Here 4 Cheer

Every athlete dreams of reaching the next level—but what does it really take to get there? In this episode of Here 4 Cheer, Megan Gomarlo sits down with former Northern Lights All-Star Ally Minson, whose journey took her from a quiet kid in a small New Hampshire gym to a National Champion at Morehead State University, one of the most prestigious collegiate cheer programs in the country. Ally share...

The best teams aren't built on skills alone—they're built on trust. In this solo episode of the Here 4 Cheer Podcast, Megan Gomarlo shares three powerful ways coaches can build stronger relationships with their athletes, earn their trust, and create a culture where teams thrive. In this episode, you'll learn: Why relationships matter more than perfect skills How to make every athlete feel seen and...

In this powerful conversation, University at Albany head coach and Forte Spirit Solutions co-owner Adam Forte shares the journey from building a nationally recognized All Star program to walking away from gym ownership—and why it turned out to be one of the best decisions of his life. Adam opens up about: - Leaving Cheer Intensity after 17 years - Building championship teams without losing your va...

Behind every elite athlete is a journey of grit, determination, and coaches who see their potential long before they hit the national stage. In this episode of the Here 4 Cheer podcast, host Megan Gomarlo sits down with longtime friend, 5x Team USA World Champion, and University of Delaware Spirit Coordinator and Head All-Girl Cheer Coach, Kirby Lynch! Kirby opens up about her incredible journey i...

What does it take to build a successful all-star cheer program that lasts for 20 years? In this episode of Here 4 Cheer, host Megan Gomarlo sits down with Gina Cournoyer, founder of Rocket Cheer, to discuss the lessons, challenges, and unforgettable moments from two decades in the cheer industry. Gina shares how Rocket Cheer grew from a small program into a nationally respected gym, the importance...

What makes a championship cheer program? According to Becky Acra, it's not just talent, skills, or winning routines. In this episode of Here 4 Cheer, host Megan Gomarlo sits down with coach, program director, mental performance advocate, and author Becky Acra to discuss the real factors behind athlete success: trust, culture, communication, and healthy parent involvement. Becky shares lessons from...

What happens when an elite gymnast gives up an Olympic path… and ends up becoming a Worlds champion with Brandon Senior Black? In this episode of Here 4 Cheer, Megan Gomarlo sits down with Jorgie Quiala (BSB) to talk about: Growing up with an Olympian father Winning Worlds & NCA Tearing his ACL and fighting back Life inside Brandon Senior Black Touring with Gabi Butler Mental toughness, pressu...

What actually makes a great coach? In this episode of Here 4 Cheer, host Megan Gomarlo sits down with elite coach and choreographer Jared Erlenbaugh — a leader behind 40+ state titles, NCAA success, and one of the fastest-growing programs in the country. But this isn’t about trophies. It’s about what really builds champions. From rebuilding a struggling gym with just 27 athletes… to creating a cul...

How do you balance the high-stakes world of gym ownership with the emotional journey of being a "cheer mom"? In this episode of Here 4 Cheer, Brittany Sterkel (Owner and Head Coach of Motion Athletics) gets honest about the unique challenges of leading a massive program while watching her own children navigate the sport from the other side of the glass. Brittany shares the "aha" moments that chang...

She won on the world stage—now she’s helping shape the future of the sport. In this episode of Here 4 Cheer, Kaitlyn Lyday shares her journey from athlete to leader: Becoming a 3x ICU World Champion with  the US National Team The mindset that separated her at the highest level The pressure, doubt, and identity struggles behind the scenes Transitioning from athlete to Director of Marketing & So...

What if your team isn’t losing because of skills… but because of what’s happening in their mind? In this episode of Here 4 Cheer, Megan Gomarlo sits down with former Division I cheerleader Bailey Sineni—now a licensed therapist and mental performance coach—to break down the REAL reason teams hit in practice but fall apart under pressure. Bailey shares her personal journey from cheering at Alabama...

Tryout season is HERE—and if you're a cheer parent, you already feel the stress. In this solo episode of Here 4 Cheer, Megan breaks down the reality behind placements, levels, and the pressure that takes over this time of year. From Nashville competitions to NCA College Nationals, to the chaos of tryouts… this is the honest conversation a lot of parents need—but don’t always hear. This episode cov...

Welcome to another episode of the Here for Cheer podcast with host Megan Gomarlo! Today, we are joined by Meredith Kidd, a retired cheer coach of over 20 years, a varsity judge, and the founder of Kidd Collegiate Consulting. Whether you're a coach trying to maximize your Game Day score, or a parent navigating the stressful college admissions process, this episode has something for you! Meredith sh...

What does it actually take to build a national championship program… from the ground up? In this episode of Here 4 Cheer, University of New Hampshire Head Coach Scott Rigoli shares the full story behind one of college cheer’s most impressive rises — from taking over a program with no expectations to winning a national title in year one. He walks through the moment they thought they placed 4th… onl...

What does it really take to win at the highest level of college cheerleading? On this episode of Here 4 Cheer, Megan Gomarlo sits down with legendary Morehead State head coach Mark Coleman — 21-time national champion — to break down the mindset, culture, and pressure behind one of the most dominant programs in the sport. This is an unfiltered look at what separates good from elite. 💥 Why Morehead...

What happens when three sports dads enter the world of competitive cheer… for the first time? In this episode of Here 4 Cheer, host Megan Gomarlo sits down with the Cheer Dads Unfiltered crew - Tom Slocum, Geoffrey Mazariegos, and David Woods - to talk misconceptions, intensity, scoring confusion, and what REALLY surprised them about all-star cheer. From thinking it was just pom-poms and sidelines...

In this episode of Here 4 Cheer, Megan Gomarlo sits down with cheer industry leader Randy Dickey — gym owner, music producer, entrepreneur, and founder of ACX. Randy shares the real story behind how he went from a college wrestler to building one of the most respected cheer programs in the sport. Along the way, he talks about the pressure of running a cheer gym, the mindset behind championship tea...

In this solo episode of the Here for Cheer Podcast, Megan breaks down the powerful 33% Rule—a mindset that can completely change the culture of a team, gym, or even your everyday life. In sports and in life, people tend to fall into three groups: • The bottom third – the complainers and energy drainers • The middle third – people who are positive when things go well, but struggle when adversity hi...

Are you posting every day but still not filling your teams? 👀 In this episode of Here 4 Cheer, host Megan Gomarlo sits down with Rachelle Provost, co-owner of TTB Media & Consulting, to break down exactly what what actually works for marketing. You’ll learn: Why most gym marketing isn’t converting The #1 mistake gym owners need to STOP doing How to use Facebook & Google Ads without wastin...

In this emotional episode of Here 4 Cheer, Northern Lights coach and owner Megan Gomarlo shares the full story behind their unforgettable journey at CHEERSPORT 2026. After losing the title the previous year on a devastating technicality, the athletes returned with unfinished business. What followed was a year of doubt, illness, pressure—and belief. Through affirmations, relentless preparation, and...

What if being busy didn’t have to mean being overwhelmed? In this episode of Here For Cheer, host Megan Gomarlo sits down with cheer and dance industry leader Matthew Goto—athlete, coach, mentor, and creator of the platform Busy, But Organized—to talk productivity, leadership, and building a life that actually works. With over 22 years in the cheer and dance world, Matthew shares the real systems,...

What does it really take to rebuild a college cheer program from nothing? In this episode of Here For Cheer with Megan Gomarlo, UMass Head Coach Colby Hall opens up about taking over a struggling program with just 22 athletes, rebuilding team culture, raising expectations, and ultimately leading her team to a College Nationals championship. From holding on “for dear life” in year one to creating a...

In this episode, host Megan Gomarlo sits down with Izzy Russo, a five-time World Champion and former flyer for the legendary Top Gun All Stars (TGLC) —one of the most iconic teams in all of cheerleading. Izzy opens up about what it really takes to compete at the highest level of the sport, from moving across the country at 12 years old to chase her dreams, to handling pressure, fan attention, and...

What separates a thriving cheer gym from one that’s constantly overwhelmed? In this episode of Here For Cheer, host Megan Gomarlo sits down with Danielle Johnston—co-owner of Twister Sports, founder of Next Gen Gym Owners, and author of The Cheer Gym Owner’s Handbook—to talk honestly about what it takes to build and sustain a successful cheer gym. From growing a gym in a small town to creating sys...

How do you grow a cheer gym without losing your culture, your staff, or yourself? In this powerful episode of Here For Cheer, host Megan Gomarlo sits down with Rachel Lynch, MBE, owner of North East Cheer (UK) and founder of The Cheerleading CEO, to break down exactly how she scaled her program from 80 athletes to over 900 members—while maintaining retention, confidence, and community. Rachel shar...