Let’s Talk Cheer: The Cheerleading Podcast For Parents & Coaches

Jason Larkins, Bleav
  • 4.9 (198)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

Are you tired of feeling totally lost when it comes to all-star cheerleading? Then the "Let's Talk Cheer" podcast, hosted by Jason Larkins, Cheer Director at American Cheer, is the show for you. Each episode Jason educates and entertains coaches and parents alike. First, so that coaches walk into each practice motivated, and so that they know they aren't alone on their journey. Second, so that parents have a better understanding of their athlete's sport. If you’re ready to join the team, you can start with a fan favorite episode from May 9th, “Jason and Brittany talk all things tryouts.” Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jasonlarkins/support

  1. 3d ago

    3 Score Sheet Mistakes Cheer Coaches Make & How to Avoid Them

    What if the difference between a higher cheer score and leaving points on the table isn’t adding more difficulty but understanding what the judges are actually looking for? Building a competitive routine isn’t as simple as putting your hardest skills on the floor. From tumbling numbers and stunt connections to formations, legalities, and execution, small decisions can have a major impact on your final score. In this episode, Jason and Gina break down the strategy behind maximizing the score sheet, including when adding more athletes helps, when it can actually hurt execution, and why coaches need to think beyond simply doing “more.” In this episode, you’ll learn: How to balance difficulty and execution when deciding how many athletes should perform a skill. Why submitting stunt legalities can protect your score—and potentially save your season. What judges actually notice when evaluating tumbling, formations, transitions, and overall routine execution. Play the episode to learn how to make smarter routine decisions, protect valuable points, and build a cleaner, more competitive performance before your team hits the competition floor. Buy the Jason's Book, Upside Down and Back Again ⁠ Jason's On-Demand Coaches Training Videos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Code of Points Cheatsheet FREE⁠ Join the Cheer Mom's Anonymous Facebook Group- https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Zt7hJYgHL/?mibextid=wwXIfr Brittany's Comp Cheer Checklist- instagram.com/stories/highlights/18356656174188077 Jason’s Book Recommendations- ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Let's Talk Cheer on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Submit a Question of the Week Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  2. Aug 19

    Why More Skills in Your Cheer Routine Can Hurt Your Score and Your Athlete

    Have you ever wondered why your athlete has a skill but their coaches choose not to put it in the routine? As a cheer parent, it can be frustrating to watch your athlete work hard to master a skill only to see them moved to the back, left out of a section, or given fewer opportunities to showcase what they can do. But routine decisions aren't always about who can perform a skill, they're about what gives the entire team the best opportunity to score well. In this episode, Jason and Gina pull back the curtain on how cheer routines are actually built. They talk about the relationship between coaches and choreographers, why coaches sometimes have to remove emotion from routine decisions, and why adding more athletes to a skill section can actually create more opportunities for deductions instead of increasing your score. In this episode, you'll learn: Why adding more athletes to a skill section doesn't necessarily earn your team more points and can potentially hurt the team's technique score. How coaches and choreographers decide which athletes to highlight, where athletes are placed, and why what's best for an individual athlete can sometimes conflict with what's best for the team. Why parents shouldn't judge a new routine too quickly and how choreography continues to evolve, change, and improve throughout the competition season. Press play to get an inside look at the decisions behind your athlete's cheer routine so you can better understand why having a skill doesn't always mean performing it on the competition floor. Join our Patreon for ad free listening Buy the Jason's Book, Upside Down and Back Again ⁠ Jason's On-Demand Coaches Training Videos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Code of Points Cheatsheet FREE⁠ Join the Cheer Mom's Anonymous Facebook Group- https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Zt7hJYgHL/?mibextid=wwXIfr Brittany's Comp Cheer Checklist- instagram.com/stories/highlights/18356656174188077 Jason’s Book Recommendations- ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Let's Talk Cheer on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Submit a Question of the Week Other great cheerleading podcast to check out- The Cheer Biz Podcast, The Cheer Mom Podcast, Spill the Cheer, Mat Talk Table Talk, Cheer Chats Podcast, MotUS Edge Podcast, The Cheer Dad Podcast and the Here 4 Cheer Podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Why More Skills in Your Cheer Routine Can Hurt Your Score and Your Athlete

  3. Aug 12

    9 Strategies To Break Through Mental Blocks & Get Skills Back with Debbie Love

    Have you ever watched an athlete suddenly lose a skill they know they can do and then wondered what you can actually do to help them get past the mental block? Mental blocks aren’t a choice, and pushing harder, adding pressure, or endlessly drilling the skill can sometimes make the problem worse. In this episode, you’ll learn a practical nine-step approach to helping athletes work through mental blocks while developing confidence, autonomy, and character along the way. You’ll discover: Nine practical strategies for helping athletes work through mental blocks and regain confidence in their skills. How scripting, visualization, conditioning, journaling, positive affirmations, and pre-skill rituals can support an athlete’s mental game. Why the way coaches and parents respond matters—and how focusing on effort, character, and emotional safety can help athletes thrive beyond their sport. Play the episode to learn how to approach mental blocks with a practical system that helps athletes rebuild confidence without relying on fear, pressure, or intimidation. Buy the Jason's Book, Upside Down and Back Again ⁠ Jason's On-Demand Coaches Training Videos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Code of Points Cheatsheet FREE⁠ Join the Cheer Mom's Anonymous Facebook Group- https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Zt7hJYgHL/?mibextid=wwXIfr Brittany's Comp Cheer Checklist- instagram.com/stories/highlights/18356656174188077 Jason’s Book Recommendations- ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Let's Talk Cheer on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Submit a Question of the Week Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  4. Aug 5

    5 Reasons Cheer Competitions Cost More Than You Think

    Have you ever wondered what it really takes to produce a national cheer competition—and why so many industry veterans believe the future of cheer depends on independent event producers? Most athletes, parents, and even coaches only see what happens on the competition floor. But behind every successful event are countless decisions about scoring, scheduling, athlete experience, production, judging, and customer service. In this episode, the team behind ASC shares over 30 years of lessons from building one of the industry's longest-running independent event companies—and explains why they believe collaboration, fairness, and putting athletes first will shape the future of competitive cheer. Discover what really happens behind the scenes of producing major cheer competitions and why every detail matters. Learn how ASC grew from hosting local gym events to producing national competitions while remaining independently owned for over three decades. Hear candid insights on scoring systems, stay-to-play, World Bids, the Prime Alliance, and where the cheer industry is headed next. If you want an inside look at the business of cheer competitions and hear honest conversations about the industry's biggest opportunities and challenges, press play on this episode today. Join our Patreon for ad free listening Buy the Jason's Book, Upside Down and Back Again ⁠ Jason's On-Demand Coaches Training Videos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Code of Points Cheatsheet FREE⁠ Join the Cheer Mom's Anonymous Facebook Group- https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Zt7hJYgHL/?mibextid=wwXIfr Brittany's Comp Cheer Checklist- instagram.com/stories/highlights/18356656174188077 Jason’s Book Recommendations- ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Let's Talk Cheer on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Submit a Question of the Week Other great cheerleading podcast to check out- The Cheer Biz Podcast, The Cheer Mom Podcast, Spill the Cheer, Mat Talk Table Talk, Cheer Chats Podcast, MotUS Edge Podcast, The Cheer Dad Podcast and the Here 4 Cheer Podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    5 Reasons Cheer Competitions Cost More Than You Think

  5. Jul 29

    How to Build Confident Tumblers Without Rushing Skills

    Are you building confident tumblers or accidentally creating athletes who rely on fear, frustration, and shortcuts? The best tumbling coaches know that mastering skills isn't just about technique, it's about building trust, confidence, and smart progressions. In this special TumbleCon panel discussion, four respected coaches share decades of coaching experience, debating everything from spotting philosophies and athlete confidence to judging, safety, progressions, and the coaching habits that separate good coaches from great ones. Whether you're coaching beginners or elite athletes, you'll walk away with practical ideas you can apply in your next practice. Learn the coaching philosophies that consistently produce confident, high-level tumblers. Discover when spotting helps athletes—and when better drills create stronger long-term results. Hear honest conversations about athlete safety, coaching culture, judging, and the future of tumbling instruction. Press play now to hear an unfiltered conversation packed with actionable coaching strategies that will help you develop safer, more confident, and more successful athletes. Join our Patreon for ad free listening Buy the Jason's Book, Upside Down and Back Again ⁠ Jason's On-Demand Coaches Training Videos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Code of Points Cheatsheet FREE⁠ Join the Cheer Mom's Anonymous Facebook Group- https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Zt7hJYgHL/?mibextid=wwXIfr Brittany's Comp Cheer Checklist- instagram.com/stories/highlights/18356656174188077 Jason’s Book Recommendations- ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Let's Talk Cheer on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Submit a Question of the Week Other great cheerleading podcast to check out- The Cheer Biz Podcast, The Cheer Mom Podcast, Spill the Cheer, Mat Talk Table Talk, Cheer Chats Podcast, MotUS Edge Podcast, The Cheer Dad Podcast and the Here 4 Cheer Podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    How to Build Confident Tumblers Without Rushing Skills

  6. Jul 22

    Inside the NOVAS: Cheer's New Awards Show Is Here

    What if a new awards show could help bring the entire cheer industry back together? If you've been following the evolution of all-star cheer, you've probably noticed the industry has become more divided than ever. In this episode, Sean Timmons shares the vision behind The NOVAS, a brand-new awards show designed to celebrate the people who move cheer forward while creating more opportunities for the industry to come together. He also discusses how MotUS is helping gym owners build stronger, more profitable businesses through collaboration instead of competition. Discover the story behind The NOVAS and why Sean believes the cheer industry is ready for a new live awards show. Learn how MotUS is helping gym owners save money, access valuable resources, and grow more sustainable businesses. Hear Sean's perspective on industry unity, leadership, and what the future of all-star cheer could look like. If you want an inside look at one of the biggest new initiatives in cheer, and where the industry may be headed next, press play now. Buy the Jason's Book, Upside Down and Back Again ⁠ Jason's On-Demand Coaches Training Videos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Code of Points Cheatsheet FREE⁠ Join the Cheer Mom's Anonymous Facebook Group- https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Zt7hJYgHL/?mibextid=wwXIfr Brittany's Comp Cheer Checklist- instagram.com/stories/highlights/18356656174188077 Jason’s Book Recommendations- ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Let's Talk Cheer on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Submit a Question of the Week Other great cheerleading podcast to check out- The Cheer Biz Podcast, The Cheer Mom Podcast, Spill the Cheer, Mat Talk Table Talk, Cheer Chats Podcast, MotUS Edge Podcast, The Cheer Dad Podcast and the Here 4 Cheer Podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Inside the NOVAS: Cheer's New Awards Show Is Here

  7. Jul 15

    How to Protect Your Flyers by Teaching Bases One Simple Habit

    Have you ever wondered what really goes into creating an elite cheer routine, and why the smallest coaching decisions can make the biggest difference in athlete safety and team success? In this episode of Let's Talk Cheer, Jason and Gina pull back the curtain on the cheer industry's routine-building process, from choreography and custom music production to coaching communication and stunt safety. They also tackle an important conversation about bullying, team culture, and how parents and coaches can help create an environment where every athlete feels valued. In this episode, you'll discover: The behind-the-scenes process of how custom cheer music is created and why it takes longer than most people think. A simple coaching communication strategy that can make practices more efficient and help athletes respond faster. Practical advice for keeping flyers safe during stunt falls while building a stronger, more inclusive team culture. Press play to learn the coaching tips, safety strategies, and team-building lessons that can help your athletes perform with more confidence and create a stronger cheer program all season long. Join our Patreon for ad free listening Buy the Jason's Book, Upside Down and Back Again ⁠ Jason's On-Demand Coaches Training Videos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Code of Points Cheatsheet FREE⁠ Join the Cheer Mom's Anonymous Facebook Group- https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Zt7hJYgHL/?mibextid=wwXIfr Brittany's Comp Cheer Checklist- instagram.com/stories/highlights/18356656174188077 Jason’s Book Recommendations- ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Let's Talk Cheer on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Submit a Question of the Week Other great cheerleading podcast to check out- The Cheer Biz Podcast, The Cheer Mom Podcast, Spill the Cheer, Mat Talk Table Talk, Cheer Chats Podcast, MotUS Edge Podcast, The Cheer Dad Podcast and the Here 4 Cheer Podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  8. Jul 1

    Is AI the Future of Cheer Coaching? The Rise of Data-Driven Training

    What if artificial intelligence could help you become a better cheer coach, develop athletes faster, and remove the guesswork from evaluations? Every cheer coach faces the same challenges: evaluating athletes fairly, giving individualized feedback, managing team communication, and tracking development over time. In this episode, Curve AI founder Shea shares how artificial intelligence is being used to simplify coaching, provide objective athlete assessments, and create entirely new opportunities for athlete development and mentorship. After listening, you'll discover: How AI can objectively measure athleticism and identify untapped athlete potential. Ways technology can save coaches time with evaluations, communication, and video feedback. Why data-driven coaching may become one of the biggest competitive advantages in cheerleading. Press play to discover how artificial intelligence could transform the way you coach, evaluate, and develop cheer athletes in the years ahead. Join our Patreon for ad free listening Buy the Jason's Book, Upside Down and Back Again ⁠ Jason's On-Demand Coaches Training Videos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Code of Points Cheatsheet FREE⁠ Join the Cheer Mom's Anonymous Facebook Group- https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Zt7hJYgHL/?mibextid=wwXIfr Brittany's Comp Cheer Checklist- instagram.com/stories/highlights/18356656174188077 Jason’s Book Recommendations- ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Affiliate Link⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Let's Talk Cheer on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Submit a Question of the Week Other great cheerleading podcast to check out- The Cheer Biz Podcast, The Cheer Mom Podcast, Spill the Cheer, Mat Talk Table Talk, Cheer Chats Podcast, MotUS Edge Podcast, The Cheer Dad Podcast and the Here 4 Cheer Podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

See All (339)

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
198 Ratings

About

Are you tired of feeling totally lost when it comes to all-star cheerleading? Then the "Let's Talk Cheer" podcast, hosted by Jason Larkins, Cheer Director at American Cheer, is the show for you. Each episode Jason educates and entertains coaches and parents alike. First, so that coaches walk into each practice motivated, and so that they know they aren't alone on their journey. Second, so that parents have a better understanding of their athlete's sport. If you’re ready to join the team, you can start with a fan favorite episode from May 9th, “Jason and Brittany talk all things tryouts.” Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jasonlarkins/support

Information