The Standard
This isn't motivation. This is a movement. The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. Hosts Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe brings raw, truth-packed conversations with athletes, coaches, and leaders about identity beyond performance, discipline that lasts, and legacy that matters. 20-25 minutes of hard-hitting truth you won't hear anywhere else. Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.
Episodes
61 episodes
From Southern University Athlete to MBA CEO — The Pivot Operating System for Athletic Success | Ep 60 Evan Alexander
NIL changed everything for college athletes. Most of them are navigating it without a framework.Evan Alexander, MBA, is working to fix that.Evan is the Founder, CEO, and Lead Coach of Pivot Athletic Consulting — and a former South...
From NCAA Champion to Air Force Academy — Developing Leaders of Character | Ep. 59 Abby Brenner
Most athletes compete to win. Abby Brenner chose to compete for something bigger.Abby Brenner is the Director of Development at the United States Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation — and a former NCAA Division I student-athlete who w...
From Ukraine Immigrant to Olympic Gold — The Power of Perseverance | Ep. 58 Lenny Krayzelburg
A 14-year-old boy arrives in Los Angeles from Odesa, Ukraine. No English. No money. A 45-minute bus ride each way to practice. Home by 9:30 PM. Every night.That boy became a four-time Olympic gold medalist.Lenny Krayzelburg is one...
From Devastating Knee Injury to First-Round NFL Success — The Power of Perseverance | Ep. 57 Alex Molden
Some setbacks look like the end.Alex Molden's looked like three torn ligaments — ACL, MCL, and PCL — suffered during the Independence Bowl while playing for the University of Oregon. A knee injury that severe doesn't just threaten a seas...
Division I Baseball, Three Cancer Battles, and Building Resilient Personal Greatness | Ep. 65 Chris Vasami
Most people talk about resilience. Chris Vasami has had to live it — three times.Chris Vasami is a former Division I baseball player at Notre Dame and Elon University, a Colorado Rockies draftee who achieved his lifelong dream of playing...
From 11-Time All-American to Stanford Coach — Building Champions in Life and Sport | Ep. 55 Katie Robinson
Most programs build fast swimmers.Katie Robinson builds complete people — and the results speak for themselves.Katie Robinson is the former Associate Head Coach for women's swimming and diving at Stanford University, a two-time me...
36 Years, 1,401 Games, and the Legacy Beyond Wins | Ep. 54 Tim Neiman
868 wins. 36 years. 14 Coach of the Year awards.And Tim Neiman will tell you straight — none of that is the point.Tim Neiman is the DeSales University Head Coach with one of the most decorated careers in NCAA Division III baseball...
Building Authentic Athlete Brands and the First NIL Children's Book | Ep. 53 Greg Glynn
Most athletes get one shot at NIL. The ones who build something lasting are the ones who knew who they were before the deal arrived.Greg Glynn has spent 20 years helping athletes get to that place.Greg is the Founder & CEO of ...
From UCLA to NFL to Entrepreneur — Leveraging Athletic Discipline for Business Success | Ep. 52 Demetric Felton
The discipline that built the athlete can build the business. Most people know that. Almost nobody knows how to actually do it.Demetric Felton does.A UCLA graduate and professional football player with NFL experience, Demetric is ...
Helping Athletes Design a Fulfilled Life After Sports | Ep. 52 Steven Davis Jr.
The jersey comes off. The identity crisis begins.For most athletes, leaving the game isn't just a career transition — it's a loss of self. The structure, the team, the purpose, the identity — all of it changes at once. Most people aren't...
From Big Ten Champion to Mental Strength Coach — Pushing Through Psychological Resistance | Ep. 51 Joel Honigford
Most people think mental toughness is something you either have or you don't.Joel Honigford knows better — because he's lived both sides of that lie.Joel is a Mental Strength and Conditioning Coach who specializes in pushing teams...
The Neuroscience of Performing Under Pressure | Ep. 50 Dr. Kiersten Janjigian
What actually happens in your brain when the stakes are highest?Most athletes train the body. Fewer train the mind. Almost none train the brain — and there's a difference.Dr. Kiersten Janjigian is a neuroscientist and mental perfo...
From Grey Cup Champion to Mental Performance — The CRUSH-IT System | Ep. 49 Jaime Elizondo
From Grey Cup Champion to Mental Performance Expert: Jaime Elizondo's Journey to Elite ExecutionThe difference between high potential and elite performance isn't talent — it's the mental performance systems that allow someone to e...
Cultivating Truth and Rediscovering Identity in Christ | Ep. 48 Troy Dennison
From Business to Ministry: Troy Dennison on Cultivating Truth and Rediscovering Identity in ChristIn a culture that often defines identity through performance, achievement, and external validation, Troy Dennison offers a different...
TRoe FBombs and Building Athletes From Average to Asset | Ep. 47 Thomas Roe
Co-Founder Spotlight: Thomas Roe on Character Development and His New Book "TRoe FBombs: From Average to Asset"In this special episode of The Standard Podcast™, Erin Sarles turns the interview lens on her co-founder and partner in...
From #1 Recruit to Youth Development — Lost the Game, Found the Lesson | Ep. 46 Britt Hunter
From #1 Recruit to Youth Development Strategist: Britt Hunter's Journey of Finding the LessonThe path from being the #1 recruit in the country to becoming a trusted youth development strategist isn't typical, but for Britt Hunter,...
From Division I Athlete to Mental Health Therapist — Creating Geared Up | Ep. 45 Mia Zambarano
From Division I Athlete to Mental Health Therapist: Mia Zambarano's Mission to Transform Athletic Mental HealthThe intersection of high-level athletic performance and mental health is complex, often misunderstood, and frequently s...
From Maine Football to Financial Success — Building Game Plans for Life After Sports | Ep. 44 Jeff Durr
The transition from athletic excellence to financial success requires more than just good intentions — it requires understanding that the same qualities that made you successful on the field can create lasting success in life and business. Jeff...
From Poverty to Authenticity: Finding Your Voice and Living Your Truth | Ep. 43 Hugo Maynard
Growing up in poverty without a father figure could have limited Hugo Maynard's possibilities, but instead of being defined by his circumstances, he chose to use them as fuel for authentic growth. His story represents the power of resilience, s...
From Teacher and Coach to Attorney | Ep. 42 Tommy Cannella
From Teacher and Coach to Attorney: Tommy Cannella on Protecting What Athletes and Families BuildThe transition from educator to legal advocate might seem unusual, but for Tommy Cannella, it represents the natural evolution of a l...
From Alexander McQueen to Jensen's Gin — Operational Transformation Across Industries | Ep. 41 Mark McCullum
From Alexander McQueen to Jensen's Gin: Mark McCullum on Cross-Industry Transformation and Strategic ExcellenceWhat do fashion, television, law, and hospitality have in common? According to Mark McCullum, they all require the same...
Flexible Mindsets and Evidence-Based Mental Performance Training | Ep. 40 Craig Buhler
From Michigan to Manchester: Craig Buhler on Evidence-Based Mental Performance and Building Flexible MindsetsIn a world full of trendy mental performance techniques and quick-fix mindset solutions, Craig Buhler stands apart with h...
Three Olympic Golds and The Mindset to Build Championship Culture | Ep. 39 Leah Amico
The Gold Standard of Excellence: Leah Amico on Olympic Success and Building Championship CultureThree Olympic gold medals. Three national championships. Over a decade representing Team USA. These achievements would define most ath...
Leadership Is a Sport — Training Leadership Athletes for High-Stakes Growth | Ep. 38 Shauna Griffiths
Leadership Is a Sport: Shauna Griffiths on Training Leadership Athletes for High-Stakes GrowthIn business, just like in athletics, the difference between good and great often comes down to how you train. Shauna Griffiths, a strate...
Faith, Family, Football, and Navigating NIL with Character | Ep. 37 Johnnie Perkins
Faith, Family, Football: Johnnie Perkins on Navigating NIL with Character and IntegrityIn the complex world of Name, Image, and Likeness deals, Johnnie Perkins brings a unique perspective shaped by faith, extensive government expe...