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Brandon Hines Jr. is a standout running back for Minot State University. He is also one of the most driven football players in the NSIC Football League and has the stats to prove it. Brandon joins Swim Lessons to talk about the work behind becoming a great running back, the pressure that comes with being counted on every game day, preparing for the next level, chasing big goals, and what people do not see behind the scenes. We also get into the football mentality, offseason training, handling expectations, staying motivated, team culture, and why the pursuit of greatness is about more than highlights and stats. Subscribe for more conversations with athletes, coaches, creators, and people making an impact in local sports and the community.

Melissa is a respected mental health professional and a familiar voice in the volleyball community through her color commentary work with PSP Network. In this episode, we get beyond the game and into the real conversations: anxiety, burnout, performance pressure, identity, support systems, and the importance of creating environments where athletes and everyone else feel safe asking for help. Connect with Melissa Spelchen:   Website: upyourperformance1.com Subscribe to Swim Lessons the Podcast for conversations that go deeper than the surface with sports, life, community, and the lessons that shape us.

Jett Lundeen is a Minot native, a Minot State football player, and a guy living out the hometown dream. After getting his opportunity at quarterback last week, Jett stepped in and made the most of it. Playing in front of family, friends, and the community that has supported him his entire life. Jett joins Swim Lessons to talk about growing up in Minot, staying home to play football for Minot State University, balancing life as both a quarterback and wide receiver, being ready when his number is called, and what it means to represent his hometown on the college football field. This is a great conversation about preparation, belief, football, hometown pride, and chasing a dream without having to leave the place that raised you.

Jaden Wahlund is an assistant basketball coach/teacher at Sheyenne High School located in Fargo, North Dakota. Jaden joins the podcast to talk about basketball, coaching, life, lessons learned along the way, and plenty more. This one goes far beyond X's and O's. We get into the people and experiences that shape you, the realities behind coaching, growing through different stages of life, and a lot of stories that had us laughing throughout the conversation. Subscribe to Swim Lessons for more conversations with athletes, coaches, creators, entertainers, and people with stories worth hearing.

Chauncy Hendershot is the head football coach at Minot High School. Chauncy joins Swim Lessons the Podcast to talk Minot High football, building a winning culture, preparing student-athletes for the season, expectations around the program, leadership, and what it takes to compete every Friday night.  We also get into the mindset behind coaching high school football, the community support around Minot athletics, developing young men through the game, and what Minot High fans can expect moving forward.

Minot State football is building something, and Head Coach Ian Shields joins Swim Lessons the Podcast to talk about it.Coach Shields sits down for a real conversation about the direction of the Beavers program, recruiting North Dakota and the region, developing young men, competing in the NSIC, building a winning culture, and what Minot State football fans can expect going forward.

Pete Stanton is the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director of the Dickinson State Blue Hawks. Coach Stanton joins Swim Lessons the Podcast to talk about building a winning culture at Dickinson State, the recruiting process, developing young men through football, the work that happens behind the scenes, and what it takes to compete at the college level. We also get into Blue Hawks football, leadership, expectations inside the program, the future of Dickinson State, and much more. Subscribe for more conversations with athletes, coaches, creators, and people doing big things across North Dakota and beyond.

Ron Wingenbach is the head football coach of the Century Patriots in Bismarck, North Dakota. Coach Wingenbach joins Swim Lessons the Podcast to talk about Century Patriots football, building a winning culture, developing young men, the realities of North Dakota high school sports, competition, leadership, accountability, and what it takes to create a program that players are proud to represent. Follow/subscribe for more conversations with athletes, coaches, creators, and people making things happen across North Dakota and beyond.

Rocky Larson is the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Mayville State University. Coach Larson joins Swim Lessons to talk about building the Comets football program, developing a winning culture, recruiting in today's college football landscape, leadership, and what it takes to lead both a team and an athletic department. Rocky is entering his seventh season leading Mayville State Football in 2026, after taking over the Comets program in 2020. He was also formally appointed Mayville State's athletic director in 2024. Subscribe for more conversations with athletes, coaches, creators, and people making things happen across North Dakota and beyond.

Shann Schillinger is the head football coach at the University of Mary, a former NFL defensive back, and has one of the more interesting football paths you'll hear. Before taking over the Marauders program, Shann's path took him from a small high school in Montana to Division I football, the NFL, and eventually into coaching. In this episode, we sit down to talk about what football is really like at every level. The pressure, the locker-room culture, leadership, recruiting, player development, and what it actually takes to build a winning program from the ground up.

Blaise Kautzman is a comedian, radio host, and podcaster. In this episode, Blaise sits down to talk comedy, life in the Midwest, radio, chasing creative work, bombing, winning, and the stories that come with trying to make people laugh for a living. We get into the grind behind stand-up and building a name in entertainment.

Scott Bethke is a Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse jockey who has won 50 races this summer alone. He's also been the leading rider at Chippewa Downs and The North Dakota Horse Park. Scott grew up riding horses and eventually found his way into the world of horse racing, where every race is a mix of preparation, instinct, risk, athleticism, and pure competition. We get into what it's really like being a jockey, the physical and mental side of riding, growing up around horses, competing at tracks across the United State, the difference between Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing, and what it takes to keep finding the winner's circle.

Bubby Harr is the longtime track announcer at the North Dakota Horse Park, and a passionate advocate for horse racing. He joins Swim Lessons the Podcast to talk about life at the track, calling races, the people and stories that make horse racing special.

Luke Martinez joins the show to talk basketball, life, and the long road to redemption. We get into his journey from North Dakota gyms to Williston State, the jump to Wyoming, and how he carved out a decade of success hooping professionally in Mexico. It's a full sit down about talent, adversity, and what it really takes to keep going when everything feels like it's slipping away.

Chad is an entrepreneur, real estate leader, restaurant owner, and cofounder of Prairie Grit Adaptive Sport- an organization built from real life, real family, and a real mission to help kids and adults with disabilities experience sports in a whole new way. What makes Chad's story stand out is the heart behind it. Inspired by his son Palmer, he and his wife helped create something that is changing lives and giving families across North Dakota a new kind of hope, opportunity, and community. This episode is about business, family, purpose, and the kind of grit that builds something bigger than yourself.