This week, Kirsten sits down with Opal Bird of Wake Forest Women’s Basketball. From leading Australia’s U17 National Team to back-to-back gold medals at FIBA Oceania (2023) and FIBA Asia (2024) to representing her country at the U19 World Championships, Opal’s leadership and composure have shone on every stage she’s stepped onto.

Before heading to the U.S., Opal was a force with the Centre of Excellence in the NBL1, averaging 9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, and she recently joined the Bendigo Spirit of the WNBL. Her global impact continued with appearances at the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp and the NBA Global Academy Women’s Games, showcasing her skill among the world’s elite young athletes.

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In this episode, Kirsten sits down with Linda Flanagan, author of Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids’ Sports—and Why It Matters. A former cross-country coach, researcher, and journalist, Linda shares her insights on how youth sports have drifted away from their original purpose and what families can do to reclaim the joy, balance, and values that athletics were meant to instill.

Together, they discuss the pressures of the modern sports system, the impact on kids’ mental health, and how parents and coaches can shift the focus from trophies to true growth.

Tune in to learn how we can bring fun, community, and perspective back to youth sports—one game at a time.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Kirsten sits down with Linda Flanagan, author of Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids’ Sports—and Why It Matters. A former cross-country coach, researcher, and journalist, Linda shares her insights on how youth sports have drifted away from their original purpose and what families can do to reclaim the joy, balance, and values that athletics were meant to instill.

Together, they discuss the pressures of the modern sports system, the impact on kids’ mental health, and how parents and coaches can shift the focus from trophies to true growth.

Tune in to learn how we can bring fun, community, and perspective back to youth sports—one game at a time.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Kirsten sits down with Linda Flanagan, author of Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids’ Sports—and Why It Matters. A former cross-country coach, researcher, and journalist, Linda shares her insights on how youth sports have drifted away from their original purpose and what families can do to reclaim the joy, balance, and values that athletics were meant to instill.

Together, they discuss the pressures of the modern sports system, the impact on kids’ mental health, and how parents and coaches can shift the focus from trophies to true growth.

Tune in to learn how we can bring fun, community, and perspective back to youth sports—one game at a time.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this inspiring episode, Kirsten sits down with Laura Colins, former Division I athlete, and psychotherapist with over two decades of experience helping athletes, coaches, and communities thrive—not just perform. Now serving as Chief Clinical Officer at HomeTeam, Laura shares how her work integrates psychodynamic theory, trauma-informed care, mindfulness, and mastery development to promote true well-being and peak performance on and off the field.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this inspiring episode, Kirsten sits down with Laura Colins, former Division I athlete, and psychotherapist with over two decades of experience helping athletes, coaches, and communities thrive—not just perform. Now serving as Chief Clinical Officer at HomeTeam, Laura shares how her work integrates psychodynamic theory, trauma-informed care, mindfulness, and mastery development to promote true well-being and peak performance on and off the field.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this inspiring episode, Kirsten sits down with Laura Colins, former Division I athlete, and psychotherapist with over two decades of experience helping athletes, coaches, and communities thrive—not just perform. Now serving as Chief Clinical Officer at HomeTeam, Laura shares how her work integrates psychodynamic theory, trauma-informed care, mindfulness, and mastery development to promote true well-being and peak performance on and off the field.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Kirsten sits down with Melissa Jacobs—Founder and Managing Editor of The Football Girl, journalist, and trailblazer for women in sports media. Melissa shares her incredible journey from producing top-rated radio shows in San Francisco to earning Sports Emmys at ESPN and ultimately building The Football Girl, a vibrant community redefining what it means to be a football fan.

Together, Kirsten and Melissa dive into the world of youth sports, discussing the role of parents, the lessons of resilience, and how sports can shape character both on and off the field. Their conversation highlights the importance of letting kids find joy in the game while building confidence that lasts long after the final whistle.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Kirsten sits down with Melissa Jacobs—Founder and Managing Editor of The Football Girl, journalist, and trailblazer for women in sports media. Melissa shares her incredible journey from producing top-rated radio shows in San Francisco to earning Sports Emmys at ESPN and ultimately building The Football Girl, a vibrant community redefining what it means to be a football fan.

Together, Kirsten and Melissa dive into the world of youth sports, discussing the role of parents, the lessons of resilience, and how sports can shape character both on and off the field. Their conversation highlights the importance of letting kids find joy in the game while building confidence that lasts long after the final whistle.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Kirsten sits down with Luis Fernando Llosa—investigative journalist, author, and co-founder of Whole Child Sports—for a powerful conversation about the state of youth athletics today. Together, they explore what’s great about youth sports, what’s gone wrong, and how parents can help shift the culture toward one that values character, joy, and long-term growth over early success.

Luis shares his unique perspective on how competition, coaching, and parenting have evolved, and the impact today’s culture is having on young athletes. This episode is a must-listen for anyone raising or coaching kids in the modern youth sports world.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.