Win The Season Sponsored by Fastbreak Playbook-Episode #23 What's Your Why?

Win The Season Sponsored by Fastbreak Playbook-Episode #23 What's Your Why?

Author: Martin Plum August 2, 2026 Duration: 22:35

We can't do this job (or any job) for a long time without knowing WHY we're doing the job, and coaching basketball is no different. With its long hours, intense nights and tough days, coaching basketball is a mission, but you have to know why you're doing it. What do you enjoy? That's what we want you to answer in today's podcast, while also discussing a little Leo Tolstoy and pushing you to research and learn about one of the great coaches of the 1980s and 1990s, Dale Brown.


Imagine a whiteboard session after a big game, the kind where strategy gets scribbled on whatever's handy. That's the spirit of A Pen And A Napkin. This weekly conversation lives at the crossroads of sport and creative thinking, diving deep into the art of coaching basketball. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair in a gym office, listening to the nuanced discussions about player development, offensive sets, defensive adjustments, and the philosophy behind building a team. It’s less about Xs and Os in a vacuum and more about the why-the human elements and the creative problem-solving that define the craft. You’ll hear authentic breakdowns of game situations, reflections on leadership, and practical ideas that often start with a simple sketch. Think of it as a portable mentors’ roundtable, a clinic distilled into conversation, offering perspectives that resonate whether you’re on the sidelines or just appreciate the deeper layers of the game. Tune in for a podcast that captures the ongoing, ever-evolving dialogue at the heart of coaching.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

A Pen And A Napkin
Podcast Episodes
Win The Season Sponsored by Fastbreak Playbook-Episode #40 Pregame [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:45
Pregame doesn't start with the 20:00 warmup; it starts long before that. In today's podcast, we break down the routines and rhythms that you should establish, both for yourself and the program, in your pregame preparatio…
Win The Season Sponsored by Fastbreak Playbook-Episode #39 Mentors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:31
You can't do this job alone, and one of the things that you should seek out in life is strong mentors, people you can ask hard questions, get hard answers and learn from their experiences. In this episode, we break down…
A Pen And A Napkin Sponsored by Ruiz Auto-Episode #340 Todd Kuntz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:40
Todd Kuntz, the head boys basketball coach at Cedar Rapids Prairie (IA), jumps on episode #340 to discuss his growth as a coach, important influences (including Mr. Tony D. Vis!) and serving on the IBCA board, making the…