The Pure Athlete Podcast

Jeff Francoeur

Former MLB player Jeff Francoeur and PA co-founders Britt Lee and Brad Williams interview well-known pro/college athletes, coaches, and topical experts to gain insight into the world of youth sports, in order to equip and inspire young athletes, parents, and coaches to successfully navigate their sports journeys. For more info, visit www.pureathleteinc.com

  1. 1d ago

    Call in Show #2: “My Son’s Coach Publicly Humiliated Him—and Now He Wants to Quit. What Should I Do?”

    Welcome to The Pure Athlete Call-In Show, where we have REAL CONVERSATIONS with REAL PARENTS & COACHES about REAL SITUATIONS and CHALLENGES. On this episode, Jeff Francoeur, Britt Lee, and Brad Williams take calls from parents and coaches navigating some of the hardest moments in youth sports: Chris in Atlanta — How do you grow into coaching a sport you barely know when your kid (or the program) needs you?Libby in Chicago — Her 7th grader made the tennis team. Her 6th grader, one year younger and at the same school, did not. How do you celebrate one daughter without constantly reminding the other that she got cut?Casey in Spokane — His 9-year-old is a “stud” in practice but freezes at the plate, overthinks every cue, and treats a strikeout like the end of the world.Chris in Newark — After years in the dugout, he’s now in the stands and can’t believe what some parents are saying. What’s his role now—and when should a former coach speak up?Mark in Denver — After a couple of errors, a travel-ball coach berated his 13-year-old in front of the team. His son wants to quit. How do you talk to your kid—and how do you approach the coach? Jeff, Britt, and Brad share honest perspectives and advice from their own experiences as parents, coaches, and former athletes. If you want to talk to the guys on a future call-in episode, go to pureathlete.com/call and submit your story, or send a DM on any of our social platforms. Sharing your situation can help other parents and coaches going through the same thing.

  2. Sep 15

    The Mental Game of Youth Sports: What Parents & Coaches Need to Know with Dr. Ben Freakley

    Britt, Brad, and former U.S. Soccer captain Carlos Bocanegra sit down with Dr. Ben Freakley for a practical conversation on the mental side of youth sports. Freakley, a military brat and former college soccer player and coach, traces his path from a painful VMI loss that pushed him into sports psychology, to work with Army Rangers, the Toronto Blue Jays’ mental performance department, and building Atlanta United’s high-performance staff alongside Bocanegra. He now leads Ready, Set, Resilient and consults with athletes, coaches, and high performers. The discussion centers on cognitive load: how parents yelling from the stands, coaches barking from the sideline, and a kid’s own inner voice create “noise” that makes it harder to play. Freakley explains why coaches (and parents) should cut feedback to one or two clear points, triage what actually matters, and save the rest for later. He offers a simple post-game framework he uses with his own high-school football-playing sons—goals, honest reflection on what went well, what to improve, and a plan for next time—aimed at building self-awareness rather than delivering a play-by-play critique. Freakley shares his expertise and a hot take on developing confidence, and he talks a length about stressing process over results. Bocanegra and Freakley also share what they looked for in young academy players beyond speed and skill: kids who showed up every day, competed, and figured things out when they weren’t the most gifted. Freakley's closing billboard for every youth field: Love your kid. Unconditional positive regard. No conditions of worth tied to points, minutes, or wins. “You’re enough.” A grounded, coach-and-parent-friendly episode on reducing noise, building process, and keeping the relationship first.

  3. Sep 8

    Call-In Show #1: “My Husband Is Too Hard On My Son In Sports”

    Welcome to The Pure Athlete Call-In Show, where we have REAL CONVERSATIONS with REAL PARENTS & COACHES, discussion REAL SITUATIONS and CHALLENGES. On the is episode we talk to three moms, one dad, and one middle school soccer coach about challenges each are facing along their youth sports journeys. Jeff, Britt, and Brad share their perspectives and advice, based on their own experiences and observations. If you want to talk to the guys on a future call-in episode, go to pureathlete.com/call and submit your information or send us a dm at any of our social media platforms! We would love to hear from you, and sharing your story may help other parents or coaches going through similar situations!

  4. Sep 1

    Notah Begay: His Unlikely Journey to the PGA Tour & Payne Stewart Award

    Notah Begay III joins The Pure Athlete Podcast for a conversation about character, preparation, and what it actually takes to last. Jeff, Britt, and Brad sit down with Begay during Tour Championship week to talk about the surprise of winning the Payne Stewart Award, the speech in a room full of peers (Scheffler, McIlroy, and the people who built the show), and the path that made the honor feel almost impossible: a public course on Albuquerque’s west side, unpaid work at nine, a hard home life, and the long odds facing Native kids on reservations. Begay is blunt about early specialization, the mentors who opened doors (and helped him raise an SAT score in 90 days), surviving the Atlanta airport at 14 with no cell phone, and why Stanford felt like another planet. He explains how few jobs there really are on Tour, why one bad year can send you all the way back to “Go,” and what he learned standing next to Tiger Woods for 40 years—from the range the morning after a major to why confidence comes from preparation, not from having “done it before.” A conversation about golf, grit, and raising kids who still love the game.

  5. Aug 25

    The Keys to Helping Your Young Athlete Physically Thrive with Dr. Katie Friedman

    Brad and Britt sit down with Dr. Katie Friedman—pediatrician, pediatric ER physician, mom of young athletes, co-founder of Forever Freckled, and creator of Big Time youth athlete vitamins (livebigtime.com). Katie makes the case that youth sports remain one of the most powerful environments for kids: they build grit, teach kids how to fail and keep going, get them off screens, support physical health, and instill habits that transfer to school and adulthood. She also talks honestly about the hard parts—injuries, pressure to return too soon, and the daily scramble of late practices and fast food. Key topics include: What she actually sees in the ER: fractures, dislocations, lacerations—and a surprising spike in serious injuries from e-scooters and e-bikesConcussion red flags, when to go to the ER, and why kids should be symptom-free before returning to playSleep as the most overlooked (and free) performance tool—aim for 9–10+ hours and get screens out of the bedroomPractical nutrition: breakfast as fuel, simple carbs before games, smaller meals/snacks kids will actually eat, and giving yourself grace on the 9:30 p.m. pizza nightsWhy she created Big Time after her son’s injury and her own questions about fueling growing athletesAdvice to sports parents: the work is worth it even if they never play college ball—focus on the child and the lessons, not just the scoreboard A grounded, practical conversation for parents who want their kids to thrive in sports without losing the point of it. https://livebigtime.com

  6. Aug 18

    Alex Rodriguez: Lessons & Insights From A Storied MLB Career

    14-time All-Star, three-time AL MVP, and 2009 World Series champion Alex Rodriguez joins Jeff, Britt, and Brad for a wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond the highlight-reel numbers. A-Rod traces his path from a Washington Heights childhood (his father leaving when he was 10, his mother’s extraordinary work ethic, and a stretch on food stamps) to Miami, where baseball, basketball, and football became his outlet and purpose. He explains why playing up with older kids as a late-July birthday was an unexpected advantage, how quarterbacking and point-guard vision translated directly to shortstop, and why he believes today’s early-specialization culture is hurting young athletes. The former Westminster Christian star makes a passionate case for fundamentals over launch angle and exit velo: start with the bunt, the hit-and-run, and elite defense. He talks about the two coaches who shaped him for a decade, the value of curiosity and listening (even at the height of his stardom), and the mental approach that let a 18-year-old phenom survive the spotlight. Parents and coaches will especially appreciate his advice on the ride home, process over results, keeping kids off electronics and radar guns before 17, and why the best players he’s ever seen were “black-belt fundamentalists.” Rodriguez also shares the behind-the-scenes story of his trade to the Yankees and reflects with rare vulnerability on early success, self-awareness, and how becoming a more present father has changed him. A must-listen episode packed with practical wisdom for anyone raising or coaching the next generation.

  7. Aug 12 ·  Bonus

    NEW SEASON 5 PREVIEW with Jeff, Britt, & Brad

    Jeff, Britt, and Brad preview the new season with summer recaps, laughs, and big plans ahead. Jeff shares behind-the-scenes stories from Cooperstown and Andruw Jones’ Hall of Fame induction—hanging with Mike Tomlin, chatting with Tony La Russa, and experiencing “baseball heaven” with the legends. Brad and Britt trade notes on family time, beach trips, yard work, and a special first ice-cream moment with a granddaughter. Then they look ahead: Pure Athlete Baseball’s continues to add great new content and the guys talk about what's coming on that platform. And, the guys discuss a brand new format coming to enable interaction and engagement with parents, kids and coaches around the country, discussing their youth sports journeys in a real-life way. Season 5 begins next week. Stick around—you’re not going to want to miss it.

  8. Jul 29

    PA Replay: Andruw Jones — From Curaçao to Cooperstown

    This week, we're revisiting our conversation with newly inducted MLB Hall of Famer Andruw Jones. Andruw reflects on the journey that took him from Curaçao to the major leagues, the importance of character and discipline, and the lessons he's learned through baseball and fatherhood. It's a timeless conversation filled with wisdom for athletes, parents, and coaches alike.

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4.9
out of 5
230 Ratings

About

Former MLB player Jeff Francoeur and PA co-founders Britt Lee and Brad Williams interview well-known pro/college athletes, coaches, and topical experts to gain insight into the world of youth sports, in order to equip and inspire young athletes, parents, and coaches to successfully navigate their sports journeys. For more info, visit www.pureathleteinc.com

Information

  • Creator
    Jeff Francoeur
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    201
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jeff Francoeur
  • Show Website
    The Pure Athlete Podcast

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