The Pure Athlete Podcast

As we enjoy March Madness 2025, we are pleased to replay our 2023 conversation with ESPN's lead college basketball analyst Jay Bilas. Jay had much to share about the mental side of sports from his book "Toughness," sharing some great stories from his childhood, his time at Duke, and his insights from being a sports dad himself. And speaking of Duke basketball, Jay shares some interesting insights about playing for Coach K, as well as reveals the guy who was the toughest guy he ever played against...you will be surprised! Enjoy!

Joey Logano didn't grow up in a racing family, but when his dad bought him a go-cart at age 6, he quickly became hooked. in no time at all, he was winning at a pace that by the time he was 18, people were already saying he was the next Jeff Gordon. And he believed it, until he hit some major adversity in the sport. On this episode, Joey shares his story growing up and falling in love with racing and provides some insight on the skill and talent required to get to the top of the sport. He also gets real about his career eventually going off track, the difficulty that presented, and how he eventually responded to get to a point of now saying it was one of the best things to happen to him. in addition, Joey shares his thoughts about being dad, talking about helping his kids to find their passion and to live their own dreams. Finally, Joey answers some fun rapid-fire questions and talks about the mindset that he and other drivers have to have to overcome any fear of the danger of racing. Whether you are a NASCAR enthusiast or not, you will enjoy this episode.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Kirk Herbstreit, Kirk dives into more of his experiences as a sports dad, his thoughts on early specialization in youth sports, and the future of college football as it relates to NIL and the transfer portal. The guys also put Kirk on the hot seat as he answers 5 rapid-fire questions, ranging from his favorite College GameDay campus to his current favorite MLB player. If you thought Part 1 of our interview with Kirk was entertaining, then you don't want to miss out on Part 2 ... check it out!

One of the hardest-working and most respected voices in sports, Kirk Herbstreit brings preparation, expertise, and a passion for excellence when he's in the broadcasting booth or on the set of College GameDay, having won 5 Emmy awards over his impressive career. But if you think the job is the most important thing in Kirk's life, you're missing a big part of his story. On this episode, Kirk talks to the guys about growing up in a broken home and the role that youth sports played in his life. And if you assume that being the MVP QB of the Ohio State football team was the culmination of a fantastic four years at the university, well, there's more to that story as Kirk shares authentically about the adversity he had to overcome at that stage of his life, and the growth that came from it. All of those experiences shaped his own commitment to making family relationships his priority and he and his wife Alison, have done just that with their four boys. As all four sons were heavily involved in youth sports, Kirk shares the epiphany he had looking in the mirror as a sports dad, and how that changed his outlook and approach to the journey with his boys, and he passionately shares his insights into youth sports that every parent needs to hear. Part 1 of our time with Kirk is rich and will leave you looking forward to the rest of the story in Part 2.

Disappointment is a constant companion in youth sports, affecting both kids and parents alike. The discussion dives into the emotional rollercoaster young athletes face, from losses to injuries. Personal anecdotes provide insight into coaching decisions and coping mechanisms. The speakers emphasize resilience and teachable moments, encouraging a balanced view of effort versus outcomes. They also tackle accountability, highlighting the importance of modeling positive responses to setbacks, ensuring that joy in participation prevails over mere competition.

Following February's compelling hockey matchup between the U.S. and Canada, we are excited to welcome 19 yr NHL player and former Nashville Predators captain Mike Fisher as our guest. Mike shares his story of growing up as a young player in Ontario, the grit that enabled him to overcome injuries, the role that his faith played in his journey as an athlete and now as a sports dad of two boys, and his favorite song from Carrie Underwood, who happens to be his wife.

We are excited to replay one of earliest and favorite episodes with Atlanta Braves fan favorite Austin Riley. The son of an NFL punter, Austin Riley grew up playing multiple sports while chasing his dream of playing major league baseball. In this episode, Austin shares his story of grit and hard work, on his way to becoming a first round draft pick and All-Star third baseman for the Atlanta Braves.

For those of you who have a goal to play sports in college, or for your kid to play in college, how much do you really know about what that entails? What will each day look like in-season or during the off-season? What will my “college experience” be like? What are the biggest challenges, and why do more than 30% of college athletes quit early? Yes, playing college ball can be super fun, offering some major benefits. But for some, the expectations differ from the realities they experience. On this episode, the guys discuss these realities to help young athletes and parents gain a better understanding and an accurate view of the life of a college athlete.

On this episode, the guys welcome our first current college athlete to the pod to discuss his journey to become one of college football's leading quarterbacks going into the 2025 season. Cade discusses why he has turned down transfer portal offers for several years, and the value he has placed on staying at a place like Clemson for his entire college career. Cade authentically discusses the adversity he faced in his sophomore year at Clemson, how he faced it and grew from it, and how much he values going through the fire with his teammates. His discussion of the commitment to hard work every single day that athletes must embrace to achieve their goals is inspiring, and he shares his take on what true leadership looks like, especially when things aren't going well. In addition, Cade talks about what it was like to grow up and play ball at Westlake HS in Austin Texas, where he never lost a game, even in middle school. He also share his recruiting story and offers advice to high school kids today regarding what they should be considering when selecting a school to play at. Whether you are a Clemson fan (like Jeff Francoeur) or not, you will likely become a Cade Klubnik fan after listening to this inspiring episode.

On this episode, we provide a sneak peek into our upcoming, new Parent Spotlight Series as Britt interviews Todd Peterson. Todd was an NFL kicker for 13 seasons, but more importantly, is a sports dad whose son played D1 college football. Todd shares his experiences and insights as a sports dad, how he and his wife Susan approached parenting to keep sports in balance, help their kids, Zach and Hannah, set and achieve their goals, overcome adversity, and leverage the lessons learned in sports and other activities to become healthy, productive people. Todd and Susan’s faith, wisdom, and commitment to helping their kids grow and thrive is relevant, informative, and inspiring for sports parents everywhere.10:00 Todd's high school transition from soccer to football12:15 Transferred from Annapolis to the University of Georgia20.50 Start of an NFL career23.55 Todd and Susan's Parenting Journey with Hannah and Zach 34.00 Parenting through Zach's sports journey to College