The Next Season Podcast

🚨 Upperclassmen — the way you treat freshmen can make or break your season.

Ignore them, exclude them, haze them? You’re not tough… you’re toxic.

In this episode of the Next Season Podcast, I lay out 3 huge mistakes upperclassmen make that DESTROY their leadership potential & trash team culture.

But I don't stop there - stay to the end because I give you 3 underrated & proven leadership moves that build trust, confidence and team performance.

👉 Discover why exclusion can mimic physical pain (neuroscience doesn’t lie), why hazing kills culture, and how the best leaders model standards, protect the vibe and share their struggles.

Whether you’re in high school, college, a more experienced guy on your travel team or a leader in any aspect of life — this episode will show you how to stop being a garbage teammate and start being the culture-builder your team actually want to take the field with.

00:00 Intro & Episode Highlights

01:01 Recapping 032 - Garbage Freshman & New Guy

02:17 Talking to the Upperclassman - Standards, Culture & Neuroscience of Connection

03:53 Stories from my High School & College Freshman Years

06:24 Garbage Upperclassman Step 1: Ignoring & Excluding

10:56 Garbage Upperclassman Step 2: Withholding Knowledge

13:05 Garbage Upperclassman Step 3: Hazing

22:11 Ideal Upperclassman Step 1: Model Standards & Competition

23:59 Ideal Upperclassman Step 2: Set & Protect Team Culture

26:33 Ideal Upperclassman Step 3: Share Your Struggles (Vulnerability)

22:43 Closing Thoughts: What Teammates Remember & How You Can Support