Dialed & Driven Mentality Podcast
Dialed & Driven Mentality Podcast with hosts Jeff Lerg and Chris Palmer, is a space for athletes, parents, and coaches to see the depths of hockey and the mental hurdles that come with it.
Jeff Lerg has extensive experience as a former player and current coach that propels his knowledge and life advice. Jeff has reached the ultimate pinnacle of what it means to be a successful D1 Collegiate Athlete. Playing at Michigan State University, he has won countless awards and accolades displaying his success. Also, a former professional goalie for 10+ years across the U.S. and Europe, he has had first-hand experience reaching his own goals and helping others achieve theirs.
Chris Palmer, M.A. in Psychology, is a Hockey Mental Performance Coach who trains individuals, coaches, and teams from house leagues to Pro and Amateur in the US, Europe and Canada. He trains “heart, head, and guts,” with a proven process that helps clients maximize mental toughness and motivation to develop a grinding and intense compete level. As a former NCAA runner, x2 All-American, and Nike-sponsored athlete, Chris brings a great deal of knowledge in athletics and the mental performance space to positively impact the lives of athletes all over the world.
Dialed & Driven Mentality Podcast
The Most Underrated Skill in Sports (And It’s Not What You Think)
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Welcome to Episode 61 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast — brought to you by Vaughn Custom Sports!
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc dive into a concept that might be the most underrated skill in sports: encouragement.
While athletes often focus on training harder, getting stronger, or improving their technique, the team explores how the energy you bring to your teammates — and the people you surround yourself with — can dramatically impact performance, confidence, and team culture.
From learning how to handle difficult moments after a bad game to understanding why the right environment can shape an athlete’s development, this conversation breaks down the powerful role encouragement plays in both individual success and team dynamics.
The episode also highlights the importance of self-encouragement — the ability to challenge negative self-talk and build confidence by recognizing your own effort, resilience, and growth along the way.
Episode Highlights:
• Why encouragement might be the most underrated skill in sports
• How positive energy and support can transform team culture
• Why the best teammates often aren’t the ones on the scoresheet
• How athletes can ask for space after a tough game while still building accountability
• Why your environment and the people around you shape your mindset and performance
• The science behind encouragement and why supportive teams often perform better
• How helping others can shift your own mindset during difficult moments
• Why elite athletes must learn to challenge negative self-talk
• A simple daily habit that can build confidence and quiet self-doubt
• Why the energy you bring to your team can change the outcome of a season
AND SO MUCH MORE!
Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or parent, this episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes the smallest actions — a word of encouragement, a positive attitude, or supporting a teammate — can have the biggest impact on performance and personal growth.
Stay dialed. Stay driven.
📲 Connect With Us
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dialedanddriven/
X: https://x.com/dialedanddriven
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDialedandDrivenPodcast
🎙️ Listen On
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRwBFDkvYi56TdzIPMRge
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dialed-driven-hockey-mentality-podcast/id1791139650
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b1168059-6e38-4352-b3d5-c5fdbba6067f/dialed-driven-hockey-mentality-podcast