Youth Inc. with Greg Olsen

What does it really take to become a great leader and teammate? In this conversation, Jon Gordon joins Alec Ingold to share practical lessons on positive leadership, self-talk, team culture, resilience, and the mindset habits that help athletes grow on and off the field. From the power of encouragement and "I Am" statements to the importance of commitment, gratitude, and connection, Jon explains how young athletes, coaches, and parents can build stronger teams and become better leaders in every area of life.

3x national champ Spencer Lee sits down with his father, Larry Lee, for a conversation about youth sports, parenting, and the long-term approach that helped shape one of wrestling’s greatest champions. Larry shares why fun mattered more than winning, the lessons he learned from judo and coaching, and how parents can support their children without burning them out. From youth tournaments to the world stage, this is a must-watch conversation for every sports parent, coach, and athlete.

Brandi Chastain joins Shelby Bumgarner on Youth Inc. to reflect on the iconic 1999 World Cup moment that changed women's soccer forever. Chastain shares what was going through her mind before the legendary penalty kick, how injuries and setbacks shaped her career, and why resilience became one of her greatest strengths. She also discusses the future of youth sports, the importance of access for young athletes, and how the World Cup can inspire the next generation of players.

This episode is brought to you by Players Health. To learn more, visit https://www.playershealth.com/

Greg Olsen sits down with Roger Bennett, founder of Men in Blazers and author of We Are the World (Cup), as the 2026 World Cup kicks off on home soil. They get into why the U.S. dominates the women's game but lags on the men's side, how over-coaching and win-now youth culture stunt development, and the street-ball lesson behind players like Eberechi Eze. A sharp, funny conversation about raising better athletes and the tournament that could change American soccer for good.

The 2026 World Cup kicks off this week, and Roger Bennett, founder and CEO of Men in Blazers and author of We Are the World (Cup), joins Greg Olsen on You Think for a conversation every soccer parent and youth coach should hear. Roger explains why the U.S. builds world-class women's players but keeps falling short on the men's side, why a Barcelona youth coach called the American model "idiotic," and what the World Cup on home soil could actually change.He gets into how Title IX turned the U.S. women into a global superpower while the men's development system stays stuck, why win-now youth culture stunts players, and how street ball forged Premier League stars like Eberechi Eze.🔗 RESOURCES📩 Youth Inc. Newsletter — https://www.youth.inc/newsletter

🌐 youth.inc — https://www.youth.inc

Men in Blazers: https://www.meninblazers.com/

Roger's Book: https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-World-Cup-Personal/dp/0063320770

Jason Williams went viral at the Women's College World Series watching his daughter Mia Williams power Texas Tech to the national championship series. Then he left OKC before the final games. In this exclusive Youth Inc. interview, the former NBA guard known as "White Chocolate" explains why.🔗 RESOURCES📩 Youth Inc. Newsletter — https://www.youth.inc/newsletter🌐 youth.inc — https://www.youth.incHoopin N' Hollerin' Pod: https://open.spotify.com/show/2pnagsbUIRHTy8Lf45mXgM

How did a program that started from club status turn into the greatest dynasty in women's lacrosse? Northwestern head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller just won her 9th national championship, and she built it in the Midwest by recruiting unranked athletes and developing them into Tewaaraton winners. Greg Olsen sits down with her to break down the recruiting philosophy, team culture, and player development system behind nine titles, plus hard-won advice for any youth sports parent or coach.🔗 RESOURCES📩 Youth Inc. Newsletter — https://www.youth.inc/newsletter🌐 youth.inc — https://www.youth.inc

In this episode of the Youth Inc. Podcast, Greg sits down with Coach Ballgame and Savannah Bananas star Coach RAC to go behind the scenes of the new season of Crashin' Practice. They break down what it's actually like to surprise a team of young players, the hidden coaching lessons built into every drill, and why the moments that look like chaos on camera are some of the most intentional. From hiding in equipment sheds before the big reveal to teaching kids to field the ball in ways that make them more athletic, this is the real story behind the surprise.They also get into Ballgame's Sandlot Tour, RAC's life on the road playing in front of packed stadiums, and what these crashes mean for the parents and coaches watching from the sideline.

Watch Crashin' Practice: https://youtu.be/t8x_t7ucL6U

Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.youth.inc/newsletterFor more, visit https://www.youth.inc/

The Pitching Ninja joins Greg Olsen for a deep dive into everything youth baseball parents and coaches need to hear — from managing pitch counts on tournament weekends to why he thinks baseball has become too expensive and too specialized. Rob Friedman breaks down how he'd build a young pitcher from scratch, why multi-sport athletes make better pitchers, and the aerospace discovery that changed how we understand pitch movement forever.🔗 RESOURCES📖 Rob Friedman's book "Unhittable" — https://pitchingninja.com/pages/book🥷 Follow Pitching Ninja — https://x.com/PitchingNinja📩 Youth Inc. Newsletter — https://www.youth.inc/newsletter🌐 youth.inc — https://www.youth.inc

Bestselling author Jon Gordon (The Energy Bus, Training Camp, The Carpenter) joins Greg Olsen to unpack what he got wrong as a sports parent and the frameworks he wishes he'd known sooner. From the "two hats" rule that transforms the car ride home to the seven commitments that separate great teams from the rest, this is a playbook for any parent or coach who's ever struggled to find the line between pushing kids and supporting them.

Greg and Jon dig into why positivity beats negativity without ignoring reality, how to connect before you correct, the brainwashing power of daily practice habits, and the parenting regret Jon wishes he could go back and fix.

🔗 LINKS

Sign up for the Youth Inc. newsletter: https://www.youth.inc/newsletterFor more, visit: https://www.youth.inc/

Follow Jon Gordon:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jongordon11/X: https://twitter.com/JonGordon11Books & Speaking: https://jongordon.com/

Greg sits down with Harvard and Stanford-trained psychiatrist Dr. Paul Conti to talk about the mental side of youth sports — how failure shapes kids' brains, why pre-game anxiety isn't always a bad thing, and what parents and coaches get wrong about confidence, identity, and self-talk.

Dr. Conti breaks down the shame reflex, explains why what you see on the outside of a kid isn't always what's happening inside, and shares the reframe that turns post-game frustration into forward momentum. Greg gets personal about his own parenting blind spots with his three kids.

🔗 RESOURCES📖 Dr. Conti's book "What's Going Right" — https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Going-Right-Powerful-Optimizing/dp/1538776049🌐 Dr. Conti's website — https://drpaulconti.com🏥 Pacific Premier Group — https://pacificpremiergroup.comOur newsletter: https://www.youth.inc/newsletter