This episode is a must-listen for softball parents (and yes—baseball parents too). Todd Merkow sits down with Crystalrae States, a former Division II catcher, longtime coach, and the founder/owner of Boilermaker Softball Club in Pennsylvania—built with a clear mission: female-first development, led by high-quality coaches, and anchored in perspective, communication, and care.

Crystalrae shares her journey from athlete to educator to sports industry leader—working in facility management, national youth programming, and coaching at multiple levels, including as head softball coach at Holy Family University. She also brings fresh perspective as a sports parent just entering the youth sports grind, raising three young kids (ages 3, 5, and 7).

Together, Todd and Crystalrae unpack what too many families are fighting through right now:

• Why development beats "tournament chasing"—especially at 10U/12U/14U transitions
• The real challenge of finding quality coaches, and why female coaches are harder to retain (not for lack of talent—because life moves fast after college)
• How Boilermaker's culture is built on relationships, long-term growth, and creating athletes who still call their coach years later for advice
• The red flags of overpromising college outcomes ("We can't tell a 10U kid we'll get them to Oklahoma…")
• The narrowing window for multi-sport athletes, and how clubs can support cross-training without forcing early specialization
• A grounded approach to mental health: looking for patterns, getting to the root—not the symptom—and knowing when families should seek professional support
• Why sports culture at home matters—and how parents can follow the child's path instead of projecting their own
• Parent-coach communication done right: clear boundaries, real conversations, and shared responsibility for the athlete's experience

The conversation closes with rapid fire, laughs, and Crystalrae's direct message to parents: these are kids—keep perspective, love watching them play, and don't lose the joy.

Host: Todd Merkow - CEO & Founder, Valiant Sports Society

Powered by Valiant Sports Society

Be Valiant. Play Fearless.

www.PlayFearless.org

Valiant Sports Society is a non-profit organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the IRC.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional for guidance related to your or your child's health. Never delay seeking help because of something you heard on this show.

© 2026 Valiant Sports Society. All rights reserved.

In this heartfelt and often hilarious episode of Be Valiant, Todd Merkow sits down with longtime friend Linda Santo—sports parent, sports media veteran, and the daughter of Chicago Cubs icon and MLB Hall of Famer Ron Santo—for a wide-ranging conversation about youth sports culture, pressure, and what it really takes to protect kids' confidence and joy.

Linda begins with her own unique upbringing in a baseball household shaped by her father's legacy, explaining how her view of sports was influenced not only by Ron Santo the player, but later by Ron Santo the broadcaster—returning to the Cubs spotlight for more than two decades and deepening his bond with the city of Chicago. From there, the conversation turns toward the generational contrast of sports parenting: the "drop-off and go" era versus today's hyper-involved, high-pressure environment—where kids are coached, evaluated, and specialized far earlier than ever.

At the center of the episode are Linda's two sons, Sam and Spencer, and their very different journeys through baseball. Sam, a natural athlete (including a remarkable early ability as a switch hitter), experiences the emotions of trying out for his high school program—a moment that forces a new path and ultimately leads him to soccer, where he rediscovers confidence and joy before later returning to baseball with a healthier mindset. Spencer, driven and relentless, dives deep into the modern club baseball machine—private coaching, travel weekends, roster politics, and the mental strain of constant performance evaluation. Linda shares the toll that pressure can take on a young athlete's identity, including the telltale signs of stress and overthinking that parents often miss until it's staring them in the face.

Together, Todd and Linda unpack the realities of today's "manufactured athlete" ecosystem: expensive club programs, oversized rosters, status ladders ("A team / B team"), parental sideline dynamics, and the myth that more money and more training automatically equals a college scholarship or pro opportunity. They also underscore a critical theme for families: multi-sport participation isn't just nostalgic—it can be a lifeline, physically and emotionally, especially when one sport stops being fun.

The episode closes with rapid-fire takeaways and a powerful message Linda returns to again and again: keep perspective, protect the kid, and play the long game. The goal isn't just producing athletes—it's raising healthy, resilient young adults.

Host: Todd Merkow - CEO & Founder, Valiant Sports Society

Powered by Valiant Sports Society

Be Valiant. Play Fearless.

www.PlayFearless.org

Valiant Sports Society is a non-profit organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the IRC.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional for guidance related to your or your child's health. Never delay seeking help because of something you heard on this show.

© 2026 Valiant Sports Society. All rights reserved.

In the final episode of the three-part series "When the Dream Unexpectedly Changes," Todd Merkow sits down with longtime family friend Will Proctor to hear the athlete's full story—after earlier conversations with Will's parents, Jeff and Lisa Proctor.

Will shares how sports shaped his identity from a young age, how baseball became his obsession, and how early success brought elite opportunities—and intense, self-imposed pressure. He opens up about the anxiety that quietly built behind the scenes, the moment everything shifted during his senior year of high school under heavy scouting attention, and how mental strain can derail performance even when the talent is there.

Will then takes listeners through college baseball at the University of Georgia, an unexpected transition from infielder to pitcher, and a rapid rise that put him back on a pro trajectory—until a devastating shoulder injury changed everything. He describes the physical pain, the emotional fallout, the identity loss that followed, and the difficult process of letting go of the game he loved.

Today, Will has built a new path as a filmmaker—carrying the discipline and drive from sports into creative work, including his documentary project American Daredevil. This episode is a powerful reminder for parents and athletes: your sport is something you do, not who you are—and the journey matters more than the outcome.

Be Valiant. Play Fearless.

Host: Todd Merkow - CEO & Founder, Valiant Sports Society

Powered by Valiant Sports Society

www.PlayFearless.org

Valiant Sports Society is a non-profit organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the IRC.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional for guidance related to your or your child's health. Never delay seeking help because of something you heard on this show.

© 2026 Valiant Sports Society. All rights reserved.