TALK MIDLAND w/ Logan Richetti
A podcast with a mission to promote small businesses in the Midland, Michigan community. The show is hosted by Logan Richetti, the managing broker of Modern Realty, the largest real estate brokerage in Midland. He has a passion for supporting small business leaders in our area, and this podcast is a spotlight for their stories. Follow along to learn more as we #talkmidland.
TALK MIDLAND w/ Logan Richetti
The Car Ride Home: How Parents Shape Their Athlete’s Mindset | #75
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Your kid won’t remember the score. They’ll remember the car ride home.
This week on Talk Midland, Logan sits down with Kelsey Gustafson, founder of The Mental Ascend, to talk about the mental side of sports — and why it matters more than most parents realize.
From 13-year-olds quitting at record rates to high-achieving athletes beating themselves up after games, Kelsey explains why confidence isn’t just a feeling — it’s built through habits, preparation, and emotional regulation.
They dive into:
- Why confidence comes from competence
- The real reason kids drop out of sports at 13
- The damage of doubling down after a bad game
- How parents can reshape the “car ride home”
- Why “better to suck than skip” builds resilience
- Mental blocks, performance anxiety, and pressure moments
- And what happens when identity becomes tied to performance
If you’re a parent, coach, athlete, or former athlete — this one will hit home.
Because when you take the jersey off, you’re still a person.
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Chapters
00:00 – When You Take the Jersey Off, You’re Still a Person
Identity beyond sports.
04:30 – From College Athlete to Mental Performance Coach
How The Mental Ascent was born.
09:15 – The 13-Year-Old Dropout Spike
Why kids are walking away from sports.
15:40 – Confidence Isn’t a Feeling
Why confidence comes from competence.
21:10 – The Car Ride Home Conversation
What kids actually remember years later.
28:45 – High-Achieving Athletes & Self-Criticism
Why the best performers are often the hardest on themselves.
36:20 – Parents Living Through Their Kids
Pressure, praise, and unintended consequences.
44:10 – Mental Blocks & Performance Anxiety
How athletes get stuck — and how to rebuild.
52:30 – “Better to Suck Than Skip”
Building habits that create resilience.
59:50 – Preparation Over Emotion
You don’t fall to feelings — you fall to preparation.
1:07:15 – Practical Tools for Parents & Athletes
What you can start doing today.
Keywords
The Mental Ascent,Youth sports mindset, Mental performance coaching, Sports psychology, Confidence in athletes, Parenting young athletes, Performance anxiety, Midland MI podcast, Talk Midland, Resilience in kids, Athlete mental health, Car ride home conversation, Youth sports dropout, Building confidence through habits