Be Valiant

Ep. 23 Episode 12 -Re-Release: Madison Merkow — Pressure, Perspective, and Owning Your Youth Sports Journey

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As we take a short holiday pause from releasing new episodes, we wanted to re-share another conversation that continues to resonate deeply with parents and athletes.

This episode features an open and thoughtful conversation with my oldest daughter, Madison, about her youth sports experience — including pressure, expectations, confidence, setbacks, and how athletes learn to advocate for themselves as they grow.

Madison shares her perspective on:

Navigating competitive environments

Managing pressure — internal and external

The importance of perspective and balance

Finding ownership in your journey, even when the path isn’t clear

We’re re-releasing this episode because these themes are evergreen, especially for families reflecting during the holidays and preparing for a new season or year ahead.

If you’re a parent trying to better understand what your athlete may be feeling — or an athlete learning how to find your voice — this conversation is worth revisiting.

Originally released: October 22, 2025 Re-released: Holiday 2025 as part of our year-end reflection and reset