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Gem Sessions Podcast

Gem Sessions Podcast

By Justin Ochoa

Gem Sessions Podcast was created by performance coach, Justin Ochoa, as a way to connect and bridge communication between basketball coaches, trainers, athletes and parents. Justin will feature current and former pro athletes, coaches, trainers, agents and other interesting guests from all across the basketball community. If you want to take your game to the next level, listen up! We're dropping gems on all things basketball.
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S2E10: How Max Landis went from walk-on to All-American to Overseas pro with adversity & odds stacked against him.

Gem Sessions PodcastNov 18, 2023

00:00
59:46
S2E10: How Max Landis went from walk-on to All-American to Overseas pro with adversity & odds stacked against him.
Nov 18, 202359:46
S2E9: Kelsey Barlow the author, illustrator, producer and pro hooper talks basketball, life and more.
Nov 13, 202301:21:13
S2E8: Tony Hicks turns NFL dreams into pro basketball reality, shares his career journey & what to expect this season.

S2E8: Tony Hicks turns NFL dreams into pro basketball reality, shares his career journey & what to expect this season.

Tony Hicks is currently in his 7th professional season, having played in countries like Hungary, Germany, Venezuela and more, but this basketball career wasn’t always a dream of his. Tony actually grew up in Chicago wanting to be the next great NFL quarterback, modeling his game after Chicago legend Donovan McNabb.

Tony mentioned that this “late bloomer” timeline actually helped his basketball career by helping him avoid the mental and physical burnout that many early basketball specialization athletes run into during their careers.

Tony’s basketball started to take off as a sophomore at Chicago [football] powerhouse St. Rita High School, where he began to draw major interest on the court from D1 schools around the country. After a summer injury that took him out of that football season, he began to prepare for that basketball season and next looked back. The rest was history, and the story is still being written as his 7 year professional basketball career continues to blossom.

In this episode, Tony takes us through his dominant career at Penn, his grad transfer year at Louisville with the legendary Rick Pitino and the different stages of growth throughout his pro career. Tony is currently in the top league in Hungary, coming off the best year of his career and looking to continue to take the leaps he has over the past few seasons.

Check this episode and make sure you follow Tony on IG at @1of1Tone!


***Today’s episode is brought to you by VITRUVE. Vitruve is the gold standard in velocity-based training with premium accuracy, reliability and high-quality data management for coaches & athletes. Vitruve has been a staple of our program for years now and I believe they have the top product in the VBT space. If you’re a coach or athlete looking to take your training to the next level with VBT, you can use our code GEMS for 10% off your purchase!***

Nov 06, 202301:30:45
S2E7: Gem Sessions Updates: The Nonprofit. The app. The evolution.

S2E7: Gem Sessions Updates: The Nonprofit. The app. The evolution.

In this solo episode, we're just taking a break from interviews to reflect on a year of podcasting! This is our 1-year anniversary and we're celebrating the growth, progress and evolution of the show.

Host, Justin Ochoa, takes some time to share some Gem Sessions updates:

  • The Gem Sessions Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization we launched this year! Our mission is to empower young student-athletes, cultivate their skills and equip them with the necessary tools to excel in their chosen sport while fostering personal development, academic success and leadership qualities that last long after their athletic careers end. Gem Sessions Foundation envisions a future where every youth athlete, regardless of their background or circumstances, has access to high-quality training, mentorship, educational support, professional development and community involvement.
  • The Gem Sessions App, an online coaching portal with 1-on-1 online coaching for lifting, speed and skill development, as well as a variety of pre-made programs for basketball players!
  • Season 3 & 4 preview: Looking at the last half of season 2 and what seasons 3 & 4 will be in 2024!

As always, thank you so much for supporting the show. None of this would be possible without YOU.

Oct 29, 202323:56
S2E6: How John Murry turned 2 surgeries & getting cut 3 times into becoming a league MVP and Champion.

S2E6: How John Murry turned 2 surgeries & getting cut 3 times into becoming a league MVP and Champion.

John Murry has never had it easy. Although he is currently the reigning league MVP in Morocco and accomplished a Cup Championship in his first season in the league, it was a long uphill climb to reach that level.

John joins us to tell his story. He starts by detailing his unique high school to college transition. John was nearly an ineligible and un-recruitable high school senior due to fraudulent prep schools that he attended not getting the proper accreditations. Instead of graduating high school and being able to join the NCAA, John was forced to get his GED — an alternative high school equivalency diploma that comes from a series of tests & not a school or high school curriculum.

This meant that John had to take the Junior College (JuCo) route in order to fulfill his dreams to play D1 basketball — which he did. After 2 seasons at Austin Peay, John went pro.

His pro journey also started off rocky. John cited getting injured and cut multiple times within the first few years of his career. John found himself working his way up the ranks, starting from the bottom and clawing his way to higher level leagues each season. Currently, John is in his second season in the Moroccan first division following a very impressive introduction to the league, winning the league MVP & Cup title.

John takes us along his journey every step of the way and shares insightful lessons he learned from all the ups and downs. Make sure you follow John on Instagram and YouTube and continue to show support!

***Today’s episode is brought to you by HOIST. HOIST is formulated to provide instant & optimal hydration, making it one of the cleanest, safest and most effective hydration beverages on the market. If you want to learn more about how HOIST can help you level up your performance, visit DrinkHoist.com and you can use the code GEMS for 10% off your orders for life!***

Oct 22, 202301:03:40
S2E5: WNBA vet, 3x-Olympian and WNBPA executive, Natalie Achonwa, joins us to discuss the WNBA expansion, growing the game & how motherhood has impacted her on & off the court.

S2E5: WNBA vet, 3x-Olympian and WNBPA executive, Natalie Achonwa, joins us to discuss the WNBA expansion, growing the game & how motherhood has impacted her on & off the court.

Today's episode features Natalie Achonwa, a multiple time Olympic athlete, WNBA vet and an executive member of the WNBPA. Natalie joins the show to discuss the WNBA expansion, how we can continue to elevate women’s basketball and how recently becoming a mother has impacted her on and off the court.

We start off by reflecting on Nat’s unique basketball background, growing up in Canada and specializing in basketball at an elite level very early in her high school career. This led her to Notre Dame, where she went to four straight Final Fours and made such an amazing impact on campus that she has since been inducted to the Notre Dame Ring of Honor — joining other Fighting Irish greats like Kayla McBride, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Niele Ivey.

Natalie was drafted by the Indiana Fever in the 2014. She played 6 seasons with the Fever before joining the Minnesota Lynx in 2021. She’ll be an unrestricted free agent going into the 2023-24 season. Natalie holds several WNBA honors, such as the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award, WNBA Season-Long Community Assist Award and was a member of the WNBA All-Rookie Team.

Aside from her WNBA career, Natalie is one of the heartbeats of Canada basketball. She’s played in several Olympic, FIBA and Pan American international competitions, in addition to spending several “WNBA off-seasons” (huge air quotes) overseas in Europe and Asia.

We talk a ton about basketball and specifically women’s basketball — how we can continue to grow the game and improve the league. Natalie shares unique perspectives as both a player and a member of the player’s association, as well as her views on topics as a new mom.

Natalie recently welcomed her son, Maverick, to the world earlier this year so the 2023-24 season will be her first season back to the WNBA since becoming a mother, and she will be an unrestricted free agent entering the offseason. We talk about the free agency experience, what she’s looking forward to and expectations for coming back after maternity leave.

This is a great conversation packed with gems! Make sure you follow Nat on Instagram and Twitter, and continue to support her as she continues to highly decorated career!

***Today’s episode is brought to you by HOIST. HOIST is formulated to provide instant & optimal hydration, making it one of the cleanest, safest and most effective hydration beverages on the market. If you want to learn more about how HOIST can help you level up your performance, visit DrinkHoist.com and you can use the code GEMS for 10% off your orders for life!***

Oct 15, 202301:19:45
S2E4: Djimon Henson shares early career adversity, NBA G-League & Overseas stories and gives advice for prospective pro basketball players coming up the ranks

S2E4: Djimon Henson shares early career adversity, NBA G-League & Overseas stories and gives advice for prospective pro basketball players coming up the ranks

Today's episode features Djimon Henson, a current professional hooper for Salon Vilpas in the top division in Finland. Prior to his current team, Djimon spent time in the NBA G-League and played college basketball at Morehead State.

Djimon shares the ups and downs of his career, including all of the stops between college and pro. He tells stories from the TBL, a semi-pro domestic league that he played in during the pandemic.

Then moves on to his 2 seasons in the Georgian Superleague, his time in the G-League and the contract that fell through in Egpyt within a week of arriving there.

He tells an incredible story about how he found out he was going to the NBA G-League while working a shift serving at Olive Garden.

Djimon is transparent about the journey and how, at times, he felt like it was time for him to walk away from the game. We talk about the mental health aspect of being a pro and the business side of the game -- and how this all affects your career longevity.

Then, we transition into what he's looking forward to about about making this huge jump in his career and the impact that this season will have on his future.

I make sure to give Djimon his flowers as one of the originals around the gym and being one of the crucial pieces to making our gym culture what it is today!

Through all of the adversity, Djimon has persevered to win multiple league & cup championships, league MVP honors and has a very bright future ahead of himself.

Make sure you follow Djimon on Instagram and continue to support him as he levels up throughout his career!

***Today’s episode is brought to you by HOIST. HOIST is formulated to provide instant & optimal hydration, making it one of the cleanest, safest and most effective hydration beverages on the market. If you want to learn more about how HOIST can help you level up your performance, visit DrinkHoist.com and you can use the code GEMS for 10% off your orders for life!***

Oct 08, 202301:14:36
S2E3: Stephanie Mavunga shares her WNBA & EuroLeague journey, reflects on collegiate career and previews her upcoming season

S2E3: Stephanie Mavunga shares her WNBA & EuroLeague journey, reflects on collegiate career and previews her upcoming season

Today we’re joined by Stephanie Mavunga to discuss her WNBA and EuroLeague career, her collegiate career at two of the most historic universities in the world and her goals for the upcoming season coming off a severe shoulder surgery.

Stephanie is originally from Zimbabwe, but moved to Indiana at a young age before she ultimately went on to win Indiana Miss Basketball, one of the most coveted honors in high school sports.

As a standout at Brownsburg High School, she was able to make her way to Chapel Hill, North Carolina and represent the Tar Heels for 2 seasons before transferring to THE Ohio State University to close out her extremely successful college career.

Steph went on to make history as the first Zimbabwean born player drafted to the WNBA, being selected by the hometown Indiana Fever. She went on to play with the Fever, Sky and Mystics while also playing internationally. 

We discuss stories of her WNBA career, including all of the peaks and valleys she’s had to battle through, as well as her overseas career and recent dominance of the Women’s EuroLeague.

We also dive into Steph’s road to recovery from a shoulder surgery and talk about her upcoming goals and expectations going into this season.

Make sure you follow Steph on Instagram and follow her as she gears up for another big year!

***Today’s episode is brought to you by HOIST. HOIST is formulated to provide instant & optimal hydration, making it one of the cleanest, safest and most effective hydration beverages on the market. If you want to learn more about how HOIST can help you level up your performance, visit DrinkHoist.com and you can use the code GEMS for 10% off your orders for life!***

Oct 01, 202301:22:02
S2E2: Ty Harris of the Connecticut Sun talks WNBA vs. Overseas, her main focus in the upcoming offseason and playing for the legendary Dawn Staley at South Carolina.

S2E2: Ty Harris of the Connecticut Sun talks WNBA vs. Overseas, her main focus in the upcoming offseason and playing for the legendary Dawn Staley at South Carolina.

Today we’re joined by Ty Harris of the Connecticut Sun to discuss her journey to the WNBA -- reflecting on her rookie season in The Wubble, her draft-day experience, the growth she’s had on and off the court and her professional goals as she becomes a “vet” in the WNBA.

We start off with Ty’s background and highly decorated high school and college career, then transition into her life in the pros -- both overseas and in the W. Ty shares stories from every step along the way and tells us how she plans to continue to make strides in her career.

Ty, an UnderArmour athlete, also takes us through some of her plans and moves off the court such as a potential signature shoe line, some of her player exclusives and plans she has for this upcoming offseason!

Ty is one of the most genuine and down to earth people you could ever meet. Hopefully you guys enjoy this episode getting to know her! Make sure you show love and follow her on IG and look out for her in the upcoming UnderArmour basketball drops!

Sep 23, 202301:06:41
S2E1: Jordan Walker talks climbing the ranks in European basketball, essential guard skills to become a pro & the mindset of an overseas hooper

S2E1: Jordan Walker talks climbing the ranks in European basketball, essential guard skills to become a pro & the mindset of an overseas hooper

We’re back! Super excited to kick off Season 2 of the Gem Sessions Podcast – The Athlete’s Season. For the next several weeks, we’ll be catching up with basketball players all around the world, learning their unique journey & story, getting the behind-the-scenes look at the basketball lifestyle and getting to know these hoopers for the humans they are.

In today’s episode, we have Jordan Walker on the show coming to us live from Belgrade, Serbia. Jordan is currently a Guard for Košarkaški klub FMP in the AdmiralBet ABA League - the top league in Serbia. 

Prior to this season, J-Walk climbed his way up the ranks of European basketball one step at a time and we go into detail on this during the episode. Jordan shares stories from his professional stops along the way, including playing in Georgia, Germany (for two different teams), Belgium and now Serbia.

We get into a good conversation on X’s and O’s of basketball as well, covering topics such as spacing, decision making and defense. Jordan shares insights on changes he’s had to make to his game to continue to excel on the court and level up his game.

Of course, I had to put my guy through the fire round at the end with fun topics like most embarrassing basketball story, starting five rappers as hoopers, some good ol’ start/bench/cut and more.

Jordan is a great athlete but an even better person! We’ve been working together for 6 years now and I knew I had to kick off this season with him. He’s got a bright future ahead of him on the court, for sure, but will do even more great things off the court. Make sure you hit that follow button on IG and Twitter to show him some love.


TODAY'S PODCAST IS POWERED BY THE GEM SESSIONS APP -- WORLD CLASS COACHING FOR HOOPERS, DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR PHONE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO TAKE YOUR GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL, MAKE SURE YOU VISIT GEMSESSIONSAPP.COM

Sep 17, 202301:03:01
Season 2: Intro Podcast

Season 2: Intro Podcast

Gem Sessions is BACK! We're back with Season 2 -- The Athlete's Season.

Over the next few months, we'll be releasing podcast episodes with hoopers. We're talking basketball - on and off the court - with basketball players, learning about them as a humans and not just the talented athletes they are.

Also, in this episode is a SPECIAL announcement about the Gem Sessions coaching app! Available for Apple and Android users, the Gem Sessions app features both pre-built & customized programming options for basketball players who are looking to take their development to the next level. Make sure you tune in to get the full details on the app!

This episode is packed with good info on what to expect. I can't wait for you to tap in, I know you're going to enjoy!

Make sure you go to www.gemsessionsapp.com for more info.

Sep 15, 202325:17
Episode 24: "good podcast" w/ Bobby Whyte

Episode 24: "good podcast" w/ Bobby Whyte

In episode 24, I’m joined by the one & only Bobby Whyte! Bobby is the owner of HyPower Performance and the creator of Good Drills - delivering skill development & strength and conditioning training to hoopers all around the world.

We start off the conversation by talking about his Good Drills program and how that has evolved over the years. Bobby’s goal with the program is to help athletes become effortless athletes, self-reliant problem solvers and efficient movers on and off the basketball court.

We also dive in to Bobby’s background story and the adversity he’s overcome to become the successful business owner that we know today. There are a lot of life lessons in this segment that are valuable takeaways no matter if you’re an athlete or not.

The rest of the podcast is centered around Bobby’s outlook on training - a constraint-lead approach. We discuss what that working definition is, how we can apply it to our athletes and variables to change to help athletes progress & grow.

This is a fun conversation full of gems to apply to your own coaching and training. If you want to catch up with Bobby, find him on Instagram and branch out to all of his resources from there!

This episode is powered by HOIST, an IV-Level hydration drink featuring 3x the electrolytes of leading competitors. HOIST is formulated to give instant and optimal hydration with half the sugar, no fillers or preservatives and a clean ingredient list that other sports drinks. To learn more about how HOIST can bring your hydration to the next level, head to drinkhoist.com and use the code PACE for 10% off all orders.

May 14, 202301:12:19
Episode 23: Basketball Speed, Agility & Movement w/ Lee Taft

Episode 23: Basketball Speed, Agility & Movement w/ Lee Taft

Episode 23 is truly packed with gems! This week, I’m joined by world-renowned speed coach, Lee Taft. Lee is known all around the globe at THE SPEED GUY, and has influenced a vast majority of the way I look at basketball speed, agility and movement.

In this conversation we get to know a little bit about Lee’s coaching journey. From his athletic career, to his early coaching & teaching career and then how we got his start in the world of performance, Lee takes us through his unique journey and shares lessons learned along the way.

Then, we dive in on all things basketball speed, agility and movement! When it comes to seeing movement and coaching movement, Lee is second to none. We get into his 7 foundational basketball speed & agility movement patterns and variations of each. We discuss popular debate topics like false steps, the lateral gait cycle, pivoting vs. hip turns and many more.

Another great topic of discussion was Lee outlining his specific speed and agility terminology that is unique to basketball and how we as coaches can enhance our programming to help our athletes maximize their training.

Lastly, we answered some Instagram Q&A question including:

  • Who does Lee learn from today?

  • Differences between basketball speed work and other sports.

  • Who young athletes should be watching in the NBA for movement efficiency.

  • What does Lee’s assessment look like?

This was a great episode, I learned a ton from Lee and hope you guys enjoy! Make sure you catch up with him at LeeTaft.com and on social media (@LeeTaft). If you want to learn more about Lee’s Basketball Speed Specialist certification you can visit BasketballSpeedSpecialist.com and get certified!

Apr 26, 202301:06:23
Episode 22: Talking Basketball Rules & Shot Mechanics w/ Coach Nick Hauselman of BBallBreakdown

Episode 22: Talking Basketball Rules & Shot Mechanics w/ Coach Nick Hauselman of BBallBreakdown

Episode 22, I’m joined by Coach Nick from BBallBreakdown! Coach Nick built BBallBreakdown over a decade ago as a culmination of his all of his talents and interests both in the game of basketball and the world of media. Today, his brand reaches over ONE MILLION fans across social media and it continues to grow daily.

Nick has coached, trained and consulted any every level of the game, and brings over 20 years of knowledge & expertise to the podcast. We started out the conversation by learning more about Nick’s journey and how he built his brand from the ground up. We also get a sneak peek of the Chase Defense, a completely new & innovative team defensive scheme that Nick created and continued to refine. Really cool stuff here, make sure you check that part out if you’re a coach.

Then, we transition into the topic of basketball officiating, rules, rule changes and very common myths surrounded the rules of the game at every level. This segment includes: the gather step, float dribbles, steps between live dribbles, step throughs off one 1 and 2 feet and much more!

After a great convo about the rules, we dive into what Nick truly loves to do and that is shooting and shot mechanics. Nick talks about the two major components of a great shot, alignment & rhythm, and tells me about some of the outdated shooting myths that still get taught to kids today, daily! Some of the topics we get into in this segment include: ten toes to the rim, knee valgus, loaded wrist, set & release points and more.

I hope you guys enjoy this episode and learn from it! A lot of gems in this one. Make sure you catch up with Coach Nick and BBallBreakdown on their website, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!

This episode is powered by HOIST, an IV-Level hydration drink featuring 3x the electrolytes of leading competitors. HOIST is formulated to give instant and optimal hydration with half the sugar, no fillers or preservatives and a clean ingredient list that other sports drinks. To learn more about how HOIST can bring your hydration to the next level, head to drinkhoist.com and use the code PACE for 10% off all orders.

Apr 12, 202301:23:21
Episode 21: My Guest Appearance on The High Performance Hoops Podcast w/ Julian Lo Casto

Episode 21: My Guest Appearance on The High Performance Hoops Podcast w/ Julian Lo Casto

Episode 21 of the Gem Sessions Podcast is a re-share of my recent appearance on the High Performance Hoops Podcast w/ Julian Lo Casto. We have a great conversation about all things basketball training. We get into my journey into S&C + basketball skill development, then dive in on the X's and O's of complete basketball development and end it with some fun hot takes!

I had a blast on the show and was so happy with how it turned out, so I wanted to share it on my own channel too! Stay tuned as Julian will be a guest on this show very soon!

In the meantime, make sure you catch up with Julian below:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/julianlocasto/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@julianlocasto?lang=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/julianlocasto

Mar 28, 202301:39:29
Episode 20: Pivoting From the Court to the Studio w/ DeMari Davis
Mar 20, 202301:43:13
Episode 19: March Madness 2023 w/ ESPN's Taylor Tannebaum

Episode 19: March Madness 2023 w/ ESPN's Taylor Tannebaum

In episode 19, we’re breaking down the 2023 March Madness brackets with ACC Network / ESPN host, Taylor Tannebaum! Taylor the host of ACC PM on the ACC Network, after she spent the last several years here in Indy working sports for the local news channel WTHR.

Taylor was a member at my gym during her time in Indy and continues to be a close friend to this day, so it was great to catch up at the beginning of this episode before diving into the women’s and men’s tournament brackets.

First, we break down the women’s side where we both have some similar upsets along the way. Then, we look at the men’s tourney, where our opinions started to stray away from each other… but ultimately we both have the SAME champs for both the men’s and women’s side.

Make sure you listen to this before you fill out your brackets as Taylor has some great insights on all things college hoops, especially when it comes to the ACC teams. Good luck with your bracket and catch up with Taylor on Twitter and IG today! See below for some quick notes from the show!

Justin’s Women’s Bracket Review:
Final Four: South Carolina, Iowa, LSU, Ohio State
Championship Game: South Carolina vs. LSU
Champion: South Carolina
Upsets / Surprises:
- UCLA (4) going to Sweet 16.
- Florida Gulf Coast (12) beats Washington State.
- Toledo (12) beats Iowa State
- Ohio State (3) going to the Final 4.
- South Dakota St. (9) beats USC.

Taylor’s Women’s Bracket Review:
Final Four: South Carolina, Stanford, LSU, Virginia Tech
Championship Game: South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech
Champion: South Carolina
Upsets / Surprises:
- Duke (3) going to the Elite 8.
- Florida Gulf Coast (12) going to the Sweet 16.
- Iowa State (5) going to the Sweet 16.

Justin’s Men’s Bracket Review:
Final Four: Alabama, Duke, Miami, UCLA
Championship Game: Alabama vs. UCLA
Champion: Alabama
Upsets / Surprises:
- College of Charleston (12) beats San Diego State.
- Duke (5) going to the Final 4.
- Kansas State (3) going to the Sweet 16
- Miami (5) going to the Final 4.
- Kent State (11) beats IU.
- Penn State (10) beats Texas A&M.
- Pitt (11) going to the Sweet 16.
- VCU (12) beats St. Mary’s.
- UCLA (2) going to the Final 4.

Taylor’s Men’s Bracket Review:
Final Four: Alabama, Duke, Texas, Kansas
Championship Game: Alabama vs. Texas
Champion: Alabama
Upsets / Surprises:
- West Virginia (9) beats Maryland.
- College of Charleston (12) beats San Diego State.
- NC State (11) going to the Elite 8.
- Providence (11) beats Kentucky.
- Duke (5) going to the Final 4.
- Kent State (11) beats IU.
- Penn State (10) beats Texas A&M.
- Miami (5) going to the Elite 8.
- St. Mary’s going to the Sweet 16.
- Northwestern (7) going to the Sweet 16.

Mar 14, 202301:38:16
Episode 18: The Winner's Perspective w/ Brandon Wood

Episode 18: The Winner's Perspective w/ Brandon Wood

In episode 18, I chat with my friend & current professional basketball player, Brandon Wood. Brandon is currently with USC Rip City in the Australian NBL1 league after playing for the last decade in several different counties such as Greece, Italy, Hungary, Lithuania, Morocco and Austria just to name a few. Brandon has also had stints in the NBA G-League along his overseas journey and participated in The Basketball Tournament on multiple occasions.

Prior to his professional career, Brandon was a standout at Valparaiso and finished his collegiate career with Michigan State in 2012 where he was coached by the legendary Tom Izzo and teammates with several future pros including NBA [future] Hall of Fame forward Draymond Green.

This podcast is a over THREE hours long. My longest show ever, and rightfully so. Brandon and I dive in on every step of the way throughout his process — from high school to college to pros and what he’s currently up to. The reason this episode is called the winner’s perspective is because there is a common theme throughout this episode and that is overcoming adversity and using your perspective to shape how you react to and conquer that adversity.

During this episode, Brandon shares multiple life-changing situations he’s been through along his journey, none more devastating than the recent passing of his wife, Aujalen. He opens up and shares how his perspective & mindset have helped him turn this tragic loss into a mission with a deeper purpose allowing him to help others who may be grieving the loss of a loved one. Brandon shares some truly powerful words about his experience and it’s definitely something we all can learn from to become stronger ourselves.

I appreciate Brandon for coming on and sharing the highs and lows, and being open & transparent about some very difficult things to talk about. This is truly an amazing episode and I hope you all enjoy it. Catch up with Brandon on Twitter, Instagram or his podcast.

Mar 05, 202303:11:60
Episode 17: Impacting the Game on All Levels w/ Tyler Neal

Episode 17: Impacting the Game on All Levels w/ Tyler Neal

In episode 17, I caught up with my guy Tyler Neal of Run The Show. Run The Show is a full-service basketball development company offering training, coaching, events, clinics and recruiting worldwide with a physical location in Cranberry, PA — as well as local offering throughout Northeast Ohio & Western Pennsylvania.

Tyler brings over a decade of coaching experience to the show with previous stops at the high school, college and professional level of the game. Tyler most recently an assistant coach in the Cleveland Cavaliers organization and shares an inspiring story of how he got that opportunity early in the episode.

Now Tyler has moved on to the next chapter of his career, launching Run The Show with his team and trying to make an impact on the game of basketball at every level.

We talk about his journey of coaching as he shares stories from the sidelines and his unique background. Then we get into player development and professional development, detailing his vision and goals for Run The Show as they continue to grow the business.

This is a great episode for up and coming coaching or trainers. Tyler shares tons of helpful insights and advice for maximizing your career potential and finding ways to continue to grow the game.

Make sure you check out Run The Show on their Instagram and connect with Tyler here!

This episode is powered by HOIST, an IV-Level hydration drink featuring 3x the electrolytes of leading competitors. HOIST is formulated to give instant and optimal hydration with half the sugar, no fillers or preservatives and a clean ingredient list that other sports drinks. To learn more about how HOIST can bring your hydration to the next level, head to drinkhoist.com and use the code PACE for 10% off all orders.

Feb 26, 202301:15:60
Episode 16: Finding Success an as Athlete & Trainer w/ Bjorn Broman

Episode 16: Finding Success an as Athlete & Trainer w/ Bjorn Broman

In episode 16, I caught up with Bjorn Broman, the co-founder & co-owner of the Broman Academy. The Broman Academy works with basketball players from youth to pro, helping players develop on & off the court while being guided by Bjorn & his older brother, Anders, who both had amazing basketball careers & are now passing the torch to the next generation of hoopers.

Bjorn grew up in Duluth, Minnesota and began playing varsity basketball as an 8th grader. He had a wildly success high school career, leading the country in scoring his junior & senior season and averaging a legendary 50 points per game during his senior year. He also played on the Nike EYBL circuit with the Howard Pulley Panthers, facing off against some of the top talent in the nation, including Ben Simmons, Tacko Fall, De’Aaron Fox and Jalen Brunson alongside notable teammates such as Tyus Jones, Gary Trent Jr & Terance Mann.

Bjorn’s hard work and dedication to the game earned him a full-ride scholarship to Winthrop University where he started for 4 years and finished his career a 1000+ point scorer, 5th all-time in three point makes and 6th all-time in career free throw percentage. Bjorn really left his mark on Winthrop and the entire region…

…And he never left! Now he and his brother are doing great things in the Carolinas with the Broman Academy, instilling high-level principles of the game into the next wave of basketball players. The Broman Academy continues to grow and Bjorn is making a massive impact on the game through his coaching now, offering skill development, camps/clinics and team coaching for athletes of all ages.

We get into a great discussion about all things basketball — from his playing experience to his current business endeavors and future goals for the academy. Bjorn has mastered in-person training and continues to work on that craft, but also has a massive social media following with over 500k followers on TikTok and nearing 50k on Instagram. We talk about how he’s able to manage the pros and cons of social media and continue to scale his social media while still providing high-quality info.

Make sure you check out the episode below and leave a rating or review. You can catch up with Bjorn on his social media or website!

Feb 18, 202301:07:50
Episode 15: Jump Training w/ Joel Smith

Episode 15: Jump Training w/ Joel Smith

In episode 15, I am joined by one of the most interesting minds in the performance world, Joel Smith. Joel, founder of Just Fly Sports, is someone that I’ve looked up to and learned from for years now, so it was an honor to get him on the show to talk jump training for hoopers.

Aside from coaching and training, Joel is also a podcast host as well. His podcast, Just Fly Performance Podcast, is a premier source of info for the performance world — it’s hundreds of episodes deep, spanning across 6+ years of podcasting.

Joel and I start off the conversation about his podcasts, previous book & course releases and some general talk about coaching before transitioning into some deep topics on jump training.

We talk about how athletes should approach their training and what jump styles work best for certain types of athletes. We cover all of the different jump styles and how you can cater your training to those, if needed. We dig deep into a rabbit hole of rhythm and coordination, and why professional athletes may lack some of these basic attributes due to their elite talent at a young age. Lastly, we get into the topic of the relationship between your feet and the ground before, during and after a jump — which was my personal favorite part of the show.

The way Joel sees movement and talks about movement is next level. I know you guys will love this episode and gain a ton of value from it. Make sure you check Joel out on Instagram and check out his website to learn more about his coaching!

This episode is powered by HOIST, an IV-Level hydration drink featuring 3x the electrolytes of leading competitors. HOIST is formulated to give instant and optimal hydration with half the sugar, no fillers or preservatives and a clean ingredient list that other sports drinks. To learn more about how HOIST can bring your hydration to the next level, head to drinkhoist.com and use the code PACE for 10% off all orders.

Feb 10, 202301:37:06
Episode 14: My appearance on the "On Our PRST" Podcast w/ Justin Castelli

Episode 14: My appearance on the "On Our PRST" Podcast w/ Justin Castelli

In episode 14, I am re-sharing a recent podcast episode that I was fortunate enough to be a guest on! You may remember Justin Castelli from Episode 2 of Gem Sessionshe also has his own podcast called “On Our PRST,” named after his multimedia brand, PRST (pronounced pursuit).

PRST is a multi-disciplinary collective founded by Justin Castelli connecting spirit, mind, body, and money in the pursuit of authentic living. The collective is comprised of a media company (blog, video, podcast, etc.), an education & services company, and a lifestyle brand—with more to come in the future.

The mission behind PRST is to help individuals whom consider themselves as creative (artists of all types, entrepreneurs, athletes, etc.) to lean into their passion and continue to bet on themselves to create the life they were meant to live. PRST encourages creativity, curiosity, experimentation, wandering, financial responsibility, risk-taking and refusing to be placed in a box.

It was great to jump on this podcast and tell my background story in a way that I never have before. Justin really asked some great questions that allowed me to dig deep into my roots and pulled out some amazing memories from my journey that I even forgot about over the years.

This was the best podcast experience I’ve ever had as a guest — which is why I am re-sharing it on my own podcast feed. I think you guys will truly enjoy is and take a lot away from the episode!

This episode is powered by HOIST, an IV-Level hydration drink featuring 3x the electrolytes of leading competitors. HOIST is formulated to give instant and optimal hydration with half the sugar, no fillers or preservatives and a clean ingredient list that other sports drinks. To learn more about how HOIST can bring your hydration to the next level, head to drinkhoist.com and use the code PACE for 10% off all orders.

Feb 06, 202301:30:23
Episode 13: Balance is Power w/ Jim Klopman

Episode 13: Balance is Power w/ Jim Klopman

This week’s episode features Jim Klopman, the author of Balance is Power and Owner of SlackBow Balance - the creators of the SlackBlock!

Jim is a balance EXPERT. He brings a wealth of knowledge to episode 13, diving in on topics such as:

  • What is balance?
  • Balance vs. Stability
  • How to train balance
  • How to measure balance
  • Mistakes & myths of balance training
  • Balance in basketball

and so much more!

We also talk in detail about how to train with the SlackBlock and how big of an impact it’s had on my basketball players’ performance.

Every time I talk to Jim, I learn something new. He has an innovative mindset and his though process always leads to me fine-tuning my own coaching skills. I know you guys will enjoy and get a ton of value from this episode with Jim.

To learn more about his game-changing product, The SlackBlock, check out his website and social media!

This episode is powered by HOIST, an IV-Level hydration drink featuring 3x the electrolytes of leading competitors. HOIST is formulated to give instant and optimal hydration with half the sugar, no fillers or preservatives and a clean ingredient list that other sports drinks. To learn more about how HOIST can bring your hydration to the next level, head to drinkhoist.com and use the code PACE for 10% off all orders.

Jan 30, 202301:01:54
Episode 12: Strength Training For All Body Types w/ Melody Schoenfeld & Lee Boyce

Episode 12: Strength Training For All Body Types w/ Melody Schoenfeld & Lee Boyce

For episode 12 this week, I’m joined by the authors of the new book, Strength Training for All Body Types: The Science of Lifting & Levers, Melody Schoenfeld and Lee Boyce!

This book, published by S&C powerhouse Human Kinetics, is a great read for all coaches & athletes, but especially for the hoop world. Their book is all about how to optimize your programming & training based on your body type or special considerations needed due to the unique frame of the athlete.

In the episode, we dive deep on the contents of the book. First, discussing the process of how this project came to life and then getting into the 13 common body types they identify in the book and how programming may look different for each of them.

With this being a basketball-focused podcast, we really explored the long legs, short torso body type as well as the long arms category to give some helpful tips to come of the most common basketball frames we see in the gym.

This episode, and the book, is packed with great takeaways. I would highly suggest grabbing the book, which is available on Amazon, Human Kinetics and most major book stores. Make sure to catch up with Melody and Lee on their websites and show them some love!

This episode is powered by HOIST, an IV-Level hydration drink featuring 3x the electrolytes of leading competitors. HOIST is formulated to give instant and optimal hydration with half the sugar, no fillers or preservatives and a clean ingredient list that other sports drinks. To learn more about how HOIST can bring your hydration to the next level, head to drinkhoist.com and use the code PACE for 10% off all orders.

Jan 24, 202301:24:41
Episode 11: Eat, Train, Lead w/ Gonzaga's Mike Nilson

Episode 11: Eat, Train, Lead w/ Gonzaga's Mike Nilson

*** Due to technical difficulties with Spotify this week, this is an audio-only episode. FOR THE VIDEO VERSION VISIT YOUTUBE***

In episode 11, I was lucky enough to bring on Gonzaga performance coach, Mike Nilson! Mike is not only an integral part of Gonzaga hoops’ coaching staff, but he’s also the host of one of my favorite basketball podcasts, Hoop Commitment.

Mike and I dive into his three pillars of performance: Eat. Train. Lead.

We go into his basketball nutrition plan, which features 3 level: Fuel, Fire and Food. Mike breaks down how each level builds the foundation of the next, and how his Gonzaga basketball players utilize this 3 step system to optimize their nutrition and performance.

Then we focus on training, looking at 3 more levels of his system which are the 3 D’s: Drive, Defend and Dominate. Mike teaches us how to drive into the basketball-relevant positions, defend those positions with structural integrity and dominate the game by putting these movements into real life scenarios.

Lastly, we discuss leadership - both from an athlete & coach perspective. Mike uses another 3-tier system to progress his athletes as leaders; Synergy, Sweat and Serve. Again, showing us how to progress athletes to each level and help them master skills that not only help on the court, but in life after hoops too.

This was such a great episode, I really hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do! Make sure you catch up with Mike on his website and social media and give him a follow!

This episode is powered by HOIST, an IV-Level hydration drink featuring 3x the electrolytes of leading competitors. HOIST is formulated to give instant and optimal hydration with half the sugar, no fillers or preservatives and a clean ingredient list that other sports drinks. To learn more about how HOIST can bring your hydration to the next level, head to drinkhoist.com and use the code PACE for 10% off all orders.

Jan 13, 202301:27:49
Episode 10: All Things Flywheel Training w/ Exxentric CEO, Fredrik Correa

Episode 10: All Things Flywheel Training w/ Exxentric CEO, Fredrik Correa

In episode 10, I got to catch up with the CEO and Co-Founder of Exxentric, Fredrik Correa. Exxentric is the leader in flywheel training and I’m an avid user of their legendary kBox device, so this was such a fun episode for me!

Fredrik is also an athlete himself, competing at the highest level of master’s powerlifting, so we talked a ton about training. We spent a lot of time discussing how the company was started back in 2011, what lead him into the flywheel training space after a 10 year medical career and all the in’s and out’s of flywheel training for coaches & athletes to get the most out of their methods.

After learning more about Fredrik and his background story, we dove in on the science and art of flywheel training.  Topics such as:

  • The differences between gravity and inertia training.
  • How do flywheels actually work?
  • Programming and exercise selection tips.
  • Who can benefit from flywheels?
  • What is eccentric overload?
  • What metrics are most valuable in flywheel training?

We answer all of these questions at a pretty deep level during our conversation, and much more!

Fredrik also goes into detail on best practices for using flywheel training for various reasons and training goals, especially basketball athletes with long levers, unique frames and typically a jaded view of the weight room.

This is a long conversation and I’m super thankful for the time he spent truly breaking all of this down! Make sure you listen below and follow Fredrik on all social platforms!

This episode is powered by HOIST, an IV-Level hydration drink featuring 3x the electrolytes of leading competitors. HOIST is formulated to give instant and optimal hydration with half the sugar, no fillers or preservatives and a clean ingredient list that other sports drinks. To learn more about how HOIST can bring your hydration to the next level, head to drinkhoist.com and use the code PACE for 10% off all orders.


FOR MORE EPISODES & INFO, VISIT GEMSESSIONSPODCAST.COM

Jan 02, 202301:52:52
Episode 009: Complete Basketball Preparation w/ Brian McGill

Episode 009: Complete Basketball Preparation w/ Brian McGill

Dec 27, 202201:25:48
Episode 008: Beyond Sets & Reps w/ Victoria Saucedo

Episode 008: Beyond Sets & Reps w/ Victoria Saucedo

In episode 008, I’m joined by Victoria Saucedo, aka Saucy Vic, aka Coach Sauce! Victoria is the Director of Sports Performance for VCU Women’s Basketball after stops at Wake Forest, St. Louis, Northern Arizona and a successful athletic career at Utah State.

I fully intended on diving in deep on basketball strength & conditioning with Coach Sauce. I planned on talking about periodization, programming models for women’s hoops and all kinds of other in-depth topics on the tactical side of training basketball players.

But… the conversation took on a life of its own! We talk, in large part, about the other side of coaching; relationship building, buy-in, trust, communication and all of the more human aspects of what we do.

Sure, the sets and reps are important. But coaching goes way beyond just sets and reps, so that’s what Vic and I talk about mostly in this episode. She gives us real world examples of her coaching and communication style. We talk about professional development. We go deep on trust and earning the respect of your athletes.

Then, we sprinkle in a little bit of training talk. And, of course, she has to get on the hot seat and answer important questions like, “Which do you think you could beat in a fight; a grizzly, lion or gorilla"?”

This is a great episode, I know you guys will enjoy! If you want to catch up with Coach Sauce, you can hit her up on Instagram or Twitter!

This episode is powered by HOIST, an IV-Level hydration drink featuring 3x the electrolytes of leading competitors. HOIST is formulated to give instant and optimal hydration with half the sugar, no fillers or preservatives and a clean ingredient list that other sports drinks. To learn more about how HOIST can bring your hydration to the next level, head to drinkhoist.com and use the code PACE for 10% off all orders.

Dec 18, 202201:14:23
Episode 007 - Sacrificing A Dream To Chase A Bigger Dream w/ Tyler Leclerc

Episode 007 - Sacrificing A Dream To Chase A Bigger Dream w/ Tyler Leclerc

In episode 007, I’m joined by Massachusetts-based basketball development trainer, Tyler Leclerc. Tyler is the owner and founder of TJL Training, which is not only his training business, but a brick-and-mortar facility location located in Lowell, MA.

Tyler works with athletes from youth to pro, and has a unique & inspiring career path that he details throughout the episode. As a high school athlete, Tyler actually began his training career in the midst of his own athletic career. He’d train his teammates, friends and other athletes in the area growing up.

After a year of college hoops at Salem State, Tyler decided to walk away from his longtime dream of playing college basketball to chase down an even bigger dream, which is his current training career.

Thanks to that decision, Tyler already has several years of valuable experience under his belt, a flagship gym location, several online courses & resources, dozens of hosted camps & clinics and a continually growing power social media presence. In this episode, Tyler and I discuss his though process during making the decision to stop playing and start training full-time after his freshman year.

We also talk training, skill acquisition, business, entrepreneurship and - of course - I throw him on the hot seat at the end with some random questions that had him shook!

This is a great episode, especially for coaches, trainers and entrepreneurial-minded listeners. You’ll walk away glad you listened and inspire to go after your dreams no matter the circumstances.

Make sure you tap in with Tyler at TJL Training, you can use his website to navigate to all social media platforms!

FIND MORE AT WWW.GEMSESSIONSPODCAST.COM!

Dec 12, 202201:05:41
Episode 006 - Betting On Yourself w/ Jess Racz

Episode 006 - Betting On Yourself w/ Jess Racz

Episode 006, I’m joined by one of my favorite performance coaches I’ve met over the last couple of year, Jess Racz. Jess has been on her grind in the industry since she was 18 years old — going from mopping floors at a local CrossFit gym for a free membership to opening her own performance facility during the pandemic and outgrowing it in 3 years.

Jess currently works with basketball players of all level, from NBA, WNBA and G-League all the way to first-time hoopers learning to lift and play the game for the first time.

In this episode, we discuss her journey to get to this point in her career, covering some of the ups and downs along the way. We also dive into an important topic of both women and members of the LGBTQ+ community in the S&C industry, and Jess shares some very alarming challenges she’s had to overcome as a member of both of those communities.

We then transition into training, especially training for hoopers. We look at her programming style, core principles and favorite methods of getting basketball players optimal performance training.

I really loved this episode and this conversation with Jess. Make sure you get to know her by following on IG here!

This episode is powered by HOIST, an IV-Level hydration drink featuring 3x the electrolytes of leading competitors. HOIST is formulated to give instant and optimal hydration with half the sugar, no fillers or preservatives and a clean ingredient list that other sports drinks. To learn more about how HOIST can bring your hydration to the next level, head to drinkhoist.com and use the code PACE for 10% off all orders.

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Dec 07, 202201:12:49
Episode 005 - The Hybrid Training Model
Nov 30, 202243:46
Episode 004: My Complete Basketball Offseason Program Template
Nov 21, 202241:04
Episode 003 - Talking NBA with Scott Agness

Episode 003 - Talking NBA with Scott Agness

In episode 003 of Gem Sessions, I am joined by Scott Agness. Scott is an Indy native and the Beat Writer for the Indiana Pacers. He’s also the host of the Indiana Pacers behind-the-scenes podcast, Fieldhouse Files. Aside from his work with the Indiana Pacers, Scott is also a play-by-play announcer for various sports and leagues around Indiana and the Midwest.

In today’s episode, we cover all things basketball - specifically IU, Indiana Fever and Indiana Pacers. Scott has worked for the last 20 years in the world of professional basketball, both in the NBA and WNBA, so it was great to get his perspective on many NBA/WNBA topics from someone that is in that environment daily.

This is a great episode for all basketball fans. Scott shares a ton of knowledge and info that I never knew, and things that most avid fans probably would have never known either. Catch up with Scott on his Twitter or stream his podcast here!

This episode is powered by HOIST, an IV-Level hydration drink featuring 3x the electrolytes of leading competitors. HOIST is formulated to give instant and optimal hydration with half the sugar, no fillers or preservatives and a clean ingredient list that other sports drinks. To learn more about how HOIST can bring your hydration to the next level, head to drinkhoist.com and use the code PACE for 10% off all orders.

Catch up with us below!

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Nov 15, 202201:07:13
Episode 002: Justin Castelli - "The Money Game"

Episode 002: Justin Castelli - "The Money Game"

In episode 002 of Gem Sessions, I am joined by Justin Castelli. Justin has been in the financial industry for nearly two decades and brings a wealth of knowledge to the show (see what I did there?).

He’s the Owner & Founder of RLS Wealth - a financial planning & advisory firm, he’s the Co-Founder of The AGC - a rapidly growing community of financial advisors from all over the globe, and most recently, Justin launched his newest venture PRST (pronounced pursuit). PRST is a collective of media, education, services and lifestyle brands that encourages creativity, experimentation, wandering, financial responsibility, risk-taking, and the refusal to be placed in a box.

In this episode, Justin discusses financial literacy in terms of planning, investing, budgeting and exploring how money can be a tool to help you build the life that you want. We also take a look at the new school financial landscape, talking about NIL deals for athletes, cryptocurrency investments, NFT projects and more. And lastly, we discuss the current state of youth sports and how money is the root cause of the downfall of quality in youth sports development.

This is a great episode for all listeners. The principles discussed here span across all ages and occupations, I think you’ll really enjoy it! If you want to catch up with Justin, you can find all of his contacts at www.justincastelli.io

This episode is powered by HOIST, an IV-Level hydration drink featuring 3x the electrolytes of leading competitors. HOIST is formulated to give instant and optimal hydration with half the sugar, no fillers or preservatives and a clean ingredient list that other sports drinks. To learn more about how HOIST can bring your hydration to the next level, head to drinkhoist.com and use the code PACE for 10% off all orders.

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Nov 09, 202201:49:48
Episode 001: Derick Grant - "Life is Mental"

Episode 001: Derick Grant - "Life is Mental"

In the first episode of Gem Sessions, I wanted to set the tone for this entire show and bring on one of the most inspirational, influential and motivating people I know — Derick Grant.

Derick Grant, or DG, is a former Harlem Globetrotter - turned professional basketball skill development coach - turned mental performance coach. DG is a husband and a father of two, just like myself. His coaching firm, DG Mindset, helps athletes, executives and entrepreneurs get out of their own way by learning how to master their mindset and mental performance no matter the environment or circumstances.

In this episode, we dive deep on so many brain-boosting topics such as meditation, the 7 universal laws of nature, the underlying causes of stress & anxiety, the 3 planes of existence and much more. No joke, I would suggest taking notes on this episode.

I’ve been implementing DG’s concepts & practices for about 2 years now and it has made a drastic positive change in my life, and those around me. Check the episode out below or wherever you stream your podcasts! If you want to get in touch with DG, or learn more about his coaching services, his app or just make an intro, you can find him at DGMindset.com.

This episode is powered by HOIST, an IV-Level hydration drink featuring 3x the electrolytes of leading competitors. HOIST is formulated to give instant and optimal hydration with half the sugar, no fillers or preservatives and a clean ingredient list that other sports drinks. To learn more about how HOIST can bring your hydration to the next level, head to drinkhoist.com and use the code PACE for 10% off all orders.

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Nov 01, 202201:16:51
Episode 000: The Origin Story
Oct 26, 202256:50