The Pure Athlete Podcast

This week, we’re revisiting a laugh-filled conversation with John Crist—a former Division I college tennis player who went on to become one of America’s funniest stand-up comedians! Whether you missed it the first time or are tuning in again, enjoy this replay of our episode with John.

Jeff, Britt, and Brad take your calls about parenting, coaching, and the challenges of youth sports. This episode’s questions include:Sarah from Knoxville: Other parents are criticizing her son’s baseball abilities behind his back. Should she speak up or let it go?Greg from Dallas: His 14-year-old daughter says his reactions make her anxious and wants him to stop attending her basketball games. What should he do?Mike from Chicago: How can he ask his son’s hockey coach for better communication without putting him on the defensive?Tony from Chicago: His 9-year-old daughter’s softball team prioritizes winning over opportunities to develop. Is it time to find another team?Kyle from Phoenix: How can he help his competitive 9-year-old handle losing while balancing being both dad and coach?Want to join a future episode? Submit your story at pureathlete.com/call or DM us on social media.___________________________________________________________Pure Athlete is excited to announce our new partnership with Nuke Hydration, a sports drink created by sports parents looking for a cleaner way to keep young athletes hydrated. Nuke stands for “Nothing Unnecessary, Keep the Energy”and is made with just seven natural ingredients, with no dyes or preservatives. Available in lime and orange, it’s a refreshing alternative to traditional sports drinks, made with simple ingredients. Want to get your hands on it? Visit nukehydration.com and use code PURE15 for a discount!👇Help your athlete feel and perform better with Synergy Release Sports. Dr. Hatrak and his team have decades of experience treating more than 1,000 professional athletes, along with college and high school athletes. With two offices in the Atlanta area, they help athletes with injury prevention, recovery, pain management, and performance enhancement. Learn more about their approach in Episode 173 of our podcast, or visit synergyreleasesports.com to schedule your first visit. Mention Pure Athlete for 10% off!👇Stay ready for sideline weather with Constant Mountain, gear made for youth sports parents by a youth sports parent. From vests designed for playing catch with your kid to rain and down jackets for rough weather at the field, their outerwear features the exclusive Infinity Pocket. Whether you’re at practice or spending the weekend at a tournament, Constant Mountain has you covered. Visit constantmountain.com and use code PUREATHLETE for 20% off your first order!

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.

University of Georgia senior tight end Lawson Luckie joins Britt and Brad on The Pure Athlete Podcast to share his journey from late-blooming youth athlete to SEC contributor and team leader.Luckie, a pre-season All-SEC player from Norcross, Georgia, whose father and uncles also played for the Bulldogs, talks candidly about not being a standout early on—he was often the bigger kid stuck on the line—and how his parents’ patient focus on effort (not performance) and the example of his younger brother’s challenges fueled his drive. He covers handling rare losses in the 12-team playoff era, what leadership looks like as one of the older players in a young locker room, the real daily life of an SEC football player, and why he’s stayed at Georgia for his entire career instead of entering the portal.He also offers practical advice on recruiting (go where you’re truly valued), building route-running skill and football IQ, responding to Kirby Smart’s high standards, the value of bye weeks, and the importance of simply having fun and not being overly hard on yourself. Plus, he discusses the impact of family, charity work, and his long-term goals beyond the field.A must-listen for sports parents, coaches, and young athletes navigating development, recruiting, and the realities of high-level competition.

In Part 2 of this series, Brad, Britt, and Jeff dig deeper into the forces driving up the price of youth sports—and what parents can realistically do about it. They open with a timely anecdote from Rays manager Kevin Cash about purchasing a $550 bat for his son.The conversation turns to private equity’s growing role in facilities, tournaments, and travel organizations. The hosts examine how the push for more teams, gate fees, hotel mandates, and cost-cutting can affect the quality of competition, coaching, and the overall experience—often leaving parents feeling nickel-and-dimed after already paying steep entry fees. They also discuss the broader ripple effects: increased family stress, kids quitting, and the difficult trade-offs multi-child households face when one expensive trip crowds out other opportunities.Jeff, Brad, and Britt share practical perspectives on evaluating a child’s realistic ceiling, when high-level tournaments or showcases actually make sense versus local or college camp alternatives, and why multi-sport participation can sometimes be the more affordable (and healthier) path. Drawing from their own experiences, they emphasize wise counsel, honest conversations with kids about costs, and focusing spending on what truly moves the needle rather than chasing early rankings or unrealistic scholarship dreams.Whether you’re a first-time parent navigating travel ball or someone who’s already felt the financial pinch, this episode offers grounded advice on protecting both your budget and your family’s long-term enjoyment of sports.Also be sure to check out Part 1 of our conversation surrounding the costs of youth sports.