Daniel Cutright Podcast - Winning Mentality

No interview style today.  Just me.This is me sharing a story with a simple, but powerful message.  Pursuit of accomplishment often comes with adversity and setbacks.  Rarely is our first plan perfect and the one that gets us where we wish to go.  All of that is part of the journey.  It's easy to feel discouraged along the way.  But discouragement and setbacks do not have to be final.  You can overcome.  And when you do, the victory will be that much sweeter.

What's the first thing you say to yourself when you wake up?  Is it positive? Negative?  How about goals or habits you want to create or break?  What does you inner dialogue sound like toward those things?  In this episode, I'm joined for the second time by Licensed Professional Counselor and peak performance coach, Rebekah Vepraskas, to discuss the power of the specific words we choose when talking to ourselves.  Rebekah offers up insights based on decades of research, and her own experiences working with countless teams and individuals.  Simply understanding how we frame our goals to ourselves can be the difference in achieving or not achieving our desired results.  This is such a rich conversation and one that when really applied, can make all the difference in every area of your life, and positively impact those around you.

John and Sarah Toracinta are the founders of the apparel company NOSOLO.  The brand however, represents much more than just trendy threads.  As a couple, they knew they wanted to build something together outside of their full-time jobs, but wanted there to be purpose and meaning.  As mental health is something John and Sarah have both had close experiences with, they decided to start a company where a portion of the profits would go toward supporting mental health initiatives and awareness.  As NOSOLO has grown and evolved, the ripple effect and impact continues to present itself in ways beyond what John and Sarah could have imagined.  In this episode, John and Sarah talk through the entrepreneurial journey of starting NOSOLO while working two full-time jobs, discuss several different aspects of mental health and what that means to each of us, and share stories of impact that validate why they believe so much in their mission.  You'll leave this one feeling inspired, empowered, and reminded that none of us go solo…

The term legend is no exaggeration.  In his 44 years as head coach at St. Augustine's University in North Carolina, the success that George Williams has had is all but unmatched.  Under his direction, his teams won 39 NCAA titles, which is the third most regardless of division or sport, amongst all college coaches in history.  Another 33 times his teams were national runner-up.  He coached 282 individual NCAA champions, over 40 Olympians, was named NCAA Division II Coach of the Year 20 times, was the head coach of the US Olympic Track & Field Team in 2004, assistant coach of the US Team at the 1996 Olympics, coach on multiple World Championship teams, inducted into 9 different Hall of Fames, and most recently received the 2022 USATF Coaching Legend Award.  What was the driver behind the sustained success?  In this episode George shares his wisdom and stories of how he approached building his program, and what kept him coming back.  While it may be the accolades, wins, and statistics that show on the outside, I think you'll quickly realize that even greater than all of that is who George is as a person, and the genuine care he has for every person that comes in his path.  It was such an honor to host this episode, and I hope you'll take the time to listen to one of the all-time greats.

Virtually everyone has at least one behavior they would love to improve or change.  Why is it often so difficult to make changes that last?  Perhaps our focus is in the wrong place?  In this episode, I'm joined by Leighanne Gerstbrein, who specializes in human behavior change, and has worked for several years in the corporate space, and more recently through her own practice to expand her impact.  We dive into the science behind behavioral change, the impact of our habits, and practical tips for more effectively implementing habits to lead to desirable behaviors.  If you want to set yourself up for success to become the ideal you that you've been striving for, I'm certain you'll find value in this conversation.

In 2019, Chris Stockel walked away from the corporate world to act on the idea that would become Mind Body Project.  Having dealt with his own struggles of anxiety throughout life, Chris had always found high intensity exercise and athletics as a great way to cope.  It wasn't until later however, that he began to insert meditation and mindfulness into his daily routine.  He began to see notable differences not just in his mental health, but in his physical health as well.  These experiences and Chris's entrepreneurial spirit led him to open the first workout & mindfulness studio of its kind- one combining the best of high intensity training, with mindfulness practice.  This episode not only gets into the mental health side of things, but also the entrepreneurial journey behind Mind Body Project.  

Brittany McGowan has had many incredible opportunities come her way.  To name a couple, she was crowned Miss Nevada in 2015, and also landed a spot as a briefcase model on the hit show, Deal or No Deal.  She has long been involved in the world of modeling, and is always striving to flex the entrepreneurial and creative sides through growing her own photography business and running a successful skincare blog.  Through all of the success and glamour however, this journey led her to also become passionate in the area of mental health.  Through her own experiences and recognizing how many seemingly successful people work through different aspects of mental health daily, she began to use her platform to raise awareness and let people know they are not alone.  This conversation perhaps has the most depth of any we've done on the show, and digs deep into topics that can be helpful for everyone.

Daniel Cutright, host of Winning Mentality, is always the person asking his guests questions. But on this episode, Daniel is put in the hot seat! Join us as we dive into his interesting background, discover the inspiration behind his podcast, hear about the unique experiences that have shaped him, and even learn what food he simply cannot live without.Daniel has interviewed countless guests on his podcast— from former NFL players to pageant queens to entrepreneurs and everything in between. Find out what he's discovered they all have in common.It's Daniel's winning attitude and contagious zest for life that'll have you smiling throughout this episode. Let's get to know the man behind the mic!

When you mention Virginia basketball, you can't have that conversation without referencing the 1984 Final Four team.  On that team was arguably the greatest college basketball player of all time in Ralph Sampson, but also Jimmy Miller, who was named East Regional MVP in that year's Final Four run.  Jimmy went on to be drafted by the Utah Jazz in the 1985 NBA draft, and since then has found success beyond just basketball.  He runs a successful firm in the financial services industry, invests time into Piedmont CASA - an advocacy organization for children, and for the last several years has been a broadcasting voice for Virginia basketball.  This conversation is full of great stories and a unique perspective from someone who started from very humble beginnings, and has seen the program up close as a player, and now as an alumni and broadcaster.  

At the end of 2019, Christine Patruno began to put in motion an idea of helping people live better, healthier lives.  Fast-forward to April 2022.  Her idea has grown into a thriving business that has allowed her to walk away from a full-time career in the financial industry.  She is the founder CP Honest Tea, a nutrition & mindfulness coaching platform, offering a sustainable approach to living well.  In this episode, she shares the honest truth about how this all came to fruition and the mindset that helped grow a platform bringing value to so many.  Whether you're someone looking to launch your own idea, or looking to snag some nutrition & mindfulness tips, this episode has it all.

Amanda Sheridan is the CEO of BagValet, a luggage storage and delivery company designed to solve a problem faced by countless travelers.  While the concept is the first of its kind, how Amanda started may be what's most impressive.  Going from being a mom of 3 and ride-share driver, to running a million company in less than three years amidst a global pandemic is incredible.    In this episode, Amanda shares exactly how she did it, challenges she faced, and lessons she learned along the way.  If you're looking for a crash course on starting a business, or simply empowerment to get started, you've come to the right place.

Kelly Russell has worked in television for basically her whole career; from working in the newsroom, to working on shows like Deal or No Deal and the Masked Singer, and currently working for Fox Entertainment.  In the midst of this fast-paced environment, she has interacted with people from all walks of life and is constantly evolving not just in her career, but personally as well.  If that wasn't busy enough, Kelly is also a licensed realtor growing her brand throughout New Jersey.  In this episode she shares incredible insights from her own journey of struggling with self-confidence, being able to start taking bigger risks, and learning that setbacks and rejection are often just set-ups for something better.  This was an incredibly fun conversation that will get you laughing, but also leave you feeling empowered.

When Coach Reed arrived at the University of Lynchburg in 2015, the men's and women's programs were at a low point to say the least.  Fast forward to 2021, and the men's and women's cross country programs are coming off of conference championship seasons and national appearances, with the men finishing their highest since 1993 and the women making their first appearance as a team since 1998.  This comes on the heels of three individual All-American performances for the men in outdoor track.  Improvement, culture, and consistency have been apparent over the last few years since Reed and the Lynchburg staff arrived.  This episode unpacks the fundamentals behind the shift, the culture, and the environment that has seen arguably some of the best talent Lynchburg has ever had.  Whether you're an athlete, coach, or pursuing something completely different from sports, the principles discussed here are phenomenal.

Henry Wynne is a professional distance runner with Brooks, NCAA individual champ, a part of the world-record setting 4x1 mile team, and Olympic hopeful for Tokyo.  Having recently run 3:34.06 for 1500 meters at the time of this podcast release, Henry is one of the best distance runners in America.  In this episode, Henry shares about his journey starting as a naive high school runner, not knowing a ton about the sport, to the challenges of transitioning to being a Division 1 athlete at the University of Virginia, to winning an individual national title, to overcoming setbacks, and ultimately running professionally and earning himself a place to compete at the upcoming Olympic trials.  Whether you're a runner, athlete, or not into sports at all, there's tremendous value and tips woven throughout his story.

Rebekah Vepraskas is a peak performance researcher, licensed professional counselor, Founder/Owner of Salient Counseling, and Founder of Athlete Mettle.  Throughout her career, she has worked with individuals from all different backgrounds, but found a love for working with high-performing college athletes to help them reach their greatest potential.  This episode is packed with tips and approaches around how to reframe your challenges, optimize your mental health, find opportunity in your circumstances, and equip your mind for peak performance in every scenario.  

Dr. Brian Prax is a successful chiropractor, having practiced for 25+ years.  Throughout his career, he has been able to help patients overcome conditions such as neuropathy, that many other experts would say are irreversible.  In this episode, he unpacks his approach and what makes the strategy so effective.  He dives into differences between chiropractic and traditional medicine, and overall health strategies that anyone listening can find valuable.  Whether you have exhausted all options trying to find relief for neuropathy, are interested in making health improvements, or just would like to hear some powerful mindset tips, this episode is for you.

Katie Kline is a pediatric intensive care unit nurse, who not just excels in her profession, but who has also taken it upon herself to create useful content and resources to help other nurses. In providing these tools she has grown an extremely large social media following, and platform to give back to others looking for tips and tools as they get started in their careers. In this episode, Katie discusses useful mindset and communication strategies that allow her to not only provide the best possible care for her patients and families, but also allow her to care for her own mental and emotional well-being. Whether you’re in healthcare, or another field, the strategies discussed here can be applied to help create a proper perspective, and optimal performance environment in your endeavors.

Kerry Wynn is an NFL veteran who played 5 years for the New York Giants, and 1 year for the Cincinnati Bengals. After receiving just one scholarship offer, and going undrafted, Kerry was able to overcome any hurdles placed in front of him and make a name for himself as a Defensive End, playing in 65 games over his professional career. In this episode, Kerry talks about his journey from playing sports at a young age, to how he made the most of every opportunity. In hearing his work ethic and mindset of how he approaches everything in life, it’s no secret why he continues a driven and successful life, even after retiring from professional football. From pursing real-estate full-time, to running his own foundation to provide scholarship opportunities, Kerry still pursues purpose and a winning mindset toward all that he pursues.

Keira D’Amato is a 36 year-old mom, wife, full-time realtor, and runner, who is fresh off of breaking the American 10-Mile record by 49 seconds, running a time of 51:23. A standout runner at American University, Keira was a 4x All-American, and 11x Individual conference champ. After taking a several years away from high-level competitive running, Keira began pursuing the sport at a high-level once again. In this episode, she shares about her journey and come-back to the sport, how she balances her many priorities, and things that have allowed her to compete at an unprecedented level. Whether you’re a runner or athlete of another sport, or just looking for some inspiration in general, there is so much to be absorbed from hearing the joy and mindset behind Keira’s approach.

Gray Ellington is the founder of Wahoops, LLC, the successful social media account that has grown to over 26,000 followers in 4 years. Their phenomenal coverage of the University of Virginia athletics has helped Wahoops continue to grow and thrive. In this episode, Gray discusses the genesis and vision he had for starting Wahoops, how it has grown, and lessons he’s learned along the way. The passion and humility Gray has behind his work is impressive, always wanting to focus on providing quality content for viewers, and opportunities for his growing team. We’re excited to release this episode on the 4-year anniversary of Wahoops. Go Hoos.

Delesia Watson is an entrepreneur, 2x First Runner-Up Miss Virginia contestant, YouTuber, and writer. While pursuing multiple endeavors, each of these has been connected by a common purpose. In this episode, she shares about her humble upbringing, and powerful lessons and mindset she has learned along the way. There are so many tips throughout this conversation that we can all apply, whether in an endeavor we’re pursing, or simply in how we interact with those around us - even in the midst of disagreement.

Ryan Weigand is an Associate Director with the Virginia Athletics Foundation, and former UVA football player. His path to either of these endeavors was anything but normal or what he might have expected, but he shares some valuable insights around his journey, staying flexible, and how through a positive outlook some of the best opportunities revealed themself. This episode offers great mindset whether you’re an athlete looking to compete in college, or a recent college grad trying to navigate the current climate and step into your next opportunity.

Jerome Meyinsse is a professional basketball player in his 11th year. He played college basketball at the University of Virginia, and has since played in professional leagues in Argentina, Brazil, and currently in Mexico. He is a 3x Argentinian League champ, a 3x Brazilian League champ, and most notably won the 2014 FIBA Intercontinental Cup. Jerome shares insights from his career, including the thin threads that he ended up at Virginia, and even made it into the professional ranks. This conversation however leaves no doubt why Jerome has had the success he has. His mindset, attitude, and willingness to embrace the culture of where he has been planted and teams he has been a part of are all magnets for success.

Tim May is an entrepreneur through and through. In his own words, he has been so since he was 8 years old. He's the founder of Pro Athlete Travel, a niche travel agency servicing professional athletes, he recently started his own podcast, and in his time outside of that coaches boys high school basketball. Tim shares insights around how he got started, the inspiration for his ideas, and powerful insight and wisdom from which we can all learn and apply into our own lives.

Winston Brown is the Head Track & Field/Cross Country coach at Fork Union Military Academy. With 30 years of coaching experience Winston has coached numerous state championship teams, All-Americans, and some of the most elite runners to come through the state of Virginia. Additionally, he shares how he and his wife Beth opened their home as foster parents to Alex & Peter Lomong, younger brothers of Olympian Lopez Lomong. The stories Winston shares offer some humor, valuable perspective, and wisdom we can all apply in life.

Eddie Brown is the Executive Director and Founder of Giving Words, an organization dedicated to supporting single mothers. The creativity behind how Eddie and his team are making a different is incredible, not to mention the personal adversities he has leveraged now to benefit the cause. Eddie's passion is unmistakable, and this episode is package with wisdom.

This is a phenomenal conversation with Mike Marsella- 2x All-American, ACC Champ, and sub-4:00 miler while running track at the University of Virginia. He continued running professionally with the Boston Athletic Association where he garnered a 5th place finish at the USA Indoor Championships. Mike discusses overcoming major adversities after not being able to walk in high school, to getting hit by a car and coming out of a 2-week long coma while in college. His perspective toward challenges and viewing life through a lens of gratitude is something that we can all learn from as we each face challenges of our own.

This episode of Winning Mentality is with Paul Kirschbaum. Paul is a former executive chef, with a vast array of experiences within the restaurant industry. Amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic and shift in food service, Paul started a cooking show for kids. The positive feedback has been overwhelming! Listen as Paul shares his mindset and things he's learned throughout his career, and the joy he's found in his most recent endeavor. No matter what your background, this episode has something for everyone.

This episode is with 5x All-American and 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier Carmen Graves. Listen as Carmen shares about her journey going from playing DIII collegiate soccer, to reaching extremely high levels of success in Track & Field. Her mindset around overcoming, not being afraid to fail, and embracing a competitive spirit is phenomenal.

Kicking off the idea to highlight individuals who are pursuing causes outside of the box, chasing excellence, and making a difference. This first episode is with Jeff Alston, long-time high school coach and now local leader with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Listen as Jeff shares ideas he's learned along the way, transitioning his experiences from coaching, and having real faith to follow your calling.