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Season 2 · Episode 5
EP 38 • New
EP 38•Lauri Harris & Amy Haney•College Cheer•1 hr 41 mins

Episode 38: USA Cheer Explains College Recruiting, STUNT & What Comes Next | S2E5 | CDU

What comes after All-Star Cheer? How does college recruiting actually work? What is STUNT? And what should parents be doing to help their athletes prepare for what comes next? Tom, Geoff and David sit down with Lauri Harris, Executive Director of USA Cheer, and Amy Haney, Director of College & High School STUNT, for one of our most educational conversations yet. They cover USA Cheer's role, opportunities after All-Star, college recruiting, what coaches evaluate beyond talent, athlete social media, scholarship realities, college combines, the parent's role, STUNT and the future of cheer.

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Season 2— Now Streaming

The next chapter is underway.

5 Episodes • Aug 13, 2026 – Sep 10, 2026

EP 38
EP 38•S2•Lauri Harris & Amy Haney•College Cheer•1 hr 41 mins

Episode 38: USA Cheer Explains College Recruiting, STUNT & What Comes Next | S2E5 | CDU

What comes after All-Star Cheer? How does college recruiting actually work? What is STUNT? And what should parents be doing to help their athletes prepare for what comes next? Tom, Geoff and David sit down with Lauri Harris, Executive Director of USA Cheer, and Amy Haney, Director of College & High School STUNT, for one of our most educational conversations yet. They cover USA Cheer's role, opportunities after All-Star, college recruiting, what coaches evaluate beyond talent, athlete social media, scholarship realities, college combines, the parent's role, STUNT and the future of cheer.

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EP 37
EP 37•S2•Britney Gilman•Coaches•1 hr 40 mins

Episode 37: Britney Gilman | What Cheer Parents Don’t See Behind the Gym Doors | S2E4 | CDU

Britney Gilman, owner and head coach of Supreme Cheer & Tumble in Mesa, Arizona, joins the Cheer Dads Unfiltered crew for an in-person conversation inside the gym she built. Britney shares her journey from discovering cheer and coaching at a young age to building Supreme from 21 athletes into a growing competitive program. The episode explores what cheer parents do not always see behind the scenes — running a gym, building culture, developing athletes, managing parent relationships, handling mental blocks, knowing when to push and when to slow down, and creating an environment where athletes and families genuinely feel like they belong.

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EP 36
EP 36•S2•Hailey D’Lynn Smith•Pro Cheer•1 hr 30 mins

Episode 36: Hailey D’Lynn Smith on Fear, Confidence & the Future of Cheer | Season 2 Episode 3 | CDU

Hailey D’Lynn Smith has accomplished more in cheer than most athletes could ever imagine, but this conversation goes way beyond rings, titles and accolades. In Season 2 Episode 3, Tom, Geoff and David talk with Hailey — introduced on the show as the most decorated partner stunter of all time — about the mindset behind the résumé. We get into adversity, confidence, fear, sacrifice, injuries and mental blocks, the sports-psychology tools she leans on including visualization, how parents can actually support an athlete who is scared, and the lesson she keeps coming back to: never quit on a bad day. Hailey also talks about Alpha Mentorship and why she coaches the next generation, her experience in the Pro Cheer League with Miami Metal, and her personal hopes for where the sport goes next — including her perspective on cheer someday having an Olympic stage and athletes being able to live off their hard work.

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EP 35
EP 35•S2•Geoff, David & Tom•Cheer Dads•1 hr 11 mins

Episode 35: The Part of All-Star Cheer Nobody Posts About | Season 2 Episode 2 | CDU

Making the All-Star team was the exciting part. Now the work starts. In Season 2 Episode 2 of Cheer Dads Unfiltered, Tom, Geoff and David are back at the table talking about the part of competitive cheer that doesn't always make the highlight reel. There are no trophies in August. No jackets. No first-place announcements. Instead, our daughters are balancing school, choreography, tumbling, flexibility, conditioning, new skills and hours of practice — months before their first competition. We get into what happens after the excitement of making All-Star wears off, choreography week and the preseason grind, Everly advocating for herself directly with her coach, when parents should and shouldn't intervene, Ruby landing her back handspring and immediately chasing what's next, Izzy navigating flyer flexibility goals, how much pressure is healthy for 8- or 9-year-old athletes, balancing third grade and competitive cheer, teaching kids to love the work instead of only the winning, and the ridiculous expenses and Dad-life moments along the way. The biggest lesson: let the coaches coach. Support the work. Competition season gets the photos. August builds the athlete.

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EP 34
EP 34•S2•Tom, Geoff & David•Cheer Dads•1 hr 22 mins

Season 2 Premiere: We're All-Star Cheer Dads Now | New Teams Revealed | Cheer Dads Unfiltered

Season 2 of Cheer Dads Unfiltered starts now. At the end of Season 1, Tom, Geoff and David thought the next cheer season was already figured out — the girls would stay in Prep, same programs, same routines. Then tryouts happened, coaches called, opportunities opened up, and the girls made it clear what they wanted next. In our Season 2 premiere we rewind the entire May–July journey and explain how all three daughters made the jump into All Star cheer through three very different family decisions: Izzy and Ruby to Shimmer at USA Starz (Youth Level 1 All Star) and Everly to Mini Majesties at Supreme Cheer (limited travel All Star). We talk through the decisions, doubts, conversations with coaches, financial realities, travel commitments, family schedules and parenting lessons that got everybody there — Prep vs All Star, full travel vs limited travel, private lessons, practice commitment, nutrition, sleep and school. The biggest lesson: there isn't one correct path through competitive cheer. As Geoff puts it, let your kids write their own story. Season 1 was us discovering the cheer world. Season 2 is us living inside of it.

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Season 1

Where it all started.

33 Episodes • Jan 8, 2026 – Aug 6, 2026

EP 33
EP 33•S1•Geoff, David & Tom•Cheer Dads•1 hr 39 mins

Episode 33: Season 1 Finale | Looking Back, Looking Ahead & What's Next | Cheer Dads Unfiltered

After 33 episodes, Season One has officially come to an end. When we launched Cheer Dads Unfiltered, we were simply three dads trying to better understand the sport our daughters fell in love with — and what happened next completely exceeded anything we imagined. This season brought incredible guests, unforgettable memories, lifelong friendships and even winning Best Cheer Podcast at the Cheer Awards. In the Season 1 finale we slow things down and reflect on everything we experienced, what we've learned as dads, and where Cheer Dads Unfiltered goes from here. Thank you for being part of this journey. Here for every count — subscribe so you don't miss Season Two.

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EP 32
EP 32•S1•William Hemsley•Pro Cheer•1 hr 24 mins

Episode 32: College Football to Pro Cheer | Will Hemsley's Journey | Cheer Dads Unfiltered

What happens when a college football player trades shoulder pads for stunts? In this episode of Cheer Dads Unfiltered we're joined by Will Hemsley of the Golden State Grit to talk about one of the most unique journeys in competitive cheer. From playing football under coaches connected to Eric Berry and Cam Newton to cheering at Navarro, Weber State and the Pro Cheer League Will shares how he found a new passion, what it's really like competing at the highest level and why coaching the next generation means more to him than winning championships.

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EP 31
EP 31•S1•Skylar Graves•Pro Cheer•1 hr 24 min

Episode 31: Miami Metal's Skylar Graves Shares His Incredible Journey | CDU

What does it take to become one of the first professional cheer athletes in history? Skylar Graves — professional athlete for Miami Metal, former Trinity Valley standout, and Worlds Champion with USA Stars Obsession — shares his journey from competitive gymnastics into all-star cheer, college cheer, Worlds, and the inaugural Pro Cheer League season. We cover growing up as a boy in gymnastics, breaking the stigma around boys in cheer, college scholarships, mental toughness, brotherhood in cheer, and finding your purpose. Here for every count.

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EP 30
EP 30•S1•Alex Simonis•Pro Cheer•1 hr 12 min

Alex Simonis: From Back Spot to Pro Cheer League | The Roadmap Every Cheer Family Needs

What does it really take to go from a young All-Star athlete to competing in the Professional Cheer League? Alex Simonis — back spot, former Arizona State STUNT athlete, high school coach, and current member of the Atlanta Air — breaks down every stage of an athlete's journey, why back spots deserve more recognition, what college coaches are really looking for, and what it takes to reach the pro level.

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EP 29
EP 29•S1•Parker Kimber•Cheer Dads•1 hr 6 min

How Parker Kimber Became Cheer's Most Legendary Cheer Dad

From rodeo arenas to all star cheer competitions, Parker Kimber never expected to become one of the most recognizable cheer dads in the community. We talk fatherhood, the famous glitter beard, becoming the go-to competition hair dad, parenting through injuries, building community inside your gym, and why having fun might be the most important part of the entire journey.

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EP 28
EP 28•S1•Gina Bartel•Cheer Moms•1 hr 6 min

Gina Bartel Shares the Truth About Cheer Moms, Team Culture & All Star Cheer

Our first ever Cheer Mom has officially entered the chat. Gina Bartel — creator of Cheer Moms Anonymous and co-host of Let's Talk Cheer — gives an honest look at life from a cheer mom's perspective: Pop Warner to All Star, coaching her daughter, navigating gym changes, tryouts, team moms, competition weekends, Pizza Paul, Crock-Pots at Summit and everything in between.

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EP 27
EP 27•S1•Hallie Green•Pro Cheer•1 hr 11 min

How Hallie Green Went from All Star Cheer to Dallas Drive Pro Cheer

What does the path from All-Star cheer to professional cheer really look like? Hallie Green shares her journey from a tiny tumbler in Delaware to Stingrays, Cheer Athletics, Navarro College, and now Dallas Drive in the Pro Cheer League — Summit & Worlds experiences, what Cheer on Netflix doesn't show, and the mindset required to reach the top.

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EP 26
EP 26•S1•Joe Rodgers•Cheer Dads•1 hr 19 min

Joe Rodgers Built FullOut Energy to Decode Cheer Scoring

Your team hits a routine, the crowd goes crazy — then the scores come out and everyone is asking, "wait… what happened?" Joe Rodgers, fellow cheer dad and founder of FullOut Energy, joins us to talk about the challenge of understanding cheer scoring and how a simple spreadsheet evolved into a growing cheer data platform.

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EP 25
EP 25•S1•Hollis Hale•Cheer Dads•1 hr 23 min

How Hollis Hale Built Cheer Dad Apparel & Won Youth Summit

What happens when a former basketball player gets pulled into the world of all-star cheer? Hollis Hale, founder of Cheer Dad Apparel, shares his journey from his daughter's first season to Youth Summit championships, Worlds, cross-country travel, and launching a brand built specifically for cheer dads.

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EP 24
EP 24•S1•Judge Mimi•Judges•1 hr 20 min

Judge Mimi Breaks Down Cheer Scoring, Worlds & Judge Perspectives

What do judges actually look for during a routine? With 20+ years of judging experience, Judge Mimi pulls back the curtain on execution, Worlds & Summit scoring, uniforms and visual presentation, parent behavior at competitions, and what separates elite programs from good ones.

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EP 23
EP 23•S1•Justin Carrier•Industry Leaders•1 hr 31 min

Inside Varsity Events, Cheer Culture & Athlete Experience w/ Justin Carrier

What actually goes into creating the biggest cheer events in the world? Justin Carrier — VP of Event Experience & Operations at Varsity Spirit — shares 30+ years of stories on the evolution of All Star cheer, athlete experience, behind-the-scenes competition moments, the Pro Cheer League, and the future of Varsity events.

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EP 22
EP 22•S1•Bill Seely•Industry Leaders•1 hr 22 min

Pro Cheer, Olympics & Cheer's Future w/ Varsity's Bill Seely

Three newer cheer dads sit down with Bill Seely — President of Varsity Spirit — for an honest, surprisingly personal conversation about the future of cheerleading, the rise of the Pro Cheer League, Team USA, Olympic possibilities, parenting through sports, and what makes this sport so special.

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EP 21
EP 21•S1•Hannah Kirby•College Cheer•1 hr 34 min

College Cheer Recruiting, Scholarships & NAIA w/ Hannah Kirby

What does it really take to cheer in college? Hannah Kirby — Head Cheer Coach at Taylor University — unpacks recruiting, scholarships, NAIA vs NCAA, what coaches actually look for in athletes, social media mistakes, the role parents should (and shouldn't) play, and how cheer can open doors far beyond the sport.

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EP 20
EP 20•S1•Cody — CHEER DAD•Cheer Dads•1 hr 16 min

Cheer Parent Mistakes & Raising Athletes

Cody from CHEER DAD — 10+ year cheer dad veteran and author of "The Cheer Dad's Survival Guide: All Star Cheer Edition" — joins us to talk about the real cost of all-star cheer, the biggest mistakes new cheer parents make, why parents rush levels too fast, winning vs athlete development, and how cheer builds confidence and leadership in kids.

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EP 19
EP 19•S1•Roger Schonder•Pro Cheer•1 hr 17 min

Inside All-Star Cheer & The Pro League w/ Roger Schonder

Roger Schonder — co-founder of Stingrays (25+ years) and Team Manager for Atlanta Air in the Pro Cheer League — breaks down the reality of all-star cheer from the inside. The biggest lie parents believe about making teams, how tryouts actually work, the 3-tier athlete reality, the pressure of Worlds, and the rise of the Pro Cheer League.

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EP 18
EP 18•S1•Brooke — Queen B Choreo•Coaches•1 hr 18 min

What Cheer Choreographers Actually Do (Scoring & Routines)

Coach. Judge. Gym owner. Choreographer. Brooke (Queen B Choreo) breaks down what really goes into building a routine — and it's way more than just dance. How routines are built to maximize the score sheet, difficulty vs execution, why small details decide competitions, and behind-the-scenes judging insights you're not supposed to know.

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EP 17
EP 17•S1•Keenan — Cheer Dad TV•Cheer Dads•1 hr 23 min

Keenan on Burnout, Pushing Your Athlete & Cheer Parent Mistakes

What's the right way to push your athlete in cheer? Keenan (Cheer Dad TV), a 5-year cheer dad, joins us to talk burnout, parenting, and what most cheer parents get wrong — how to push without burning them out, what to do after a tough loss, the emotional side of competitive cheer, and what cheer parents don't always see.

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EP 16
EP 16•S1•Jay Yoder•Cheer Dads•1 hr 19 min

Jay Yoder on Parenting, Cheer and Confidence

This one went deeper than we expected. We sit down with comedian and cheer dad Jay Yoder and get into everything from parenting and perspective to what cheer has meant for his family — the realities of cheer parent life, confidence and growth through youth sports, and the moments that stick with you forever.

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EP 15
EP 15•S1•Cheer Dads•1 hr 18 min

We Didn't Expect Cheer to Change This Much… (Year 1 Reflections)

After a big weekend of showcase and stunt class, we reflect on where we're at as cheer dads heading into the final stretch of the season. With Regional Summit around the corner — what we've learned in our first year, how our daughters have grown, the moments that surprised us most, and the big decisions coming next.

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EP 14
EP 14•S1•Cheer Dads•53 min

Hit Zero Is a Lie?! The Truth About Cheer Pressure & Injuries

Is "hitting zero" actually overrated? We break down the reality behind scoring, judging, and the pressure athletes face when every routine comes down to two minutes — plus how injuries impact team dynamics and whether competitive cheer is becoming too expensive.

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EP 13
EP 13•S1•Cheer Dads•1 hr 1 min

We Hit Zero and Still Got 5th Place?!

Best routine of the season. No falls. No deductions. And somehow we got 5th place. We unpack the reality of cheer judging when it impacts your own team, why clean routines don't guarantee a win, and Geoff's hottest takes on judging, costs, and uniforms.

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EP 12
EP 12•S1•Gabby Mauro•Judges•1 hr 14 min

What Judges Actually Look For in Cheer Routines (ft. Gabby Mauro)

The dads finally stop guessing about cheer scoring and bring in an actual judge. Gabby Mauro pulls back the curtain on how routines are really evaluated, common scoring myths, and what parents misunderstand about competitions.

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EP 11
EP 11•S1•Cheer Dads•60 min

Why Dads Need to Step Up in Competitive Cheer

Why don't more dads get involved in competitive cheer? We talk about what it really means to show up — not just as the driver or the wallet, but as an engaged dad in your daughter's sport. Breaking into a mom-dominated culture and leading by example.

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EP 10
EP 10•S1•Coach Shaq•Coaches•1 hr 6 min

The Truth About Being a Male Cheerleader | Coach Shaq

Coach Shaq — competitive athlete on Team Reign and coach at USA Gym — shares one of the most powerful stories we've had on the show. Breaking stereotypes, finding cheer after football, identity, resilience, and the impact coaches can have on young athletes.

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EP 9
EP 9•S1•Cheer Dads•1 hr 7 min

The Fall That Fueled Us | Jamfest + 1.25 Deduction Breakdown

We walked into Mullet Arena confident — and walked out with a 1.25 major building fall deduction and one of the biggest growth moments of the season. What causes a 1.25 deduction, how the girls recovered instantly, and why losing might be fuel for the Summit.

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EP 8
EP 8•S1•Izzy, Everly & Ruby•Cheer Dads•58 min

Through Their Eyes – Our Girls' First Year in Competitive Cheer

This one is all heart. We sit down with our daughters — Izzy, Everly, and Ruby — to hear what their first year in competitive cheer has been like from THEIR perspective. Then the dads jump back on the mic to talk Jam Fest and being first-year cheer dads figuring it out together.

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EP 7
EP 7•S1•Coach Carly & Coach Coeen•Coaches•1 hr 4 min

Inside Competitive Cheer with Our Coaches

We sit down with our daughters' coaches Carly and Coeen for a real, honest conversation about competitive cheer from their perspective — coaching journeys, what judges actually look for, the parent–coach dynamic, and why community and connection matter.

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EP 6
EP 6•S1•Cheer Dads•50 min

From First Comp Chaos to National Champions

Our first cheer competition was chaos — nerves, confusion, overstimulation. Then our girls took the floor and we heard the words we never expected: national champions. The emotions dads don't expect, how scoring actually works, and how this weekend changed our girls and us.

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EP 5
EP 5•S1•Cheer Dads•43 min

The Calm Before the Chaos (First Practice Back + Comp Nerves)

Competition season is officially here. The calm before the chaos — first week back in the gym after Christmas break, new skills introduced two weeks out from competition, flyers and bases and parent anxiety, what comp weekends actually cost, and why dad energy in the stands matters.

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EP 4
EP 4•S1•Cheer Dads•45 min

Christmas Break, Private Lessons & Gearing Up for Comp Season

Tom, Geoff, and David recap the Christmas break, talk through private lessons, and shift fully into competition season mode as the girls prepare for their first comps. The mental shift heading into comp season, expectations, nerves, and early-season realities.

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EP 3
EP 3•S1•Cheer Dads•38 min

A Real Week in the Life of a Cheer Dad (Team Mom Cameos)

What does a real week in the life of a cheer dad actually look like? We break down the controlled chaos — pre-practice hype, post-practice crash outs, Tuesday vs Thursday practice energy, and the mental load parents don't expect. Plus unexpected appearances from our team moms.

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EP 2
EP 2•S1•Cheer Dads•53 min

The Cheer World Deep Dive (Everything We Wish We Knew)

We break down our first five months in competitive cheer and everything we wish someone had warned us about. Time commitment, hidden costs, cheer culture, mom vs dad roles, coaches, team culture, and what competition season is really about. Nothing is off the table.

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EP 1
EP 1•S1•Cheer Dads•58 min

Welcome to Cheer Dads Unfiltered

Welcome to Episode 1. We're three dads who accidentally found ourselves deep in the world of competitive cheer — practices, comps, cheer moms, cheer math, and all the chaos. How our families got into it, what surprised us most, and the culture, commitment, and costs no one warns you about.

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