Forged Youth | Legacy Within
Forged Youth: Legacy Within
What if the conversations you needed most as a teen athlete were finally being had, openly, honestly, and with purpose?
Forged Youth: Legacy Within is the podcast that equips youth athletes (ages 12–24), their parents, and coaches with the mental tools, emotional resilience, and life insight to rise above the noise and grow into strong, intentional human beings.
Each episode features real, raw conversations with professional athletes, CEOs, and cultural leaders sharing what they wish they knew when they were younger. We unpack topics like mental grit, overcoming adversity, identity beyond sport, and building a life of purpose, even when things fall apart.
Hosted by former elite athlete and mental health advocate Mariel Nichole Anderson, this podcast is your companion through the messy middle of chasing big dreams, and becoming someone even bigger in the process.
Because you weren’t born to just survive sport. You were made to be forged by it.
Forged Youth | Legacy Within
Ep. 5 - How to Train Your Mind Like a Pro with Jon Giesbrecht
In this episode, Mariel sits down with Jon Giesbrecht: Director of Mental Performance for the Vancouver Bandits and self-proclaimed "Basketball Whisperer." Together, they unpack the real meaning of mental training in sport, why breath awareness is foundational, and how athletes can move from panic to performance through grounded routines and emotional regulation. Jon shares practical tools athletes can use on the court and in life, like how to find your centre, shift from reactivity to readiness, and anchor confidence in the present moment. If you've ever frozen in competition or wondered how to build true mental resilience, this episode is your playbook.
About Jon: Jon Giesbrecht is a trusted mental performance coach and player development leader who helps high-performance basketball athletes unlock their full potential by mastering their mindset. With over a decade of experience coaching at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels, Jon specializes in helping serious athletes overcome overthinking, inconsistency, and self-doubt—so they can play free under pressure and lead with confidence.
Currently serving as the Director of Mental Performance and a player development coach for the Vancouver Bandits (Canadian Elite Basketball League), Jon has worked with athletes across the NBA, NCAA, U SPORTS, and international circuits. He has also supported Team Canada, presented at international coaching clinics, and helped over 50 players reach the college level.
But Jon’s work goes beyond performance. Drawing from his own experience with anxiety, panic attacks, and burnout as a young athlete and coach, Jon brings a level of compassion and clarity few can match. He knows what it feels like to chase greatness while feeling stuck or mentally fragile—and he’s built a proven system to help athletes break through.
His signature program, Play Free, combines mindfulness, identity training, emotional regulation tools, and elite accountability to create lasting transformation—on and off the court. Whether you’re a high school athlete looking to earn a scholarship or a pro trying to find your rhythm again, Jon helps you build confidence that doesn’t waver, no matter what’s happening around you.
Jon has coached over 5,000 athletes, worked with families around the world, and built a growing movement of players who are learning to compete with clarity, joy, and purpose. He’s also the author of the Free Your Mind Journal, a practical tool for athletes to track their growth and reset their focus daily.
From private mentorships and live workshops to community coaching and digital training, Jon’s mission is simple: to help athletes win more and stress less by creating a mental game they can trust.
Follow Jon on...
...and get his book Free Your Mind Journal on Amazon
