The Pure Athlete Podcast

Former NBA star Jamal Crawford is our guest on this episode, sharing his youth sports story of growing up with the game of basketball in Seattle. Jamal dove into a wide array of topics in this week's episode.How did he develop his elite ball handling skills? How did his parents impact his journey? What was his recruiting process like? He even shares the secret to how he won the NBA 6th Man award three times and which award meant more than any other. Finally, he gives his thoughts on the changes he would like to see with AAU, and how he is taking a different approach with coaching the athletes on his own team.Don't miss this episode! Thanks for tuning in!This video is sponsored by Guardian Sports, the nations leading impact reducing soft-shell helmet cover engineered for impact reduction. For more visit guardiansports.com. This episode is also sponsored by Booster Enterprises Inc, the leading high school athletics fundraising partner. For more info, go to choosebooster.com-- Follow us @pureathleteincwww.pureathleteinc.com

On today's episode, Brad and Britt talk to Dr Abigail Federer, a leading sports concussion specialist at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, shares her expertise and experience treating both male and female young athletes with concussion injuries. Brad introduces the subject by discussing his son's story of suffering concussions while playing three different sports, including the concerns shared by many parents of young athletes. Dr Feder dispels some of the myths and outdated treatment protocols for concussed athletes, discusses common symptoms and markers, and informs parents on what to do if they suspect their child may have a concussion. Immediately following Dr Feder's segment, the guys discuss concussion prevention with the founder of Guardian Sports, who provide innovative safety equipment recently approved by the NFL, and currently being used by every NFL team and many NCAA programs. They share the benefits of Guardian caps, along with the proven data, that is transforming head safety for football players of all ages. This episode is sponsored by Guardian Sports, the nations leading impact reducing soft-shell helmet cover engineered for impact reduction. For more visit guardiansports.com

Super Bowl Champion Tight End Ben Watson is our guest on this week's episode. Not only was Ben a 2nd Team All-SEC player at the University of Georgia and a first round pick in the NFL draft, Ben also had an outstanding 15 yearr career in the NFL, playing for the Patriots, Browns, Saints, and Ravens. In addition to his on-field success, Ben has always been known as a man of strong character, as evidenced by his being awarded the Bart Starr Award in 2018. During our conversation, Ben shares his youth sports story growing up in South Carolina, his passion for soccer as a youngster, how he developed as a football player, and his outlook on college football as an SEC Network analyst. We also heard some great stories from his career including interesting insights from his time catching passes from Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Finally, he shares the many lessons he learned from his parents and as a parent of 7, including on character and leadership. Thanks for listening!--Follow us @pureathleteincwww.pureathleteinc.com

On this week's episode, the guys discuss toxic behavior and culture in youth sports. While we all love youth athletics, if you've been involved for any length of time you have likely encountered toxic parents. These parents can be disruptive, yelling inappropriate comments or remaining silent when they should address bad behavior. We've even experienced or heard stories of toxic coaches who try to win at all costs, play their own kids at the best positions, or require contracts to play on a 10u team. We'll also jump into some discussions about toxic teammate behavior and the overall toxicity level of the current youth sports culture. Thanks for tuning in!--Follow us @pureathleteincwww.pureathleteinc.com

This week, Jeff, Britt, and Brad unpack some of the most important moments from the recent speeches given by Tom Brady and Roger Federer, two of the best and most admired athletes of all time, who share key lessons and insights from their inspirational journeys.--Follow us @pureathleteincwww.pureathleteinc.com

This week we’re excited to have Hall of Famer, Stanley Cup Champion, 2x Olympic Gold Medalist & NHL MVP….former professional hockey defenseman, Chris Pronger! Considered one of the all-time great defenseman, Chris stopped by the pod to share some of the wisdom he gained on the way to the top of hockey. He didn't hesitate to show us the intensity and passion he has for the game and youth sports. It left us feeling inspired and motivated, and we're sure you'll feel the same way. Thanks for tuning in this week!--Follow us @pureathleteincwww.pureathleteinc.com

New Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is our guest in Part 2 from this month's Pure Athlete Live event in front of 1500+ athletes, parents, and coaches in Atlanta. Kirk shares his youth sports story, lessons learned from his dad, how he overcame a season-ending injury in the first game of his junior year in high school, his college experience, the disappointment of being taken in the 4th round of the NFL draft, and even the role his faith played in each of those situations. Kirk's authenticity and wisdom is both insightful and inspiring, so tune in, and don't forget to catch Part 1 if you missed it!--Follow us @pureathleteincwww.pureathleteinc.com

New Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is our guest in Part 1 from this month's Pure Athlete Live event in front of 1500+ athletes, parents, and coaches in Atlanta. In this episode, Kirk shares his youth sports story, lessons learned from his dad, how he overcame a season-ending injury in the first game of his junior year in high school, his college experience, the disappointment of being taken in the 4th round of the NFL draft, and the role his faith played in each of those situations. Kirk's authenticity and wisdom is both insightful and inspiring, and we hope you'll tune into Part 2, dropping on June 5!--Follow us @pureathleteincwww.pureathleteinc.com

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we're welcoming Nicole Lyon, a mental health expert, former elite college swimmer, and co-owner of Roots Therapy in Atlanta. Not only does Nicole have experience specializing in sports performance and mental health for young athletes, she's also an NCAA Champion swimmer from the University of Georgia, who participated in her first Olympic Trials at the age of 14.Nicole's experience in both fields gives her the knowledge to speak on facing immense pressure as an athlete, overcoming the mental and physical challenges of injuries, dealing with sports-related depression, and much more! --Follow us @puereathleteincwww.pureathleteinc.com

Today we are thrilled to have one of America’s most admired and respected sports figures, Coach Tony Dungy on the show! Coach Dungy is a Hall of Famer, Super Bowl winner as a player AND coach, two-time coach of the year and best-selling author. This accomplished legend stops by to share his personal story as well as many stories from his days as a player and coach, weaving in great insights for parents, coaches, and players.We're so excited to have a true icon and role model on the show today, so buckle up for the wisdom and encouragement of Coach Tony Dungy!--Follow us @pureathleteincwww.pureathleteinc.com--Grab tickets to our live show featuring Kirk Cousins!https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/pure-athlete-live/pa-live-atlanta