 |
The YouSchool PodcastAuthor: Scott Schimmel
Go to our YouTube channel to watch the episodes (just search The YouSchool) My nightmare at 20 years old was that I would wake up at 40 and feel deep regret that I lived the wrong life- a really nice, predictable, and boring story belonging to someone else. If you had told me back then that there was actually a roadmap, a step-by-step curriculum to walk through that would help me put all the pieces of my life together and set me on a path to build an authentic, meaningful life- I wouldve done anything to get it. It matters now more than ever. Right alongside planning for your future is living well now. Were at an urgent time in our world: mental health / unemployment and The Great Resignation... Building a Meaningful Life isnt something you just close your eyes and wish for. Its not something only a few people get lucky enough to experience. You cant just put your head down, do what youre supposed to and try hard, and expect it all to work out. Its something you can design. And everyone deserves the opportunity to build a meaningful life. The thing about life, though, is there are no black and white answers. What weve discovered over a decade of working with more than 20,000 students, hundreds of educators, over 1,500 military service members through their transition to the civilian world, and countless conversations with parents, elite athletes, therapists, neuroscientists, and researchers are: There are 30 Critical Questions everyone must answer for themselves so their identity is defined, their purpose is clear, and they have what they need to build healthy relationships. Those are the pillars, and answering those questions will give you the foundation you need so you can make wiser choices about your career, feel alive as you pursue a mission and contribute to a cause bigger than yourself, experience inner peace as your inner and outer lives become more congruent, navigate the complexity of friendships so you can find the belonging you long for, and feel gratef Language: en Genres: Education, Kids & Family, Parenting, Self-Improvement Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
Listen Now...
More Than a Game: Using Sports to Shape Identity With Nolan Recker
Friday, 9 January, 2026
Guest: Nolan Recker, founder of Hey CoachHost: Scott SchimmelDuration: ~24 minsTheme: Using sports as a meaningful space for character development, reflection, and identity formation in kids 🔑 Episode Summary: In this episode, Scott is joined by long-time friend Nolan Recker, a coach, entrepreneur, and former pastor who is building Hey Coach, a platform to bridge communication gaps between coaches, kids, and parents. They explore: Why youth sports might be the best environment for identity development The emotional and relational challenges coaches face in mentoring kids How Hey Coach creates structured reflection through journaling via text Why kids today need private spaces to process identity—especially in a social media-driven world The tension between competition and character development How journaling and thoughtful coaching can counteract the pressure kids feel to perform or “be liked” online 🧠Topics Covered: Scott’s experience coaching 25+ youth teams Nolan’s journey from vocational ministry to building a tech platform The “third space” idea: where identity is formed outside of school and home Why coaches feel under-equipped to mentor kids beyond the scoreboard Social media’s impact on kids’ sense of worth and the rise of performance-based identity Using asynchronous reflection questions to foster inner growth 💬 Notable Quotes: “I don’t know a coach who doesn’t want to develop kids—but most don’t know how.”– Scott Schimmel “Journaling helps you wrestle with things and form a grounded sense of self.”– Nolan Recker “Sports are the perfect setup for conversations about failure, resilience, and identity—if coaches are equipped.”– Scott Schimmel ✅ Practical Takeaways: Use reflection questions to help kids explore their identity (e.g., “What are you learning about yourself through competition?”) Coaches need tools, not just good intentions Journaling—even via text—gives kids a private way to explore thoughts without peer pressure Parents also need coaching on how to support their kids after a tough game or loss
