Be Valiant - Powered by Valiant Sports Society

By Todd Merkow

Listen to a podcast, please open Podcast Republic app. Available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Image by Todd Merkow

Category: Sports

Open in Apple Podcasts


Open RSS feed


Open Website


Rate for this podcast

Subscribers: 1
Reviews: 0
Episodes: 53

Description

Be Valiant: The Podcast for Fearless Sports Parenting is a thoughtful, real-world guide for those navigating the complex and emotional world of youth sports. Hosted by Todd Merkow, the founder and CEO of Valiant Sports Society, the show brings together a wide range of voices — from parents who've been in the trenches, to former youth athletes now reflecting on their journeys as adults, to experts in mental performance, physical health, and orthopedic care. Coaches, trainers, and thought leaders join the conversation to share firsthand insights on what young athletes truly need to thrive — and why parent education is essential to that success. With a focus on honesty, growth, and fearless support, Be Valiant empowers parents to lead with purpose, patience, and perspective — increasing the likelihood that their kids not only develop in healthy, positive ways but also have the most fun possible along the way.

Episode Date
Part 2: Brigitte Shulze | A Power for Good: The Legacy of Sarah Shulze
Oct 14, 2026
Part 1: Brigitte Shulze | Who Was Sarah Shulze? A Mother Shares the Life Behind the Athlete
Oct 07, 2026
Callista Elmore | Love the Game. Protect the Kid. | NCAA Softball Champion and Sports Parent
Sep 30, 2026
David Murray | Author · Soccer Dad | Chasing the Dream Without Losing the Joy
Sep 23, 2026
Brea Schmidt, The Top Bleacher | This Is About the Kids: Becoming the Sports Parent They Need
Sep 16, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind | I Lost Myself After Soccer — Sydney Merkow on Identity, Anxiety & Finding Her Way Back
Sep 09, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind | Joel Votaw, the View from the Middle of The Field
Sep 02, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind | Dr. Erik Dean-The Case AGAINST Year Round Sports Specialization
Aug 26, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind | Andrew Beinbrink - Failure Is an Ingredient, Raising Athletes for the Long Game
Aug 19, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind | When the Dream Unexpectedly Changes (Part 3) – The Athlete's Perspective with Will Proctor
Aug 12, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind | When the Dream Unexpectedly Changes – A Mother's Perspective with Lisa Proctor
Aug 05, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind: Barry Buetel - Soccer Dad, on What Really Matters in Youth Sports
Jul 29, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind: Kevin McCabe (Arizona Dean of High School Sports), "Let Them Be Kids"
Jul 22, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind: Liz Masakayan - On Youth Sports, Let Them Play — Olympic Volleyball Player and Coach
Jul 15, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind: Jody Jackson on the Pressure Behind the Pitcher's Circle and Quarterback Position
Jul 08, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind: Linda Santo, What Ron Santo's Legacy Taught Her About Youth Sports Pressure
Jul 01, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind: The D1 Dream vs. The Reality of College Sports | Dr. Robert Dranoff, former Conference Commissioner
Jun 24, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind: "No One Has Youth Sports Figured Out" | Steve Borelli, USA Today
Jun 17, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind: Mike Strati | Creating a Healthy Sports Culture for Your Child
Jun 10, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind: Mark Hilinski |Athlete Mental Health, Suicide Prevention & the Conversations That Can Save Lives
Jun 03, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind: Charli Turner Thorne | Hall of Fame College Basketball Coach on Mental Health, Toughness & Youth Sports Culture
May 27, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind: Madison Merkow | Injuries, Pressure & Mental Health in Youth Sports
May 20, 2026
I Lost Myself After Youth Soccer: Sydney Merkow's Story of Identity Loss, Eating Disorder, Anxiety & Healing
May 13, 2026
She Looked Fine on the Field: What Youth Sports Was Really Doing to My Daughter
May 06, 2026
Linda Flanagan: What Youth Sports Can Be (Part 2)
Apr 29, 2026
Be Valiant Rewind: Linda Flanagan | What Youth Sports Has Become (Part 1)
Apr 22, 2026
Barry Buetel: A Girl Dad's Youth Sports Journey Through Pressure, Mistakes, and What Really Matters
Apr 15, 2026
Jonathon Carone: Healthy Sports Parents, Fear, Failure, and Letting Kids Find Their Own Path
Apr 08, 2026
Liz Masakayan: An Olympic Volleyball Player and Coach's Perspective on Youth Sports
Apr 01, 2026
Andrew Beinbrink: The Truth About College Recruiting (and What Parents Get Wrong)
Mar 25, 2026
Christian Lavers and the ECNL Vision: What Youth Sports Should Look Like
Mar 18, 2026
Dr. Erik Dean: Multi-Sport, Time Off, and Smart Prevention: A Sports Doctor's Playbook
Mar 11, 2026
Joel Votaw - From the Middle of the Field: What Youth Soccer Referees Wish Parents Knew
Mar 04, 2026
Skye Eddy: How to Be the Sports Parent Your Child Actually Needs
Feb 25, 2026
Crystalrae States: Development, Mental Health & Youth Softball
Feb 18, 2026
Growing Up Santo: How Linda Santo Raised Confident, Balanced Athletes
Feb 11, 2026
Part 3 of 3 — When the Dream Unexpectedly Changes: Will Proctor, The Athlete's Voice
Feb 04, 2026
Part 2 of 3 - When the Dream Unexpectedly Changes: Lisa Proctor, A Mother's Perspective
Jan 28, 2026
Part 1 of 3 — When the Dream Unexpectedly Changes: Jeff Proctor, A Dad's View
Jan 21, 2026
Jody Jackson: Sports, Youth Sports Parenting, and Perspective
Jan 14, 2026
Mark Hilinski: What Parents Don't See — Student-Athlete Mental Health and Hilinski's Hope
Jan 07, 2026
Re-Release: Madison Merkow — Pressure, Perspective, and Owning Your Youth Sports Journey
Jan 01, 2026
Re-Release: Sydney Merkow — Identity, Pressure, and Finding Your Way Through Youth Sports
Dec 24, 2025
Kirsten Jones: A Conversation on the Importance of the 3 F's and Empowering Athletes
Dec 17, 2025
Coaching Beyond the Game: Leadership and Legacy with Charli Turner Thorne, former Arizona State University Women's Basketball Coach
Dec 10, 2025
Taking Back the Game: A Conversation with Author, Youth Sports Advocate, and Sports Parent, Linda Flanagan
Dec 03, 2025
High School Sports, Culture, and Community with Kevin McCabe the "Dean of Arizona High School Sports"
Nov 26, 2025
College Sports, Change, and the Youth Connection with former College Commissioner Dr. Robert Dranoff
Nov 19, 2025
Travel Sports, Pressure, and Perspective with Steve Borelli, USA Today
Nov 12, 2025
Coaching, Culture, and Sports Parenting: A Conversation with Mike Strati
Nov 05, 2025
From the Sidelines to the Pitch: A Dad–Daughter Youth Soccer Journey Conversation with Sydney Merkow
Oct 29, 2025
From the Stands to the Sand: A Dad–Daughter Sports Journey Conversation with Madison Merkow
Oct 22, 2025
Why Be Valiant? The Parent's Journey Through Youth Sports - Monologue by Todd Merkow (Host of Be Valiant and founder of Valiant Sports Society)
Oct 13, 2025