Youth $ports

Cut From a Different Cloth

Episode 57: Rodney Johnson Jr. (University of Louisville Cornerback)
🎙 In this episode: I talk with Rodney Johnson Jr., a defensive back for the University of Louisville whose road to big-time college football was anything but easy. From growing up in New Orleans to surviving major injuries, changing schools, and defying the odds, Rodney’s story is one of resilience, raw honesty, and relentless belief. He opens up about football as survival, Louisiana pride, and what it means to carry your family on your back.
🔹 Growing Up Fast As the oldest sibling, Rodney had to become the man of the house early—shaping how he leads and competes today.
🔹 Football as a Lifeline In his New Orleans neighborhood, sports weren’t just a dream—they were the only way out for many kids.
🔹 More Than Talent Despite size and speed, Rodney wasn’t handed anything. He had to grind, prove himself, and wait for others to finally see what he knew all along.
🔹 “We’re Louisanimals” Rodney dives into what makes Louisiana athletes different—and why the state keeps producing NFL stars.
🔹 Coaching That Goes Beyond the Game Louisiana coaches, he says, treat their players like sons, guiding them away from the pitfalls they once knew too well.
🔹 Injuries and the Comeback After dominating in track and rising in football, Rodney’s high school career was derailed by two major injuries. Every offer disappeared—except one.
🔹 The Only Offer Left Stephen F. Austin gave him a shot when no one else would. From there, he started building his way back—step by step.
🔹 Betting on Himself Told he needed to prove it at the highest level, Rodney transferred again—this time to Louisville—with NFL dreams in mind.
🔹 Playing for His Son Everything changed when he became a father. Now, he plays for more than himself—he plays for Rodney Johnson III.
🔹 The “Single Parent Football Team” He recalls a coach’s half-joke, half-truth: kids from single-parent homes have something to prove—and it shows on the field.
🔹 NIL Whispers and Recruiting Twists Rodney shares the wildest NIL story he’s heard involving Georgia—and weighs in on Louisville snagging Vince Marrow from Kentucky.
🔹 Legacy Over Stats What does he want to pass down to his son? Not just athletic success, but a mindset: give it your all, and do it with joy.
 

365 Days Later

Episode 56: Ryan Galanaugh (Rec soccer parent turned club soccer parent)
🎙 In this episode: I talk with Ryan Galanaugh, a youth sports Dad whose daughter recently made the big switch from recreational soccer to club soccer at the age of 10. In the 1st half of the episode, he broke down the decision-making process that led to the "leveling up." 365 days later, we recorded the 2nd half of the episode... Where he updated me on how the first year of that transition went. 
🔹 When Is It Time?Ryan breaks down the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs it was time to move on from rec—his daughter needed more of a challenge and teammates who matched her drive.
🔹 The Club ConundrumHow do you pick the right team? When’s the right time to make the jump? And what if you wait too long?
🔹 Hopes for the SwitchIt wasn’t just about soccer. Ryan wanted his daughter to grow as a player and a person—through skill-building, adversity, and team dynamics.
🔹 One Year Later…Spoiler: She’s still playing. But it wasn’t a guarantee. There were moments of doubt, second-guessing, and some serious sideline culture shock.
🔹 Sideline ShockFrom screaming parents to kids getting paid for goals, Ryan was floored by the pressure and, at times, toxicity he saw in club soccer.
🔹 Living Through the KidsRyan reflects on the real problem: too many parents chasing their own dreams through their children’s games.
🔹 Was It Worth It?Yes. But he’s clear—it wouldn’t have been catastrophic to wait. There’s no perfect window, just what works for your family.
🔹 Protecting Family TimeEven with a busier schedule, Ryan made sure weekends and dinners didn’t disappear. It wasn’t easy—but it mattered.

The Ripple Effect

Episode 55: Necolle Banks (Swim instructor who learned to swim at 43 years old)
 
🎙 In this episode: I talk with Necolle Banks, a swim coach and community leader who didn’t learn to swim until age 43, then made it her mission to ensure others didn’t have to wait that long. Her story is one of transformation, access, representation, and breaking generational barriers. From public pools in Louisville to emotional victories in the water, Necolle is changing lives one stroke at a time.
🔹 Learning at 43 Necolle was tired of sitting on the sidelines. In just four days, she learned to swim—and that leap changed everything.
🔹 Breaking Generational Curses She grew up in a family where no one swam. Now, she’s rewriting that legacy..not just for herself, but for thousands of others.
🔹 Adults Need Swim Lessons Too So many swim programs focus on kids. Necolle saw the gap for adults and decided to fill it, with empathy and intention.
🔹 Fear, Trauma, and Access She talks about the emotional barriers that keep people from the water—and how community pools can help people heal.
🔹 Representation in the Pool As a Black woman leading a team of girls of color, she understands how powerful it is to be seen in a space where you’ve rarely belonged.
🔹 “See It, Be It” Kids’ faces light up when they see someone who looks like them swimming or coaching. That moment, Necolle says, can be life-changing.
🔹 A 94-Year-Old First-Timer She shares the powerful story of a woman once denied pool access as a child who just recently learned to swim through her program.
🔹 The Power of Community At the Central Adult Learn to Swim program, students cheer each other on—husbands teach wives, grandparents learn for their grandkids.
🔹 Pools as Public Health With the reopening of Algonquin Park Pool in West Louisville, a long-overdue resource returned to a community that needed it.
🔹 Demand Is Sky-High Over 2,000 adults are on the waiting list to learn. The desire is there—what’s missing is access, space, and investment.
🔹 Beyond Summer Necolle dreams of year-round covered pools and more facilities in underserved neighborhoods. "We have to keep moving," she says.
🔹 A Future Olympian from Louisville? She believes it can happen—and she’s building toward that goal. "Someday, there will be an Olympian of color from Kentucky."

The Standard is the Standard

Episode 54: Chris Tinius (St. Xavier High School Athletic Director)
🎙 In this episode: I talk with Chris Tinius, Athletic Director at St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky. A longtime coach turned administrator, Tinius opens up about the unique pressures, pride, and purpose behind running one of the top athletic departments in the nation. From historic rivalries to modern-day transfer chaos, we cover the shifting landscape of high school sports—and what it means to truly invest in student-athletes.
🔹 Coach vs. AD
Tinius reflects on moving from the sidelines to the office and why winning as an AD feels different, but just as meaningful.
🔹 Serving Everyone, Somehow
Athletic directors wear a lot of hats. Coaches, parents, players, alumni, administrators... And guess what? All of them need something.
🔹 Pride Runs Deep
In Louisville’s Catholic community, school pride isn’t casual. It’s generational, emotional, and central to family identity.
🔹 St. X vs. Trinity
The rivalry that defines Kentucky high school sports. Two powerhouse programs that push each other and everyone around them—to be better.
🔹 Success = Pressure
When expectations are sky-high, even a regional championship can feel like falling short. That’s the weight of legacy.
🔹 Swimming in History
St. X swimming has won 35 straight state titles. Tinius talks about what it’s like to carry the weight of a streak like that.
🔹 Ghosts on the Field
Opponents aren’t just facing today’s team...they’re playing against decades of tradition, success, and expectation.
🔹 Chasing Each Other
With so many strong programs under one roof, every team pushes the next. It creates a culture where everyone believes they can—and should—win it all.
🔹 Community Chemistry
Whether it’s small towns or Catholic school pipelines, there’s power in growing up and playing together. That continuity matters.
🔹 Transfers Changing the Game
High school sports are feeling the ripple effects of the transfer portal era—and not always for the better.
🔹 Public vs. Private
Is it a level playing field? Should they compete for the same championship? Tinius weighs in with nuance.
🔹 The Truth About “Recruiting”
The myth that coaches are recruiting kids? Tinius says the success of the program often recruits itself—and that’s hard to police.
🔹 Always Accessible
Texts. Emails. DMs. Today’s coaches are more reachable than ever—and the pressure to respond (and appease) never stops.

Toughness or Toxicity?

Episode 53: Caroline Laramie (Ice Hockey Mom)
🎙 In this episode: I talk with Caroline Laramie, a parent deeply embedded in the world of Northeast youth hockey. From town leagues to elite club teams, she’s seen it all—and she’s not shy about calling out the cracks in the system. We dig into hockey’s cultural norms, the pressure cooker of competitive youth sports, and the darker side that often goes unchecked.
🔹 A Culture Unto Itself In the Northeast, hockey isn’t just a sport—it’s a way of life. That comes with deep pride... and deep problems...
🔹 More Players, Fewer Spots Thousands chase a dream with limited college roster spots. The math doesn’t add up—and it’s stressing families out.
🔹 Club Over Community Club teams are edging out local leagues, often leaving behind kids who can’t afford to keep up.
🔹 Parents: Fuel or Fire? Well-meaning parents can unintentionally drive kids to burnout with year-round pressure to "make it."
🔹 Toughness at All Costs Hockey celebrates grit—but that culture can minimize injuries, pain, and emotional strain in young athletes.
🔹 The Party on the Sidelines Alcohol use is becoming common among hockey parents, affecting the environment at games and tournaments.
🔹 Billeting: High Risk, Low Oversight Sending teens to live with strangers for hockey? It's more common than you think—and raises big concerns for academics and safety.
🔹 Hazing, Still Happening Behind closed doors, hazing remains a serious issue in youth and junior hockey. Too often, it’s dismissed as “tradition.”
🔹 Masculinity in Overdrive Toxic behaviors among players and parents are often overlooked in a sport that prizes aggression and “toughness.”
🔹 Where’s the Diversity? Hockey remains overwhelmingly white and upper-class. Caroline shares what’s missing—and what needs to change.
🔹 The Cost of Belonging When success in youth hockey means year-round travel, full-time commitment, and thousands in fees, who really gets to play?
🔹 Time for a Gut Check If we really care about kids, Caroline asks: why are we tolerating a system that often leaves them bruised—literally and figuratively?

A Fighting Chance

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. 

Stay to Play: Booked Into a Corner

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 Jennifer’s piece became one of her most shared stories—striking a nerve with parents who’d long suspected something wasn’t right.
🔹 Follow the Kickbacks Tournaments aren’t just picking hotels at random. Many receive $20+ per booked room—raising serious ethical and financial questions.
🔹 Required Rooms, Inflated Costs Families are often forced to book more nights than needed. One night becomes three, and a manageable cost becomes a stretch—or a second job.
🔹 The Legal Line Gets Blurry Antitrust experts are raising eyebrows. Can you force someone to buy Hotel A just to participate in Tournament B?
🔹 Not Just Cheer: A Bigger Problem A federal lawsuit involving Varsity cheer included Stay-to-Play policies. It’s not just a cheer issue—it’s baked into many youth sports systems.
🔹 Hidden Deals, No Transparency Most of these contracts happen behind closed doors. Parents aren’t shown the terms—they’re just told, book here, or don’t play.
🔹 The Power Imbalance Palmer says this is really a story about power. Who gets to decide how families travel—and why are parents afraid to say no?
🔹 FOMO & Fear Teams comply because they fear missing out—or being blacklisted. Tournament organizers know it, and they use that leverage.
🔹 Cities Want Their Cut Tournaments justify this model with economic impact stats. Cities want those hotel nights to back up public spending on giant facilities.
🔹 The Bigger Burden Youth sports are already expensive. Palmer asks: why are we piling more pressure—and more cost—onto families?
🔹 There Is Another Way One expert warned over a decade ago: if your tournament can’t run without hotel rebates, it’s time to scale back—not pass the bill to families.
🔹 What If the Roles Were Reversed? Can you imagine the NBA telling fans they must stay at a certain hotel to attend a game? So why is this okay in youth sports?
 

The Chase

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 BigBrad’s dream of going pro started early--and shaped everything. That dream came with joy… and missed birthdays, weddings, and normal kid stuff.
🔹 From IU to the MLSDrafted 17th overall in 2009, Brad’s pro debut was delayed a full year due to injury—an early lesson in the mental toll of the game.
🔹 Always on to the Next ThingEven in peak moments, Brad says he never felt like he “made it.” The pro athlete mindset: keep pushing, never pause. But at what cost?
🔹 A Game of SacrificeBrad opens up about the hyper-serious world of youth soccer—how quickly the fun can turn into pressure, and why the kid has to be the driver.
🔹 The Double LifeWhile soccer was intense and demanding, Brad found joy and freedom in other sports. We talk about what’s lost in early specialization.
🔹 Stats That Should Alarm You30% of college students struggle with mental health. For athletes, only 10% seek help. Brad explains why the stigma still runs deep.
🔹 The Myth of Mental ToughnessAthletes are taught to move on, forget, compartmentalize. Brad challenges that narrative—and what it really means to be resilient.
🔹 Unionizing for ChangeBrad helped organize a players' union for second-division pros. Because advocating for mental health also means protecting basic rights.
🔹 Perspective on the SidelinesNow coaching his son’s youth team, Brad is focused on balance: “Big games will come… but not every Saturday needs to feel like the World Cup.”
🔹 From Pro Athlete to Purpose-DrivenBrad’s work with OnRise is all about helping athletes manage the mental game—because peak performance starts with healthy minds.
🔥 Plus: A Hot Take on high school reunions—why some people can’t wait, and others pretend they never happened.

Art? Sport? Debt.

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 Audrey opens up about the identity shift that happens when your kid’s activity takes over your family’s schedule—and your sense of self.
🔹 When Recital Turns Competitive That quiet moment when you realize… this isn’t just about joy or performance anymore. It’s about rankings, trophies, and the next level.
🔹 Art vs. Sport Is dance an art form or a sport? Audrey and I unpack what happens when artistry meets scoring systems, competitions, and physical wear-and-tear.
🔹 Pointe Shoes & PT Injuries, physical therapy, cross-training… Dancers train like athletes. The toll on young bodies is real—and often overlooked.
🔹 A Week in the Life Audrey lays out a typical schedule for a serious dancer. Spoiler: It’s basically a part-time job, plus school, minus the paycheck.
🔹 The Passion Snowball What happens when you see your kid light up on stage… and suddenly, you’re all-in on extra classes, private coaching, and endless weekends?
🔹 The $25,000 Season Audrey shares real numbers: tuition, travel, shoes ($16K just on pointe!). We talk budgets, side hustles, and sacrifices parents make to keep it going.
🔹 The Disney Vacation of Youth Sports? A listener hot take compares competitive dance to an overpriced family trip—except this one’s on repeat, and no one’s exactly relaxed.
🔹 Dance Debt is a Thing Second mortgages. Drained savings. Audrey says it’s often the middle class with access to credit who get hit the hardest.
🔹 “But My Kid Loves It…” We ask the big question: Would they still love it if it cost a fraction of what you’re paying? Are parents justifying sunk costs with emotion?
🔹 Private Lessons Pressure Whether it’s ballet, baseball, or band—everyone’s scrambling for the edge. Audrey sees competitive parenting as the real driving force.
🔹 What She Wishes She Knew Thirteen years in, Audrey has advice: delay the serious stuff, let them explore other passions, and remember—kids can love more than one thing.
🔥 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.
 

The "American Way"

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? Millions of kids play youth sports, but legal scholarship on it? Almost nonexistent. Dionne explains how youth sports became a cornerstone of American childhood—with surprisingly little oversight.
🔹 Sports = Good Childhood™ Since the 1980s, sports have been tied to moral development, health, and structure. It’s almost a parenting requirement now—regardless of whether it actually works.
🔹 Access Wasn’t Always a Given Title IX opened doors for girls. Civil Rights policies did the same for boys of color. Before that? It was an upper-middle-class white boys’ club.
🔹 The Dropout Dilemma Kids are encouraged to play… until they quit in droves by adolescence. Why? Barriers like cost, burnout, and a system that forgets late bloomers.
🔹 Are We Even Producing Elites? Despite all the pressure, Dionne argues our system isn’t great at producing elite athletes—it weeds out too many kids too soon.
🔹 The U.S. Model: Uniquely American Other countries invest public money in youth sports. We rely on schools and the private sector. That was a deliberate Cold War-era choice.
🔹 Market Failure in the Bleachers? Is your kid a beloved team member—or just a slot on a roster? Dionne questions whether today’s youth sports system is built to serve kids or just keep the machine running.
🔹 Youth Sports as Economic Stimulus Local governments are betting big on mega-complexes, sports tourism, and “Pathways to Pro”—but who’s really benefiting?
🔹 The Shiny Stadium Mirage States and cities are spending millions on facilities… while local kids still face access issues. Why not just invest in them?
🔹 The “Parents Know Best” Problem In the U.S., we let parents and the private sector steer the ship. Dionne asks: is that always in kids’ best interests?
🔹 Can Government Help—Without Overreach? There are ways to improve youth sports with smart regulation—without becoming a dystopian training camp. Minimum standards, safety guidelines, access. It’s possible.
🔹 🔥 And of course... MORE HOT TAKES