Raising a Champion

Are you ready to journey behind the scenes of youth sports with us? Brace yourselves, as we turn the spotlight on our guest, John Boruk, a former Philadelphia sportscaster and dedicated hockey parent. As we traverse through the fast-paced world of athletics, John shares valuable insights from his unique vantage point that combines both the perspectives of a seasoned sportscaster and a devoted pare...

As we welcomed Kate Allgood, mental performance coach and CEO, onto our latest podcast, we couldn't help but be astounded by her fascinating journey from ice hockey player to a specialized mental trainer for athletes. Her insights into the inner workings of an athlete's mind proved to be thought-provoking and enlightening - a must-listen for any parent, coach, or aspiring athlete. She ta...

What if you could change the culture of youth sports for the better? Join us as we talk to Don Bozzuffi, a man who has done just that by taking on the issue of parental behavior at Little League Baseball Games. With nearly 50 years of experience in youth sports and serving as the president of Deptford Little League since 2010, Don shares his journey of tackling this pervasive issue and how his eff...

In this episode, Jim and Andrea MacMenamin discuss the process to raise and develop two collegiate hockey players. Eldest son, Colton, attended and played hockey for Division-III Stevenson University in Maryland, while their youngest son, Connor, just completed four years at Penn State University and has committed to play for Minnesota-Duluth for the 2023-24 season. Both parents have a history of...

Sue Humphrey is a three-time Olympic coach who also served as the head coach for the U.S. Olympics Women’s Track and Field team at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece. She has trained some of the world’s best athletes from high jumper Charles Austin to gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Humphrey’s career has also heavily involved in advocating for women’s rights in college sports through the...

Mitch Lyons has made it his mission to reform and remodel athletics within the public school system. His belief through historical context and research-based learning implored him to advocate for students, parents and administrators through two non-profit organizations: GetPsychedSports.org and EndAbusiveCoaching.org.  As a result, he has conducted workshops on educational athletics and Social Emo...

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Born in Mt. Clemens, MI, Dave McNabb moved to the Delaware Valley in2010 when he was named the head golf pro at Applebrook Country Club in Malvern, PA. Impressively, Dave didn't take up the sport of golf until his mid-20s, and has started playing some of his best golf later in life when many athletes are on the downslope of their careers.  Dave qualified for his first major PGA tournament at...

Dr. Jay Cavanaugh is the owner and host of The Behind The Best brand. He  is a highly sought-after Mental Performance Coach for Pro Athletes, most notably in motocross and the supercross circuit. His work also includes golf and tennis professionals. Cavanaugh is also the founder of The VIBE Mindset. As a medical professional, a high-performance mindset coach for professional athletes, and an emoti...

 The Philadelphia native has spent five decades involved in the game of hockey as a player, coach, director and most recently as a scout.    Mongelluzzo served as Director of Player Personnel for USA's National Junior team from 2002-06.  He's the architect of the Liberty Bell Games, the premier hockey showcase in the Mid-Atlantic region for 14-17 year-olds.    He currently serves as a se...

Dr. Joel Fish is a nationally recognized expert in sport psychology who has worked in the field for the past twenty-five years. He is a licensed psychologist who has worked extensively with athletes of all ages and skills levels, from youth sport through the Olympic and professional ranks. Dr. Fish has been a sport psychology consultant for the Philadelphia 76ers , the Philadelphia Flyers, the Phi...

Amy Cohen just completed her 12th season as head coach of the West Chester University field hockey team. During her tenure, Cohen has led the Rams to three national championships with eight trips to the national semifinals, including most recently in 2022. A 2002 graduate of Lafayette College with a bachelor’s degree in History, Cohen was a four-year starting goalkeeper for the Leopards (1998-2001...

In Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania are Ruining Kids' Sports , coach, journalist and writer Linda Flanagan reveals how the youth sports industry capitalizes on parents’ worry about their kids’ futures, selling the idea that more competitive play is essential in the feeding frenzy over access to colleges and universities. Drawing on her experience as a coach and a parent, along with res...

Registered dietitian and childhood nutrition expert Jill Castle wrote the book "Eat Like a Champion" and has helped young athletes perform at the highest level with a high-octane, well-balanced diet. In this episode, Castle details the nutritional needs of athletic kids and should a diet be tailored differently depending on what sport that child participates in. Castle also addresses cou...

Dr. Jon Herting is a dynamic clinician who has been involved in rehabilitation and strength and conditioning for 10 years and has built a reputation among athletes as a clinician who promotes quick results and optimal outcomes. As a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Strength and Conditioning coach Jon has worked with athletes of all levels from adolescent to Olympic level and is a part of U...

In April 2005, towards the end of his freshman lacrosse season at Hofstra University, Nick Colleluori was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a blood cancer affecting the lymphatic system. But true to Nick’s relentless attitude, he endured a 14-month battle with cancer, undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and a stem cell transplant, along with experimental treatments. Shortl...

For the past 15+ years, Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania's Ken and Kim O'Donnell have incorporated a heavy dose for youth field hockey into their lives. Having raised five girls who have worked their way up the ranks from the grass roots stages of the sport all the way to the way to the highest levels of Division-I, including a pair of twins who will be attending Penn State University once...

Greg Berge has spent nearly 30 years as a coach and an administrator working with teenage athletes.  Berge currently serves as the high school principal and varsity boys basketball coach in Lake City, Minnesota. As of this episode, Berge's Tigers team was undefeated and ranked #1 in Class AA. However, Berge's contributions to leadership extend beyond the basketball court.   He's als...

Through 23 seasons as head coach at the University of Pennsylvania, Karin Corbett has established the University of Pennsylvania as one of the nation's elite women's lacrosse programs with 11 Ivy League championships in the past 16 years, 13-straight trips to the NCAA Tournament prior to the pandemic, including three trips to the national semifinals, Corbett's teams have established...

By now, NFL fans should know Vince Papale. Or at least his remarkable story. Papale's life and career with the Philadelphia Eagles was the inspiration behind the Disney movie "Invincible" starring Mark Wahlberg. Working as a part-time teacher and bartender, Papale did the impossible by earning a roster spot on the Philadelphia Eagles in an open tryout. At the age of 30, he became th...

In her first year as  St. Joe's field hockey coach, Hannah Prince led the Hawks to a 16-4 record advancing to the Round of 8 in the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual NCAA Champion North Carolina Tar Heels.  In her collegiate career, Prince was a four-year starter at UMass from 2010-13, helping the Minutewomen to three Atlantic 10 titles and three NCAA appearances. Prince also competed...

Growing up in the small southern town of Manilla, Georgia Jumaine Jones developed into one of the top high school basketball players in the nation. The Parade All-American played two seasons for the Georgia Bulldogs, leading the SEC in scoring as a sophomore. From there, Jumaine left college for the NBA where he was selected in the first round and eventually traded to the Philadelphia 76ers prior...

NHL Superstar Johnny Gaudreau grew up in the small South Jersey community of Carneys Point, just outside the city of Philadelphia.  Gaudreau is one of four kids raised by Guy & Jane Gaudreau, who have cultivated a hockey playing family.  Johnny along with his younger brother Matt both attended Boston College on scholarship. It was during his time at B.C. that Johnny took on the name "John...

Leah Amico is a three-time Olympic gold medalist with USA Softball, a two-time World Champion, a National Softball Hall of Fame Inductee in 2009, and a three-time national champion at The University of Arizona. At Arizona, Leah was also honored as a three-time First Team All-American and a three-time First Team Academic All-American. Leah leaves people believing they can and will conquer their per...

Dr. Jonathan Kropf has over 15 years of clinical experience managing sports injuries and neuromusculoskeletal injuries utilizing evidence based methods for the treatment and rehab of elite athletes, weekend warriors and families in the area. Dr. Kropf is currently contracted as the Chiropractic Provider for Villanova University Athletics working in conjunction with the amazing athletic training st...