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...
Consistency Is the Most Underrated Skill in Sports: Joe Neal, Founder of 2SP Sports
Welcome to Episode 86 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast: Consistency Is the Most Underrated Skill in Sports: Joe Neal, Founder of 2SP Sports
In this episode, Jeff Lerg and Natalie Ferenc sit down with longtime strength and conditioning coach Joe Neal, founder of 2SP Sports Performance, to talk about what more than two decades of training athletes—from young beginners to NHL, MLB, and other professional athletes—has taught him about performance.
Joe has worked with athletes at nearly every level, including some of the biggest names in prof...
Good Habits Aren’t Enough: How High Performers Raise Their Standards
Welcome to Episode 85 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast: Good Habits Aren’t Enough: How High Performers Raise Their Standards
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc dive into what it really takes to become a high-performing athlete—and why having good habits is only the beginning.
Athletes can set big goals, create routines, train consistently, and put in the work. But there’s a difference between simply having good habits and holding yourself to a high standard.
Jeff, Chris, and Natalie break down what that d...
High-Level Sports Are Ruthless. Are You Ready?
Welcome to Episode 84 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast: High-Level Sports Are Ruthless. Are You Ready?
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc talk about what the start of a new season really demands from athletes—and why simply working hard all summer doesn’t guarantee you’ll be ready when it matters most.
A new season brings new coaches, new teammates, new expectations, new roles, and plenty of opportunities to overthink everything. Athletes can quickly get caught worrying about where they fit, what the coach thinks, whether they’re start...
Why Today’s Athletes Struggle to Believe in Themselves
Welcome to Episode 83 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
In this episode, Jeff Lerg and Natalie Ferenc take a step back from the technical side of sports to talk about one of the biggest challenges facing young athletes today: self-belief.
Athletes are training more than ever—but are they training the part of the game that controls everything else?
Jeff and Natalie share what they've seen firsthand through years of coaching, mentoring, competing, and working with athletes across different sports. From athletes breaking down after one mistake to yo...
Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik U.S. Olympic Ice Dancers: “You Have One Life—Run Toward Your Dreams”
Welcome to Episode 82 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc sit down with U.S. Olympic Ice Dancers Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik to go behind the scenes of their incredible rise to the highest level of their sport.
Just four and a half years after becoming skating partners, Emilea and Vadym went from being in the middle of a highly competitive U.S. ice dance field to the Grand Prix Final, U.S. Nationals podium, Four Continents Champions, 5th at...
Cooper Black: Charlotte Checkers Goaltender on the Power of Self-Belief
Welcome to Episode 81 of the Dialed & Driven Mentality Podcast!
Up next in The Goalie Nation Series, Jeff Lerg and Natalie Ferenc sit down with one of the fastest-rising young goaltenders in professional hockey, Charlotte Checkers goaltender Cooper Black.
Standing 6'9" and coming from the small hockey town of Alpena, Michigan, Cooper's journey is anything but conventional. From playing house hockey and AA, leaving home at 14 to chase AAA, returning to high school hockey, getting cut from multiple junior teams, and nearly walking away from the game altogether, his story...
Cam Johnson: Florida Everblades Goaltender & 4x Kelly Cup Champion on the Secret to a Champion's Mindset
Welcome to Episode 80 of the Dialed & Driven Mentality Podcast!
Up next in The Goalie Nation Series, Jeff Lerg and Natalie Ferenc sit down with one of the most accomplished winners in professional hockey, Florida Everblades goaltender Cam Johnson.
A four-time Kelly Cup Champion, three-time Kelly Cup Playoff MVP, and NCAA National Champion at the University of North Dakota, Cam has built a career defined by resilience, belief, and performing when the stakes are highest. But his path to professional hockey wasn't nearly as traditional as many would expect.
<...The Truth About Mental Performance Coaching & Why Athletes Hold Themselves Back
Welcome to Episode 79 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood aspects of athletic success: mental performance coaching.
For years, athletes have been taught to train their bodies—but what about the part of the game that controls confidence, focus, resilience, and decision-making under pressure?
Chris shares his unique philosophy on mental performance coaching, explaining why it's not therapy, why it isn't about fixing something that's "wrong," and why every athlete—from yout...
The Perfect Offseason Recipe for Athletes
Welcome to Episode 78 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc discuss one of the biggest challenges athletes face during the offseason: finding the balance between resting, training, and avoiding burnout.
Summer is supposed to be a time to recharge—but what happens when taking time off starts to make you feel guilty? How do you recover mentally and physically without feeling like you're falling behind everyone else?
We dive into why the offseason isn't about doing nothing or doing everything—it's abou...
The Truth About Getting Drafted Nobody Talks About
Welcome to Episode 77 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc tackle one of the most emotional moments in an athlete's journey: getting drafted, getting cut, or feeling like you've been left behind.
Whether you weren't drafted, got released from a tryout, or watched teammates move on without you, it's easy to believe your hockey career is over. But is one decision really enough to define your future?
So how do athletes move forward when rejection feels personal?
...
Callie Shanahan: PWHL New York Sirens Goaltender
Welcome to Episode 76 of the Dialed & Driven Mentality Podcast!
Up next in The Goalie Nation Series, Jeff Lerg and Natalie Ferenc welcome back PWHL New York Sirens goaltender Callie Shanahan following the completion of her rookie season in professional hockey.
After joining us shortly after being drafted last fall, Callie returns to share what life is really like as a first-year professional goaltender. From the intensity of training camp and earning her first PWHL start to adapting to the speed of the game and navigating the highs and lows of a rookie season, Callie provides...
How to Handle Failure Without Losing Confidence
Welcome to Episode 75 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc tackle one of the most difficult experiences every athlete faces: failure.
Whether it's a bad game, getting cut from a team, making a costly mistake, or simply feeling like you're falling short of your goals, failure can quickly become something athletes are ashamed of. But what if failure isn't something to fear? What if it doesn't mean you're broken, incapable, or not good enough?
So how do athletes actually recover from...
Kris Eberly: From Tier 2 Hockey to Starting Goaltender at The Ohio State University
Welcome to Episode 74 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
In this episode, Jeff Lerg and Natalie Ferenc continue the Goalie Nation series with The Ohio State University goaltender Kristoffer Eberly.
Kris’ journey to Division I hockey has been anything but conventional.
From Tier 2 youth hockey and Michigan high school hockey, to the Metro Jets, Compuware, the NCDC, the USHL, and ultimately The Ohio State University, Kris shares the long-term path that shaped him both as a goaltender and as a person.
Throughout the conversation, Kris reflects on what it...
The Longevity Formula for Athletes: Chris Phillips
Welcome to Episode 73 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
"The Longevity Formula for Athletes: Chris Phillips"
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc sit down with one of the most experienced sports medicine and performance professionals in the industry, Chris Phillips, Founder and Owner of Compete Sports Performance & Rehab.
Chris is a board-certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with more than 30 years of experience helping athletes stay healthy, recover from injuries, and maximize their performance. Throughout his career, he has worked across...
How Athletes Build Grit Before the Season Starts
Welcome to Episode 72 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
“How Athletes Build Grit Before the Season Starts”
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc break down one of the most important traits every athlete needs before the season begins: grit.
Every athlete says they want to get better. They say they want to make the team, earn the role, play at the next level, or become the kind of player coaches can trust when the game gets hard. But talent only gets you so far. At some point, every athl...
Owen Bartoszkiewicz: Michigan Tech University Goaltender and the Road That Led Him There
Welcome to Episode 71 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
In this episode, Jeff Lerg and Natalie Ferenc continue the Goalie Nation series with Michigan Tech University goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz.
Owen’s path through college hockey has been anything but ordinary.
From youth hockey in Metro Detroit, to Wichita Falls, Youngstown, the University of Minnesota, a return to junior hockey, Lindenwood University, and now Michigan Tech, Owen shares the unique journey that shaped him both as a goalie and as a person.
Throughout the conversation, Owen opens up about the uncertainty, set...
The Best Find a Way, the Rest Find Out: Building a No-Excuses Mentality
Welcome to Episode 70 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
“The Best Find a Way, the Rest Find Out: Building a No-Excuses Mentality”
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc break down one of the core principles of the Dialed and Driven mentality: no excuses.
Every athlete says they want to do whatever it takes. They start the season, the offseason, or a new training program with big goals and big intentions. But somewhere along the way, something slips. A workout gets missed. The effort drops. The focus fade...
Trey Augustine: Signed with the Detroit Red Wings & Former Michigan State University Goaltender
Welcome to Episode 69 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
In this episode, Jeff Lerg and Natalie Ferenc continue the Goalie Nation series with one of the brightest young goaltenders in hockey — Detroit Red Wings prospect and Michigan State standout Trey Augustine.
From youth hockey with Honeybaked to the USA National Team Development Program, World Junior Championships, and now the start of his professional career, Trey shares the mindset, habits, and competitiveness that helped shape him into one of the top goalies in the game today.
Trey opens up about the mental side of...
Johnny Hicks: 2026 National Champion & University of Denver Goaltender
Welcome to Episode 68 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
In this episode, Jeff Lerg and Natalie Ferenc sit down with 2026 National Champion and University of Denver goaltender Johnny Hicks — or more famously “Johnny Bricks.” From starting the season as Denver’s third-string goalie to becoming the backbone of a national championship run, Johnny shares one of the most inspiring goalie stories in college hockey.
Johnny opens up about the mindset shifts, preparation habits, and mental discipline that helped him stay ready when nobody outside the locker room expected him to be the guy. He dives in...
Confident Athletes Don’t Guess—They Decide
Welcome to Episode 67 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
“Confident Athletes Don’t Guess—They Decide”
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc break down one of the most underrated skills in sports: trusting yourself when it matters most.
Every athlete has heard “trust your gut”—but what does that actually mean when the game is on the line, the pressure is high, and you don’t have time to think?
The reality is, great athletes don’t sit there analyzing every option. They decide. Instantly. And tha...
The Mindset You Need to Come Back From Injury
Welcome to Episode 66 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
“The Mindset You Need to Come Back From Injury”
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc tackle one of the toughest realities athletes face: injuries—and not just the physical side, but the mental battle that comes with them.
When you get injured, you don’t just lose time on the ice or field. You lose confidence. You lose your routine. You start to feel like your team is moving on without you. And before you know it, you’re q...
Talent Sets the Floor, Character Sets the Ceiling
In Episode 65 of the Dialed & Driven Mentality Podcast, we break down one of the most overlooked — yet most important — elements of athletic success: character.
Athletes today spend countless hours developing their skills, training in the gym, and chasing performance gains. But when was the last time you worked on who you are as a teammate, competitor, and person?
We dive into why talent may get you noticed, but character is what ultimately determines how far you go. From tryouts to team selection, from locker room culture to long-term success, coaches aren’t just evalua...
The 3 Real Signs You’re on the Right Path
Welcome to Episode 64 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
“The 3 Real Signs You’re on the Right Path”
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc take on one of the most frustrating questions athletes face: How do you know if you’re actually on the right path?
When you have big dreams, it’s easy to get caught up in the noise — the teams, the jerseys, the rankings, the tournaments, the exposure, and the constant pressure of feeling like everyone else is moving faster than you. You sta...
The Season’s Over… Now What?
Welcome to Episode 63 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast — brought to you by Vaughn Custom Sports!
“The Season's Over… Now What?”
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc tackle one of the most uncertain — and most important — moments in an athlete’s journey: the offseason.
The season ends, the jersey comes off, and suddenly the questions hit: What now? Where am I playing? Should I be training? Am I falling behind? For many athletes, this time brings not just uncertainty… but an identity crisis.
The team dives into h...
You Carry the Answer in Your Pocket — And Still Don’t Use It
Welcome to Episode 62 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast — brought to you by Vaughn Custom Sports!
“You Carry the Answer in Your Pocket — And Still Don’t Use It”
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc flip the script on one of the biggest conversations in sports today: your phone.
You’ve heard it before — phones are distractions, phones are the problem. But what if that’s completely wrong?
The team dives into the reality that your phone isn’t holding you back — your lack of discipline and in...
The Most Underrated Skill in Sports (And It’s Not What You Think)
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...
The Confidence You Forgot You Built
Welcome to Episode 60 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast — brought to you by Vaughn Custom Sports!
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc break down a powerful concept that goes far beyond the gym: stacking gains. While the term is often used in the weightlifting world, the team explores how the real power of stacking gains lies in the mental side of performance — building confidence through the experiences, habits, and challenges you've already overcome.
From navigating the fear of entering a new level of c...
Nobody Owes You Playing Time
Welcome to episode 59 of the Dialed and Driven Hockey Mentality Podcast — brought to you by Vaughn Custom Sports!
In this episode, host Jeff Lerg is joined by our producer, Natalie Ferenc while Chris Palmer is away speaking to U.S. Army Special Operations Forces.
From Olympic gold medal moments to powerful lessons on practice habits, specialization, and joy in sport, this episode dives deep into what truly separates athletes who rise from those who stall.
Episode Highlights:
Why practice habits are the ultimate separator between college athletes and prosThe mindset sh...This Is Why Sports Are Never Predictable
Welcome to episode 58 of the Dialed and Driven Hockey Mentality Podcast — brought to you by Vaughn Custom Sports!
In this episode, hosts Jeff Lerg and Chris Palmer, joined by Natalie Ferenc, dive into the reality of chaos in sport — using powerful storylines from the Winter Olympics to explore what really separates athletes who fold under pressure from those who rise when it matters most.
Episode Highlights:
Why anything can happen at the Olympics — and why accepting that reality makes athletes strong...The World Is Watching: Thriving on the Olympic Stage
Welcome to episode 57 of the Dialed and Driven Hockey Mentality Podcast — brought to you by Vaughn Custom Sports!
In this episode, hosts Jeff Lerg and Chris Palmer, joined by Natalie Ferenc, take you inside the mental battle of the Olympics — where pressure is highest, distractions are everywhere, and the world is watching.
This conversation breaks down what truly separates athletes who crumble under pressure from those who rise when it matters most. Using real Olympic storylines across winter sports, the crew explores how focus, resilience, and...
What Happens When You Stop Expecting Things to Go Right
Welcome to another episode of the Dialed and Driven Hockey Mentality Podcast — brought to you by Vaughn Custom Sports!
Today, hosts Jeff Lerg and Chris Palmer, joined by Natalie, dive into one of the most important (and unavoidable) realities of sport and life: learning how to manage chaos when things don’t go as planned.
From youth hockey to the Olympics, this episode breaks down why setbacks, distractions, injuries, pressure, and unexpected changes aren’t signs that something is wrong — they’re simply part of th...
Why 70% of Athletes Quit—and How to Be the Exception
Welcome to episode 55 of the Dialed and Driven Hockey Mentality Podcast — brought to you by Vaughn Custom Sports!
Today, hosts Jeff Lerg and Chris Palmer are joined by Natalie as they tackle one of the biggest challenges athletes face at every level: how to stay mentally strong when the grind gets heavy, burnout creeps in, and the big picture gets lost in the day-to-day chaos.
This conversation highlights how pressure, comparison, fear of failure, and unrealistic expectations can strip the fun from sports—and how elite performers reset, refocus, and move forw...
Suck It Up and Deal With It vs. Real Mental Strength
Welcome to Episode 54 — Suck It Up and Deal With It vs. Real Mental Strength … brought to you by Vaughn Custom Sports!
Today, host Jeff Lerg and Chris Palmer discuss the main topic focused on managing future anxiety and comparison during the competitive season. Noting the struggle with players getting opportunities on other teams while others don't. It's emphasized that this time of year is particularly challenging because players hear about teammates and competitors securing positions for the following year, creating anxiety and distraction from current performance.
Episode 54 highlights:
- The im...
Hockey Is What You Do, Not Who You Are: Identity, Mindset, and Growth
Welcome to Episode 53 — Hockey Is What You Do, Not Who You Are: Identity, Mindset, and Growth … brought to you by Vaughn Custom Sports!
Today, host Jeff Lerg and Chris Palmer discuss the main topic: identity and the dangers of over-identification with being “a hockey player”. We also dive into why we linked identity to standards, or daily codes of conduct— and how youth systems that push single-sport immersion can narrow identity and increase risk.
💥 Episode 53 highlights:
- How other roles (e.g., fisherman, skateboarder, friend, artist) are very important because off-ice...
Our Recruiting Journeys with Jeff Lerg & Natalie Ferenc
Welcome to Episode 52 — Our Recruiting Journeys with Jeff Lerg & Natalie Ferenc … brought to you by Vaughn Custom Sports!
Today, host Jeff Lerg and our producer Natalie Ferenc sit down and discuss their recruitment process in committing and playing at Division 1 universities.
Episode 52 highlights:
- How recruitment has revealed significant changes in modern college sports such as NIL and the number of athletes in the transfer portal, emphasizing that modern athletes are "always being recruited" rather than just during traditional recruitment periods in youth.
- Both Jeff and Natalie...
Why 2026 Is Your Year to Take Action
Happy New Year and welcome back to the Dialed & Driven Hockey Mentality Podcast! We’re kicking off the year with a major announcement: we’ve officially partnered with Vaughn Custom Sports, a premier goalie gear company proudly based right here in Michigan.
Vaughn has been part of our hockey story long before this partnership ever existed. Both Natalie and Jeff wore Vaughn gear throughout their playing careers, and this collaboration is a natural extension of the trust, craftsmanship, and innovation we've always believed in. Their commitment to quality and their decades of impact on the game...
If You Stop Evolving, You’re Losing
Welcome to Episode 50 - If You Stop Evolving, You’re Losing 🧰
Our hosts, Chris Palmer and Jeff Lerg discuss innovation in athletic performance and the importance of being a student of the game by identifying strengths and growth opportunities, and continuously seeking improvement.
Register for our Mentality Building Curriculum, The Dialed & Driven Success Formula! ➡️ Click here to learn more
Episode highlights:
- How growth mindset facilitates innovation and creativity.
- The importance of positioning innovation as an additional tool rather than an obligation. Fundamental...
Are You Really Giving 100%… or Just Saying You Are?
Welcome to Episode 49 - Are You Really Giving 100%… or Just Saying You Are? 💯
Today, our hosts, Chris Palmer and Jeff Lerg discuss mid-season check-ins for hockey players and the challenge of self-assessment during holiday breaks when numerous distractions compete for athletes' attention.
Register for our Mentality Building Curriculum, The Dialed & Driven Success Formula! ➡️ Click here to learn more
Episode highlights:
- A personal story from Jeff about his journey on becoming the starting goalie at Michigan State University his freshmen year along with the steps it took to...
The Recipe for a Successful Team Culture
Welcome to Episode 48 - The Recipe for a Successful Team Culture 🏆
Today, our hosts, Chris Palmer and Jeff Lerg go into a detailed conversation about team culture. The hosts emphasized that effective leadership doesn't necessarily come from the most skilled players or those with official captain roles.
Register for our Mentality Building Curriculum, The Dialed & Driven Success Formula! ➡️ Click here to learn more
Episode highlights:
- Highlighting the significance of collective success over individual achievements. Jeff shared experiences from his championship teams, emphasizing that talent alone does...
How to Build an Athlete Who NEVER Stops Believing in Themselves
Welcome to Episode 47 - How to Build an Athlete Who NEVER Stops Believing in Themselves 🤩
Our hosts, Chris Palmer and Jeff Lerg start the conversation on the topic of belief and its connection to bullying. Jeff shares his personal experience of potentially being an easy target for bullying due to his physical conditions but maintained a positive attitude through athletic achievement. Chris discusses different approaches to handling bullying, emphasizing the importance of recognizing that bullying often reflects the bully's issues rather than the victim's worth.
🚨Chris Palmer and Jeff Lerg introduce their new "Dialed...
