Owning who you are – both the strengths you bring and the limitations you’re still growing through – is at the heart of real toughness, and that is exactly where Episode 136 of The Mental Mettle Podcast goes to work.​

Episode 136 overview

In Episode 136, “Use Your Strengths and Own Your Limitations,” Coach Matt Thomann sits down with Coach Adam Lewandowski of Andrew High School in Tinley Park, Illinois to talk about what it really means to lead and compete with honesty, humility, and purpose. Drawing from his own playing days, pro coaching experience, and current high school program, Lewandowski shares how great coaches and athletes learn to lean into their strengths while refusing to hide from their weaknesses.​

Leadership, ego, and modern youth sports

Throughout the conversation, Coach Lewandowski reflects on the mentors, Hall of Fame coaches, and early experiences that shaped his calling to coach and serve young people through football. He and Thomann unpack how ego, distractions, and the pace of modern youth sports—and technology—can pull players away from focus, commitment, and true mental toughness if they are not intentional.​

Mental toughness, accountability, and mission

The episode dives into how Lewandowski defines mental toughness, why ownership and accountability are non-negotiable for his players, and what it takes to build a mission-driven program that develops champions on and off the field. From coaching women’s professional football to leading a high school program rooted in character, service, and community, he shows how small, consistent actions over time create big results—in performance and in life.​

If you are a coach, parent, or athlete who wants to build mentally tough competitors without sacrificing character, this episode will give you practical ideas you can apply right away. Subscribe to The Mental Mettle Podcast and start forging your 100% Mettle today, and to learn more or schedule a free coaching session with Coach Thomann, visit mentalmettlelifecoaching.com or email coachthomann@gmail.com.

Are you ready to forge your mettle?

More From Mental Mettle

Episode 156: Raising Superheroes: Megan Gilmore on Mental Health & Well‑Being for Kids
In Episode 156 of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann sits down with Megan Gilmore, founder and executive director of Larksong, certified coach, and author, to talk about why mental health and well-being skills should start much earlier than most people think. The conversation makes a clear case that kids benefit from learning these tools early, just like they do with physical health habits.
Episode 155: Time on Feet: How Kyle Thompson Uses Adversity to Chase Excellence
In Episode 155 of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Regional Superintendent and ultramarathoner Kyle Thompson shares how “time on feet” in the mountains has shaped the way he leads, parents, and lives. His story is a powerful look at intentional adversity, resilience, and what it means to choose hard things on purpose so you’re better prepared for the hard things life brings your way.
Why Individual Mental Performance Coaching Matters for Athletes
Athletes train their bodies, sharpen their skills, and study the game, but many still struggle when pressure rises. Individual mental performance coaching helps bridge that gap by teaching athletes how to think, respond, and compete with more confidence, composure, and control.
Episode 154: Secrets Behind the Third Skill Set: Mental Performance
Most athletes train hard in two areas: sport skills and strength. But there’s a third skill set that often gets ignored, and it may be the one that matters most when pressure hits. In Episode 154 of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann breaks down the real difference-maker in sports performance: mental performance.
Ember to Inferno: Building Mentally Tough Athletes Through Coach Development
Coaches spend countless hours perfecting physical training and game strategies, but mental toughness—the ability to thrive under pressure, regulate emotions, and respond to adversity—often gets overlooked. That's where Ember to Inferno comes in.
Episode 111: Tips for Mastering the Mental Game with Coach Brandon Beery
How do elite athletes and coaches rise above the noise, pressure, and setbacks to achieve peak performance? In Episode 111 of the Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann and fellow mindset coach Brandon Beery break down the science and art of mastering the mental game.