Youth $ports

By Ally Tucker

This podcast explores the changing landscape of Youth Sports (or Youth $ports, rather) in America and how it continues to shift away from its roots. What started out as a golden period in many childre... more

5

6767 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Youth $ports:

How many episodes does Youth $ports have?

The podcast currently has 88 episodes available.

Youth $ports episodes:

December 17, 2025 Culture Shock
Episode 77: Jordan Heuglin (Trinity Boys Soccer Head Coach)
🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Jordan Heuglin, head soccer coach at his alma mater, Trinity High School in Louisville, KY, to talk about winning at a high level without losing perspective. Jordan reflects on his unconventional soccer journey, the pressure parents and players feel in today’s youth sports landscape, and why culture—not trophies—has become the true measure of success.
🔹 From Rec Soccer to the Top of Kentucky Soccer
Jordan shares his rare path to high-level soccer, playing mostly recreationally until freshman year at Trinity, when he realized club soccer was necessary just to keep up.
🔹 The Burnout Blessing
Coming to club soccer later helped Jordan avoid burnout, a perspective that now shapes how he thinks about long-term player development.
🔹 Why Parents Feel the FOMO
Jordan points out that every player on Trinity’s roster last season had club experience, helping explain the pressure families feel to start early.
🔹 Pressure vs. Expectations
Jordan reframes expectations as a positive..proof that people care…and explains why perspective determines whether pressure becomes productive or destructive.
🔹 Rethinking What “Success” Really Means
Only one team wins the final game each season, so measuring success solely by championships guarantees failure for everyone else.
🔹 Culture Over Everything
Coming off of back-to-back 18+ win seasons, Jordan says this past year was one of the most memorable of his career because of the team’s culture.
🔹 Building Leaders Within the Team
Jordan breaks down how a leadership team and bi-weekly meetings help him take the pulse of the program and address issues early.
🔹 The Stages of Becoming a Team
From forming to storming to performing, Jordan explains why teams that move quickly through early stages often have an edge.
🔹 Talent Gets You There. Character Keeps You There.
Following a successful first year, Jordan revamped his tryout process to prioritize coachability, work ethic, competitiveness, and body language.
🔹 College Coaches Are Asking a New Question
Beyond talent, Jordan reveals the lingering question college coaches now ask: “How are the parents?”—and why that matters more than ever.
🔹 When Culture Is on the Line
Jordan is clear: no amount of talent is worth culture degradation, and he shares why putting expectations and values in writing is essential.
🔹 The Bigger Picture
Jordan also weighs in on the public vs. private state championship debate and the importance of supportive athletic directors who align with a program’s vision.
...more
1h 11min
December 10, 2025 It's a Business, Man
🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Cameron Korab, founder of the Youth Sports Business Report, to unpack why the word business makes so many people feel uncomfortable when placed next to youth sports and why ignoring that reality might be hurting families more than helping them. With the industry valued at $54 billion and projected to skyrocket to $300 billion by 2035, Korab breaks down what’s driving the growth, who’s entering the space, and how the right brands could actually lower the cost for families.
🔹 The Business Nobody Wants to Talk About
People get uncomfortable admitting youth sports is an industry, but the numbers don’t lie: it’s already a $54B market and rapidly expanding.
🔹 A Mission to Inform
Korab created the Youth Sports Business Report to be the most trusted source for news, insights, and analysis across the entire youth sports landscape.
🔹 Everyone Is Connected to Youth Sports
Like “the 7 degrees of Kevin Bacon,” almost everyone either played youth sports or knows someone who did…making it a universal topic.
🔹 The Narrative Has Turned Negative
Korab believes the national conversation often focuses on what’s wrong, overshadowing how positive youth sports can be when done right.
🔹 Private Equity’s Long Game
PE firms entered youth sports 15–20 years ago, eyeing consolidation and opportunity. Korab sees a chance for new players to improve the space rather than exploit it.
🔹 Recreational vs. Travel: A Shift in Balance
Rec sports should make up the biggest slice, but the explosion of travel teams (A through M squads) has crowded out traditional rec options.
🔹 Brands Could Become Heroes
With the right intentions, big brands could step in to relieve financial pressure instead of adding to it.
🔹 The Wild Potential of the Audience
The youth sports audience is as large—or larger—than that of all professional sports combined, with over 55 billion cumulative annual touchpoints.
🔹 Good Actors vs. Cash Grabs
Korab argues that “good actor brands” could reshape affordability, while I raise concerns about pop-ups chasing quick money off parents’ FOMO.
🔹 Families Want Simplicity
Parents are overwhelmed by too many apps, platforms, and teams. A major consolidation feels overdue.
🔹 Hoping for a Better Future
If the right companies step into the space, youth sports could become more accessible, less predatory, and more balanced for families.
🔹 A Final Hot Take
We wrap with a spicy truth bomb about how to actually know whether your employer values you.
...more
48min
December 03, 2025Yelling At Clouds
Episode 75: Jordan Parker (Closest thing we have to a co-host)
🎙In this week’s episode, Jordan Parker and I yell at clouds for an hour and 45 minutes. Just kidding, sort of. A few clouds were yelled at, but we also had an interesting dialogue about 4 big things:
The recent study about Harvard giving more As than ever and how that translates to youth sports.
The insane prices of sporting events these days (hello, World Cup!)
The parental insanity around post-season awards
What we miss about the 90s… A better time.
...more
1h 53min
November 19, 2025 Sister Act
Episode 74: Jess & Jen Langer (Sisters, former tennis players)
🎙 In this episode: I sit down with sisters Jess and Jen Langer, who grew up side by side in the intense world of competitive youth tennis. One sister rose through the national ranks while the other burned out before high school, and together they unpack how personality, pressure, and identity shaped two completely different athletic journeys.
🔹 Sisterhood and Sports
Jess and Jen started tennis at a very young age, both showing early promise and climbing quickly through local, regional, and national tournaments.
🔹 When Talent Meets Pressure
Though their parents kept things balanced, coaches pushed hard, especially for Jen, who was encouraged to pursue sponsorships and a professional track at just 15.
🔹 The Cost of Early Specialization
Jen shares what it was like to leave behind a “normal” high school experience to train at a tennis academy, only to burn out within 18 months.
🔹 Playing for Joy vs. Playing for Results
While Jen chased rankings, Jess played because she loved being with friends and was just as excited to sing the national anthem as she was to compete.
🔹 Nature, Nurture, and Birth Order
The sisters reflect on how their contrasting personalities (and classic big sister/little sister dynamics) shaped their very different relationships with the sport.
🔹 “You Can’t Outplay Who You Are”
Jen talks about being a textbook type-A competitor, while Jess embraced a more balanced, social approach to tennis.
🔹 The Hidden Toll of Youth Sports
Despite her success, Jen reveals that she later needed therapy to process the pressure and emotional weight of her early athletic years.
🔹 Homeschooling for Sports: Proceed with Caution
The sisters offer honest advice for parents considering homeschooling to accommodate training: it’s a massive decision, and kids may not fully understand the long-term trade-offs.
🔹 Mutual Admiration (and a Little Envy)
Jess admires Jen’s drive and intensity; Jen admires Jess’s ability to stay balanced and see beyond competition.
🔹 From Tennis Courts to…Anything But Tennis
Ironically, neither sister plays tennis anymore—though Jen keeps getting nudged toward pro pickleball.
🔹 Absolutely Zero Hot Take Skills
Despite years of elite competition, both admit they are hilariously terrible at knowing what qualifies as a “hot take.”
...more
1h 1min
November 12, 2025 The Man in the Mirror
Episode 73: Dan Blewett (Coach, Speaker, Former professional baseball player, author)

🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Dan Blewett, former professional baseball player, current author, coach and speaker, for a reflective conversation about masculinity, sports culture, and what it truly means to be “tough.” Dan unpacks how our culture shapes boys and how sports can still be a healthy place to figure it all out.
🔹 The Pressure to Perform
We kick off with the intense pressure young boys feel not just to play sports, but to be good at them.
🔹 Baseball in Japan vs. America
Dan recalls watching kids in Japan play baseball purely for fun and realizing how rare that is in the U.S.
🔹 The “Play Catch” Experiment
A laugh-out-loud story of Dan using dating apps in D.C. just to find someone to toss a baseball with.
🔹 The “Toxic Masculinity” Debate
We break down why the term can feel one-sided, and how both genders are capable of toxic behavior.
🔹 Growing Up Male
How young boys wrestle with mixed messages about being competitive, emotional, or “too aggressive.”
🔹 Balancing Toughness and Authenticity
Dan shares his personal struggle with wanting to be the “tough guy” while staying true to himself.
🔹 Sports as a Safe Space
How athletics provide a controlled arena to learn teamwork, conflict, and coexistence.
🔹 Coaching Boys vs. Coaching Girls
We debate whether coaches should approach boys and girls differently—and why girls might be more coachable.
🔹 Modeling Steadiness
Dan believes the best thing a coach can model isn’t intensity…it’s consistency and calm.
🔹 Redefining Toughness
Toughness isn’t just muscle. It’s resilience, grit, and compassion. Sometimes it looks like a single mom or a sick dad still showing up.
🔹 Sports as the Village
How being part of a team creates belonging, accountability, and purpose beyond the self.
...more
1h 2min
November 05, 2025 Thin Line
Episode 72: Greta Jarvis (Founder of Center for Active Women)
🎙 In this episode: I sit down with the founder of the Center for Active Women for a powerful and eye-opening conversation about the complicated relationship between female athletes, food, body image, and sport. From disordered eating to the taboo topic of missed periods, we dig into what’s really going on beneath the surface of today’s youth sports culture and how we can do better for the next generation of athletes.
🔹 Discipline vs. Disorder
Where the line blurs for driven athletes who want to perfect their bodies for performance, but risk crossing into harmful patterns.
🔹 Eating Disorders vs. Disordered Eating
Why there’s a big difference between the two… and how almost everyone can relate to at least one part of the struggle.
🔹 The Athlete Mindset
Focus, dedication, and perfectionism fuel success — but those same traits can increase the risk of unhealthy habits.
🔹 The Culture of Silence
Coaches may avoid saying the wrong thing, but are they saying anything to educate and help?
🔹 Shame & Isolation
Despite how common disordered eating is, many athletes suffer quietly, believing they’re the only one.
🔹 When “Healthy” Isn’t Healthy
Our guest’s personal story: diagnosed with osteoporosis at 24 after being told it was normal to miss her period for eight years.
🔹 The Normalization Problem
Why missing periods in young female athletes has become almost expected and why that’s a dangerous misconception.
🔹 Under-Eating & Over-Training
How many athletes are unintentionally starving their bodies of what they need
🔹 Breaking the Taboo
How to make conversations about periods, nutrition, and health less awkward (and more essential).
🔹 Representation Matters
Why more female coaches, trainers, and leaders in sports can make a huge difference in these conversations.
🔹 Real Talk from the Sidelines
Coaches are seeing it firsthand... athletes fainting, lightheaded, or weak... and it almost always comes back to food.
🔹 A Word of Caution
Think twice before complimenting someone’s weight loss. What sounds positive might reinforce something dangerous.
...more
1h 1min
October 29, 2025 The Athlete's Advantage
Episode 71: Andi Johnson (Georgetown College Hall of Famer and Chief Policy Officer & Director of Regional Engagement for Commerce Lexington)
🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Andi Johnson, Georgetown College Hall of Famer and Chief Policy Officer & Director of Regional Engagement for Commerce Lexington. From dominating the court to dominating the boardroom, Andi embodies the long-term power of sports. We unpack how athletics shaped her leadership, confidence, and career…and why the habits athletes build early often become their greatest professional advantage.
🔹 From Playground to Policy Room
Andi can’t remember a time when sports weren’t part of her life. She had a childhood built on competition, teamwork, and communication.
🔹 Organized Chaos
We discuss the shift from kids joining sports organically to today’s ultra-organized youth systems.
🔹 Beyond the Scholarship Dream
Andi shares hard truths: if your only goal is a scholarship, there are easier ways to pay for college…and far greater reasons to play.
🔹 Athletes in the Boardroom
Roughly 94% of women in C-suite roles were former athletes. Andi explains why that stat doesn’t surprise her one bit.
🔹 The Small-College Advantage
A Georgetown president once told employers to hire small-college athletes — for their resilience, time management, and people skills.
🔹 Translating Sports to Life
Andi still flashes back to moments from her playing days when navigating workplace challenges. The lessons never fade.
🔹 Confidence in Every Room
Whether she’s the youngest, only woman, or least experienced voice at the table, sports taught Andi to stand tall and speak up.
🔹 The Post-Athlete Void
We dig into the emotional struggle of leaving sports behind: the loss of identity, the transition, and how society can do better.
🔹 Unlearning the Athlete Mindset
What athletes must let go of after their playing days and how to repurpose that drive for long-term success.
🔹 The Real Wins
When former athletes look back, it’s never about stats or awards. It’s the memories, friendships, and shared moments that last.
🔹 Hot Take: Digital Hoarders Unite
Our “hot take” spirals into self-reflection… and maybe the birth of a new generational label. Are we digital hoarders now?
...more
1h 30min
October 22, 2025 Buyer Beware: Camp Edition
Episode 70: Dylan Meyer (Founder & CEO of Legacy of Legends)
In this episode🎙: I sit down with Dylan Meyer, the Founder & CEO of Legacy of Legends to talk about his evolution from young sports enthusiast to entrepreneur and advocate for positive change in youth sports.
🔹 From Fan Page to Founder
How a kid making photoshops for his favorite player, Dwayne Wade, eventually started running his official fan account.
🔹 The Vetting Problem
Legacy of Legends helps parents and athletes find the right camps—not just the popular or expensive ones.
🔹 Not Everyone Gets a Yes
Meyer’s team turns away programs that don’t align with their values. Quality coaching, not quantity, is the goal.
🔹 The Youth Sports Money Grab
Everyone’s trying to make a dollar off parents’ dreams. Dylan shares how to spot when a “development opportunity” is really just a sales pitch.
🔹 Who’s Qualified, Anyway?
Anyone can start a camp. But should they? The lack of consistent coaching standards might surprise you.
🔹 Breaking Down Barriers
Camps can get pricey. Legacy of Legends offers grants to help families access the right opportunities without the financial strain.
🔹 The Pro Athlete Paradox
When former pros speak out about youth sports, should we listen..or are they too far removed from the current reality?
🔹 Relatable or Out of Touch?
Can a professional athlete truly understand the experience of the average youth sports family?
🔹 HOT TAKES
Justin Bieber > Taylor Swift?
Should adults ALWAYS just hand over that foul ball or homerun to the nearest child in the stands?
And do athletes need to ditch the headphones during warm-ups and actually talk to their teammates?
...more
1h 2min
October 15, 2025 The Good Old Days
Episode 69: Ryan Lemond (Former high school sports reporter/current KSR co-host)
🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Ryan Lemond, co-host of Kentucky Sports Radio, whose true passion has always been high school sports. From his days covering Friday night lights for LEX18 to reflecting on how youth and high school athletics have changed over the years, Ryan brings stories, perspective, and a dose of nostalgia. We talk about what’s been lost, what still matters, and why nothing will ever beat a hometown hero under the lights.
🔹 Friday Night Hustle
Ryan relives the chaos of racing from game to game to capture highlights for the nightly news.
🔹 Local Coverage Magic
Why seeing your name in the paper or on TV after a game once meant everything to athletes and families.
🔹 The Fade of Community Storytelling
How shifts in TV and print media left fewer boots on the ground covering high school sports.
🔹 Relationships That Last
From Sunday dinners with families to following athletes for 4 years—what Ryan loved most about the job.
🔹 Small Towns vs. Big Cities
Why county schools still pack stadiums while attendance struggles in larger areas.
🔹 The “Transfer Portal” Era
How open enrollment and kids switching schools hurt hometown pride and school loyalty.
🔹 Chasing Prep Schools
Superstars skipping high school ball altogether...and what’s lost when they leave.
🔹 The Death of Multi-Sport Athletes
Why specialization hurts schools, programs, and the athletes themselves.
🔹 Nostalgia vs. Now
Do cell phones, distractions, and early specialization explain why things feel different today?
🔹 Natural-Born Talent
Ryan explains why you can sometimes spot the “it factor” in an athlete as early as age six.
🔹 The “Genetic Milkshake”
Yes, Ryan finally shares his famous theory you won’t want to miss.
...more
1h 25min
October 08, 2025 Follow the Science
Episode 68: Wade Gilbert (Award-winning professor, highly acclaimed author of “Coaching Better Every Season”)
🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Wade Gilbert, an internationally renowned coaching scientist, award-winning professor at Cal State University-Fresno and author of the highly acclaimed book “Coaching Better Every Season.”
🔹 The Science of Coaching
Coaching isn’t just an art. It’s rooted in decades of research on athlete development.
🔹 Global Perspective
Gilbert has traveled the world, studying how other countries organize and oversee sports.
🔹 The Wild, Wild West
“Most countries have a centralized platform. We don’t have that in the United States. It’s really a free for all, wild wild west. Do whatever you want. You and I could start a soccer league tomorrow.”
🔹 Business vs. Development
The U.S. sports model is driven by creative groups—but at the end of the day, most are businesses chasing profit, not long-term athlete well-being.
🔹 Best Principles > Best Practices
Gilbert stresses that lasting impact comes from principles, not copy-and-paste “best practices.”
🔹 Coaching as Personality
Coaching is highly personal…so how do we ensure standards are met without stifling individuality?
🔹 Scoreboard Blindness
“Coaches are judged only by wins and losses. If that’s the only thing asked of me, then of course I’ll think my job is to win on Saturday.”
🔹 A Broken System
“People are like water. You upskill them, but then you put them back into a broken container.”
🔹 Too Many Games, No Off-Season
Every pro league has a mandated off-season. Youth athletes in the U.S.? They often play more games than the pros.
🔹 Ignored Science
We’ve had 40+ years of data on what works…but at the local level, guidelines are ignored and kids pay the price.
🔹 The Specialization Myth
Most elite athletes didn’t specialize early. The science and the stories both back it up.
🔹 Who’s Responsible?
Coaches? Parents? Organizations? Communities? Or is change only possible when the market forces it…when burnout and cost finally make the system unsustainable?
🔹 Rapid-Fire Scenarios
We close with a debate: what’s the right way to handle a parent approaching you after a game about their kid’s playing time?
...more
1h 26min

FAQs about Youth $ports:

How many episodes does Youth $ports have?

The podcast currently has 88 episodes available.

More shows like Youth $ports

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,791 Listeners

20/20 by ABC News

20/20

11,964 Listeners

Pod Save America by Pod Save America

Pod Save America

87,974 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

113,300 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,919 Listeners

The Daily Show: Ears Edition by Comedy Central

The Daily Show: Ears Edition

14,322 Listeners

The Viall Files by Nick Viall

The Viall Files

25,837 Listeners

Dateline NBC by NBC News

Dateline NBC

47,460 Listeners

SmartLess by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett

SmartLess

58,472 Listeners

Youth Inc. with Greg Olsen by Youth Inc.

Youth Inc. with Greg Olsen

296 Listeners

Betrayal Season 5 by iHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts

Betrayal Season 5

8,347 Listeners

The Headlines by The New York Times

The Headlines

689 Listeners

Good Hang with Amy Poehler by The Ringer

Good Hang with Amy Poehler

12,926 Listeners

Interrupted by Matt Jones by iHeartPodcasts

Interrupted by Matt Jones

1,079 Listeners