Podcasts about Prinstein

Dr. Kirsty Hird, a Research Officer in the Youth Mental Health team at The Kids Research Institute Australia, adds to Episode 1 of The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast by explaining in depth and in layman's terms why people self-injure according to the six most common/popular theoretical models. Connect with Dr. Hird on LinkedIn here, view her staff profile here, and follow her on ResearchGate here. Below are two of her papers related to today's interview as well as a few other resources referenced in this episode:Hird, K., Hasking, P., & Boyes, M. (2023). A comparison of the theoretical models of NSSI. In E.E. Lloyd-Richardson, I. Baetens, & J. Whitlock (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of nonsuicidal self-injury (pp. 24-40). Oxford University Press.Hird, K., Hasking, P., & Boyes, M. (2022). Relationships between outcome expectancies and non-suicidal self-injury: Moderating roles of emotion regulation difficulties and self-efficacy to resist self-injury. Archives of Suicide Research, 26(4), 1688-1701.Gray, N., Uren, H., Pemberton, E., & Boyes, M. (2023). Profiling ambivalence in the context of nonsuicidal self-injury. Journal of Clinical Psychology,  79(8), 1699-1712.Ramsey, W. A., Berlin, K. S., Del Conte, G., Lightsey, O. R., Schimmel-Bristow, A., Marks, L. R., & Strohmer, D. C. (2021). Targeting self-criticism in the treatment of nonsuicidal self-injury in dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents: a randomized clinical trial. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 26(4), 320-330.Gratz, K., & Tull, M. (2025). Acceptance-based emotion regulation therapy: A clinician's guide to treating emotion dysregulation and self-destructive behaviors using an evidence-based therapy drawn from ACT and DBT. Harbinger Press.Below are links to the original 6 theoretical models discussed in this episode:Four Function Model - Nock, M. K., & Prinstein, M. J. (2004). A functional approach to the assessment of self-mutilative behavior. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72(5), 885–890.Experiential Avoidance Model - Chapman, A. L., Gratz, K. L., & Brown, M. Z. (2006). Solving the puzzle of deliberate self-harm: The experiential avoidance model. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(3), 371–394.Emotional Cascade Model - Selby, E. A., & Joiner, T. E. (2009). Cascades of emotion: The emergence of borderline personality disorder from emotional and behavioral dysregulation. Review of General Psychology, 13(3), 219–229.Integrated Model - Nock, M. K. (2010). Self-injury. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 6(1), 339–363.Cognitive-Emotional Model - Hasking, P., Whitlock, J., Voon, D., & Rose, A. (2017). A cognitive-emotional model of NSSI: Using emotion regulation and cognitive processes to explain why people self-injure. Cognition and Emotion, 31(8), 1543–1556.Barriers and Benefits Model - Hooley, J. M., & Franklin, J. C. (2018). Why do people hurt themselves? A new conceptual model of nonsuicidal self-injury. Clinical Psychological Science, 6(3), 428–451.Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?:Should you or someone you know be interviewed on the podcast? We want to know! Please fill out this Google doc form, and we will be in touch with more details if it's a good fit.Want to hear your question and have it answered on the podcast? Please send an audio clip of your question (60 seconds or less) to @DocWesters on Instagram or Twitter/X, or email us at thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comWant to be involved in research? Send us a message at thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.com and we will see if we can match you to an active study.Want to interact with us through comments and polls? You can on Spotify!Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter/X (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter/X (@ITripleS).The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot  and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."

In this episode of the Especially for Athletes Podcast, Shad and Dustin dive into the important concept of likability vs. status popularity, discussing how the principles of kindness and genuine relationships can have a lasting positive impact. The conversation is sparked by the wisdom shared by Kyle Collinsworth, former BYU basketball star, who advises high school students to “put down cool and pick up kindness.” They explore an article by child psychologist Mitch Prinstein, who explains the two types of popularity: likability, where people make others feel good, and status, which focuses on outward appearances and social power. The latter may provide short-term recognition, but as Prinstein points out, it often leads to loneliness, stress, and dissatisfaction in the long run. On the other hand, likability brings lasting benefits: stronger relationships, career success, and even improved well-being. Drawing from sports and their own experiences, Shad and Dustin emphasize how athletes have a unique opportunity to leverage their status to bless others, rather than impress them. They stress that being a likable athlete—one who lifts others up and values relationships—creates a ripple effect that lasts long after the game ends. Join us for a conversation about the importance of kindness, authentic connections, and why building likability is far more important than chasing status. Eyes up, do the work, and remember: kindness has the power to shape your future. Especially for Athletes: Website: https://e4a.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/Twitter: https://twitter.com/E4AfamilyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQ Join the conversation using #TheSportlightPodcast Credits: Hosted by Shad Martin & Dustin SmithProduced by IMAGINATE STUDIO See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Support the show: https://especiallyforathletes.com/podcast/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samen met professor Neurocognitieve Ontwikkelingspsychologie Eveline Crone duiken we in het mentale welzijn van jongeren in de huidige maatschappij. Want is deze groep kwetsbaarder dan in eerdere jaren? Is er een mentale gezondheidscrisis onder jongeren? Hoe hoe ontwikkelen de hersenen en zijn ze daardoor gevoeliger? Wat is de ontwikkeling in de maatschappij, waardoor er misschien veranderingen zijn gekomen? En wat kun je als ouder doen voor de beste ontwikkeling van je kinderen? Luisteren dus! Gebruik de code 'NORMALEMENSENBESTAANNIET' op https://www.rompslomp.nl voor 4 maanden gratis het Professional pakket! Meer weten over het EU Ecolabel? Kijk op https://www.eu-ecolabel.nl/ Adverteren in deze podcast? Mail naar podcasts@astrolads.com Bronnen en ander lees- en luister- en kijkvoer: - In het nieuwste boek van Eveline Crone, die ze samen met Renske van der Cruijsen schreef: Generatie Zelfvertrouwen (2024) lees je alles over de jonge generatie en wat hun ontwikkeling is in de huidige maatschappij. En je leert hoe deze groep te stimuleren voor een gezond zelfbeeld; https://www.generatiezelfvertrouwen.nl/ - Check ook deze presentatie van Eveline bij de TU Delft: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XIq7cLfyd4 - Het boek van Jonathan Haidt is ook al vaker langsgekomen, maar ook hier weer een goed boek in relatie tot deze aflevering: Generatie Angststoornis - (2024) - Ook het eerste boek van Eveline Crone uit 2008 is super interessant: Het Puberende Brein - Hier vind je meer over Eveline en haar werk: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/medewerkers/eveline-crone/publicaties#tab-4 Nerd-literatuur: - [van Drunen L., Toenders Y.J., Wierenga L.M. & Crone E. A. (2023), Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on structural brain development in early adolescence, Scientific Reports 13: 5600.](http://hdl.handle.net/1887/3677103) - [Meulen M. van der, Dobbelaar S., Drunen L. van, Heunis J.S.,IJzendoorn M.H. van, Blankenstein N.E. & Crone E.A.M. (2023), Transitioning from childhood into adolescence: a comprehensive longitudinal behavioral and neuroimaging study on prosocial behavior and social inclusion, NeuroImage 284: 120445.](http://hdl.handle.net/1887/3716321) - [Crone E.A.M. & Achterberg M. (2022), Prosocial development in adolescence, Current Opinion in Psychology 44: 220-225.](http://hdl.handle.net/1887/3443669) - Prinstein, M. J., Nesi, J., & Telzer, E. H. (2020). Commentary: An updated agenda for the study of digital media use and adolescent development–future directions following Odgers & Jensen (2020). Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(3), 349-352. - Odgers, C. L., & Jensen, M. R. (2020). Adolescent development and growing divides in the digital age. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 22(2), 143-149. - Branje, S., De Moor, E. L., Spitzer, J., & Becht, A. I. (2021). Dynamics of identity development in adolescence: A decade in review. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 31(4), 908-927. - Orben, A., Tomova, L., & Blakemore, S. J. (2020). The effects of social deprivation on adolescent development and mental health. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 4(8), 634-640. - Crone, E. A., & Konijn, E. A. (2018). Media use and brain development during adolescence. Nature communications, 9(1), 1-10. - Ridderinkhof, K. R., Ullsperger, M., Crone, E. A., & Nieuwenhuis, S. (2004). The role of the medial frontal cortex in cognitive control. science, 306(5695), 443-447. - Van Leijenhorst, L., Moor, B. G., de Macks, Z. A. O., Rombouts, S. A., Westenberg, P. M., & Crone, E. A. (2010). Adolescent risky decision-making: neurocognitive development of reward and control regions. Neuroimage, 51(1), 345-355.

Estados Unidos tiene la tasa de suicidio más alta entre las naciones ricas del mundo y más del 20% de las mujeres jóvenes y el 10% de los hombres jóvenes experimentan una depresión clínica mayor antes de cumplir los 25 años (Prinstein, 2022)Y en este episodio nos acompaña Tomasa Cortina, líder de la comunidad en temas de salud mental. Tomasa nos cuenta su experiencia personal ayudando a su propia hija quien a los 14 años sufrió un cuadro de depresión severa lo que llevo a Tomasa a descubrir que ella también necesitaba ayuda.En México existe la LÍNEA DE LA VIDA  800 911 2000 es una línea telefónica disponible para recibir ayuda profesional para personas con depresión que ha constituido un mecanismo para brindar apoyo emocional a las personas que lo requieran y recibir un tratamiento adecuado.En los Estados Unidos de América existe la LIFELINE 988 de Prevención del Suicidio y Crisis a través de la cual se brinda apoyo gratuito y confidencial las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana para personas que están pasando por momentos difíciles. También ofrecen recursos de prevención y crisis para familiares.Déjanos tu comentario y review, además comparte este episodio con quienes creas que necesiten escucharlo.Únete a la familia de Rollos de Mujeres - PODCAST, síguenos en todas las redes sociales como @RollosDeMujeres o da clic en los siguientes enlaces:INSTAGRAMFACEBOOKTWITTERTikTokY en nuestro blog www.rollosdemujeres.com

Earlier this year, Mitch Prinstein, the chief science officer at the American Psychological Association spoke to the Senate Judiciary Committee about the effects that social media and technology are having on our kids. His particular focus was on the decline in mental health. One of the made points made by Prinstein during his testimony is one that I'd like to pass on to you today. Prinstein wants us all to know that for our kids, getting “likes” on social media can make bad behavior look good. He relayed that when teens view illegal or dangerous behaviors on social media alongside icons suggesting the negative content had been “liked' by others, the part of the brain that keeps us safe stopped working. In other words, seeing the likes reduces a viewer's inhibition toward dangerous and illegal behavior. Parents, be aware of the powerful role that online peer pressure plays. Prepare your teens by teaching right from wrong, and helping them to see the powerful pull of peer pressure. 

We're covering: What do strong friendships do for us mentally and physically? How many friends can we have, and does being popular equate to being happy? The research referenced includes: Falconer, Erin. 2022. How to Break Up with Your Friends: Finding Meaning, Connection, and Boundaries in Modern Friendships.Guroglu, Berna. The power of friendship: The developmental significance of friendships from a neuroscience perspective, Child Development Perspectives, Volume 16. Issue 2, June 2022, Pages 110-117,  https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12450Massing-Schaffer, Maya; Nesi, Jacqueline; Tezler, Eva; Lindquist, Kristen; Prinstein, Mitchell. Adolescent Peer Experiences and Prospective Suicidal Ideation: The Protective Role of Online-Only Friendships. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, Volume 51, Issue 1, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2020.175001 9Stephanie Tom Tong, Brandon Van Der Heide, Lindsey Langwell, Joseph B. Walther, Too Much of a Good Thing? The Relationship between Number of Friends and Interpersonal Impressions on Facebook, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Volume 13, Issue 3, 1 April 2008, Pages 531–549, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2008.00409.x

How do we assess self-injury differently than 20-30 years ago? Rather than asking someone to remember how they were thinking and feeling when they last self-injured days, weeks, and even months ago, advances in technology allow researchers and clinicians to monitor self-injury and self-harm in real time, as it occurs. In this episode, Dr. Glenn Kiekens discusses the advantages of adapting real-time monitoring (also known as experience sampling or ecological momentary assessment [EMA]) in researching nonsuicidal self-injury as well as the ethical concerns to consider when doing research in real time. Learn more about Dr. Kiekens and his work in the Center for Contextual Psychiatry at KU Leuven by clicking here. Follow Dr. Kiekens on Twitter @GKiekens. Below are links to some of his research and the resources referenced in this episode:Opening the black box of daily life in non-suicidal self-injury research: With great opportunity comes great responsibility (preprint available at https://psyarxiv.com/yp86x)Fluctuations in affective states and self-efficacy to resist non-suicidal self-injury as real-time predictors of non-suicidal self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (2020)Consensus statement on ethical & safety practices for conducting digital monitoring studies with people at risk of suicide and related behaviors (Nock et al., 2020)Revealing the form and function of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors: A real-time ecological assessment study among adolescents and young adults (Nock, Prinstein, & Sterba, 2009)Changes in ecological momentary assessment reported affect associated with episodes of nonsuicidal self-Injury (Armey, Crowther, & Miller, 2011)Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS).

This week, Laura & Jerome talk about Mitch Prinstein's book, Popular: Why being liked is the secret to greater success and happiness. This episode hits really close to home for Laura, because as every parent of a middle schooler knows that this is the time when kids really start "keeping score." And of course with social media, keeping score is real (and doesn't even need the quotation marks!). Prinstein's basic premise is that kids (and people) should strive for likeability, not popularity, if they want to live happier, healthier lives for the long run. Fascinating topic, great advice from Dr. Jerome. Resources:Popular by Mitch Prinstein

John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Mitch Prinstein always found himself interested how popularity influence the way we see the world and have relationships with those around us. On this episode of Well Said, Prinstein discusses his research and explains the different forms of popularity and why it doesn’t always pay to be the most popular. Prinstein’s book, “Popular: Finding Happiness and Success in a World that Cares Too Much About the Wrong Kinds of Relationships” dives deeper into his research and was selected as the 2018 Summer Reading Program book for incoming first-year and transfer students.

47-year-old Rebecca Prinstein claims she was kicked out of a UPS store in Miami simply for SPEAKING SPANISH! SMH!!The UPS store clerk has been fired after calling her disruptive and kicking her out of the store just for speaking her native language- which is damn near the primary language in Miami... LET's BE HONEST! Rebecca Prinstein is a Cuban native and she has lived in the US for 25 years and prefers to speak Spanish...Prinstein's husband blames the interaction on President Donald Trump.

47-year-old Rebecca Prinstein claims she was kicked out of a UPS store in Miami simply for SPEAKING SPANISH! SMH!!The UPS store clerk has been fired after calling her disruptive and kicking her out of the store just for speaking her native language- which is damn near the primary language in Miami... LET's BE HONEST! Rebecca Prinstein is a Cuban native and she has lived in the US for 25 years and prefers to speak Spanish...Prinstein's husband blames the interaction on President Donald Trump.

47-year-old Rebecca Prinstein claims she was kicked out of a UPS store in Miami simply for SPEAKING SPANISH! SMH!!The UPS store clerk has been fired after calling her disruptive and kicking her out of the store just for speaking her native language- which is damn near the primary language in Miami... LET's BE HONEST! Rebecca Prinstein is a Cuban native and she has lived in the US for 25 years and prefers to speak Spanish...Prinstein's husband blames the interaction on President Donald Trump.

47-year-old Rebecca Prinstein claims she was kicked out of a UPS store in Miami simply for SPEAKING SPANISH! SMH!!The UPS store clerk has been fired after calling her disruptive and kicking her out of the store just for speaking her native language- which is damn near the primary language in Miami... LET's BE HONEST! Rebecca Prinstein is a Cuban native and she has lived in the US for 25 years and prefers to speak Spanish...Prinstein's husband blames the interaction on President Donald Trump.

Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D. is board certified in clinical child and adolescent psychology, and serves as the John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, and the Director of Clinical Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He and his research have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, the LA Times, CNN, U.S. News & World Report, TIME magazine, New York magazine, Newsweek, and elsewhere. In his latest book Popular: The Power of Likeability in A Status-Obsessed World, Prinstein examines how our popularity affects our success, our relationships, and our happiness—and why we don’t always want to be the most popular. In our conversation we cover this and more, with key themes being: Why seeking popularity is actually a basic human need, Why it's not always the "conventionally popular" people who fare best, and how this relates to the (2) different strategies for achieving popularity: Likeability Status How studies can help explain both the basic human needs Facebook serves, and the more general status-seeking phenomenon on social media, What it means to induce a "Popularity Boomerang", and how becoming aware of it can fundamentally change the environment you exist in, How your early experiences of popularity (or lack thereof) are probably helping or hindering how you show up in the world today, and if hindering, how you can overcome its effects, Why  it's more important the raise likeable kids than you might think, and the parenting implications of popularity research, The likeability advantage. We hope this conversation gives you some insights about popularity that will help you achieve your social, personal, and professional goals. Enjoy! Links: Popular: The Power of Likeability in A Status-Obsessed World is out now https://www.amazon.com/Popular-Power-Likability-Status-Obsessed-World/dp/0399563733/ Read an overview of the book and to take the Popularity Quiz http://www.mitchprinstein.com/books/popular-book/ Follow Mitch on Twitter @mitchprinstein https://twitter.com/mitchprinstein For more information on Mitch or his research visit  http://www.mitchprinstein.com/

“Popular will make you rethink every social interaction you’ve had since high school” — Susan Cain, New York Times bestselling author of Quiet No matter how old you are, there’s a good chance that the word “popular” immediately transports you back to your teenage years. Most of us can easily recall the adolescent social cliques and the high school pecking order, and even as adults we all still remember exactly where we stood and the powerful emotions associated with our status persist decades later. In his new book, Popular, UNC professor of psychology and neuroscience examines why popularity plays such a key role in our development and, ultimately, how it still influences our happiness and success today. But it’s not always the conventionally popular people who fare the best, for the simple reason that there is more than one type of popularity—and many of us still long for the wrong one. As children, we strive to be likable, which can offer real benefits not only on the playground but throughout our lives. In adolescence, though, a new form of popularity emerges, and we suddenly begin to care about status, power, influence, and notoriety—it is this type of popularity that hurts us more than we realize. Mitch Prinstein discusses how: The old dynamics of our youth continue to play out in every business meeting, every social gathering, in our personal relationships, and even how we raise our children Popularity affects our DNA, our health, and mortality More than childhood intelligence, family background, or prior psychological issues, research indicates that it’s how popular we were in our early years that predicts how successful and how happy we grow up to be Realistically, we can’t ignore our natural human social impulses to be included and well-regarded by others, but we can learn how to manage those impulses in beneficial and gratifying ways. Prinstein shows us how to make the wisest choices for ourselves and for our children, so we may all pursue more meaningful, satisfying, and rewarding relationships. About the Author Mitch Prinstein*, Ph.D. is a husband, a father, board certified in clinical child and adolescent psychology, and serves as the John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, and the Director of Clinical Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prinstein’s Peer Relations Lab has been conducting research on popularity and peer relations for almost 20 years, and has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Child and Human Development, and several private foundations, resulting in over 100 scientific works, including a slew of scientific journal articles, book chapters, a set of encyclopedias on adolescent development, and even a textbook on the field of clinical psychology. * He was not popular in high school. http://www.mitchprinstein.com/

In part 2 of our interview, Justin “Boomer” Prinstein talks about his pursuit to continually develop his skills, the difficulty of walking away from the game,  and his transition to scouting. Boomer also gives insight into what scouts look for in a player and how, through the Boomer Baseball International program, he's been able to give foreign players a chance to showcase their talents for the opportunity to get baseball scholarships at colleges in the United States.   Showlinks:   boomer-baseball.com   Email Boomer: info@boomer-baseball.com     Follow us and like our page!     Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bKfvHP   Facebook: www.facebook.com/alegendslife   Instagram:  @legendslifeshow @mplegends   Twitter: @legendslifeshow @mplegends   Keywords: relationships, health, nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, meditate, meditation, mindfulness, productivity, success, happiness, bio-hacking, gratitude, leadership, love, greatness, community, baseball, coach, coaching, manage, managing, relax, relaxing, family, stress management, CEO, friend, athlete, lifestyle, sports, preparation, david klein, Justin Prinstein, Boomer, Europe, Israel, Germany, Dutch League, Australia, European Baseball League

MLB scout, and founder of Boomer Baseball International, Justin “Boomer” Prinstein walks us through the challenges he faced throughout his early baseball career from high school, to division 3, and finally to a division 1 school. After not getting drafted, Boomer played baseball in seven different countries, a journey that would shape his life in his current off the field baseball career. Showlinks: boomer-baseball.com Email Boomer: info@boomer-baseball.com Follow us and like our page! Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bKfvHP Facebook: www.facebook.com/alegendslife Instagram: @legendslifeshow @mplegends Twitter: @legendslifeshow @mplegends Keywords: relationships, health, nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, meditate, meditation, mindfulness, productivity, success, happiness, bio-hacking, gratitude, leadership, love, greatness, community, baseball, coach, coaching, manage, managing, relax, relaxing, family, stress management, CEO, friend, athlete, lifestyle, sports, preparation, david klein, Justin Prinstein, Boomer, Europe, Israel, Germany, Dutch League, Australia, European Baseball League

In IBC episode 58, Justin "Boomer" Prinstein walked us through the beginning of his international professional baseball story which was a wild one with lots of ups and downs with stops in Belgium and Israel. This was all in the span of one season as well. He returned home for only a month before committing to the Southern Districts Hawks of the South Australian Baseball League for second half of the 2007-2008 winterball season. He arrived at the beginning of December, well into their season, just in time to qualify for the playoffs. However he had to play one miserable inning after being on a journey for 45 hours just to make this qualifying game. Luckily for Boomer, he had the next month off as the league went on break for Christmas. This gave him time to adjust to the time zone and settle into Adelaide with his new family, the Crabbs, home to his Aussie teammate and roommate Adam from the Israel Baseball League. Boomer took full advantage of the month off and did a lot of travelling in South Australia, enjoyed the wine that the province is famous for and managed to meet an Australian model by simply using his Detroit accent. "You don't need to be a good looking guy or even a professional baseball player, if you just have an accent in Australia as an American, it seems to do wonders for you. I was definitely batting out of my league there, " said Boomer of his good fortune, something that was rare in his overseas adventures up to this point in his story.

More stories at: http://www.baseballjobsoverseas.com Justin "Boomer" Prinstein has been involved in baseball overseas since he first came to Europe in 2006 as an import pitcher. The former George Washington University pitcher his junior and senior years in the shadows of some of his teammates. In fact, half of his team from his junior year were drafted. He was a bit undersized (5'11") and his high 80's fastball was figured to be maxed out as far as scouts were concerned. In 2006, upon graduation, the assistant coach at GW and former international player brought it to Boomer's attention that overseas would be a good option for him. Boomer's mind frame back then was to just "Keep playing somewhere and something good will happen", after witnessing players close to his level at pro tryouts get signed and work their way up to the AAA level. With the help of his former coach, Boomer sent his resume out to numerous clubs in Europe and received a number of offers. He decided to accept an offer from a Belgium club because financially it was the better offer and it was close to the Netherlands and the Dutch Major League, his longer term goal. At this point of his life, Boomer had never travelled outside North America and did not know what to expect. In fact, little was communicated between him and the club as this pre-dates Facebook, Skype and any other form of popular communication available today. The club, who will be left un-named, was also a little uninformed of Boomer's background and who he was as a person. "I thought you were taller," were the first words that Boomer heard from the club representative who picked him up from the airport. This was probably the first red flag that this club may not be for him.