How has Dan Clouser found his passion beyond the diamond?
As we get older, we learn that life is more about the journey than the destination. This isn’t always the case when we are in our younger years when chasing our goals often means we are hyper-focused on outcomes. One of my great joys in life is helping young people appreciate the journey while pursuing their dreams.
My guest in this episode, Dan Clouser, invested over 30 years in building the Berkshire Baseball & Softball Club, which later became the BIG Vision Foundation. Dan mentored young athletes with the purpose of developing successful adults. In his second act of life, Dan is getting the opportunity to see how the seeds he planted in his first act are growing.
In Episode 57, Dan shares how he has transitioned into truly enjoying his journey as an author, podcast host, and full-time nomad. Dan shares how he transitioned from his first passion in life to his new passion.
So, what’s your biggest takeaway from my conversation with Dan Clouser?
My biggest takeaway is that investing in young people pays dividends that we often don’t fully realize. Appreciating the coaching journey is the recipe for having the greatest impact on young athletes.
My suggestion to coaches is make your best effort to coach the person, not the game. All of us are competitive and want to win. However, we can often lose sight of the long-term impacts we have on young athletes through our actions.
I want to thank Dan for his kind generosity and the wisdom he shared with The Freshman Foundation Community.
You can learn more about Dan at https://journeyofmymothersson.com/.
To learn how mental performance coaching can help your mind work FOR you rather than against you, visit https://michaelvhuber.com.
Thank you for listening. We’ll see you back soon for Episode 58!
00:00.00
mvhuber
Good morning Dan how are you? Ah, it's my pleasure. Thank you for coming on. It's great. It's great to see you again. Um I guess to get started I want to ask you about your book which if anyone's watching on the video. Ah, it's called the beauty of a diamond and you had a long. Ah.
00:00.98
Dan Clouser
Very good. How are you thanks for having me on the show.
00:19.98
mvhuber
Ah, long experience in your life as being a baseball coach. So what inspired you to write the book.
00:24.48
Dan Clouser
Um, and I think for me, it was your writing's always been a part of my life and I decided to write the book and really share a lot of my coaching experience and wanted to be able to share that with. You know younger coaches who are getting getting into the game and that sort of stuff and it really turned into a you know Memoir of my coaching career and then also what led me to kind of turn the page on my coaching career and start a new chapter as well. So all in all, you know the book was originally released in 2012 and then I I added 10 chapters to it and re-released it last july so it was really like an 18 year project till it was so it's all said and done because I initially started writing it and.
01:15.53
mvhuber
While while.
01:21.30
Dan Clouser
2003 and you know with with coaching as much as I was and at running you know I ran a youth nonprofit organization for 30 years and put a lot of hours in there so it was just kind of carving out the time to you know to be able to write you know is what. Took so long but truthfully you know as you reflect back on it. Um, you know it. It wasn't done until 2012 and then you know it really wasn't completely done until you know 2021? Um, you know and I just wanted to.
01:51.50
mvhuber
Wow.
01:56.33
Dan Clouser
You know make people understand that you're so much more than just you know someone out there teaching the X's and nose of the game of regardless of what sport you're coaching. Um you know whether you want to be or not your mentor to these kids. Um.
02:04.74
mvhuber
Um.
02:14.38
Dan Clouser
You know you're a None parent in many cases and you know let's face it. Everybody's competing in a sport to win. That's a given but it's not only about winning and you know I always took an approach that you know it was really about teaching life lessons through the game because at some point. And these kids lives they're not going to be able to play the game anymore you know and that that comes at various stages in their lives. You know some of them. It's after high school somemits after college some that are fortunate enough to go on and play professionally. It may be sometime in the minor leagues or if they're good enough to make it to the big leagues. They're still. The game is going to say you can no longer compete here whether you want it to or not It's not your decision and at that point you've got to figure out how you contribute to society. You've got to be a good human being um you know to go out and you know.
02:55.79
mvhuber
Yes, yes.
03:11.41
Dan Clouser
Get ah a regular job so to speak the person interviewing you is not going to care what you did on the baseball field. They're going to want to know? are you a team player in this atmosphere. Are you going to help this business win at what we're trying to accomplish as an organization.
03:27.42
mvhuber
Yes.
03:30.80
Dan Clouser
And that's really the 1 thing that we really wanted to stress to to our kids throughout our organization and yeah, that's the main reason why I wanted to write the book to just share that philosophy.
03:38.42
mvhuber
Well, there are so many things that I want to ask you in relation to that I guess where I'll start is so what was your experience as an athlete when when you were younger before you got into coaching.
03:52.18
Dan Clouser
Um, so I was you know I tell everybody I was far from a superstar. Yeah I I played multiple sports I played football soccer basketball and baseball and I worked. You know worked really hard to you know to get on the field and stay in the field I was probably a better football player than I was a baseball player but I loved the game of Baseball. You know so just to stay in the starting lineup I had to work.
04:23.50
mvhuber
9
04:23.78
Dan Clouser
You know, really really hard so I was always working hard in practice I was always hustling on and off a field and I never took anything for granted um you know and there were a couple you know couple coaches in my life that really made ah a huge impact on me. Um, you know one was. You know my none little league coach Jerry Heist and and Barry Dstaggio I was the youngest player on our our little league team. So you know my mom was involved with the organization and somehow pulled some strings to get me playing a year prior than you know what? the. Age limit was to be and you know so I yeah I was the youngest kid on the team. So again, you know right out of the gate I had to work harder than everybody else because everybody you know you know the difference between an eight year old and 9 year old or 9 year old 10 year old is is a big deal at that stage.
05:10.30
mvhuber
Yeah, yeah.
05:17.10
mvhuber
Is big.
05:20.33
Dan Clouser
You know so I had to really work hard and um, you know it's funny I remember and and I write about this experience in the book. Um I I never early on I never swung the bat. Um I would just go up there and either I was going to walk.
05:33.59
mvhuber
Um.
05:40.40
Dan Clouser
I was going to strike out depending on whether I got 4 balls thrown to meet or 3 strikes thrown to me first. But I would not swing the bat and I remember I came up in a situation. We had the bases loaded and it was either a tie game or a downer run or something. And you know we had None outs and my my coach Jerry Heist comes down the the third baseline and and you know again, knowing the history of my my at bats at this stage of the. Season he I guess he didn't want to rely on whether or not the pitcher would throw me 4 balls before he threw me 3 strikes so he came up to me Knelt down. He put his arm around. He says you know Danny everybody called me Danny back then yet he says you're never going to get a hit if you don't swing the bat.
06:18.66
mvhuber
Ah.
06:33.31
Dan Clouser
And I was just like okay, so at that point like I was determined like I was swinging the bat at this next next pitch regardless of where it was going to be and thankfully the kid threw me a strike and I made contact and. And drove the ball into w right field. Ah, probably because I was late and ended up hitting a base clearing double and from that point on I turned from the least aggressive hitter ah to a guy that like if I saw None pitches in an at bat. It was too many for me. That point you know size and there looking to to swing and you know it's funny at such a young age how that's just stuck to me and really even in different stages of my life. You know metaphorically has you know has stuck with me where you know.
07:11.29
mvhuber
It's funny. Yeah, that works.
07:17.69
mvhuber
Um, yeah.
07:28.92
Dan Clouser
Take a chance and and see what happens that really impacted me deeply and then you know another coach funny that I never actually really played form I I was at only high school in Pennsylvania my freshman year and.
07:44.59
mvhuber
Um.
07:48.40
Dan Clouser
The high school baseball coach. There was a legend Bob Bob renchler and my older brother had played for him so we had a relationship um and then we ended up moving to a different school district midway through the year so I never actually played a game for him but I competed against him. And after every game after we went through the line and and shook hands and that sort of stuff he would stop me and just ask you know how your parents doing how's your brother doing how's the family. How how are things going and again just made an incredible impact on me because you know. What? what did it matter to him. You know that here is a kid from another school district who you know his older brother played for him but he never played for him but you know took the time you know, made his team wait in the huddle you know for two three minutes to just you know, check up on how things were you know were doing for me.
08:28.20
mvhuber
Um.
08:35.81
mvhuber
Yeah.
08:45.45
mvhuber
Okay, yeah.
08:47.39
Dan Clouser
And then you know lastly was my my actual high school coach at school of Valley Denny Warner he just you know again was one of those guys who yeah we had some really good teams but was really there to teach us the life lessons and.
09:02.50
mvhuber
Yeah.
09:04.38
Dan Clouser
You know that it was was more than a game. So those guys all had you know, kind of grew into what my coaching style became.
09:11.87
mvhuber
It sounds like you have some pretty good role models there because I I think that generally speaking I would say that that seems to be the exception rather than the rule in terms of what I see in that youth force space now in terms of and I always say this is people coach the way that they were coached. And typically the reflection is that sort of old school sort of stereotypical coaches who are you know do as I say and you know I run the ship here and and they're not really looking at the they're coaching a game. They're not coaching the people and what you've described as people who are coaching people.
09:45.19
Dan Clouser
Um, yeah.
09:50.13
mvhuber
And showing that they care and it is fascinating to me the story particularly the none story you told about when you were None you know in playing lid league. You know how those stories those stick with us right? They're so ingrained in our brain none from these youngest of ages where where you know these. People in our lives made such a big impression and I couldn't help but think about that idea of taking risk and judging judging performance based upon the effort rather than the results you know and saying hey you're going to only fail if you don't swing.
10:20.49
Dan Clouser
Right? Just right.
10:26.75
mvhuber
Even if you swing and you miss you've succeeded and that's not something that's really taught you know? Yes, we we play sports to win but things aren't always going to go our Way. So Are you going to take that shot and be the one who's willing to to risk it all you know, emotionally to to be successful. Or you're going to be so afraid of failure that you kind of sit on the sidelines and keep your your your metaphorical metaphorical bat on your shoulder. Yeah.
10:50.72
Dan Clouser
Yeah, yeah, and that that's so true and and again and it's It's so true and yet it's so bizarre especially in the games of baseball and softball because they are games of failure. You know So the fact that you know there are so many coaches nowadays who are coaching.
11:00.25
mvhuber
Correct.
11:10.60
Dan Clouser
For the result as opposed to the process is just mind boggling I Know you know when we ran you know part of what we did with our nonprofit is we ran a sports complex and we hosted you know baseball and softball tournaments every weekend and you got to see the best and the worst of both worlds like you're just there and you're.
11:25.99
mvhuber
Um.
11:29.62
Dan Clouser
You're looking at some of these guys and you're like man. What are you doing I remember specifically ah a time where this is a 12 and under team came into our tournament. Apparently they were undefeated going into this and it was late in the years so like I don't know some stupid like None or something like that and.
11:45.28
mvhuber
And.
11:48.23
Dan Clouser
You know as one of those teams you know at twelve years old you're just going out and recruiting the biggest fastest strongest kids and you know you're going to you know, compete regardless of what you know those kids may not even be high school players at that time because they can't adapt but they made it to the championship game bar tournament.
11:54.93
mvhuber
Yeah, yep, yeah.
12:05.22
Dan Clouser
And ended up losing by 1 run. Um I just remember the coach taking these kids out to left field and just berating these kids for like 30 minutes and I'm just like you've got to be kidding me I'm like these kids tuned out. You know.
12:13.65
mvhuber
Um, ah yikes.
12:23.39
mvhuber
Into it right.
12:24.47
Dan Clouser
2 minutes into your speech you know and funny thing about it is my style was always my speeches after a loss were short after when we'd we'd talk a lot but after a loss like we already all feel terrible.
12:35.39
mvhuber
Ah, yeah, right, right? Don't Pi don't pile on right.
12:41.67
Dan Clouser
Yeah, especially if it's a loss that we know we should have won you know so everybody knows what we did you know right? right? So it's just like at that point I want to get out of there I know they want to get out of there. It's like hey we didn't didn't bring our best game today guys. You know, let's show up better next time forget about this and.
12:51.98
mvhuber
And.
12:59.99
mvhuber
Yeah, yeah, but but but I think for me those types of coaches which they exist you know there's there's plenty of them around to me that that speech in that case and in any case like that is about the coach and not about the team right.
13:01.66
Dan Clouser
Yeah, let's get it packed up.
13:15.75
Dan Clouser
Yes, yep.
13:18.91
mvhuber
So he's making about himself and his ego's getting in the way. Meanwhile you've got a group of twelve year olds who just developmentally are going to tune out even if things are good. You know, right? now you're going to go and berate them after they sat on a field for 2 hours trying to keep their attention and and they feel bad enough and now you've just completely sort of.
13:26.34
Dan Clouser
Drag exactly.
13:38.66
mvhuber
Distorted their experience by you know, berating them. So unfortunately we still see those things and it's part of the reason I do what I do um I guess so for you as a player. What at what point did your baseball career end.
13:51.69
Dan Clouser
Um, so I never played well I didn't go to college I went to a trade school so I didn't have the opportunity to play in college. So I played in high school then I played in an amateur league you know for many years after that you know hanging on to the dream so to speak.
13:56.95
mvhuber
Um, okay, um.
14:10.80
Dan Clouser
But that's actually really how our organization started is it started as an adult amateur team because I wanted to continue playing I like I said I went to a trade school I thought I was going to be a record producer that didn't pan out the way I wanted it to but I still don't regret the decision or the experience.
14:26.23
mvhuber
Um, right.
14:29.64
Dan Clouser
Um, so it was really about me being able to play a little bit longer and then you know through that through starting this team I was kind of thrown in to being the coach right out of the gate which was very odd because. Um, coaching guys that I graduated in high school with I'm coaching guys that were you know a couple years older than me and I didn't want to coach like that wasn't you know the idea was start this thing so I could play more not to Coach. Um, but I did take it seriously right out of the gate and ah.
14:54.15
mvhuber
Ah, right? ah.
15:06.47
Dan Clouser
I had the opportunity to coach 2 guys that were actually former professionals and in that organization in the early years of us starting and those 2 guys as well. Tim Brill and Rick Dunham
15:11.44
mvhuber
Ah R r.
15:22.58
Dan Clouser
You know, molded my philosophy like they were the final touches. You know after you know the Jerry Heist and Barry Destagggio and you know Bob Brenschler and Denny Werner so because they really you know brought a professional level to our organization and.
15:27.94
mvhuber
Right? right? right.
15:38.95
mvhuber
Yep.
15:39.77
Dan Clouser
Um, the respect that they showed me as a very young coach and these are both guys that you know Tim was probably like 14 years older than me Rick was probably None or seven years older than me and you know they knew a wealth. Had a wealth more knowledge in the game of baseball than but I did at that age but they treated me with the utmost respect and it it was just such an incredible experience and and really molded how I wanted to continue coaching and you know what I wanted to establish as.
15:58.15
mvhuber
Sure.
16:14.63
Dan Clouser
You know, really the framework and fundamentals of our organization because that slowly evolved into me then coaching youth players and you know coaching American Legion baseball and then our our organization just kind of continued to Morph and.
16:16.55
mvhuber
Anything.
16:31.30
Dan Clouser
Bunch of us that played with each other that we're all coaching at different organizations throughout our county and you know we just kind of got around to talking at None point like you know this kind of crazy like we all have the same philosophy. We all have you know you. Really the same things that we're teaching but we're competing against each other and then playing with each other yet. Let's let's start a youth organization you know under this umbrella under the berkshire baseball softball umbrella and then that's what we did and that's when it really you know.
16:55.22
mvhuber
Moon.
17:03.38
Dan Clouser
I Really took it seriously and took it to a next level and and understanding immediately. The impact that I had on on the kids we were coaching.
17:09.93
mvhuber
I have to say we have a lot more in common than I even realized so I played high school baseball as well. I started for None ars I thought I was a pretty good player but my family. Just didn't have the resources. We didn't have the knowledge about college then my coach was not very cooperative. Not not in a bad way just didn't he didn't really help with recruiting and so I stopped playing at the end of high school and went to college and that was it and then at None ears old I was presented the opportunity to start playing in adult leagues again and I played for probably.
17:34.83
Dan Clouser
The bed.
17:44.16
mvhuber
The most the the good part is 17 years after that is I played from pride 25 to 42 and in that run I've played for a number of teams at in that run I ended up being the manager of 1 of those teams and I I couldn't help but chuckle when you said it because I remember I just wanted to play baseball.
17:55.40
Dan Clouser
Are.
18:01.88
Dan Clouser
Um, yeah.
18:03.37
mvhuber
And then you become the manager which you know it was less about being a coach for us because it was and it was competitive. Don't get me wrong. We played against really good players and I I learned more about the game of baseball as a player as an adult than I did in high school right? like I played with some really like to your experience.
18:16.00
Dan Clouser
Um, yeah.
18:21.19
mvhuber
Minor league players played against guys who were pros played with guys who played in college and I learned more about the game of baseball as a player from 25 to 42 than I learned in my youth and it also as a coach which I'm sure you had this experience my ability to put myself in a young person's shoes when they fail. Is much much that that's probably the greatest asset I have as a coach is I play baseball for None ears and I was humbled as an adult is very fresh in my mind so when I see a young kid go out there and get humbled or they they don't succeed I'm able to sort of put myself right into that situation and go.
18:44.56
Dan Clouser
Stop there.
19:00.21
mvhuber
You know what I had those days where I couldn't do anything right and I stared at the ceiling in bed as a grown man with kids in their you know bedroom sleeping thinking about well why did I swing at that pitch on 3 2 or why did I let that go I mean that's ah, that's an. That's a really uncanny thing because there's a lot of guys who play competitive baseball and they play college baseball and then they try to coach baseball when they're in 30 s and 40 s and their twenty years removed from the game and even though they were really good at it. They can't relate. They can't relate to what the players going through because it's either been so long or they were so successful.
19:27.51
Dan Clouser
Um, think right.
19:35.57
mvhuber
That they just they can't get it that when someone fails it's like well why why didn't you just do that Well God Damn baseball is a hard game. You know.
19:42.71
Dan Clouser
Yeah I noticed that with a lot of guys and I'm not you know, saying every guy but a lot of guys who were former professionals and come back in the youth ranks. They can't relate like they can't relate to that fail because it came so easy to them and again not all of them. You know there's some who.
19:57.86
mvhuber
Um, exactly.
20:01.92
Dan Clouser
Who get it and and even though they were incredibly successful. Can still understand and and relate. But there's a lot that I've seen that you know it's like and even those guys you hear him a lot of times talk about well when I played we did it and it's like kid doesn't care about that he does He just doesn't care about that at this point in time you know like.
20:16.22
mvhuber
No.
20:21.48
mvhuber
Right? It's not. It's not about right? It's not about them. It's about meeting the person where they're at to help them solve their problem get to where they want to go now. There may be a place to share that experience but it has to be a relevantvant you know context.
20:21.69
Dan Clouser
How do I not do what I just did right.
20:35.69
Dan Clouser
Exactly.
20:39.49
mvhuber
If you're just saying like hey this is what I did because you want to you know Pat yourself on the back to show your your player. How special you are when you played and they they Ai n't doing anything.
20:48.40
Dan Clouser
Doesn't matter. Yeah, yeah, so it is interesting. It's it's funny that you know we we obviously can can relate to that concept for sure.
20:54.31
mvhuber
Yeah, So so tell me about your coaching career. So when did you I mean obviously you had the organization and your coaching you know in your younger years as as an amateur coach right? The experience that you had but like. Tell me about the progression as a coach like how you sort of developed over time.
21:14.11
Dan Clouser
Um, so the None youth team that I ever coached was American Legion team sort of you know, high school age kids and um, we were bad. We We were really. Really bad I think we went 1 in 21 that year. Um, but I still actually look back on that season as a success because we were much Better. You know.
21:35.37
mvhuber
If.
21:51.50
Dan Clouser
At the end of the season than what we were in the beginning of the season and I think that first year um you know again, it it was humbling um and I think it was exactly what I needed as a new coach because I think if he go in and the ah you know.
21:52.49
mvhuber
A.
22:10.67
Dan Clouser
You're fortunate enough to go in and coach just you know a team of studs and you know they go out and they're playing you know, None baseball the whole season. You just take it for granted. Um, so it's still one of my best experiences as a coach because I learned so much.
22:12.82
mvhuber
And.
22:30.36
Dan Clouser
And you know the following year we won 4 games and then the next year we won 12 games and the next year we won like 15 games or something. Um, you know so we were progressively getting better. Um.
22:39.33
mvhuber
Are a.
22:49.63
Dan Clouser
and I and I really you know attribute you know later on then when I was coaching some really good teams to again, stay focused and humbled because of those 4 years you know teaching you know a not so great team. But.
23:03.57
mvhuber
Um.
23:07.16
Dan Clouser
You know was a not so great team with some really great kids you know and that was you know that was just what it what it was and um, you know so it just again learning from that experience. It just.
23:09.58
mvhuber
For the.
23:23.24
Dan Clouser
I was able to always keep things in perspective always making sure that our highs never got too high and our lows never got too low. You know and understanding that we were going to go through. You know some good streaks and some bad streaks but myself as the coach had to stay level because the kids are feeding off a U So if you're.
23:26.36
mvhuber
A.
23:39.93
mvhuber
Um, of course.
23:42.75
Dan Clouser
If you're an emotional roller coaster during a losing streak or a winning streak or whatever they're all over the place as well. You know and remember people talking about Bobby Cox you know if you ever looked in the dugout you know when the and Joe Tory as well. You know if you ever looked in the dugout if any of those got yeah it didn't you couldn't tell are they are they are they down None is smolts thrown in no hitter. You know it was the same thing and that's the way I tried to you know to keep it. Um.
23:58.73
mvhuber
Yeah, their facial expression was the same regardless of situation ever. Yes, right? Yes, yeah yeah, so.
24:13.66
Dan Clouser
And I think that I think that definitely helped throughout my career.
24:18.26
mvhuber
I I guess I'm curious. You know you you obviously coaching is such a huge part of your life now. Ultimately you get to a point where you decided to not coach anymore. So like take me through that like when did you start to think hey maybe it was time to move on or. Like did you have a plan for exiting rather than just sort of waking up one day and said I don't want to coach anymore like what did that? How did that work out for you.
24:42.86
Dan Clouser
Um, so there definitely wasn't an exit plan if you would have asked me you know in 2018 you know I would tell you that you I'll probably you know die somewhere on the field. Um, yeah, yeah.
24:56.39
mvhuber
Not a bad plan by the way. Ah.
25:02.30
Dan Clouser
Um, and then in 2019 I took 2 solo trips where I drove from Pennsylvania the None one was from Pennsylvania down to Dallas for the abca convention. The American Baseball Coach Association convention from there I went from Dallas over to.
25:13.41
mvhuber
Okay, yes.
25:21.25
Dan Clouser
So for Louisiana I spent some time with some friends and then drove drove home and about a month and a half after that I drove to Orlando Florida and and drove back for a soccer camp that we were. We were working on doing at the the complex and. The none time that was the none time in my life where I really took my time and enjoyed the journey. Um, we traveled a lot as an organization. Um, you know we would go out and play in tournaments in Las Vegas and Florida and Atlanta and you know all points in between.
25:50.16
mvhuber
Um, God did that is.
25:56.73
Dan Clouser
And there was always such a regimented schedule. You know it's like we would take a bus to the airport. You know so it's like all right? Er. Everybody's got to be on the bus by this time we got to be at the airport this time if we're you know, traveling bus all the way you know it's like whenever we'd make a stop you know kids had this much time to get in and out. And back on the road. So never really enjoyed the journey so to speak and I was able to do that on those None trips and you know my mom when she was in her mid 40 s and the mid eighty s.
26:20.60
mvhuber
Yeah.
26:33.75
Dan Clouser
Um, she had taken she had quit her job. She has had a very successful career selling life insurance and she quit her job and took an old 1967 Plymouth Valiant took the backseat out of it. Stuck a sheet of flywood in there in a mattress and cruised around the country just visiting people and volunteering and and doing all this stuff.
26:37.30
mvhuber
A.
26:50.70
mvhuber
Um, Wow yeah.
26:53.16
Dan Clouser
And I always admired her I love telling people you know the story about her and all that sort of stuff but never in my wildest dreams would I ever say or think that my story would mirror her story and on that trip it like hit me where I was like wow man I think I've figured out. Why mom really did this like there was just such a serenity in those drives and when I got back? Um, it was in the process where I was adding the 10 chapters to the you know to the first book and I wrote like I hadn't written in years.
27:17.27
mvhuber
And he.
27:25.62
mvhuber
Yeah.
27:32.10
mvhuber
He.
27:33.30
Dan Clouser
And it's when it kind of hit me. You know, almost as if it was you know a voice from God or a higher power saying you know what? you've you've done your time here. It's time to turn the page and start a new chapter.
27:42.38
mvhuber
Um, yeah, yeah, sure sure.
27:48.60
Dan Clouser
And I did not embrace that at None like it was a struggle to really buy into it because I'd put my entire life into this organization I mean at that point, um, you know I was I just turned 50 You know so it was literally 60% My time on Earth I spent putting blood sweat and tears into this organization and we're doing amazing Work. You know helping kids and but I you know, tiered back and forth and then finally kind of bought in ran it by my wife she thought I lost my mind. Um.
28:09.61
mvhuber
Um, yeah, yeah.
28:26.54
Dan Clouser
But later later on due to some stuff she was going through professionally as well. Um, she you know she bought in then after a couple months and you know we let the organization know would be the last year and and you know, kind of went from there and.
28:39.10
mvhuber
Is.
28:43.54
Dan Clouser
None thing that's been so cool about what we're doing now traveled around in an rv and you know volunteering and you know just meeting new people and reconnecting with old people are the number of opportunities I've had to sit down and you know. Have lunch or breakfast or dinner just hang out at a campground with one of my old players whether they're in Arizona or Atlanta or Maryland Texas you name it and you know again you you can relate to this as a coach I mean look there's a lot of times you know we're putting our life into this and we're planting seeds and these kids. But many times we don't necessarily see those seeds bloom you know and this journey has allowed me to see those seeds bloom and you know I've I've coached kids that you know are just so incredibly.
29:24.43
mvhuber
And.
29:38.14
Dan Clouser
Successful at what they're doing you know, doctors and lawyers and entrepreneurs and you know kids are still in the game I've got you know former player mine as the assistant general manager for Houston Astros I've got one that's director of baseball operations for the toronto blue jays. Um.
29:38.24
mvhuber
Um.
29:49.17
mvhuber
Wow. Very cool.
29:57.98
Dan Clouser
But even apart from the ones in the game yet are are just the ones who are out there making an impact you know I have a kid who's actually a rehab catcher for the reds out in Arizona. Um. But what I'm most proud of him about is the fact that he's also you know on the board of this organization out there that gives out scholarships to kids you know? Um, so when you see that it's it's really fulfilling and and really you know, kind of cements I mean because again.
30:18.48
mvhuber
Um, know. Ah.
30:30.67
Dan Clouser
You can relate to this as a coach. There's not a whole line of people. Um, you know praising you as a youth coach you know, but yes, yes, um, so you know most of the feedback you get is because.
30:40.30
mvhuber
Nope, It's in many ways. It's a it's a thankless job.
30:48.50
Dan Clouser
You know Johnny or Susie isn't playing or they are playing but they should be batting. Third not None or whatever the case is yeah where this is like you know, just the re you know, just reaffirming that you know.
30:54.00
mvhuber
Um, what go ahead.
31:04.60
Dan Clouser
Things were done the right way and it was the life lessons that these kids were taught that that matters.
31:05.64
mvhuber
Right? right? Yeah I mean listen you know you don't expect it right? But when it does come Back. It's a really nice feeling. It's funny I I coach my son who's kind of. Moved on from baseball or it put it this way like I Just don't have the opportunities to coach him anymore his his future in baseball is is sort of unclear but that's fine. Whatever he wants to do is good with me but when I was young from the time he was 5 all the way up till till this last wrecked baseball season This spring I coached every year And I just remember 1 year where I had one of his buddies like a close buddy of his now and at the end of the year I got a handwritten note from the the kid I don't know if it was unprompted or prompted by his mother but guess doesn't matter was like you I just had such a good time playing for you. You're my favorite coach and. Like I just remember putting that up on my wall in my office and being like you know what man if I get one of these for the rest of my life like it was worth it right? like hey I made a difference in this kid's life like he he saw the value in it his parents saw the value in it and like that's all I need you know and if I didn't get it. It would be fine too because I just love being there with them.
32:02.80
Dan Clouser
Yeah, yeah.
32:15.31
Dan Clouser
Right.
32:17.63
mvhuber
But to get some feedback and and and a reward like that is pretty is pretty cool and so for you to be in a position to really revisit you know relationships that you have when they were younger and hear from them about what they're doing and just see them succeeding. It's got to be really really cool.
32:31.44
Dan Clouser
It is it is it's It's been the best thing about what we're doing by far by far.
32:35.30
mvhuber
Yeah, so you know before we we before we started recording here. You know a couple of days ago I was looking at your website and checking out what you're doing you know beyond you know, traveling the country and I saw that you did a podcast with the former red sox shay hillen brand. Who is a player that I recall certainly as a baseball fan a Yankee fan. So I think you're a red Sox fan. So we've sort of got that in common. Even if it's on the other side you know, different sides of the fence but I didn't I didn't realize what he had gone through personally and. You know that's the flip side of this right? A lot of athletes and I've had a lot of athletes on my podcast who've gone through that challenge of transitioning out of sport right? You don't know when it's going to end and if you don't have a clear purpose in that next phase of life. It could really get.
33:18.44
Dan Clouser
Yeah.
33:29.14
mvhuber
You know it could really lead to some significant life challenges which he went through I mean he talked about it openly So I'm not speaking out of school here I mean can you talk about that experience just like being able to talk to somebody like that and get to know somebody who had that kind of life and is now sort of on the other side helping people.
33:33.58
Dan Clouser
Right.
33:43.50
Dan Clouser
Yeah, um, and I was introduced to shay through a mutual friend when we were running the complex yet and the the initial relationship was you know that to try to get him to come out to our complex and help us with a camp or something like that and it just never panned out because of timing or whatever.
33:48.13
mvhuber
Um, even.
33:56.57
mvhuber
Um, sure.
34:02.95
Dan Clouser
Um, but we were still in touch with each other friends on Facebook and whatnot and when we got out to Arizona in the fall I just I had reached out to him I'm like shay you know hey we're in town. This is what we're doing now I don't know if you'd heard I'd love to get together grab lunch and you know.
34:06.12
mvhuber
And.
34:21.49
Dan Clouser
Hopefully we can do a podcast if if he'd be willing to and he was more than willing. You know we got together had lunch and immediately clicked. You know, almost as you know this is really our None time meeting in person. Everything else had been you know for your emails or text messages or whatever and just immediately clicked.
34:22.38
mvhuber
Awesome.
34:33.60
mvhuber
Person.
34:41.17
Dan Clouser
And you know to hear his story. Um, is just so incredible. Um, you know so it was It was an honor for him to be able to open up and be vulnerable like that. Um you know on the show and you know again, we stay in contact even now after that.
34:54.12
mvhuber
Definitely.
35:01.00
Dan Clouser
Um, you know so again I've always you know I always look at the human more so than the the player you know So I mean we organization we had the opportunity to um, you know a lot.
35:07.41
mvhuber
And there you go.
35:17.70
Dan Clouser
Toward the end we started bringing our alumni in for our guest speakers on our banquet but in the early days we would bring former players in and you know so we had guys like Bill Ripkin come in and speak who is again an absolutely amazing human being you know through and through you know, crazy guys like you know.
35:36.37
mvhuber
Um, the space man. Ah.
35:36.60
Dan Clouser
Bill Lee we had at our our banquet. Yeah and he was just hilarious and um, you know, just all kinds of people and again it it just reiterated our teaching philosophy. Um of we wanted to create good humans.
35:53.71
mvhuber
Yeah, there you go.
35:55.64
Dan Clouser
You know, even more so than good good players. We had one speaker I won't mention his name who was a huge disappointment and again it was just like you know, um I don't care what you did on the field because you're kind of a pecker head. Um.
36:01.15
mvhuber
M.
36:08.90
mvhuber
Um, right right? It's the exception not the rule. Yeah.
36:15.35
Dan Clouser
But fortunately that was 1 guy out of probably None big leaguers that we came in right? Um, you know so that that just again drove home. The fact that what we were doing as organization was right that we wanted to teach these kids to be good humans None and foremost.
36:32.16
mvhuber
Down.
36:35.10
Dan Clouser
Because at at the end of the day. That's all that matters doesn't matter what you did on the field you got to be a good human. So again to share that time with with shaving and I bet you we were together for you know, a good 3 hours if we had lunch and then we went back to the ah rv and.
36:37.87
mvhuber
They have.
36:53.10
mvhuber
Recorded.
36:53.20
Dan Clouser
And sat down recorded and it was just a really you know, truly humbling experience that he was willing to take that much time out of his day just tell a story and you know hopefully inspire some of my listeners.
37:04.73
mvhuber
Ah I mean listen I can completely relate to that. Ah, ah from your perspective I relate to it from his perspective and to him you know I would echo the fact that much credit to him right? as a former professional athlete right? It's very.. It's a very challenging and humbling thing to sort of. You know, explore your shortcomings publicly right? but to be able to embrace it and say if I talk about this openly. It's going to help other people and it sounds like he's living a life of service now outside of baseball which is probably part of the healing process right.
37:26.26
Dan Clouser
Um, yeah.
37:39.85
Dan Clouser
Um, yep.
37:42.30
mvhuber
For a lot of guys and I had None gentleman in particular on my podcast. He was a former college football player. You know was very very division one very successful had like everything was in the Nfl basket for him and he talked about it and when he got he had to retire because of a back injury and he went through a period of four or five years where he was like. Addicted to drugs and he was suicidal. He tried suicide and ultimately it wasn't until he figured out that his his calling was to help other people that his life got back on track and I think for a lot of athletes. A lot of them either don't anticipate that or they they resist it right. And they live in the past of I was an athlete and this is sort of what I you know I want to relive the glory days rather than saying like what can I do next that gives me the same level of meaning and purpose as I had when I was an athlete because that's hard to replicate you know.
38:31.54
Dan Clouser
Yeah, it is.
38:34.44
mvhuber
Because of all the energy and effort time money. All the things you put into being a professional athlete or being a high level athlete and then it's all ended. It's like well now what do I do and what does my life mean that it's over. It's a really really challenging thing. Yeah.
38:46.40
Dan Clouser
Yeah, and and you see it all the time you see it with celebrities with athletes with you know musicians and and it just again, just reiterates that whole thing that it's more than about the glory. It's more than about.
38:58.48
mvhuber
Um.
39:00.73
Dan Clouser
You know what you did so so how are you going to react when the lights are off. You know how are you going to react when the spotlight isn't on you. Um, and and it's so important I mean you know look at you know, like who would have ever thought that you know Robin Williams was
39:18.14
mvhuber
Um, right, You never know.
39:18.28
Dan Clouser
You know, dealing with depression for all those years. You know the guy who made a living by making other people laugh but yet there was something he was missing. You know? Um, So I think that's so important that you know guys really need to understand that there's you know there's more. Than just the game. There's more you know about that and that's what was so cool with you know how humble shey was and you know talking about you know what do they say early on is you know hey if anybody out there is listening you know wants to know how you can blow $30000000 or whatever it is you know I'm your guy I can help you with that. Um.
39:41.80
mvhuber
Yeah, yeah.
39:49.45
mvhuber
Um, ah.
39:56.30
Dan Clouser
You know so again to to have the humility to say that to say you know what? yeah I did that like I literally did that is you know pretty special.
39:57.65
mvhuber
Yeah, right. Yeah, yeah, but but but I think it comes back to what you were saying about your objective as a coach which is to coach young people or people in general to be better humans right? We're all human right at the end of the day you know we put so much stock In. And what we do and and that's such a big part of our identity but at the end of the day we're all the same right? Whether you played professional baseball or not or whether you're rich or you're Poor. We're all human and how do we find commonality in that versus the idea that you know.
40:25.92
Dan Clouser
Um, yep.
40:39.51
mvhuber
Status and money and whatever are are somehow elevate us over the next person and I think that is that's the value that secret sauce right in in these conversations with people is to be able to relate at a human level and I think that you know that's. Ah, want to say it's the exception but it's definitely not the rule in our society and I think what's I think the beauty of podcasting and maybe you could sort of comment on this as a podcast as Well. Like I think the beauty of podcasting for me has been the ability to have these sorts of really significant deep substantive conversations with people I. Most cases don't even know and I don't have these kinds of conversations with the people in my life you know and so for me, it's been such an eye opener of like I want to get to know this person as much as I can and I and I may never see them again. But I'm so curious about who they are I mean is that.
41:20.11
Dan Clouser
Um, yeah.
41:32.25
mvhuber
Like what you've been an experience as a podcaster because it looks like you have some really interesting people too on your podcast people that you probably wouldn't anticipate.
41:35.67
Dan Clouser
Yeah, um, exactly what you said it's ah it's an opportunity and you know it's funny I mean a lot you know I have a lot of guests that I do have relationships with you know, many many times when.
41:50.60
mvhuber
Right? like.
41:54.80
Dan Clouser
We get together with one of my old players. It's you know, hey, let's let's do a podcast too So we can share that story. Um, you know so it's really more recently that I've really started kind of getting out of my comfort zone.
41:54.89
mvhuber
Right? Let's yeah, let's record.
42:08.49
mvhuber
Um, yeah, it's great.
42:10.39
Dan Clouser
And you know reaching out. You know the way we connected through pod match and you know engaging you know guests that I normally wouldn't have on the show and like you said it's incredible. How you can have you know some very deep meaningful conversations with people that.
42:27.15
mvhuber
Um, a stranger. Yeah.
42:29.87
Dan Clouser
You really don't know that Well um, you know so it is it's It's really amazing and that's you know what? I love about it is being able to you know to share those stories because you know if you look at my guest list. It's just ah, a broad range from you know former major league player to former.
42:44.46
mvhuber
Um, in.
42:49.73
Dan Clouser
Olympic Softball players. Um, you know to other full-time. Ah rvs to you know? um you know, recovering drug addicts you know and all of those stories can inspire others.
42:55.80
mvhuber
Me. Who.
43:07.46
Dan Clouser
You know every single one of those stories can inspire others and that's really you know why I do it is because I think everyone has a story and I think they can all inspire someone out there. So um, you know I always look at it as you know? Yeah I'd love to have.
43:14.40
mvhuber
Yes.
43:26.97
Dan Clouser
You know None of downloads of every episode and this and that but that's really not my goal. My goal really breaks down to like if 1 person from the conversation that I'm having even this conversation here if 1 person is inspired if 1 person makes a change.
43:30.35
mvhuber
I can relate to that right.
43:39.81
mvhuber
Um, yep, ah.
43:45.65
Dan Clouser
Because of this conversation then it's you know a success. Um and you know when you do get that feedback of you know people who've listened to an episode are like man that really made a ah huge impact on me, it's it's that same thing as when I get together with those players and they say you know what.
43:46.96
mvhuber
Um, yeah.
43:57.84
mvhuber
Yes, in.
44:04.66
Dan Clouser
I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for what I learned in the organization you know planned for you and playing for others.
44:09.72
mvhuber
Yeah, So it's interesting that you say that because I definitely as a podcaster fight the urge because what I've seen is when I've had people on my podcast who are more recognizable My download numbers go up I'm looking at that. But it's not the objective right. And and I fight the urge of trying to find bigger names. So For instance I There's I won't say the name because I think it's I think it's an interesting podcast and a good idea. But there's another podcast out I would say another podcast in youth sport space. That's pretty new but it's ah it's hosted by somebody high profile and they have a lot of high high profile guests and. I'm looking at this going like it's great. It's a great conversation but like that person doesn't know what I know just by virtue of my training and sort of the angle and so I'm like I'm constantly looking at and going like you know like oh like why are people listening to that and not me and do it and it's like that's not the point right? It's not the point.
45:04.73
Dan Clouser
Right? right.
45:08.85
mvhuber
You know if I'm having these good conversations with people that are really genuine and interesting. It doesn't matter what they're following is or who they can. That's not it I didn't get into this to to get rich and and make money I did it because I I enjoy the process of it and if it happens to turn out that.
45:13.75
Dan Clouser
Right.
45:28.86
mvhuber
Outcomes are favorable in in the end whether it's a business outcome or whatever. That's great. But if that's what's going to drive me I'm just going to probably burn out on it and move on because I'm chasing a result that I have no control over yeah right.
45:39.14
Dan Clouser
Right? right? It's the same way as approaching coaching you know it's instead of coaching for the win you got to coach for the process and that's really you know again, my philosophy when it comes down to you know podcasting and everything else. It's it's the process. You know it's the process and.
45:47.54
mvhuber
Yes, agreed.
45:58.94
Dan Clouser
Yes I I can definitely you know relate to what you're you know what? you're saying there and you know it is You do have to kind of do a self check every once in a while be like that's not again, That's not why why we're doing this and and again even with you know the books I've published and.
46:00.49
mvhuber
Um, yeah.
46:08.49
mvhuber
Right. Um, of course Jordan right? Mr yes.
46:15.95
Dan Clouser
All that sort of stuff as well. You know? yeah I mean I want to sell books you know it helps me put helps him put gas in the tank and helps me you know drive to my next destination. But at the end of the day. It's really about just inspiring people you know and if if we can do that on you know, a small basis or a large basis.
46:27.14
mvhuber
Agreed.
46:34.95
Dan Clouser
Whatever it is. That's absolutely fine.
46:35.86
mvhuber
Right? Okay, so you mentioned putting guests in the tank. So tell me yeah as a full time or ver somebody who's traveling the country and seeing everything like just tell me what that experience is like in general.
46:52.29
Dan Clouser
It's incredible I mean this country has so much to offer I mean there are so many absolutely beautiful places and incredible people out there and you know. Our country is a little bit of a mess right now as is the world. But if you're looking for good people. You can find them and and we've met so many. Just absolutely Incredible. You know salt to the Earth Amazing people.
47:14.94
mvhuber
Um.
47:24.81
mvhuber
Um, yeah.
47:25.21
Dan Clouser
On this journey and that's been the the best part about it and you know I remember when my mom passed away reading her journals and the stories of people she met and again then after she passed away getting letters from some of these people.
47:36.32
mvhuber
I. Um, yeah.
47:44.60
Dan Clouser
Just telling us how much of an impact she had on their life and you know I know that you know many of these people had a huge impact on my mom's life because she would talk to talk about them and tell stories about them and for us to now be able to experience that. And again have an even better understanding as to why Mom did it and you know what that was like is just just incredible because I know at the end of the day you know life is about the experiences you know life is about the people we meet you know and really embracing the moment and.
48:11.54
mvhuber
The.
48:20.34
Dan Clouser
You know cherishing those 1 on one encounters that we have I mean there's people that I I don't even remember their name anymore but they made a ah profound impact on my life in literally just a you know 10 15 20 minute conversation
48:22.38
mvhuber
Yes.
48:39.26
Dan Clouser
And you just walk away and like Wow man that's as a pretty cool person that we just you know had the pleasure of meeting.
48:40.30
mvhuber
Yeah, yeah, yeah, so I know ah the next question I'm gonna ask you is probably is probably a throwaway in the sense that I think I know the answer but I'm gonna ask it Anyway, It's like it's kind of like asking if you have a favorite child right? like. Ah, do you have a favorite place that you visited.
48:59.67
Dan Clouser
People ask Sandy and I that question all the time and we we can't answer it. We really can't because there's so so many incredible places you know and if we think of one then we're like oh but this place was cool too. You know so.
49:04.88
mvhuber
I Knew it. Ah. What about that.
49:17.47
Dan Clouser
We've stopped like we've even stopped trying to list even the top 5 because once you get to 5 You're like well wait this this place you know could have been number 3 or something so you really can't which again I think just a test to how incredible of ah of a country we live in and you know just the the beauty.
49:24.27
mvhuber
Ah, ah.
49:31.26
mvhuber
Yes.
49:36.68
Dan Clouser
I Mean it's incredible. It's it's all inspiring for sure.
49:38.34
mvhuber
Um, yeah, um, so do you have places on your list that you haven't been to that you want to get to.
49:45.26
Dan Clouser
Yeah, and you know there's places we've been to that. Yeah, we feel we didn't spend enough time in you know so the list is ever changing I mean we definitely want to get up to Alaska we kind of have to work that around.
49:52.38
mvhuber
Um, yeah, sure.
50:01.72
Dan Clouser
You know when our grandkids are gradu in high school and that sort of thing cause obviously you know June is the prime time it you know I just think it would be so cool. You know to be up there and you're you're walking around at ten thirty at night and it's still daylight. Yeah, you know, um.
50:07.73
mvhuber
Um, yeah.
50:13.90
mvhuber
24 hours a light. Yeah.
50:19.64
Dan Clouser
So that's definitely on the list. We haven't been to California yet. We kind of detour around that last year because we took on a volunteer project that changed our route a little bit. Yeah, we've been to 39 states so far we kind of.
50:27.89
mvhuber
The ah.
50:35.45
Dan Clouser
Outlined the contrary to an extent so we haven't had you know the whole midwest area Missouri you know Arkansas Oklahoma Nebraska Colorado we haven't had you know a lot of those estates. Um, you know so they're definitely on the list to to get out to the rockies and um, you know.
50:48.37
mvhuber
Now.
50:54.57
Dan Clouser
That's that sort of stuff I mean we we're up in new england in the fall when we first started it and we want to get back up there. You know in the summer to enjoy it even more I mean the colors were incredible in the in the fall but we didn't get we get all the way up.
51:03.12
mvhuber
Um, Moon the I to man.
51:12.93
Dan Clouser
Like in the bar harbor main and stuff we just kind of went through the the middle of it and then down toward old Orchard Beach you know so we want to get back up there. You know so it's it's just it's a juggling act you know between you know all the places on the list and then still.
51:23.60
mvhuber
Yeah.
51:29.59
Dan Clouser
You know, fitting in the the other stuff too.
51:29.62
mvhuber
How many so is our hitting baseball stadiums along the way is that part of the agenda. Okay, very cool.
51:36.50
Dan Clouser
Um, only if it's you know an opportunity like when we were in Arizona we went to an Arizona fall league game and surprise which was really cool. The first time I ever you know, experienced that it was neat to see you know all the prospects from different teams playing in the game. And obviously all there's facilities out there just you know, incredible.
51:55.85
mvhuber
I played out there. It was that complex out there I played out there over ten years ago but when we played out there was like playing like it was like heaven. It's like playing on the put and green playing baseball was amazing and it's so god yeah.
52:08.33
Dan Clouser
Yeah, yeah, yeah, so that that was really cool. Um, you know we we got to feel the dreams and in Iowa which was just exceeded you know and I was expecting it to be cool, but it it turned out to be like.
52:17.60
mvhuber
While.
52:24.75
mvhuber
Um, ah.
52:25.32
Dan Clouser
Cooler than what I even thought like I mean there really is like a magical feeling when you get to that place which was was really cool. Um, but yeah I mean if the opportunity arises. Yeah, we'll we'll take advantage of it. You know probably you know more so some minor league stadiums than um, you know than than big league stadiums. We actually we actually stayed um in Aberdeen in the parking lot of the iron bird stadium there.
52:45.42
mvhuber
Um, yeah, definitely.
52:57.21
mvhuber
Um, yeah.
52:59.73
Dan Clouser
For like 3 nights because we had an issue with our slide and I know the general manager of the iron birds I did a podcast with him and when I went in and and you know sat down with him I'm like hey Jack by the way.
53:07.18
mvhuber
Um, oh wow.
53:15.46
Dan Clouser
We might be in your parking lot for a couple days because when we pulled in today. Our slide stopped working midway in midway out so we really can't go anywhere and getting a remote rv repair man out seems like it's gonna be a couple day process. It was like no problem. No problem. You know.
53:27.11
mvhuber
Um, yeah, yeah, no worries. Wow.
53:33.49
Dan Clouser
So we got to get taken a game there which was cool as well. You and we were down there for a tournament anyway, we're down there for a girls baseball tournament. You know so it was it was a cool experience to say that we you know we stayed three days in the you know parking lot of the Aberdeen Iron parks
53:43.46
mvhuber
Wow.
53:50.76
mvhuber
But yeah, ah I mean I mean clearly from all the experiences you've had and the way you've characterized it in the last you know 55 minutes I mean you clearly have a ah very high level.
53:53.11
Dan Clouser
Um, so.
54:04.76
mvhuber
Of Awareness right about the significance of these events experiences in your life. So like do you ever? Just let I wake up or just kind of catch yourself and be like man like how did I How did I get here like and just pinch yourself. Yeah.
54:15.00
Dan Clouser
Ah, all the time Really I mean all the time It's just you know again, it's you know it's amazing I mean the relationships we've we've been able to build with people and you know people have met through the organization that we've been able to maintain.
54:29.52
mvhuber
Um.
54:33.44
Dan Clouser
You know relationships with you know, 1 of the first volunteer projects we ever did was down in sulfur Louisiana after Hurricane Laura came through and the last four years of our complex at our complex. We had been doing some softball camps with Jenny Finch
54:42.63
mvhuber
Ah.
54:51.20
mvhuber
Oh wow.
54:53.37
Dan Clouser
And over the years we became really good friends and so we actually stayed in her driveway while we were you know going back and forth. You know to help with the church. We were helping at during their relief time. And again, she's one of the most amazing human beings who'll ever ever meet mean just incredibly humble. I mean she like their their house made it through the hurricane pretty much unscathed but they live on a ranch and like across the street. They had some buildings that were totally leveled and you know like she was apologizing to me.
55:19.57
mvhuber
Um, and.
55:29.53
Dan Clouser
Because they didn't have any power they were running off a generator that we wouldn't be able to plug in at their house and I'm like Jenny like we've got a generator like we're good like you've got much larger problems to worry about than us being able to plug in. Um and we've been able to. We've gotten back to sulfur and then spent time with her.
55:35.90
mvhuber
Or yeah, right, Don't worry about us. Yeah.
55:49.17
Dan Clouser
Almost as much as we've been back to Pennsylvania so that's pretty cool to be able to to do that. You know. So yeah I mean I definite. There's definitely times where you know I wake up and I'm like man this is just a blessed life I mean through what I've done through girls baseball I've had the opportunity to meet many.
55:49.26
mvhuber
Wow, That's ah, that's very cool.
56:08.27
Dan Clouser
Of the players that played in the old all american girls professional baseball league and to hear the stories of these women. You know who are now in their eighty s and 90 s talking about what it was like to play. Um, you know in the 40 s is just again, incredible and and awe inspiring. You know.
56:24.96
mvhuber
Um, you know that's great all right? So as we wrap up the last question I Ask to all of my guests and it.
56:28.00
Dan Clouser
See it. It's it's It's very special and and I'm very aware of how how special it is.
56:41.55
mvhuber
Sometimes it sort of comes from different angles. But it's generally the same as if you had to give None piece of advice to somebody listening. Let's say let's take it back to the beginning if you had to give None piece of advice to a coach as ah as a coach who had a long career coaching young people. Like what's that one piece of advice that you would give them.
56:59.21
Dan Clouser
Um I think it's just understand the big Picture. You know it's not about you. It's about the kids and that's. That's really it. It's just Understanding. It's about the kids. It's not about you.
57:20.62
mvhuber
It's perfect I couldn't have said it better Dan I really enjoyed talking to you. It was a great conversation. Thank you so much for coming on and I hope we can stay in touch. Awesome! thanks.
57:29.14
Dan Clouser
Absolutely I appreciate the opportunity. Thanks a lot.