The Struggle Bubble

Chad Kutting and Craig Surgey
  • 5.0 (17)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Struggle Bubble is a dynamic podcast that dives deep into the real-life challenges faced by modern professionals, parents, and individuals in high-performance environments. Hosted by Chad Kutting and Craig Surgey, this show offers a raw and honest look at the juggling act of balancing career ambitions, family responsibilities, and personal well-being. Each episode features candid conversations about the pressures of living in tech-centric communities, the evolving landscape of parenting, and the constant push-pull between professional success and personal fulfillment. The hosts share their own experiences and insights, often bringing in guest experts to provide diverse perspectives on navigating life's complexities. The Struggle Bubble is more than just a podcast; it's a community where listeners can find relatable stories, practical advice, and a sense of camaraderie in facing life's everyday struggles. Whether you're a Silicon Valley techie, a busy parent, or anyone trying to find balance in a fast-paced world, this podcast offers valuable insights and a reminder that you're not alone in your journey. Join Chad and Craig as they unpack the realities of modern life, share laughs over common frustrations, and explore strategies for thriving amidst the chaos. "The Struggle Bubble" - because sometimes, the most comforting thing is knowing we're all in this together.

  1. You Asked, We Answered

    1D AGO

    You Asked, We Answered

    No guest this week — just Chad and Craig, a stack of listener questions, and zero filter. Craig's fresh off a brutal week commuting to RSA in San Francisco ("two hours to go 55 miles"), and Chad's still processing a nail-biting state cup match in Davis that went to PKs in the final three seconds. So yeah — business as usual in the Struggle Bubble. The episode opens with a quick follow-up on Andrew McRobbie's appearance last week and the wave of listener messages it sparked — parents saying they'd never considered that any given game could be the last one. From there, Chad and Craig rip through a Q&A covering the stuff their audience actually lives with every weekend: is club soccer worth thousands a year? What do you do when you feel yourself becoming the sideline parent you swore you'd never be? Should your kid quit Little League for travel ball? And what happens when a parent tells a volunteer coach they're "ruining the sport"? The back half gets more personal. They dig into what happens when a kid's entire identity is wrapped up in their sport, how to break the cycle of negative self-talk before a game, and whether anything they've said on this podcast has actually changed their own behavior. (Spoiler: Chad doesn't know his son's baseball record for the first time in ten years. Progress.) They close with the question from the very first Q&A episode — what would you do without kids? Episode presented by Gaimplan

    44 min
  2. Extend the Timeline, Not the Highlight Reel

    MAR 24

    Extend the Timeline, Not the Highlight Reel

    Andrew McRobbie has been in the middle of all of it as Director at All-Stars SC in Saratoga — and as a stepdad who just watched his daughter's soccer career end without knowing it was her last game. Chad, Craig, and Andrew get into the real stuff: why 91% of academy players never play a professional minute, what "elite" actually means (hint: someone's paying you), the social media trap that's teaching kids to chase highlights instead of fundamentals, and Andrew's one-line philosophy every soccer parent needs to hear. His three-year-old Jude also makes an appearance in a vintage Aberdeen kit, which is its own kind of struggle.

    58 min
  3. Did You Win? (And Why We Can't Stop Asking)

    MAR 16

    Did You Win? (And Why We Can't Stop Asking)

    Episode 35 Presented by Gaimplan This week it's just Chad and Craig — no guest, no filter, a lot of real talk. They kick things off in the middle of their own Struggle Bubble: Chad's packing for a youth soccer tournament in Davis while baseball opening day looms, and Craig's sneaking in a podcast recording while Brittain manages a dance competition across town. Chaotic? Yes. On-brand? Absolutely. From there the conversation goes deep on a question they keep circling back to: why are we doing this? Not "this" as in the podcast — but all of it. The travel tournaments. The pressure. The sideline screaming. The dad who's keeping a mental scorecard of which league his ten-year-old is in. They dig into comparison culture in youth sports, what actually happens to the kids who aren't getting game time, and what it means to reframe a tournament as a mini vacation rather than a must-win. They also get into a wild real-life story: an opposing coach who pulled his entire team off the field mid-game over a physical-but-legal soccer match — and what it says about the state of youth coaching, burnout, and the economic pressures that are quietly running the show. The back half of the episode hits on something more personal: what we model for our kids when we struggle ourselves. Chad talks about going back to weightlifting after 25 years. Craig talks about getting destroyed by a Theraband in a dance studio full of twelve-year-olds. And both of them make the same point: when our kids see us fail and watch how we respond — that's the real coaching. Key ThemesThe comparison trap in youth sports — and how it starts at the club level, not just the sidelineWhy the first question after a game ("did you win?") might be the most damaging one we askProcess over outcome — and what that actually looks like in practice for a parentLetting kids fail, struggle, and advocate for themselvesCoaching burnout, pay-to-play culture, and the economic motive that corrupts youth sportsModeling grit: what your kids learn when they watch you do hard things

    52 min
  4. Effort Over Outcome with Heath Clark

    MAR 9

    Effort Over Outcome with Heath Clark

    Heath Clark has been coaching football and teaching history at Los Gatos High School since 2008. He's the kind of coach whose former players still come back. He's also the kind of dad who had to stop going to his daughter's flag football games — not because of scheduling, but because a parent accused his 14-year-old of conspiring to throw a game. For five-year-olds. That story is the tip of it. This episode tears into what we've gotten wrong about youth sports, education, and what "success" actually means when your kid is eight and everyone around you is acting like the scouts are watching. Heath talks about why football is actually better learned late, why the hardest workers — not the biggest kids — end up ahead, and why he writes a single sentence for himself before every season about who he's trying to be as a coach. This year's word: love. Chad and Craig push into specialization, the pay-to-play trap, and why the best Sunday of flag football season happened when nobody kept score. The conversation also gets into Heath's nonprofit, We Train LG — built because paying to play shouldn't lock kids out. NFL guys and awkward seventh graders train side by side on the same principles: work hard, get better, be a good human. Craig wraps it with a challenge from his English childhood: backpacks for goalposts, a dad with a ball, and nobody getting in a fight. That's it. That's the whole model.

    49 min

  5. MAR 2

    We're back...again?!

    The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the start of season two, challenges of podcasting, high school soccer, AI and technology, youth sports, coaching, and the impact of technology on education and sports. The conversation also delves into the importance of feedback, mental preparation, and the role of parents in youth sports. Chapters 00:00 Season Two Kickoff and Podcasting Challenges07:03 High School Soccer and Coaching Approach17:02 AI, Technology, and Education in Sports26:12 Youth Sports and Parental Role

    38 min

  6. 08/11/2025

    Back to School: The Struggles of Parenting and Coaching

    In this episode of the Struggle Bubble, Chad and Craig discuss their summer experiences, including a memorable family vacation in Hawaii that involved a tsunami warning. They share insights on the challenges of parenting, coaching youth sports, and the importance of allowing children to pursue their passions. The conversation also touches on the culture of youth sports, the role of parents, and the evolving landscape of youth athletics, including discussions around NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) opportunities for young athletes. Support the show Help support our podcast by subscribing on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. Keep up to date with all things Struggle Bubble on our Instagram Page @thestrugglebubblepod

    43 min

  7. 03/31/2025

    Navigating the Struggle Bubble of Coaching w/Ricky Clarke

    In this episode of the Struggle Bubble, Chad Kutting and Craig Surgey welcome Ricky Clarke, former head coach with the Houston Dash of the NWSL, who has extensive experience across various levels of the game of soccer. The conversation delves into Ricky's coaching journey, the importance of building a network, effective communication strategies in youth soccer, and the role of parents in player development. They discuss the challenges of coaching in the pros, adapting coaching styles for different age groups, and the significance of active coaching during games. The episode also touches on the complexities of navigating soccer programs and the struggles coaches face in today's environment. Ricky shares insights on leading as an interim coach and emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and being present in the moment. Learn more from Ricky on his instagram page @rickymastercoach Support the show Help support our podcast by subscribing on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. Keep up to date with all things Struggle Bubble on our Instagram Page @thestrugglebubblepod

    57 min

  8. 03/24/2025

    Welcome to Season Two

    In this episode, Chad and Craig welcome listeners back to Season Two of The Struggle Bubble, discussing their experiences in coaching youth sports, particularly soccer and baseball. They delve into the psychological aspects of player development, the importance of communication between coaches and players, and the need for a supportive community in youth sports. The conversation also touches on the evolution of coaching philosophies and introduces their new venture, Gaimplan, aimed at helping families manage their busy schedules more effectively. The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of community in parenting and sports. Become a beta tester today at www.gaimplan.ai Support the show Help support our podcast by subscribing on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. Keep up to date with all things Struggle Bubble on our Instagram Page @thestrugglebubblepod

    46 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

The Struggle Bubble is a dynamic podcast that dives deep into the real-life challenges faced by modern professionals, parents, and individuals in high-performance environments. Hosted by Chad Kutting and Craig Surgey, this show offers a raw and honest look at the juggling act of balancing career ambitions, family responsibilities, and personal well-being. Each episode features candid conversations about the pressures of living in tech-centric communities, the evolving landscape of parenting, and the constant push-pull between professional success and personal fulfillment. The hosts share their own experiences and insights, often bringing in guest experts to provide diverse perspectives on navigating life's complexities. The Struggle Bubble is more than just a podcast; it's a community where listeners can find relatable stories, practical advice, and a sense of camaraderie in facing life's everyday struggles. Whether you're a Silicon Valley techie, a busy parent, or anyone trying to find balance in a fast-paced world, this podcast offers valuable insights and a reminder that you're not alone in your journey. Join Chad and Craig as they unpack the realities of modern life, share laughs over common frustrations, and explore strategies for thriving amidst the chaos. "The Struggle Bubble" - because sometimes, the most comforting thing is knowing we're all in this together.

Information

  • Creator
    Chad Kutting and Craig Surgey
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Chad Kutting and Craig Surgey
  • Show Website
    The Struggle Bubble

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