The Cheer Mom Podcast

I'm giving Jason Larkins some scenarios you might find between athletes at practice. What happens when athletes are bossing each other around? What about when an athlete isn't trying hard enough or pulling their weight? How does a coach deal with that, and how should parents approach it?  Jason is an All Star Cheer director and the host of the Let's Talk Cheer Podcast. If you haven't checked out L...

I always try to keep things positive around here, but sometimes a girl's gotta vent, right??! There are some things about cheer that just ain't right, and I'm spilling the tea on 10 things I hate about cheer. I can't believe how long I rambled about this! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I'm about to say something really obvious: Cheer is expensive.   We've been paying for cheer for so long, I don't even want to think about what we might have been able to pay for if we'd saved that money over the years....college? a month-long Sabbatical in Maui? a private jet? It makes sense that almost every cheer mom I know is looking for ways to offset the cost of cheer. Money is not easy to c...

Social media can be a big part of a cheerleader's lifestyle. Showing off skills, uniform reveals, and posting photos of cheer besties can all be part of the experience. Social media can be a positive thing that connects our small world of cheerleading and helps to create community and connection, but as we all know, there is a dark side to it, and as we have seen in recent years in the cheer world...

If you have not heard of today's guest, go follow Bad Flyer right now! I usually don't reveal the ages of my guests, but Steph Bell, aka "Bad Flyer," is a 34-year-old mother of two...and she's a flyer on a cheer team! Steph is inspirational, and has a beautiful heart. She talks with me about. Why she decided to start doing all-star cheerleading as an adult, how she did it, how hard she worked to g...

Welcome to the first bonus episode of The Cheer Mom Blog! Bonus episodes are bit-sized episodes, packed with information.   In this episode, I talk with Deryn, "The Cheerkin" all about how athletes can be competition-ready, how they can get stronger and more flexible, and how parents can support.   Deryn is a former allstar cheerleader and coach, she's an MSc graduate and Registered Kinesiologist....

It's not often that we get to talk solely about high school cheerleading, but this episode is all about the high school cheer routine! Not only is it different from All Star cheer, high school cheer routines differ from state to state in the US, and even competition to competition. With the help of my new friend, Cameron Hockaday, we're breaking down the elements of a high school cheer routine, a...

In this podcast episode, we delve into the emotional topic of favoritism in the cheer gym. There are many scenarios that can be perceived as favoritism, or what cheer moms often refer to as, "blatant favoritism."  If you suspect that favoritism is happening in your gym or on your child's team, I talk about some things you can do.   Get a custom team bracelet, necklace or ring from The Cheer Collec...

DREAM GUEST ALERT! Ever since The Cheer Mom Podcast was just an idea, I've wanted to talk with someone from Rebel. They are a leader in the industry, and WAY more than just a company that makes cheer uniforms. Abby Hoeffner is the Chief Marketing Officer at Rebel, and she pulls back the curtain for us, talking all about their Ambassador program, what it means to model Rebel, what goes into those i...

We have the best community of cheer moms! I put a call out for questions on Instagram and in the Facebook Group, and you came through with some great ones, and I'm answering some of them on today's episode. From gym follow through, to how to get your kid to practice at home and even my favorite competition hair, it feels like we're having a drink together and talking about cheerleading. Jump on in...

Choosing an all star cheer gym can be a big decision, but so can leaving one. We've talked about what to look for in a cheer program to make sure it's the right fit for your athlete and your family, but how do you know if it's time to leave? All Star cheer gyms center their message around loyalty and family, but what if you're not sure if you should stick with your current cheer family or move to...

On one hand, some parents view watching their child's practice as a necessary way to stay involved and engaged in their child's cheerleading journey. On the other hand, some coaches and parents believe that parental involvement in practice can be a distraction for the athletes, hindering their progress and creating unnecessary pressure. I'll be exploring both sides of the debate, and discussing th...

If you want to feel less alone as a cheer mom, this is the episode for you. I invited three other cheer moms to be on the podcast with me and we had our first - but definitely NOT last - roundtable discussion! We talk about everything from the cost of cheer and the lessons that cheer is teaching our kids, to cheer drama and mom friends. Thank you SO MUCH to Candice, Meredith, and Michele for the g...

Content warning: While the content in this episdoe is not graphic in nature, it may raise questions from some younger audiences. There have been some big updates in the cheer world over the past several weeks, so we're going to catch up together!  I'm following up on the Varsity lawsuits from the Rockstar Cheer fallout from last year, an update from Navarro Cheer Coach Monica Aldama, who is breaki...

In this episode, I'm talking about a topic that a lot of you are scratching your head over: franchised gyms. We're going to explore why more and more all star cheerleading gyms are expanding their reach with multiple locations across the country. From my experience in this area, I share why gyms like Cheer Athletics, Top Gun, California All Stars, Stingray All Stars, and more, are opening more loc...

Hi! Here's a quick little update. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I'm describing the excitement and challenges of being a cheer mom for an athlete who is on both an all star cheer team and a high school cheer team. I share my advice for what to be prepared for, the conversations you need to have with your athlete, and what to expect - especially in the month December! Having an athlete on both a school cheer team and an all star cheer team can be both rewarding...

We're talking about the college cheer experience, with my special guest, Steve Solberg with Nfinity . Steve discusses the college cheer experience and tells us about the Nfinity College Combine, explaining how it works and what it entails. He also surprises me with his answer about whether the combine replaces college cheer clinics. This podcast provides valuable insights into the world of college...

Roland Pollard has a rich history in cheerleading. You may have seen him and his daughter, Jayden, stunting on social media . Roland sat down with me to talk about his story, comments on social media, and how everything we do in life can teach us something.   Thanks to our Sponsor Rebel Athletic Enter code CHEERMOM for 10% off your purchase! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswiz...

Overall, team bonding is essential for cheerleaders as it strengthens team dynamics, fosters trust, enhances communication, and promotes a positive and supportive environment. These factors contribute to better performance, increased motivation, and a more enjoyable cheerleading experience for all team members. Tune in as I talk about team bonding and go through some of my favorite team bonding ev...

For most of us, it’s already a cheer new season. This time of year always brings fresh starts, new friends, new goals, and new teams. But a new score sheet, age grids, and shakeups in team alignment can cause many athletes to deal with disappointment during this time. In this episode, I'm talking about some ways you can help your athlete navigate through disappointment through the season. Even if...

Cheer is a physically demanding sport that requires extreme dedication, hard work, and a fierce team dynamic. And for those who choose to be crossovers or double team for two All Star teams, the challenge doubles. But is it all worth it? In this episode, I’m breaking down the pros and cons of being a crossover on a cheer team, and talk about things you, your athlete, and your family should conside...

This week I am replaying a conversation that I had with Jason Larkins on the Let's Talk Cheer podcast, so I thought it'd be fun to play that on this podcast. If you don't already listen to Let's Talk Cheer. Jason does a great job. He has some phenomenal guests on his podcast, and he really knows what he's talking about. We recorded this a while back, but this is such a timely episode for tryouts....

In this episode, we take a behind-the-scenes look at the All Star World Championship. I share my experience, and mini-interviews with the event producers and founders, giving us insights into how they organize the event and what goes on behind the scenes and how they overcome create a seamless experience for everyone involved. If you're a fan of end-of-season All-Star cheer events or just want to...

Major news in the cheer world as a former Navarro cheerleader comes forward with allegations. Content warning on this episode. If you or someone needs help, the SA hotline is available to you: 1-800-656-4673   I am covering the lawsuit made against Coach Monica Aldama and Navarro College, alleging coverups made in the cheer program. Sources: https://krdo.com/entertainment/cnn-entertainment/2023/04...