Youth Unmuted

For single parents balancing multiple jobs, finding a reliable environment that fosters growth rather than recklessness is an urgent necessity. In this episode, we sit down with Bex, an incredibly sharp 11-year-old Boys and Girls Club member who has channeled his passion for basketball and community into hosting his own sports podcast. We get into what it really looks like to grow up inside the cl...

Natural talent alone will never sustain a career at the elite level of competition. As the landscape of professional sports evolves with new investments and structural shifts, understanding how to navigate personal doubt is crucial right now. We sit down with former professional women's American soccer player and Olympic gold medalist Mia Hamm to explore the mindset required to turn setbacks...

Unpredictable environments and high stakes pressure can easily cause young athletes to lose their footing before they even step onto the field. In a world where youth sports often prioritize external expectations over internal development, finding authentic confidence is the ultimate challenge for the next generation. In this episode of Youth Unmuted, host Holden sits down with soccer legend and O...

Generational trauma is a quiet thief that robs families of emotional stability before the next generation even has a chance to start. While awareness is higher than ever, the systems meant to provide support often remain difficult to navigate, leaving parents and youth feeling isolated in their struggle. In this episode, Misty Ingalls and Lupita Perez Lopez return to discuss the practical realitie...

Suffering in silence is a quiet profit killer for a child's potential, often disguised as "just being a teenager" or "acting out." In a world that is louder and more connected than ever, the stakes for youth mental health have never been higher because the internal noise can become deafening without the right support systems. We sit down with Misty Ingalls and Lupita Perez...

Arkansas is ranked 50 out of 50 for food insecurity, and that statistic stops being “data” the moment you picture a classmate wondering where dinner will come from. We sit down with Holden J, our 2026 Youth of the Year, to talk about why hunger became his platform, what food insecurity really looks like day to day, and why it can stay hidden even in communities that look like they’re doing fine fr...

A kid walks up to the CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of America, shakes his hand, and says, “I want your job one day.” That sounds like a movie line until you hear what happened next and how it connects to youth leadership, mentorship, and big goals that start in ordinary places. We’re joined by Ashley (today’s host) and Holden Jeffries, our 2026 Youth of the Year for Arkansas and local winner, to re...

Food insecurity can feel like a problem that belongs to “someone else,” until you realize your community needs you and it needs you now. We’re back for part two with Kayla and Rachel from Walmart, and we get practical about how real hunger relief works on the ground, from your local food bank to the nationwide partnerships that help food reach families. We talk about simple actions that actually a...

Hunger is not abstract where we live; it shows up in Arkansas families deciding between groceries and gas. We sat down with Kayla Burton and Rachel Spencer from Walmart to unpack how a massive retailer can still act like a neighbor, channeling national scale into local impact. The heart of our talk is proximity, keeping dollars, food, and decision-making close to the people who need them most. We...

Champions don’t just show up on game day, they find their voice long before the first pitch. In the second part of our conversation with Coach Courtney Deifel, we unpack how confidence on the field becomes courage in life, why “nice” and “ruthlessly competitive” can live in the same coach, and how language and labels still shape how women leaders are seen. From the subtle double standards to the h...

What if the real edge in college sports isn’t a new playbook but a stronger sense of belonging? We sit down with Arkansas softball head coach Courtney Deifel to unpack how a California catcher with a passport full of stamps built an SEC contender by pairing uncompromising standards with human care. From a childhood spent on fields across tiny towns to lifting a national championship trophy at Cal,...

What if your dream job at 18 isn’t your purpose at 38? We sit with Jim Clark, CEO and President of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, to chart how a finance-minded kid became a leader devoted to expanding opportunity for millions of young people. The story moves from lecture halls to club halls, showing how the right team, mission, and mindset can turn ambition into impact. We dig into leadership...

Doors open when someone hands you a real microphone. That’s the energy we bring to a candid conversation with Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, about what it truly takes to help young people feel seen, heard, and prepared for the future. We trace Jim’s journey from a corporate role in Milwaukee to leading a national movement, and we get honest about why he stayed:...

Nerves don’t vanish on their own, they get trained. We sit down with Ximena, the Boys and Girls Club National Youth of the Year, to trace how a once-shy student became a poised speaker, athlete, and community leader. The through line is trusting the process: more reps on stage, more honest reflection about identity, and more supportive rooms where teens can practice leadership without pretending t...

A mic, a mission, and a village that won’t let you shrink. We sit down with Ximena, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year, to unpack how a sports-loving club kid became a confident advocate on national stages, from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. The story moves fast—junior staff summers turn into public speaking reps, MC gigs at the Keystone Conference, and a front-row se...

Joy is a powerful teacher—and at our Fall Classic at Topgolf, joy meets purpose to fuel real wins for kids in Benton County. We brought sponsors, board members, and community partners together in one lively space to raise funds, share stories, and spotlight the programs that turn club kids into confident leaders who carry their skills from the clubhouse to school, work, and beyond. We kick off wit...

A broken leg in seventh grade. Meniscus tears, an ACL, even a fractured hip. Then a Super Bowl ring and a decision to build a life that outlasts the game. We sit with Malcolm Mitchell to explore the real engine behind his journey: a daily commitment to reading, a stubborn work ethic, and the kind of leadership that shows up as a warm jacket and a better pillow in a cold New England winter. Malcolm...

Two worlds can shape a life: the one you’re born into and the one you can reach. We sit with Malcolm Mitchell, former New England Patriots Super Bowl Champion, children’s author, and Cox digital access ambassador, to unpack how opportunity, literacy, and community turn potential into progress. Malcolm shares what it means to grow up in a “book desert” and then discover how access opens doors. We t...