Michael Norton, Executive Leader and Leadership Coach returns in the second episode of our 6 part series. Ryan and Michael talk about why active listening is so important and ways to improve as a coach.

Michael Norton, Executive Leader and Leadership Coach discuss the 5 principles that good coaches do, and great coaches do on purpose. The Johansen Baseball staples in their Teach, Train, and Transform model.

• Active Listening
• Supportive Feedback
• Defining Success
• Praise & Build
• Be a Mirror

JJ Lally, Crosschecker with the Chicago White Sox joins the show and discusses what he looks for in scouting makeup, character, and more. Ryan and JJ point out being present in each chapter of your journey is an important piece of the puzzle.

Kris Goodman, Major League Process and Development Coach (Mental Skills) for the Tampa Bay Rays joins the show! Ryan and Kris chop it up on being process oriented over outcome oriented, different motivations and challenges each level faces, and define flow state.

Ryan Johansen is joined by Bryce and Christina from Grow Wellness Sports Psychology where they discuss the mental challenges athletes face when developing their talents off the field but also addressing performance on the field.

Ryan simplifies attention shifting and what is happening in the brain as hitters focus on the task at hand while giving some insight into training methods, ways to engage with players and how to build drills around it in this short 22 minute episode.

In this episode, Jake and Ryan explore vision training for baseball hitters with special guest Tyler Starke of Starke Industries (X: @starke_it). Tyler breaks down what sports vision is, what visual skills set the elite hitters apart from the rest, and more. This episode is packed with science-backed insights and practical advice for players, coaches, and parents.

In this eye-opening episode, Jake and Ryan dive deep into the constraints-led approach (CLA) and its game-changing application to baseball training. Forget endless repetitive drills and constant verbal cues—CLA flips the script by manipulating task, environmental, and individual constraints to create dynamic, game-like practice environments where players self-organize, adapt, and discover effective movements on their own. Drawing from cutting-edge research and real-world examples, we explore how this method builds more resilient hitters who thrive under pressure, reduce injury risk through natural variability, and develop true game smarts rather than robotic mechanics. Whether you're a coach looking to revolutionize your sessions or a player aiming to unlock hidden potential, this episode breaks down practical strategies to shift from rigid instruction to emergent skill acquisition that mirrors the chaos and creativity of actual baseball games. Get ready to rethink everything you thought you knew about player development!