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Forged Youth | Legacy Within
Forged Youth: Legacy Within
What if the conversations you needed most as a teen athlete were finally being had, openly, honestly, and with purpose?
Forged Youth: Legacy Within is the podcast that equips youth athletes (ages 12–24), their parents, and coaches with the mental tools, emotional resilience, and life insight to rise above the noise and grow into strong, intentional human beings.
Each episode features real, raw conversations with professional athletes, CEOs, and cultural leaders sharing what they wish they knew when they were younger. We unpack topics like mental grit, overcoming adversity, identity beyond sport, and building a life of purpose, even when things fall apart.
Hosted by former elite athlete and mental health advocate Mariel Nichole Anderson, this podcast is your companion through the messy middle of chasing big dreams, and becoming someone even bigger in the process.
Because you weren’t born to just survive sport. You were made to be forged by it.
Forged Youth | Legacy Within
Ep. 15 - Rising Strong: Jacko’s Secrets to Grit, Growth, and Greatness
What does it take to bounce back when life (and sport) knocks you down? In this episode, David 'Jacko' joins Mariel to share powerful lessons on resilience, mindset, and confidence. From his own journey through challenges to coaching young athletes, Jacko breaks down what separates those who plateau from those who rise.
We dive into why confidence built only on “winning” won’t last, how to reframe setbacks into growth, and the habits athletes (and their parents) need to support true mental strength. Whether you’re an athlete chasing big goals, or a parent learning how to support your child’s journey, this conversation is packed with insights you can use right away.
David Jackson aka ‘Jacko’ is a Master Instructor with the Oxygen Advantage. A former professional rugby player, accredited UKSCA Strength & Conditioning coach, NASM performance enhancement & corrective exercise specialist on a mission to make breathwork a normal part of our everyday lives.
"In 2013 a traumatic brain injury and a seizure on the rugby pitch forced me to retire from professional rugby and also impacted my breathing patterns negatively for years. It can be simple day-to-day stress or poor habits that have built up over a long time that have changed your breathing patterns but what I know is that if I can change mine after my head injury you can improve yours too.
During my professional rugby career, I wish we knew then what we know now about how breathing can massively impact and improve our performance. Now as a Master Instructor with the Oxygen Advantage, I work with clients ranging from fitness and sports enthusiasts looking to improve their sporting performance, to GP doctor referrals with clients needing to address stress and anxiety issues through breathing, and everything in between.
My passion for sports and sharing what I wish I knew back when I played, has led me to work with professional athletes and teams in a variety of sports like rugby union, football, triathlon, mountain biking, swimming, athletics at national and international levels."
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