This week on The Performance Level Podcast, Eric Clermont sits down with Kotaro Umeda for a powerful conversation on resilience, faith, identity, and the deeper meaning behind life’s hardest moments.
Kotaro shares his journey from the soccer field to the stage, opening up about the struggles that shaped him — from growing up in difficult environments, to losing loved ones, to battling his own mental health. But through each challenge, he discovered values that would become the foundation of his life: discipline, courage, faith, and service.
In this episode, Kotaro reflects on how setbacks can become stepping stones, how pain can be transformed into purpose, and why true success is not only measured by achievement, but by the impact we leave on others.
Whether through sports, speaking, writing, or serving the people around him, Kotaro’s mission has shifted from “me” to “we” — helping others recognize that their struggles may become the very foundation for their greatest growth.
This conversation is a must-listen for athletes, coaches, parents, and anyone navigating adversity who needs a reminder that your story is not over — and your hardest chapters may become your greatest source of strength.
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