From the Editor: Tuesdays with Mitchell

I’ve spent a lot of time with Mitchell Pehlke and talking to people in his inner circle for the better part of the last seven weeks. Not to mention hours consuming his content on YouTube.

Not gonna lie — it’s addictive. I keep hitting the frog in the mirror to see if it’s something a balding 43-year-old father of three can pull it off in public. (I can’t.)

That’s the thing about Pehlke. He makes you feel young and old at the same time, at least if you are of such an age that you remember when Ronaldhino and “Gangham Style” were the most memorable video drops. But most importantly he makes you smile.

Creating comes naturally to Pehlke. But that doesn’t mean it comes easily. He’s asked me as much about what it’s like to have a house, wife and kids — i.e., a life outside of work — as I have him about what it’s like to be recognized by selfie-seeking, frog-facing tweens wherever he goes.

Throughout, I’ve found Pehlke to be kind, inquisitive, thoughtful and absolutely maniacal about making lacrosse content creation a viable career.

Every day starts at 6 a.m. with a workout — F45 training of late, a change of pace from the distance running he did while training for the New York City Marathon last year — and proceeds with a minimum of 8-10 hours of filming, editing, traveling, meetings or all the above.

“I love to work out and I love to work,” Pehlke said. “I don’t have a lot of hobbies. Work is the key.”

Ohio State coach Nick Myers prepared me to be surprised by Pehlke, especially the way he pours himself into other people. You would think someone who constantly points a camera at himself would be self-absorbed.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Pehlke’s greatest asset as a storyteller is his curiosity and the interest he takes in those drawn to him.

I was also surprised to learn Pehlke receives fan mail — often drawings —  to Pehlke Productions, LLC. Kylie Koren, a senior at Providence he took on as an operations assistant, monitors the P.O. box. He replies to every piece, she told me, and has his hands on every aspect of the business. Not just the camera.

You should have seen Pehlke in the Atlas Cup booth with veteran sports broadcaster Joe Beninati, peppering him with questions, noting his feedback like avoiding verbal crutches. He was a sponge.

And you should have seen the way fans flocked  to him. On one side of the scaffolded media tower, they asked Connor Shellenberger and Jeff Teat for autographs. But just as many of them made a beeline for Pehlke.

Tuesday at 5 p.m. just became appointment viewing in the DaSilva household.

USA Lacrosse members can come see Mitchell Pehlke for an autograph signing at USA Lacrosse headquarters on Thursday, Nov. 13, from 4-6 p.m. Eastern.