Eps 553: Mental health in girls sports with Jenn Ireland

Eps 553: Mental health in girls sports with Jenn Ireland

Author: Casey O'Roarty March 3, 2025 Duration: 57:34
My guest today is Jenn Ireland, and we’re talking about the mental health in youth sports, particularly for teen girls. Jenn shares what youth sports culture looks like today and we discuss teens tying their self-worth to athletic performance. Jenn talks about some of the skills she mentors young female athletes about, like countering your inner-critic voice with your inner-coach. We get into the similarities between parent coaching and coaching young athletes, and we wrap up touching on when to (gently) push your adolescent and effective coaching.   Takeaways from the show: The focus on winning & success in youth sports culture today  Being disappointed with a loss versus associating losses with your self-worth  Self-worth can’t be tied to performance  Being good at a sport takes many life-skills in addition to the necessary athletic skills  How to help kids who are stuck in their head or beating themselves up about performance  Teens need mentors aside from parents & coaches  Countering your inner-critic with your inner-coach  Similarities between parent coaching and coaching young athletes - we’re all working on the same skills  Parents encouraging/pushing their children into elite sports versus kids who are intrinsically motivated How do you know when to push your athlete? When do you hand the decision to play to your adolescent?  Telling a teen you love them unconditionally versus making sure they know and believe that you love them unconditionally  Building relationships  Effective coaching & being connected to your coaches For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parenting adolescents often feels like navigating a landscape without a reliable map, where the old rules no longer apply and connection can feel just out of reach. Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens, hosted by Casey O'Roarty, meets you right in that uncertainty. This podcast operates from a simple, powerful belief: the challenges of raising tweens and teens, while deeply personal, are also a shared human experience. Instead of offering quick fixes, conversations here focus on the foundational work of building and repairing relationships, fostering essential life skills in our kids, and perhaps most importantly, doing the internal work required of us as parents. You’ll hear honest discussions that blend practical strategies with compassionate insight, all aimed at transforming this demanding season from a battle of wills into an opportunity for mutual growth. Tuning into this podcast feels like gaining a thoughtful, experienced friend who reminds you that courage isn't about being fearless, but about finding joy and resilience within the beautiful mess of family life. It’s a resource for anyone who wants to move beyond reaction and toward a more intentional, connected approach with the young adults in their home.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens
Podcast Episodes
Eps 630: Help for the self destructive teen with Katie May [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:14
In this week's interview episode, I sit down with licensed therapist Katie May to discuss one of parenthood's hardest challenges: supporting teens through self-destructive behaviors and overwhelming emotions. Katie, foun…
Eps 629: Revisiting gratitude and finding acceptance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:14
In this Thanksgiving replay episode, I'm reflecting on gratitude during challenging times—and trust me, 2020 tested us all. I share how we can be grateful not for our struggles, but for who we become when we choose to gr…
Eps 628: Interrupting parenting patterns with Marielle Melling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:17
In this episode, I sit down with Marielle Melling to explore the invisible forces driving our least favorite parenting moments and how to interrupt them. We dive deep into the gap between knowing better and actually doin…
Eps 627: The Inner Work of Intentional Parenting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:21
I'm sharing some things that are deeply personal today about navigating life's hardest moments—from my daughter's mental health struggles to my husband's cancer diagnosis. This episode isn't about parenting strategies; i…
Eps 626: Functional Mushrooms Demystified with Nicole Erdrich [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:27
In this eye-opening episode, I explore functional mushrooms and adaptogens with my friend Nicole Erdrich from Four Peaks Medicinals. We demystify how these powerful organisms support parents through stress, brain fog, an…
Eps 624: College Admission Truths with David Blobaum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:23
Feeling overwhelmed by college admissions? I sat down with David Blobaum, a national test prep expert, to demystify the entire process. We discuss how test-optional policies really work, what admissions officers actually…
Eps 623: Saying "No" to our teens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:15
I'm sharing something crucial about setting boundaries with teens that most parents miss. When our teenagers push back against our "no," our nervous systems can get completely hijacked by their anger and disappointment.…
Eps 622: College Reality Check From My Son [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:18
In this episode, I sit down with my son Ian, a college sophomore, for an honest conversation about navigating college life in 2025. We discuss communication strategies between parents and college students, balancing acad…