Cheer Dads Unfiltered

This one’s different.We sat down with Roger Schonder — co-founder of Stingrays, Team Manager for Atlanta Air (Pro Cheer League), and a 30+ year veteran of all-star cheer — to break down what’s REALLY happening behind the scenes.From tryouts… to Worlds… to the future of the sport.If you’re a cheer parent, this episode will change how you see everything.We cover:The biggest misconceptions parents have about cheerWhat actually determines team selection (it’s not what you think)The reality of Worlds-level competitionHow the Pro Cheer League is changing the gameWhy development matters more than winningWhat separates elite programs like StingraysThis is one of those episodes you send to every cheer parent you know.🎧 Listen now and see cheer differently.📲 Follow us:Instagram: @cheerdadsunfilteredSpotify: Cheer Dads UnfilteredYouTube: Subscribe for weekly episodes—This is Cheer Dads UnfilteredWe’re here for every count

This week, we brought in someone who sees cheer from every angle…Coach. Judge. Gym owner. Choreographer.Brooke (Queen B Choreo) breaks down what really goes into building a routine and it’s way more than just dance.We went in as first-year cheer dads…and came out realizing we’ve been watching routines completely wrong.In this episode, we get into:👉 What choreographers actually do (it’s not just dance)👉 How routines are built to maximize the score sheet👉 Why most parents misunderstand scoring👉 The difference between difficulty vs execution (and what actually wins)👉 How small details decide competitions👉 What happens when coaches tweak routines after choreo👉 Behind-the-scenes judging insights you’re not supposed to knowPlus…🔥 Hot takes on:– Clean vs difficult– Do coaches mess up routines?– What really matters more: stunts or dance?– The most overrated skills in cheerIf you’re a cheer parent, athlete, or coach…This is one of those episodes that changes how you watch the sport.🎧 Listen now on Spotify & YouTube📲 Follow for more real conversations from the cheer worldWe’re here for every count

This one hit different.We sat down with Keenan (Cheer Dad TV), a 5-year cheer dad who’s been through the highs, the lows, and everything in between....and he didn’t hold back.We get into what it actually feels like to finish a season, how to handle wins and tough losses as a parent and where a lot of cheer parents go wrong without even realizing it.Keenan breaks down:How to push your athlete without burning them outWhy kids need to feel both winning and losingThe reality of cheer culture most parents don’t seeand what it really means to show up as a cheer dadThis is one of those episodes that’ll make you think a little differently the next time you’re sitting in the stands.If you’re a cheer parent - this one’s for you🎙️ Cheer Dads UnfilteredWe’re here for every count

This one went deeper than we expected…We sat down with comedian and cheer dad Jay Yoder and got into everything from parenting and perspective to what cheer has meant for his family.From early struggles to moments that hit you in the chest. This is what it’s really about.We also get into:– The realities of cheer parent life– Confidence and growth through youth sports– Balancing family, work, and showing up as a dad– The moments that stick with you foreverIf you're a cheer parent, a dad, or just trying to figure it out as you go…this one will hit🎧 New episodes every Thursday at 6 am PTFollow us:Instagram: @cheerdadsunfilteredTikTok: @cheerdadsunfiltered

We’re 15 episodes in… and somehow just crossed 1,000 streams 🤯But more importantly we’re at the end of our first cheer season as dads.In this episode we take a step back and reflect on everything we’ve experienced so far:– First showcase reactions– Daddy-daughter stunt class (round 2 😂)– Regional Summit coming up– and the big question every cheer parent starts asking…what comes next?From not knowing anything about cheer… to being fully invested in it this episode is just three dads talking through what we’ve learned, what’s surprised us, and how this whole journey has changed us more than we expected.If you’re a cheer parent (or about to be)… this one will hitBe sure to like, subscribe and share! 📱 Follow us on Instagram @Cheerdadsunfiltered📺 Follow us on Youtube @Cheerdadsunfiltered

Episode 14 gets real.We’re diving into one of the biggest debates in competitive cheer right now… does “hitting zero” actually matter?From judging controversies and teams playing it safe, to injuries that change everything mid-season, this episode goes deeper than just routines and scores.We also talk about:What happens when a key athlete goes downThe mental pressure these athletes carryWhether it’s worse to fail… or be the reason your team losesAnd the growing cost of competitive cheerThis one hits different. Less surface-level, more real talk.If you’re a cheer parent, athlete, or just trying to understand the world behind the mat… this episode is for you.🎧 New episodes weekly📲 Follow, share, and tag a fellow cheer parent

Fresh off our viral episode with Judge Gabby… we put everything we learned to the test at Aloha.Our girls hit their cleanest routine of the season.No falls. No deductions. Full confidence.…and we got 5th place.Yeah. We’re still trying to make sense of it.In this episode we break down:What it actually feels like when judging hits your own teamWhy “hit zero” doesn’t mean what parents think it meansThe reality of subjective scoring (and why it drives parents crazy)What we learned from Gabby’s judging breakdown and where we still question itThe emotional rollercoaster of cheer comps (and why dads are getting hooked)Plus:🔥 Geoff's Hot Takes return (and they’re even spicier)🔥 Are cheer comps overpriced?🔥 Do uniforms secretly impact scoring?🔥 Why cheer culture is dominated by moms and where dads fit inand the biggest takeaway…👉 Cheer dads are everywhere👉 They’ve just never had a voice… until nowIf you’re a cheer parent, a dad trying to figure it out, or just someone who loves real, unfiltered conversations…This one’s for you🎙️ Follow us on Instagram/YouTube and join the movementWe’re here for every count 💪

Welcome back to Cheer Dads Unfiltered!In Episode 12 the dads finally stop guessing about cheer scoring… and bring in an actual judge to break it all down.We’re joined by Gabby Mauro, a cheer judge, educator, and routine review expert who helps teams understand how routines are really evaluated.If you’ve ever wondered:• Does screaming “HIT ZERO” actually help?• Do loud cheer parents affect scoring?• What are judges REALLY looking for during a routine?• Why do some routines place higher than others?Gabby pulls back the curtain and gives us the real inside look at how cheer competitions are judged.Along the way we talk about:• Gabby’s journey in the cheer world• How judging actually works behind the scenes• Common scoring myths in all-star cheer• What parents misunderstand about competitions• Why formations and transitions matter more than you thinkand of course… the dads still manage to ask the important questions about “farts and toots”Whether you're a cheer parent, athlete, coach, or just trying to understand the chaos of competition season, this episode is packed with insights and laughs.Huge thank you to Gabby Mauro for joining the show!Follow Gabby:📲 Instagram: @scoresheetswithgabbymauro🎧 Listen to Cheer Dads UnfilteredReal cheer dads. Real conversations. No filters.Follow us for new episodes every week.📲 Instagram: @cheerdadsunfiltered

In Episode 11 it’s just the three of us.No guestNo scriptJust real talkWe’re diving into something that doesn’t get talked about enough in competitive cheer:Where are the dads?Too often dads show up as the Uber. The wallet. The quiet one in the stands.But when it comes to our sons?We’re at every practice. Every game. Every rep.So why is it different for our daughters?In this episode we talk about:• Being present vs. being engaged• Why dads matter more than we think in this sport• The uncomfortable dynamic of stepping into a mom-dominated space• Leading by example inside our own gymsIf you’re a cheer dad or raising an athlete this one’s for you.Let’s change the culture.Check us out on Instagram and YouTube @Cheerdadsunfiltered

In Episode 10 of Cheer Dads Unfiltered, we sit down with Coach Shaq. An athlete on Team Reign, a coach at USA Gym and one of the most impactful personalities in our cheer community.What started as a conversation about a Daddy-Daughter stunt class quickly turned into something more profound.Shaq opens up about:• Growing up between football and cheer• Navigating stereotypes as a Black, gay male cheerleader• The emotional journey with his father• Almost walking away from the sport• Why mentorship means everything to him• What he hopes young athletes will say about him years from nowThis episode is honest, vulnerable and powerful.If you’re a cheer parent, athlete, coach or a dad trying to show up better this one will hit.We’re grateful to Shaq for trusting us with his story.🎙 Watch full episodes on YouTube:@cheerdadsunfiltered📲 Follow us on Instagram for clips, behind-the-scenes, and updates:@cheerdadsunfiltered

Second comp of the season.7am arrival. No pit. Private suite with our podcast name on the door.and a 1.25 deduction that changed everything.In this episode we break down:– The early morning chaos– Security drama and no pit reaction– The nugget fall and what really happened– How deductions actually work– Third place emotions– Why failure might be the best thing for this team– Suite life recap– Geoff’s first-ever Hot Takes segmentWhat hit us most?The resilience.One mistake didn’t define the routine.One fall didn’t define the girls.and third place didn’t define the day.If you're a cheer parent navigating the emotional rollercoaster of competition season this one is for you.New episodes every Thursday at 6am MST.

This episode is a special one.After hearing from our coaches last week, we flip the mic one more time and sit down with the reason this whole journey exists....our daughters.In Episode 8 of Cheer Dads Unfiltered, we talk with Izzy, Everly, and Ruby about their very first season in competitive cheer. From nerves before their first competition, to counting on the mat, to what cheer really feels like through their eyes. This one hits different.After the girls head into practice, the dads jump back on the mic for Part 2:• Our first on-episode Dubby unboxing• Honest reactions (no script, no ad vibes)• Talking comps, expectations, and what feels different heading into Jam Fest• Life as cheer dads learning it in real timeThis episode is raw, fun, emotional, and exactly what Cheer Dads Unfiltered is all about.Whether you’re a cheer parent, a sports dad, or just figuring it out as you go you’re in the right place.🎧 Listen, follow, and share with another cheer family.Sponsor:Dubby Energy Use code **CHEERDADSUNFILTERED** for 10% offNew episodes every Thursday.

This episode is special.In Episode 7 of Cheer Dads Unfiltered, we sit down with two of our daughters’ coaches, Carly and Coeen, for a real, honest and fun conversation about competitive cheer straight from the coach’s perspective.We kick things off by getting to know them:How they got into cheerTheir coaching journeysWhat it’s really like being on the other side of the matAnd yes Coeeen is a World Champion! Taking home a Worlds win in April 2023 (ring included). She had to give us the full Tom Brady/Bill Belichick treatment 😄From there, the conversation flows into:What coaches actually look for at competitionsHow scoring really works (and why it can feel confusing as parents)Coaching pressure and supporting young athletesThe parent–coach dynamic and how to show up the right wayOur girls’ season, their competitions and the growth we’re seeingThis episode was recorded live at The Bookish Club in Gilbert, which made the whole thing feel even more like what this show is about! Community, connection, and real conversations. We also surprised Carly and Coeen with custom tumblers from Arizona Engraving Co., because showing appreciation matters.This wasn’t scripted.It wasn’t polished.It was just five people at a coffee shop, laughing, learning, and connecting.If you’re a cheer parent trying to understand the world your athlete is in or a coach who wants parents to truly get it this one’s for you.📍 Follow us on Instagram & YouTube: @cheerdadsunfiltered🎧 New episodes drop every Thursday.

Our first cheer competition was chaos. Nerves, confusion, overstimulation and not knowing what to expect.and then our girls took the floor.In Episode 6 of Cheer Dads Unfiltered, we break down everything that happened after our first ever competition. From walking into the arena completely unsure, to watching our daughters perform under the lights, to hearing the words we never thought we’d hear… national champions!!We talk about the emotions dads don’t expect, how competitive cheer scoring actually works, why trusting the coaches matters and how this weekend changed our girls...and us. We also share how Cheer Dads Unfiltered unexpectedly had a moment inside the cheer community after the competition.This episode is for first-year cheer dads, parents figuring this world out and anyone who’s watched their kid work hard and finally see it pay off.Next up: we sit down with the coaches and continue this competition run in real time

Christmas break is over and suddenly competition season is very real.In Episode 5 of Cheer Dads Unfiltered we break down what it felt like walking back into the gym after two weeks off, the nerves the girls didn’t say out loud and the moment we realized this cheer thing just leveled up.We talk about:First practice back vibes (rust vs. locked in)A brand new stunt was introduced two weeks before the competition Trusting the coaches… even when your kid is flying face firstThe emotional rollercoaster of comp week is creeping inThe real costs parents don’t expect (tickets, parking, swag, all of it)Why dads showing up LOUD actually mattersand of course… football takes, tailgate plans and dad chaosIf you’re a cheer parent heading into your first competition weekend this one’s for you.Next episode? Competition weekend will officially be in the books.

Cheer Dads Unfiltered – Episode 4In this episode, we hit pause before the chaos.Recorded right after Christmas, Episode 4 is all about reflecting on the first five months of competitive cheer. From August tryouts to the doorstep of competition season.With a rare full week off from practices, we talk through:What Christmas looks like when cheer sneaks into the house anywayHow our daughters handled their first real break from cheerWhy private lessons quietly make a massive differenceThe confidence boost that comes from small wins (hello crystal animals 🐾)What cheer has changed for us as dads — presence, perspective, and slowing downHow the cheer community (and the dads upstairs 👀) formed naturally over timeWe also look ahead to what’s coming fast:First competition nervesWhat comp season is really going to demand from familiesOur evolving role as cheer dads on competition daysAnd why this next chapter is going to feel very differentThis episode closes out Chapter One of Cheer Dads Unfiltered.Starting next episode, we’re officially in real-time competition season mode — weekly episodes, raw reactions, wins, losses, and everything in between.If you’re a cheer parent, cheer dad, or just figuring it out as you go, you’re in the right place.🎧 New episodes drop weekly📍 Recorded at practice, in real life, no filters

What does a real week in the life of a cheer dad actually look like?In Episode 3 of Cheer Dads Unfiltered, we break down the controlled chaos that is competitive cheer. From pre-practice hype, post-practice crash outs and everything that happens in between.We talk about:• What practice nights really feel like for our girls• Tuesday vs Thursday practice energy (very different vibes 👀)• How cheer slowly takes over your house without you realizing it• The time, commitment, and mental load parents don’t expect• Christmas break, Secret Santa surprises, and more cheer dad realityPlus… we had unexpected surprise appearances from our team moms which made this episode even more fun (and more real).If you’re a cheer parent or about to become one this episode will feel VERY familiar.🎧 New episodes drop every Thursday.🎥 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify.📲 Follow us for behind-the-scenes clips and updates.

Episode 2 is where we really get into it.In this episode of Cheer Dads Unfiltered we break down our first five months in the competitive cheer world. From August 2025 to now and everything we wish someone had warned us about before signing our girls up.We talk through the stuff that surprised us, stressed us out, made us laugh, and completely changed how we view cheer as dads. From the time commitment and hidden costs, to cheer culture, mom vs dad roles, and what competition season is really about. Nothing is off the table.In this episode, we cover:• Competitive cheer vs sideline / high school cheer• The cheer culture nobody explains upfront• Privates, tumbling, choreography & all-team practices• The real costs of cheer (aka Dad Economics)• Mom vs Dad roles at practice & competitions• Coaches, team culture & why it matters• Watching our girls grow through confidence, pressure & adversity• Competition season nerves & expectations• Cheer dad confessions and rookie mistakesThis podcast is for dads (and parents) who are new to competitive cheer, already in it, or about to jump in and want real talk without the sugarcoating.New episodes drop every Thursday.🎧 Subscribe, share with another cheer dad and welcome to the chaos

Welcome to the very first episode of Cheer Dads Unfiltered.In this episode, Tom, Geoff, and David kick things off by sharing how three regular dads found themselves deep in the world of competitive cheer. The practices, the comps, the chaos, and everything no one warned us about.We talk cheer life, dad life, family dynamics, and what it’s really like standing in the stands every weekend watching our girls chase big dreams.This show is for cheer dads, cheer moms, families, and anyone living the competitive cheer life.Strap in! This is just the beginning.