Our Athletics of Business podcast provides leaders with invaluable practical lessons framed by the competitive nature of sport and life.
Here we share a mindset built on the foundational belief that the skills and behaviors of high-performing teams, elite athletes, and high-impact coaches are also the key to your business success.
This perspective is a direct result of Ed Molitor’s experiences—as both a college athlete and a coach—that helped shape his core values: work ethic, positivity, enthusiasm, passion for life, loyalty, and commitment to relentlessly pursuing excellence.
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The Art of Elite Coaching: Leading with Integrity and Purpose with Matt Painter
Episode 196
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 • Duration 53:55
One of America's top basketball coaches, Matt Painter enters his 17th year at Purdue.
He owns a 355-164 record at Purdue. He has led the Boilermakers to 12 NCAA Tournaments, five Sweet 16s, three Big Ten regular-season championships, a Big Ten Tournament title, an Elite Eight, and an international gold medal.
His peers voted him as the NABC National Coach of the Year after leading a team that started with a 6-5 record to the 2019 Elite Eight.
Purdue's six straight NCAA Tournament appearances are the seventh-longest active streak in America and Purdue is one of just three teams to have a top-five seed in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments.
Off the court, his program had 68 Academic All-Big Ten honorees in his 16 previous years at Purdue, and every player but one who has exhausted his eligibility at Purdue has graduated.
What You’ll Learn in this Episode:
The principles that have guided Matt Painter's coaching journey
The importance of honesty and integrity in recruiting
The value of player development and the value of redshirting
How to balance talent with character and work ethic in players
How to build and maintain a strong team culture
The role of communication and accountability within the team
How to adapt coaching philosophy to evolving game dynamics
The power of handling adversity and learning from mistakes in a competitive environment
The Champion Sports Parent with Dr. Jerry Lynch & John O'Sullivan
Episode 195
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 • Duration 01:04:04
Youth sports are more than just games—they foster personal growth and shape future success. They teach values like teamwork and resilience that impact both personal and professional development. For parents, it’s a balancing act between supporting their child and trusting the coach’s role in building character. These shared experiences strengthen family bonds, while also preparing young athletes to navigate challenges both on and off the field.
In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Jerry Lynch and John O'Sullivan, the authors of The Champion Sports Parent.
Our Guests
John O'Sullivan is a TEDx speaker and founder of the Changing the Game Project, which he launched in 2012. He's the author of two bestselling books, Changing the Game and Every Moment Matters, and hosts the popular Way of Champions podcast.
A former collegiate and professional soccer player with over 20 years of coaching experience, John has worked with top organizations like the US Olympic Committee and USA Soccer. He serves on advisory boards for the Positive Coaching Alliance and the National Association for Physical Literacy.
Dr. Jerry Lynch is a former Nike-sponsored athlete and national champion who transformed his experience into a career coaching elite athletes. He has worked with NBA teams, Major League Soccer, and top universities like Duke and Stanford.
Dr. Lynch, author of 15 books, founded the Way of Champions, a performance consulting group. Recognized as one of the top in his field, he focuses on leadership, culture building, and personal growth in sports and life.
What You’ll Learn in this Episode:
Key lessons from the book "The Champion Sports Parent"
The importance of allowing children to experience failure
The power of self-awareness and reflection in parenting
How to balance discipline and enjoyment
How to navigate pressure and expectations in youth sports
The crucial role of trust and communication with coaches
The Art of Authentic Leadership: Relationships, Respect, and Adaptability with Matt Monahan
Thursday, February 8, 2024 • Duration 48:54
Matt Monahan joined Genesys Health as Chief Strategy Officer in 2020 after leading the way as the National Practice Leader of an Insurtech benefits consulting firm. He was responsible for sales, service, and insurance operations for over 500 employers across the United States.
To know Matt is to be in the presence of an infectious energy. Matt sees the world differently; where others see a dead end, he sees an opportunity to connect, perfect, and solve. Matt isn’t afraid to ask hard questions and challenge the norm, taking pride in disrupting systems before building them back stronger and more successful.
Before that, he spent 15+ years at Aetna and GE, where he held multiple senior leadership roles at Aetna. Matt worked closely to bring innovative solutions to the market.
In a consulting business where service and support are incredibly subjective, regardless of the situation any action he takes is making sure it is the right thing for that person on the other end.
What You’ll learn on this episode:
How Matt’s athletic background contributes to his success in business.
Why it is essential to stay connected to your core values, especially during moments of extreme success or adversity.
How the ability to connect can significantly enhance communication and teamwork
How Genesys Health is leading the way in employee and client experience.
The value in having the ability to pivot and embrace change as an opportunity.
Why communication is key in every aspect of leadership and day-to-day interactions.
The influence of Matt’s dad on his ability to form genuine relationships based on respect.
Episode 96: Always be Evolving, with Mark Simendinger
Episode 96
Wednesday, September 30, 2020 • Duration 48:45
Kentucky Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager
Mark has served as General Manager of Kentucky Speedway since it was acquired by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., in 2009. As President under the original track ownership, he played a primary role in the planning, development and operation of the facility dating back to the track’s inception and first race in 2000. He is the former president of Turfway Park Race Course, a Thoroughbred track in Florence, KY. Mark also served as President of Carroll Properties, a commercial real estate development company and was a long-time associate of speedway founder Jerry Carroll. Mark has owned and bred several Thoroughbreds in partnership with Hall of Fame jockey Steve Cauthen. Mark graduated with a degree in accountancy from the University of Notre Dame. He and his wife, Lori, reside in Edgewood, KY and are the parents of five children and six grandchildren.
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
Why it is so critical right now to figure out how do we do things better than we did before
How he came to find the perfect location for Kentucky Motor Speedway
How the ability to constantly being able to evolve and change has been such a significant factor in Mark’s amazing career
How your professional career can sometimes be like a punt return and you have to make the most of catching a good break
What are the three non-negotiables that the team at Kentucky Speedway have which enables them to be such a successful team
What were some of the forced changes at Kentucky Speedway and how did Mark and his team do the best they could with those situations
Episode 95: The Psychology of Coaching, with Ed Molitor, Sr.
Episode 95
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 • Duration 50:47
Ed Molitor, Sr. has 42 years of experience as an educator, coach and motivator. A firm believer that life and athletics is a “Frame of Mind Game”, Ed has presented to hundreds of coaches and student-athletes at clinics and sports camps throughout the Midwest. He also taught graduate classes to teachers and coaches on such topics as peak performance, leadership, team building, sports motivation and mental strength training. Inducted into the I.B.C.A. Hall Of Fame in 1997, Ed also serves on the All-State selection committee. A consummate motivator, he has developed a unique plan for athletes of all ages to reach their potential. When applied, his insights into motivation and thought management will certainly make a difference in a person’s life. He has helped a countless number of athletes learn to balance the stress of competition and the other areas of their lives. They are able to transfer what they have learned into a life of self-discipline, self-control, self-confidence and peak performance.
Coaching Resume:
Head Basketball Coach Palatine High School, Palatine, Illinois 1976 – 2008
Head Basketball Coach Marist High School, Chicago, Illinois 1969 – 1976
Assistant Basketball Coach AA Illinois North All-Stars 1979 and 1992
Head Basketball Coach AA Illinois North All-Stars 1993
Assistant Coach for the Illinois Select AAU Team that defeated the Russian Junior National Team in 1988
Served on the Basketball Advisory Board for the I.H.S.A. 1985 – 1988
Serves on the I.B.C.A. All- State Board 1981-present
Inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1997
Conducted Basketball Camps throughout the Midwest 1973 – 2007
Teaching Resume:
Physical Education, Palatine High School, Palatine Illinois 1976 – 2008
Continuing Education Instructor for Pearson Professional Development, St. Xavier University, Chicago, Illinois 1990 – 2006
Episode 94: ABCD - Always Be Connecting the Dots, with Bryan Gillis
Episode 94
Tuesday, September 15, 2020 • Duration 01:06:27
EXECUTIVE PRACTICE LEAD, QUALITY SOLUTIONS & CUSTOMER ANALYTICS
Bryan is a proven business leader with more than 20 years of experience developing and leading executive-level account strategy, building and leading high-functioning teams and practices, and identifying and delivering technology solutions that meet the demands of an ever-changing marketplace. Bryan’s success in selling and delivering diverse technology solutions to Fortune 100 companies can be attributed to his clear, persuasive communication style and keen ability to relate complex solutions to stakeholders at varying levels. Prior to joining The Northridge Group, Bryan has held senior management positions at market-leading technology companies includes IBM, Apple, and AT&T.
As the Executive Practice Lead of The Northridge Group’s Quality Solutions and Customer Analytics team, Bryan leads the organization’s delivery of actionable, data-driven customer insights for our clients and is responsible for developing new service offerings to address evolving market opportunities. Bryan holds a B.A. in Psychology from Creighton University where he was a pitcher on the baseball team and team captain both his junior and senior season.
Father of 3 Strong-willed Daughters Maddie (16), Mia(15) and Samantha (12)!
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
How finding people who have a framework to better themselves and others have helped The Northridge Group build a sustainable culture
Why it is so important to get comfortable with failure as soon as possible
As The Northridge Group scales their Executive Advisor Space, what are some of the things they are looking for, questions they are asking and how they are a tell for how prepared you are and what skills you possess
How circumstances and adversity early in his life changed the path of his athletic career and motivated him to be the best Father he could be
Why it is so important to have a personal Board of Directors and how do you go about building one
What are the three principles that he lives by and how can they improve your professional and personal life immediately
What does he look for in people when he is on a video call with his team members or interviewees
Episode 93: Be Brilliant with the Basics - The Amazon Way, with Jon Derkits
Episode 93
Wednesday, September 9, 2020 • Duration 53:59
Jon is the founder of AUXO eCommerce, a consultancy that helps brands launch and grow on Amazon. Prior to AUXO, Jon was a leader at Amazon, managing a $2+ billion business and recruiting over 25k third-party sellers to the marketplace.
At AUXO, Jon teaches brands how to think like Amazon and be "brilliant at the basics." He works with both large brands (including the #1 third-party seller on Amazon) and small brands to tap hidden growth opportunities, improve operations, and gain a share of voice through Amazon Advertising. He is a recognized expert in Amazon and eCommerce marketplaces and is regularly quoted in Bloomberg, Business Insider, CNBC, and the WSJ.
Jon is also an active advisor to, and investor in, early-stage digital start-ups. He's a mentor at Chicago-based tech incubator, 1871, and recently joined the advisory board of Vexpo, a technology company that has created a wedding marketplace designed for today’s digitally centric couples.
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
What the shopping cart test is and where he learned that lesson
What it takes to succeed in a fast-moving and high-pressure environment like Amazon
Why the first 100 days at Amazon are so critical and how they revealed what was already inside of him
Why he chooses to focus on three long-term systems instead of goals and what those systems are
What are the two mental models he leans into when making big decisions
Why good intentions do not work in business
Why the white-belt mentality is so critical
What are the three things he looks for in a startup
Episode 92: Managing the Worry Circle, with Ted Simendinger
Episode 92
Wednesday, September 2, 2020 • Duration 01:00:07
Ted Simendinger, President and CEO of Ocean Palmer and Associates is a globally experienced leadership coach with expertise in behavior-based talent development, executive and Millennial coaching, change management, sales problem-solving, and sales excellence. He has extensive global experience solving complex organizational and performance challenges that enable quick, relevant repositioning for greater success. Ted utilizes strategic planning, private coaching, and classroom facilitation at multiple levels to explain, teach, and develop high-performance diversity talent and inclusionary cultures.
Ted is also the founder of the No Bats Baseball Club which is a baseball-related charity organization that has raised over $2Million with an incredible group of good men, doing good things, for the right reasons.
A former #1 salesman with Xerox and top senior instructor at the Xerox International Training Center for Management Development, Ted has extensive experience in designing and updating curriculum.
An accomplished and respected award-winning author and speaker, Ted has guested on network TV talk shows coast-to-coast and has been featured on over 3,500 global radio stations.
Considered one of the world's foremost teachers on the subject of "Worry," Ted's popular life skills book "Managing the Worry Circle: How to Improve Your Life by Worrying Less" -- written under his pen name "Ocean Palmer" -- is utilized around the world. He is also an expert on The Impact of Technology on Behavior & Happiness.
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
What exactly is the 'No Bats Club'.
How he built a baseball-related charity organization that has raised over $2Million with an incredible group of good men, doing good things, for the right reasons.
What surrounding himself with the best during his time at Xerox did for him professionally.
How identifying his true north drove Ted to teach vital business concepts in a life skills format.
How he became a worry expert.
Episode 91: Living Beyond Limits Part II, with Bonner Paddock Rinn
Episode 91
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 • Duration 41:06
In 2008, Bonner Paddock summited Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. Four years later, he earned the elite triathlete title, Kona Ironman. Thousands have done each individually. Bonner is the first person with cerebral palsy to do both.
When Bonner was born, his umbilical cord had coiled twice around his neck, depriving him of oxygen, causing parts of his brain to die. That cord didn’t take his life, but it changed it forever.
Diagnosed in his youth, Bonner swore he wouldn’t let this neurological disorder limit him, and for twenty-nine years he guarded the truth about his health. But the sudden death of a friend’s young son who also suffered from CP forced Bonner to re-evaluate his life. No longer would he be content striving for normal. Instead, he would live life to its fullest, pursuing one breathtaking experience at a time—while raising money for special needs children along the way—and never turn down a challenge for fear of his physical limitations.
His monumental climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro was documented in the film Beyond Limits and helped raise money for the construction of a new childcare center in Orange County, providing early treatment for children with all types of physical disabilities. Bonner took his vision global and has been building more centers around the world to help children live better lives. When he completed the Kona Ironman… which is 140 miles of racing…. in 16 1/2 hours, he raised over $560,000 for special needs children.
His is a remarkable journey that has taken him across the globe and introduced him to a fascinating cast of characters who have supported his inspiring quest. An athlete, adventurer, and philanthropist, Bonner is today no longer defined by his limits, but by the moments that pushed him past them. One More Step shows us that we can all conquer our own challenges and embrace every moment life has to offer.
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
How the work Bonner first did in Tanzania showed him what wisdom and intelligence mean and what having a purpose in life is.
How the idea for the OM Foundation popped in his head when he was in Tanzania to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Episode 90: Living Beyond Limits Part I, with Bonner Paddock Rinn
Tuesday, August 18, 2020 • Duration 43:07
In 2008, Bonner Paddock summited Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. Four years later, he earned the elite triathlete title, Kona Ironman. Thousands have done each individually. Bonner is the first person with cerebral palsy to do both.
When Bonner was born, his umbilical cord had coiled twice around his neck, depriving him of oxygen, causing parts of his brain to die. That cord didn't take his life, but it changed it forever.
Diagnosed in his youth, Bonner swore he wouldn’t let this neurological disorder limit him, and for twenty-nine years he guarded the truth about his health. But the sudden death of a friend’s young son who also suffered from CP forced Bonner to re-evaluate his life. No longer would he be content striving for normal. Instead, he would live life to its fullest, pursuing one breathtaking experience at a time—while raising money for special needs children along the way—and never turn down a challenge for fear of his physical limitations.
His monumental climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro was documented in the film Beyond Limits and helped raise money for the construction of a new childcare center in Orange County, providing early treatment for children with all types of physical disabilities. Bonner took his vision global and has been building more centers around the world to help children live better lives. When he completed the Kona Ironman… which is 140 miles of racing…. in 16 1/2 hour, he raised over $560,000 for special needs children.
His is a remarkable journey that has taken him across the globe and introduced him to a fascinating cast of characters who have supported his inspiring quest. An athlete, adventurer, and philanthropist, Bonner is today no longer defined by his limits, but by the moments that pushed him past them. One More Step shows us that we can all conquer our own challenges and embrace every moment life has to offer.
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
Why did Bonner struggle so much with his attitude the first 30 years of his life?
What was the series of events that led to the one day that would change his life forever?
Why was it so challenging and so important for Bonner to pour his heart and soul into his book?
How sports can drive personal growth and family bonding
How did Bonner decide who was going to be on his team to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro?
What were the gifts given back to him while training for the Kona Ironman as a result of vulnerability?
Why was the physical, mental, and emotional struggle he experienced coming down from the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro so symbolic of where he was in life?
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