The Pure Athlete Podcast

Dr. Neeru Jayanthi, Director of Emory Sports Medicine and a renowned injury prevention expert, shares valuable insights on youth sports specialization. He discusses the risks of high-intensity sports on young athletes’ bodies and the fine balance of early specialization versus multi-sport participation. Jayanthi emphasizes the importance of free play to foster creativity and enjoyment, while offering practical load management advice tailored to age. His research highlights the significant differences in injury propensity between male and female athletes, advocating for a thoughtful approach to training.

As summer ends and college football approaches, we thought it was time to replay one of our most popular episodes, with Frenchy's good buddy Coach Dabo Swinney. Dabo shares his compelling youth sports journey, including how he credits sports for giving him sanctuary from a difficult family situation. The coach shares incredible insights about coaching, what he prioritizes in his interactions with players and his coaches, life lessons that are available in sports, how he parents his own kids, and his unique overall approach to coaching in the current state of college football. If you are a coach, this episode will inspire you to strive for excellence but also to prioritize the impact you make in player's lives.

Having just Ethan Holliday drafted in the first round of the MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies, following his brother Jackson being drafted #1 overall several years ago, we believe it's a great time to replay our conversation with Mom and Dad. Former MLB Star Matt Holliday and his wife Leslee are raising their four kids in today's complex world of youth sports. Their oldest two boys shared their dad's passion for baseball, and their talent led the family into the crazy world of travel ball. In addition to Ethan and Jackson, Matt and Leslee have another younger son and daughter who have other passions, which Matt and Leslee are equally committed to supporting. In this episode, Matt and Leslee share their hearts for how they wanted to raise their kids, not just as athletes, but as high-character people. They share how they are navigating the craziness of sports and other activities to support their kid's dreams, but not at the expense of their marriage, their family life or their faith. You will be challenged and encouraged to hear Leslee's and Matt's hearts and wisdom as a sports mom and dad trying to get all of it right.

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.

Join Dr. Mark Kovacs, a renowned sports science expert and founder of the Kovacs Institute, as he shares crucial insights on youth sports physical development. He discusses the risks of overtraining during growth spurts and the impacts of Vitamin D deficiency on athletes. The conversation highlights the critical need for regular bloodwork to optimize performance and addresses the differences in development between boys and girls. Additionally, Dr. Kovacs explores sport specialization and debates which sports require the highest level of athleticism. Tune in for essential advice on maximizing youth athletic potential!

In this engaging discussion, Justin Su'a, a mental performance expert with experience in MLB, NFL, PGA, and ATP, shares insights on nurturing a winning mindset for young athletes. He dives into overcoming mental hurdles like confidence issues and negative self-talk. Justin emphasizes the importance of resilience, communication, and goal-setting strategies. He offers practical advice for parents on motivating their kids and navigating the complexities of performance anxiety. His positive approach inspires athletes to train both mentally and physically for success.

“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.

Enjoy this special replay of this timeless topic that originally aired in May of 2024. It's finally game day and a chance to pay off all of those hard hours of work and practice. A day meant for relaxation and having fun with other parents as we watch our athletes compete oftentimes morphs into something entirely different. For those of us who have experienced it, we know there are three major components to game day for parents: before the game, during the game, and after the game. Each of these aspects comes with their own challenges that can be both enjoyable and stressful. There are times we're able to help our young athletes and other times when we're just making it harder for them; so how can we know when we're doing our part?Jeff, Britt, and Brad sit down to discuss the best and most challenging parts of being a parent on game day, encouraging parents and athletes to take stock of their own approach while being intentional at making the most of this sacred day in sports.

Nick Saban, the legendary former head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, dives into his unexpected journey into coaching, initially eyeing a career in car sales. He discusses the importance of player development and emphasizes valuing individual excellence over sheer victories. Saban reflects on his leadership style, shaped by personal doubts and accountability. He also shares thoughts on the evolving college football landscape, touching on NIL deals and the transfer portal's implications on the sport's future.

Greg Maddux, a Hall of Fame pitcher and four-time Cy Young Award winner, shares wisdom from his illustrious 23-year career. He dives into the importance of arm care and effective pitching mechanics, revealing strategies that made him an all-time great. Maddux also reminisces about memorable encounters with legendary hitters and discusses the evolution of pitching techniques. Listeners will enjoy his reflections on youth sports, the significance of personalized coaching, and humorous anecdotes from his path from Little League to Cooperstown.