Dialed & Driven Mentality Podcast
Dialed & Driven Mentality Podcast with hosts Jeff Lerg and Chris Palmer, is a space for athletes, parents, and coaches to see the depths of hockey and the mental hurdles that come with it.
Jeff Lerg has extensive experience as a former player and current coach that propels his knowledge and life advice. Jeff has reached the ultimate pinnacle of what it means to be a successful D1 Collegiate Athlete. Playing at Michigan State University, he has won countless awards and accolades displaying his success. Also, a former professional goalie for 10+ years across the U.S. and Europe, he has had first-hand experience reaching his own goals and helping others achieve theirs.
Chris Palmer, M.A. in Psychology, is a Hockey Mental Performance Coach who trains individuals, coaches, and teams from house leagues to Pro and Amateur in the US, Europe and Canada. He trains “heart, head, and guts,” with a proven process that helps clients maximize mental toughness and motivation to develop a grinding and intense compete level. As a former NCAA runner, x2 All-American, and Nike-sponsored athlete, Chris brings a great deal of knowledge in athletics and the mental performance space to positively impact the lives of athletes all over the world.
Dialed & Driven Mentality Podcast
The Perfect Offseason Recipe for Athletes
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Welcome to Episode 78 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast!
In this episode, Jeff Lerg, Chris Palmer, and Natalie Ferenc discuss one of the biggest challenges athletes face during the offseason: finding the balance between resting, training, and avoiding burnout.
Summer is supposed to be a time to recharge—but what happens when taking time off starts to make you feel guilty? How do you recover mentally and physically without feeling like you're falling behind everyone else?
We dive into why the offseason isn't about doing nothing or doing everything—it's about finding the right recipe to come back stronger than ever. You'll learn why rest is actually part of the training process, how to avoid burnout before the season even begins, and why your best offseason may not involve spending every day at the rink.
Episode Highlights:
• Why taking time off can make athletes feel guilty
• The difference between resting and taking your foot completely off the gas
• How to recover mentally, physically, and emotionally without falling behind
• Why cross-training and building athleticism matter more than year-round hockey
• Simple ways to stay in shape without living at the gym or rink
• How technology and screen time can quietly derail your offseason
• Why "touching grass" might be the best training advice you'll hear all summer
• How to fight worry and anxiety with facts instead of emotions
• Why every athlete's offseason plan should be unique
• The importance of peaking at the right time—not all year long
• How finding joy in hockey leads to better long-term performance
• Why having fun is one of the most overlooked parts of athletic development
• The biggest signs you've failed your offseason—and how to avoid them
• Why your strongest season starts with your smartest summer
AND SO MUCH MORE!
If you've ever felt guilty for taking a day off, worried that everyone else was outworking you, or struggled to find the right balance between training and enjoying your summer, this episode is for you.
Rest is not weakness.
Recovery is part of the process.
Train with intention.
Enjoy being a kid.
And remember—the goal isn't to be at your best in July.
It's to be at your best when the season begins.
Stay dialed. Stay driven.
📲 Connect With Us
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dialedanddriven/
X: https://x.com/dialedanddriven
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDialedandDrivenPodcast
🎙️ Listen On
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRwBFDkvYi56TdzIPMRge
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dialed-driven-hockey-mentality-podcast/id1791139650
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b1168059-6e38-4352-b3d5-c5fdbba6067f/dialed-driven-hockey-mentality-podcast