Youth Sports Are Out of Control
Slate’s parenting podcast on the drastic transformation within youth sports over the years.
Listen & Subscribe
Choose your preferred player:
Get Your Slate Plus Podcast
If you can't access your feeds, please contact customer support.
Listen on your computer:
Apple Podcasts will only work on MacOS operating systems since Catalina. We do not support Android apps on desktop at this time.
Listen on your device:RECOMMENDED
These links will only work if you're on the device you listen to podcasts on. We do not support Stitcher at this time.
Set up manually:
Episode Notes
On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak, and Jamilah share their parenting triumphs and fails. Then Zak talks with journalist and former coach, Linda Flanagan about her book Take Back the Game. They discuss the transformation of youth sports into the ultra competitive, time consuming juggernaut it is today. They also talk about the culture of cruel coaching and what signals parents are sending to their kids when they dedicate a significant number weeknights and weekends to youth sports.
Then on Slate Plus, the hosts discuss controversial figures, like Elon Musk and Kanye West, that have the power to influence young children.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.