The Pure Athlete Podcast

44:37

186: Former MLB Pitcher Scott Linebrink: The Loss...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/10/06

Scott Linebrink spent 12½ years as one of baseball’s best setup men — the guy opposing hitters sometimes dreaded more than Trevor Hoffman in the ninth. On this episode, Jeff Francoeur sits down with the second-round pick out of Texas State for a conversation about the underdog path that got him there, and the loss that ended it.Linebrink was a late bloomer who walked on at a small D3 school throwing 83. A growth spurt, a move to Texas State, and a Giants draft call later, he was sharing a clubhouse

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41:47

185. How to Build a Better Young Pitcher Without...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/10/01

In part two, Alan Jaeger, known for being a founding father of modern arm care and the founder of Jaeger Sports and Jaeger Bands, rejoins Jeff, Britt, and Brad to continue the conversation on how young players can develop stronger, healthier arms—and stay composed when the game doesn’t go their way.Jaeger breaks down his approach to long toss, explaining why he sees it as a foundation for arm health, strength, endurance, and recovery. He discusses building distance gradually, listening to your arm,

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45:58

184. How to Build a Better Young Pitcher Without...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/09/29

In part one of this conversation, Alan Jaeger, known for being a founding father of modern arm care and the founder of Jaeger Sports and Jaeger Bands, joins Jeff, Britt, and Brad to explore why so many baseball players are dealing with arm injuries—and how parents and coaches can help young players build healthy throwing habits to avoid becoming part of that trend.Jaeger calls it the “inverted pyramid”: players chase velocity, spin, and personal bests without first building the conditioning to

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48:14

183. Call-In Show #2: “My Son’s Coach Publicly...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/09/22

Welcome to The Pure Athlete Call-In Show, where we have REAL CONVERSATIONS with REAL PARENTS & COACHES about REAL SITUATIONS and CHALLENGES.On this episode, Jeff Francoeur, Britt Lee, and Brad Williams take calls from parents and coaches navigating some of the hardest moments in youth sports:Chris in Atlanta — How do you grow into coaching a sport you barely know when your kid (or the program) needs you?Libby in Chicago — Her 7th grader made the tennis team. Her 6th grader, one year younger and

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50:09

182: The Mental Game of Youth Sports: What Parents &...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/09/15

Britt, Brad, and former U.S. Soccer captain Carlos Bocanegra sit down with Dr. Ben Freakley for a practical conversation on the mental side of youth sports. Freakley, a military brat and former college soccer player and coach, traces his path from a painful VMI loss that pushed him into sports psychology, to work with Army Rangers, the Toronto Blue Jays’ mental performance department, and building Atlanta United’s high-performance staff alongside Bocanegra. He now leads Ready, Set, Resilient and

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34:25

181. Call-In Show #1: "My Husband Is Too Hard On My...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/09/08

Welcome to The Pure Athlete Call-In Show, where we have REAL CONVERSATIONS with REAL PARENTS & COACHES, discussion REAL SITUATIONS and CHALLENGES. On the is episode we talk to three moms, one dad, and one middle school soccer coach about challenges each are facing along their youth sports journeys. Jeff, Britt, and Brad share their perspectives and advice, based on their own experiences and observations.If you want to talk to the guys on a future call-in episode, go to pureathlete.com/call and

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48:20

180. Notah Begay: His Unlikely Journey to the PGA...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/09/01

Notah Begay III joins The Pure Athlete Podcast for a conversation about character, preparation, and what it actually takes to last.Jeff, Britt, and Brad sit down with Begay during Tour Championship week to talk about the surprise of winning the Payne Stewart Award, the speech in a room full of peers (Scheffler, McIlroy, and the people who built the show), and the path that made the honor feel almost impossible: a public course on Albuquerque’s west side, unpaid work at nine, a hard home life, and

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26:51

179. The Keys To Helping Your Young Athlete...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/08/25

Brad and Britt sit down with Dr. Katie Friedman—pediatrician, pediatric ER physician, mom of young athletes, co-founder of Forever Freckled, and creator of Big Time youth athlete vitamins (livebigtime.com).Katie makes the case that youth sports remain one of the most powerful environments for kids: they build grit, teach kids how to fail and keep going, get them off screens, support physical health, and instill habits that transfer to school and adulthood. She also talks honestly about the hard

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42:28

178. Alex Rodriguez: Lessons & Insights From A...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/08/18

14-time All-Star, three-time AL MVP, and 2009 World Series champion Alex Rodriguez joins Jeff, Britt, and Brad for a wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond the highlight-reel numbers.A-Rod traces his path from a Washington Heights childhood (his father leaving when he was 10, his mother’s extraordinary work ethic, and a stretch on food stamps) to Miami, where baseball, basketball, and football became his outlet and purpose. He explains why playing up with older kids as a late-July birthday

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14:12

NEW SEASON 5 PREVIEW with Jeff, Britt, & Brad

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/08/12

Jeff, Britt, and Brad preview the new season with summer recaps, laughs, and big plans ahead. Jeff shares behind-the-scenes stories from Cooperstown and Andruw Jones’ Hall of Fame induction—hanging with Mike Tomlin, chatting with Tony La Russa, and experiencing “baseball heaven” with the legends. Brad and Britt trade notes on family time, beach trips, yard work, and a special first ice-cream moment with a granddaughter.Then they look ahead: Pure Athlete Baseball’s continues to add great new content

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50:51

PA Replay: Andruw Jones — From Curaçao to Cooperstown

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/07/29

This week, we're revisiting our conversation with newly inducted MLB Hall of Famer Andruw Jones. Andruw reflects on the journey that took him from Curaçao to the major leagues, the importance of character and discipline, and the lessons he's learned through baseball and fatherhood. It's a timeless conversation filled with wisdom for athletes, parents, and coaches alike.

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52:14

PA Replay: GOING ALL IN....What You Need To Know

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/07/14

Youth and high school sports should always be fun. But what if a young athlete has big goals? What if they dream of making the varsity team, earning a college scholarship, or even competing professionally?Many families begin pursuing those dreams at a young age—and we think that's great. But that journey also comes with challenges. Having a healthy roadmap can help your young athlete maximize their potential while still enjoying the process and becoming the best version of themselves on the field,

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42:50

PA Replay: Bobby Witt Jr. — From MLB Son to MLB Star

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/06/30

In 2024, Bobby finished as the runner-up for the American League MVP Award after delivering an incredible season at the plate while also winning his first Gold Glove at shortstop in just his third year in the majors.Not long ago, though, Bobby was playing travel and high school baseball in Colleyville, Texas. Despite being the son of former MLB pitcher Bobby Witt Sr., he took a different path than many of today's top prospects. He never took a private hitting lesson until after high school. Rather

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57:21

177. What's Broken in American Youth Soccer—and How...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/06/24

In this episode, Jeff, Britt, and Brad sit down with U.S. Soccer legend and former US World Cup Captain Carlos Bocanegra to share his story from his remarkable journey—from playing multiple sports as a kid in Southern California, to starring at UCLA Bruins, becoming MLS Rookie of the Year, competing in two FIFA World Cups, and playing in some of the world’s top leagues, including the English Premier League. He also reflects on the lessons he learned along the way and why playing multiple sports

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04:59

Special Feature: U.S. Soccer Hall Of Famer Carlos...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/06/18

In our second special bonus feature on the World Cup, Jeff continues the conversation with soccer legend and former World Cup captain Carlos Bocanegra.With the U.S. riding high after a dominant 4-1 opening win over Paraguay, Carlos previews the upcoming USA vs. Australia match. He breaks down the tactical chess match ahead: how Australia is likely to sit deeper, clog the midfield, force play wide, and limit the space that Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and the U.S. attackers exploited so

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10:17

Special Feature: Former World Cup Captain Carlos...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/06/17

In this special World Cup segment, Jeff is joined by soccer legend Carlos Bocanegra — former UCLA standout, World Cup captain, MLS Rookie of the Year, and U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer.With the World Cup back on North American soil for the first time in over 30 years, Jeff and Carlos break down the electric atmosphere, the growth of soccer in the U.S., and the thrilling 4-1 opening win for the United States against Paraguay. Carlos delivers an insider’s tactical breakdown of the U.S. team’s standout

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50:18

PA Replay: Former MLS Star & USMNT Player Taylor...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/06/16

Former MLS star and current MLS TV Analyst Taylor Twellman shares his youth sports story as a multi-sport athlete who played both baseball and soccer in college before going all-in on soccer. Taylor had a prolific soccer career as a 2x Golden Boot winner and MLS MVP. He shares some strong opinions about American soccer, our current youth sports cullture, advice for parents, and advice for coaches.

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34:59

176. I9 Sports' Madison Gates: How to Give Kids a...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/06/09

In this episode of The Pure Athlete Podcast, hosts Britt and Brad sit down with Madison Gates, VP of Marketing at i9 Sports and former University of Michigan soccer standout, D1 player, and coach.They explore one of the biggest challenges parents face today: how to introduce young kids to organized sports in a positive, healthy way. With youth sports shifting toward earlier specialization, intense travel teams, and skyrocketing pressure, many families feel overwhelmed and worried their kids will

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46:20

175. David Pollack: How My Perspective Changed...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/06/02

In this powerful return episode of The Pure Athlete Podcast, we welcome back former CFB Hall of Fame and the host of the popular podcast See Ball. Get Ball, David Pollack, three and a half years after his first appearance.Now raising a 17-year-old son who just committed to Clemson football and a 16-year-old daughter who’s a standout basketball player, David delivers raw, honest, and deeply practical insight into how sports parenting evolves as kids move through high school. From shifting roles —

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26:49

174. Reclassifying - The Controversial Extra Year in...

The Pure Athlete Podcast ·

2026/05/27

In this candid episode, Jeff, Britt, and Brad tackle one of the hottest and most controversial topics in youth sports today: reclassification — holding kids back a grade, primarily for athletic advantages.The guys break down:What reclassification really means and how it’s shifting from a rare academic decision to a common sports strategyThe potential benefits for late bloomers and physical developmentThe serious downsides — social and emotional impacts, disrupted friendships, academic

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