Swim Lessons

Latest Episodes:

#165 Darin Mattern: 3 rings, 1 standard Mar 01, 2026

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Darin Mattern is the head boys basketball coach at Century High School, a three-time state champion and national Coach of the Year finalist. In this episode of Swim Lessons the Podcast, we talk coaching, culture, leadership, and what it really takes to build and sustain a championship program.

#164 Tanner Purintun: Culture, Championships, and Change Feb 28, 2026

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In this episode of Swim Lessons the Podcast, we sit down with Mandan girls' basketball head coach Tanner Purintun. We talk about his journey from the gridiron to the hardwood and why he believes Mandan can hang more banners soon. We get into culture, toughness, small‑town North Dakota pride, and what it really takes to turn a program into a year‑in, year‑out contender.

#163 Ty Terry: Beating the Odds Through Basketball Feb 27, 2026

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From a childhood filled with struggle to leading young women on the court, Coach Ty Terry's journey is nothing short of powerful.

In this episode of Swim Lessons the Podcast, Ty opens up about the pain he faced growing up, how he almost lost himself, and the way basketball became his lifeline when everything around him felt like it was sinking. Now the head girls basketball coach at St. Mary's High School, Ty shares how the game didn't just save his life, it gave him a purpose and a platform to pour back into the next generation. We talk about faith, identity, mentorship, and what it really takes to rise above where you started. If you've ever felt lost, overlooked, or stuck in your circumstances, this conversation is for you.

#162 Dan Carr: The Mind of a Winner Feb 26, 2026

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On this episode of Swim Lessons the Podcast, we sit down with Dan Carr. Coach Carr is North Dakota's all-time winningest basketball coach, he breaks down the habits, mindsets, and game-changing decisions that built a legacy. From locker room leadership to clutch game strategies, Dan shares untold stories, tough losses that taught him more than wins, and the exact routines he used to turn programs into winners.

#161 Dakota Brekhus: From the Battlefield to the Greens Feb 11, 2026

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Dakota Brekhus is a Purple Heart recipient who was shot twice in Afghanistan and is now the Head Golf Coach at Minot State. In this raw unfiltered episode of Swim Lessons the Podcast, Dakota walks me through a year in combat. He talks about the day that changed everything, the long road back to civilian life, and how he turned trauma into purpose on the golf course. We dig into surviving firefights, physical and mental recovery, the power of adaptive sports, and what leadership looks like after war.

#160 Rick Smith: 2 State Titles, 1 Lifetime of Lessons Jan 21, 2026

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You don't win two state championships by accident. You don't earn the respect of an entire state for decades without a profound philosophy.

In this episode of Swim Lessons the Podcast, we sit down with North Dakota basketball legend Coach Rick Smith. Rick is the head boys coach at Four Winds. Beyond the trophies and the wins, Coach Smith reveals the core principles that have shaped his program, principles about leadership, community, sacrifice, and what true success looks off the court.

#159 Troy Roness: Navigating the Mind and Mental Health Jan 14, 2026

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On today's show, we sit down with Troy Roness. Troy is a licensed therapist, TEDx speaker, survivor, and author. He's spent years in the trenches of K-12 schools, college campuses, and therapy rooms, navigating the complex terrain of the mind. This conversation goes beyond the therapy acronyms to the raw, unvarnished truth about trauma, recovery, and what it means to build a life you don't constantly need to escape from.

We talk about the hard stuff. The broken places. The slow, often brutal work of putting yourself back together, piece by piece. A journey he chronicled in his book, "Unbroken." This is for anyone who's ever fought a silent battle, felt unseen, or is just trying to understand the messy, beautiful, and sometimes terrifying project of being a person.

#158 Ryan Clark: The Sound of Turning a Program Around Jan 08, 2026

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What does it truly take to build a college basketball program from the ground up? It's not just about plays and drills, it's about alchemy. Turning struggle into strength and individual players into an unbreakable team.

In this raw and revealing episode of Swim Lesson the Podcast, we sit down with Ryan Clark, the head women's basketball coach at Minot State University. We go far beyond the scoreboard to uncover the philosophy, the relentless grind, and the human leadership required to architect a winning culture in athletics.

#157 James Staub: Inside the Mind of a Modern Outdoorsman Jan 02, 2026

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In this episode, we sit down with James Staub of Tag Firearms for a conversation that goes far beyond hunting.

James is a lifelong outdoorsman, firearms professional, and someone who lives the lifestyle he represents. We talked about the hunting culture, the mindset it builds, and how time in the outdoors shapes a person in many ways. From firearms and conservation to personal growth, responsibility, and the lessons learned off the grid. This is an honest, wide-ranging discussion about what hunting really teaches you.

Whether you're a seasoned hunter new to the outdoors, or just someone who appreciates real talk and meaningful stories, this episode delivers.

Subscribe for more conversations with athletes, coaches, outdoorsmen, and people who live what they talk about.

#156 Arley Larson & Michael Bergstrom: 54 Years of Lessons & the Next Ray Jays Era Dec 17, 2025

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This episode of Swim Lessons the Podcast brings together two generations of Ray Jays basketball.

For over 54 years, Arley Larson has lived the game. Coaching, mentoring, and shaping young athletes far beyond the scoreboard. Sitting alongside him is Michael Bergstrom, the current head coach of the Ray Jays. Michael is carrying that tradition forward and building something special for the future.

Together they talk basketball, life lessons learned on the bench, and why there's real belief inside the Ray Jays program heading into this season. From old-school coaching wisdom to modern-day leadership, this conversation is about more than X's and O's. It's about culture, commitment, and community.

If you love basketball stories, coaching insight, or hearing how great programs are built over time, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

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