Ep. 152: Why “Never Push Your Kid” Isn’t Great Advice for Sports Parents
In this episode of The Pure Athlete Podcast, the guys tackle one of the toughest questions in youth sports: how hard should you push your kids? From early development through high school, they unpack what “pushing” really means and where the line falls between healthy accountability and harmful pressure. Through honest stories and personal experiences, they explore the tension between wanting the best for your kids and knowing when to step back, emphasizing the importance of focusing on effort, preparation, attitude, consistency, and work ethic over stats and outcomes. The conversation also breaks down how that approach should evolve as kids grow—especially during the critical middle school years—and how parents can transition from hands-on guidance to empowering athletes to take ownership. With real examples of both successes and missteps, this episode offers a clear, practical framework for developing resilient, motivated athletes without sacrificing the relationship that matters most.
Ep. 151: The Intersection of Faith & Youth Sports
In this episode of The Pure Athlete Podcast, the guys take an honest, thoughtful look at how faith intersects with youth sports and the challenges parents and coaches face in keeping priorities aligned. They explore the growing visibility of faith in sports—highlighting both the opportunities and concerns—while also sharing personal reflections on how faith shapes their identities as parents, coaches, and competitors, including where they still fall short. The conversation tackles real questions families wrestle with, from keeping sports from becoming a child’s identity to understanding what it truly means to “play for something bigger,” and how faith should show up through wins, losses, adversity, pressure, and even Sunday sports conflicts. Through candid stories and practical perspective, they emphasize a powerful theme: sports are a tool, not the foundation—the goal isn’t just to raise better athletes, but grounded, resilient young people whose identity goes far beyond the scoreboard.
Ep. 150: Emmy-Winning Sports Broadcaster Lindsay Czarniak: From Sport Anchor to Sports Mom
On this episode of The Pure Athlete Podcast, Emmy-winning sports broadcaster Lindsay Czarniak, host of Things No One Tells You and longtime ESPN, Fox, and NBC reporter, shares her inside experiences covering the 2026 Winter Olympics and working alongside elite athletes and analysts. She discusses the emotional highs and lows of competition, the power of mindset, and the challenges of parenting young athletes—navigating team selections, setbacks, and building confidence. Lindsay also shares stories of sports parents losing their cool and the lessons learned. Packed with insight, emotion, and humor, this episode highlights why the journey, not just the scoreboard, defines a true athlete.
Ep. 149: 7-Year NFL & Saints LB Kaden Ellis
On this episode of The Pure Athlete Podcast, Kaden Elliss (then with the Atlanta Falcons, later signed with the New Orleans Saints) shares his journey from overlooked recruit and aspiring quarterback to NFL player, driven by grit, faith, and relentless belief. Growing up in a household of 12 with seven adopted siblings, Kaden opens up about how adoption shaped his identity, values, and purpose. The conversation explores the true meaning of family, navigating setbacks and recruiting, the benefits of being a multi-sport athlete, faith under pressure, and lessons from the NFL on leadership, discipline, and consistency. More than a football story, this episode highlights purpose, perspective, and the people who shape who we become.
Ep. 148: Dr. John Delony: PART 2
In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. John Delony, we explore the pressures of youth sports and their impact on families. Dr. Delony discusses how travel sports, elite expectations, and adult stress can affect kids’ mental health, why loving the game matters more than mastering it, and how to distinguish true shared experiences from unhealthy pressure. He also addresses challenges facing today’s teens, including social media and sports gambling, offering parents practical guidance to raise resilient, balanced children and keep sports a positive experience for the whole family.
Ep. 147: Dr. John Delony: PART 1
Youth sports can build resilience, character, teamwork, and lifelong confidence, but they can also carry hidden emotional weight. In Part 1 of this conversation, Dr. John Delony — bestselling author, two-time PhD, and host of The John Delony Show — joins the Pure Athlete team to explore how kids may feel responsible for their parents’ emotions, how parents can cross the line from supportive to over-invested, and why family health and shared values must take priority over packed sports schedules. He discusses the risks of living vicariously through children, the impact of adult loneliness on travel sports, and how to ensure kids play for themselves rather than for us. Dr. Delony loves sports personally but warns against letting a child carry the emotional weight of a parent’s identity, making this a must-listen for parents, coaches, and leaders committed to raising healthy families, not just successful athletes.
Ep. 146: NFL Injury Expert Dr. Michael Hatrak
Injuries are on the rise in youth sports, from ACL tears to concussions, and parents are left trying to balance big dreams with long-term health. In this episode, Jeff, Britt, and Brad sit down with Dr. Michael Hatrak, a biomechanics expert and injury consultant with decades of experience working alongside six NFL teams and numerous professional athletes. Dr. Hatrak shares practical insights on injury prevention, pain management, and performance optimization, along with stories from his work with athletes like Terrell Owens, Darius Slay, and Olympic champion Gail Devers. He also discusses his role in preparing athletes for major stages such as the NFL Combine, where he helps draft prospects make key biomechanical adjustments to elevate performance. Through his practice, Synergy Release Sports, with two locations in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Hatrak works with youth, collegiate, and professional athletes to help them stay healthy and reach their full potential. To learn more about his approach and services, visit synergyreleasesports.com or follow @synergyatlanta on social media.
Ep. 145: MVP & 7x All-Star Buster Posey
This week, Frenchy is joined by former MVP, 7-time All-Star, 3-time World Series champion, and current President of Baseball Operations for the San Francisco Giants, Buster Posey. Buster opens up about his journey through the game, the emphasis his parents placed on balance growing up, how much baseball he actually played as a kid, and his perspective on youth sports now as a dad. It’s a conversation packed with insight and experience you won’t want to miss.
Ep. 144: Parent Spotlight Chris McNeillie: What It Really Takes to Navigate Youth Baseball and Recruiting Lessons From a Baseball Dad
On this special Parent Spotlight interview, Britt sits down with Chris McNeillie, father of three boys, the youngest of whom is a junior pitcher for the Florida Gators. Chris shares his story of navigating youth, travel, and high school baseball with all three of his sons, offering insights he learned along the way, sometimes the hard way, from the oldest to the youngest. As Luke, the youngest, began to blossom as a teenage left handed pitcher, Chris sought guidance from coaches to help advise both Luke and himself throughout the journey. He discusses the benefits and challenges of high level travel baseball, along with some of the approaches Luke used throughout the recruiting process. Chris also shares the impact his wife had on the boys athletically and in life before cancer took her to be with the Lord while Luke was in high school. For parents currently walking through the baseball journey, this conversation offers honest perspective from a humble dad who speaks candidly about raising and supporting all three of his boys, making this an episode you will not want to miss.
Ep. 143: Five Big Mistakes Sports Parents Make
As sports parents, most of us really want to do youth sports right on behalf of our kids and families; but we often get caught up in the moment. On this episode, Jeff, Britt, and Brad each bring their list of mistakes that sports parents make, and they share their own experiences and insights from making some of these mistakes. Most parents will relate to this discussion, recognizing some of the challenges we all face. Other parents will be challenged to watch out for these pitfalls before encountering them. In either case, you will enjoy the first part of the discussion in which the guys discuss some current events around college football and the NFL, and you will be both challenged and inspired as the discussion turns to the common mistakes sports parents make.
Ep 142: Hall-of-Fame 3B George Brett
In this episode, we welcome one of the greatest hitters in MLB history, first ballot Hall-of-Famer and Kansas City Royals legend George Brett. With more than 3,150 hits and all 21 of his big league seasons spent in Kansas City, George shares unforgettable stories from his playing days and explains why he never wore another uniform. He offers his candid thoughts on today’s hitting approach, including exit velocity and launch angle, and makes it clear he is not a fan. George also reflects on the guidance he received from Royals hitting coach Charlie Lau, advice that helped turn him into a perennial .300 hitter after never reaching that mark in the minor leagues. As always, he delivers his insights with humor, honesty, and plenty of personality.
Ep. 141: Paralympian Nick Mayhugh
As an elite young soccer player, Nick Mayhugh excelled on the field while quietly battling physical limitations he couldn’t understand, and despite those challenges he was on track to play the sport at the highest level until everything changed at 14 when he suffered a grand mal seizure that led to a series of tests and a life-altering diagnosis revealing he had been born with cerebral palsy and was told he would never play soccer again, a moment that ultimately became fuel as Nick shares in this episode how he channeled that news into motivation, went on to play Division I college soccer, represented the U.S. Paralympic soccer team, and later reinvented himself as a Paralympic sprinter, winning three gold medals and one silver at the Tokyo Paralympics, making his journey a powerful story of grit, determination, and inspiration you won’t want to miss.
Ep. 140: 7x All-Star & Mets' Captain David Wright
Seven-time All-Star third baseman David Wright, one of the most respected players of his era, joins us for this episode to reflect on his 14-year career spent entirely with the New York Mets, where he became known for his leadership, disciplined preparation, relentless work ethic, and being an exceptional teammate—qualities that earned him the role of team captain. David shares his youth sports journey, including being underestimated early on and using that motivation to outwork everyone around him, the influential role his parents played in his development, and what being a great teammate truly means. He also offers fun stories from his time in the dugout with Frenchy, thoughtful perspectives as a dad and youth sports coach, and valuable advice for young athletes and parents.