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Interviews and Podcasts featuring Linda Flanagan
How Youth Sports Became a $38 Billion Play
Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and his brother Bill have turned youth sports into big business. But can they chase profits while preserving what’s best for kids? Watch this edition of Bloomberg Originals to find out more, including opinions by author Linda Flanagan, Take Back the Game.
High-pressure Youth Sports Is Bad for America
In this article by Matthew Yglesias of Slow Boring, he discusses the movie Inside Out 2, highlighting how it mirrors the real-life pressures of youth sports, specifically for a young girl named Riley. The author critiques the normalization of high-pressure, expensive youth sports in the U.S., pointing out how it creates social inequalities and weakens communities. The piece references Linda Flanagan's book, Take Back the Game, which argues that over-specialization and commercialization in youth sports lead to negative outcomes for children and suggests a need for more community-based, inclusive sports activities. Read the full article here.
Photo by Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Little League
Youth baseball — long a widely accessible American pastime — has become overrun by $10,000-per-year for-profit travel leagues. Zachary Crockett peers inside the dugout, and he speaks experts, including author Linda Flanagan on The Economics of Everyday Things podcast.
The High Cost of the Youth Sports Arms Race
Youth sports are supposed to be about fun and team spirit. But now, kids are training year-round and joining expensive travel leagues earlier. It’s costing families, and kids too. WBUR’s On Point discusses the high cost of the youth sports arms race with author Linda Flanagan; Jennifer Howell, former soccer player; Tom Farrey, executive director of the Aspen Institute’s Sports and Society Program. Founder of Project Play. Author of "Game On: The All-American Race to Make Champions of Our Children; and other guests.
NHSBCA (National High School Basketball Coaches Association) leaders Dave Archer and Dan Young discuss Take Back the Game with the author of the book, Linda Flanagan. Take Back the Game is an eye-opening book about how money and mania are ruining kids sports—and why it matters.
The Crisis in Girls’ Sports with Lauren Fleshman and Linda Flanagan
In a live conversation taped at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, Malcolm Gladwell and his Martian friend consult athletes Linda Flanagan and Lauren Fleshman on how to level the proverbial playing field. What would they ban from youth sports: Coaches? Parents? Uniforms? Whatever it takes to bring the love of the game to everyone.
Learning How and Understanding the Role of Sports Parents in Youth Sports with Author Linda Flanagan
In this edition of the Athlete Maestro podcast, Tola Ogunlewe talks to author Linda Flanagan about the pressure young kids are feeling to be sports superstars. She shares how parents can be better sports parents, create an improved environment for their children, and lots more.
How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids' Sports
John Boruk interviews Laura Flanagan in this edition of the Raising a Champion podcast. Flanagan discusses “the ramifications that youth sports is becoming more of an industry pushed big corporate greed, the consequences of raising the stakes for kids and parents alike—and the changes we need now.” In addition, they discuss “the potential damaging impact of NIL (name, image and likeness) and how parents are looking to profit from the rule change.”
How Youth Sports Became Serious Business
Tommy Weber (@tommyweberbaseball) and Linda Flanagan uncover how youth sports became serious business. Drawing on their respective experiences as coaches, they delve into a national obsession that has serious consequences for players, parents, and families.
Youth Sports Are Out of Control
Slate’s parenting podcast, Mom and Dad Are Fighting, interview Linda Flanagan on the drastic transformation within youth sports over the years. (Transcript)
There Is a Youth Sports Industry That’s Bigger Than the NFL, and It’s Growing
Linda Flanagan joins Nick Buonocore of The Reformed Sports Project Podcast to discuss strategies to help parents put their kids' sports into perspective, the importance of being self-aware when raising children, and why parents should feel empowered to reclaim their agency.
Why Sports Are Good for Kids & What We Can Learn From Sports
From Ponders Out Loud (teacher edition) podcast host Steve Barkley: "Writer and cross country coach, Linda Flanagan, shares research and common sense findings about the many benefits kids can gain from involvement in sports. As the author of Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids Sports and Why it Matters, she also shares cautions we should be paying attention to. Consider some conversations teachers may have with students about their sports experiences.”
What’s Important to Know About Kids and Sports
Steve Barkley, Ponders Out Loud podcast, talks to Laura: “Sports have many benefits for kids that can be lost if parents lose sight of the purpose. The author of Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids Sports and Why it Matters, Linda Flanagan, explores questions caretakers should be asking as we support our kids in sports. How do we listen to the kids as well as to our own motivations?”
How Money and Mania Have Ruined Kids’ Sports, Why it Matters, and How to Take Back the Game
John O’Sullivan of the Way of Champions Podcast interviews Linda Flanagan. They cover how sport has become a business, how much pressure is on parents to do more and more at younger ages, and much more.
Why Have We Allowed Money to Ruin Youth Sports?
Opinion writer Jessica Grose for the New York Times (and mom of young swimmers) had a conversation with Linda Flanagan who explains how we got to this place and what good can still be gained from youth sports. Read the interview here. (This article is for NY Times’ subscribers only.)
Interview with Malcolm Gladwell
Coach and author Linda Flanagan “schools Malcolm Gladwell on how to buck the system” in part three of his series on how to save high school sports. Read the interview here.
It’s time to make youth sports about kids again
In the September 27, 2022 edition of Author Talks, McKinsey Global Publishing’s Molly Liebergall chats with Linda Flanagan. “K–12 sports in America have transformed from a fun, active, and accessible pastime into a high-stakes, expensive competition, Flanagan says—but it didn’t used to be this way.” Here’s an edited version of their conversation, with video.
The multibillion dollar youth sports industry is leaving lots of kids on the sidelines
Kai Ryssdal and Sean McHenry of Marketplace interview Linda on how the multibillion dollar youth sports industry is leaving lots of kids on the sidelines.
Are we modeling that adulthood is a big bore?
Are we modeling that adulthood is a big bore? Listen to the podcast with Linda on The 1000 Hours Outside.
Pressure, Pain, and Kids’ Athletics
Pressure, Pain, and Kids’ Athletics, a Talking to Teens podcast featuring guest author Linda Flanagan.
Seattle’s Morning News
Seattle’s Morning News with Dave Ross and Colleen O’Brien speak with Linda Flanagan (starting at 8:19).
The Lisa Wexler Show
Lisa Wexler talks with Linda Flanagan about the dangers of taking youth sports too seriously.
Taking Back Kids’ Sports
Fresh Take: Linda Flanagan on Taking Back Kids' Sports featured on What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood
Shifting Schools Podcast
Shifting Schools hosts Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman speak with Linda Flanagan on the pressure of parenting and playing sports today.
How kids sports became a $19B industry
The youth sports industry is estimated to be worth $19 billion, more than the value of the NFL. Wisconsin Public Radio talks to Linda Flanagan of her new book looking at the rise of the kids' sports industry, and how its impacting children and families alike.