Episode 13: Chad Pinder & Marc Strickland

The Scott Mitchell Show

A chance encounter at the 2023 MLB winter meetings in Nashville led to our first guest’s SMS appearance, as former Oakland A’s utilityman Chad Pinder starts his metamorphosis from baseball player to mental health advocate.
At the age of 31, Pinder walked away from the sport in 2023, deciding to call it a career for very personal reasons.
A candid Pinder talks about how anxiety affected him personally as a baseball player, the work he put in to change his mindset, and what ultimately led to his early retirement.
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A person Pinder is very familiar with on both a professional and personal level, our second guest is Arizona-based sports psychologist Marc Strickland, who spent time working with both the Chicago Cubs and Oakland A’s before moving into private practice.
Strickland talks about what the best athletes do better than anyone else, how his line of work has changed in sports over the last 15 years, and what kind of edge mental performance can give athletes at the highest levels of their craft.
Are closers born or bred? How does anxiety manifest in athletes? What warning signs can parents look for in their own kids playing sports?
Strickland shed a whole lot of light on his profession and how the brain of an elite athlete works.
Thanks to both of these gentlemen for their precious time and enjoy the conversations.
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EP13 is sponsored by Lessard Coutu Jewellery.
Serving the finest jewellery in the Niagara region for over 30 years and with a pop-up shop in Yorkville by appointment, go see our guy Nick for all your custom pieces and a scotch on the rocks while you wait.
Everything from traditional gifts like pendants and earrings for that special someone to gold grills, pinky rings and intricate custom pieces — check out The SMS social to see the logo chain built by LCJ — there’s no idea too big or small!
Hit up Nick and tell him The SMS sent you for elite treatment.
Book an appointment and order online at: https://www.lcjewellery.com/
Follow Lessard Coutu Jewellery on Instagram and send Nick a DM to book an appointment: https://www.instagram.com/lessardcoutujewellery/
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Follow The SMS on X: www.twitter.com/scottymitchshow/
SMS on Instagram: www.instagram.com/scottymitchshow/
Interested in teaming up with The SMS and becoming a sponsorship partner?
Email us: [e-mail]
Produced by: Ian “So the Producer” Joudrey (@IanJoudrey on IG)
Intro music by: Sean Tommy (@SeanTommyMusic on IG)
Mitchell on IG: @ScoddyMicch