Send us Fan Mail

What if one of the best environments for developing resilient athletes… had no structured practices, no yelling coaches, and no guaranteed success?

In this episode, we sit down with Hippie Mike to explore what decades in skateboarding culture can teach us about athlete development, mindset, and long-term growth.

Having taught thousands of athletes and helped shape some of today’s top pros, Mike shares why skateboarding creates a unique environment where failure isn’t feared but expected.

And more importantly… embraced.

We dive into:

• Why falling is one of the most important skills young athletes can learn
• How unstructured environments build creativity, resilience, and confidence
• The role of mentorship vs. traditional coaching
• Why too much structure can actually limit development
• How athletes build self-belief by figuring things out on their own

The best athletes are the ones who learned how to adapt, persist, and grow through failure.

Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, this episode will shift how you think about development, confidence, and what it really takes to improve.

👤 About Hippie Mike

Hippie Mike has been immersed in the world of skateboarding since 1986 and has spent decades developing and mentoring athletes at all levels. Over the years, he has coached and influenced thousands of skateboarders, including several who have gone on to become top professionals in the sport.

He is the owner of multiple small businesses, including HMI Skate Park in Hope, BC, where he continues to mentor and support the next generation of athletes in a positive, community-driven environment.

Hippie Mike has also played a significant role in growing the skateboarding community through event leadership, having organized and run more than 350 skateboard events over the past 20 years. Among these is the long-running Hippie Mike’s Tour de Surrey, a decade-long series that became a staple in the local skateboarding scene.

Through his work, he has remained committed to creating opportunities for young athletes to develop not only their skills, but also confidence, resilience, and a lifelong passion for the sport.

Join our free 'Forged Youth' Skool group for more parent support!

Send a donation to keep HMI Skate Park alive

Support the show

Send a text

What actually builds confidence in athletes?

In this powerful conversation, Mariel sits down with Shawnee Harle, Olympian, sport psychology expert, and one of Canada’s most respected voices in athlete development, to unpack the truth about confidence, identity, and the pressures young athletes face today.

From Olympic teams to youth sport, Shawnee has spent decades helping athletes perform at their best while staying grounded in who they are beyond the scoreboard. In this episode, she shares practical insights on how athletes can build real confidence, how parents and coaches can support development without adding pressure, and why the most important lessons in sport often happen far away from the podium.

Inside this episode, we explore:

🏆 Why confidence isn’t something you “have” — it’s something you build
🧠 The difference between performance identity and personal identity
🔥 How athletes can respond to failure, pressure, and setbacks
👨‍👩‍👧 What parents and coaches can do to create healthier sport environments
🎯 Why long-term development matters more than early success

This episode is a must-listen for athletes, parents, and coaches who want to understand the mental side of sport, develop resilient competitors, and build confidence that lasts far beyond the game.

Because sport isn’t just about winning, it’s about who you become along the way.

https://www.shawneeharle.com/

Support the show

Send a text

How do you motivate your child to give their best in sport… without making them lose their love for it? That’s the question Mariel and Jordan tackle in this Q&A episode.

A parent of a swimmer asked how to motivate their child to swim as fast as they can while still enjoying the sport. It’s a challenge that nearly every sports parent eventually faces. Because at some point, the excitement fades. Early morning practices become harder, friends start doing other things, and the grind of competition and expectations starts to weigh on young athletes.

In this conversation, we unpack the deeper truth about motivation and why trying to “force” it usually backfires, exploring how athletes build sustainable drive through identity, discipline, and reconnecting with their personal “why.”

We also discuss the hidden factors that cause many young athletes to lose their spark, including burnout, pressure, and the mental barriers that coaches often don’t have the time or training to address.

Tune in for practical strategies parents can use to support their athlete’s mindset without creating unnecessary pressure or expectations. Because the goal is to raise resilient humans who know how to handle adversity, take ownership, and continue growing long after sport ends.

Train your mind. Build your grit. Forge your legacy.

Join our free 'Forged Youth' Skool group for more parent support!

Support the show

Send a text

What if the path to your dream isn’t straight? What if it zigzags through setbacks, detours, risks, and reinvention?

In this episode, we sit down with Ben Boudreau, a former professional hockey player and coach, to unpack what it really means to chase a dream for nearly two decades.

Born into a hockey family, Ben grew up around the rink. But his journey wasn’t a typical “blue-chip prospect” story. He went undrafted. He stepped away from hockey. He pursued television and film. He worked at CBC. He waited tables.

And then, on a free agent tryout he almost didn’t attend... his life changed.

What followed was 900+ professional games across North America and Europe, championship wins, head coaching roles, life-changing risks, fatherhood, and a relentless commitment to the dream of one day lifting the Stanley Cup.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Why there is no straight path to success
• The courage it takes to bet on yourself
• How support systems fuel risk-taking
• The difference between motivation and inspiration
• Why character beats talent every time
• What separates average players from great ones
• How work ethic is developed — not inherited
• Why giving back builds real leadership
• Balancing fatherhood with ambition
• How to handle self-doubt when the future feels uncertain

Ben shares openly about getting cut, getting back up, doubling down during uncertainty, buying a house during a pandemic without knowing if hockey would return and winning a championship because he refused to quit.

Because in the end, success isn’t about the straight path, it’s about staying on the train long enough to see where it goes.

👤 About Ben Boudreau

"I was born into a hockey family. My father Bruce, a former NHL player then currently playing in Germany, was where I was born. It wasn't until I was 5 years old that I grew up in Niagara through my mother and father's divorce. I had a very normal childhood in the city of St. Catharines where I went on to pursue my education through Television and Film. Upon graduating and working at CBC downtown Toronto, my life took a big turn after signing a free agent professional hockey contract, which led to the last 18 years chasing my dream of trying to lift the Stanley Cup one day.

Through the last 18 years I have amassed over 900 professional games of being on the ice or behind the bench. I won a championship in 2021 with the Fort Wayne Komets. I have two boys, 4 and 8, that were both born in Indiana and now currently living in Niagara, pursuing my dream of one day trying to lift the Stanley Cup."

Join our free 'Forged Youth' Skool group for more parent support!

Check out Boudreau Hockey

Follow Ben on

Facebook

Instagram

Support the show

Send a text

What does it take to build a career and a life that lasts?

Longevity. Identity. Resilience.

In this special episode promoting the Building Resilience On & Off the Field event on March 5th, we sit down with CFL legend Sean Millington to talk about what sustains performance and what sustains a person.

Known as “The Diesel,” Sean built a 13-year professional career through power, consistency, and grit. But behind the accolades was something deeper: a mindset built for endurance.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The difference between short-term success and long-term impact
• Why identity cannot be tied solely to sport
• How adversity shapes character
• The responsibility athletes carry beyond the scoreboard
• What it means to build something that lasts
• How young athletes can prepare for life beyond the game

Sean shares openly about growth, maturity, and perspective and why the scoreboard can’t define who you are.

On March 5th, Sean will bring this message live to the stage at:

Building Resilience On & Off the Field
📍 Chilliwack Cultural Centre
🎟 Free event (tickets required)

An evening designed to equip youth athletes, parents, and coaches with the mindset and tools to thrive long after the final whistle.

Reserve your free tickets here!

About Sean Millington

Sean Millington is a former Canadian Football League running back and one of the most respected Canadian players in CFL history. Best known for his dominant years with the BC Lions, Sean played 13 seasons in the CFL and earned a reputation for power, consistency, and grit, earning the nickname “The Diesel.”

A two-time Grey Cup champion, Sean was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian twice and remains one of the top Canadian rushers the league has ever seen. Beyond his on-field success, Sean has been inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame and the Simon Fraser University Hall of Fame, recognizing both his athletic excellence and long-term impact on the game.

Since retiring from football, Sean has continued to build his legacy as a broadcaster, actor, and mentor, using his voice to share lessons on identity, resilience, and life beyond sport. His story speaks to the importance of longevity, character, and building something that lasts far beyond the scoreboard.

Support the show

Send a text

What does it take to last 13 years in professional football?

Consistency. Preparation. Leadership.

In this special episode promoting the Building Resilience On & Off the Field event on March 5th, we sit down with former CFL veteran Angus Reid to talk about what truly builds lasting success.

Angus spent 13 seasons anchoring the offensive line for the BC Lions - one of the most demanding and least glamorous positions in sport. No headlines. No spotlight. Just daily accountability and relentless preparation.

In this conversation, we unpack:

• Why durability is a mindset before it’s physical
• The power of showing up consistently, even when no one notices
• What leadership actually looks like inside a locker room
• Why preparation builds confidence
• The long-term impact great coaches have on young athletes
• How doing the unseen work shapes who you become

Angus shares lessons learned in the trenches about discipline, identity, and the responsibility athletes carry to leave environments better than they found them.

On March 5th, Angus will be sharing this message live at:

Building Resilience On & Off the Field
📍 Chilliwack Cultural Centre
🎟 Free event (tickets required)

An evening designed to equip youth athletes, parents, and coaches with tools for resilience, confidence, and long-term growth.

Reserve your free tickets here!

About Angus Reid

Angus Reid is a former Canadian Football League offensive lineman and long-time centre for the BC Lions, where he built a 13-year professional career defined by leadership, durability, and consistency.

A two-time Grey Cup champion, Angus was a multiple-time CFL All-Star and served as a team captain, anchoring the offensive line and setting the standard for professionalism both on and off the field. Known for his work ethic and resilience, he became a trusted leader in one of the most demanding positions in football.

Following his playing career, Angus transitioned into leadership development as a speaker, author, and mentor. He is the author of Thank You, Coach, a reflection on the mentors who shape athletes and leaders, and continues to inspire individuals and teams through lessons on preparation, accountability, and legacy.

Angus’s journey highlights the power of showing up, doing the unseen work, and leading in a way that leaves others better.

Support the show

Send a text

What separates talented athletes from consistent performers? Psychological skill.

In this episode of the Forged Youth Podcast, we sit down with performance psychologist Chris Bodman, founder of LMNTARY Performance, to unpack what it truly means to develop the athlete’s mind.

Even the most physically capable athletes fail when they lack the mental tools to handle pressure, identity, emotion, and expectation.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why mental skills are they’re foundational
• How athletes tie identity to outcomes (and why that’s dangerous)
• The psychological cost of neglecting mental preparation
• The difference between sustainable motivation and fragile confidence
• How to build emotional regulation under pressure
• Why self-awareness is the starting point for growth
• How parents and coaches can normalize the internal work required for performance

Because if we train the body without training the mind, we leave potential untapped.

👤 About Chris

Chris Bodman is a Performance Psychologist and founder of LMNTARY Performance, a consultancy dedicated to helping individuals cultivate the athlete's mind — whether they compete in sport, business, or life.

With a background working alongside elite athletes across multiple sports, Chris' work focuses on the intersection of performance psychology, behavioural science, and practical application — translating complex research into tools that work in the real world.

Chris's approach is rooted in evidence but delivered with clarity. He believes the best insights aren't academic theories locked in journals, but practical frameworks that athletes can implement immediately. His philosophy: mental skills aren't "soft skills" — they're the foundation of sustainable high performance.

Prior to founding LMNTARY Performance, Chris worked in elite sport environments where he witnessed both the transformative power of psychological preparation and the devastating cost of neglecting it. He saw talented athletes derailed not by lack of ability, but by inability to manage the mental demands of competition. He watched young performers tie their entire identity to results, leaving them vulnerable when outcomes didn't align with effort.

These experiences shaped his mission: to democratise performance psychology and make it accessible beyond elite sport.

Through LMNTARY Performance, Chris delivers the Limitless Programme — a 16-week cohort-based experience that helps individuals develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, sustainable motivation, and goal-directed behaviour. The programme combines psychology-backed frameworks with daily practice, helping participants build mental skills the same way they'd build physical ones: through consistent, deliberate training.

Chris's work has supported company founders, competitive athletes, entrepreneurs, and individuals navigating career transitions. What unites them is a commitment to growth and willingness to do the internal work that external success requires.

Today, through LMNTARY Performance, Chris is committed to equipping the next generation with the psychological tools they need not just to perform, but to thrive.

Join our free 'Forged Youth' Skool group for more parent support!

Check out the LMNTARY performance program

Follow Chris on

Linkedin

Instagram

Support the show

Send a text

What if youth sports weren’t just about wins and losses, but about building resilient, confident young people?

In this special episode, Mariel sits down with Bill Loewen of the Chilliwack Giants to talk about why March 5th is about far more than football.

The Chilliwack Giants have been developing youth athletes in the Fraser Valley for over 25 years, offering spring flag football for ages 5 and up, fall tackle programs, and a pathway that transitions athletes into high school programs. But for Bill, coaching is about much more than the game.

Bill shares openly about his own journey from being a talented but “lazy” high school player whose career was cut short by injury, to learning that talent only takes you so far. Work ethic, mindset, resilience, and controllables (effort, attitude, self-talk, preparation, focus) are what truly shape long-term success.

That’s exactly why the “Building Resilience On & Off the Field” event was created.

🗓 March 5th
📍 Chilliwack Cultural Centre
🎟 Free event (tickets required)

This powerful evening will feature:

• Short, impactful talks
• Fireside-style discussion
• Live Q&A with youth athletes
• A free copy of Angus Reid’s book Teenager: A Story About Finding Your Way for every attending athlete

Whether your athlete plays football, hockey, baseball, volleyball, or any other sport, the lessons are transferable.

If you’re in Chilliwack or the Fraser Valley, this is a night worth showing up for.

Reserve your free tickets here!

About Bill

Bill Loewen is passionate about football, mentorship, and building strong community connections. For the past three years, he’s dedicated countless hours to coaching both flag and tackle football with the Chilliwack Giants, where he now proudly serves as Second Vice President. Bill believes that sports are about more than just winning—they’re about teaching resilience, teamwork, and confidence that carry young athletes through every part of life.

Off the field, Bill works as a Project Manager, balancing his professional life with his favorite role: husband and dad. Together with his wife, Ashley, they are raising three incredibly active kids—Ella, a softball superstar, and two football-loving boys, Colby (11) and Josh (8), who share his passion for the game. Whether he’s drawing up plays or cheering from the sidelines, Bill’s greatest joy comes from watching kids grow—not just as athletes, but as people.

Follow Bill on LinkedIn

Support the show