remembering why she loved soccer in the first place. Back to Basics: When they did 1v1 defending drills (something she loved from her club days), Josie found her zone again: "I just loved it. So there was like a few practices where we do 1v1. So I was just like in my zone. I was loving it." Julie's Insight: "When fun goes away, it's work. And you didn't go there to work soccer. You went there to play soccer." Key Takeaways for Athletes Mental Performance Lessons: Overthinking kills performance - Sometimes you need to quiet the mental chatter and trust your instinctsIt's okay to step back temporarily - Taking a break from trying to please everyone can help you find yourself againRediscover your love for the game - When pressure mounts, remember why you started playing Communication Skills: Coaches won't change for you - Learn to adapt to different communication stylesTranslate feedback into your language - Don't try to completely change who you are as a playerBuild relationships gradually - Understanding different personalities takes time Resilience Building: Prepare for things to go wrong - Even successful freshmen face unexpected challengesEveryone struggles - You're not alone in questioning yourself during freshman yearAcademic preparation matters - Strong study habits from club/high school will serve you well The Academic Success Factor Josie shares how her club...
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    28 mins
  • The Brutal Truth About Freshman Year: What No One Tells You Before College Sports

    The Brutal Truth About Freshman Year: What No One Tells You Before College Sports
    Aug 1 2025
    Game Changers: Athlete Edition - Episode with Josie Owen-Kren Show Description Join hosts Julie Jones and Kortney Harmon as they dive deep into the realities of freshman year with Michigan soccer player Josie Owen-Kren. This honest conversation explores the gap between expectations and reality, mental wake-up calls, and the challenges that shape young athletes today. From preparation strategies to managing new life demands, this episode equips you with insights to navigate your own athletic journey, especially if you're heading into your freshman year. Episode Highlights The Reality Check: When Expectations Meet College Athletics Josie shares her vivid memory of feeling "like a chicken with my head cut off" during her first possession drill at Michigan. Despite playing at elite club levels and feeling confident during captain's practices, everything changed once coaches arrived and competition intensified. Key Insight: "In preseason, before we were with the coaches, we were playing 77... I felt great. We get into season with the coaches, all of a sudden everybody goes from like the 75% that I thought was 100% in preseason to like 110% the first day." The Talent Level Jump: Club vs. College Coming from International Soccer Club (the same program as previous guest Katie Scott), Josie explains the dramatic difference between even elite club soccer and Division 1 college athletics. The Two Game-Changers: Fitness Level - The physical demands are exponentially higherDecision-Making Speed - Not just physical speed, but how fast you can think and react "Once you get to college, the talent from top to bottom is just like, it's pretty much all the same. It just ends up being who's more fit and who's faster at decision making speed." Preparation Advice: What Josie Wishes She'd Done Differently The biggest piece of advice for incoming college athletes? Start running and learn to embrace uncomfortable workouts early. Josie emphasizes finding ways to enjoy fitness while you're younger (sophomore/junior year of high school) so it's not a burden when you reach college. She credits this realization to stories her Marine father told her about improving his running times - advice she initially dismissed but now fully understands. The Social Challenge: Finding Your Place Not everyone immediately clicks with their team, and Josie's experience highlights an often-overlooked aspect of the college transition. While many of her former International teammates found their groups quickly, she struggled with social connections during her first semester. The Self-Isolation Trap: When things don't go as planned athletically, it's natural to withdraw socially - but this makes everything harder. The Turnaround: Second semester brought better relationships as Josie learned to put herself out there more, despite being naturally introverted. Navigating the Red Shirt Reality One of the most challenging aspects of Josie's freshman year was realizing she would be red-shirted. The turning point came through advice from a junior who had been in the same situation. The Game-Changing Conversation: After not traveling to away games and uncertainty about her status, Josie requested a sit-down with her coach. The key was asking for clarity so she could focus on her role rather than constantly wondering about her playing time. Coach's Response: "I don't want to waste your eligibility" - which Josie appreciated, having seen other players burn eligibility for minimal minutes. The Mental Shift: Once she knew her role as a red-shirt, Josie became the team's biggest cheerleader and could focus on being the best teammate possible. The Power of Direct Communication Both hosts emphasize a crucial lesson: As a freshman, you'll need your coach more than you'll ever ask for help. The gap widens when you're not getting what you want, but that's exactly when communication becomes most vital. Julie's Coaching Insight: "As a freshman, you can't get them in your office. As a sophomore, you can't get them out." The comfort level changes dramatically once players realize coaches are there to help, not just withhold opportunities. Key Takeaways for Athletes For Current High School Athletes: Start fitness training early - Learn to embrace uncomfortable workouts while you have time to develop the habitPrepare mentally for the jump - Even elite club players face significant adjustmentsUnderstand the competition level - Everyone was the best player on their previous team For Current Freshmen: Give yourself grace - The transition affects everything, including your athletic performanceDon't self-isolate - Put yourself out there socially, even if it feels uncomfortableCommunicate with coaches - Seek clarity about your role rather than living in uncertaintyFocus on your role - Once you know where you stand, embrace it fully The Social Connection Factor Research from Harvard shows that social connection, not test scores or intellect, determines success in college. This ...
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    31 mins
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