Untapped Stories

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with https://www.instagram.com/coachballgame/ - Youth Ambassador for ⁨the MLB⁩ and one of the most influential voices in youth sports today - for a conversation every athlete, parent, and coach needs to hear. James has spent years traveling the country, training thousands of coaches, working alongside some of the greatest players in the game, and im...

Nutrition isn’t a 1% advantage in youth sports — it’s more like 20%. In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Holly from https://www.instagram.com/timetothrivenutrition/ for a conversation every young athlete — and parent — needs to hear. In sports, nutrition is often talked about as a 1% edge. A small detail. A “nice to have.” Something that matters more once you reach the college or...

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Makenna Marisa — former Penn State standout and current professional basketball player — for a conversation every athlete needs to hear about confidence, self-doubt, and controlling what you can when things don’t go your way. From the outside, it’s easy to assume that elite athletes never struggle with confidence. They’re talented. They’ve earn...

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Hannah Dickinson — Villanova Women’s Soccer goalkeeper and one of Athletes Untapped’s top coaches — for a conversation every young athlete (and parent) needs to hear. Playing goalie is one of the most mentally demanding positions in sports. Every mistake is magnified. Every goal feels personal. And there’s no hiding when things go wrong. Hannah...

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with a https://www.instagram.com/baseballmama_tx/ - seasoned travel baseball mom who shared one of the most honest and nuanced conversations we’ve had about burnout, balance, and what youth sports are really about. Her perspective challenges a narrative many parents feel pressured by — that playing “too much” automatically leads to burnout. She’s fu...

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with former Boston College walk-on Steve Perpiglia - a player who didn’t just fight his way onto a Division I roster… he earned a scholarship for his senior year. That kind of leap doesn’t happen by luck, and Steve breaks down the mindset behind it. Because if you spend any time around youth sports or the recruiting world today, you hear the same qu...

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Abby Kenkelen - our of our best coaches and a standout on Brandeis' Women’s Soccer team - who just wrapped up a season averaging 60+ minutes per game. That kind of consistency doesn’t happen by accident… and Abby will be the first to tell you why. Because if you spend any time around youth sports today, you hear the same question over and o...

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with someone who sees youth sports through a lens every parent needs to hear: Cari, the longtime soccer mom behind https://www.instagram.com/soccermomsunfiltered/ — a voice known for honesty, humor, and a refreshingly grounded perspective on what kids actually need from us. Because if you’ve been around youth sports long enough, you’ve seen it…the p...

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Kayla and Chad Zimmer — two longtime baseball parents who’ve spent years watching the game teach their kids lessons that go far beyond batting averages or win-loss records. And they shared a perspective every parent in youth sports needs to hear. Most parents obsess over the big questions: Should my kid play rec or travel? Are they falling behi...

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Maddie Troyer - a former Division I runner and Head Sports Nutritionist at SMU, now working with the ⁨https://www.instagram.com/nutrition_with_wendi/ team - to break down one of the most overlooked performance factors in youth sports today: in-game fueling. Most young athletes think fueling is simple: drink water and keep playing. But at higher...

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with https://www.instagram.com/ganon_baker_/ — a pioneer in modern player development who’s trained hundreds of pros, thousands of kids, and was producing coaching DVDs long before social media existed. Three decades into the game, he’s still obsessed with the craft. So we asked him the question every young hooper wants to know: What actually separa...

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Isaac Hadac — a small-town New York athlete who played at multiple college football programs and has become one of the clearest voices on football training for young athletes. If you spend any time around youth sports today, you see it everywhere: parents running their kid’s recruiting process. Parents controlling the Instagram account, sending...

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with someone who changed the way an entire generation sees the game of baseball: Mo’ne Davis. Most people remember Mo’ne as the Little League phenom who took over the sports world with a 70 mph fastball and a calmness far beyond her years. But today, she’s writing her next chapter — and it’s a big one. The WPBL just officially signed her, marking on...

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Dennis Stanton — former pro player, longtime basketball trainer, and one of the most respected minds in player development — to talk about one of the biggest blind spots in the modern recruiting process: how athletes use their coaches. Most players assume their high school or travel coach will “get them recruited.” But according to Dennis, that...

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Jaelynn Penn — former UCLA basketball standout, pro player, and current Athletes Untapped coach — to talk about one of the most overlooked skills in youth basketball: footwork. Jaelynn breaks down why young athletes focus so much on highlights, speed, or strength, but often forget the foundation that truly separates great players from the rest....

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Stefano Muniz — one of New Jersey’s top private soccer trainers, Rutgers–Camden standout, and a coach who believes the game teaches far more than technique. Stefano’s message is simple but powerful: sports aren’t just about skill development. The lessons athletes learn on the field often matter even more than the drills, goals, or wins. In this...

In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Alex Fava, a former Division I soccer player who competed at multiple programs before becoming a coach with Athletes Untapped. Alex opens up about the realities of college recruiting — the highs, the pressure, and the lessons that come from learning to stay grounded through it all. From navigating the recruiting process to balancing multiple sp...

Creator, sports mom, and former athlete - Bri Bellmon - joins us to talk about what it’s really like raising kids in today’s youth sports world. From emotional sideline moments to learning when not to step in, Bri shares a refreshing, honest perspective on how parents can support their kids without stealing the lesson that comes from struggle. As someone who grew up around sports and now finds her...

Former Davidson soccer standout and current UNC medical student - Mia Hodges - joins us to talk about how sports shape character, teach life lessons, and why repetition - not flashy drills - is what truly separates great athletes from everyone else. From competing in Division I soccer to balancing the rigors of med school, Mia has lived both sides of the athlete journey - the physical and the ment...

Pro basketball player Maddie Garrick joins us to share what it’s really like playing overseas for more than a decade — from life on the road to building the daily habits that separate good players from great ones. Growing up in Australia's Outback, Maddie had to travel hours just to find good competition. Those early years shaped her drive, discipline, and love for the game — qualities that he...

On today’s episode of Untapped Stories, we’re joined by Jonathan Carone — creator of @HealthySportsParents , a community helping parents navigate the ups and downs of youth sports. Jonathan’s mission is simple but powerful: to help parents raise confident, well-rounded athletes by teaching them to love the game first — before focusing on performance, rankings, or college scholarships. In a youth s...

On today’s episode of Untapped Stories, we’re joined by David Karasek — a former Olympic swimmer for Switzerland, University of Virginia standout, and now a performance mindset coach helping athletes master their mental game. David competed on the world’s biggest stage, swimming in the 2012 London Olympics, and knows exactly what it takes to perform when the lights are brightest. In this conversat...

On today’s episode of Untapped Stories, we’re joined by Michael Bradley - former NBA player, University of Kentucky standout, and current executive at the NBA. Michael’s basketball journey is one that few can rival. From his time as a McDonald’s All-American and top recruit in high school, to competing under legendary coach Rick Pitino at Kentucky, to a 15-year professional career that took him ar...

On this episode of Untapped Stories, we’re joined by Helena Orts - former Olympian for Spain’s national basketball team and one of Athletes Untapped’s top private basketball coaches. Helena’s journey through the world of high-level basketball is a masterclass in perseverance, adaptability, and mindset. Helena represented Spain on the international stage and competed at the highest level of Europea...

On today’s episode we’re joined by Gionna Quarzo - former NC State Track & Field standout and current college coach who’s now helping the next generation of runners reach their full potential! Gionna’s story is a powerful reminder of how one great coach can change everything. Growing up without access to top-tier training programs, she found a local coach who believed in her, pushed her to imp...