The MotUS Edge

In this episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with Angelo D'Amico to unpack leadership lessons every small business owner can use: building high-performing teams, creating a strong company culture, delegating with trust, making principled decisions, and leading people through pressure without losing sight of profit, purpose, or long-term stewardship. This conversat...

Should small gyms and mega gyms be competing on the same playing field in All Star Cheer? In this episode of The MotUS Edge, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones dive into one of the most debated topics in the cheer industry: the Small Gym Summit, D1 vs. D2 classifications, flex divisions, age grids, athlete participation, and the impact of competitive structures on gym growth and athlete opportunities.   T...

In this episode of The MotUS Edge, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with Brayden Black to talk about how to build confidence in teens, motivate young athletes, and help kids separate self-worth from performance. They unpack trust, autonomy, honest coaching, and comparison so parents, coaches, and gym owners can better lead the next generation.   ✅Perfect for: Cheer gym owners, coaches, parents...

In this episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with mental performance coach and Mind Body Cheer founder Jeff Benson to talk about one of the biggest challenges gym owners and coaches face today: building a healthy, lasting team culture. From leadership struggles and parent communication to athlete identity, emotional regulation, and handling criticism in the social...

In this episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with returning guest Sean Timmons, the new Executive Director of MotUS, for a raw and honest conversation about the real challenges facing cheer gym owners in 2026. From skyrocketing rent and rising operating costs to burnout, leadership, business growth, and adapting after COVID, this episode dives deep into what it tr...

How has all star cheerleading evolved—and is it better than ever? In this episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones break down the biggest changes in competitive cheerleading, from hard floors to spring floors, rubric-based scoring, music restrictions, roster sizes, and the growing cost of the sport. They dive into how modern cheer score sheets impact creativity, athlete develo...

In this episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with Jeff Metzger, founder of Kids First Sports Center, to unpack the leadership lessons, delegation strategies, and mindset shifts that fueled 53 years of continuous growth.   From learning the difference between mistakes and irresponsibility to mastering delegation and decentralization, Jeff shares hard-earned wisdom...

What if the key to better leadership, stronger teams, and less burnout was understanding how the brain actually works? In this episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with neuroscience-based leadership expert Dr. Sherry Yellin to uncover how brain science can transform the way you lead.   From understanding how "threat brain" shuts down creativity and performance to...

What does it really take to survive—and succeed—during the most chaotic time of the cheer season? In this episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with Orson Sykes, owner of Twist and Shout, to break down the realities of end-of-season pressure, tryout planning, staff management, and business growth in the all-star cheer industry.   From juggling competitions, staffin...

What is it really like to be a cheer parent in the world of all star cheerleading? In this entertaining and insightful episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, hosts Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with comedian and cheer dad Jay Yoder to pull back the curtain on the real cheer competition experience.   From long award ceremonies to emotional highs and lows, they explore the passion, pressure, and h...

What does it really take to run a successful all-star cheer gym while still coaching athletes every day? In this episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, hosts Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with gym owner Alex Csiernik of JPAC Radiance All Stars to talk about the realities of starting and managing a competitive cheer program.   Alex shares how she opened her gym during COVID, how she balances lead...

Cheer tryouts can make or break your entire season—but are you setting your program up for success or stress?   In this episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with Nelson De Dios, co-owner of OC All Stars and creator of the CheerSync app, to unpack real-world tryout horror stories, team placement challenges, and the growing pains of running a cheer business.   From...

Is all-star dance finally stepping into the spotlight alongside competitive cheerleading? In this episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with Nikki Sticka, All-Star Director at Premier Athletics NKY, to break down the evolution of cheer and dance score sheets, division growth, music changes, performance quality, and the business realities of gym ownership.   From th...

In this candid and powerful episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, Stacy Rowe, Casey Jones, Cole Stott, and Kevin Brubaker unpack the hard lessons they've learned as gym owners and entrepreneurs in the cheerleading and dance industry   From costly real estate decisions and lease negotiations to staffing challenges, culture fit, delegation, and leadership growth, this episode dives deep into the realit...

Recorded live at CX Brands Nashville Nationals, this Bonus MotUS Edge Podcast episode brings you real, unfiltered insights from All Star cheerleading parents. Host Casey Jones sits down with multiple parents to discuss their experiences at competitions, communication with coaches, financial expectations, team culture, and what truly matters most in their athlete's journey.   If you've ever wondere...

What does it really take to build and sustain a successful All Star cheerleading gym for more than two decades? In this episode of the MotUS Edge Podcast, hosts Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with Megan Gomarlo, owner of Northern Lights Athletics, to talk about the real journey behind 20 years of gym ownership.   They discuss the transition from passionate coach to business-minded leader, nav...

What does it really take to create a standout cheer competition experience? In this episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones record live from The CheerExpo Nashville Nationals to talk about event production, leadership under pressure, building community at cheer events, and why family fun still matters in All Star cheer.   With a surprise appearance from Lucky the Duck, CX Bra...

What does it take to launch the first-ever professional cheerleading league—and what does it mean for the future of the sport? In this episode of the MotUS Edge Podcast, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with Bill Seely and John Newby of Varsity Spirit to talk about the creation of the Pro Cheer League, the challenges of launching a live broadcast sports league, and how this new platform is crea...

Championship week isn't just about what happens on the mat—it's about everything that leads up to it. In this episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones dive deep into how to manage pressure, prepare your athletes mentally and physically, and avoid the chaos that can derail your biggest weekend of the season. Whether you're a new coach or a seasoned gym owner, this episode deliv...

Gym culture doesn't "just happen"—it's built on purpose. In this episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, hosts Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with Chasity Carter, owner of Premier Athletics Columbia, to break down how to create a values-driven cheer gym culture that holds up under pressure. They dig into parent education (including Chasity's parent bootcamp), setting clear expectations, reducing l...

n this deeply human episode, Stacy Rowe and Kevin Brubaker open up about leadership in the hardest moments — from heartbreaking personal loss to championship disappointments that shake a team to its core.   They share raw stories, including Stacy's iconic "Angel Routine," Kevin's journey after losing his longtime coaching partner, and the lessons every coach, parent, and athlete needs when life do...

Is competitive cheerleading really too expensive—or are we asking the wrong questions?   On this episode of The MotUS Edge Podcast, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with Roger Schonder of Stingray All-Stars for a candid, no-nonsense conversation about rising costs, division overload, culture buy-in, youth sports comparisons, and what's truly shaping the future of cheerleading.   From tough lead...

When tempers flare, emotions run wild, and the cheer world gets loud, great leaders learn to stay steady. In this MotUS Edge episode, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones unpack real stories and hard-earned lessons on emotional intelligence—from reading the room to handling parent chaos to leading with heart and logic. Whether you're coaching, directing a program, or keeping your gym afloat, this episode gi...

Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with Cat Haley of Cat Haley Cheerleading to talk athlete longevity, flexibility, injury prevention, and their opinions of the Pro Cheer League. Cat shares her powerful personal story, breaks down why flexibility is neurological—not muscular—and explains how coaches, gym owners, and parents can better protect athletes' bodies for long-term success. From injry pre...

In this powerful MotUS Edge Podcast episode, Stacy Rowe and Casey Jones sit down with motivational speaker David Solomon of David Power Talk to unpack how pain can become purpose. From childhood trauma and addiction to burning the boats and choosing growth, David shares raw stories and practical mindset shifts that help leaders, gym owners, and everyday grinders reclaim their power. This episode d...