Building Mentally Resilient Neurodivergent Athletes.

High drive. Big emotion. Unique processing.
We Make “different” A Competitive Edge.

The Thinklete Performance Lab

For athletes who have the talent—but struggle to show it when it matters most.

The Thinklete Performance Lab is an 8-week program that helps parents and neurodivergent athletes overcome emotional ups and downs, build real confidence, and perform consistently under pressure.

Through our proven system—focused on Mindset, Habits, and Character—we teach athletes how to stay composed, reset quickly, and compete with clarity and control.

Because performance isn’t just physical.
It’s how you think, respond, and show up.

Learn More!

Products & Resources

The Neurodivergent Edge

Join Derek as he hosts monthly LIVE webinars with industry experts and professional athletes. Reserve your seat today as spots are limited.
Next: April 26th @ 7pm EST

Playbooks

Thinklete Playbooks are practical guides designed to help athletes, parents, and coaches navigate the mental side of sports. Each playbook breaks down complex topics like neurodivergence, confidence, and performance into simple tools you can use immediately.

Growth Tracker

The Growth Tracker helps young athletes focus on progress instead of perfection. By tracking effort, learning, and mindset, athletes begin to see how small improvements lead to long-term growth.

RECENT EPISODES

Listen To The Thinklete Podcast

The Thinklete Podcast is a show for parents and coaches of neurodivergent athletes, hosted by Derek Shunk—a dad, former Division I baseball coach, and former professional player. Through conversations and real-life experience, the podcast explores emotional regulation, mental skills, and practical ways to support kids who don’t fit the traditional athlete mold.

See All Episodes

Recent Episodes

**The Bullied Brain: What Coaches Are Doing That Harms Kids**

**Inside IMG: How Elite Athletes Are Actually Built**

**The Youth Sports Problem No One Wants to Talk About**

**Helping Neurodivergent Athletes Handle Pressure, Mistakes, and Competition**

WANT TO KNOW MORE

Why listen to The Thinklete Podcast?

Because raising and coaching neurodivergent athletes requires a different playbook. The Thinklete Podcast offers honest conversations, practical insights, and real experiences to help parents and coaches support athletes who think, feel, and compete differently—so they can build confidence, resilience, and a love for the game.

Real Parent Talk

Real conversations about the challenges and wins of raising neurodivergent athletes. No fancy talk—just honest experiences that parents and coaches can relate to.

Global community

Join a growing community of parents, coaches, and athletes navigating sports and neurodivergence together. Learn from voices and experiences around the world.

World-class interviews

Hear from leading coaches, therapists, doctors, and ex-athletes sharing insights on mindset, strategies and practical tools to try at home or on the field.

Questions and answers

Get practical answers to the real questions parents and coaches face—from emotional regulation to handling pressure and building confidence.

““The world needs all kinds of minds.“