SAX IN THE MORNING

Springtime always heralds change, and for me, it's an exciting season of new beginnings as I transition into my role covering the Athletics' pre and post-game shows in Major League Baseball. This episode centers around embracing life's big changes with a blend of preparation and patience. Join me as I share personal insights on what distinguishes professionals from amateurs, emphasizing the critical role of being prepared for the unexpected twists that transitions can often bring. We'll explore practical steps to navigate changes effectively, ensuring that you're ready to face whatever comes your way.Setting realistic expectations is essential when managing transitions, whether you're stepping into a new job, a budding relationship, or adjusting to a fresh living situation. Patience and laying a foundation of positivity are key to building a fortress of success over time. This episode is packed with motivational tips and empowering stories, offering guidance to tackle life's transitions with confidence. Whether you're a baseball enthusiast or on a personal growth journey, expect to find valuable encouragement and advice to help you navigate the shifting tides in your own life.

Hey everybody, as you may have noticed we haven't posted episodes for a couple weeks and that's because after over 300 episodes I decided to take a little break to travel and do some relaxation. We are also working on some new ideas for episodes to give you a shot in the arm three days a week in the morning and booking guests for our full length episodes. I'm thinking about all of my loyal listeners out there and I hope you enjoy some time to play outside in the sun as we get this summer rolling. Donate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here 

Today I wrap up our salute to the military with the story of Mo Berg who might be the most interesting man in the history of baseball. Berg was fluent in seven languages and was familiar with another five. He played 16 years in the Major Leagues and traveled to Japan with a MLB All-Star team that included Babe Ruth and Lou Gerig. While there he snuck to the top of one of the tallest buildings in Tokyo and took pictures of the skyline, the harbor and a munitions facility. That is because Mo Berg became a spy while still playing baseball and he continued after his career. Listen to today's short to hear about Berg's exploits and how he played a role in winning WWII. Donate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here 

Today I want to continue to salute our military a day after Memorial Day and so today I am focusing on the famous flying squadron The Purple Foxes. This is the squadron that my son John was a part of. The Purple Foxes are famous for flying in to rescue a platoon of Marines who were stuck under heavy fire during the Vietnam War. When they landed a soldier remarked “We thought you flyboys didn't give a shit!” To which the crew chief said “We give a shit.” That is the Purple Foxes motto and it is painted on all of their aircraft. They are the only squadron allowed to have a curse word on their aircrafts. My son was hand picked to be a part of The Purple Foxes and he couldn't have been prouder and neither could I. Donate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here  

Today on Memorial Day I wanted to give my thanks to all the men and women who have given their lives to defend this country. Since I love World War II history I wanted to focus a little bit on D-day and some of the other breakthroughs that helped us win that war. What does D-day mean? How did code breaking help win the war and lead to the modern personal computer? I answer these questions and give my gratitude to anyone who has served our country, including my beloved son who also died protecting our freedom. Donate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here  

Sometimes you hear people say things like “don't put all your eggs in one basket” or “you had better have a back up plan.” The truth is that most people who accomplish difficult goals don't have a “plan B.” I was going to play Major League baseball, period, end of story. If I failed I would have figured it out then but I didn't need and I didn't want to think about not achieving my goal. Listen to interviews with actors, musicians or successful entrepreneurs, they often talk about how they HAD to do whatever they did. That there was no other option, no back-up plan. If there was a back-up plan they would have reverted to it when things got really hard, which they always do.  So if you want to do something truly great, you've got to go all in. Put all your eggs in that basket, if you fail then you'll live with knowing you did everything you could and you'll pick yourself up and try something new. Donate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here  

I have good news for you today and that is that if you have a lot of struggles and a lot of problems there's a good chance that a major part of the problem is YOU! And you are the only person, place or thing you really have any control over, which means you have more agency than you think to solve your problems. You may have serious hardships and circumstances but that doesn't change the fact that you are the only thing you can control and chances are that if you change, a lot about the world around you will seem to change as well. Remember the old adage about the three jerks. If you run into one jerk in a day, that's unfortunate. If you run into two jerks that is really an unlucky day. But if you run into a third jerk, chances are that you're the jerk not the other people. So stop worrying about other people you can't control and start worrying about what you can control… yourself. Donate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here  

It's time for another MLB update where I give my thoughts on how the season is going and what the biggests surprises and disappointments are so far. The Tampa Bay Rays just keep on rolling! Crummy stadium, low payroll and they cannot be stopped. Unlike the Oakland A's who seem to have zero interest in putting a competitive team on the field. The Dodgers continue to rein over the National League West despite the belief of many that the Padres may be the new favorite. Are the Padres the biggest disappointment? You'll have to listen to find out!Donate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here 

You know I love to share inspirational sports stories with you and today is a whopper! It's about the Florida Athletic High School Hall of Famer Carl Joseph. Joseph was a star athlete in high school in football, basketball and track and field. At 6'1” he could dunk the ball with authority, routinely blocked shots into the crowd, played on the defensive line in football, could throw a shot put 40 feet and won the high jump in a track meet clearing 5'10”. Joseph then went on to play middle linebacker in college at Bethune-Cookman. He did all this, coming from a poor family on a tobacco farm with nine siblings and a single mother. But that's not what makes this story impressive. It's that Joseph did all of this on one leg. Joseph was born with one leg and he didn't use a prosthetic leg for any sport. He literally hopped around on one leg, making tackles and blocking shots. So what is holding you back?Check out this video of Carl JosephDonate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here 

Jamie Moyer pitched in four different decades as a Major League pitcher and won 269 games. He was never the most talented guy, he didn't throw hard and his “stuff” wasn't impressive, but he got the very most out of his ability by knowing his strengths. He knew he could use hitters' aggressiveness to his advantage and he did so for 25 seasons. But Moyer also knew he should get the most out of his influence and stature as a professional athlete and he did that as well. He and his wife started a foundation which holds camps called Camp Erin, named after 15-year-old Erin Metcalf who died of liver cancer. The camps bring together children who have lost a family member to participate in fun outdoor activities and meet other kids who know what real loss feels like. Donate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here 

Today I'm talking about how working on a team creates a positive environment with better outcomes for everyone. It's tempting to want to “go it alone” but the rewards of being backed up by a team bear out in the research and by people's experiences. Being on a team reduces stress, reduces mistakes and creates better decision making. I know that playing a team sport made our failures less painful and our successes way more fun. So if you are starting out on a new dream or looking for a new career, build a team or look to join a team because you'll be better off if you do. Donate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here  

We all have negative thoughts sometimes that put us down or make us doubt ourselves. That's normal, but when those thoughts become chronic and intrusive it can lead to a sad lonely life of blaming the world and other people for our problems. Looking back over my own experience and reading how others have overcome negative thoughts I wanted to share with you some ways to overcome that pattern. Acknowledge the thoughts and know you will overcome themUse compassionate self-talkTalk to others to get a new perspectiveTake that thought, wrap it up in tissue and throw it awayListen to today's short to better understand what I mean and hear how I used these tactics to get over my throwing issue as a young player. Donate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here  

We all do it. We all get a fear in our head that we know what someone is thinking about us, or we get a feeling and know that something terrible is going to happen, or we read a headline and we know the whole awful story. But do we? Or are we just jumping to conclusions based on feelings or false information?Jumping to conclusions can cause us to act in irrational ways and upend our day or our lives because we reacted to situations that didn't even exist. When it's really bad we begin to always assume the worst and constantly live in a state of panic or sorrow over things that haven't actually happened. How do we combat this type of thinking, listen to today's short to find out. Donate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here  

Today I'm talking about another pandemic that is happening in our world as the COVID-19 crisis winds down and that is the crisis of loneliness. It's worse for you than smoking, it causes mental health problems, lifestyle disorders and all sorts of public health problems. All this started even before COVID and it continues to get worse. So what can we do? Well, it's a big complex problem with simple solutions. We have to connect with other people. It's vital! We are literally built to thrive on human connection and we wither and die without it. We have to engage with our community, our friends and neighbors. Listen today to hear just how serious loneliness is and what you can do to help the problem. Source: The surgeon general says loneliness is as deadly as smokingDonate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here  

There are many things in life which never get old. Jeans and a t-shirt, a good chocolate chip cookie and treating people with class and respect. That's what today's short is all about. During my career many different people showed class, guiding me with their example of kindness and service. Acts of class and respect are experiences that have stuck with me for the rest of my life and they are reminders of how I should strive to treat others as well. Listen to today's short to hear how some of the great all-time players showed incredible class to me in my early career. Donate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here  

Today I'm taking a look at the baseball season again to see where things stand after the first month. This is a time for players and teams to reevaluate where they are, how the season is going and what changes might need to be made. It's a great example for our own lives. Every few months we should all be evaluating our lives and our performance to figure out where we can do better and what changes we could make to improve. Donate to the Captain John J. Sax Foundation hereVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here 

Today we officially open the Captain John J. Sax foundation which will raise money to support people who want to pursue a passion for flying. Our foundation's mission statement is: In continuing to honor the life of a devoted flyer, the Capt. John J. Sax Foundation serves to support those who choose to further their education, exploration and passion for flight dwelling within the hearts of future aviators within the United States of America.John had been passionate about flying since he was a little boy and he was lucky enough to spend every day of his 33 years chasing and living his dream of being a world class pilot. If you'd like to donate to the foundation please follow the link below.captjohnjsaxfoundation.org Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here 

Today on our full length episode I had the pleasure of talking with the great Nick Swisher. Nick is a ball of energy and positivity and he had so many great things to say about how to choose happiness and how to look forward and the future while living in the present moment. Nick was a phenomenal baseball player playing 12 seasons in which he hit 20 or more home runs in nine straight seasons and won a world series with the New York Yankees in 2009.  He was a first round pick by the Oakland A's in 2002 and told me he learned how to switch hit playing home run derby with his friends in high school. But Nick has always been known for his infectious personality. We talked about his career, we talked about fatherhood, and we talked about how with baseball behind him, the best years of his life lay ahead. So I hope you enjoy the fantastic, energizing conversation with Nick Swisher.  Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here 

To finish this week of people overcoming the odds to succeed in sports I wanted to highlight the great Muggsy Bogues, who played 14 years in the NBA despite being a mere 5'3”. That's short for your average person but for professional basketball players that is unheard of. And he was one of a kind and still is, because he is the shortest NBA player ever. And yet he wasn't just a cute story, Muggsy Bogues was an outstanding player. Nobody took care of the ball better than Muggsy and that's not my opinion, that's according to career statistics. Muggsy used his height to his advantage, hugging the ball close to the ground and using his incredible quickness in space to make the right pass. His “short”coming became his superpower. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea   

Yesterday's story was about a boy who almost lost his legs and today's story is about a boy who lost his arms. Ibrahim Hamadtou lost his arms in a train accident as a little boy. Luckily in the village he grew up in in Egypt they loved soccer and table tennis. Naturally, you would assume a kid with no arms would play soccer, which he did, but Ibrahim was also enamored with table tennis. Unfortunately, a prerequisite to play the sport is holding a paddle and to do that you need arms and hands right? Wrong, because Ibrahim started playing by holding the paddle in his mouth! Today he competes in professional competitions for disabled athletes and he is incredible. Check out the video below to be inspired. VIDEO: Ibrahim Hamadtou plays ping pong with no armsVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea  

Today I share the story of Glenn Cunningham who was one of the best distance runners of all time. He held the world record in the mile for three years. He held several Olympic and NCAA records at one point. But as a child, doctors told him he would never walk. Cunningham had both legs terribly burned in a fire, and he barely survived and nearly had his legs amputated. Doctors said he would never walk, but never underestimate the will of an 8-year-old. Cunningham taught himself how to walk in his yard holding the fence. As he got stronger he was in terrible pain when he walked, but when he ran the pain went away. And that was the humblest of beginnings for one of the great athletes of the 1930's. So let me ask you, what's holding you back? Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea

Today I am talking a little bit about the rule changes and baseball and how they are working out so far. I'll focus on the shift and the pick off rule.What do these rules and changes have to do with our lives? Well, I think we will see that these rules are not going to change the game all that much because little tweaks to the rules aren't the problem. It's the underlying approach to the game. Sometimes the same could be said about our lives. If you are spinning your wheels constantly looking for ways to make little tweaks and changes maybe the problem is something deeper. Maybe the way you are approaching life is what is causing the problem. So take stock of your life and try to find out if you need to make small adjustments or do you need to make some big changes to your approach. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea  

This week I am talking about baseball and how it compares to life. Last weekend I was at my grandson's little league game and saw a young kid get thrown out of a game because I ran into the catcher even though he tried to stop himself from running into him. This type of over safety in youth sports and professional sports for that matter, are teaching people young and old that you should avoid pain. Avoid getting hurt at all costs and don't ever hurt anyone else. The problem is that getting hurt is part of sports and part of the game of life. If you try to avoid getting hurt at all costs you won't ever risk anything and you will end up lonely, bitter and frustrated. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea  

The Tampa Bay Rays kicked off the season with 13 straight wins, which is an astonishing feat but what's even more amazing is they have one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. They are a team that relied heavily on the shift and analytics to win games and yet they find new ways to innovate every year to be in the mix for the playoffs. Simply put, the Rays don't make ANY excuses. They see their challenges as opportunities to be creative and play the game in a way others would never even consider. Their poor stature in the baseball world is actually an asset for how they view the game.So why not do the same thing in your life? Take your struggles, your lot in life and find ways to innovate that only you can see because of the unique position you are in. The people who have to struggle and be creative are the ones that find lasting success. And not just success, but more importantly, fulfillment. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea  

If you are a sports fan or even just a movie fan you undoubtedly know the movie Rudy. It's the story of a young man who was determined to attend Notre Dame and play on the football team even though he stood a mere five foot six and a hundred and sixty five pounds. He works tirelessly to earn the respect of his teammates and coaches, and repeatedly gets annihilated in practices, all while family and friends think he is out of his mind to chase such an outrageous dream. But that perseverance leads him to spending two years on the practice team and getting to be in uniform for his last game where at the very end of the game he gets to play, makes a tackle and is carried off the field by his teammates. The movie is based on a real story and today we have the man who lived that real story, Daniel Ruettiger, better known as Rudy. He tells me all about his days at Notre Dame, how he earned his teammates respect and the other story of perseverance in his life which was the ten years he spent trying to get a movie about his life made so people could be inspired.Rudy's websiteVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

Today I'm talking about the ultimate walk-on player, Rudy Ruettiger. Rudy's journey started after witnessing the horrific death of a co-worker at the coal plant where they worked. After seeing his friend die, Rudy was overwhelmed with the feeling that it was time to chase his dreams. He quit right away and set out to attend Notre Dame and play football. He did just that and the story was turned into one of the greatest sports movies of all time. But the story of getting the movie made is even more impressive then the story told in the movie as Rudy spent 8 years trying to get his story told. Today Rudy continues to inspire millions as he travels the country speaking to people about love, kindness and taking responsibilities for your dreams. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

I am continuing walk on week and today's story is about Greg Camarillo, who caught one of the most famous touchdown passes in Miami Dolphins history. Though it was famous because it saved them from a potential 0-16 season. But Greg was never meant to be in the NFL, that was never his plan when he finished high school and was trying to decide whether to attend Harvard or Stanford. He chose Stanford and walked onto the football team as a punter.But he shanked his first two punt opportunities. Embarrassed but undeterred Greg continued to work and made the team as a wide receiver. After college Greg decided he wanted to try to continue to play football and he was signed by the San Diego Chargers after a tryout. It was three years later when he made the famous catch with the Dolphins. His hard work and preparation led him to a solid 8 year NFL career and today he continues to teach others how to prepare whether it's for college or for a life after sports. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

This week I am talking all about improbable walk-on stories in college football. It takes immeasurable guts and passion to try and walk on to a top flight college football program but that's exactly what Javien Elliot did when he joined Florida State the year after they won a National Championship. And Javien wasn't a walk-on with a dream to only play at Florida State, who turned down options to play for other schools. He was a junior college transfer who hadn't played a snap of football since high school three years before. He overcame major mistakes along the way but parlayed a great senior year at Florida State into a four year NFL career. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

Today I tell the story of Rick Ankiel who was a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and who rocketed to stardom in 2000. But he fell into baseball ruin nearly as fast as he rose to stardom developing control problems and falling apart in the playoffs of that year. Ankiel had years of injuries and attempts to solve his control problems before he gave up on his lifelong ambition of being a pitcher and decided to become an outfielder. In 2007 he torched the minor leagues hitting 32 home runs by August and was called up to the majors where he spent the next seven seasons as an outfielder, having a fine career. So if you are stuck in a rut or failing over and over at something you know isn't right for you, have the courage to change your course and start something new. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

This week I am telling great comeback stories and today's story is about Jose Rijo of the Cincinnati Reds. Rijo washed out of the Oakland A's organization but had a great career with the Reds winning a World Series in which he won two games and went to an All-Star Game. But his career was cut short with shoulder and elbow injuries at age 31. He tried and tried to get back to the big leagues but injuries kept him out more than five years. He even ended up on the Hall of Fame ballot which only happens for players who have not played for five years after retirement. But Rijo was not retired and his arm finally healed enough for him to begin pitching again. Listen to today's short to hear how he made an improbable comeback all the way to the Major Leagues again after not pitching for half a decade. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

This week I am talking about inspiring comeback stories, and I thought that I would highlight baseball comebacks in honor of the season just getting started. Today is all about Tommy John. Yes if you didn't know Tommy John was an actual pitcher, not just the name of a surgery, and he was a phenomenal pitcher to boot. He pitched for 26 seasons, 14 of which came after his groundbreaking elbow ligament replacement surgery in 1974. He went to three All-Star games and won 20 games three times after his surgery, all adding up to a career with 288 wins. If he hadn't worked so hard and bounced back so well from the surgery, who knows if it would have continued or just been chalked up as a failed experiment. Instead, because of his grit and determination (and a great surgeon) countless pitchers since have had amazing and prolonged careers due to Tommy John surgery.  Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

Today I break down my picks for the World Series and talk a little bit about the new rules in baseball. As part of the new rules I examine the idea that while these are mostly changes that I don't like, I'm still excited about baseball and I recognize that the changes in the game are out of my control and that they might even bring good outcomes that I can't see yet. We can do the same with our lives. When change comes along, and it always does, you can fight it, or pout about it and try not to participate, or you can accept the change and have the healthy perspective that you may not know best and the change may lead you to an amazing path you never expected. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

Today I look at the outlook for National League teams headed into the season. In doing so, two teams really stood out to me, the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers. They have similar size media markets and similar size fan bases. They both don't have a tremendous history of winning but have a moderate history of success. Yet the Padres are all in, spending every dollar they can find to try to win. The Brewers on the other hand won't even hand out decent extensions to their own young players. They have two of the top 10 pitchers in baseball and they won't pony up. As a result, they will struggle and likely hit the abort button on their season and the next 5 seasons, at the All-Star break.Live your life like the Padres, go all in and just go for it. And listen to today's short for my outlook on the rest of the National League. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

Today I am breaking down my predictions for the American League in baseball in each division. As much fun as that is, what I love about this time of year is that it reminds me of  the optimism I should have about my life. Everyone on every team expects to have a great season and believes they can win. I felt that way when I went to spring training and it reminds me to find that attitude in my life today. You've got to believe you are going to win and you've got to believe in the preparation to make it happen. So listen today for some thoughts on the baseball season and listen for some motivation on believing that your goals are going to come true. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

Today is the last day of me looking at how you can re-evaluate your life and start to refocus on what is most important to you. We make resolutions in January and then it is so easy to get trapped back in our day-to-day lives and forget about the goals we set and what we hoped to achieve. This week was all about taking a pause to see what will make us happy and to prioritize our lives with these practical tips. Here are all 10 including the four from today. Do more of what you loveSurround yourself with others who want to be happy (positive people!)Set smaller personal goalsStay presentPractice forgiveness Get in charge of your healthDelegate!Learn from setbacksFocus on what's most important to youSchedule downtimeI hope this helps you make small steps towards the life you want for yourself and your loved ones. Source: 10 priorities to re-evaluate to create more happiness in your lifeVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

This week I am talking all about pausing and taking stock of your life and your happiness. Today I give three more priorities for you to check in your life that will build more happiness if you focus on them. They are basic but that's because the basic truths are the real truths. Now is the time to check yourself and the direction you are headed so far this year, as we head into spring and are getting back to being outside, being active and enjoying some sunshine. Listen to hear my three tips for today. Source: 10 priorities to re-evaluate to create more happiness in your lifeVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

This week I am going to suggest that you look at 10 priorities that can help you re-evaluate your life and make sure you are headed in a direction that you are happy with. We are 3 months into the year and so often we pause at the end of the year but I want to encourage you to stop now and use these priorities to get your year back on track if you have fallen off. Today's tips are about how to create more happiness: Spend as much time as possible doing things you loveSpend time with others who want to be happyBreak big goals into smaller goalsListen tomorrow for three more tips and get on the road to happiness. Source: 10 priorities to re-evaluate to create more happiness in your lifeVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

Today I talk about Madge Sayers. A name you might not know unless you love to get deep into Olympic history, but Madge Sayers was one of the first and best female figure skaters in the early 1900's. In fact, she was one of the best regardless of gender and proved that by winning the British Nationals in 1903 against men. She then saw a women's division get created and won the first women's singles gold medal in the 1908 games. Sayers smashed down the doors for women, beating her own husband in competition and helped launch women's figure skating, which is one of the most popular events in the Winter Olympics today. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

Continuing my look back at some trailblazing women in the world of sports, today I look at Janet Guthrie who was the first woman to compete in a NASCAR Winston Cup race and the Indianapolis 500. She went to college and graduated from Michigan University in 1960 and worked in research and development as an aeronautical engineer. She then became one of the four women chosen for the scientist astronaut program with NASA but was eventually not eligible to continue chasing that dream because she didn't have a doctorate degree. When that didn't work out she jumped to car racing and had an amazing career that saw her break down barriers while struggling to secure sponsors as a woman. Despite that, she ended up being inducted into the Women's Sports Hall of Fame (1980) and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2006).Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

This week I am celebrating Women's History Month by looking back at some of the greatest and most influential female athletes in history. Today I'm talking about Babe Didrikson Zaharias, who was like the female Tiger Woods, except she also won three Olympic Medals in track and field, and struck out Major League baseball players. Listen to today's short to hear the amazing achievements of a woman who was far ahead of her time and flat out, one of the best athletes ever.Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea

Sky White is the keyboard player for the band Foxy Shazam as well as the founder of the Wendigo Tea Company. Sky has been playing piano since he was a child and played thousands of shows over a decade-long stretch from 2004-2014 where he would find time almost everyday to seek out a unique and exquisite cup of tea wherever he was. He has turned that knowledge and love of tea into the Wendigo Tea Company, which sells amazing, high quality loose leaf tea. Sky and I talk about what makes someone successful and how important it is to be willing to slog through the hard work and difficult times that precede that success. Hard work, perseverance, perspective, passion and joy are all themes the Sky and I hit in our wide ranging talk about his career as a musician and now,  a business owner. Wendigo Tea Foxy Shazam WebsiteVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here 

At times we probably all wish to be more productive at work. If you search out books and blogs on how to be more productive you will find any number of ideas. I did just that and I wanted to share five simple tips to make you more productive that come from the University of Alabama's business school. These tips are simple and straightforward and could make you more productive at your job the first day you start putting them into practice. Listen to find out what they are. Source: Top 5 tips to being more productiveVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea

Today I'm talking about the importance of showing up for the jobs you agreed to do, whether that's in your career or at home or with friends. There is nothing more important than showing your gratitude for the people and opportunities in your life than just showing up. In the NBA and other sports this simple truth seems to have gotten lost to the sad trend of “load management.” Which really means “I make $50 million a year but back to back games that's too much for me.” But what about the parent who spends $300 to take their kid to see their favorite player only to find out that that player couldn't be bothered to even put on a uniform that day. Look, the world changes, I know that, we all know that. Things change and not everything is as it used to be and that's a good thing, that's as it should be. But some things are fundamental. They aren't tied to a place or a time and showing up and working hard is one of those things.Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea

Today I am talking about the importance of silence. There is now doubt that there are lots of amazing things about living in our modern world. Access to information, entertainment, tremendous conveniences, but one of the drawbacks is the noise! Both literal noise from sirens, car horns, planes, tv, radio all of it and also the noise in our heads. Humans weren't meant to live with that level of noise and stimulus. So it's vital that we find time to enjoy some silence, and I found a great article from the Harvard Business Review by Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz called,  The busier you are the more you need quiet time. It shows through studies just how important silence is for the brain to heal, learn and absorb new information. So take some time to embrace peace, quiet and solitude. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea

This week I am talking all about the practices and characteristics in life that can bring us peace and well being. I went through the 5 conditions to create well being or PERMA on Monday and Tuesday. Positive emotionsEngagementRelationships (healthy ones)MeaningAccomplishmentsBut there is more to do to maximize the effects of these factors in your life and that's what I”m talking about today. You need to cultivate optimismExerciseGood nutritionGood sleepDo that along with PERMA and you will be as joyful, well-adjusted and resilient as can be!Source: Seligman's PERMA+ Model Explained: A Theory of WellbeingVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea 

Yesterday I talked about some tips to well-being outlined in the field of positive psychology. Today I am covering the last three letters in the 5 conditions that lead to well-being known as PERMA. Yesterday I talked about Positive emotions and Engagement.Today I will cover the other three: the RMA in Perma. What are they? Listen to today's short to find out!Source: Seligman's PERMA+ Model Explained: A Theory of WellbeingVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea

This week I'm talking about the secrets to a feeling of well-being. The good news about this is you can achieve it and it's all based on psychological research. The field of positive psychology is not only dedicated to helping those with mental health conditions but to anyone suffering from the human condition. So all of us can benefit from the 5 factors that create well-being. Today I'm focusing on the first two which are positive emotions and engagement or “flow.” Listen to today's short to hear how you can put these into practice and begin a path to feeling content and fulfilled in your life. Source: Seligman's PERMA+ Model Explained: A Theory of WellbeingVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea

Being stuck inside due to winter weather is a great time to take those extra hours and get yourself ready for new career opportunities. Here are four tips for you to use to prepare for those future opportunities: Look back at missed opportunities and see where you went wrong and what you should have done instead. Keep your eyes peeled and your mind openLearn and study Build your resume and portfolio nowDo these four things and be ready to pounce on the promotion or that dream job opportunity.Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea

Today I give three tips to use the downtime in the winter to get ready mentally and physically for positive changes in your life. When you are stuck inside because of the cold and the snow there is a lot of mental preparation you can do to get ready for your life. Visualize opportunities, meditate or read inspirational books and readings. Take the time to put together an exercise routine and build better eating habits. Nothing crazy, just little changes in a positive direction. Build better habits, get up early, get off the computer an hour before bed, stop wasting time and start maximizing it! Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea

Spring training is just getting started and many of us are still hunkered down from a winter of bad weather, so I thought this week would be a great time to talk about how to use down time to prepare ourselves for future opportunities. When I look back at my spring training experiences it was a time to see what my deficiencies were and to listen to coaches and be open minded to change. I think winter is a great time for all of us to do the same with our lives. When I have been open to advice and change is when I have made the biggest gains in my career and my life. So spend the rest of your winter looking for people and sources that can help make you better, and start learning how to prepare because forward-thinking and preparation is a vital skill from childhood all the way until our last days on earth. Visit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea

This Friday is National Random Acts of Kindness Day and so I wanted to talk about the importance of practicing acts of kindness in our lives. And this isn't something that you should just focus on one day, this should be a way of life for all of us. As I researched ideas for random acts of kindness I found some that irked me. Be kind to a server at restaurantConnect with a good conversation Be a good listenerWrite a positive comment onlineGive someone the benefit of the doubtThese were just a few of the suggestions that bothered me when I read them, because isn't this just sort of a base level decent human behavior? Have we sunk so low that just not being a jerk is the same as being kind? No, I don't think we have, so let's set the bar a lot higher and let's practice some radical acts of kindness.Past episodes on kindness: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1816434/episodes/10590569https://www.buzzsprout.com/1816434/episodes/10637763https://www.buzzsprout.com/1816434/episodes/10113021https://www.buzzsprout.com/1816434/episodes/10120343Interview with Madison KeysVisit my website: saxinthemorning.com for merchandise and other links. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @saxinthemorning_podcastYouTube: subscribe and watch shorts here Sponsor: Wendigo Tea