Surviving Youth Sports
Surviving Youth Sports is a podcast and platform where athletes, parents, and coaches share real stories and honest perspectives from every level of the game. Our guests include the influential voices behind the superstars, parents, mentors, coaches, and former athletes who have lived the experiences that shape today’s sports culture.
Expect real conversations about the journey behind the scenes, mental health, motivation, recruiting, parenting, and personal growth. Subscribe for weekly episodes that reveal the truth about what it really takes to survive youth sports.
Andrew Walling: Who Are You Without the Game?
At one point, Andrew Walling was at the top. Throwing mid-90s. Big opportunities. A path that looked like it was only going one way. Then it didn’t. Injuries, pressure, and the weight of expectations started to take over. Confidence slipped. The yips showed up. And for the first time, he questioned ...
Marc Wiese: The Game Ends, The Relationships Don’t
Rhett sits down with longtime coach and mentor Marc Wiese, whose career spans youth baseball, high school state championships, college programs, and USA Baseball. Having coached his own sons and thousands of players along the way, Marc brings a perspective shaped by both success and reflection. This...
James Lane: The Truth About Youth Sports Parents
In this episode of Surviving Youth Sports , host Rhett Parker sits down with basketball coach James Lane to talk about the reality of youth sports from multiple perspectives. James has lived nearly every side of the game. He played Division I basketball, coached at the college and high school level,...
Tara Henry: When Winning Becomes the Point, Kids Lose
In this episode of Surviving Youth Sports , Rhett Parker sits down with Tara Henry, General Manager of Softball America and a leader in international softball development. Tara shares what she’s learned from coaching and traveling around the world and how youth sports culture in the United States of...
Ian Ritchie: When Rankings Don’t Tell the Whole Story
In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, Ian Ritchie shares an honest look at youth sports rankings, projection versus performance, and the emotional pressure placed on families navigating elite baseball. From Perfect Game rankings to development on the national stage, Ian explains why rankings can ...
Ian Ritchie: When One Son Keeps Playing and One Walks Away
In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Ian Ritchie, father of Atlanta Braves first-round pick JR Ritchie, shares honest lessons about parenting in youth sports. This episode explores coaching your own child, holding a higher standard without damaging the relationship, and supporting siblings who c...
Angie Mentink on Parenting Athletes Without Living Through Them
In this episode of Surviving Youth Sports , Rhett sits down with Angie Mentink. Many know Angie from her work covering Major League Baseball with the Seattle Mariners. Others remember her playing days with the UW Softball Huskies and the Colorado Silver Bullets. But here, she speaks as a parent navi...
Justin Cunningham: From Coach to Dad in the Stands
In this episode of Surviving Youth Sports , Rhett Parker sits down with college baseball coach Justin Cunningham to talk about youth sports parenting, perspective, and what changes when you move from the dugout to the stands. Justin has coached at multiple levels of college baseball and currently le...
Xavier Neyens: There’s No Secret Recipe
In this Surviving Youth Sports Short, Xavier Neyens shares a humble and genuine player’s perspective on what it really means to “make it.” After listening to his father’s episode, Xavier reflects on his journey through youth sports, high school baseball, and basketball, and what truly mattered along...
Steve Neyens: You Don’t Have to Do It All
Rhett Parker welcomes Steve Neyens , a firefighter, devoted husband, and the father of Houston Astros first round draft pick Xavier Neyens . The episode opens with a familiar youth sports reality: once your kid becomes known, your identity can quietly shift too. You are not Steve anymore. You are “X...