parents of athletes

"Protecting our kids is our number one responsibility", Connie told me when we first connected.

And she took this role incredibly seriously, in the non-conventional ways. Because protecting our kids in sports is rarely talked about and definitely not considered to be a priority. Because it usually is easily missed or we aren't alert to the signs.

Connie and I talk about her role as Kai's coach in the beginning, the roles of coaches (the good and the bad).

How about all the is involved to fully supporting your child for them to become the athlete that they are destined to be. Which is much more than just the financial side of things.

The golden nuggets discussed in this, never before interview, will truly help you take the right steps from Connie, who was a trailblazer in so many ways.

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About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road and talks to the people that normally get very little mention, but are the ones who are responsible for the underlying success of an athlete.

Marina pulls back the curtain and dives deep into chats with the UNSUNG Heroes – parents, the coaches, the sponsors, the nutritionists and the mindset specialist – revealing the realities of what it takes to support a  child in reaching their ultimate potential in becoming a pro athlete.

This is YOUR village.  

A home for Uncensored Advice for you– the Unsung Heroes of part of the ‘unspoken’ journey behind the athletes!

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams. 

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/join-us-raising-pro-athletes/ 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marina.kuperman.villatoro/ 

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@marinakupermanvillatoro 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes 

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/ 

"I’m not the usual kind of ‘athlete’s mom’ that you’re accustomed to interviewing," Dierdre warned me when we first connected about being on the podcast.

And that's why I knew I had to speak to the mother of Alex Honnold, who is considered today's most accomplished rock climber and the real life star of Free Solo, Oscar winning documentary.

Raising a child like Alex Honnold takes courage and trust. This kind of support is usually taken for granted but can either stifle a child if 'overprotected' or let them blossom to become what is most natural to them.

Dierdre and I talk all about that kind of support and so much more.

However, Dierdre is an inspiration in her own right:

She speaks 5 languages fluently
Conducted an orchestra for 4 years
Plays multiple instruments
And is the oldest woman to date to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park

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About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road and talks to the people that normally get very little mention, but are the ones who are responsible for the underlying success of an athlete.

Marina pulls back the curtain and dives deep into chats with the UNSUNG Heroes – parents, the coaches, the sponsors, the nutritionists and the mindset specialist – revealing the realities of what it takes to support a  child in reaching their ultimate potential in becoming a pro athlete.

This is YOUR village.  

A home for Uncensored Advice for you– the Unsung Heroes of part of the ‘unspoken’ journey behind the athletes!

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams. 

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/join-us-raising-pro-athletes/ 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marina.kuperman.villatoro/ 

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@marinakupermanvillatoro 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes 

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/ 

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT and the REAL reasons we moved to Spain 

________________________________________________

About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road and talks to the people that normally get very little mention, but are the ones who are responsible for the underlying success of an athlete.

Marina pulls back the curtain and dives deep into chats with the UNSUNG Heroes – parents, the coaches, the sponsors, the nutritionists and the mindset specialist – revealing the realities of what it takes to support a  child in reaching their ultimate potential in becoming a pro athlete.

This is YOUR village.  

A home for Uncensored Advice for you– the Unsung Heroes of part of the ‘unspoken’ journey behind the athletes!

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams. 

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/join-us-raising-pro-athletes/ 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marina.kuperman.villatoro/ 

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@marinakupermanvillatoro 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes 

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/ 

You are fully on board to support your kid especially because they want to go pro in their chosen sport, ie: surfing, mountain biking, rock climbing, motocross, snowboarding, etc…

That’s great, so are you ready to make the investment it takes for them to get to that next level for them to have the opportunity of going pro.

It’s one thing to say you support them, but it’s a whole other thing to commit and invest.

I’m NOT talking about money, 

I AM talking about your time, your emotional support, your decision making

Interestingly enough, this is what is the most rewarding part of your child’s and your journey with them

Because the athletic journey is so much more than just becoming an athlete, it’s about confidence, it’s about discipline, skill, commitment

When you make the decision to ‘invest’ in your kid, you lead by example. 

They watch us, the parents, to be their role models. Sure we’ll mess up once in a while - that’s normal and to be expected - but how we react and treat situations will sculpt their own way of doing things

In this episode, I talk about the investment we commit and the follow through. 

Are you ready to take that step?

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About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road and talks to the people that normally get very little mention, but are the ones who are responsible for the underlying success of an athlete.

Marina pulls back the curtain and dives deep into chats with the UNSUNG Heroes – parents, the coaches, the sponsors, the nutritionists and the mindset specialist – revealing the realities of what it takes to support a  child in reaching their ultimate potential in becoming a pro athlete.

This is YOUR village.  

A home for Uncensored Advice for you– the Unsung Heroes of part of the ‘unspoken’ journey behind the athletes!

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams. 

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/join-us-raising-pro-athletes/ 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marina.kuperman.villatoro/ 

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@marinakupermanvillatoro 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes 

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/ 

Protecting your child - this will be repeated over and over again because it is THAT IMPORTANT

However, in this episode we’re going to be talking about protecting your kids from YOU

Yeah, you read that right.

What am I talking about? 

Listen to the episode to understand how we can go down wrong rabbit holes start pushing our own agendas on our kids and before we know it, things get out of control

THIS CAN ALL BE AVOIDED ...

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About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road and talks to the people that normally get very little mention, but are the ones who are responsible for the underlying success of an athlete.

Marina pulls back the curtain and dives deep into chats with the UNSUNG Heroes – parents, the coaches, the sponsors, the nutritionists and the mindset specialist – revealing the realities of what it takes to support a  child in reaching their ultimate potential in becoming a pro athlete.

This is YOUR village.  

A home for Uncensored Advice for you– the Unsung Heroes of part of the ‘unspoken’ journey behind the athletes!

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams. 

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/join-us-raising-pro-athletes/ 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marina.kuperman.villatoro/ 

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@marinakupermanvillatoro 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes 

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/ 

Is this going to be all glitz and glamor? 

Is this going to be champagne popping podiums and huge screams of elation when winning?

ABSOLUTELY NOT

Is it going to be fun? 

Is it going to be worth it? 

More than anything you could ever, ever imagine. 

The journey. What you all learn along the way. What you and your kid(s) will go through as far as the changes, even if your child never become the elite superstar, will be all that and so much more.

So if you’re going for the glitz and glamor, get out now before it’s not too late. Because you’re getting in it for the wrong reason.

But if you know all that is involved, it will be even better ...


________________________________________________

About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road and talks to the people that normally get very little mention, but are the ones who are responsible for the underlying success of an athlete.

Marina pulls back the curtain and dives deep into chats with the UNSUNG Heroes – parents, the coaches, the sponsors, the nutritionists and the mindset specialist – revealing the realities of what it takes to support a  child in reaching their ultimate potential in becoming a pro athlete.

This is YOUR village.  

A home for Uncensored Advice for you– the Unsung Heroes of part of the ‘unspoken’ journey behind the athletes!

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams. 

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/join-us-raising-pro-athletes/ 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marina.kuperman.villatoro/ 

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@marinakupermanvillatoro 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes 

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/ 

Changing the conversation about sending your kid to college vs. investing in their athletic training.

Once it is evident that your child not only has the goods, but passion, commitment and readiness maybe it's time to focus on those attributes.

And instead of saving for your kid's college education - why not save up for your kids training?

How about taking that money and putting it into their athletic abilities?

Here’s the thing - today it’s totally normal to get an education regardless of your age. 

It’s totally normal to go through several careers changes.

But the hard core reality  is that the best years an athlete can give is when they are young. So why not invest in that? Why not really nurture all that goes with their athletic abilities.

Besides, many university, if they see real potential in kid's abilities will give them scholarships anyway.

And if nothing else, the experience of the training, the work, the discipline they get - that alone will change everybody's lives for the better. Including the parents!

Let’s change the conversation around this!

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About This Podcast

It takes a village to raise a pro athlete.

For the first time ever this channel takes you behind the athlete’s ‘unspoken’ road and talks to the people that normally get very little mention, but are the ones who are responsible for the underlying success of an athlete.

Marina pulls back the curtain and dives deep into chats with the UNSUNG Heroes – parents, the coaches, the sponsors, the nutritionists and the mindset specialist – revealing the realities of what it takes to support a  child in reaching their ultimate potential in becoming a pro athlete.

This is YOUR village.  

A home for Uncensored Advice for you– the Unsung Heroes of part of the ‘unspoken’ journey behind the athletes!

What to expect when you listen:

Real, Raw Truth

Laughter

The Struggles & Successes

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marina Kuperman Villatoro, a mama who is on a mission to help her sons reach their athletic (rock climbing) goals and dreams. 

Connect and be Part of the Strategic Village

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UNCENSORED HACKS and TIPS

https://raisingproathletes.com/join-us-raising-pro-athletes/ 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marina.kuperman.villatoro/ 

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@marinakupermanvillatoro 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@raisingproathletes 

Website - https://raisingproathletes.com/