Be Valiant - Powered by Valiant Sports Society

In this episode of Be Valiant , host Todd Merkow sits down with longtime Arizona sports broadcaster and sports parent Jody Jackson for a candid conversation about navigating youth sports, competition, and mental health. Jody shares her unique perspective as a former collegiate athlete and the parent of two high-level youth athletes—a quarterback and a pitcher—two of the most pressure-filled positi...

In this powerful and deeply human episode of Be Valiant, Todd Merkow sits down with Mark Hilinski, co-founder of Hilinski's Hope and father of Tyler Hilinski, the Washington State quarterback who died by suicide in 2018. Todd opens with the sobering reality that college sports continues to face devastating losses—reminding listeners that high-achieving athletes can carry unseen mental and emotiona...

As we take a short holiday pause from releasing new episodes, we wanted to re-share another conversation that continues to resonate deeply with parents and athletes. This episode features an open and thoughtful conversation with my oldest daughter,  Madison , about her youth sports experience — including pressure, expectations, confidence, setbacks, and how athletes learn to advocate for themselve...

As we head into the holiday break and take a brief pause from releasing new episodes, we wanted to re-share one of the most meaningful conversations from the Be Valiant podcast. This episode features an honest and deeply personal conversation with my daughter, Sydney Merkow, about her youth sports journey — including identity, pressure, expectations, confidence, and the emotional realities that of...

Host Todd Merkow talks with Kirsten Jones — former Division I volleyball player, Nike executive, performance coach, and author of  Raising Empowered Athletes — about what it really takes to help kids thrive in sports and in life. Drawing on her experiences as both a parent and professional, Kirsten shares insights into confidence, mental health, motivation, and how to redefine success in youth ath...

Host Todd Merkow sits down with former Arizona State University women's basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne — one of the winningest coaches in Pac-12 history — for a powerful conversation about leadership, culture, and the evolving landscape of youth and college sports. Charlie shares insights from decades of coaching elite athletes, discusses the mental and emotional challenges young players fa...

In this powerful conversation, Todd Merkow sits down with journalist, coach, and parent Linda Flanagan, author of Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids' Sports — and Why It Matters. Together, they unpack what the modern youth sports ecosystem really looks like — from the billion-dollar pressures on families to the hidden toll it takes on kids' mental health.   This book is a mus...

Host, Todd Merkow sits down with Arizona sportscaster and longtime youth sports parent Kevin McCabe to reflect on how high school athletics have changed over the years. Kevin shares insights on the as a sports parent, the high school athlete system, and how shifts affect kids who want to play multiple sports. Together, they talk about the role of coaches in shaping culture, the challenges families...

Valiant Sports Society, founder and CEO, Todd Merkow talks with Dr. Robert "Bob" Dranoff, longtime commissioner of the East Coast Conference (NCAA Division II), about the sweeping changes in college athletics and what they mean for families. From NIL and transfer rules to the viability of smaller colleges, Bob offers a commissioner's view on where college sports are headed. The conversation also e...

In this episode, Todd talks with USA Today columnist and author Steve Borelli about the rise of travel sports and their impact on families. Steve shares insights from his reporting and his own experience as a sports parent, diving into the costs, pressures, and cultural shifts shaping youth athletics today. Together, they explore how commercialization, burnout, and parent expectations affect kids...

In this episode, Todd reconnects with longtime friend and coach Mike Strati to talk about the realities of youth sports from both the sidelines and the bench. Mike shares his perspective as a dad, coach, and mentor on what kids really need to thrive in today's competitive environment. Together, Todd and Mike dive into culture, coaching styles, the balance between development and performance, and t...

Todd and his daughter Sydney revisit her years in competitive soccer — from early youth leagues to the pressures of high school and club play. Sydney shares what it was like to balance joy with expectations, mental health, navigate challenging health issues, and grow as both a leader and a player. Together, father and daughter reflect on the lessons soccer gave her on and off the pitch, and what e...

Host of Be Valiant, Todd Merkow, sits down with his oldest daughter, Madison Merkow, for an honest conversation about growing up in the world of competitive volleyball. From indoor gyms to the sand courts, Madison shares the highs and lows of her experience: the pressure of tryouts, the coaching experiences, the emotional challenges of injuries, and the joy of finding her place in beach volleyball...

In this launch episode, the founder and CEO of Valiant Sports Society, Todd Merkow introduces the Be Valiant podcast and shares his personal journey as a youth sports dad. From the highs of watching his daughters grow through sport to the struggles of navigating toxic cultures, financial pressures, and difficult coaching environments, Todd sets the stage for the conversations ahead. This episode l...