The Reformed Sports Project Podcast

Lillian Martineau is a long-time baseball turned softball player, who has competed in both sports at the high school level in Connecticut. A 2024 Georgia Tech softball commit, Martineau‘s switch from baseball to softball came within the last year after playing in the male-dominated baseball system since Little League. From youth to high school baseball, she continuously had to prove that she belonged every time she took the field, and despite all this, thrived. Lillian joins Nick to discuss her journey and decision to move from baseball to softball, the benefits she gained from being a multi-sport athlete, and the importance of mental preparation and resilience.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TJ Bruce is the Associate Head Coach of the Texas Christian University baseball program, where he helped lead the Horned Frogs to the Big 12 tournament championship and a trip to the College World Series last season. Prior to joining TCU, Bruce served as the head baseball coach at the University of Nevada, where he helped guide the program to two Western Athletic Conference regular season titles and was voted Mountain West Coach of the Year in both of those seasons. A former collegiate baseball player, Bruce's coaching career includes stops at Cerritos College, Long Beach State, and UCLA.  TJ joins Nick to discuss changes in the college coaching landscape, living by a code, and the importance of prioritizing values over performance to foster lifelong success.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Jobson is a soccer coach, soccer recruiting consultant, and sports parent. A collegiate women's soccer coach for 17 years, Paul was the head coach of the Baylor University women's program for nine years, helping lead the Bears to back-to-back NCAA Tournament Elite 8 appearances in 2017 and 2018 and earning Big 12 Coach of the Year honors in 2018. The winningest coach in Baylor program history, Paul is Co-Founder of Warrior Way Soccer and a Senior Soccer Consultant at Sports Recruiting USA. Paul joins Nick to discuss the value of working with a paid organization to help with the college recruiting process, academic and athletic college scholarships, and the importance of balance in parenting athletic kids.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Gore is a former collegiate athlete turned high school wrestling coach, pastor, and youth sports parent. The former captain of the North Carolina State wrestling program, Jason's career path has spanned the business world to ministry, and today proudly serves as the Lead Pastor of Hope Community Church in Raleigh, NC. Through it all, Jason has remained connected to his roots on the mat by serving his community as a youth wrestling coach and helping to share the life and leadership skills that meant so much to him growing up with another generation of kids and teenagers. Jason joins Nick to discuss balancing competitiveness with a healthy mindset, determining your value system and approach as a parent before your child steps onto the field or mat, and teaching kids how to be adults in today's world.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gregg Parini is the Head Swimming Coach at Denison University where he oversees both the men's and women's swimming and diving programs. Coach Parini has built one of the most successful programs in the history of DIII athletics, highlighted by seven NCAA National Championships, 16 national runner-up finishes, and a streak of 68 consecutive top-10 national finishes across both the men's and women's programs. Recognized as one of the 100 greatest coaches by the Collegiate Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA), Parini was an 18-time All-American and seven-time Division III National Champion as a collegiate swimmer at Kenyon College. Coach Parini joins Nick to discuss his interest in helping young people, transactional vs. transcendent relationships with athletes, and the importance of getting to know each athlete.  _____ This episode is dedicated to Gregg's mother, Rev. Barbara Dennison Parini, 92, of Granville, who died on January 30, 2024. A highly accomplished Priest in the Episcopal Church, she served in parish ministry and other capacities in five different Dioceses of the Church including Western Michigan, Massachusetts, Buffalo, Southwest Florida, and Oregon. Rev. Parini was ordained in 1978, less than two years after women were granted the priesthood in the Church. She was also instrumental in developing the first hospice ministry in Michigan and worked tirelessly for battered and abused women. Honoring her wishes, her remains will be cremated and returned to nature.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kyle Wagner is a teacher, coach, sports parent, author, and above all, a student advocate. A graduate of Wake Forest University where he also played baseball, Kyle has coached players of all ages, from grade school through college, including more than 40 student-athletes who went on to play collegiately as well as multiple first-round draft picks. He's the author of “How the RiverCats Won: Lessons on Relationships and Competition,” as well as “Green Light Hitting: From the Backyards to the Big Leagues.” Founder of GoWags Baseball, Kyle joins Nick to discuss his belief in student advocacy, his skepticism to define a person by any one metric, and the three things that create a fear-based mindset in athletes.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coach Othello “O.T.” Johnson is in his 13th season at the helm of the UNC Pembroke wrestling program, and his 18th season overall on the coaching staff of the Braves. Under his stewardship, more than 20 UNC Pembroke wrestlers have qualified for NCAA Championships while 26 wrestlers have been named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team. A fellow sports parent and the founder of Johnson Athletic Camps, O.T. and Nick discuss his new role as a softball parent, the importance of letting others teach and coach your children, and his perspective on today's college recruiting landscape.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Libby Mascaro is a youth sports parent, soccer coach and mental health advocate. A standout high school soccer player who played collegiately at Penn State University, Mascaro is an experienced youth soccer coach with Beadling Soccer Club. A fierce advocate for mental health awareness, she co-founded the Upper St. Clair Parent Teacher Council Wellness Committee and volunteers her time to help support the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Libby joins Nick to discuss her passion for mental health advocacy, the commodification of young athletes in sports, particularly in youth soccer, and the importance of prioritizing the well-being of young athletes as they navigate the complex dynamics of sports and adolescence.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg Berge is a high school principal and boys' varsity basketball coach in Lake City, MN. A teacher at heart, Berge's passion for leadership led him to a career in school administration where he has served as a principal for 19 of his 29 years in education. In addition, he is a published author, owner of the GB1 Leadership LLC, and a Licensed Sports Leadership Facilitator through the Janssen Sports Leadership Center.  Greg joins Nick to discuss “The 20 Commandments of Being a Successful Sports Parent,” his motto “No Deposit, No Returns,” and the importance of defining roles, collective leadership, and a positive team culture.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Neuman is the Chief of Staff and Special Advisor to the President for the Baltimore Ravens. A Baltimore, MD area native and licensed attorney, Neuman serves as strategic counsel and manages all administrative, operational, financial, and legal activities for the President of the organization. Prior to joining the Ravens in 2023, Neuman served as the Chief of Staff for Strategy and Operations & Deputy General Counsel for the Big Ten Conference. Adam joins Nick to discuss his sports business career path, the important life lessons you can learn from sports, and how to instill better values in youth sports.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Mulrooney, Head Football Coach at Lock Haven University, took over the program in 2022 and in only his second season guided the team their first 5-win season in 41 years. Prior to Lock Haven, Dan was the head coach at Anna Maria College (Div III) where he helped lead the program to its first-ever conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance. A former collegiate football player turned coach, Dan joins Nick to discuss what drives his success in helping turn around programs, fairness vs opportunities, and the importance of communication and emotional intelligence.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily Jones is an experienced sports broadcaster for the Texas Rangers. From field reporting to Rangers Insider, she has been part of the Rangers' television broadcasts since 2007 with appearances across Bally Sports Southwest, MLB Network, and MLB.com. In addition, she has served as pre- and postgame anchor for the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, and Houston Astros. She's a mom, volunteer youth softball coach, author of two children's books, and podcast host. Emily and I discuss the role parents have to play in regulating their kids training, youth sports advice she got from a few of the professional baseball players she works with, and the three things she tells her softball team every time they play.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jay Bilas is a former professional basketball player turned Emmy-nominated basketball analyst for ESPN and practicing attorney focused on commercial litigation in North Carolina. A prep All-American for Los Angeles, CA and four-year starter at Duke, Jay served as an assistant basketball coach under head coach Mike Krzyzewski, helping guide the team to back-to-back National Championships in 1991 and 1992 while he was attending Duke Law School. A New York Times best-selling author and sought-after keynote speaker, Jay joins Nick to discuss why competitiveness is not an excuse for bad behavior, helping your kids find the right college environment, and why developing meaningful relationships that last beyond the playing days makes sports at any level worthwhile.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick Murphy is the Head Softball Coach at the University of Alabama. Coach Murphy has helped build the Crimson Tide program from the very beginning, leading the team to a National Championship, 24 straight NCAA appearances, and 17 Super Regionals. Entering his 28th year on the university's coaching staff, Patrick joins Nick to discuss why the best teammates experience vicarious joy in other people's success, reminding his players that they are people first and athletes second, and why he has the saying in his program, "Can you handle 30 seconds of embarrassment for a lifetime of learning?"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alexi Lalas is a former professional soccer player, member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, and analyst for Fox Sports. Well-known as a standout defender on the U.S. Men's National Team during the 1994 World Cup, Alexi was also a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team and the 1998 World Cup squad. A father of two, Alexi joins Nick to discuss soccer's growth in the U.S., the costs associated with increasing the sport's accessibility, and the numerous benefits of playing soccer at the youth level.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacie Hoyt is the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Oklahoma State University. Prior to taking over the OKST program in March of 2022, Coach Hoyt was named the 2020 Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after coaching Kansas City to their first regular season conference championship in program history. A former multi-sport athlete and collegiate basketball player at Wichita State, Jacie joins Nick to discuss why she recruits players who have a competitive spirit, why athletes who play multiple sports typically have a higher ceiling for growth, and the value of coaches telling players the truth.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deven Morgan is the Director of Youth Baseball for Driveline Baseball, one of the top data-driven baseball player development organizations. The host of the Driveline Academy Youth Baseball podcast, Deven joins Nick to discuss the importance of understanding kids' stages of cognitive development, his mission to develop skills that scale, and why he believes success leaves clues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Crean is a College Basketball Analyst for ESPN and former Division I head coach. Prior to rejoining ESPN in 2022, he served as the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Georgia, Indiana, and Marquette, winning over 400 games throughout his 20-plus year coaching career. Coach Crean joins Nick to discuss what it means to be a good teammate, the value of teaching kids how to advocate for themselves and make their own decisions, and why it's important for kids to grow out of looking at their parents for validation while playing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part two of our 100th episode celebration, Peter Carlisle, Managing Director of Olympics & Action Sports at Octagon and Co-Founder of Reformed Sports, continues his conversation with Nick Buonocore, Founder of the Reformed Sports Project, as Nick speaks candidly about his own experiences and realizations as a youth sports parent and coach, what led him to embrace a reformed mindset, the shared responsibility of all those involved in youth sports, and his ongoing efforts to help restore balance, perspective, and informed decision making in today's youth sports via the Reformed Sports Project.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In celebration of our 100th episode, Nick turns over the mic to Peter Carlisle, Managing Director of Olympic & Action Sports at Octagon and Co-Founder of Reformed Sports, to lead the conversation about how the Reformed Sports Project came to be and their mission to help encourage families to make informed decisions. Nick and Peter discuss their commitment to advocate for a more balanced approach for kids, the pushback Nick received when he first started speaking out as a reformed sports parent, and his advice for parents feeling the pressure to conform to today's youth sports culture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Currently the number one ranked wrestler in the class of 2024, Joe Sealey is a 2022 U17 World Champion and has committed to wrestle at Penn State University. Named Athlete of the Week by USA Wrestling back in April, Joe joins Nick to discuss balancing wrestling, academics, and a social life, learning from the losses, and the importance of having fun while competing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Janine Tucker is the former Head Women's Lacrosse Coach at Johns Hopkins University from 1994-2022. Coach Tucker is the all-time winningest coach at Johns Hopkins and, in 2021, became the ninth coach in Division I history to achieve 300 wins. The author of six books on coaching and lacrosse, Coach Tucker joins Nick to discuss the joys of mentoring collegiate athletes, why her coaching philosophy revolves around attitude, mindset, and work ethic, and why playing time does not define your kid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seth Davis is a Senior Writer for The Athletic and studio analyst for CBS, mainly covering college and professional basketball. Prior to joining The Athletic, Seth worked as a writer for Sports Illustrated for 22 years. The author of six books, including New York Times bestseller Wooden: A Coach's Life, Seth was recently inducted into the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's Hall of Fame. Seth joins Nick to discuss the transfer culture at the youth and collegiate levels, how playing a sport in college significantly changes your college experience, and his idea for multi-sport youth club programs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sergeant First Class Matthew Docchio is a highly-respected military veteran, who spent his career in the Army Special Forces Green Berets, earning a number of awards including a Bronze Star Medal and The Purple Heart, before retiring in 2018 due to injuries sustained in combat. A former athlete turned veteran-focused mental health advocate, Retired Sergeant First Class Docchio joins Nick to discuss why the best leaders express vulnerability and empathy, the importance of teaching children accountability, and why he's decided to write a book to help those struggling with mental health, self-worth, and identity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anita Nall-Richesson is a Certified Holistic Nutrition Specialist, Olympic gold medal swimmer, and former world record holder. At just 16 years old, Anita won gold, silver, and bronze at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Shortly thereafter, she was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which inspired her to pursue a career in nutrition, wellness, and human performance. The Founder of 5D Athlete Institute and former Team Nutrition & Wellness Coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Anita joins Nick to discuss her passion to help parents, coaches, and athletes make more informed decisions surrounding nutrition, developing a burning desire for excellence at a very young age, and why we should empower kids to connect with their intuition and explore what feels right for them when it comes to food.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todd Walther is the Director of Pitching Analysis for the Texas Rangers. He has worked with the Rangers for over 16 seasons and in his current role, he provides input for decisions regarding player development, acquisition, and pitcher usage. A former collegiate pitcher turned professional scout for seven seasons, Todd joins Nick to discuss the benefits of unstructured, free play for kids, why he prioritizes prospects with a multi-sport background, and why parents have a hard time seeing the forest through the trees.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Jeremy Alland is the team physician for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Dogs, and Mount Carmel High School. Dr. Alland graduated from Rush Medical College in Chicago where he received the William H. Harrison PhD award for selfless leadership, aspiration, and collaboration. A former baseball pitcher and host of the podcast “Your Doctor Friends,” Dr. Alland joins Nick to discuss why overuse injuries are so prevalent at the youth level, how parents can better prioritize the long-term development of their child, and the many career opportunities that student athletes can purse in sports outside of being a professional athlete.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Clement is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), the largest single network of tournament and community-based sports facilities in the U.S. Formally trained and licensed as an architect, Jason began his career in sports architecture before founding SFC in 2003. Motivated to serve communities focused on the youth and amateur sports industry, Jason joins Nick to discuss the growth of youth sports over the last two decades, the vital need to help prevent kids who can't afford to play from falling behind, how sports tourism impacts local communities, and how his company balances mission and margin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Gold is a longtime North Carolina sportscaster who just celebrated 25 years on the radio. The host of The Adam Gold Show, Adam covers North Carolina's collegiate and professional teams, talking sports year-round. A staple of sports radio for over two decades, he was named the 2022 NC Sportscaster of the Year and is an Emmy® winner for a multi-platform documentary on the influence of money and college sports. Adam joins Nick to discuss why it's important to remember that players mimic both the good and bad behavior of their coaches, the media's role in professionalizing youth sports, and why as a coach he prioritizes his players' mental and emotional wellbeing over the technical aspects of the game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julianne Sitch was just recently named the new Head Women's Soccer Coach for the University of Denver. Prior to joining the Denver Pioneers, Coach Sitch was the Head Men's Soccer Coach at the University of Chicago and led their program to an NCAA Division III National Championship, becoming the first woman to coach an NCAA men's soccer team to a national title, in any division. In addition to her prowess as a coach, she was also a standout professional and collegiate soccer player herself. Just before taking on her new role at Denver, Coach Sitch joined Nick to discuss the importance of empowering athletes to determine the team culture, the benefits of playing at the DIII level, and why she views success as creating an environment that players enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thomas Ford is the Running Backs Coach and Special Teams Coordinator for University of Idaho Football. Prior to joining the Vandals program in 2022, Ford served as an offensive quality control analyst at the University of Washington and as the Head Football Coach at Simon Fraser. A longtime coach, former multi-sport collegiate athlete, and father of two, Thomas joins Nick to discuss why he prioritizes recruiting athletes with character, the value of building trust with players through vulnerability, and why student athletes should feel empowered to speak for themselves during the college recruiting process.See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.

Jeff Petty is the President, CEO, and Head Baseball Coach of Canes Baseball, one of the top travel organizations in the country. A longtime baseball coach, Jeff also serves as a scouting consultant for the New York Mets and as the General Manager for PRO5 Baseball Virginia, an academy designed to help players grow and develop both athletically and academically. Jeff joins Nick to discuss why the best baseball players are typically multi-sport athletes, the importance of preventing burnout and overuse injuries, and why honesty is crucial when giving feedback.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Benedict is the Director of Athletics at the University of Connecticut. Joining UConn in 2016, David helped orchestrate the university's move to the BIG EAST Conference, which has been nationally recognized as a dramatic boost for UConn athletics. Coming off of an exciting March Madness National Championship for the UConn men's basketball team, David joins Nick to discuss how the professionalization of youth sports impacts college athletics, the importance of retaining quality coaches that care about the athletes, and how the higher education system can better support student athletes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alan Stein, Jr. is a distinguished keynote speaker, author, and performance coach for professional basketball players for over 15 years. Author of Raise Your Game and co-author of The Sideline: A Survival Guide For Youth Sports Parents, Alan shares strategies for achieving higher levels of success and navigating the world of youth sports. He joins Nick to discuss why it's unrealistic to expect perfection from youth sports referees, the importance of modeling the behavior we want to see in our children, and how blaming referees teaches our kids to deflect accountability.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Leavell is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author, sought-after keynote speaker, and former NCAA lacrosse coach. Last year, she published her latest book, Superpower, which encourages readers to value new perspectives and viewpoints, overcome self-doubt, and unleash their authentic greatness. The former Vice President of Leadership Development for Jon Gordon Companies, Kate joins Nick to discuss how coaches can coach to win while building up each player, the importance teaching kids to celebrate things that make them feel fulfilled, and why coaches should always deliver feedback in a way that builds not breaks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Petcash is a sports entrepreneur, creator, writer, and podcast host. A former Division I basketball player at Boston University, Andrew founded Profluence in 2021 to share insights and analysis on the business of athletes, sports, and NIL. Andrew joins Nick to discuss the pros and cons of NIL, why education is crucial in making informed decisions regarding recruiting and NIL, and the rise of the “entertainment youth athlete.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kurt Hines is a longtime football coach, former DIII player, and sought-after keynote speaker. A high school football coach for over two decades, he currently serves as head coach at Coronado High School in San Diego. Coach Hines joins Nick discuss why quitting isn't always a bad thing, the importance of treating athletes like human beings as opposed to roster numbers, and why he hopes to be remembered as a coach who was passionate about the game, but even more passionate about the people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karen Crouse is an award-winning journalist, acclaimed author, and former collegiate swimmer at the University of Southern California. A New York Times sports writer for 16 years, Karen first entered the world of newspaper reporting when she joined the Savannah News-Press, becoming the first woman to work in its sports department. In 2018, Karen released her first book Norwich: One Tiny Vermont Town's Secret to Happiness and Excellence, which explores how a small town in Vermont has prioritized holistic athlete development over performance yet has produced more Olympians per capita than any other place in the country. Karen joins Nick to discuss how youth sports has become hyper-competitive as opposed to communal, the lessons she learned spending time in Norwich, and how her career working with elite athletes has shaped her commitment to telling stories that humanize athletes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the best high school wrestlers in the country, Jax Forrest has already cemented himself as one of the sport's rising stars, winning this year's collegiate Edinboro Open at PennWest Edinboro as a high school freshman. Jax joins Nick to discuss learning to compete for yourself, navigating NIL deals at a young age, and the sacrifices that come with early sport specialization.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jerome Tang, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Kansas State University, was recently named the 2023 Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year after leading the Wildcats to the Elite Eight for the 13th time in program history. Prior to taking over the Kansas State program in March of 2022, Coach Tang spent 19 seasons as an Assistant and Associate Head Coach at Baylor University. Coach Tang joins Nick to discuss how he applies the 10,000 hour rule to parenting, the importance of showing his players love in action, and why success isn't a one-size-fits-all process.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Head Baseball Coach at Campbell University Justin Haire was named the 2022 Big South Coach of the Year after leading the Fighting Camels to one of their most decorated seasons in program history. A member of the Campbell coaching staff for 15 seasons and now a three-time Big South Coach of the Year, Coach Haire joins Nick to discuss why building a positive team culture starts with leadership, how authenticity helps him develop more meaningful relationships with players, and why his program prioritizes recruits who take time outside the white lines to develop more than just baseball skills.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Julie McCleery is the Director of Research-Practice Partnerships for the University of Washington's Center for Leadership in Athletics. With over 25 years of experience as an educator, researcher, and coach, she is a longtime advocate for accessible, inclusive children's sports and recreational options. Dr. McCleery joins Nick to discuss why kids who specialize early are more likely to develop anxiety and depression in the long run, the importance of coaches prioritizing the psychological safety of their athletes, and why all kids deserve access to high-quality youth sports opportunities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Griffin is the Head Softball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Belhaven University, and his son, Konnor, is a multi-sport high school athlete, one of the top baseball players in the country, and recent LSU commit. The father-son duo join Nick to discuss why Konnor made a conscious decision to prioritize his mental health, how Kevin helped guide – but not drive – Konnor's sports experience, and why both parents and kids should be patient and take their time throughout the college recruiting process.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former three-time NCAA All-American wrestler, Willie Hilton is now an esteemed coach with a passion for helping to develop well-rounded athletes. He owns, operates, and coaches at the Sly Fox Wrestling Club in Wilmington, North Carolina. Willie joins Nick to discuss why he still considers himself a student of the sport, the importance of letting go of ego as a coach, and why teaching accountability is an integral part of his coaching philosophy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katherine Reutter-Adamek is a former world-class short track speed skater who won silver and bronze at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. A highly regarded coach and motivational speaker, Katherine founded the mental coaching platform Fix Your Mindset to share practical strategies for improving mindset, body movement, health, and wellbeing. Katherine and I discuss the costs of early sports specialization, why achieving athletic success at a young age does not guarantee happiness as an adult, and how to teach kids to develop a healthy sense of self-worth and identity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Farrey is the Founder and Executive Director of the Aspen Institute's Sports & Society Program, which provides thought leadership on topics including the landscape of youth sports, athlete advocacy, the future of college sports, and more. A former award-winning investigative journalist for ESPN and author of the book Game On: The All-American Race to Make Champions of Our Children, Tom has been at the forefront of youth sports reform for nearly two decades. He joins Nick to discuss why he's taken a top-down approach to changing the youth sports industry, the importance of educating parents on the unlikely payoff of a college athletic scholarship, and why parents should feel empowered to set community standards when enrolling their kids in sports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Garrett “Graceful Swan” Swanson is a former DIII baseball player turned content creator and gamer with nearly half a million followers on social media. Garrett joins Nick to discuss getting cut from his high school varsity team, the misconceptions of gaming, how he formed a career as a content creator, and how he navigates the unpredictability of social media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don Williams is the Head of Operations for Sports Recruiting USA, an organization that helps soccer players and their families navigate the college recruitment process. A former collegiate and professional soccer coach for over two decades, Don is passionate about helping kids find the right college fit. He joins Nick to discuss head count versus equivalency scholarships, the pros and cons of the transfer portal, and why parents should let their kids fight through adversity independently. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter Frintzilas is the Chief Executive Officer of TeamSnap, a team management software company at the forefront of the growing youth sports business. Peter stepped into the leadership role for TeamSnap in 2021 with more than 20 years of software experience and as a dad of three and former athlete, he is passionate about building youth and amateur sports. Peter joins Nick discuss how playing sports as a kid enabled him to learn lifelong skills that he continues to utilize today as CEO, why diverse backgrounds and experiences create higher performing teams, and how he envisions the technological evolution of the youth sports industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Widely known as “CoachP,” Joanne P. McCallie is a highly-decorated college basketball coach, author, mental health advocate, and sought-after speaker. The former Head Women's Basketball Coach at Duke University, Michigan State University, and the University of Maine, CoachP is the first Division I head coach to be named conference coach of the year in four different conferences. She is also the author ofChoice Not Chance and Secret Warrior. CoachP joins Nick to discuss the power of developing all members of the team into leaders, the importance of speaking openly about mental health, and why adverse moments are critical learning experiences for kids.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sean Jensen is a former NFL reporter and author of the children's book series Middle School Rules. A fellow youth sports advocate, sought-after speaker, and host of the podcast Winning Is Not Everything, Sean joins Nick discuss the value of teaching children to overcome adversity by learning from others, the importance of redefining what success looks like for young athletes, and why he characterizes winning as becoming a better person.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.