Youth Inc. with Greg Olsen

Episode: What Pro Athletes Really Think About Youth Sports Today: Youth Inc.'s Best from Radio Row

Date: February 10, 2026

Episode Overview

In this special episode, the Youth Inc. team hits Radio Row at the Super Bowl in San Francisco, collecting candid and powerful conversations with some of the biggest names in sports. With Greg Olsen attending to personal family matters, digital host Shelby steps in, guiding listeners through highlights from five standout athletes and advocates. The episode dives into what today's pro athletes and change-makers really think about youth sports: the lessons, the joys, the challenges, and their visions for a better future.

Featured Conversations & Key Insights

1. Cam Newton – NFL Quarterback & Longtime Greg Olsen Teammate

[01:29 – 03:29]

Key Points:

• Impact of Involved Coaches:

  • Cam reflects how vital coaches are in youth development, crediting Greg and colleagues for making a lasting difference with young athletes.
  • Quote:

    "The impact that they have been able to bestow upon the younger generation is something that I don't even think the kids really can understand...I just appreciate guys like him that volunteer their time to really impact the mental development, the physical development, because every great athlete has been impacted by a great coach." – Cam Newton [01:44]

• Family as Foundational ‘Coaches’:

  • Cam’s father was his "dinner coach," teaching life through daily interactions rather than on the field:

    "My father, to me, was the dinner coach. And he coached me around the dinner table. And I was just lucky enough to have a very strong, impactful person in my life. And they never disappointed—the dinner coach." – Cam Newton [02:20]

• Youth Sports Memories and Advice:

  • Favorite youth sports moment: scoring five touchdowns until a "slaughter rule" benched him [02:44].

  • On growth:

    "Be obsessed. Difficulty is always run away from...But hey, if it didn't break you, it can definitely shape you." – Cam Newton [02:58]

  • Cam advocates pushing through discomfort:

    "Discomfort can be a tool to be the best version of yourself...we all battled through discomfort." – Cam Newton [03:22]

2. Kerri Walsh Jennings – Olympic Volleyball Legend

[03:57 – 08:34]

Key Points:

• Longevity & Joy of the Journey:

  • Kerri is proudest of her five Olympic appearances, attributing success to consistency and loving the process — including the hardship:

    "I always knew the hard times were leading me somewhere great. And, you know, my whole journey unfolded in such a great way." – Kerri Walsh Jennings [04:26]

• Collaboration and Team Chemistry:

  • On building strong relationships with teammates:

    "It's a commitment. It's a devotion...When things got hard, we went like this...Come closer to your team, and that's where you really can outlast." – Kerri Walsh Jennings [05:51]

• Authenticity & Team Awareness:

  • Urges young athletes to know themselves and their effect on teams:

    "Know that what you do and don't do affects other people. So be aware of how you're affecting your team." – Kerri Walsh Jennings [06:54]

• Coaching Philosophy:

  • As a coach, Kerri emphasizes creating safe, accepting environments where kids can thrive and fail safely:

    "I care most about creating an environment where the athletes feel safe to be themselves, where they feel a sense of belonging...where they feel safe to be challenged, to fail, and to thrive." – Kerri Walsh Jennings [08:16]

3. Kyle Juszczyk – NFL Fullback

[09:32 – 11:54]

Key Points:

• Hands-On Parenting:

  • Kyle intends to be "a very involved" sports parent, wanting to ensure good coaching for his future kids:

    "I don't want someone else's dad coaching my son or daughter who doesn't know what they're doing. And I feel like I know what I'm doing, so I want to be on top of that." – Kyle Juszczyk [09:34]

• Time Management as a Core Lesson:

  "Time management is everything. And I think youth sports and sports in general just teach you how to properly use your time throughout the day." – Kyle Juszczyk [10:09]

• Multisport Benefits:

  • Advocates for playing "as many sports as possible," linking his on-field versatility to a diverse athletic upbringing:

    "Every sport will help you develop for the other sport...Playing basketball taught me how to control my body in the air, track taught me how to properly run...film helped me understand body mechanics." – Kyle Juszczyk [11:14]

• Sports Parenting:

  • Jokes he'll be the tougher sports parent compared to his wife [11:50].

4. Jen Welter – First Female NFL Coach, Sports Psychologist, & Youth Football Leader

[12:11 – 17:50]

Key Points:

• Intentional Impact of Youth Sports:

  • Emphasizes early intervention:

    "The place where you can make the biggest difference is in the youth space...Sports are a place where you can learn these great lessons, but not by accident. It's about intentionally connecting dots." – Jen Welter [12:51]

• Advocacy for Girls’ Flag Football:

  • On the growth of girls’ flag football as a "global equalizer":

    "We've got to get 50, 50 for high school...It's a great Title V equalizer. It's an amazing sport and why would we not do that?" – Jen Welter [14:11]

• Encouragement and Defiance Against Stereotypes:

  "Do it and be unapologetic about being great. Let your game speak louder than your gender, louder than your haters, certainly louder than social media." – Jen Welter [15:04]

• Navigating Social Media Pressure:

  • Warns kids that not every moment is "Instagram worthy," and urges coaches and parents to "celebrate the ugly" for true growth:

    "If you're gonna be great at something, guess what? You have to be really good at being really ugly...celebrate the ugly, celebrate the process." – Jen Welter [16:07]

• The Centrality of Joy:

  "Youth sports should be fun. It should be laughter filled. It should not be traumatic...This should be a place in a space where kids get to really explore getting knocked down, getting back up." – Jen Welter [17:03]

5. Harrison Phillips (Jets) & Ryan – Special Olympics Advocates

[18:09 – 22:43]

Key Points:

• Special Olympics: Promoting Inclusion & Breaking Barriers:

  • Harrison highlights the danger of pity towards people with disabilities, stressing capability and heart:

    "People that don't experience individuals with differences...can have a negative connotation...We are more than capable to do so many amazing things...When God looks at my heart, he doesn't care how many tackles I had this season...he cares about the things of the heart." – Harrison Phillips [18:56]

• Athletic Goals & Inspiration:

  • Harrison recalls picturing faces like Ryan’s for motivation during tough moments on the field:

    "Oftentimes I just picture faces of people who mean a lot to me...that extra gear to kick in...it just gives me a little extra motivation." – Harrison Phillips [20:15]

• Try Everything, Set Big Goals:

  • On sports specialization:

    "Try out as many different sports as you can. I'm a firm believer that we shouldn't individualize as soon as we can...If you reach for the stars and you only get the clouds, you're still higher than everyone else." – Harrison Phillips [21:13]

• Coaching Impact:

  • Ryan shares coaches who taught him work ethic and respect, even as a team helper:

    "[Coaches] can push me to do more work ethic and be respectful, respect other people and how they are treated." – Ryan [22:20]

  • Harrison and Ryan’s friendship shines as a testament to the power of sport to create lasting bonds [22:43].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "My father, to me, was the dinner coach...they never disappointed—the dinner coach."
  – Cam Newton [02:20]

• "The hard times were some of the best times. And I just knew the hard times were leading me somewhere great."
  – Kerri Walsh Jennings [04:26]

• "Know that what you do and don't do affects other people. So be aware of how you're affecting your team."
  – Kerri Walsh Jennings [06:54]

• "If it didn't break you, it can definitely shape you into a better version of yourself."
  – Cam Newton [02:58]

• "Joy. Youth sports should be fun. It should be laughter filled. It should not be traumatic."
  – Jen Welter [17:03]

• "Try out as many different sports as you can...If you reach for the stars and you only get the clouds, you're still higher than everyone else."
  – Harrison Phillips [21:13]

• "Let your game speak louder than your gender, louder than your haters, certainly louder than social media."
  – Jen Welter [15:04]

Important Timestamps

• Cam Newton on coaching and discomfort: [01:29 – 03:29]
• Kerri Walsh Jennings on the journey and partnership: [03:57 – 08:34]
• Kyle Juszczyk on time management and multiple sports: [09:32 – 11:54]
• Jen Welter on embracing the ugly and joy in sports: [12:11 – 17:50]
• Harrison Phillips & Ryan on Special Olympics and inclusion: [18:09 – 22:43]

Tone & Takeaways

The tone throughout is enthusiastic, determined, and reflective—athletes and coaches balancing candor about what’s broken in youth sports with uplifting examples of impact, inclusion, and hope. Recurring themes include the importance of resilience, the value of multi-sport experience, the necessity of supportive coaching, and the transformative power of community.

"Youth sports should be joy-filled. It’s not the wins or medals—it’s the journey, the teammates, and the people who believe in you."

This episode serves as a heartfelt reminder of why youth sports matter—and how all of us, from coaches to parents to athletes themselves, can contribute to making them better.