In this episode, part one of a two-part conversation, we sit down with Garry Linton, known to many as Take Flight Coach, for an honest and eye-opening discussion about youth sports, parenting, and what it really means to develop kids the right way. Garry shares how his journey began as a parent who stepped in to coach and quickly realized that much of the system was missing the mark. From early ego traps to the pressure-filled culture surrounding kids’ athletics, he brings clarity to the tension so many families feel but struggle to name.

We talk about the illusions that drive youth sports today, especially the belief that more games, travel teams, and private training automatically lead to better development. Garry challenges that mindset by pointing us back to something many kids are missing: freedom. Freedom to play, to fail, to experiment, and to build confidence without constant correction. He introduces the idea of “self story” and how the narratives kids form about themselves are often shaped by the words and reactions of the adults around them.

This conversation is both grounding and hopeful, and it sets the stage for part two where we continue unpacking what it looks like to reshape the youth sports experience. It invites parents and coaches to step back, rethink their approach, and prioritize long-term growth over short-term success. At its core, this episode is about helping kids rediscover joy in the game while building resilience, confidence, and a healthy identity that goes far beyond the scoreboard.

In a youth sports culture that often ties confidence to performance, how do we help kids build something deeper, something that lasts beyond the scoreboard? In this episode of Heaven or Heisman, we’re joined again by Brad, “The Coaching Dad,” to talk about the difference between confidence rooted in results and confidence rooted in identity. Together, we explore how athletes can grow in belief without needing to prove themselves every time they step on the field.

Through real coaching stories and practical examples, this conversation highlights simple but powerful ways to build confidence on purpose, creating space for mistakes, celebrating effort over outcomes, and giving kids opportunities to lead and use their voice. It’s a reminder that the environments adults create, through their words, reactions, and expectations, play a huge role in shaping how kids see themselves.

Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to zoom out. To focus less on early success and more on long-term development. To trade pressure for presence. And to help kids find a confidence that isn’t shaken by a missed shot or a tough game, but strengthened by knowing who they are and why they play.

What does it look like to hold your identity steady when everything around you—your role, your platform, your success—keeps shifting?

In this episode of Heaven or Heisman, we sit down with High Point University’s Chase Johnston, whose viral game-winning moment captured national attention—but whose story runs much deeper than one shot. From losing his starting position mid-season to becoming a bold voice for his faith on one of the biggest stages in college basketball, Chase shares how God reshaped not just his circumstances, but his identity.

Together, we explore the tension many athletes feel between performance and purpose. Chase opens up about the quiet unraveling that came when basketball became everything—and the freedom he found when it no longer had to be. Through moments of disappointment, doubt, and unexpected opportunity, his story becomes a picture of what it means to trust God not just in success, but in surrender.

We also dive into the role of discipline, family, and formation—what it looked like to put up 1,500 shots a day, the influence of a brother who spoke hard truth in love, and the parents who built a foundation behind the scenes. It’s a conversation about the unseen work that shapes both the athlete and the person.

Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to reexamine what defines us. To pursue excellence without being consumed by it. And to recognize that the most meaningful victories often come in the moments we least expect—when faith, identity, and purpose align.

In a culture where youth sports often feel overwhelming, expensive, and hyper-competitive, how do we hold on to what actually matters? In this episode of Heaven or Heisman, we sit down with John O'Sullivan to talk about the current state of youth sports—and why the experience a child has depends far more on the environment adults create than the sport itself.

Together, we explore the quiet drift many parents feel: starting with good intentions, but slowly getting pulled toward comparison, pressure, and short-term results. John challenges us to start with the end in mind—who do we want our kids to become—and work backwards from there. From the dangers of early specialization to the rising cost and commitment of youth sports, this conversation offers a grounded, research-backed perspective on what truly helps kids thrive.

Ultimately, this episode is a call to play the long game. To value development over status, relationships over results, and joy over burnout. Because when sports are done right, they don’t just build better athletes—they shape healthier, more resilient people for life.

In youth sports, the pressure to specialize earlier and train harder is everywhere. But what if the best path for young athletes is actually slower, more patient, and more focused on the long game? In this episode of Heaven or Heisman, former Texas A&M University runner and endurance coach Mike Hummel joins us to share a different perspective on developing athletes—and why protecting a child’s love for the sport matters more than early results.

Mike reflects on his own journey as a competitive runner and coach, including the moment his ten-year-old son told him he wanted to go to the Olympics. Instead of rushing into intense training, Mike chose to wait, focusing on playful habits, family challenges, and building the underlying skills that sustain long-term growth. Through stories from coaching elite youth triathletes and lessons from athletes like Stephen Curry and Kobe Bryant, we explore how parents can shift their focus from outcomes to process.

This conversation challenges parents to move from being the drivers of their child’s sports journey to becoming the architects of the environment—creating spaces where discipline, curiosity, and joy in the work can grow naturally over time.

In the rush of practices, tournaments, and car meals, it is easy for something essential to slip away without us noticing. In this episode of Heaven or Heisman, we talk directly to parents, guardians, and anyone investing deeply in a child’s athletic journey about the one thing sports cannot afford to lose: the relationship. Through real stories, well-known examples from elite athletics, and honest self-reflection, we explore how good intentions can quietly turn into pressure, control, and emotional distance.

Together, we wrestle with hard questions like what happens when we want something for our kids more than they want it, how presence is different from simply showing up, and why a child’s sport should never become a parent’s resume. This conversation offers practical, faith-centered reminders to slow down, protect connection, and build a foundation where kids know they are loved for who they are, not how they perform.

What does it actually look like to coach kids well and to parent youth sports without losing perspective? In this episode, we sit down with Brad from The Coaching Dad to talk honestly about the realities of volunteer coaching, sideline pressure, and the expectations parents and coaches quietly carry. From first-time dad-coaches stepping onto the field to navigating yelling, playing time, and perceived favoritism, Brad shares practical wisdom for keeping youth sports simple, fun, and development-focused.

Together, we wrestle with the tension between winning and growth, why fundamentals and “chaotic” practices matter more than short-term results, and how parents can take ownership of their child’s development without putting unfair pressure on volunteer coaches. This conversation is a reminder that youth sports are a long game, and when we focus on character, confidence, and joy, we give kids something far more valuable than a trophy.

What does it really take to chase a baseball dream, and what does it cost along the way? In this episode, we sit down with former college baseball player Bryce Lenz to pull back the curtain on the long road from youth ball to college and beyond. Together, we talk about time, pressure, burnout, and the difference between loving the game and treating it like a job. Bryce shares his firsthand experience navigating multi-sport life, early specialization, club baseball culture, and the grind of post-college opportunities where talent, timing, and sacrifice collide. Along the way, we wrestle with questions parents and athletes rarely slow down to ask. When should kids specialize? How much is too much? What happens when sports become our identity? Through honest stories, humor, and faith-centered wisdom, this conversation invites families to think differently about development, joy, and purpose, reminding us that baseball is something we do, not who we are.