Coach Amanda Gaines has been a part of the Gopher dance team for 19 years. First as an athlete from 2005-2009, then as an assistant coach from 2009-13, and then as the head coach.
Gaines became the head coach in April 2013 and held that role until March 2017. After taking some time off, she resumed that role in 2020.
During her tenure, Gaines helped the Gophers to a national championship as an athlete (2006), eight national championships (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) as an assistant coach, and 10 titles as the head coach in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
In all, Minnesota has won 23 dance national titles with Gaines a part of 20 of them.
Under her watch, the Gophers also represented Team USA for the 2025 International Cheer and Dance Competition, where the team won gold in the Pom and silver in the Jazz division. It was the third time that Minnesota represented the US National Team, having also done so in 2010 and 2014, under Gaines’ leadership.
Today, James and Amanda discuss the psychological frameworks and principles she operates from that help her navigate the pressure, tension, chaos, and the mindsets & behaviors she instills within the team so they can go on the floor and be at their best.
Chances are you're really good at what you do and you're here because you're ready to level up from good to GREAT, so let's get started.
Breanna Acosta is a 4x national champion coach and driven entrepreneur, known for founding and leading two successful businesses in the dance industry—Envision Dance and Gymnastics and Bre Choreography Management. In this episode, Bre shares what she has observed, learned, and what her future in the dance world looks like.
In today’s episode, James shares an insight he’s learned that leads to a more fulfilling and meaningful life. He shares how seeking mastery for self and for craft can bring more of you to the moment and to life.
In this episode, James brings on Giovanni Gubbels, Founder and CEO of Ctrl Chain, an international Logistics company, bridging the gap between technology and logistics. They dive into Gio’s travel schedule, how he leads a large company through challenges and what strategies he has found helpful in finding harmony between personal and professional life.
After seeing a rise in anxiety among the athletes and clients James works with, as well as a trend in the Western world, James decided to make Anxiety a main research pillar for 2025.
James shares his takeaways from the book Building a Non-anxious Life by Dr. John Delony.
Tune in to hear some practical strategies that will help you navigate, minimize, and better leverage anxiety.
In this episode, James Shares what he has learned from Autobiographies, articles, podcasts, and interviews with Steve Jobs. Tune in to sharpen your mindset and implement tactical strategies for improving your business, relationship, and lifestyle.
A renowned leader in sports performance and high-performance coaching, Steve has prepared triathletes for the Kona Ironman, boxers for world title fights, the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and Matt Fitzpatrick for the 2023 PGA Championship and US Open.
He was also the first full-time American performance specialist in the English Premier League, leading the Sport Science efforts for Everton Football Club, facing teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea.
Beyond sport, he has coached executive VPs at Stanley 1913, performance directors at the Phoenix Suns, helped the Colorado Rapids (MLS) develop organizational identity, and has given keynotes on collaboration at Fuel50 and WebPT.
James explains how a quote from Joyce Marter accurately describes how our minds work and what we can do to break the pattern of safety and comfort.
James expands on a quote he found years ago that has helped him remain centered amidst the chaos and uncertainty of life.
In today’s episode, James invites you to shift your relationship with what he calls THE BIG 3. These 3 things, Change, Conflict and Uncertainty, can alter one’s trajectory in significant ways, both good and bad, depending on how one responds. It’s up to you to take inventory and to make the adjustment necessary in one or all of these areas so you can enhance the quality of your life experience.
Browse Podcast Topics
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
MINDSET
LEADERSHIP
WELLNESS
PRODUCTIVITY
interviews
fears
RELATIONSHIPS