Ep. 120: Coach Ballgame: The Right Approach to Sports Parenting & Coaching
If you aren’t familiar with Coach Ballgame (James Lowe), you are missing out on one of Major League Baseball's best and most important ambassadors. This week, the guys have an inspiring conversation with Coach Ballgame, learning about his story as a talented college player to being MLB’s representative to promote the fun and life lessons available to youth players all over the country. Coach Ballgame shares a pivotal moment in his baseball career, involving a college at bat against Justin Verlander. He discusses how his relationship with Joe Buck led to his current role with MLB, and share the primary message he takes to kids, parents, and coaches around the country. This episode is full of positive, challenging, and specific advice for youth coaches and parents to ensure kids learn the game, learn to love the game, and most importantly, learn important life lessons from the game - and his message extends beyond the diamond to other sports and activities. If you are a youth coach or parent, you don’t want to miss this fun and informative episode.
Ep. 119: Dr. Mark Kovacs: What You Need To Know About Physical Development in Youth Sports
On this episode, we welcome back renowned Sports Science expert Dr. Mark Kovacs, who shares a wealth of valuable and practical insights to help coaches, parents, and young athletes understand many critical physical development factors for boys and girls, emphasizing strategies to enhance performance while also minimizing the risk of injuries and long-term burnout. Dr Kovacs shares valuable scientific information including the risks of overtraining during peak growth spurts, the prevalence and impact of Vitamin D deficiency for athletes, the importance of annual bloodwork panels and what to test for that impacts performance, the differences in development of girls vs boys, and much more. In addition, we discuss the risks of sport specialization, and have a very interesting and fun discussion, based on his experience and expertise, on which sports requires the highest level of athleticism, and which skill, from all sports, is the most difficult. This conversation is packed with great information to help ensure young athletes - boys and girls - are physically in the right place to maximize performance and prevent injuries.
Ep. 118: Mental Performance Coach Justin Su'a: Developing a Winning Mindset For Young Athletes
Struggles with confidence, poor body language, negative self- talk, and response to failure are just some of the mental performance challenges that young athletes must overcome to maximize their performance. On this week's episode, we discuss these challenges and more with Mental Performance expert Justin Su'a. Justin was previously the Head of Mental Performance at IMG Academy, before working for the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and Cleveland Browns, as well as with PGA golfers and ATP tennis players. In addition, Justin co-hosts the popular Diggin Deep podcast with former MLB players. Justin brings his expertise, experience, and positivity to our conversation, inspiring parents, coaches, and kids to train the mental side for success both on and off the field.
Ep. 117: "TAKE BACK SPORTS" with ESPN Executive Kevin Martinez
“Take Back Sports” is a major new Youth Sports initiative from ESPN focused on some of the critical challenges in Youth Sports. This week, Kevin Martinez, who heads up this initiative for ESPN, joins us to talk about four critical areas of challenge in Youth Sports and what the Take Back Sports initiative is doing to help bring about solutions that will impact the next generation and the future of youth sports. Kevin transparently discusses the reasons ESPN has taken an active role in helping address today's challenges in youths sports, as well as some of the partners that are joining in this endeavor.
Ep. 116: 7x National Champion HC Nick Saban
Head Coach Nick Saban won seven national championships on his way to being known as the GOAT of college football coaches. On this episode, Coach Saban shares his story of how he reluctantly got into coaching - he had planned to be in the car dealership business - as well as insights into his thoughts about player development and a commitment to individual excellence and value over winning. He also talks about leadership, his toughest challenges as a coach, and what his doubt taught him about accountability that shaped his leadership style. Finally, Coach Saban also shares his thoughts on NIL, the transfer portal, and the state of college football.
Ep. 115: Inside Sean McVay’s Coaching Mindset, NFL Rivals & Life as a Dad Pt. 2
In Part 2 of our exclusive interview with Super Bowl-winning head coach Sean McVay, of the LARams dives deep into the world of NFL coaching and leadership. Coach McVay shares his most valuable advice for young coaches, discusses the NFL head coaches he respects and loves to compete against, and offers a rare, personal look into how he’s learning to balance the intense demands of NFL life with being a new father. This video dives deep into Sean McVay's unique approach to football strategy, team culture, and what it really takes to build a winning organization in today’s fast-paced culture. Whether you're a fan of the Rams, a student of the game, or a coach looking for inspiration and insight, this episode is packed with leadership lessons, behind-the-scenes stories, and powerful takeaways from one of the brightest minds in football.
Ep. 114: The Rise of Sean McVay: From NFL Rookie Coach to Super Bowl Champion Pt. 1
In Part 1 of our exclusive conversation with Coach Sean McVay, the youngest Super Bowl-winning head coach in @NFL history opens up about the early years that shaped his love for sports, leadership, and life. McVay shares stories from his days as a high school state champion quarterback and an elite-level youth soccer player, where his passion for preparation, toughness, and team-first mentality took root. With heartfelt humility, he reflects on the powerful influence of his parents, his legendary grandfather John McVay (former GM of the 49ers dynasty), and the coaches who mentored him through high school and the NFL. This video dives deep into Sean McVay’s rapid rise, his innovative coaching style, and how he transformed the Rams into champions. Discover the pivotal moments, leadership decisions, and the mindset that brought him from rookie coach to NFL glory.
Ep. 113: Super Bowl Champ & Pro Lacrosse Player Chris Hogan
Chris Hogan is our guest on this week's episode and man, is his story an inspiring one. Not recruited heavily as a football player, Chris signed a full scholarship with Penn State as a Lacrosse player. After playing LAX for 3 yrs, he transferred to Monmouth University to play football, with no aspirations to play beyond college. Several years later, Chris made the Buffalo Bills roster, after being cut from multiple other NFL teams, where he played for several years before the Patriots picked him up, and everything changed. Chris talks about the winning culture he experienced with the Patriots and playing with Tom Brady, his Super Bowl experiences and much more in his story of overcoming adversity. He also talks about returning to lacrosse as a professional player after retiring from the NFL, and as a father of four, his thoughts on today's youth sports culture and being a sports dad.
Ep. 112: Former NFL QB and Current QB Coach Jordan Palmer
Jordan Palmer grew up in the shadow of his older brother, Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer. Jordan wasn't a starter on his high school team until his senior year, and he attended the one D1 school that offered him a scholarship, UTEP. And while his story was full of adversity, he remained committed to reaching his full potential, eventually spending several years playing as a backup QB in the NFL, UFL, and the Arena Football League. Jordan's commitment to his craft led him to become a "go-to" quarterbacks coach, working with numerous high-profile NFL and College quarterbacks still today. In addition, Jordan is also a highly successful entreprenuer, having co-founded of several very successful businesses, including his latest venture. Thread Performance. Jordan shares his journey as a player, coach, and sports dad with our guys in this episode.
Ep. 111: D1 Training Founder Will Bartholomew: The Power of Performance Training for Young Athletes
After winning the 1998 National Championship at Tennessee and serving as Captain of the 2001 team, Will Bartholomew's football career ended in his first year with the Denver Broncos due to a devastating knee injury. Will took his passion for sports and training and founded D1 Training, one of the nation's fastest growing performance training centers for young athletes, with over 150 locations (and growing) across the United States. As a dad of three athletes, one playing D1 football, Will shares valuable insights into the world of youth sports from his own experiences as a player and dad. Will also shares valuable information for our audience on the importance and impact of formalized training, why it matters, when kids should begin, and much more. In addition to what Will shares on this episode, he provides much more with over 20 episodes on Pure Athlete's PA+ platform, found at pureathlete.com.
Ep. 110: What We’ve Learned about Youth Sports + Big Announcement
With more than 115 episodes under their belts, Jeff, Britt, and Brad discuss some of their biggest learnings along the way, and Jeff shares some areas in which his perspective has evolved as his kids get older, and as he has participated in our discussions with guests and each other. This is a fun conversation that parents will relate to... AND...the guy look ahead to the future of Pure Athlete with a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!
Ep. 109: MLB 5x All-Star Andruw Jones
With 10 Gold Gloves and 434 career homers, Andruw Jones is regarded as one of the top centerfielders of all time, and the guys have a great conversation with him on this episode. Having shared an outfield together for the Braves, Jeff shares what it was like as a rookie playing next to the best outfielder "he has ever seen," including what Andruw told Jeff before Jeff's first right field start with the Braves. In addition, Andrew shares some fun stories, talking about hitting two World Series home runs at 19 years old, and which Braves HoF pitcher he didn't enjoy playing behind. Most importantly, Andruw shares what it was like to grow up playing baseball in Curacao, how many games he played in his youth, and how he achieved his dream of playing professional baseball. He also contrasts his journey with the current youth sports culture in America, based on what he saw through his son’s recent youth sports journey in Atlanta as he became the #2 overall pick in the MLB draft.
Ep. 108: MLS All-Star Brad Guzan
Our guest on this episode is MLS Cup Champion, 2x MLS All-Star, 2017 Goal Keeper of the Year and the captain & starting goalkeeper for Atlanta United, Brad Guzan. Brad shares insights and stories from his career as a player and parent of four, covering what makes a great teammate, the qualities of an influential coach, and how parents can support their children in sports. He also offers advice to young athletes and discusses his own experiences, including playing multiple sports, transitioning to goalie in college, and competing in the Premier League, MLS, Olympics, and World Cup. Brad also talks about the culture of youth soccer in America, the 2026 World Cup, the growth of the MLS, being a part of the biggest upset in MLS history, facing Messi and friends, the difference in soccer culture in Europe vs. America, and so much more!