#76 - Linda Flanagan: The Truth About Youth Sports episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 13, 2025 · 1H 36M

#76 - Linda Flanagan: The Truth About Youth Sports

from Nothing Left Unsaid · host Tim Green & Troy Green

In this eye-opening episode of Nothing Left Unsaid, Tim Green and his son Troy welcome journalist and author Linda Flanagan, whose book Take Back the Game examines the state of youth sports in America. Drawing from her experiences as a parent, coach, and reporter, Linda pulls back the curtain on the pressures, costs, and cultural shifts that have transformed kids’ sports from joyful play into an arms race. She and Tim explore how early specialization, year-round schedules, and parental expectations are burning out young athletes and what it will take to bring balance, health, and genuine fun back to the field. This conversation blends sharp cultural insight with heartfelt storytelling, offering a blueprint for reclaiming sports as a source of growth, connection, and joy—true to the mission of Nothing Left Unsaid. SPONSORS: ElevenLabs: Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ElevenLabs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for supporting this episode and powering Tim’s voice. SOCIAL: Website: ⁠nlupod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nlutimgreen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/NLUpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nlupod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AUDIO ONLY: Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PERSONAL: Tackle ALS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tackleals.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tim Green Books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠authortimgreen.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this eye-opening episode of Nothing Left Unsaid, Tim Green and his son Troy welcome journalist and author Linda Flanagan, whose book Take Back the Game examines the state of youth sports in America. Drawing from her experiences as a parent, coach, and reporter, Linda pulls back the curtain on the pressures, costs, and cultural shifts that have transformed kids’ sports from joyful play into an arms race. She and Tim explore how early specialization, year-round schedules, and parental expectations are burning out young athletes and what it will take to bring balance, health, and genuine fun back to the field. This conversation blends sharp cultural insight with heartfelt storytelling, offering a blueprint for reclaiming sports as a source of growth, connection, and joy—true to the mission of Nothing Left Unsaid. SPONSORS: ElevenLabs: Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ElevenLabs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for supporting this episode and powering Tim’s voice. SOCIAL: Website: ⁠nlupod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nlutimgreen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/NLUpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nlupod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AUDIO ONLY: Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PERSONAL: Tackle ALS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tackleals.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tim Green Books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠authortimgreen.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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#76 - Linda Flanagan: The Truth About Youth Sports

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This episode is 1 hour and 36 minutes long.

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This episode was published on August 13, 2025.

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In this eye-opening episode of Nothing Left Unsaid, Tim Green and his son Troy welcome journalist and author Linda Flanagan, whose book Take Back the Game examines the state of youth sports in America. Drawing from her experiences as a parent,...

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