Thank you to Timothy Wienecke for bringing me on The American Masculinity Podcast to discuss Boys and Athletics!!!

The American Masculinity Podcast is hosted by Timothy Wienecke — licensed psychotherapist, Air Force veteran, and award-winning men’s advocate. Real conversations about masculinity, mental health, trauma, fatherhood, leadership, and growth. Each episode offers expert insight and practical tools to help men show up differently — as partners, fathers, friends, and leaders. No yelling. No clichés. Just grounded, thoughtful masculinity for a changing world.

What happens when a boy’s entire identity is built on sports — and then the game ends?

In this candid conversation, Sports Mental Health Specialist and former D-II college athlete Jamal Jackson (LCSW) joins Tim Wienecke to unpack the pressures student athletes face today. They explore why so many young men struggle with identity loss after sports, how parental pressure and over-specialization lead to burnout, and what adults often miss about supporting healthy masculinity in athletics.

This episode brings together professional insights, personal stories, and practical takeaways for parents, coaches, and mentors who want to help boys thrive — on and off the field.