Ever walked out of a cheer competition thinking…

“Wait… how did we lose by 0.15?”

Or “Why did that team jump us?”

You’re not alone — and this episode is going to change the way you watch cheer forever.

This week on The Cheer Dad Podcast, the dads are joined by Gabby Mauro, certified judge for United Scoring, YCADA, and OCS, and creator of Score Sheets with Gabby Mauro. Gabby breaks down cheer scoring in plain English and explains exactly what’s happening on the judges’ side of the table.

In Part 1, we cover:

1. What judges are actually looking for during a routine
2. How score sheets are structured
3. The difference between difficulty vs execution
4. What counts as a deduction (and what doesn’t)
5. How teams can win or lose by tiny margins like 0.05
6. Why the loudest crowd reaction doesn’t always match placements

Whether you’re a new cheer parent or a seasoned competition veteran, this episode will help you understand scoring, stop the confusion, and enjoy competitions with a whole new “cheer IQ.”

🎧 Listen now — and don’t miss Part 2!

📲 TikTok: @scoresheetswithgabbym

📸 Instagram: @scoresheetswithgabbymauro

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp.

Cheer life is stressful — and parenting is a lot. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or burned out, therapy can help.

Get 10% off your first month at:

betterhelp.com/cheerdad

In this episode of The Cheer Dad Podcast, the dads are joined by Gina Bartel — cheer mom, content creator, and recurring guest co-host on the Let’s Talk Cheer Podcast.

Gina is also the creator of the popular Facebook group Cheer Moms Anonymous, where cheer parents from all over come together for support, laughs, and real talk about what competition season actually feels like.

We dive into the cheer mom experience from the inside out — from the pressure, burnout, and comparison game… to the hilarious moments, group chat chaos, and the community that makes it all worth it.

Whether you’re a cheer dad, cheer mom, or brand new to the sport, this conversation will make you laugh, nod along, and feel a whole lot more seen.

📲 Follow Gina:

1. TikTok: @ginablivin
2. Instagram: @ginabsellin
3. Facebook Group: Cheer Moms Anonymous

Cheer life can be amazing — but it can also be stressful. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or burned out, talking to someone can help.

Visit BetterHelp.com/cheerdad to get 10% off your first month and get matched with a licensed therapist online.

In this episode of The Cheer Dad Podcast, the dads sit down with Chad Hall, one of the founding forces behind Dad Fury — the high-energy cheer dad movement that’s impossible to miss at competitions across the country.

What started as a few dads showing up loud and proud turned into something much bigger: a community focused on support, confidence, and showing athletes that their dads are all in.

Chad shares how he found his way into the cheer world, what it’s really like being “that dad” on the sidelines, and how Dad Fury grew from a spontaneous idea into a recognized presence in the cheer community. We talk about parenting through cheer, the emotional highs and lows of competition weekends, travel chaos, and why showing up matters more than getting it perfect.

This conversation is equal parts fun, heartfelt, and honest — and a reminder that cheer dads have a role to play, even if it’s loud, pink, and unapologetic.

Whether you’re a seasoned cheer parent or just starting the journey, this episode will make you laugh, nod in agreement, and maybe rethink how you show up for your athlete.

To our listeners — no matter where you are on your cheer journey, remember that taking care of your mental health matters just as much as hitting zero.

That’s why we’re proud to be partnered with BetterHelp.

If you ever feel overwhelmed or just need someone to talk to, visit BetterHelp.com/CheerDad to get matched with a licensed therapist and start today.

That’s BetterHelp.com/CheerDad.

🎧 Listen now and meet the dad behind the fury.

In this episode of The Cheer Dad Podcast, the Dads sit down with cheer coach and former athlete Grant Lockaby to talk about what it really takes to develop confident, resilient athletes in today’s cheer world.

Grant shares his journey from athlete to coach, the lessons cheer taught him along the way, and how his coaching philosophy has evolved as he works with athletes under increasing pressure—both in the gym and online. Together, they dive into the realities of modern cheer, including confidence, burnout, social media comparison, and the balance between pushing athletes to grow while protecting their mental and emotional well-being.

This conversation offers valuable insight for **cheer parents—especially cheer dads—**looking to better understand the coach’s perspective, communicate effectively, and support their athletes through the highs and lows of the season.

If you’ve ever wondered what coaches wish parents understood, how to help your athlete through setbacks, or how cheer builds life skills beyond the mat, this episode is for you.

🎧 Sponsored by BetterHelp

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stretched thin, therapy can help. Visit BetterHelp.com/cheerdad to get 10% off your first month and connect with a licensed therapist from the comfort of your home.

This week on The Cheer Dad Podcast, the dads sit down with Joey Upchurch — a single cheer dad from Wilmington, NC, girl dad to two young athletes (ages 5 & 7), and the creator of Hit Zero Dad Club.

Joey shares his journey into the cheer world, what it’s like raising two young daughters in the sport, and the tough decision to take a season off to reset, rebuild, and establish a stronger foundation for his family. Between co-parenting, school transitions, and making sure his girls have the right support, Joey opens up about choosing long-term stability over short-term pressure.

We cover:

How Joey first stepped into the cheer dad life

His experience with long seasons, competition weekends, and burnout

The reasons behind taking time off from competitive cheer

Raising independent, confident young girls

The birth of Hit Zero Dad Club: from a simple idea to a full store

Why he wanted cheer dad merch that looked cool — not cheesy

Navigating cheer, fatherhood, and life balance as a single dad

It’s real, relatable, and full of heart — the kind of conversation every cheer parent can see themselves in.

Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your athletes. If life feels overwhelming — between parenting, work, schedules, and everything cheer brings — talking to someone can make all the difference.

That’s why we’re proud to partner with BetterHelp.

Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/CheerDad and connect with a licensed therapist from anywhere, anytime.

This week on The Cheer Dad Podcast, we welcome a guest who has lived every side of the cheer world — David Maupin. From athlete… to coach… to full-blown cheer dad, David brings a rare, 360-degree perspective on what this sport really means to families, athletes, and communities.

David shares how his cheer journey started, what coaching taught him about leadership and kids, and how those lessons shape the way he supports his own athlete today. We dive into Top Gun culture, coaching memories, balancing dad life with the demands of all star, and what it’s like watching the sport evolve from the sidelines instead of the warm-up mat.

Plus — David opens up about the proud moments, the stressful moments, and the real moments every cheer parent will relate to. Whether you’re new to cheer or deep in the comp-season trenches, this episode is full of wisdom, laughs, and relatable dad truth.

And a big thank you to BetterHelp for sponsoring today’s episode. Taking care of your mental health matters — especially during the chaos of cheer season. Visit betterhelp.com/cheerdad to get started with a licensed therapist online, whenever you need it.

Hit zero, grab your doozie, and enjoy the episode!

This week, The Cheer Dad Podcast hit the road for Showcase — and what a way to kick off the season! 🎉

Alex and Jerry are back together, talking about the electric atmosphere, the incredible athletes, and what showcase season means for parents and teams alike. From early mornings to high-flying routines, the guys share their thoughts, experiences, and a few classic cheer dad moments along the way.

They also handed out Cheer Dad Podcast koozies, met listeners in person, and caught up with the Top Gun family. This episode is full of energy, laughs, and the kind of real talk only cheer parents truly understand.

🎧 Tune in for a fun behind-the-scenes look at showcase weekend — and don’t forget to check out our sponsor, BetterHelp, for support that fits your busy cheer life.

👉 Visit betterhelp.com/thecheerdadpodcast to get started today.

This week on The Cheer Dad Podcast, the Dads sit down with fellow cheer dad Gray Scott — better known online as @tiktokpeacoak — to talk about family, fatherhood, and the real-life chaos that comes with being a cheer parent.

Gray brings his signature humor and authenticity to the conversation, sharing what it’s like to navigate the competitive cheer world as a dad, balance family life, and keep perspective when the weekends get wild. From his first competition experience to raising athletes with heart, Gray’s got stories every parent will relate to — whether you’re chasing zero deductions or just trying to find a parking spot at comps.

Tune in for laughs, real talk, and plenty of “cheer dad moments” that’ll hit home for anyone who’s lived the All-Star grind.

🎧 Presented by BetterHelp — because your mental health deserves a routine, too. Visit betterhelp.com/thecheerdadpodcast to get started today.

This week on The Cheer Dad Podcast, the dads are diving deep into the world of cheer, branding, and balancing it all with our guest — Cody Boyd, the creator of Cheer Dad Life.

Cody shares how one competition weekend turned into a full-blown passion project that became a brand connecting dads across the all-star world. We talk about what inspired him to start Cheer Dad Life, how he turned a funny inside joke into a movement, and what it’s really like being a dad in a sport dominated by moms.

He opens up about raising his athletes, finding balance between work, family, and travel, and how the cheer community has reshaped the way he parents. Expect plenty of laughs, a few real moments, and some great insight into the life behind the bow.

In this episode:

• The story behind Cheer Dad Life
• How the cheer community inspired a brand
• Balancing work, family, and cheer chaos
• The funniest “cheer dad” moments Cody’s experienced
• Why dads play a bigger role in this sport than people realize

🎧 Presented by BetterHelp — Take care of your mental health like you do your athletes’ physical health. Visit betterhelp.com/cheerdad to get started today and support the show.

In this episode of The Cheer Dad Podcast, the Dads sit down with Chris Granger, a dad who didn’t just marry into the cheer world — he built a life around it.

Chris shares how dating a cheer coach turned into a lifetime on the sidelines, raising his own kids in all star cheer, and learning to balance the wild world of competitions with family life, Scouts, and everything in between. From funny travel stories to lessons about teamwork and patience, this one’s packed with laughs, real talk, and heart.

Whether you’re a seasoned cheer parent or still figuring out what a full-out means, Chris’s story will hit home for anyone learning to balance love, family, and the all-star life.

And a special thanks to our sponsor, BetterHelp — the easy way to get connected with a licensed therapist online. Take care of your mind the way your athlete takes care of their body.

👉 Visit BetterHelp.com/CheerDad to get 10% off your first month.