Winning Is Not Everything is a podcast series aimed to help temper the obsession in youth sports on titles and trophies and emphasize more inclusive, universal and attainable expectations such as character development and goal-setting.

Each episode features a conversation with a notable athlete, coach or influencer about their youth sports experience, lessons they learned through sports and keys to their success. Each episode is 12 to 20 minutes long, does not contain any bad language and can be enjoyed by everyone in the family!

Recent Episodes

January 7, 2022

#100: Joe Branch (Part 3) — Minnesota Timberwolves Assistant General Manager — On Career Lessons Learned, What He Looked For In Clients When He Was An Agent, And What He Looks For Now As An Assistant General Manager

In Part 3 of our conversation with Joe Branch, Assistant General Manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves, we discuss what he learned from some of the dignitaries […]
December 24, 2021

#098: Joe Branch (Part 1) — Minnesota Timberwolves Assistant General Manager — On Influential People Early in His Life, And What He Would Tell His Younger Self

In Part 1 of our conversation with Joe Branch, Assistant General Manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves, he discusses the influential people early in his life who […]
November 30, 2021

#095: Katie Smith (Part 1) — Hall of Fame Basketball Player, Olympic Gold Medalist, WNBA Champion, Assistant Coach with Minnesota Lynx — On Growing Up Playing With Boys in Ohio, And What She Would Tell Her Younger Self

In Part 1 of our conversation with Katie Smith, Hall of Fame Basketball Player, Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist, Two-Time WNBA Champion, Assistant Coach with Minnesota Lynx, […]
November 23, 2021

#094: Jerry Schemmel (Part 2) — Broadcaster, Author, Ultra Cyclist and Plane Crash Survivor — On How Surviving a Plane Crash Impacted Him, And Why He Pushes Himself To The Max As a Cyclist

In Part 2 of our conversation with Jerry Schemmel, he shares how surviving a plane crash in July 1989 greatly impacted him and inspired him, the challenges […]
November 12, 2021

#092: Howard Blue (Part 3) — Head Basketball Coach at Georgetown Prep — On His Youth Sports Concerns, His Empowering Message to Parents And Players, And Insight That Will Make an Impact

In Part 3 of our conversation with Howard Blue, the head basketball coach at Georgetown Prep, he discusses what troubles him about youth sports, including the […]
November 1, 2021

#091: Howard Blue (Part 2) — Head Basketball Coach at Georgetown Prep — On His Life And Career, What He Expects From Players In His Program And Dealing With Players (And Parents) With Unrealistic Goals

In Part 2 of our conversation with Howard Blue, the head basketball coach at Georgetown Prep in a suburb of Washington D.C., he reflects on how […]
October 22, 2021

#90: Howard Blue (Part 1) — Head Basketball Coach At Georgetown Prep — On Navigating Many Challenges He Faced Growing Up, And When He Set Aside His Dream Of Playing Professional Basketball

In Part 1 of our conversation with Howard Blue, the head basketball coach at Georgetown Prep in a suburb of Washington D.C., he shares all the […]
October 5, 2021

#088: Pat Forde (Part 2) — Sports Illustrated Senior Writer — On The Highlights And Challenges Of Witnessing His Daughter Compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Winning a Medal

In Part 2 of our conversation with Pat Forde, a senior writer for Sports Illustrated, we focus on his rare opportunity to cover an Olympics that […]
July 27, 2021

#085: Josh Thurow (Part 1) — Minnehaha Academy Athletic Director — On When He Realized His MLB Dreams Wouldn’t Materialize, Why He Loves His Job, and What Makes A Great Student-Athlete

In Part 1 of our conversation with Josh Thurow, the athletic director at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, he shares the highs and lows of his sports […]
July 15, 2021

#083: Regan Pittman (Part 2) — Three-Time All-American Volleyball Player — On How She Transformed Her Pain Into Stand Tall Volleyball Academy, And A Coach Who Made a Huge Impact On Her In A Short Time

In Part 2 of our conversation with Regan Pittman, a three-time All-American in volleyball at the University of Minnesota, highlights how some of her challenging experiences […]
June 29, 2021

#081: Caleb Truax (Part 2) — Former Boxing World Champion — On Keys To His Late Rise In Boxing, What Keeps Him Humble And His Advice To Parents And Young Athletes

In Part 2 of our conversation with Caleb Truax, a former boxing world champion, he shares how, despite starting late and struggling for a long time […]
June 9, 2021

#078: Mary Jacobs (Part 1) — Golf Instructor and Author — On How Growing Up With Five Brothers Impacted Her and What Inspired Her to Write A Golf Book For Kids

In Part 1 of our conversation with Mary Jacobs, a golf instructor, author and former collegiate All-American, she shares how she was shaped by growing up […]
June 1, 2021

#076: Marti Reed (Part 1) — Author and Speaker — On The Lessons She Learned Through Softball, Including Personal Experiences That Empower Her To Influence Others In Sports

In Part 1 of our conversation with Marti Reed, a leader with the Positive Coaching Alliance, she shares some of her experiences, some of them negative, […]
April 29, 2021

#073: Donald Hooton Jr. (Part 2) — President Of The Taylor Hooton Foundation — On Why His Family Started The Foundation, How They’ve Helped Millions Of People, And Insights On Steroids And Supplements

In Part 2 of our conversation with Donald Hooton Jr., the President of the Taylor Hooton Foundation explains why his family started the Taylor Hooton Foundation, […]
April 23, 2021

#072: Donald Hooton Jr. (Part 1) — President Of The Taylor Hooton Foundation — On His Brother Taylor, A Standout Baseball Player Who Used Anabolic Steroids And Took His Own Life At 17 Years Old

In Part 1 of our conversation with Donald Hooton Jr., the President of the Taylor Hooton Foundation shares his perspective on his little brother Taylor’s journey […]
April 20, 2021

#071: Sean K. Jensen Spotlights Gonzaga University Standouts Jalen Suggs and Corey Kispert On Their Insights In The Face Of Defeat

Gonzaga University headed into the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Game undefeated but were topped by Baylor University. Afterwards, senior Corey Kispert and head coach Mark […]
April 7, 2021

#070: Anthony Tolliver (Part 3) — Longtime NBA Player — On His Insight For Parents And Young Athletes, And The Importance of His Faith And Helping Other‪s

In Part 3 of our conversation with Anthony Tolliver, a free-agent with over 10 years of NBA experience, shares what he would emphasize to all the […]
March 30, 2021

#069: Anthony Tolliver (Part 2) — Longtime NBA Player — On A Key Commitment He Made Early In Basketball That Paid Off Deep Into His Basketball Journey (And Spurred His Long NBA Career‪)‬

In Part 2 of our conversation with Anthony Tolliver, a free-agent with over 10 years of NBA experience, shares one of the key commitments he made […]
March 23, 2021

#068: Anthony Tolliver (Part 1) — Longtime NBA Player — On His Winding And Inspiring Road to the NBA, And The Foundational Lessons He Learned From His Youth Basketball Coach

In Part 1 of our conversation with Anthony Tolliver, a free-agent with over 10 years of NBA experience, on his long and inspiring road to the […]
March 19, 2021

#067 (BONUS): Chancey Anderson Tauer — Co-Founder of Prodeo Academy — On What She Appreciates About Her Husband John Tauer (Head Men’s Basketball Coach At University Of St. Thomas)

In this bonus episode, Chancey Anderson Tauer, Co-Founder of Prodeo Academy, shares about her youth sports experience, and what stands out to her about Coach John Tauer of […]
March 16, 2021

#066: John Tauer (Part 3) — Head Basketball Coach at the University of St. Thomas — On How His Wife’s Cancer Battle Has Inspired Him, And His Profound Message For Youth Sports Parents & Athlete‪s‬

In Part 3 of our conversation with John Tauer, the University of St. Thomas head men’s basketball, on the inspiring battle his wife Chancey Anderson Tauer […]
March 9, 2021

#065: John Tauer (Part 2) — University of St. Thomas Head Basketball Coach — On Why Adversity Is Important And His Non-Negotiables For Players Who Join His Progra‪m‬

In Part 2 of our conversation with John Tauer, the University of St. Thomas head men’s basketball dives into one of his childhood challenges, how adversity […]
March 2, 2021

#064: John Tauer (Part 1) — University of St. Thomas Head Basketball Coach — On The Impact Of A Coach Who Recognized His Potential, And A Friend Who Reinforced What It Meant To Be A Role Playe‪r‬

In Part 1 of our conversation with John Tauer, the University of St. Thomas head men’s basketball shares highlights of his youth sports experience growing up […]
February 24, 2021

#063: Tom Farrey (Part 2) — Executive Director Of Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program — On His Advice To Parents & Young Athlete‪s‬

In Part 2 of our conversation with the Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program, Tom Farrey highlights some of his team’s efforts, […]
February 16, 2021

#062: Tom Farrey (Part 1) — Executive Director Of Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program — On Transitioning From A Distinguished ESPN Reporter To Leading Efforts to Reverse Many Youth Sports Trend‪s‬

In Part 1 of our conversation with Tom Farrey, the Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program shares some of his childhood sports […]
February 2, 2021

#060: 4 Keys To A Championship Team (feat. Sean K. Jensen) By Analyzing Super Bowl LV Finalists – The Kansas City Chiefs And Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Super Bowl LV features the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and longtime NFL columnist and reporter Sean K. Jensen highlights both in breaking down […]
January 27, 2021

#059: Kara Winger (Part 2) — Olympic Javelin Thrower — On Recovering From A Major Injury (After She Made The Sixth-longest Javelin Throw In The World)

In Part 2 of our conversation with Kara Winger, the three-time Olympian candidly discusses her initial reaction to suffering another major knee injury after one of […]
January 20, 2021

#058: Kara Winger (Part 1) — Olympic Javelin Thrower — On The Highs And Lows Of Her Sports Journey, Frequently Moving As A Child, And Her Parents’ Wisdom

In Part 1 of our conversation with Kara Winger, the three-time Olympian discusses the highs and lows of her sports journey, including the challenges she faced […]
December 22, 2020

#055: Chad Slade (Part 2) — New York Giants Offensive Lineman — On His Mother Reacting To His Sideline Tantrum, And On Being Bullied In Middle School (And The Lessons He Learned)

In Part 2 of our conversation with Chad Slade, the New York Giants offensive lineman recalls how his mother reacted to his sideline outburst toward coaches, and how […]
November 4, 2020

#048: Todd Beane (Part 2) — Renowned Soccer Trainer — On His Journey From Pro Player To Partnering With One Of Soccer’s Greatest Legends

In part 2 of our conversation with Todd Beane, we explore how he transitioned from playing professionally to connecting with one of the giants of the game, Johan […]
September 1, 2020

#044: Chet Holmgren (Part 2) — Top-Ranked High School Basketball Player — On Why He Supports “Black Lives Matter,” And His Take On Rankings & The Recruitment Experience

In part 2 of our conversation with Chet Holmgren, we discuss what he learned from African American teammates and coaches, why he supports Black Lives Matters, […]