Responsible Sports Podcast Library | Youth Sports Podcasts

Herm Edwards | Making An Impact

In this episode, Jim talks with current ESPN NFL Analyst and former NFL Head Coach and Player Herm Edwards, who talks about how making an impact starts at home with the parents, how his father helped him develop as an athlete and the importance of resiliency in sports and as well as life.

John Buccigross | Lessons Learned

In this episode, Jim talks with ESPN Anchor and writer John Buccigross, who talks to Jim about being a youth sports parent, a late bloomer among his peers and the important lessons a young athlete can learn from playing sports.

Ken Eriksen | The Power of Positivity

In this episode, Jim talks with current Head Coach of the USA Women's Softball Team Ken Eriksen, who talks about how controlling your emotion is the key to controlling the game, the lessons he learned while playing for Hall of Famer Robin Robert and how his playing experience as a catcher has influenced him as a coach.

Brandi Chastain | Becoming The Kind Of Player You Want To Be

In this episode, Jim talks with World Cup and Olympic Champion soccer player Brandi Chastain, who talks to Jim about how athletes deal with transition, bouncing back from injury, truly inspiring coaching, and her favorite memories from the US National Team and in this year’s Women’s World Cup.

Steve Young | It’s My Responsibility

In this episode, Jim talks with NFL Hall of Famer and Three Time Super Bowl champion Steve Young. Steve shares key insights about leadership, maturity, and responsibility on the field, supporting and inspiring teammates as a player and a parent, and the life lessons he drew from sports which have led to a varied and successful career after professional football.

Jim Mora Jr | Becoming A Team

In this episode, Jim talks with Former NFL Coach and NFL Network Analyst Jim Mora, who talks about time with his father, the lessons he learned as a player and as a coach, the impact that good youth coaches have on athletes in their formative years, and the way teammates are brought together from all different backgrounds and outlooks in order to accomplish a common goal.

Phil Jackson: Building Teams

In this episode, Jim talks with NBA coaching great and Positive Coaching Alliance National Spokesperson Phil Jackson, who shares his insights on how to build a true community within teams, finding voice for star players while encouraging role players to embrace their vital place on any successful team. Phil also shares his philosophy on balancing talent versus effort, the role of rivalries to motivate teams, and how to extend the lessons of sports beyond the court.

Shane Battier | The No-Stats All-Star

In this episode, Jim talks with current NBA Houston Rockets forward Shane Battier. Once profiled as a “No-Stats All-Star”, Battier shares with Jim his philosophy on being a great teammate, lifting the play of fellow players around him to create true team success. Battier also discusses the idea of “toughness”, beyond just physical toughness on the court. Battier’s commitment to himself and to his team is an ideal example for youth players of all sports.

Ron Wilson | The Art of Preparation

In this episode, Jim talks with the 2010 US Men’s Olympic Head Coach and current NHL Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coach Ron Wilson. Known in hockey circles as a coach dedicated to preparation, Ron shares with Jim how the men’s team prepared for the Olympics, how preparation was one element of accountability to fellow teammates, and how preparation leads to playing relaxed and in the moment to come back with 24 seconds on the clock.

Jennie Finch | The Privilege of Pressure

In this episode, Jim welcomes Olympic Gold Medalist and National Softball Team pitching All-Star Jennie Finch. Borrowing a line from Billie Jean King, Jennie talks about the ‘privilege of pressure’, encouraging youth athletes to enjoy the moment and to Honor The Game by honoring themselves, their teammates, the history of the sport, and the opportunity to learn life lessons through sports.

Julie Foudy | Leadership In Sports

In this episode, Jim welcomes former US National Women’s soccer team player Julie Foudy. Foudy appeared in 4 World Cups, winning two FIFA World Championships. She also played in three Olympic Games, earning 2 Golds and a Silver. Foudy also served as the President of the Women’s Sports Foundation, served on the Commission on Opportunity in Athletics that examined the landmark 1972 Title IX Legislation. Today Foudy is a soccer analyst for ABC and ESPN as well as the co-founder of the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy.

Joy Fawcett | The Art of Communication

In this episode, Jim welcomes US National Women’s soccer team and three-time Olympic medalist Joy Fawcett. As one of the premiere defenders in the game, Fawcett holds the record for the highest scoring defender for the US National Team with 239 caps. She was also the only member of the team to play all minutes of the 1995, 1999 and 2003 Women’s World Cup games as well as the 1996 and 2000 Olympics.

Dot Richardson | Teammates

In this episode, Jim talks with USA Softball Olympic Medalist Dot Richardson who shares her insights on how teammates play a pivotal role in helping athletes bounce back from mistakes and stay motivated. Dot reflects on a critical moment in Olympic history when the team had to recover from unexpected losses and how they refocused and rebounded. Dot also talks about how the lessons she learned on the softball field have translated to her professional career as a successful surgeon.

Doc Rivers | Filling Players’ Emotional Tanks

In this episode, Jim catches up with NBA Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers right after practice and the two discuss how to keep players’ emotional tanks full. Doc shares his strategies for coaching positively from the sidelines, how to involve both starters and bench players, how players can fill each others’ emotional tanks, and even shares some of his techniques used in pre-game and half-time chalk talks. Doc candidly relays real-life experiences with his current players and provides great examples that both coaches and players can use with their youth athletes.

Summer Sanders | Motivation

In this episode, Jim welcomes former Olympic swimmer Summer Sanders. Summer reflects on the coaches who influenced her career, keeping her motivated, positive and focused. She also talks about the important “home-coaching” provided by her mom and how she hopes to support her kids in their athletic careers.

Tony Dorsett | Overcoming Adversity & Mistakes

In this episode, Jim talks with Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett, who shares rarely heard stories from professional athletes on how they overcome challenges, how coaches help them bounce back from mistakes, and how parents can help young athletes focus on learning valuable life lessons from youth sports.

Alexi Lalas | Setting Goals

In this episode, Jim talks with former World Cup soccer player Alexi Lalas. Alexi shares with Jim how he set goals for himself as a premiere defenseman and how he stayed motivated to achieve both his goals and his team’s goals.

Ronnie Lott | Emotional Tanks

In this episode, Jim talks with Hall of Fame NFL cornerback and safety Ronnie Lott, about the notion of an Emotional Tank and how, just like a gas tank, when it’s full we can go anywhere we want to, but when it’s empty we can’t go at all. Ronnie shares his thoughts on how his tank was filled by coaches and fellow players, how he fill his son’s tank on and off the football field, and how he even works to fill the tank of his son’s coaches.

Doug Wilson | ELM Tree of Mastery

In this episode, Jim talks about the principle of coaching for mastery with Doug Wilson, former NHL hockey player and current general manager of the NHL San Jose Sharks. You’ll hear Jim and Doug discuss how parents and coaches can encourage youth athletes to focus on three main principles – effort, learning and bouncing back from mistakes – the “ELM Tree of Mastery.”