In this episode of Blades & Behavior™️ Dr. Alicia Naser sits down with Mike Futa, former Assistant GM of the LA Kings and and current co-host of Sportsnet The FAN Hockey Show, exploring the nuances of talent evaluation, character, and mental toughness in hockey. They share rich stories from Futa's career, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, courage, and environment in developing elite athletes.

➡️Talent evaluation and the importance of character
➡️The role of environment in shaping behavior and success
➡️Stories of NHL players
➡️The mental toughness and courage required in professional hockey
➡️The evolution of scouting and player development in the NHL
➡️ Winning is about character and environment
➡️ There’s no analytic to measure character
➡️ Scouting for authenticity and courage

Chapters
05:09 Trade Deadline Insights and Player Performance
05:55 The Journey of Building a Winning Team
08:47 Character and Talent in Player Evaluation
11:40 Wayne Simmons: A Case Study in Overcoming Adversity
14:47 The Importance of Mental Toughness in Hockey
17:49 The Role of Character in Team Dynamics
20:47 Evolving Perspectives on Player Evaluation
23:25 The Shift from Individualism to Teamwork in Hockey
32:20 The Evolution of Scouting and Player Evaluation
36:52 Character vs. Skill: The Scouting Dilemma
41:47 The Importance of Environment in Player Development
46:44 Defining Winning: Perspectives on Success
51:36 Authenticity and Courage in Sports

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Disclaimer: Content presented on the Blades & Behavior™ podcast is not intended to serve as medical, psychological, legal, or professional advice, nor should it be relied upon as organizational guidance or performance directives for any team, athlete, or staff member. The content contained in this podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical, psychological, or behavioral health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare or behavioral professional regarding any questions or concerns you may have. This podcast and all related content produced by Alicia Naser LLC // The Naser Institute for Behavioral Sports Psychology™️ are independent of and not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®). All materials are the intellectual property of Alicia Naser LLC // The Naser Institute for Behavioral Sports Psychology™️ and are protected under U.S. and international copyright law. Any reproduction, distribution, or use of this material without explicit written consent is strictly prohibited.

In this episode of Blades & Behavior™️, Dr. Naser sits down with Scott Morrison, Assistant Coach for the Utah Jazz, to discuss maintaining peak performance behind the scenes in professional basketball. They explore the often overlooked role of support staff in high-performance environments and the mental and emotional skills required to consistently operate at an elite level.

Scott shares insights from his coaching career, including how support staff build mental resilience, regulate emotions under pressure, and develop habits that support high-performing athletes. The conversation highlights psychological flexibility, learning from mistakes without self-criticism, and the balance between confidence and humility in high-performance roles.

Dr. Naser and Scott also discuss how routines evolve throughout an NBA season, how professionals adapt mental preparation from training camp to regular season competition, and how emotional awareness helps staff support athletes while maintaining team dynamics. They also reflect on the unseen contributions of support professionals and the rewarding aspects of working within elite sports organizations.

This episode provides a behind-the-scenes perspective on the people and processes that support excellence in professional sports. Whether you work with athletes or operate in another high-performance field, the discussion emphasizes resilience, self-trust, emotional intelligence, and adaptability.

Key topics include mental health and habits for support staff, strategies for psychological flexibility and learning from mistakes, the role of confidence and humility in high-performance environments, emotional regulation for supporting athletes and managing team dynamics, evolving routines across an NBA season, and the often unseen impact of support staff.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and the importance of support staff in basketball
02:00 Scott Morrison’s background and role with the Utah Jazz
03:50 Daily routines and balancing work with family life
04:55 Mental health and developing good habits
05:45 Psychological flexibility in high-pressure environments
07:00 Learning from mistakes without self-criticism
08:30 Mistakes vs. part of the game in basketball
09:50 Confidence and humility in high performance
11:05 Emotional regulation strategies for staff and athletes
13:00 Building self-trust as a professional
14:00 Self-awareness and trusting your abilities
15:50 Challenges and rewards of the support role
20:00 Evolving mental readiness strategies across NBA seasons
22:00 Training camp vs regular season routines
23:50 Understanding support staff contributions
26:00 Lessons learned and rewarding aspects of the role

Dr. Naser’s links:
https://linktr.ee/alicianaser

Newsletter:
https://doctoralicianaser.beehiiv.com/

Disclaimer: Guests appear on the Blades & Behavior™ podcast in their personal capacity and participation does not imply endorsement or affiliation with any team, league, employer, or organization. Content is for informational and discussion purposes only and is not medical, psychological, legal, or professional advice. Always seek guidance from qualified professionals for medical or behavioral health concerns. This podcast is produced by Alicia Naser LLC // The Naser Institute for Behavioral Sports Psychology™️ and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®). All materials are protected under U.S. and international copyright law.

In this episode of Blades & Behavior™️, Dr. Naser sits down with Mike Maresca, manual therapist for the Carolina Hurricanes, to discuss what it takes to support elite athletes behind the scenes. They explore the often overlooked role of support staff in the NHL and the mental skills required to operate in a high performance environment.

Dr. Naser and Mike discuss mental resilience, emotional regulation, confidence, and self trust when working closely with professional athletes throughout a demanding season. They also explore how routines evolve during training camp and the regular season, how support staff navigate mistakes and pressure, and the importance of psychological flexibility in professional sports.

Key topics include:
• Mental health and habits for support staff working with high performers
• Psychological flexibility and handling mistakes as part of the game
• Confidence, humility, and self trust in high performance roles
• Emotional regulation when supporting athletes and team environments
• How routines and mental preparation evolve throughout an NHL season
• Behind the scenes responsibilities that often go unnoticed
• Lessons learned from six seasons supporting NHL athletes

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and the importance of support staff in hockey
02:00 Mike Maresca’s background and role with the Carolina Hurricanes
03:50 Daily routines and balancing work with family life
04:55 Mental health and habit development
05:45 Psychological flexibility in high pressure environments
07:00 Learning from mistakes without self criticism
08:30 Mistakes vs part of the game in hockey
09:50 Confidence and humility in high performance
11:05 Emotional regulation strategies
13:00 Building self trust and confidence
14:00 Self awareness and trusting your abilities
15:50 Challenges and rewards of professional sports support roles
20:00 Mental readiness across six NHL seasons
22:00 Routine adjustments during training camp vs season
23:50 Misunderstandings about support staff contributions
26:00 Lessons learned and rewarding aspects of the role

This episode highlights the behind the scenes work that supports athletic excellence at the highest level. Whether you work in sports or other high performance environments, the conversation emphasizes resilience, emotional intelligence, and self trust.

Dr. Naser’s links:
https://linktr.ee/alicianaser
Newsletter: https://doctoralicianaser.beehiiv.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/doctoralicianaser
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@alicianaser
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/behavioral-sports-psychology-7147731671646150657/

Disclaimer: Guests appear in a personal capacity and participation does not imply endorsement or affiliation with any team, league, or employer. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers and are for informational and discussion purposes only. Content is not intended as medical, psychological, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional for guidance. Blades & Behavior™️ is produced by Alicia Naser LLC // The Naser Institute for Behavioral Sports Psychology™️ and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®). All content is protected under U.S. and international copyright law.