#76 - Linda Flanagan: The Truth About Youth Sports

In this eye-opening episode of Nothing Left Unsaid, Tim Green and his son Troy welcome journalist and author Linda Flanagan, whose book Take Back the Game examines the state of youth sports in America. Drawing from her experiences as a parent, coach, and reporter, Linda pulls back the curtain on the pressures, costs, and cultural shifts that have transformed kids’ sports from joyful play into an arms race. She and Tim explore how early specialization, year-round schedules, and parental expectations are burning out young athletes and what it will take to bring balance, health, and genuine fun back to the field. This conversation blends sharp cultural insight with heartfelt storytelling, offering a blueprint for reclaiming sports as a source of growth, connection, and joy—true to the mission of Nothing Left Unsaid.

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