Episode 52: Tyler J. (Boxer/Former student)

-Today's episode is a special episode. Not only is it the 1 year anniversary of Episode #1 of the Youth $ports Pod, but the conversation is one of the most important we've had yet...

Sometimes in life you are lucky enough to cross paths with people who will have a profound impact on you and how you view the world. Meet Tyler J. I can’t think of a better story to tell on the 1 year anniversary of starting the Youth $ports Podcast.

The current state of youth sports often has me scratching my head. Then I am reminded that at its core, sports are a beautiful thing. Tyler will not hesitate to tell you that the sport of boxing quite literally saved his life. A gym became a safe haven. A coach became a mentor. (On his boxing coach), “He real deal did save my life. He took me under his wing and taught me that there’s more to life than just the dumb stuff that’s always in front of you. You CAN think 10 steps ahead. You don’t always have to think, like, I won’t make it to tomorrow, so who cares what I do today? He taught me that. There’s a tomorrow if you want there to be a tomorrow. There’s more beyond the city you live in.”

Art imitates life and I think maybe sports do, too. Tyler opens up about his journey with boxing and how the lessons learned within the confines of the gym, inside the ring, had an incredible ripple effect in his life. Tyler admits that he never imagined he would make it past the 11th grade. There was no shortage of people in his life who wanted more for him, who believed in him… But he had to find that belief in himself first. In a moment in the podcast that will live in my soul forever, Tyler perfectly explained why it was so hard for him (and so many young kids) to accept love. He shared where his anger and sadness stemmed from and why some kids will “try to fight you out of their corner.” But more importantly, Tyler unravels what it means when a kid sees that people will keep coming back for them, even after the toughest days. Even after being pushed away again and again. 

When I tell you that every person who ever works with kids or has ever questioned whether or not showing up for someone, even after they’ve tried to push you away, matters… Needs to hang on to every word of this episode. It mattered for Tyler. He is now just weeks away from heading off to basic training for the military. He has taken his life and future into his own hands. “I owe it to my younger self. Because he didn’t believe in himself to do this stuff.”

I will never forget Tyler J, and I have a feeling after listening to this episode, you won’t either. 

Episode 51: Jennifer Palmer (Investigative journalist, Oklahoma Watch)

🎙 In this episode: I talk with Jennifer Palmer, investigative reporter with Oklahoma Watch, whose article “Forced Housing, Hidden Kickbacks” exposed the hidden costs and power plays in youth sports travel. We dig into the Stay-to-Play model, the legal gray areas, and why so many parents feel trapped by a system that claims to serve them.

🔹 The Article That Blew Up

🔹 Follow the Kickbacks

🔹 Required Rooms, Inflated Costs

🔹 The Legal Line Gets Blurry

🔹 Not Just Cheer: A Bigger Problem

🔹 Hidden Deals, No Transparency

🔹 The Power Imbalance

🔹 FOMO & Fear

🔹 Cities Want Their Cut

🔹 The Bigger Burden

🔹 There Is Another Way

🔹 What If the Roles Were Reversed?

Episode 50: Brad Ring (Former Major League Soccer player)

🎙 In this episode: I talk with Brad Ring--former MLS midfielder, Indiana University standout, and now a passionate voice for athlete mental health with OnRise. From youth soccer glory to the quiet battles behind the scenes, Brad shares what the highlight reels leave out.

🔹 The Kid Who Dreamed Big

🔹 From IU to the MLS

🔹 Always on to the Next Thing

🔹 A Game of Sacrifice

🔹 The Double Life

🔹 Stats That Should Alarm You

🔹 The Myth of Mental Toughness

🔹 Unionizing for Change

🔹 Perspective on the Sidelines

🔹 From Pro Athlete to Purpose-Driven

🔥 Plus: A Hot Take on high school reunions—why some people can’t wait, and others pretend they never happened.

Episode 49:  Audrey Borden (Dance Mom x 2)

🎙 In this episode: I talk with Audrey Borden, mom of two daughters who went from casual dance to pre-professional ballet. She shares the reality of parenting in the world of elite dance—where passion meets pressure, and the cost might just knock you off your feet.

🔹 Before You Were a Dance Parent

🔹 When Recital Turns Competitive

🔹 Art vs. Sport

🔹 Pointe Shoes & PT

🔹 A Week in the Life

🔹 The Passion Snowball

🔹 The $25,000 Season

🔹 The Disney Vacation of Youth Sports?

🔹 Dance Debt is a Thing

🔹 “But My Kid Loves It…”

🔹 Private Lessons Pressure

🔹 What She Wishes She Knew

🔥 Plus: The economic reality check no one wants to talk about… and why youth sports organizations may be forced to pivot if families can’t keep up.

Episode 48: Dionne Koller (Law Professor and Author)

🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Dionne Koller—law professor, author of More Than Play, and Director of the Center for Sports & Law. We talk about how America built its youth sports system—and whether it’s actually working for kids or just everyone else.

🔹 How Did We Get Here?

🔹 Sports = Good Childhood™

🔹 Access Wasn’t Always a Given

🔹 The Dropout Dilemma

🔹 Are We Even Producing Elites?

🔹 The U.S. Model: Uniquely American

🔹 Market Failure in the Bleachers?

🔹 Youth Sports as Economic Stimulus

🔹 The Shiny Stadium Mirage

🔹 The “Parents Know Best” Problem

🔹 Can Government Help—Without Overreach?

🔹 🔥 And of course... MORE HOT TAKES

Episode 47: Devin Armand (TikTok Youth Sports Superstar)

🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Devin Armand—former college softball player and coach turned viral youth sports comedian on TikTok. With a wig, a phone, and a whole lot of sharp wit, Devin is flipping the script on toxic sports culture by making us laugh and think.

🔹 From Dugouts to TikTok

🔹 Wigs, Skits, and Brutal Truths

🔹 Laugh First, Reflect Later

🔹 Calling Out Mean Girl Culture

🔹 Social Media Isn’t Helping

🔹 The Youth Sports Parent Starter Kit

🔹 Are We Creating Entitlement?

🔹 Keeping Up With the Sideline Joneses

🔹 “They’re Not Even Playing Anymore. They’re Performing.”

🔹 Paranoia in the Bleachers

🔹 Michelle Makes Her Appearance

🔹 🔥 Hot Take of the Week: Bachelorette Parties, You’re on Notice

Episode 46: Jordan Parker (It's a Youth $ports Pod TAKEOVER)

In this episode, Jordan Parker sits down as the GUEST HOST to turn the tables to interview me, the regular host, Ally Tucker. We dive into the origin story of the Youth $ports Podcast and spend most of the episode exchanging hot takes on ridiculous topics. 

Quotes from the episode, presented without context...

🔹“Really smart decision on my part at an expensive liberal arts school to major in sociology…”

🔹“I did get punched in the face once...”

🔹“I have a theory that people who are extroverts in their daily life don’t really enjoy the attention and hoopla of the karaoke stage… On the other hand, I think a lot of times introverts really like karaoke…”

🔹 “I did not realize that you were into puppetry…”

🔹“The times when I’ve been happiest, I’ve had some form of creative outlet.”

🔹 “Chinoe Pub has taken down many a man and many a woman… You might spend a Friday night at Chinoe Pub and you might have to call into work on a Monday”

🔹“I would be the Tonya Harding to their knee caps if needed if it meant Michelle Kwan could get gold.”

🔹“I don’t hate you. I hate the question.”

🔹 “Do you think people go to the mall to get a massage at the kiosk or do you think they’re at the mall and see the kiosk and decide to get a massage?

🔹“I don’t think the movie Ladybugs holds up in 2025…”

🔹“I have a theory on why people from small towns like chain restaurants…”

Episode 45: Dr. Ashley Samson (Professor in the department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion at the University of Kentucky)

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Ashley Samson, professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion at the University of Kentucky. We dig into the evolving conversation around mental health in sports, the pressures athletes face at every level, and what it really means to coach the whole human—not just the player.

🔹 “I Wish I Had That” – Dr. Samson reflects on discovering sports psychology after her own athletic journey and how crucial it is to have those resources early on.

🔹 More Than Just Toughness – Athletes are expected to be resilient, but anxiety, depression, and burnout are real. The old “just push through” mindset is finally starting to shift.

🔹 Credit to the Trailblazers – Athletes like Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, Naomi Osaka, and Kevin Love helped blow open the doors on mental health conversations in sports.

🔹 The Pressure Is Everywhere – From youth leagues to the pros, there’s pressure to climb the ladder, perform, and not show weakness. But that mindset comes at a cost.

🔹 COVID Changed the Game – When sports were suddenly taken away, many athletes were left questioning their identity. It forced a reckoning with mental health that had been long overdue.

🔹 Two Things Can Be True – “I’m grateful for this opportunity” and “I’m struggling” can coexist. Athletes need space for both.

🔹 Coaches: You’re Walking a Tightrope – Dr. Samson gets real about the challenge of balancing the need to win with the need to care for your athletes’ well-being.

🔹 Love for Mark Pope – A shoutout to the Kentucky men’s basketball coach for developing great players AND great young men. It’s not an either-or.

🔹 Youth Sports: More Pressure, Less Play – The culture has shifted. It’s more about rankings, clubs, and leveling up than joy, growth, and development.

🔹 Multi-Sport Athletes Win – Physically and mentally, playing multiple sports acts as a protective barrier.

🔹 Your Kid’s Identity Is a Pie – If the “athlete” slice takes up the whole thing, burnout is likely. Encourage balance—and praise more than just the stat lines.

🔹 Playing Time & Fairness – Everyone pays the same, but not everyone plays the same. We talk about when it’s time to prioritize development vs. competition.

🔹 Are We Trading Development for Trophies? – Is youth sports too focused on short-term wins instead of long-term growth?

🔹 Transfer Culture Trickles Down – Don’t like your club team role? Just switch. But is that really the answer?

🔹 Ferraris vs. Civics – One of the best quotes of the episode: “Some kids are being given the keys to a Ferrari when they just need a Honda Civic.”

🔹 The Resource Gap Is Real – At the youth level, the top teams aren’t always the most talented—they’re often the most well-funded. It’s a reflection of society.

🔹 The 50K and the McDonald’s Run – We wrap it all up with a wild story about what inspired Dr. Samson to run an ultramarathon... and how McDonald's might be the real inspiration.

And of course... MORE HOT TAKES!

Episode 44: Mike Casey (Former Club President for Lexington FC)

In this episode, I sit down with Mike Casey, former president of Lexington Futbol Club and a longtime youth soccer parent. Now that he’s on the other side of youth sports, Mike offers a refreshing, honest perspective on what really matters, what doesn’t, and how families can navigate the chaos without losing their minds (or their weekends).

🔹 The Benefit of Hindsight – Now out of the youth sports grind, Mike reflects on the things that once felt urgent—like team placements and tryouts—that just don’t matter as much anymore.

🔹 The Team Obsession Trap – Families often chase “top teams” without considering coaching quality, travel demands, or what’s best for their kid and lifestyle.

🔹 Role Players Matter – Not every kid can be the star. Mike talks about the lost value in being Player #14 and how those experiences can prepare kids for real life.

🔹 Parents: Check Your Insecurities – Mike gets real about projecting adult anxieties onto kids and the damage it can do, especially during tryout season.

🔹 Tryouts: Fact vs. Fiction – He shares behind-the-scenes insights on tryouts, busting the myth that everything is political. Spoiler: it’s mostly about ability.

🔹 When Parents Hurt, Not Help – Sometimes a parent’s behavior or reputation can actually hurt their child’s chances—especially when roster spots are tight.

🔹 Are You Paying for a Spot or Development? – A deep dive into what your club fees are actually buying—and why playing time isn’t (and shouldn’t be) guaranteed.

🔹 The Long Game of Youth Sports – Beyond the wins and losses, Mike highlights the friendships, memories, and life lessons that make it all worthwhile.

🔹 Club Transparency & Team Building – Are some clubs fielding extra teams just to fund the top-tier ones? Mike says it’s time for parents to ask hard questions.

🔹 Manager Tip of the Year – Never schedule a game the same weekend as prom. Trust him on this one.

🔹 And of course...THE HOT TAKES segment...

Episode 43: Keirsten Sires (2aDays Founder/CEO...Featured in Forbes Magazine)

In this episode, I sit down with Keirsten Sires, CEO and Founder of 2aDays—and the first Youth $ports guest to be featured in Forbes Magazine. We dive into the wild world of college recruiting, the power of transparency, and how her platform is flipping the script on how athletes and families choose programs.

🔹 From Skidmore to Startup – What began as a college entrepreneurship project turned into a game-changing business for athletes and their families.

🔹 The Rate My Professor of College Athletics – 2aDays lets athletes rate coaches, facilities, trainers, and recruiting experiences—finally giving power back to the players.

🔹 Recruiting is a Sales Pitch – Keirsten pulls back the curtain on the smoke and mirrors in recruiting and highlights the hidden gems—amazing coaches at smaller schools who deserve more love.

🔹 Athletes Get Judged—So Should Programs – If players are rated and ranked, why shouldn’t the same standard apply to the schools recruiting them?

🔹 The Transfer Epidemic – With sky-high transfer rates in college sports, 2aDays aims to give athletes better info before they commit, not after it’s too late.

🔹 The Financial Reality of College Sports – Youth sports is a major investment—emotionally and financially. The more you're spending, the more information you deserve.

🔹 Can This Be More Than a Venting Platform? – We talk about the importance of balance in reviews and whether concerns about negative bias are valid—or overblown.

🔹 Would Bobby Knight Survive 2025? – A fun but honest conversation about the evolution of coaching styles and what today’s athletes will (and won’t) tolerate.

🔹 Playing Time & Ratings Bias – We dig into how playing time might color athlete reviews—and what can be done to keep things fair.

🔹 The Pool Workout Story – I share a classic college tale of how we tricked our coach into thinking a pool recovery session was absolute torture. Spoiler: we were loving it.

🔹 Private Equity in Youth Sports – With big money moving in, we discuss the upside (innovation and access) and the downside (greed and pricing people out).

🔹 Have We Hit the Financial Ceiling? – Is there a point where families stop spending on youth sports? Or will the chase for scholarships and exposure keep raising the bar?

🔹And of course...THE HOT TAKES segment...