254. Fixing Youth Rodeo Athlete Development
Champion Living with Doug Champion
Release Date: 04/21/2025
Why Rodeo Is Producing Tough Athletes — But Not Prepared Ones
Champion Living with Doug Champion
Why are rodeo athletes tougher than ever — yet breaking down sooner? In this roundtable episode, Doug sits down with the Champion Living coaching staff to unpack the real reasons behind the rodeo athlete development gap. The conversation explores why many athletes work hard but still struggle to stay healthy, consistent, and competitive over long seasons. We talk about the difference between toughness and preparation, why being busy doesn’t equal being ready, and how common development paths like rodeo schools often fail to provide lasting structure or accountability. The coaches also...
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The Rodeo Athlete Development Gap (Why Tough Isn’t Enough Anymore)
Champion Living with Doug Champion
In this solo episode of the Champion Living Podcast, Doug Champion breaks down a problem that’s quietly costing rodeo athletes careers, consistency, and longevity — the rodeo athlete development gap. Rodeo has never lacked tough athletes. What it lacks is structured development that prepares athletes to last. Drawing from his experience as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and years of coaching rodeo athletes at every level — from high school competitors to NFR qualifiers and world champions — Doug explains why toughness alone is no longer enough in modern rodeo....
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Wisdom Beyond His Years | Kincade Henry | Calf Roping, Pro Rodeo,and Life
Champion Living with Doug Champion
In this episode of The Champion Living Podcast, we sit down with Kincade Henry, one of the most thoughtful young athletes in rodeo today. At just 23 years old, Kincade brings a level of perspective, maturity, and self-awareness that’s rare at any age. We talk about competing at a high level early in your career, handling pressure, learning from experience, and why mindset and discipline matter just as much as talent. This conversation goes deeper than results. It’s about growth, decision-making, and building a foundation that allows you to last — not just show up. Whether you’re a...
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Chancey Williams & Wade Sankey: What Most People Don’t Understand About Rodeo, Music & the Western World
Champion Living with Doug Champion
In this episode of The Champion Living Podcast, we sit down with Chancey Williams and Wade Sankey for a conversation that’s equal parts fun, honest, and deeply rooted in western culture. These two grew up together, took different paths — one into music, one into stock contracting — and both went on to leave a real mark on the rodeo world. We talk about where they came from, how growing up together shaped their mindset, and what it takes to build something that lasts in an industry that doesn’t hand anything out. This episode covers the realities behind the scenes — the grind, the...
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Jake Lees | NFR Round 6 2025 | Choosing the Right Path in Pro Rodeo
Champion Living with Doug Champion
In this episode of The Champion Living Podcast, we sit down with Jake Lees to talk about the realities of building a career in professional rodeo — from choosing the right path early on to staying competitive as the level keeps rising. Jake breaks down how today’s athletes don’t all follow the same roadmap anymore. We talk high school rodeo, college rodeo, going straight to the pros, and how intentional decisions early in your career can set you up for long-term success. He also shares what it takes to keep improving year after year, why fundamentals matter more than chasing wins, and...
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What It Takes to Last in Pro Rodeo | Caleb Bennett & Sam Peterson
Champion Living with Doug Champion
Live from the National Finals Rodeo, this episode of The Champion Living Podcast features a powerful conversation with Caleb Bennett and Sam Peterson. Two athletes. Two different chapters. One shared pursuit of excellence. Caleb reflects on the lessons that come with years in the sport — leadership, resilience, and perspective. Sam opens up about his rise, the pressure of competing at a high level, and what he’s learning as his career continues to grow. Together, they give listeners an inside look at what it really takes to survive — and thrive — in professional rodeo. This episode is...
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The Next Generation & The Man You Become After Rodeo | Jerrod Johnston
Champion Living with Doug Champion
What happens after rodeo—and who do you become when the arena lights turn off? In this episode of the Champion Living Podcast, Doug Champion sits down live at the NFR with Jerrod Johnston, former pro rodeo athlete and current lead contact for PRCA Youth Camps, to talk about the evolution of rodeo, developing the next generation of athletes, and the identity shift that every competitor eventually faces. Jerrod shares powerful stories from the road, lessons learned the hard way, and why today’s athletes need a different approach than generations before them. From youth camps and athlete...
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Jordan Jo Hollobaugh: Mindset, Pressure & Building a Career Beyond the Arena
Champion Living with Doug Champion
In this episode of The Champion Living Podcast, we sit down with Jordan Jo Hollobaugh — professional breakaway roper, entrepreneur, and one of the most driven athletes in the sport. Jordan Jo opens up about her journey through rodeo, the sacrifices it’s taken to compete at a high level, and what it really means to build a career inside and outside the arena. We talk mindset, discipline, confidence, and how she’s learned to navigate pressure, expectations, and growth as both an athlete and a businesswoman. This conversation goes beyond wins and losses. It’s about identity, longevity,...
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Inside the New Hooey Fit App + NFR Week Preview
Champion Living with Doug Champion
Technology threw a curveball this week — but the show goes on. In today’s episode, Doug breaks down what’s coming at this year’s NFR, shares updates on the Champion Living × Hooey Fit App, and walks you through every new feature, track, and program inside the platform. From roughstock and timed-event training to beyond-the-arena fitness, Doug lays out exactly how rodeo athletes can finally train with purpose instead of guessing in the gym. We’re also gearing up for nine straight days of live podcast episodes at the NFR, hosted from the Fenoglio Boot Booth inside Cowboy...
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Peptides, NAD & LactiGo for Real-World Recovery (w/ Dr. Willie Villarreal)
Champion Living with Doug Champion
In this episode of the Champion Living Podcast, Doug sits down with Dr. Willie Villarreal to unpack what’s real and what’s hype around peptides, NAD, hormone therapy, and a breakthrough recovery gel called LactiGo. They dive deep into real-world recovery for rodeo athletes, ranchers, and outdoorsmen — breaking down what actually works to heal faster, move better, and perform longer. You’ll learn: Peptides 101 — BPC-157 & TB-500 explained (when to use, oral vs injection). NAD for energy & longevity — how delivery method impacts results. LactiGo — the patented...
info_outlineAre We Pushing Young Athletes Too Hard? | Youth Specialization, Rodeo, and Long-Term Health | Champion Living Podcast
In this episode of the Champion Living Podcast, the crew tackles one of the hottest and most controversial topics in sports: youth specialization, especially in youth rodeo.
Are we pushing kids too hard, too early? What’s the cost of high-level performance before puberty—and are we setting kids up for success or burnout?
Doug and the team share personal stories, experiences from working with young athletes, and hard truths about what true athletic development looks like. From fishing trips and family moments to deep-dive conversations on training smart, they challenge the “all-in, all-year” mindset dominating youth sports today.
You’ll hear insights on how to balance fun and fundamentals, why raw athleticism matters more than early success, and how to protect the long-term health of young athletes—without sacrificing competitive goals.
🎙️ Episode Topics:
Dangers of early specialization in youth rodeo
Letting kids be kids while still developing athleticism
Gym talk: smart training vs. overtraining
Stories from the crew’s personal fitness and archery fails
The importance of stepping away from screens and reconnecting
Health, recovery, and what biohacking really means
The value of knowing what’s happening inside your body before you train harder
This one’s for parents, coaches, and athletes who care about longevity, performance, and building champions the right way.
📌 Show Notes & Timestamps:
03:11 – Disconnecting from tech & real-world balance
05:24 – Community, coaching, and tough conversations
12:19 – Youth rodeo and early athletic development
24:18 – Balancing passion and play for young athletes
29:28 – Archery lessons and finding peace outdoors
35:28 – Gym routines and the supplement conversation
37:02 – Building training programs that work
56:18 – Health awareness, blood panels & biohacking basics
💪 Ready to train smarter, not just harder?
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