Youth $ports

R-E-S-P-E-C-T... R-E-F-E-R-E-E

Episode 61: Brenda Hilton (CEO of Officially Human)
🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Brenda Hilton, CEO and founder of Officially Human, to talk about the people in stripes who keep the games fair but often are the lightening rod for the most criticism. We dig into the emotional temperature of the stands, why fans lash out, and what it actually takes to humanize officials in youth sports. From financial stakes to technology to the unexpected ripple effects of sports gambling, this one pulls back the curtain on a world most of us only think about when we’re yelling at it.
🔹 Meet Officially HumanHow Brenda went from sports administration to launching a movement that advocates for officials at every level.
🔹 Without Them, There’s No GameWhy officials aren’t just part of the machinery... they are the backbone of fair competition.
🔹 The Fan FactorHow emotions, investment, and sideline culture can turn an ordinary game into a verbal gauntlet for officials.
🔹 Seeing the Person, Not the StripesThe small but powerful mindset shifts that make officials feel human again.
🔹 The Entitlement EquationWhen thousands spent on club teams leads parents to expect and demand way more than they should.
🔹 Programs That Make a DifferenceFrom public service announcements to league-wide resources, how Officially Human is changing fan behavior.
🔹 Recruitment on the RopesWhy the treatment of officials is making it harder to find  (and keep) good ones.
🔹 Tech: Friend or Foe?How video replay, apps, and social media both help and hurt the officiating profession.
🔹 The Gambling EffectWhy the rise of sports betting is making the job harder, even for officials working youth and amateur games.
🔹 Everybody Has Bad DaysA closing reminder that no one ...player, fan, or official... gets it perfect every time.

This One's For the Girls

Episode 60: Wilder Treadway (Former Associate Director of Athletic Communications- Stanford Women's Basketball)
🎙 In this episode: There’s a good chance this will go down as one of my all-time favorite episodes. It’s long, but worth every minute. I sit down with Wilder Treadway to take a hilarious, heartfelt, and at times jaw-dropping journey through our early days at Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR), his path through college athletics, and the complex, evolving world of women’s basketball. From ankle monitors to media narratives to Planet Fitness horror stories… this one has everything.
🔹 KSR: The Wild WestWilder and I revisit our KSR College days—where content was chaotic, access was shockingly wide open, and the internet was still finding its footing.
🔹 Back When Blogs Were KingWe share unbelievable (but true) stories from covering UK women’s basketball in 2013—long before the sport’s current surge in popularity.
🔹 Internet Time MachineYou’ll laugh (and maybe cringe) at just how different things were a decade ago in the world of sports media and college coverage.
🔹 The Road to StanfordWilder traces his path from the ASUN Conference to Penn, and finally to Stanford, where he became associate director of athletic communications.
🔹 COVID Season ChaosWilder delivers an oral history of Stanford’s 2021 national championship run, set during one of the most bizarre, stressful seasons imaginable.
🔹 Testing, Travel & Ankle MonitorsYes, ankle monitors. Wilder recounts covering a team during a season with 3x daily testing, intense travel restrictions, and surreal moments of isolation.
🔹 A Seat in Front of Cameron BrinkThe stress of being close to Cameron Brink on the plane...one positive test could’ve changed everything. The stakes were high, and the emotions even higher.
🔹 More Than Just a GameThe magic of that championship run was hard-earned—and the stories from it are some of the most compelling in Youth $ports history.
🔹 Women’s Hoops on the RiseWe dive into the Caitlin Clark Effect, and how one star helped boost visibility..but also why the sport’s evolution is about much more than one player.
🔹 Tension in the Ticker TapeFrom revenue sharing to league marketing missteps, we explore why the WNBA sometimes gets in its own way—and how fans and media can do better.
🔹 Honest Takes, Hard TruthsSexism, lazy narratives, and underfunded departments. Wilder and I don’t shy away from the messy middle in women’s sports coverage.
🔹 Grand Finale ShenanigansTo close things out, I go off about Planet Fitness behavior, and share one of the most embarrassing stories I’ve ever told on air. There were tears. From laughter. Truly.

Non-Traditional

Episode 59: Steve Boehle (Academy 48 Charter School)
🎙 In this episode: I talk with Steve Boehle about the non-traditional charter school he has started in Arizona called Academy 48. Will this type of innovative model be the wave of the future in tackling some of the problems in youth sports, or are there still too many unknowns?
🔹 Bringing Back the Good in Youth Sports Steve Boehle saw what was missing in today’s youth sports culture—and decided to build something better from the ground up.
🔹 From Tech to Teams Before launching Academy 48, Steve worked in the corporate world, helping manage free and reduced meal claims for state agencies.
🔹 Listening First, Then Building Steve started asking questions across the youth sports ecosystem—and used his market research background to identify common problems and real solutions.
🔹 Middle School Magic While coaching middle school baseball, Steve saw how sports can unify a school: improving academics, reducing discipline issues, and building community.
🔹 Turning Resistance Into Action After running into barriers with his coaching philosophy at a high school program, Steve chose to go out on his own—and Academy 48 was born.
🔹 What Is Academy 48? It’s both a school and a sports training center, designed for student-athletes who want development, community, and balance—not just a fast track to college scholarships.
🔹 A New Model for a New Generation By integrating athletic training into the school day, Academy 48 helps families reclaim their evenings and build healthier routines.
🔹 Is It Just a Sports Factory? Steve addresses concerns that models like this can sacrifice academics. He says grades come first—and the goal is better humans, not just better athletes.
🔹 Who Teaches at Academy 48? All teachers are state-accredited. Most are former athletes or part-time educators aligned with the school’s mission. Class sizes are kept small at a 1:20 ratio.
🔹 Room to Grow Steve acknowledges that the current setup isn’t ideal for every learner yet (like students needing AP or special education services), but hopes to expand.
🔹 No Specializing Too Soon Academy 48 encourages multi-sport participation and doesn’t allow sport specialization before 5th grade—burnout prevention is a top priority.
🔹 Travel Team Limits & Tuition-Free Access No travel teams allowed until at least 7th grade—and Academy 48 is tuition-free, thanks to Arizona’s education funding model and grant support.

Find Your Lane

Episode 58: Stephanie Arnold (YMCA Executive Director of Philanthropy)
🎙 In this episode: I talk with Stephanie Arnold, the executive director of philanthropy for the YMCA in Lexington, Kentucky—and a self-proclaimed “YMCA Hype Girl.” We dive into the real mission of the Y: community, inclusion, and making youth sports accessible for everyone. From volunteer coaches to rec leagues, swim-offs to snow days, this one’s for the parents, players, and programs trying to do it for the right reasons.
 
🔹 Not Just a “Gym and a Swim” Stephanie explains the true mission of the YMCA—173 years strong—and how it exists first and foremost as a nonprofit focused on community health and wellness.
🔹 A Place for All From infants to centenarians, the Y is one of the few places where everyone belongs. Judgment-free, inclusive, and intentionally diverse.
🔹 Sports with Purpose The Y’s sports offerings—like basketball, soccer, swim, and volleyball—aren’t about scholarships or trophies. They’re about connection, growth, and character.
🔹 The “Other Lane” Stephanie emphasizes the importance of offering a place for kids who want to play, but don’t want to spend thousands or travel every weekend.
🔹 Rec Isn’t Dead (Yet) As rec leagues continue to disappear, the YMCA steps in to offer a high-quality, low-pressure space to try new things and fall in love with movement.
🔹 Volunteers Make It Happen Behind every great program are people who care. Stephanie shares why volunteer coaches are the glue—and how to support them.
🔹 Sports Can Be Just for Fun We talk about the value of playing a “secondary sport” or trying something new just for joy—and why that still counts.
🔹 My Swim-Off Story I share my proudest youth sports memory—and it had nothing to do with my “main sport” or a championship. Just a relay spot and a moment I’ll never forget.
🔹 The Human Side of Sports Wins are great, but it’s the friendships, funny stories, and unforgettable moments that stay with us.
🔹 “His Sport is Filmmaking” Stephanie shares what it’s like parenting a child who doesn’t play sports—and why we need to rethink how we define success.
🔹 A Better Kind of Youth Sports We explore what it looks like to be professional about the way we run youth sports… but realistic about what really matters.
🔹 Hot Takes & Sun Days Also: a wild idea to replace snow days with “sun days”… and a few of my truly unhinged serial killer traits.
 

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.