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  <title>Masters Alliance Uncut</title>

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  <description><![CDATA[<p>Honest Conversations with Masters of their craft about life and Olympic Sport Issues</p>]]></description>
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    <itunes:title>What Happens To A Sport When You Keep Moving The Goalposts</itunes:title>
    <title>What Happens To A Sport When You Keep Moving The Goalposts</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[We catch up after a busy stretch of travel and use Lima and the Korea Grand Prix to question what modern taekwondo is rewarding right now. We argue about rankings, wild cards, selection pathways, and leadership while trying to hold onto the real reason we started doing this in the first place.  • Lima President’s Cup takeaways and why performances matter more than medals  • Team USA’s results versus how the Pan Am region gets talked about  • Grand Prix Korea missing countries a...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>We catch up after a busy stretch of travel and use Lima and the Korea Grand Prix to question what modern taekwondo is rewarding right now. We argue about rankings, wild cards, selection pathways, and leadership while trying to hold onto the real reason we started doing this in the first place. <br/>• Lima President’s Cup takeaways and why performances matter more than medals <br/>• Team USA’s results versus how the Pan Am region gets talked about <br/>• Grand Prix Korea missing countries and what it does to the draws <br/>• Upsets, point inflation, and why rankings can feel misleading early in the cycle <br/>• Electronic scoring problems and how game plans adapt to what registers <br/>• Wild cards expanding beyond their original purpose and watering down protected events <br/>• Grand Prix Challenge changes and the loss of a true development ladder <br/>• USAT selection pathway confusion and late-added money events <br/>• Parent costs, short match time, and why retention drives the pipeline <br/>• Leadership and culture shift as the real bottleneck <br/>• Why grassroots teaching and community impact still define taekwondo <br/>Send me an email, give me a text, give me a call, go to Facebook and find me, one of my 5,000 friends <br/><br/><br/></p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We catch up after a busy stretch of travel and use Lima and the Korea Grand Prix to question what modern taekwondo is rewarding right now. We argue about rankings, wild cards, selection pathways, and leadership while trying to hold onto the real reason we started doing this in the first place. <br/>• Lima President’s Cup takeaways and why performances matter more than medals <br/>• Team USA’s results versus how the Pan Am region gets talked about <br/>• Grand Prix Korea missing countries and what it does to the draws <br/>• Upsets, point inflation, and why rankings can feel misleading early in the cycle <br/>• Electronic scoring problems and how game plans adapt to what registers <br/>• Wild cards expanding beyond their original purpose and watering down protected events <br/>• Grand Prix Challenge changes and the loss of a true development ladder <br/>• USAT selection pathway confusion and late-added money events <br/>• Parent costs, short match time, and why retention drives the pipeline <br/>• Leadership and culture shift as the real bottleneck <br/>• Why grassroots teaching and community impact still define taekwondo <br/>Send me an email, give me a text, give me a call, go to Facebook and find me, one of my 5,000 friends <br/><br/><br/></p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 01:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Welcome Back And Locker Room Banter" />
  <psc:chapter start="5:02" title="Miami To Lima To Muju Whirlwind" />
  <psc:chapter start="9:08" title="Generosity Story And Quiet Mentors" />
  <psc:chapter start="15:55" title="Outspoken Coaching And The Bully Label" />
  <psc:chapter start="22:00" title="Lima President’s Cup Results And Standards" />
  <psc:chapter start="32:06" title="Grand Prix Korea Draws Upsets Odd Vibes" />
  <psc:chapter start="33:11" title="Peru Development Camp And Paris Next" />
  <psc:chapter start="44:15" title="Wild Cards And Watering Down Pan Ams" />
  <psc:chapter start="55:30" title="Selection Pathways Money Events Member Value" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:09:46" title="Leadership Culture And The TikTok Problem" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:15:48" title="Why Teaching Taekwondo Still Matters" />
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    <itunes:duration>4845</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:season>9</itunes:season>
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    <itunes:title>Stop Buying “Experience” And Start Training</itunes:title>
    <title>Stop Buying “Experience” And Start Training</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Modern taekwondo has a problem nobody wants to say out loud: if the fastest path to “winning” is just making the chest protector beep, what are we training athletes to become? We get real about the split between building fighters and building point scorers, and why relying on rule quirks is a fragile strategy when the scoring system and equipment keep changing.  We dig into what fighting IQ actually is and how it gets developed over years, not weekends. Timing, distance, reading habits, and c...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Modern taekwondo has a problem nobody wants to say out loud: if the fastest path to “winning” is just making the chest protector beep, what are we training athletes to become? We get real about the split between building fighters and building point scorers, and why relying on rule quirks is a fragile strategy when the scoring system and equipment keep changing.<br/><br/>We dig into what fighting IQ actually is and how it gets developed over years, not weekends. Timing, distance, reading habits, and chaining decisions together (if A, then B, then C) used to be the backbone of high-level Olympic-style taekwondo. Now we see athletes over-padded, over-coached, and over-focused on the scoreboard, while the deeper skills that travel across eras get ignored. If you’re a coach, competitor, or parent, you’ll recognize the tension between “learning to win the match” and “learning to fight.”<br/><br/>Then we go straight at the development pipeline: too many tournaments, too much travel, early weight cutting, and the burnout that hits right after cadet and junior milestones. We talk long-term athlete development, why competing less can make you better, and how the coach-athlete relationship and continuity in the chair can make or break performance under pressure. If you care about taekwondo training, athlete development, coaching strategy, and the future of Olympic taekwondo, this one will challenge your assumptions. Subscribe, share it with your team, and leave a review with your take: are we building fighters or just chasing points?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Modern taekwondo has a problem nobody wants to say out loud: if the fastest path to “winning” is just making the chest protector beep, what are we training athletes to become? We get real about the split between building fighters and building point scorers, and why relying on rule quirks is a fragile strategy when the scoring system and equipment keep changing.<br/><br/>We dig into what fighting IQ actually is and how it gets developed over years, not weekends. Timing, distance, reading habits, and chaining decisions together (if A, then B, then C) used to be the backbone of high-level Olympic-style taekwondo. Now we see athletes over-padded, over-coached, and over-focused on the scoreboard, while the deeper skills that travel across eras get ignored. If you’re a coach, competitor, or parent, you’ll recognize the tension between “learning to win the match” and “learning to fight.”<br/><br/>Then we go straight at the development pipeline: too many tournaments, too much travel, early weight cutting, and the burnout that hits right after cadet and junior milestones. We talk long-term athlete development, why competing less can make you better, and how the coach-athlete relationship and continuity in the chair can make or break performance under pressure. If you care about taekwondo training, athlete development, coaching strategy, and the future of Olympic taekwondo, this one will challenge your assumptions. Subscribe, share it with your team, and leave a review with your take: are we building fighters or just chasing points?</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Cold Open And Welcome Back" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:11" title="Jiu-Jitsu Jokes And Humble Lessons" />
  <psc:chapter start="8:37" title="Setting The Table On Development" />
  <psc:chapter start="9:53" title="Fighters Versus Point Scorers" />
  <psc:chapter start="18:04" title="How Fighting IQ Gets Built" />
  <psc:chapter start="30:41" title="Overexposure And Too Many Tournaments" />
  <psc:chapter start="35:35" title="Youth Development Without Weight Cuts" />
  <psc:chapter start="43:41" title="Coach Athlete Trust And Continuity" />
  <psc:chapter start="55:22" title="Talent, Intelligence, And Being Unique" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:03:42" title="TikTok Training And Broken Scoring" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:22:21" title="What The Sport Should Reward" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:24:07" title="Seminar Plans, Merch, And Sign-Off" />
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    <itunes:duration>5197</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:title>Roller Skates, Fake Clubs, Real Consequences</itunes:title>
    <title>Roller Skates, Fake Clubs, Real Consequences</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[You can feel it when a sport starts rewarding politics more than performance, and that’s the nerve we hit here. We talk through the latest AAU Taekwondo turbulence, including a contested chair race and the kind of election maneuvering that makes coaches and athletes wonder if “fair competition” still applies outside the ring. If the voting process can be gamed, everything downstream gets distorted, from leadership decisions to who gets opportunities.  We also take on the loudest accusation ge...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>You can feel it when a sport starts rewarding politics more than performance, and that’s the nerve we hit here. We talk through the latest AAU Taekwondo turbulence, including a contested chair race and the kind of election maneuvering that makes coaches and athletes wonder if “fair competition” still applies outside the ring. If the voting process can be gamed, everything downstream gets distorted, from leadership decisions to who gets opportunities.<br/><br/>We also take on the loudest accusation getting thrown around online: “bullying.” We’re adults, and we’re talking about ethics, governance, and accountability. We break down the difference between a personal attack and a public critique, why people reach for labels when they can’t answer facts, and how credibility gets damaged when leaders act like victims instead of owning decisions. Along the way, we hit practical realities like Olympic rings and Team USA trademark rules, plus how sloppy branding and questionable oversight can create real consequences.<br/><br/>Then we zoom out to the biggest issue for USA Taekwondo athlete development: talent ID camps, academy power, funding, and access. We compare the current pay-to-play feel to models in soccer and other national programs, and we ask the uncomfortable question: are we building a pipeline, or just financing a select few? If selection criteria and funding aren’t transparent and objective, the community fractures and the podium gets farther away.<br/><br/>If you care about clean governance, fair selection, and a better future for athletes, listen all the way through, share this with a coach who needs to hear it, and leave a review so more people find the conversation.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You can feel it when a sport starts rewarding politics more than performance, and that’s the nerve we hit here. We talk through the latest AAU Taekwondo turbulence, including a contested chair race and the kind of election maneuvering that makes coaches and athletes wonder if “fair competition” still applies outside the ring. If the voting process can be gamed, everything downstream gets distorted, from leadership decisions to who gets opportunities.<br/><br/>We also take on the loudest accusation getting thrown around online: “bullying.” We’re adults, and we’re talking about ethics, governance, and accountability. We break down the difference between a personal attack and a public critique, why people reach for labels when they can’t answer facts, and how credibility gets damaged when leaders act like victims instead of owning decisions. Along the way, we hit practical realities like Olympic rings and Team USA trademark rules, plus how sloppy branding and questionable oversight can create real consequences.<br/><br/>Then we zoom out to the biggest issue for USA Taekwondo athlete development: talent ID camps, academy power, funding, and access. We compare the current pay-to-play feel to models in soccer and other national programs, and we ask the uncomfortable question: are we building a pipeline, or just financing a select few? If selection criteria and funding aren’t transparent and objective, the community fractures and the podium gets farther away.<br/><br/>If you care about clean governance, fair selection, and a better future for athletes, listen all the way through, share this with a coach who needs to hear it, and leave a review so more people find the conversation.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 03:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Cold Open Nightmare Monologue" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:22" title="Backlash, Blocking, And Online Drama" />
  <psc:chapter start="4:07" title="AAU Chair Race And Stacked Votes" />
  <psc:chapter start="12:06" title="Bullying Claims Versus Hard Truths" />
  <psc:chapter start="18:20" title="Critique Culture And Olympic Marks" />
  <psc:chapter start="23:28" title="Hanmadang Sparring And Old School Fighting" />
  <psc:chapter start="25:59" title="Talent ID Camps And Pay To Play" />
  <psc:chapter start="31:41" title="Academy Power And Conflicts Of Interest" />
  <psc:chapter start="36:55" title="Grassroots Pipeline Models That Work" />
  <psc:chapter start="41:39" title="Funding, Rankings, And Selection Fairness" />
  <psc:chapter start="50:46" title="Results, Pride, And A Coming Reckoning" />
  <psc:chapter start="58:32" title="Camps, Travel Plans, Mentorship, Audiobook" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:06:52" title="Closing Message And Spanish Outro Track" />
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    <itunes:duration>4316</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:title>From Galactic Champions To TikTok Team Picks</itunes:title>
    <title>From Galactic Champions To TikTok Team Picks</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[The fastest way to kill a champion is to teach them that excuses are normal and that optics count more than results. We go straight at that problem from every angle: how leadership choices shape athlete belief, how selection systems can drift into access and favoritism, and why a national program can’t survive on PR energy alone. Along the way we talk candidly about ethics, oversight, and what it feels like when hearings get delayed, complaints get ignored, and the people doing real work get ...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>The fastest way to kill a champion is to teach them that excuses are normal and that optics count more than results. We go straight at that problem from every angle: how leadership choices shape athlete belief, how selection systems can drift into access and favoritism, and why a national program can’t survive on PR energy alone. Along the way we talk candidly about ethics, oversight, and what it feels like when hearings get delayed, complaints get ignored, and the people doing real work get shut out.<br/><br/>We also zoom in on what the competition floor is telling us right now. When divisions are thin, events feel like ghost towns, and travel costs keep climbing, families start asking hard questions about time, money, and value. We connect those realities to athlete safety, event professionalism, and the growing gap between “content” and culture. If USA Taekwondo or any major taekwondo organization wants long-term growth, it has to rebuild trust while raising standards.<br/><br/>Then we land on mindset. We break down the difference between good and great, why “woulda coulda shoulda” talk is poison, and how team trials pressure can forge a kind of confidence rankings can’t manufacture. We also unpack what a real champion looks like beyond medals: leadership, accountability, and representing the uniform with dignity. If you care about the future of Olympic taekwondo, athlete development, and restoring a competitive culture people actually believe in, hit play and stay with us to the end. Subscribe, share this with a coach or teammate, and leave a review with the one standard you think the sport should stop compromising on.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The fastest way to kill a champion is to teach them that excuses are normal and that optics count more than results. We go straight at that problem from every angle: how leadership choices shape athlete belief, how selection systems can drift into access and favoritism, and why a national program can’t survive on PR energy alone. Along the way we talk candidly about ethics, oversight, and what it feels like when hearings get delayed, complaints get ignored, and the people doing real work get shut out.<br/><br/>We also zoom in on what the competition floor is telling us right now. When divisions are thin, events feel like ghost towns, and travel costs keep climbing, families start asking hard questions about time, money, and value. We connect those realities to athlete safety, event professionalism, and the growing gap between “content” and culture. If USA Taekwondo or any major taekwondo organization wants long-term growth, it has to rebuild trust while raising standards.<br/><br/>Then we land on mindset. We break down the difference between good and great, why “woulda coulda shoulda” talk is poison, and how team trials pressure can forge a kind of confidence rankings can’t manufacture. We also unpack what a real champion looks like beyond medals: leadership, accountability, and representing the uniform with dignity. If you care about the future of Olympic taekwondo, athlete development, and restoring a competitive culture people actually believe in, hit play and stay with us to the end. Subscribe, share this with a coach or teammate, and leave a review with the one standard you think the sport should stop compromising on.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Cold Open And Mood Check" />
  <psc:chapter start="4:40" title="Hearings, Compliance, And Accountability" />
  <psc:chapter start="7:12" title="Small Events And Big Travel Costs" />
  <psc:chapter start="10:48" title="Safety Concerns And Brand Theater" />
  <psc:chapter start="14:48" title="Numbers Down And Identity Lost" />
  <psc:chapter start="21:48" title="Woulda Coulda Shoulda Culture" />
  <psc:chapter start="32:08" title="Good Vs Great And Team Trials Fire" />
  <psc:chapter start="53:24" title="Talent ID, Access, And Broken Pathways" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:10:48" title="Champions, Leaders, And Public Conduct" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:22:00" title="Money Metrics And Why Nothing Changes" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:27:20" title="Sorry Not Sorry Closing" />
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    <itunes:duration>5426</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:title>Standards Over Hype</itunes:title>
    <title>Standards Over Hype</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Paper titles are cheap, but a real reputation costs years. We start with satire aimed at belt factories, fake “governing bodies,” and laminated legitimacy, then get uncomfortably honest about the ways modern taekwondo rewards noise over proof. From there, we reset with life stuff: a 40th birthday, a few laughs, and a heavy moment reflecting on a first instructor who shaped a career through calm leadership and character.   Then we go straight into the sport. We talk Central American Games...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Paper titles are cheap, but a real reputation costs years. We start with satire aimed at belt factories, fake “governing bodies,” and laminated legitimacy, then get uncomfortably honest about the ways modern taekwondo rewards noise over proof. From there, we reset with life stuff: a 40th birthday, a few laughs, and a heavy moment reflecting on a first instructor who shaped a career through calm leadership and character. <br/><br/>Then we go straight into the sport. We talk Central American Games and the Korean Open, and why it’s becoming more common to see United States athletes compete for other countries at cadet and junior levels. We unpack the reasons we keep hearing: confusion about the process, uneven support, parents chasing early World Championship experiences, and a pathway that can look clearer somewhere else. We also ask the harder question: what does that do to the U.S. development pipeline long term? <br/><br/>From there we tackle the competition reality everyone argues about: the electronic hogu scoring system, inconsistent sensors, and how “world class” matches can turn into six minutes of nothing or into wild swings that don’t match what you’re seeing. We connect it back to leadership and standards, including how selection, funding, and protected lanes can reduce the pressure that used to force growth. <br/><br/>If you care about Olympic taekwondo, coaching culture, and building athletes the right way, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a coach or parent, and leave a review with your take: what should be earned again, and what needs to change first?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Paper titles are cheap, but a real reputation costs years. We start with satire aimed at belt factories, fake “governing bodies,” and laminated legitimacy, then get uncomfortably honest about the ways modern taekwondo rewards noise over proof. From there, we reset with life stuff: a 40th birthday, a few laughs, and a heavy moment reflecting on a first instructor who shaped a career through calm leadership and character. <br/><br/>Then we go straight into the sport. We talk Central American Games and the Korean Open, and why it’s becoming more common to see United States athletes compete for other countries at cadet and junior levels. We unpack the reasons we keep hearing: confusion about the process, uneven support, parents chasing early World Championship experiences, and a pathway that can look clearer somewhere else. We also ask the harder question: what does that do to the U.S. development pipeline long term? <br/><br/>From there we tackle the competition reality everyone argues about: the electronic hogu scoring system, inconsistent sensors, and how “world class” matches can turn into six minutes of nothing or into wild swings that don’t match what you’re seeing. We connect it back to leadership and standards, including how selection, funding, and protected lanes can reduce the pressure that used to force growth. <br/><br/>If you care about Olympic taekwondo, coaching culture, and building athletes the right way, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a coach or parent, and leave a review with your take: what should be earned again, and what needs to change first?</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Satire On Fake Credentials" />
  <psc:chapter start="4:18" title="World Cup Hangover And Hellos" />
  <psc:chapter start="7:30" title="Loss, Mentors, And Perspective" />
  <psc:chapter start="11:39" title="Americans Competing For Other Countries" />
  <psc:chapter start="17:27" title="Broken Scoring And What Counts" />
  <psc:chapter start="21:35" title="Central American Games Takeaways" />
  <psc:chapter start="27:22" title="Social Media Hype Versus Substance" />
  <psc:chapter start="38:30" title="Making It Hard Enough To Matter" />
  <psc:chapter start="52:48" title="Team Trials, Participation, And Access" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:00:08" title="What Is A Sport Anyway" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:04:28" title="Camps, Peru Travel, And Wrap-Up" />
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    <itunes:duration>4130</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:title>What A Mexico Seminar Reveals About Taekwondo Culture</itunes:title>
    <title>What A Mexico Seminar Reveals About Taekwondo Culture</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[A storm knocks out the power, phone flashlights become the lighting plan, and 250 Taekwondo students still want to spar. That’s where we start, because a seminar trip to Merida, Mexico turns into a bigger conversation about what Taekwondo culture looks like when people truly expect to compete, take contact, and learn fast.  From there, we pivot into the messier side of sport Taekwondo in the United States: shrinking team trials numbers, resignations, and the kind of leadership decisions that ...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>A storm knocks out the power, phone flashlights become the lighting plan, and 250 Taekwondo students still want to spar. That’s where we start, because a seminar trip to Merida, Mexico turns into a bigger conversation about what Taekwondo culture looks like when people truly expect to compete, take contact, and learn fast.<br/><br/>From there, we pivot into the messier side of sport Taekwondo in the United States: shrinking team trials numbers, resignations, and the kind of leadership decisions that make longtime members say, “I’m out.” We talk candidly about credibility, title inflation, and why the symbols of achievement used to be protected. We also pull a lesson from judo’s Olympic evolution and ask the uncomfortable question: what happens when the sport rewards politics and branding more than real competence?<br/><br/>Then we get into the topic that changes how everyone fights: electronic scoring. We break down why magnets in the toes make no sense, how oversized socks and sensor quirks shape tactics, and why it’s still possible to go rounds without knowing whether the system is even working. We argue about “monkey kicks,” clinch chaos, and the gap between the rulebook and what gets allowed in the ring, and we close with what we’d actually change: better refereeing, clearer standards, and a smarter hybrid approach that rewards real technique and impact.<br/><br/>If you care about Olympic Taekwondo, WT rules, athlete development, and where the sport is heading, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a coach or teammate, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A storm knocks out the power, phone flashlights become the lighting plan, and 250 Taekwondo students still want to spar. That’s where we start, because a seminar trip to Merida, Mexico turns into a bigger conversation about what Taekwondo culture looks like when people truly expect to compete, take contact, and learn fast.<br/><br/>From there, we pivot into the messier side of sport Taekwondo in the United States: shrinking team trials numbers, resignations, and the kind of leadership decisions that make longtime members say, “I’m out.” We talk candidly about credibility, title inflation, and why the symbols of achievement used to be protected. We also pull a lesson from judo’s Olympic evolution and ask the uncomfortable question: what happens when the sport rewards politics and branding more than real competence?<br/><br/>Then we get into the topic that changes how everyone fights: electronic scoring. We break down why magnets in the toes make no sense, how oversized socks and sensor quirks shape tactics, and why it’s still possible to go rounds without knowing whether the system is even working. We argue about “monkey kicks,” clinch chaos, and the gap between the rulebook and what gets allowed in the ring, and we close with what we’d actually change: better refereeing, clearer standards, and a smarter hybrid approach that rewards real technique and impact.<br/><br/>If you care about Olympic Taekwondo, WT rules, athlete development, and where the sport is heading, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a coach or teammate, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 01:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Welcome Back And Road Stories" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:05" title="Teaching In Mexico And Feeling The Roots" />
  <psc:chapter start="15:40" title="Storm Training And Sparring In The Dark" />
  <psc:chapter start="23:55" title="Merida Culture Great Food And Gym Life" />
  <psc:chapter start="31:10" title="Team Trials Numbers And Leadership Fallout" />
  <psc:chapter start="44:20" title="Titles Credibility And Protecting Traditions" />
  <psc:chapter start="56:45" title="Standards On Podiums Uniforms And Behavior" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:03:35" title="Electronic Scoring Magnets Socks And Cheating" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:22:10" title="Fixing The Sport Referees Hybrids And Monkey Kicks" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:31:25" title="World Cup Hangover And The Medal Debate" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:37:40" title="Final Thoughts And Sign Off" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>5902</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>10</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>Stop The Twerking And Start Running The Event</itunes:title>
    <title>Stop The Twerking And Start Running The Event</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[A tournament can look polished and still be broken where it counts. We get raw about what we saw and heard around recent national-level events and why “finishing early” and flashy announcements do not equal a healthy sport. For us, the real measure of USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo nationals is whether athletes compete in a safe environment, whether coaches can speak honestly without fear, and whether leaders model the standards they demand from everyone else.  We also get into the stuff tha...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>A tournament can look polished and still be broken where it counts. We get raw about what we saw and heard around recent national-level events and why “finishing early” and flashy announcements do not equal a healthy sport. For us, the real measure of USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo nationals is whether athletes compete in a safe environment, whether coaches can speak honestly without fear, and whether leaders model the standards they demand from everyone else.<br/><br/>We also get into the stuff that seems small until it is not: leaders moving around during the national anthem, the organization choosing entertainment over professionalism, and the message that sends to young athletes who are watching every detail. Then we hit a nerve: what it means when an Olympic gold medalist is present at the venue and goes unrecognized while the microphone keeps pushing hype, birthdays, and influencer moments. If the highest achievement in the sport is treated like background noise, what are we really building?<br/><br/>On the technical side, we break down competitive integrity problems that coaches and athletes feel immediately, including DaeDo scoring issues, Gen 2 headgear paired with Gen 3 hogus, and reports of gloves and sensors not registering clear head kicks. We also talk about basic tournament safety and accountability, like debris left on the mat after board breaking and how quickly “that’s fine” becomes the culture. If you care about athlete development, fair play, and better event standards in competitive taekwondo, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a coach or parent, and leave a review with what you think the sport should demand next.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A tournament can look polished and still be broken where it counts. We get raw about what we saw and heard around recent national-level events and why “finishing early” and flashy announcements do not equal a healthy sport. For us, the real measure of USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo nationals is whether athletes compete in a safe environment, whether coaches can speak honestly without fear, and whether leaders model the standards they demand from everyone else.<br/><br/>We also get into the stuff that seems small until it is not: leaders moving around during the national anthem, the organization choosing entertainment over professionalism, and the message that sends to young athletes who are watching every detail. Then we hit a nerve: what it means when an Olympic gold medalist is present at the venue and goes unrecognized while the microphone keeps pushing hype, birthdays, and influencer moments. If the highest achievement in the sport is treated like background noise, what are we really building?<br/><br/>On the technical side, we break down competitive integrity problems that coaches and athletes feel immediately, including DaeDo scoring issues, Gen 2 headgear paired with Gen 3 hogus, and reports of gloves and sensors not registering clear head kicks. We also talk about basic tournament safety and accountability, like debris left on the mat after board breaking and how quickly “that’s fine” becomes the culture. If you care about athlete development, fair play, and better event standards in competitive taekwondo, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a coach or parent, and leave a review with what you think the sport should demand next.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 01:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Stop The Twerking And Start Running The Event" />
  <psc:chapter start="0:07" title="No More Performing For Clout" />
  <psc:chapter start="2:21" title="Hosts Catch Up After Travel" />
  <psc:chapter start="5:14" title="Plane Etiquette And Entitlement" />
  <psc:chapter start="7:47" title="US Soccer Loss And Reality Check" />
  <psc:chapter start="9:48" title="Nationals Hype Versus Real Numbers" />
  <psc:chapter start="25:21" title="July 4 Standards And The Flag" />
  <psc:chapter start="29:39" title="Professionalism Starts At The Top" />
  <psc:chapter start="35:00" title="Mic Time For PR Over Merit" />
  <psc:chapter start="46:50" title="Fast Track Black Belts Meet Sport Reality" />
  <psc:chapter start="56:36" title="Gear Mismatches And Scoring Failures" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:00:34" title="Safety Lapses And Zero Accountability" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:04:24" title="Speaking Up Despite Pushback" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:09:34" title="Planning A Community Zoom Call" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>4268</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>9</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>What If Athlete Development Started At Home</itunes:title>
    <title>What If Athlete Development Started At Home</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[A Memorandum of Understanding might be the most “powerful” document in sports, mostly because it lets everyone pose for photos while nothing changes. We start with that idea and pull the thread all the way through the taekwondo world, where diplomacy, branding, and governance can sometimes feel like performance art instead of problem solving.  Then we get real about what people are arguing over right now: elections, voting influence, and the kind of rule changes that make athletes and parents...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>A Memorandum of Understanding might be the most “powerful” document in sports, mostly because it lets everyone pose for photos while nothing changes. We start with that idea and pull the thread all the way through the taekwondo world, where diplomacy, branding, and governance can sometimes feel like performance art instead of problem solving.<br/><br/>Then we get real about what people are arguing over right now: elections, voting influence, and the kind of rule changes that make athletes and parents feel played. We talk through the Colorado situation, why credibility matters more than clout, and how rankings and seeding confusion can turn a tournament into a trust crisis. If you care about AAU taekwondo, national championships, or how sports organizations should communicate changes, this conversation puts clear language to what a lot of coaches are thinking.<br/><br/>From there, we shift to what actually helps athletes: coaching, discipline, and development that starts at home. We challenge the idea that flying to open tournaments automatically makes you better, lay out our coaching camps competition framework, and explain why fundamentals still win even when the sport gets gimmicky. We also dig into internal competition, national team pathways, Grand Prix scheduling, and why systems built on access and money eventually stall out.<br/><br/>Subscribe for more blunt talk on taekwondo governance and high performance coaching, share this with a coach who needs it, and leave a review with your take: what’s the biggest thing holding athlete development back right now?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A Memorandum of Understanding might be the most “powerful” document in sports, mostly because it lets everyone pose for photos while nothing changes. We start with that idea and pull the thread all the way through the taekwondo world, where diplomacy, branding, and governance can sometimes feel like performance art instead of problem solving.<br/><br/>Then we get real about what people are arguing over right now: elections, voting influence, and the kind of rule changes that make athletes and parents feel played. We talk through the Colorado situation, why credibility matters more than clout, and how rankings and seeding confusion can turn a tournament into a trust crisis. If you care about AAU taekwondo, national championships, or how sports organizations should communicate changes, this conversation puts clear language to what a lot of coaches are thinking.<br/><br/>From there, we shift to what actually helps athletes: coaching, discipline, and development that starts at home. We challenge the idea that flying to open tournaments automatically makes you better, lay out our coaching camps competition framework, and explain why fundamentals still win even when the sport gets gimmicky. We also dig into internal competition, national team pathways, Grand Prix scheduling, and why systems built on access and money eventually stall out.<br/><br/>Subscribe for more blunt talk on taekwondo governance and high performance coaching, share this with a coach who needs it, and leave a review with your take: what’s the biggest thing holding athlete development back right now?</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/19422042-what-if-athlete-development-started-at-home.mp3" length="48515325" type="audio/mpeg" />
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-19422042</guid>
    <pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 20:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="The Myth Of The MOU" />
  <psc:chapter start="2:50" title="Charlotte Check In And Travel Banter" />
  <psc:chapter start="7:35" title="World Cup Reactions And Upsets" />
  <psc:chapter start="9:55" title="Colorado AAU Voting Controversy" />
  <psc:chapter start="20:55" title="Rankings Confusion And Parent Backlash" />
  <psc:chapter start="28:45" title="Coaching Mindset And Athlete Discipline" />
  <psc:chapter start="33:45" title="Why Open Tournaments Aren’t Development" />
  <psc:chapter start="40:20" title="The Coaching Camps Competition Model" />
  <psc:chapter start="48:10" title="National Team Disconnect And Pay To Play" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:01:20" title="Grand Prix Weak Fields And Bad Scheduling" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:06:00" title="Closing Thoughts And Next Segment Tease" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>4031</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>9</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>Why Registration Deadlines Keep Moving In AAU And USA Taekwondo</itunes:title>
    <title>Why Registration Deadlines Keep Moving In AAU And USA Taekwondo</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Deadlines that keep “extending” aren’t just a scheduling quirk, they’re a tell. We dig into what’s happening around AAU Taekwondo and USA Taekwondo national championships, from shifting registration windows to rising fees, and why the numbers matter more than the talking points. If you’ve ever planned a season around a deadline, paid for flights and hotels, or watched rules change at the last minute, this conversation will feel familiar.  We also go straight at the bigger issue: when Taekwond...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Deadlines that keep “extending” aren’t just a scheduling quirk, they’re a tell. We dig into what’s happening around AAU Taekwondo and USA Taekwondo national championships, from shifting registration windows to rising fees, and why the numbers matter more than the talking points. If you’ve ever planned a season around a deadline, paid for flights and hotels, or watched rules change at the last minute, this conversation will feel familiar.<br/><br/>We also go straight at the bigger issue: when Taekwondo leadership puts money, titles, and optics ahead of athlete development, the culture rots. We talk loyalty and consequences, election-style politics, and the strange need to rationalize things everyone knows are wrong. Then we zoom out to coaching credibility and performance. Who belongs in the chair? What does “Olympic coach” actually mean? And why do some programs create real confidence while others sell hype with Instagram-ready branding?<br/><br/>From highlight tapes after losses to selective enforcement of “decorum,” we connect today’s social media behavior to the incentives organizations reward. We also unpack athlete funding in Olympic Taekwondo, including who gets supported to travel and compete and who still has to pay their own way at the highest levels.<br/><br/>If you care about clean governance, athlete-centered development, and real coaching standards in Taekwondo, listen through and share this with a coach, parent, or teammate. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what’s the single change that would most improve Taekwondo in the United States?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Deadlines that keep “extending” aren’t just a scheduling quirk, they’re a tell. We dig into what’s happening around AAU Taekwondo and USA Taekwondo national championships, from shifting registration windows to rising fees, and why the numbers matter more than the talking points. If you’ve ever planned a season around a deadline, paid for flights and hotels, or watched rules change at the last minute, this conversation will feel familiar.<br/><br/>We also go straight at the bigger issue: when Taekwondo leadership puts money, titles, and optics ahead of athlete development, the culture rots. We talk loyalty and consequences, election-style politics, and the strange need to rationalize things everyone knows are wrong. Then we zoom out to coaching credibility and performance. Who belongs in the chair? What does “Olympic coach” actually mean? And why do some programs create real confidence while others sell hype with Instagram-ready branding?<br/><br/>From highlight tapes after losses to selective enforcement of “decorum,” we connect today’s social media behavior to the incentives organizations reward. We also unpack athlete funding in Olympic Taekwondo, including who gets supported to travel and compete and who still has to pay their own way at the highest levels.<br/><br/>If you care about clean governance, athlete-centered development, and real coaching standards in Taekwondo, listen through and share this with a coach, parent, or teammate. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what’s the single change that would most improve Taekwondo in the United States?</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/19394682-why-registration-deadlines-keep-moving-in-aau-and-usa-taekwondo.mp3" length="55171992" type="audio/mpeg" />
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Satirical Taekwondo Dream Cold Open" />
  <psc:chapter start="2:25" title="Hosts Check In And Nationals Ahead" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:46" title="Deadline Extensions And Why They Happen" />
  <psc:chapter start="9:05" title="Loyalty, Consequences, And Organization Politics" />
  <psc:chapter start="10:50" title="Team Trials Shift And Added Travel Costs" />
  <psc:chapter start="14:58" title="Moral Posturing Versus Doing Right" />
  <psc:chapter start="19:24" title="AAU And USAT Corruption Roots" />
  <psc:chapter start="22:58" title="Champions, Pedigree, And Who Should Lead" />
  <psc:chapter start="32:30" title="Athlete Development Over Social Media Hype" />
  <psc:chapter start="37:46" title="Highlight Tapes After Losses" />
  <psc:chapter start="44:09" title="Speech Policing And Decorum Double Standards" />
  <psc:chapter start="46:49" title="What An Olympic Coach Title Means" />
  <psc:chapter start="51:38" title="Funding, The Academy, And Pay To Play" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:05:02" title="Coaching Longevity And Real Program Building" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:11:53" title="Wrap Up And Next Week Plans" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:13:39" title="Satirical Taekwondo Dream Reprise" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>4591</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>World Cup Lessons For Building Champions In Soccer And Taekwondo</itunes:title>
    <title>World Cup Lessons For Building Champions In Soccer And Taekwondo</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[The World Cup has us locked in, not just because of the goals, but because it exposes what “excellence” really costs. When we watch the best players in the world and the cultures that surround them, we see something the US keeps struggling to manufacture: identity, continuity, and respect for the pipeline that produces greatness. We talk about what soccer gets right that other sports often lose, from honoring legacy to building standards that don’t disappear every four years. Then we dig into...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>The World Cup has us locked in, not just because of the goals, but because it exposes what “excellence” really costs. When we watch the best players in the world and the cultures that surround them, we see something the US keeps struggling to manufacture: identity, continuity, and respect for the pipeline that produces greatness. We talk about what soccer gets right that other sports often lose, from honoring legacy to building standards that don’t disappear every four years. Then we dig into the big American question: with our resources and participation, why does the US still feel so far from winning on the world stage? We push past the easy pay-to-play argument and focus on the real issue: a disconnected youth development system, uneven coaching, inconsistent talent identification, and too many athletes who never get seen or never get the right games at the right time. If you care about US soccer development, youth soccer academies, and what it takes to build a world-class program, this part will hit home. We also jump into the controversy of UFC at the White House and debate whether it’s a celebration of sport or a loss of national dignity. That opens a deeper conversation about why people love watching violence, where the line is for combat sports, and how spectacle can slowly replace values. From there, we bring it back to home base: USA Taekwondo, Olympic taekwondo, coaching pipelines, and why press releases don’t equal performance. We lay out what a healthier model looks like: community-based camps, real mentorship for coaches, and long-term athlete development that creates winners instead of hype. If this conversation challenged you, share it with a coach or teammate, then subscribe and leave a review so more people who care about performance culture can find the show. Where do you think the real fix starts: coaching, access, or accountability?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The World Cup has us locked in, not just because of the goals, but because it exposes what “excellence” really costs. When we watch the best players in the world and the cultures that surround them, we see something the US keeps struggling to manufacture: identity, continuity, and respect for the pipeline that produces greatness. We talk about what soccer gets right that other sports often lose, from honoring legacy to building standards that don’t disappear every four years. Then we dig into the big American question: with our resources and participation, why does the US still feel so far from winning on the world stage? We push past the easy pay-to-play argument and focus on the real issue: a disconnected youth development system, uneven coaching, inconsistent talent identification, and too many athletes who never get seen or never get the right games at the right time. If you care about US soccer development, youth soccer academies, and what it takes to build a world-class program, this part will hit home. We also jump into the controversy of UFC at the White House and debate whether it’s a celebration of sport or a loss of national dignity. That opens a deeper conversation about why people love watching violence, where the line is for combat sports, and how spectacle can slowly replace values. From there, we bring it back to home base: USA Taekwondo, Olympic taekwondo, coaching pipelines, and why press releases don’t equal performance. We lay out what a healthier model looks like: community-based camps, real mentorship for coaches, and long-term athlete development that creates winners instead of hype. If this conversation challenged you, share it with a coach or teammate, then subscribe and leave a review so more people who care about performance culture can find the show. Where do you think the real fix starts: coaching, access, or accountability?</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/19365272-world-cup-lessons-for-building-champions-in-soccer-and-taekwondo.mp3" length="50338451" type="audio/mpeg" />
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Opening Banter And Sports Obsession" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:10" title="World Cup Brilliance And Fan Culture" />
  <psc:chapter start="10:05" title="Respect, Legacy, And What Soccer Preserves" />
  <psc:chapter start="13:40" title="Why US Soccer Still Trails" />
  <psc:chapter start="22:20" title="Identity, Coaching, And Real Development" />
  <psc:chapter start="26:55" title="UFC At The White House Debate" />
  <psc:chapter start="36:20" title="Where The Line Is In Violence" />
  <psc:chapter start="43:30" title="What UFC Exposed About Taekwondo" />
  <psc:chapter start="52:05" title="PR Claims, New Coaches, And No Results" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:02:35" title="Camps, Community, And A Better Model" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:07:15" title="Nationals Numbers And Closing Predictions" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>4187</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>Three Olympic Medalists Versus A $348 Registration Fee</itunes:title>
    <title>Three Olympic Medalists Versus A $348 Registration Fee</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[You can feel it when a sport stops rewarding honesty and starts rewarding compliance, and we are not pretending that’s normal. We open with the North Carolina vote fallout and the bigger problem behind it: leadership incentives that push coaches and athletes into “play the game” politics, last second club creation, and outcomes that look decided before the room even votes. If you’ve ever wondered why good people go quiet, why parents feel powerless, or why the same names keep winning the room...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>You can feel it when a sport stops rewarding honesty and starts rewarding compliance, and we are not pretending that’s normal. We open with the North Carolina vote fallout and the bigger problem behind it: leadership incentives that push coaches and athletes into “play the game” politics, last second club creation, and outcomes that look decided before the room even votes. If you’ve ever wondered why good people go quiet, why parents feel powerless, or why the same names keep winning the rooms that matter, we say the part everybody whispers and then we ask the only question that counts: what are you willing to do?<br/><br/>Then we switch gears to high performance taekwondo and break down Grand Prix Rome right after the Olympic point reset. We talk electronic scoring, Daedo hogu inconsistency, dead sensors, and why one match can turn into a video game score while the next match can’t buy a point. We also get into passivity penalties, last 10 seconds chaos, and the uncomfortable truth that athletes are learning to fight the rules as much as they fight opponents. Along the way we highlight the upsets and new contenders who look ready to take over divisions, plus what “surviving success” really means when the whole world is watching your next round.<br/><br/>We’re three Olympic medalists who love this sport enough to criticize it in public, not just in private texts. If you care about taekwondo governance, USA Taekwondo culture, AAU taekwondo costs, and what fair competition should look like, hit play, share this with one coach who needs to hear it, and subscribe so you don’t miss what comes next. After listening, what would you change first: the rules, the money, or the people in charge?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You can feel it when a sport stops rewarding honesty and starts rewarding compliance, and we are not pretending that’s normal. We open with the North Carolina vote fallout and the bigger problem behind it: leadership incentives that push coaches and athletes into “play the game” politics, last second club creation, and outcomes that look decided before the room even votes. If you’ve ever wondered why good people go quiet, why parents feel powerless, or why the same names keep winning the rooms that matter, we say the part everybody whispers and then we ask the only question that counts: what are you willing to do?<br/><br/>Then we switch gears to high performance taekwondo and break down Grand Prix Rome right after the Olympic point reset. We talk electronic scoring, Daedo hogu inconsistency, dead sensors, and why one match can turn into a video game score while the next match can’t buy a point. We also get into passivity penalties, last 10 seconds chaos, and the uncomfortable truth that athletes are learning to fight the rules as much as they fight opponents. Along the way we highlight the upsets and new contenders who look ready to take over divisions, plus what “surviving success” really means when the whole world is watching your next round.<br/><br/>We’re three Olympic medalists who love this sport enough to criticize it in public, not just in private texts. If you care about taekwondo governance, USA Taekwondo culture, AAU taekwondo costs, and what fair competition should look like, hit play, share this with one coach who needs to hear it, and subscribe so you don’t miss what comes next. After listening, what would you change first: the rules, the money, or the people in charge?</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/19318092-three-olympic-medalists-versus-a-348-registration-fee.mp3" length="60082681" type="audio/mpeg" />
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 01:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Fight The Power Opening" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:08" title="Back In The Room And Reset" />
  <psc:chapter start="4:20" title="North Carolina Vote Fallout" />
  <psc:chapter start="10:57" title="When Politics Poison The Sport" />
  <psc:chapter start="15:15" title="Fees Up Service Down" />
  <psc:chapter start="24:40" title="What The Membership Must Do" />
  <psc:chapter start="28:30" title="The Academy Brand Problem" />
  <psc:chapter start="36:16" title="Grand Prix Rome Point Reset" />
  <psc:chapter start="37:16" title="Electronic Scoring Looks Broken" />
  <psc:chapter start="41:02" title="Passivity Penalties And Endgame Chaos" />
  <psc:chapter start="43:37" title="Upsets And A New Generation" />
  <psc:chapter start="47:39" title="Monkey Kicks And Gaming The Rules" />
  <psc:chapter start="49:34" title="Winners Standouts And Surprises" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:05:09" title="Rule Changes Without A North Star" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:12:39" title="Speak Up Or Stay Handcuffed" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:19:46" title="Website App And Sign Off" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>5000</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>8</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>11</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>true</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Put The Notion In The Basket Ref</itunes:title>
    <title>Put The Notion In The Basket Ref</title>
    <itunes:summary></itunes:summary>
    <description></description>
    <content:encoded></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 01:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Cold Open And Team Catch-Up" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:32" title="NBA Soccer NFL And Sponsorship Shock" />
  <psc:chapter start="8:44" title="East Regional Setup And System Glitches" />
  <psc:chapter start="15:19" title="Referee Conflicts And Trust Problems" />
  <psc:chapter start="18:10" title="Last 10 Seconds Double Penalties" />
  <psc:chapter start="24:36" title="Electronic Gloves And Vendor Money Grab" />
  <psc:chapter start="25:20" title="AAU Rumors Membership And Power Plays" />
  <psc:chapter start="36:32" title="Who Really Pays Tournament Fees" />
  <psc:chapter start="39:37" title="Broken Promises Coach Development Stalls" />
  <psc:chapter start="44:45" title="Athlete Funding If You Leave The System" />
  <psc:chapter start="47:32" title="Weight Classes And Risky Program Choices" />
  <psc:chapter start="51:47" title="Grand Prix Rome Brackets And Storylines" />
  <psc:chapter start="58:44" title="Nationals Ahead Final Rants Goodbye" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>3608</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys, but I know the Clowns</itunes:title>
    <title>Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys, but I know the Clowns</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Eighteen new Taekwondo clubs created in the final 48 hours before a voting deadline is the kind of detail that makes you stop and ask one question: are we building the sport, or gaming the system? We get blunt about AAU Taekwondo politics in North Carolina, how “paper clubs” and stacked votes can undermine election integrity, and why that behavior doesn’t just pick winners and losers in a meeting. It reshapes who gets access, who gets heard, and what young athletes learn is “normal.”  We also...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Eighteen new Taekwondo clubs created in the final 48 hours before a voting deadline is the kind of detail that makes you stop and ask one question: are we building the sport, or gaming the system? We get blunt about AAU Taekwondo politics in North Carolina, how “paper clubs” and stacked votes can undermine election integrity, and why that behavior doesn’t just pick winners and losers in a meeting. It reshapes who gets access, who gets heard, and what young athletes learn is “normal.”<br/><br/>We also zoom out to the bigger leadership problem that spans USA Taekwondo and the wider tournament ecosystem: rules for everyone else, loopholes for insiders. If organizations want strict spectator behavior, SafeSport compliance, and polished public messaging, the people in charge have to meet an even higher standard behind the scenes. We talk about hypocrisy, complacency, and the social pressure to keep smiling, keep shaking hands, and keep “playing the game” even when you know the process is wrong.<br/><br/>Then we bring in the history that explains the anger. A surprise guest helps us revisit a defining 1988 trials moment and why fairness, referee trust, and moral courage still echo decades later. We close by switching gears to the global fight scene with reactions to the Asian Championships and a look ahead to the Grand Prix in Rome, including the competitive level, ranking implications, and Olympic qualification realities.<br/><br/>If you care about Taekwondo ethics, athlete development, and leadership that actually earns respect, listen through to the end. Subscribe, share this with a coach or teammate, and leave a review with the question you want us to tackle next.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Eighteen new Taekwondo clubs created in the final 48 hours before a voting deadline is the kind of detail that makes you stop and ask one question: are we building the sport, or gaming the system? We get blunt about AAU Taekwondo politics in North Carolina, how “paper clubs” and stacked votes can undermine election integrity, and why that behavior doesn’t just pick winners and losers in a meeting. It reshapes who gets access, who gets heard, and what young athletes learn is “normal.”<br/><br/>We also zoom out to the bigger leadership problem that spans USA Taekwondo and the wider tournament ecosystem: rules for everyone else, loopholes for insiders. If organizations want strict spectator behavior, SafeSport compliance, and polished public messaging, the people in charge have to meet an even higher standard behind the scenes. We talk about hypocrisy, complacency, and the social pressure to keep smiling, keep shaking hands, and keep “playing the game” even when you know the process is wrong.<br/><br/>Then we bring in the history that explains the anger. A surprise guest helps us revisit a defining 1988 trials moment and why fairness, referee trust, and moral courage still echo decades later. We close by switching gears to the global fight scene with reactions to the Asian Championships and a look ahead to the Grand Prix in Rome, including the competitive level, ranking implications, and Olympic qualification realities.<br/><br/>If you care about Taekwondo ethics, athlete development, and leadership that actually earns respect, listen through to the end. Subscribe, share this with a coach or teammate, and leave a review with the question you want us to tackle next.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/19246903-not-my-circus-not-my-monkeys-but-i-know-the-clowns.mp3" length="59742809" type="audio/mpeg" />
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 02:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Opening Rap And Warning Signs" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:05" title="Tuesday Is Truth Day" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:40" title="Surprise Guest And Old Wounds" />
  <psc:chapter start="7:10" title="The 1988 Trials Moment That Changed" />
  <psc:chapter start="15:15" title="Juniors, Seniors, And Rewriting History" />
  <psc:chapter start="16:40" title="North Carolina Club Stacking Allegations" />
  <psc:chapter start="31:05" title="AAU Numbers, Power, And Accountability" />
  <psc:chapter start="36:21" title="Spectator Rules And Ethical Double Standards" />
  <psc:chapter start="47:12" title="Loyalty Tests And Cutting Fringe Friends" />
  <psc:chapter start="52:29" title="Getting Cheated Then Refusing To Bow" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:01:46" title="Intentions Do Not Win Medals" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:09:04" title="Asian Championships And The Gap Debate" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:14:30" title="Grand Prix Rome Preview And Olympic Math" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:19:03" title="Sorry, Not Sorry Sign Off" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:19:51" title="Outro Rap Reprise" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>4970</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>8</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>8</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Mount Olympus Is Not A Highlight Reel</itunes:title>
    <title>Mount Olympus Is Not A Highlight Reel</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[A viral “Mount Olympus of Taekwondo” post sparks a bigger argument: who actually earns greatness in a sport built on results, not hype. We draw a hard line between highlight culture and championship culture, then start naming the legends people keep skipping when they talk about the best Olympic taekwondo fighters of all time. If you care about history, standards, and what real dominance looks like, this one is for you.   From there we pivot to the uncomfortable truth longtime fans keep ...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>A viral “Mount Olympus of Taekwondo” post sparks a bigger argument: who actually earns greatness in a sport built on results, not hype. We draw a hard line between highlight culture and championship culture, then start naming the legends people keep skipping when they talk about the best Olympic taekwondo fighters of all time. If you care about history, standards, and what real dominance looks like, this one is for you. <br/><br/>From there we pivot to the uncomfortable truth longtime fans keep saying out loud: modern WT taekwondo can look like a different sport. We break down how electronic hogus, the Protector and Scoring System, and point incentives reshape technique from the beginner level up, rewarding stuck legs, canceling, and sensor hunting over retraction, angles, rhythm, and clean basics. The athletes are not the problem, the system is, and we talk about what coaches can do right now to build complete fighters anyway. <br/><br/>We also pause to honor Day One Moon and what it means to lose pioneers who built national programs from scratch. Then we get practical, comparing Europe vs Pan Am depth, the wild card pipeline, and why credibility slips when access replaces earned selection. Finally, we talk governance: board oversight, missing transparency, and the Olympic Charter window around LA 2028 that could allow the community to challenge USA Taekwondo’s NGB status and force real accountability. <br/><br/>If this conversation hits home, share it with your coaching circle, subscribe, and leave a review. Who is on your taekwondo Mount Olympus, and what is the first rule change you would make?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A viral “Mount Olympus of Taekwondo” post sparks a bigger argument: who actually earns greatness in a sport built on results, not hype. We draw a hard line between highlight culture and championship culture, then start naming the legends people keep skipping when they talk about the best Olympic taekwondo fighters of all time. If you care about history, standards, and what real dominance looks like, this one is for you. <br/><br/>From there we pivot to the uncomfortable truth longtime fans keep saying out loud: modern WT taekwondo can look like a different sport. We break down how electronic hogus, the Protector and Scoring System, and point incentives reshape technique from the beginner level up, rewarding stuck legs, canceling, and sensor hunting over retraction, angles, rhythm, and clean basics. The athletes are not the problem, the system is, and we talk about what coaches can do right now to build complete fighters anyway. <br/><br/>We also pause to honor Day One Moon and what it means to lose pioneers who built national programs from scratch. Then we get practical, comparing Europe vs Pan Am depth, the wild card pipeline, and why credibility slips when access replaces earned selection. Finally, we talk governance: board oversight, missing transparency, and the Olympic Charter window around LA 2028 that could allow the community to challenge USA Taekwondo’s NGB status and force real accountability. <br/><br/>If this conversation hits home, share it with your coaching circle, subscribe, and leave a review. Who is on your taekwondo Mount Olympus, and what is the first rule change you would make?</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 02:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Warmup Banter And New Merch" />
  <psc:chapter start="5:30" title="Who Belongs On Taekwondo Olympus" />
  <psc:chapter start="14:10" title="When Losing Gets Celebrated" />
  <psc:chapter start="15:49" title="Remembering Day One Moon" />
  <psc:chapter start="20:30" title="Why Modern Taekwondo Looks Wrong" />
  <psc:chapter start="25:19" title="Europe Vs Pan Am Competition Depth" />
  <psc:chapter start="32:33" title="Sinkholes Fracking And Home Repairs" />
  <psc:chapter start="35:15" title="Challenging USA Taekwondo Governance" />
  <psc:chapter start="47:41" title="Teaching Basics In The Electronic Era" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:11:45" title="Closing Jokes And Next Week Tease" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>4403</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>Why Brazil Dominated The Pan American Taekwondo Championships</itunes:title>
    <title>Why Brazil Dominated The Pan American Taekwondo Championships</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Brazil didn’t just win the Pan American Taekwondo Championships, they sent a message: culture plus coaching equals medals. We’re recording with boots on the ground in Brazil, reacting to what we saw at Pan Ams, what the brackets reveal, and why “they had a good weekend” is too small of an explanation when a team takes half the available gold.  We dig into the uncomfortable details: repeat matchups like CJ vs Henrique and what they expose about game planning, emotional control, and corner lead...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Brazil didn’t just win the Pan American Taekwondo Championships, they sent a message: culture plus coaching equals medals. We’re recording with boots on the ground in Brazil, reacting to what we saw at Pan Ams, what the brackets reveal, and why “they had a good weekend” is too small of an explanation when a team takes half the available gold.<br/><br/>We dig into the uncomfortable details: repeat matchups like CJ vs Henrique and what they expose about game planning, emotional control, and corner leadership. We also talk about the modern obsession with highlight reels, viral clips, and “style points,” and why that mindset can quietly sabotage athlete development when winning stops being the standard.<br/><br/>From there, we zoom out to USA Taekwondo and the national team pipeline: missing weight categories, confusing absences, and decisions that leave athletes under-supported on the day it matters. We compare it to what Brazil is building with juniors and cadets, where seniors stay, leaders engage, and the next generation feels connected to the mission. We also touch the growing talent exodus, athletes switching countries, and what early European Championship results suggest about the widening international gap.<br/><br/>If you care about high performance taekwondo, coaching accountability, and building a real national team culture, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a coach or teammate, and leave a review with your take: what has to change first for the USA to own the Pan Am region again?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Brazil didn’t just win the Pan American Taekwondo Championships, they sent a message: culture plus coaching equals medals. We’re recording with boots on the ground in Brazil, reacting to what we saw at Pan Ams, what the brackets reveal, and why “they had a good weekend” is too small of an explanation when a team takes half the available gold.<br/><br/>We dig into the uncomfortable details: repeat matchups like CJ vs Henrique and what they expose about game planning, emotional control, and corner leadership. We also talk about the modern obsession with highlight reels, viral clips, and “style points,” and why that mindset can quietly sabotage athlete development when winning stops being the standard.<br/><br/>From there, we zoom out to USA Taekwondo and the national team pipeline: missing weight categories, confusing absences, and decisions that leave athletes under-supported on the day it matters. We compare it to what Brazil is building with juniors and cadets, where seniors stay, leaders engage, and the next generation feels connected to the mission. We also touch the growing talent exodus, athletes switching countries, and what early European Championship results suggest about the widening international gap.<br/><br/>If you care about high performance taekwondo, coaching accountability, and building a real national team culture, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a coach or teammate, and leave a review with your take: what has to change first for the USA to own the Pan Am region again?</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-19162740</guid>
    <pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Why Brazil Dominated The Pan American Taekwondo Championships" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:14" title="Back Together And Checking In" />
  <psc:chapter start="5:05" title="Pan Am Seniors Results And Pressure" />
  <psc:chapter start="8:38" title="CJ Vs Henrique And The Coaching Gap" />
  <psc:chapter start="16:40" title="USA Slump Missing Weights Missing Stars" />
  <psc:chapter start="24:38" title="Wildcards Optics And Uneven Corners" />
  <psc:chapter start="34:34" title="Juniors Cadets And Brazil’s Culture Machine" />
  <psc:chapter start="42:44" title="Speaking Up Ethics And Voting With Dollars" />
  <psc:chapter start="56:01" title="The Ladder From State To Pan Ams" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:03:28" title="Talent Exodus And Europe’s Warning Signs" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:16:06" title="Final Thoughts Respect And Wrap" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>4763</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>8</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>6</itunes:episode>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>Green Stamps For Kicks And Double Secret Probation</itunes:title>
    <title>Green Stamps For Kicks And Double Secret Probation</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[The sport isn’t just fought on the mat anymore, it’s fought in rankings, calendars, email lists, and who gets invited to the table. Tonight at Warehouse 15, we talk candidly about the points culture spreading through Taekwondo and why “more tournaments” doesn’t automatically mean better athlete development when families are paying for every step of the so-called pathway.   We dig into USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo realities that coaches see up close: monthly rankings that feel performa...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>The sport isn’t just fought on the mat anymore, it’s fought in rankings, calendars, email lists, and who gets invited to the table. Tonight at Warehouse 15, we talk candidly about the points culture spreading through Taekwondo and why “more tournaments” doesn’t automatically mean better athlete development when families are paying for every step of the so-called pathway. <br/><br/>We dig into USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo realities that coaches see up close: monthly rankings that feel performative, memorandums of understanding that look like leftover paper from the printer, and a growing sense that governance is being run like PR instead of high-performance sport. We also address serious trust issues, including ongoing suspensions without clear explanations and the kind of rumor mill that can smear coaches for things as absurd as “hacking a Zoom call.” <br/><br/>On the competition side, we preview the Pan American Championships in Brazil, talk travel logistics, and break down what a points reset to zero could mean for the new cycle. We also debate World Taekwondo policies like junior points carrying into senior Grand Prix access, plus scheduling conflicts that make a two-year cycle even messier. <br/><br/>If you care about Taekwondo coaching, athlete funding, competitive fairness, and how leadership decisions ripple into real matches, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a coach or parent, and leave a review so more people can find it. Where do you think the system breaks first: money, transparency, or trust?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The sport isn’t just fought on the mat anymore, it’s fought in rankings, calendars, email lists, and who gets invited to the table. Tonight at Warehouse 15, we talk candidly about the points culture spreading through Taekwondo and why “more tournaments” doesn’t automatically mean better athlete development when families are paying for every step of the so-called pathway. <br/><br/>We dig into USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo realities that coaches see up close: monthly rankings that feel performative, memorandums of understanding that look like leftover paper from the printer, and a growing sense that governance is being run like PR instead of high-performance sport. We also address serious trust issues, including ongoing suspensions without clear explanations and the kind of rumor mill that can smear coaches for things as absurd as “hacking a Zoom call.” <br/><br/>On the competition side, we preview the Pan American Championships in Brazil, talk travel logistics, and break down what a points reset to zero could mean for the new cycle. We also debate World Taekwondo policies like junior points carrying into senior Grand Prix access, plus scheduling conflicts that make a two-year cycle even messier. <br/><br/>If you care about Taekwondo coaching, athlete funding, competitive fairness, and how leadership decisions ripple into real matches, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a coach or parent, and leave a review so more people can find it. Where do you think the system breaks first: money, transparency, or trust?</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/19126118-green-stamps-for-kicks-and-double-secret-probation.mp3" length="50795363" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Green Stamps For Kicks And Double Secret Probation" />
  <psc:chapter start="0:04" title="Finger To The Moon Cold Open" />
  <psc:chapter start="2:07" title="Travel Updates And Training Clinic" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:15" title="Chicago Seminar And Old Friends" />
  <psc:chapter start="6:08" title="Testing E-Sparring Match Technology" />
  <psc:chapter start="7:07" title="North Carolina Loss And New Memoir" />
  <psc:chapter start="8:30" title="Ranking Points And Tournament Costs" />
  <psc:chapter start="15:38" title="Suspensions And Smear Accusations" />
  <psc:chapter start="20:55" title="The Real Price For Families" />
  <psc:chapter start="21:52" title="Pan Am Championships Brazil Preview" />
  <psc:chapter start="30:40" title="Airline Chaos And Travel Planning" />
  <psc:chapter start="33:50" title="Rome Grand Prix And Calendar Mistakes" />
  <psc:chapter start="38:40" title="Points Reset And Junior Carryover" />
  <psc:chapter start="43:20" title="Parity Era And Grand Prix Predictions" />
  <psc:chapter start="47:20" title="Verbal Violence And Coaching Leadership" />
  <psc:chapter start="54:00" title="Why The Coach In The Chair Matters" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:03:33" title="Being Shut Out Of Coach Calls" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:07:20" title="Revolution Talk And Sign-Off" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>4228</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>Olympic Hopefuls And The Chancleta Awards</itunes:title>
    <title>Olympic Hopefuls And The Chancleta Awards</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Eight years of flat results is not a slump, it’s a signal. We start with the adrenaline of a collegiate taekwondo tournament and quickly get to the bigger question: what are we building in the U.S. right now, and why doesn’t it reliably translate to medals and deep runs at World Taekwondo events?  We react to the stats making the rounds, talk about “pound for pound” comparisons, and draw a hard line between a rare phenom and sustained competitive excellence. That turns into a blunt look at na...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Eight years of flat results is not a slump, it’s a signal. We start with the adrenaline of a collegiate taekwondo tournament and quickly get to the bigger question: what are we building in the U.S. right now, and why doesn’t it reliably translate to medals and deep runs at World Taekwondo events?<br/><br/>We react to the stats making the rounds, talk about “pound for pound” comparisons, and draw a hard line between a rare phenom and sustained competitive excellence. That turns into a blunt look at national team identity, coaching presence, and the culture shift where early losses get framed as “good experience.” We don’t say it to be harsh, we say it because standards shape outcomes, and the rest of the world can see what we tolerate.<br/><br/>From there we get practical: development pipelines, selection systems that keep changing, and why fundamentals still win. Footwork, distance, timing, and clean technique matter more than trendy drills, especially when electronic scoring can push athletes toward habits that look wrong but score. We also preview the Pan American Championships, what different countries have to prove, and why recent rule tweaks hand even more control back to referees at the worst possible moments.<br/><br/>If you care about Olympic taekwondo, athlete development, and building a program that’s more than highlights, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a coach or teammate, and leave a review with one change you’d make to fix the pipeline.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Eight years of flat results is not a slump, it’s a signal. We start with the adrenaline of a collegiate taekwondo tournament and quickly get to the bigger question: what are we building in the U.S. right now, and why doesn’t it reliably translate to medals and deep runs at World Taekwondo events?<br/><br/>We react to the stats making the rounds, talk about “pound for pound” comparisons, and draw a hard line between a rare phenom and sustained competitive excellence. That turns into a blunt look at national team identity, coaching presence, and the culture shift where early losses get framed as “good experience.” We don’t say it to be harsh, we say it because standards shape outcomes, and the rest of the world can see what we tolerate.<br/><br/>From there we get practical: development pipelines, selection systems that keep changing, and why fundamentals still win. Footwork, distance, timing, and clean technique matter more than trendy drills, especially when electronic scoring can push athletes toward habits that look wrong but score. We also preview the Pan American Championships, what different countries have to prove, and why recent rule tweaks hand even more control back to referees at the worst possible moments.<br/><br/>If you care about Olympic taekwondo, athlete development, and building a program that’s more than highlights, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a coach or teammate, and leave a review with one change you’d make to fix the pipeline.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/19088320-olympic-hopefuls-and-the-chancleta-awards.mp3" length="51193147" type="audio/mpeg" />
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-19088320</guid>
    <pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/19088320/transcript" type="text/html" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/19088320/transcript.json" type="application/json" />
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Cold Open And Theme Verse" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:15" title="Welcome Back To Warehouse 15" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:37" title="Collegiate Taekwondo Chaos And Spirit" />
  <psc:chapter start="5:57" title="Performance Anxiety From The Sidelines" />
  <psc:chapter start="9:48" title="Website Questions And Podcast Chatbot" />
  <psc:chapter start="10:27" title="TSA Stories And Travel Whiplash" />
  <psc:chapter start="11:51" title="WT Stats And The U.S. Flatline" />
  <psc:chapter start="19:49" title="Stop Celebrating Mediocrity" />
  <psc:chapter start="26:08" title="Ranking Points And Excuse Culture" />
  <psc:chapter start="31:55" title="Trials Systems And Pipeline Blockers" />
  <psc:chapter start="40:00" title="Technique First Not Circus Drills" />
  <psc:chapter start="49:12" title="Pan Am Championships Predictions" />
  <psc:chapter start="54:08" title="New Rules And Referee Control" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:03:01" title="Electronic Scoring Changes How Kids Kick" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:05:26" title="Community Support And Seminar Plug" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:07:41" title="Outro Track And Sign Off" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>4260</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>8</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>true</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Stop Selling Auditions And Start Coaching</itunes:title>
    <title>Stop Selling Auditions And Start Coaching</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[The Junior World Championships didn’t just showcase great taekwondo, it exposed which countries are building real systems and which ones are hoping talent can cover the cracks. We walk through what we saw up close: young athletes who look comfortable in chaos, teams that share an unmistakable rhythm, and programs like Uzbekistan that don’t feel “small” when half the bracket seems to come from the same pipeline.  From there, we get honest about Team USA. We can compete, we can steal matches, a...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>The Junior World Championships didn’t just showcase great taekwondo, it exposed which countries are building real systems and which ones are hoping talent can cover the cracks. We walk through what we saw up close: young athletes who look comfortable in chaos, teams that share an unmistakable rhythm, and programs like Uzbekistan that don’t feel “small” when half the bracket seems to come from the same pipeline.<br/><br/>From there, we get honest about Team USA. We can compete, we can steal matches, and we can celebrate a medal, but that’s not the same as being dominant. We talk about the development gap and why it shows up early: coaching time, culture, and the unglamorous work of building juniors and cadets who are ready for long tournaments and world-level pressure.<br/><br/>Mexico and Brazil become the contrast points. Mexico’s long camps and tournament toughness show how preparation translates on the world stage. Brazil’s hybrid approach highlights a different path: find talent early, invest in it, pair it with experienced support, and create opportunities that are earned, not sold. Then we dig into the uncomfortable stuff, pay-to-play auditions, bloated event calendars, and what happens when selection becomes marketing instead of development.<br/><br/>If you care about USA Taekwondo, Olympic taekwondo, athlete development, and what it takes to build a national identity that actually shows up on the mat, this one will hit. Subscribe, share this with a coach or parent, and leave a review, then tell us: what’s the first change you would make?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Junior World Championships didn’t just showcase great taekwondo, it exposed which countries are building real systems and which ones are hoping talent can cover the cracks. We walk through what we saw up close: young athletes who look comfortable in chaos, teams that share an unmistakable rhythm, and programs like Uzbekistan that don’t feel “small” when half the bracket seems to come from the same pipeline.<br/><br/>From there, we get honest about Team USA. We can compete, we can steal matches, and we can celebrate a medal, but that’s not the same as being dominant. We talk about the development gap and why it shows up early: coaching time, culture, and the unglamorous work of building juniors and cadets who are ready for long tournaments and world-level pressure.<br/><br/>Mexico and Brazil become the contrast points. Mexico’s long camps and tournament toughness show how preparation translates on the world stage. Brazil’s hybrid approach highlights a different path: find talent early, invest in it, pair it with experienced support, and create opportunities that are earned, not sold. Then we dig into the uncomfortable stuff, pay-to-play auditions, bloated event calendars, and what happens when selection becomes marketing instead of development.<br/><br/>If you care about USA Taekwondo, Olympic taekwondo, athlete development, and what it takes to build a national identity that actually shows up on the mat, this one will hit. Subscribe, share this with a coach or parent, and leave a review, then tell us: what’s the first change you would make?</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/19068276-stop-selling-auditions-and-start-coaching.mp3" length="46753152" type="audio/mpeg" />
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-19068276</guid>
    <pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Intro Track And Roll Call" />
  <psc:chapter start="4:20" title="Junior Worlds Shock And Awe" />
  <psc:chapter start="8:45" title="The Talent Gap For Team USA" />
  <psc:chapter start="10:12" title="How Mexico Builds Tournament Toughness" />
  <psc:chapter start="19:45" title="Funding 52 Athletes Versus Auditions" />
  <psc:chapter start="24:19" title="Rebuild The Pipeline From Scratch" />
  <psc:chapter start="27:43" title="Finding A National Fighting Identity" />
  <psc:chapter start="34:14" title="Pay-To-Play Selection And Tournament Bloat" />
  <psc:chapter start="55:33" title="Access Arms Race And Olympic Prices" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:01:50" title="Wrap-Up And Audience Qs" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>3888</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>8</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>When The Scoring Gear Fails And Someone Gets Slept</itunes:title>
    <title>When The Scoring Gear Fails And Someone Gets Slept</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[A training camp that starts with “easy practice” and immediately turns into full-contact sparring tells you everything you need to know about why Uzbekistan keeps producing world-level taekwondo. We’re calling in from the ground to break down what we’re seeing day to day: morning strength and conditioning, night sessions where everyone is fresh enough to fight for real, and a level of discipline and reps that makes athletes look comfortable even when the pressure spikes.  Junior World Champio...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>A training camp that starts with “easy practice” and immediately turns into full-contact sparring tells you everything you need to know about why Uzbekistan keeps producing world-level taekwondo. We’re calling in from the ground to break down what we’re seeing day to day: morning strength and conditioning, night sessions where everyone is fresh enough to fight for real, and a level of discipline and reps that makes athletes look comfortable even when the pressure spikes.<br/><br/>Junior World Championships adds another layer. The matches are loud, fast, and emotional, but what stands out is how organized the best kids are. They play the World Taekwondo scoring system, they understand time and momentum, and they choose the right risks at the right moments. We also get into the uncomfortable stuff: bad electronic scoring gear that changes match reality, an axe kick knockout that sparks a rules debate, and why knockouts still matter in heavier divisions even in the modern game.<br/><br/>From there we go straight at the bigger question: what actually separates good from elite? We talk honest post-fight feedback, stealing techniques that beat you, balancing group training with individual practice, and why legacy and culture are not “soft” factors. We end with a blunt look at USA Taekwondo development and the optics of pay-to-attend “Olympic auditions” versus a real high performance pathway. If this hits a nerve, subscribe, share this with a coach or athlete, and leave a review telling us what you’d change first.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A training camp that starts with “easy practice” and immediately turns into full-contact sparring tells you everything you need to know about why Uzbekistan keeps producing world-level taekwondo. We’re calling in from the ground to break down what we’re seeing day to day: morning strength and conditioning, night sessions where everyone is fresh enough to fight for real, and a level of discipline and reps that makes athletes look comfortable even when the pressure spikes.<br/><br/>Junior World Championships adds another layer. The matches are loud, fast, and emotional, but what stands out is how organized the best kids are. They play the World Taekwondo scoring system, they understand time and momentum, and they choose the right risks at the right moments. We also get into the uncomfortable stuff: bad electronic scoring gear that changes match reality, an axe kick knockout that sparks a rules debate, and why knockouts still matter in heavier divisions even in the modern game.<br/><br/>From there we go straight at the bigger question: what actually separates good from elite? We talk honest post-fight feedback, stealing techniques that beat you, balancing group training with individual practice, and why legacy and culture are not “soft” factors. We end with a blunt look at USA Taekwondo development and the optics of pay-to-attend “Olympic auditions” versus a real high performance pathway. If this hits a nerve, subscribe, share this with a coach or athlete, and leave a review telling us what you’d change first.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/19015499-when-the-scoring-gear-fails-and-someone-gets-slept.mp3" length="60569072" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-19015499</guid>
    <pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/19015499/transcript" type="text/html" />
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Back Online After Travel Chaos" />
  <psc:chapter start="4:00" title="Uzbekistan Camp Hits Hard Immediately" />
  <psc:chapter start="12:40" title="Conditioning Plans And Clean Contact Sparring" />
  <psc:chapter start="19:55" title="Test Matches With Broken Scoring" />
  <psc:chapter start="29:00" title="What Surprised Them About Saudi Fighters" />
  <psc:chapter start="33:55" title="Junior Worlds Intensity And Early Standouts" />
  <psc:chapter start="43:50" title="Axe Kick Knockout And Rule Arguments" />
  <psc:chapter start="52:30" title="Overtraining Debate And Individual Practice" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:02:30" title="The Mindset That Makes Athletes Elite" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:11:55" title="Legacy Culture And The US Leadership Problem" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:22:55" title="Final Jokes And Closing Thoughts" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>5042</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Chuck Norris, Internet Freezes, And AAU Chaos</itunes:title>
    <title>Chuck Norris, Internet Freezes, And AAU Chaos</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[500 followers doesn’t sound wild until you picture 500 people packed into a room, listening, reacting, and carrying the conversation into their gyms. That’s where we start: gratitude, a little swagger, and a real talk check on what community means when it’s earned one person at a time.  Then we do something we think martial arts culture needs more of: we correct ourselves out loud. Herb offers a public apology to Coach Curry, and we unpack why respect between coaches matters even when you dis...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>500 followers doesn’t sound wild until you picture 500 people packed into a room, listening, reacting, and carrying the conversation into their gyms. That’s where we start: gratitude, a little swagger, and a real talk check on what community means when it’s earned one person at a time.<br/><br/>Then we do something we think martial arts culture needs more of: we correct ourselves out loud. Herb offers a public apology to Coach Curry, and we unpack why respect between coaches matters even when you disagree. From there, we shift into legacy and character with a heartfelt tribute to Chuck Norris, not just the jokes, but the humility, the mentorship, and the credibility that made him a symbol for an entire generation of fighters.<br/><br/>The back half gets into the uncomfortable stuff shaping taekwondo right now: AAU governance, suspensions tied to speech, slow responses, and the kind of power plays that push good people out while others look away because it “doesn’t affect them.” We connect it to athlete development, inconsistent rules, and why unstable systems reward survivors instead of building champions. We also touch international momentum, including Uzbekistan (Tashkent) for Junior World Championships and what events like the Belgium Open can tell us about the current Olympic cycle.<br/><br/>If you got value from the honesty, share this with a coach or athlete who needs it, subscribe, and leave a review so more people can find Warehouse 15. What’s the one change you’d make to protect fairness in the sport?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>500 followers doesn’t sound wild until you picture 500 people packed into a room, listening, reacting, and carrying the conversation into their gyms. That’s where we start: gratitude, a little swagger, and a real talk check on what community means when it’s earned one person at a time.<br/><br/>Then we do something we think martial arts culture needs more of: we correct ourselves out loud. Herb offers a public apology to Coach Curry, and we unpack why respect between coaches matters even when you disagree. From there, we shift into legacy and character with a heartfelt tribute to Chuck Norris, not just the jokes, but the humility, the mentorship, and the credibility that made him a symbol for an entire generation of fighters.<br/><br/>The back half gets into the uncomfortable stuff shaping taekwondo right now: AAU governance, suspensions tied to speech, slow responses, and the kind of power plays that push good people out while others look away because it “doesn’t affect them.” We connect it to athlete development, inconsistent rules, and why unstable systems reward survivors instead of building champions. We also touch international momentum, including Uzbekistan (Tashkent) for Junior World Championships and what events like the Belgium Open can tell us about the current Olympic cycle.<br/><br/>If you got value from the honesty, share this with a coach or athlete who needs it, subscribe, and leave a review so more people can find Warehouse 15. What’s the one change you’d make to protect fairness in the sport?</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/18898276-chuck-norris-internet-freezes-and-aau-chaos.mp3" length="40957571" type="audio/mpeg" />
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-18898276</guid>
    <pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18898276/transcript" type="text/html" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18898276/transcript.json" type="application/json" />
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="500 Followers And New Swag" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:19" title="Public Apology To Coach Curry" />
  <psc:chapter start="4:51" title="Building A Cult Following" />
  <psc:chapter start="6:23" title="Chuck Norris Stories And Legacy" />
  <psc:chapter start="21:04" title="Travel Plans And Junior Worlds" />
  <psc:chapter start="23:35" title="AAU Suspension And Due Process" />
  <psc:chapter start="28:09" title="Complicity And District Power Plays" />
  <psc:chapter start="34:21" title="Athlete Development And Rule Chaos" />
  <psc:chapter start="36:31" title="Tights To Tall Heavyweights" />
  <psc:chapter start="42:43" title="Ego, Legacy, And Winning" />
  <psc:chapter start="45:02" title="Belgium Open Breakdown And Trends" />
  <psc:chapter start="49:36" title="Beaches, Visits, And Community Plans" />
  <psc:chapter start="52:40" title="Cancel Culture And Moral Courage" />
  <psc:chapter start="55:17" title="Next Week Teasers And Sign-Off" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>3406</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>3</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>15</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Sven Lorrimer On Fighting For Guyana And Speaking His Mind</itunes:title>
    <title>Sven Lorrimer On Fighting For Guyana And Speaking His Mind</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Taekwondo has never had a shortage of talent. The real question is whether the system still rewards the people who can build champions, fund development, and keep the sport honest when nobody is watching.  We sit down with Sven Tatafason, a Southern California product who fought internationally for Guyana and built a reputation as the guy who shows up to ruin your day. From Pan Am chaos to training room stories, Sven breaks down what it felt like to compete when matches were more brutal and s...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Taekwondo has never had a shortage of talent. The real question is whether the system still rewards the people who can build champions, fund development, and keep the sport honest when nobody is watching.<br/><br/>We sit down with Sven Tatafason, a Southern California product who fought internationally for Guyana and built a reputation as the guy who shows up to ruin your day. From Pan Am chaos to training room stories, Sven breaks down what it felt like to compete when matches were more brutal and strategy mattered across the whole fight, not just the sensor-friendly moments. We also go straight at the uncomfortable topics: electronic scoring, round resets, and why many veterans say Olympic taekwondo looks softer even though athletes work harder than ever.<br/><br/>Then we turn the spotlight on USA Taekwondo and AAU politics, including coaching selection, the trend of hiring foreign coaches, and why proven domestic coaches can get pushed out of the room. We talk athlete “poaching,” the cost of chasing the national team pipeline, and why underfunded junior, cadet, and collegiate programs create a future problem that no single coaching hire can solve. If you care about Olympic taekwondo, Kukkiwon ranks, poomsae standards, and real athlete development, this is the kind of conversation that usually happens off-camera.<br/><br/>If this hit a nerve, subscribe, share it with a coach or parent, and leave a review so more people find it. What would you change first to fix Taekwondo in the United States?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Taekwondo has never had a shortage of talent. The real question is whether the system still rewards the people who can build champions, fund development, and keep the sport honest when nobody is watching.<br/><br/>We sit down with Sven Tatafason, a Southern California product who fought internationally for Guyana and built a reputation as the guy who shows up to ruin your day. From Pan Am chaos to training room stories, Sven breaks down what it felt like to compete when matches were more brutal and strategy mattered across the whole fight, not just the sensor-friendly moments. We also go straight at the uncomfortable topics: electronic scoring, round resets, and why many veterans say Olympic taekwondo looks softer even though athletes work harder than ever.<br/><br/>Then we turn the spotlight on USA Taekwondo and AAU politics, including coaching selection, the trend of hiring foreign coaches, and why proven domestic coaches can get pushed out of the room. We talk athlete “poaching,” the cost of chasing the national team pipeline, and why underfunded junior, cadet, and collegiate programs create a future problem that no single coaching hire can solve. If you care about Olympic taekwondo, Kukkiwon ranks, poomsae standards, and real athlete development, this is the kind of conversation that usually happens off-camera.<br/><br/>If this hit a nerve, subscribe, share it with a coach or parent, and leave a review so more people find it. What would you change first to fix Taekwondo in the United States?</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/18859929-sven-lorrimer-on-fighting-for-guyana-and-speaking-his-mind.mp3" length="61066602" type="audio/mpeg" />
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    <itunes:author></itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-18859929</guid>
    <pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 02:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18859929/transcript" type="text/html" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18859929/transcript.json" type="application/json" />
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Cold Open And Fighter Banter" />
  <psc:chapter start="4:41" title="Welcoming Sven And Setting The Tone" />
  <psc:chapter start="9:20" title="Olympus Stories And Saturday Morning Fame" />
  <psc:chapter start="13:47" title="Pan Am Chaos And Guyana Pride" />
  <psc:chapter start="18:28" title="Poomsae Debates And Rank Reality" />
  <psc:chapter start="23:38" title="Why Modern Sparring Feels Soft" />
  <psc:chapter start="25:45" title="AAU Drama And Coaching Exile" />
  <psc:chapter start="32:36" title="Foreign Coaches And The Three Letters" />
  <psc:chapter start="39:30" title="The Room Problem And Athlete Poaching" />
  <psc:chapter start="47:37" title="Collegiate Taekwondo Then And Now" />
  <psc:chapter start="51:13" title="The 100K Check And Board Seats" />
  <psc:chapter start="57:12" title="Social Media Beef And Fake Praise" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:03:40" title="Old School Brackets And Hard Lessons" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:13:00" title="Coaching Roots And Training Room Culture" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:19:44" title="Shoutouts And Who Should Coach" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:25:59" title="Beer Talk And Final Goodbye" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>5083</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Inside The Pan American Taekwondo Union Awards And What The Results Missed</itunes:title>
    <title>Inside The Pan American Taekwondo Union Awards And What The Results Missed</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[A regional award is supposed to be the easy part: look at the year, look at the results, pick the best. So why do some Pan American Taekwondo Union honors feel crystal clear while others feel like they were negotiated in the hallway? We jump back into Warehouse 15 Uncut to break down the PATU awards handed out around the US Open and to ask the question every coach and athlete ends up asking sooner or later: what does “best” actually mean when the numbers are sitting right there?  We start wit...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>A regional award is supposed to be the easy part: look at the year, look at the results, pick the best. So why do some Pan American Taekwondo Union honors feel crystal clear while others feel like they were negotiated in the hallway? We jump back into Warehouse 15 Uncut to break down the PATU awards handed out around the US Open and to ask the question every coach and athlete ends up asking sooner or later: what does “best” actually mean when the numbers are sitting right there?<br/><br/>We start with the categories that feel closer to the mark. Refereeing is never perfect, but we explain what we look for in top kirugi officials: consistency, clean match management, and the kind of presence that keeps the focus on the fighters. That leads into shout-outs for John Shea and Dania Gonzalez, plus a quick take on “best kick” as the one award that can be pure fun without pretending it is scientific. We also give Peru real credit for federation growth, event quality, and the kind of organization that moves a program forward.<br/><br/>Then we get into the messy part: team and coach awards. We debate how a “best team” trophy can end in a tie, why World Championship medals and WT rankings should settle arguments, and where the logic seems to break when coaching honors do not match athlete outcomes. We also talk openly about PR, politics, and why a lack of transparency makes every future award harder to trust.<br/><br/>If you care about taekwondo rankings, fair recognition, and the health of the sport in the Pan Am region, hit play, share this with a teammate, and leave a review. What should matter most for awards: results, development, or influence?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A regional award is supposed to be the easy part: look at the year, look at the results, pick the best. So why do some Pan American Taekwondo Union honors feel crystal clear while others feel like they were negotiated in the hallway? We jump back into Warehouse 15 Uncut to break down the PATU awards handed out around the US Open and to ask the question every coach and athlete ends up asking sooner or later: what does “best” actually mean when the numbers are sitting right there?<br/><br/>We start with the categories that feel closer to the mark. Refereeing is never perfect, but we explain what we look for in top kirugi officials: consistency, clean match management, and the kind of presence that keeps the focus on the fighters. That leads into shout-outs for John Shea and Dania Gonzalez, plus a quick take on “best kick” as the one award that can be pure fun without pretending it is scientific. We also give Peru real credit for federation growth, event quality, and the kind of organization that moves a program forward.<br/><br/>Then we get into the messy part: team and coach awards. We debate how a “best team” trophy can end in a tie, why World Championship medals and WT rankings should settle arguments, and where the logic seems to break when coaching honors do not match athlete outcomes. We also talk openly about PR, politics, and why a lack of transparency makes every future award harder to trust.<br/><br/>If you care about taekwondo rankings, fair recognition, and the health of the sport in the Pan Am region, hit play, share this with a teammate, and leave a review. What should matter most for awards: results, development, or influence?</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/18843918-inside-the-pan-american-taekwondo-union-awards-and-what-the-results-missed.mp3" length="23107521" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:image href="https://storage.buzzsprout.com/qnuxclde5auaj9kfcrz8j7svs3hs?.jpg" />
    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-18843918</guid>
    <pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18843918/transcript" type="text/html" />
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Merch Updates And Quick Return" />
  <psc:chapter start="2:53" title="What The Pan Am Awards Are" />
  <psc:chapter start="6:15" title="Referees Who Actually Deserve It" />
  <psc:chapter start="9:39" title="Best Kick Plus Peru Recognition" />
  <psc:chapter start="12:37" title="The Best Team Tie Controversy" />
  <psc:chapter start="16:57" title="Athletes And Coaches Not Adding Up" />
  <psc:chapter start="25:20" title="PR Politics And “Mafia” Talk" />
  <psc:chapter start="27:18" title="Merch Push Special Guest Tease" />
  <psc:chapter start="28:33" title="Spoken Word Outro On Fairness" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>1918</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>How A Leaked AAU Call Sparked A Showdown Over Power, Money, And Coaching</itunes:title>
    <title>How A Leaked AAU Call Sparked A Showdown Over Power, Money, And Coaching</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[What happens when a leaked phone call pulls back the curtain on how qualifiers, elections, and influence really work? We press play on an AAU conversation that sketches a second North Carolina district event, a quiet plan to unseat a director, a fast-track to a regional role—and one jarring condition: end the podcast. From there, we unpack what a “money now” mindset means for a nonprofit sport, how block lists and MOUs can shape access, and why silencing critics hurts the very athletes the sy...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>What happens when a leaked phone call pulls back the curtain on how qualifiers, elections, and influence really work? We press play on an AAU conversation that sketches a second North Carolina district event, a quiet plan to unseat a director, a fast-track to a regional role—and one jarring condition: end the podcast. From there, we unpack what a “money now” mindset means for a nonprofit sport, how block lists and MOUs can shape access, and why silencing critics hurts the very athletes the system is supposed to serve.<br/><br/>Then we head to Vegas for a frank U.S. Open debrief. Big brackets and packed schedules met thin international depth, choppy bout sequencing, and a spectator experience that made it hard to see the action. The harshest glare lands on DaeDo Gen3. When scrapes, toe taps, and phantom touches light up the board while clean punches disappear, tactics warp into front-leg foot fencing, 70-point junior rounds, and frantic “scoreboard lottery.” Refereeing amplified the confusion, with hands-off officiating giving way to sudden holding deductions in finals. Consistency isn’t a luxury—it’s integrity.<br/><br/>Still, excellence broke through. We celebrate sharp, composed G2 golds and strong U.S. performances built on years of steady coaching and development. That success “didn’t come out of nowhere”—it came from systems that prioritize athlete growth over politics. Which leads to the bigger question: if domestic programs keep losing top talent and leaning on external hires, what does that say about our pipeline and coaching depth? Awards that feel like politics don’t fix that; transparent standards and measurable reforms do.<br/><br/>We close with a simple playbook for leaders who actually want better outcomes: standardize tech thresholds, publish clear enforcement guidance, sequence brackets logically, invest in fan and warm-up infrastructure, protect independent voices, and remove backroom conditions from pathways. If we center athletes, results will follow. If we don’t, the scoreboard—and the community—will keep telling us why.<br/><br/>Like what you heard? Subscribe, share this with a coach or parent who cares about development, and leave a review with the one change you’d make first.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What happens when a leaked phone call pulls back the curtain on how qualifiers, elections, and influence really work? We press play on an AAU conversation that sketches a second North Carolina district event, a quiet plan to unseat a director, a fast-track to a regional role—and one jarring condition: end the podcast. From there, we unpack what a “money now” mindset means for a nonprofit sport, how block lists and MOUs can shape access, and why silencing critics hurts the very athletes the system is supposed to serve.<br/><br/>Then we head to Vegas for a frank U.S. Open debrief. Big brackets and packed schedules met thin international depth, choppy bout sequencing, and a spectator experience that made it hard to see the action. The harshest glare lands on DaeDo Gen3. When scrapes, toe taps, and phantom touches light up the board while clean punches disappear, tactics warp into front-leg foot fencing, 70-point junior rounds, and frantic “scoreboard lottery.” Refereeing amplified the confusion, with hands-off officiating giving way to sudden holding deductions in finals. Consistency isn’t a luxury—it’s integrity.<br/><br/>Still, excellence broke through. We celebrate sharp, composed G2 golds and strong U.S. performances built on years of steady coaching and development. That success “didn’t come out of nowhere”—it came from systems that prioritize athlete growth over politics. Which leads to the bigger question: if domestic programs keep losing top talent and leaning on external hires, what does that say about our pipeline and coaching depth? Awards that feel like politics don’t fix that; transparent standards and measurable reforms do.<br/><br/>We close with a simple playbook for leaders who actually want better outcomes: standardize tech thresholds, publish clear enforcement guidance, sequence brackets logically, invest in fan and warm-up infrastructure, protect independent voices, and remove backroom conditions from pathways. If we center athletes, results will follow. If we don’t, the scoreboard—and the community—will keep telling us why.<br/><br/>Like what you heard? Subscribe, share this with a coach or parent who cares about development, and leave a review with the one change you’d make first.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/18827424-how-a-leaked-aau-call-sparked-a-showdown-over-power-money-and-coaching.mp3" length="35010335" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:image href="https://storage.buzzsprout.com/b15ec6qmoydpyv3s3dggmxm628s5?.jpg" />
    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-18827424</guid>
    <pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18827424/transcript" type="text/html" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18827424/transcript.json" type="application/json" />
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Cold Open, Banter, And Vegas Trip" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:10" title="Listener Story And Speeding Ticket Joke" />
  <psc:chapter start="6:45" title="Setting Up A “Special” Audio" />
  <psc:chapter start="9:15" title="The Leaked AAU Call Starts" />
  <psc:chapter start="13:30" title="Two Qualifiers, Quiet Election Plan" />
  <psc:chapter start="18:50" title="Money First, MOU, And Podcast Ultimatum" />
  <psc:chapter start="24:10" title="Reaction: Collusion And Block Lists" />
  <psc:chapter start="31:10" title="Legal, Nonprofit, And Culture Rants" />
  <psc:chapter start="42:00" title="Pivot To U.S. Open Overview" />
  <psc:chapter start="46:30" title="Event Logistics And Spectator Issues" />
  <psc:chapter start="52:00" title="DaeDo Gen3 Scoring Meltdown" />
  <psc:chapter start="59:20" title="Refereeing, “Monkey Kick,” And IVR" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:05:30" title="U.S. Results, Standouts, And Congrats" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:13:40" title="The -80 Final And Tactics" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>2911</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>3</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>12</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>We Got A Ferrari Name And A Kia Budget</itunes:title>
    <title>We Got A Ferrari Name And A Kia Budget</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Headlines don’t win medals. We dig into USA Taekwondo’s splashy six-year hire of a legendary former champion and ask whether a star résumé can fix a program that still can’t fund its juniors. We’re candid about what’s admirable—class, results, and global respect—while pressing on what truly matters for athlete outcomes: coach credentials, communication, culture fit, and a system that serves more than a handful of insiders.  Across the hour, we map the gap between PR and performance. Why commi...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Headlines don’t win medals. We dig into USA Taekwondo’s splashy six-year hire of a legendary former champion and ask whether a star résumé can fix a program that still can’t fund its juniors. We’re candid about what’s admirable—class, results, and global respect—while pressing on what truly matters for athlete outcomes: coach credentials, communication, culture fit, and a system that serves more than a handful of insiders.<br/><br/>Across the hour, we map the gap between PR and performance. Why commit long-term dollars when the pipeline is struggling? How do language barriers, conflicting training styles, and unclear authority lines play out in a two-minute round with video review? We compare proven high-performance models—clear plans, transparent budgets, domestic coach development, targeted specialist roles—with a “one room” approach that risks deepening divides and starving national depth. Being a great athlete is not the same as being a great coach; pedagogy, planning, and repeatable methods win across cycles, not just headlines.<br/><br/>We also call on governance to do its job. Boards should safeguard budgets, demand KPIs, and review plans when results stall. If the goal is sustained competitive excellence, publish the roadmap: funding for juniors through seniors, coach education that scales, and concrete benchmarks by weight class. If a special hire is strategic, define the lane—support a specific athlete profile, set medal targets, and require knowledge transfer to U.S. coaches. That’s how a bold move becomes more than a press release.<br/><br/>Join us for an uncut, informed take that blends insider experience with tough love. If you care about American Taekwondo’s future—athletes, parents, and coaches alike—this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with your team, and drop your view: smart investment or shiny distraction? Your feedback shapes what we tackle next.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Headlines don’t win medals. We dig into USA Taekwondo’s splashy six-year hire of a legendary former champion and ask whether a star résumé can fix a program that still can’t fund its juniors. We’re candid about what’s admirable—class, results, and global respect—while pressing on what truly matters for athlete outcomes: coach credentials, communication, culture fit, and a system that serves more than a handful of insiders.<br/><br/>Across the hour, we map the gap between PR and performance. Why commit long-term dollars when the pipeline is struggling? How do language barriers, conflicting training styles, and unclear authority lines play out in a two-minute round with video review? We compare proven high-performance models—clear plans, transparent budgets, domestic coach development, targeted specialist roles—with a “one room” approach that risks deepening divides and starving national depth. Being a great athlete is not the same as being a great coach; pedagogy, planning, and repeatable methods win across cycles, not just headlines.<br/><br/>We also call on governance to do its job. Boards should safeguard budgets, demand KPIs, and review plans when results stall. If the goal is sustained competitive excellence, publish the roadmap: funding for juniors through seniors, coach education that scales, and concrete benchmarks by weight class. If a special hire is strategic, define the lane—support a specific athlete profile, set medal targets, and require knowledge transfer to U.S. coaches. That’s how a bold move becomes more than a press release.<br/><br/>Join us for an uncut, informed take that blends insider experience with tough love. If you care about American Taekwondo’s future—athletes, parents, and coaches alike—this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with your team, and drop your view: smart investment or shiny distraction? Your feedback shapes what we tackle next.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/18794030-we-got-a-ferrari-name-and-a-kia-budget.mp3" length="32893946" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:image href="https://storage.buzzsprout.com/hva2auugx792lkotuqarmqfclzlw?.jpg" />
    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-18794030</guid>
    <pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 23:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18794030/transcript" type="text/html" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18794030/transcript.json" type="application/json" />
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Cold Open And Merch Plug" />
  <psc:chapter start="2:35" title="Breaking News: Six-Year Coaching Deal" />
  <psc:chapter start="5:10" title="Cost, Visas, And Funding Gaps" />
  <psc:chapter start="8:00" title="Athlete Greatness Vs Coaching Proof" />
  <psc:chapter start="12:20" title="Language, Culture, And Fit Risks" />
  <psc:chapter start="16:30" title="One Room Focus And Pipeline Setbacks" />
  <psc:chapter start="21:00" title="Track Record And PR Spin" />
  <psc:chapter start="25:40" title="Staff Bloat And Limited Athlete Impact" />
  <psc:chapter start="30:20" title="Governance, Board Oversight, And Accountability" />
  <psc:chapter start="35:10" title="What Real High Performance Requires" />
  <psc:chapter start="40:00" title="Final Rant, Community Invite, And Sign-Off" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>2736</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Why A Star Coach Won’t Fix A Broken System</itunes:title>
    <title>Why A Star Coach Won’t Fix A Broken System</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Start with the snow and poutine if you want, but the real storm hit when we dug into how taekwondo is being run. After a sharp recap of the Canada Open—clean logistics, solid holding areas, and a venue that actually worked—we ask a harder question: can a flashy new coach fix a system that doesn’t fund juniors, blurs roles at the top, and treats dissent as a PR problem?  We unpack the difference between symptoms and root causes. Importing a famous coach might grab headlines, but it won’t repla...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Start with the snow and poutine if you want, but the real storm hit when we dug into how taekwondo is being run. After a sharp recap of the Canada Open—clean logistics, solid holding areas, and a venue that actually worked—we ask a harder question: can a flashy new coach fix a system that doesn’t fund juniors, blurs roles at the top, and treats dissent as a PR problem?<br/><br/>We unpack the difference between symptoms and root causes. Importing a famous coach might grab headlines, but it won’t replace a real pipeline, full support for cadets and juniors, and leadership that understands sport development. We call out conflicts of interest when a head coach also shapes high performance policy. We also press on tech, comparing KP&amp;P and Daedo: fewer phantom points, more coachable patterns, and why consistent officiating and equipment standards build trust for athletes and parents.<br/><br/>A leaked call turns the heat up. We talk MOUs, pressure to silence a podcast, and what “professionalism” means when it’s used to hush criticism. We push for transparency grounded in athlete rights, not gatekeeping. Families pay through qualifiers, trials, and camps; there’s no excuse for unfunded junior worlds. If the system worked, pop-up programs wouldn’t need to rescue athletes. The path forward is clear: separate powers, publish a multi-year development plan with real metrics, and fund the base before buying prestige.<br/><br/>If you care about athlete-first governance, coherent scoring, and a pipeline that actually moves talent from cadet to senior, this one’s for you. Tune in, share it with your team, and tell us the first change you want to see. Subscribe, leave a review, and drop your take—we’re listening and we’ll bring your questions into the next show.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Start with the snow and poutine if you want, but the real storm hit when we dug into how taekwondo is being run. After a sharp recap of the Canada Open—clean logistics, solid holding areas, and a venue that actually worked—we ask a harder question: can a flashy new coach fix a system that doesn’t fund juniors, blurs roles at the top, and treats dissent as a PR problem?<br/><br/>We unpack the difference between symptoms and root causes. Importing a famous coach might grab headlines, but it won’t replace a real pipeline, full support for cadets and juniors, and leadership that understands sport development. We call out conflicts of interest when a head coach also shapes high performance policy. We also press on tech, comparing KP&amp;P and Daedo: fewer phantom points, more coachable patterns, and why consistent officiating and equipment standards build trust for athletes and parents.<br/><br/>A leaked call turns the heat up. We talk MOUs, pressure to silence a podcast, and what “professionalism” means when it’s used to hush criticism. We push for transparency grounded in athlete rights, not gatekeeping. Families pay through qualifiers, trials, and camps; there’s no excuse for unfunded junior worlds. If the system worked, pop-up programs wouldn’t need to rescue athletes. The path forward is clear: separate powers, publish a multi-year development plan with real metrics, and fund the base before buying prestige.<br/><br/>If you care about athlete-first governance, coherent scoring, and a pipeline that actually moves talent from cadet to senior, this one’s for you. Tune in, share it with your team, and tell us the first change you want to see. Subscribe, leave a review, and drop your take—we’re listening and we’ll bring your questions into the next show.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/18780117-why-a-star-coach-won-t-fix-a-broken-system.mp3" length="41610744" type="audio/mpeg" />
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-18780117</guid>
    <pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18780117/transcript" type="text/html" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18780117/transcript.json" type="application/json" />
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Banter And Weekend Recaps" />
  <psc:chapter start="0:49" title="Calgary Trip And Canada Open Impressions" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:47" title="Daytona Bike Week And AAU Ban Fallout" />
  <psc:chapter start="6:40" title="Rumors, Departures, And Systemic Concerns" />
  <psc:chapter start="9:50" title="Would A Star Coach Fix A Broken System" />
  <psc:chapter start="13:41" title="Leadership Failures And Conflicts Of Interest" />
  <psc:chapter start="16:47" title="Canada Open Operations And Tech Review" />
  <psc:chapter start="19:51" title="KP&amp;P vs Daedo And Officiating Friction" />
  <psc:chapter start="23:20" title="Staffing, Costs, And Event Efficiency" />
  <psc:chapter start="26:41" title="Leaked Call: Pressure, MOUs, And Control" />
  <psc:chapter start="33:05" title="Pushback On Professionalism Narratives" />
  <psc:chapter start="36:53" title="Collusion, Access, And Athlete Rights" />
  <psc:chapter start="41:10" title="Parallel Circuits, Funding Gaps, And TOPS" />
  <psc:chapter start="46:10" title="Double Standards On Coaching Abroad" />
  <psc:chapter start="49:20" title="Wrap Up, Community Support, And Merch" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>3461</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Please Hold While We Mismanage Your National Team</itunes:title>
    <title>Please Hold While We Mismanage Your National Team</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[They say there’s a pipeline. We ask: for whom? We sit down with a veteran coach and military program alum to unpack how American taekwondo’s governance, funding, and selection choices determine which athletes thrive—and which never get a fair shot. From AAU’s leadership shift to USAT’s revolving selection criteria, we examine why rules keep moving, how conflicts of interest creep in, and what happens when private club priorities bleed into national team decisions.  Across the hour, we press i...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>They say there’s a pipeline. We ask: for whom? We sit down with a veteran coach and military program alum to unpack how American taekwondo’s governance, funding, and selection choices determine which athletes thrive—and which never get a fair shot. From AAU’s leadership shift to USAT’s revolving selection criteria, we examine why rules keep moving, how conflicts of interest creep in, and what happens when private club priorities bleed into national team decisions.<br/><br/>Across the hour, we press into the moments that sting: a six-figure allocation landing where it’s least urgent while juniors sell popcorn to travel; seasoned coaches with proven results passed over for national roles; top athletes shielded from domestic trials while others chase expensive ranking points. If sport is supposed to be merit-based, why are the most decisive fights happening outside the ring?<br/><br/>We make the case for restoring clarity and courage. That means public, stable selection criteria that reward head-to-head wins; round-robin formats when fields are small; and training camps that push athletes beyond comfort—Korea, Mexico, Turkey—so pressure is a habit, not a surprise. We revisit WCAP’s rise and stall as a cautionary tale about what happens when a program that wins isn’t the program in the room. And we challenge the familiar plea for “unity” when unity becomes a reason to stay quiet: real unity serves athletes first, not agendas.<br/><br/>If you care about athlete development, national team integrity, and a U.S. system that actually earns its results, this conversation lays out the problems and the path forward. Listen, share with your team, and tell us: what’s the one rule or process you’d rewrite today? Subscribe, leave a review, and join the push for merit, transparency, and results that stand up anywhere.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>They say there’s a pipeline. We ask: for whom? We sit down with a veteran coach and military program alum to unpack how American taekwondo’s governance, funding, and selection choices determine which athletes thrive—and which never get a fair shot. From AAU’s leadership shift to USAT’s revolving selection criteria, we examine why rules keep moving, how conflicts of interest creep in, and what happens when private club priorities bleed into national team decisions.<br/><br/>Across the hour, we press into the moments that sting: a six-figure allocation landing where it’s least urgent while juniors sell popcorn to travel; seasoned coaches with proven results passed over for national roles; top athletes shielded from domestic trials while others chase expensive ranking points. If sport is supposed to be merit-based, why are the most decisive fights happening outside the ring?<br/><br/>We make the case for restoring clarity and courage. That means public, stable selection criteria that reward head-to-head wins; round-robin formats when fields are small; and training camps that push athletes beyond comfort—Korea, Mexico, Turkey—so pressure is a habit, not a surprise. We revisit WCAP’s rise and stall as a cautionary tale about what happens when a program that wins isn’t the program in the room. And we challenge the familiar plea for “unity” when unity becomes a reason to stay quiet: real unity serves athletes first, not agendas.<br/><br/>If you care about athlete development, national team integrity, and a U.S. system that actually earns its results, this conversation lays out the problems and the path forward. Listen, share with your team, and tell us: what’s the one rule or process you’d rewrite today? Subscribe, leave a review, and join the push for merit, transparency, and results that stand up anywhere.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/18738173-please-hold-while-we-mismanage-your-national-team.mp3" length="65294027" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:image href="https://storage.buzzsprout.com/mizodkwo7d46blmtflt0gr1jbyr3?.jpg" />
    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-18738173</guid>
    <pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18738173/transcript" type="text/html" />
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18738173/transcript.json" type="application/json" />
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Cold Open And Introductions" />
  <psc:chapter start="2:20" title="Guest Background And Coaching Roots" />
  <psc:chapter start="6:00" title="AAU Shift And Leadership Vacuum" />
  <psc:chapter start="12:00" title="Money, Influence, And Conflicts" />
  <psc:chapter start="18:30" title="Selection Procedures And Moving Goalposts" />
  <psc:chapter start="26:30" title="Coaching Staff Choices And Merit" />
  <psc:chapter start="34:30" title="WCAP History And Systemic Roadblocks" />
  <psc:chapter start="42:30" title="Team Trials Versus Rankings Debate" />
  <psc:chapter start="49:30" title="Preparing Athletes: Camps, Travel, And Testing" />
  <psc:chapter start="56:30" title="Reset To 2028 And Division Depth" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:03:00" title="Why People Stay Quiet And “Unity” Talk" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:10:00" title="Competence, Roles, And Accountability" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:17:00" title="Merit-Based Coaching And Lost Opportunities" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:23:30" title="Final Reflections And Closing" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>5436</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Are We Wasting A Generation Of Fighters?</itunes:title>
    <title>Are We Wasting A Generation Of Fighters?</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[A medal in the sock drawer, a curling dust-up, and a confession about a replica gone missing—our opening laughs quickly sharpen into a serious question: what should competition actually improve? We trace a line from winter sport spectacle to taekwondo’s modern identity crisis, asking why a combat sport now rewards touch over impact and clever avoidance over decisive technique. If a clean face kick changes nothing, what are we training athletes to do—and why would fans stay?  We dig into rules...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>A medal in the sock drawer, a curling dust-up, and a confession about a replica gone missing—our opening laughs quickly sharpen into a serious question: what should competition actually improve? We trace a line from winter sport spectacle to taekwondo’s modern identity crisis, asking why a combat sport now rewards touch over impact and clever avoidance over decisive technique. If a clean face kick changes nothing, what are we training athletes to do—and why would fans stay?<br/><br/>We dig into rules, scoring systems, and electronics that have shifted incentives toward low-risk contact and away from timing, distance, and power. The athletes are more flexible, more acrobatic, and capable of stunning technique, yet the meta penalizes ambition. The outcome is efficient but not beautiful, and the sport pays for it in audience appeal and athlete development. We make the case for reform: restore consequences in scoring, reward clear dominance, and ensure that what wins on the mat aligns with martial intent.<br/><br/>Gear politics don’t help. Domestic-versus-international glove standards, rental equipment, and brand mandates create confusion and cost. Our fix: open, testable equipment standards that let multiple manufacturers compete while ensuring accurate scoring and safety. Universal interoperability for socks, gloves, and protectors would cut barriers for clubs and families and put the spotlight back on skill.<br/><br/>The heart of the episode is the pipeline. We contrast North America’s early specialization and constant ranking with Norway’s “joy of sport” model—no official scores before 13, multi-sport participation, and affordable access that keeps 93 percent of kids active. We argue for funded national team camps, international training trips, and real continuity from cadets to juniors to seniors. Teach travel, team habits, recovery, and resilience early. Stop filtering talent by income; invest in the journey, not just the podium.<br/><br/>By the end, we lay out a clear path: change the incentives, standardize gear, and back the next generation with experience and support. The sport can be both efficient and beautiful—if we demand it. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a coach or parent, and leave a review with your top rule change to make taekwondo more watchable and more true to its roots.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A medal in the sock drawer, a curling dust-up, and a confession about a replica gone missing—our opening laughs quickly sharpen into a serious question: what should competition actually improve? We trace a line from winter sport spectacle to taekwondo’s modern identity crisis, asking why a combat sport now rewards touch over impact and clever avoidance over decisive technique. If a clean face kick changes nothing, what are we training athletes to do—and why would fans stay?<br/><br/>We dig into rules, scoring systems, and electronics that have shifted incentives toward low-risk contact and away from timing, distance, and power. The athletes are more flexible, more acrobatic, and capable of stunning technique, yet the meta penalizes ambition. The outcome is efficient but not beautiful, and the sport pays for it in audience appeal and athlete development. We make the case for reform: restore consequences in scoring, reward clear dominance, and ensure that what wins on the mat aligns with martial intent.<br/><br/>Gear politics don’t help. Domestic-versus-international glove standards, rental equipment, and brand mandates create confusion and cost. Our fix: open, testable equipment standards that let multiple manufacturers compete while ensuring accurate scoring and safety. Universal interoperability for socks, gloves, and protectors would cut barriers for clubs and families and put the spotlight back on skill.<br/><br/>The heart of the episode is the pipeline. We contrast North America’s early specialization and constant ranking with Norway’s “joy of sport” model—no official scores before 13, multi-sport participation, and affordable access that keeps 93 percent of kids active. We argue for funded national team camps, international training trips, and real continuity from cadets to juniors to seniors. Teach travel, team habits, recovery, and resilience early. Stop filtering talent by income; invest in the journey, not just the podium.<br/><br/>By the end, we lay out a clear path: change the incentives, standardize gear, and back the next generation with experience and support. The sport can be both efficient and beautiful—if we demand it. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a coach or parent, and leave a review with your top rule change to make taekwondo more watchable and more true to its roots.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/18698065-are-we-wasting-a-generation-of-fighters.mp3" length="42650956" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:image href="https://storage.buzzsprout.com/kpbt33kbkl1rt724jur22j45gwg6?.jpg" />
    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-18698065</guid>
    <pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Are We Wasting A Generation Of Fighters?" />
  <psc:chapter start="0:51" title="Welcome And Olympic Medals Talk" />
  <psc:chapter start="2:44" title="The Replica Medal Mystery" />
  <psc:chapter start="4:22" title="Curling Controversy And Winter Sports" />
  <psc:chapter start="8:20" title="Luge Jokes And Bobsled Bravery" />
  <psc:chapter start="10:19" title="What Competition Should Improve" />
  <psc:chapter start="13:15" title="Has Taekwondo Become Tag?" />
  <psc:chapter start="17:15" title="Technique Versus Beauty In Combat Sports" />
  <psc:chapter start="22:05" title="Rule Sets, Scoring, And Athlete Safety" />
  <psc:chapter start="28:45" title="Electronic Gloves And Equipment Chaos" />
  <psc:chapter start="33:50" title="Performance Gear, Standards, And Fairness" />
  <psc:chapter start="36:58" title="Coaching Across Countries" />
  <psc:chapter start="38:30" title="Electronics Shape How Kids Learn" />
  <psc:chapter start="42:05" title="Is This Still Martial Art?" />
  <psc:chapter start="46:30" title="Purpose Of Olympic Taekwondo" />
  <psc:chapter start="51:10" title="MMA’s Rise And TKD’s Stall" />
  <psc:chapter start="56:20" title="Early Specialization And Norway’s Model" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>3551</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Inside The Taekwondo Power Struggle</itunes:title>
    <title>Inside The Taekwondo Power Struggle</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[The jokes land early, but the mood shifts fast. We go from new students and Olympic nostalgia to a frank examination of how Taekwondo is being shaped—by scoring systems that reward ghost touches, by officials letting clinch head kicks pile up, and by leadership choices that mute the very voices pushing for athlete-first change. You’ll hear why Canada’s team trials felt deeper and tougher, why KPNP vs Daedo thresholds don’t just tweak strategy but rewrite it, and how equipment quirks turn coac...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>The jokes land early, but the mood shifts fast. We go from new students and Olympic nostalgia to a frank examination of how Taekwondo is being shaped—by scoring systems that reward ghost touches, by officials letting clinch head kicks pile up, and by leadership choices that mute the very voices pushing for athlete-first change. You’ll hear why Canada’s team trials felt deeper and tougher, why KPNP vs Daedo thresholds don’t just tweak strategy but rewrite it, and how equipment quirks turn coaching into coin flips. This isn’t a rant about sensors; it’s a case study in how rules shape behavior, culture, and health.<br/><br/>Then we open the file no one wanted public: a leaked call describing an MOU designed to silence critics by restricting platforms for certain coaches and even their clubs. We connect timelines, quotes, and outcomes—suspensions, selective press, and contradictions between public “we welcome disagreement” statements and private “stop talking” demands. We’re not litigating in the feed; we’re explaining what due process means, why the Amateur Sports Act matters, and how excluding coaches damages livelihoods and athlete pathways. When governance relies on leverage over transparency, athletes pay first and longest.<br/><br/>Amid the heat, we stay on the athletes. Juniors heading to World Championships with hotels covered but flights unpaid. Transfers handled without basic coach-to-coach courtesy. Top-ranked competitors sidelined while others get travel and support. We’ve coached too many kids to pretend this is background noise. If scoring rewards flicks, training bends toward gaming, not growth. If politics shuns certain rooms, kids—not logos—lose opportunities. We argue for simple fixes with big impact: clear thresholds, real head contact for head points, active clinch management, and funding policies that follow merit.<br/><br/>What keeps us going is the surge of messages from referees, coaches, and athletes who want the same thing: a sport that’s fair, watchable, and true to its roots. We’ll keep pressing, answering your questions, and pushing for a culture where critique isn’t punished but used to build. If you care about Taekwondo’s future—from club floors to world stages—hit play, share this with someone who needs to hear it, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Subscribe for the next deep dive, and tell us: what’s the one change you’d make right now?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The jokes land early, but the mood shifts fast. We go from new students and Olympic nostalgia to a frank examination of how Taekwondo is being shaped—by scoring systems that reward ghost touches, by officials letting clinch head kicks pile up, and by leadership choices that mute the very voices pushing for athlete-first change. You’ll hear why Canada’s team trials felt deeper and tougher, why KPNP vs Daedo thresholds don’t just tweak strategy but rewrite it, and how equipment quirks turn coaching into coin flips. This isn’t a rant about sensors; it’s a case study in how rules shape behavior, culture, and health.<br/><br/>Then we open the file no one wanted public: a leaked call describing an MOU designed to silence critics by restricting platforms for certain coaches and even their clubs. We connect timelines, quotes, and outcomes—suspensions, selective press, and contradictions between public “we welcome disagreement” statements and private “stop talking” demands. We’re not litigating in the feed; we’re explaining what due process means, why the Amateur Sports Act matters, and how excluding coaches damages livelihoods and athlete pathways. When governance relies on leverage over transparency, athletes pay first and longest.<br/><br/>Amid the heat, we stay on the athletes. Juniors heading to World Championships with hotels covered but flights unpaid. Transfers handled without basic coach-to-coach courtesy. Top-ranked competitors sidelined while others get travel and support. We’ve coached too many kids to pretend this is background noise. If scoring rewards flicks, training bends toward gaming, not growth. If politics shuns certain rooms, kids—not logos—lose opportunities. We argue for simple fixes with big impact: clear thresholds, real head contact for head points, active clinch management, and funding policies that follow merit.<br/><br/>What keeps us going is the surge of messages from referees, coaches, and athletes who want the same thing: a sport that’s fair, watchable, and true to its roots. We’ll keep pressing, answering your questions, and pushing for a culture where critique isn’t punished but used to build. If you care about Taekwondo’s future—from club floors to world stages—hit play, share this with someone who needs to hear it, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Subscribe for the next deep dive, and tell us: what’s the one change you’d make right now?</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 01:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Inside The Taekwondo Power Struggle" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:02" title="Welcome Back And Schedule Updates" />
  <psc:chapter start="2:28" title="Olympics, Medals Mishaps, And Exposure" />
  <psc:chapter start="5:20" title="Super Bowl Halftime And NFL Global Push" />
  <psc:chapter start="12:24" title="Team Trials Tech: KPNP vs Daedo" />
  <psc:chapter start="15:10" title="Clinch Kicks, Thresholds, And Refereeing" />
  <psc:chapter start="18:45" title="Canada’s Depth And Tournament Structure" />
  <psc:chapter start="22:20" title="Funding Gaps And Junior Worlds Costs" />
  <psc:chapter start="28:45" title="The Elephant: Leaked Audio And MOU" />
  <psc:chapter start="36:20" title="Media Coverage, Bias, And Accountability" />
  <psc:chapter start="44:10" title="Athlete Exclusion And Peak Performance" />
  <psc:chapter start="52:00" title="Governance, Due Process, And Legal Risk" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:00:40" title="Scoring Philosophy And Sport Identity" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>4028</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>7</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>4</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>Inside The Collusion: AAU, USAT, And A Gag Order Exposed</itunes:title>
    <title>Inside The Collusion: AAU, USAT, And A Gag Order Exposed</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[A phone call shouldn’t decide who gets to coach, speak, or make a living—but that’s exactly what the leaked audio reveals. We lay out a clear, unvarnished look at how a new MOU between major amateur Taekwondo bodies can operate as a de facto gag order, pressuring coaches to abandon public criticism or lose opportunities. No rumors, no hedging—just a candid breakdown of the terms, the tactics, and the toll this kind of gatekeeping takes on athletes, parents, and the coaching community.  We sta...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>A phone call shouldn’t decide who gets to coach, speak, or make a living—but that’s exactly what the leaked audio reveals. We lay out a clear, unvarnished look at how a new MOU between major amateur Taekwondo bodies can operate as a de facto gag order, pressuring coaches to abandon public criticism or lose opportunities. No rumors, no hedging—just a candid breakdown of the terms, the tactics, and the toll this kind of gatekeeping takes on athletes, parents, and the coaching community.<br/><br/>We start with the context: travel, events, and the growing chatter around AAU and USAT cooperation. Then we hit play on the call. You’ll hear how “leadership” becomes a bargaining chip, how affiliations get weaponized, and how blackballing is framed as “professional.” We examine why this matters beyond one podcast or one coach: when honest critique is punished, athlete development suffers, transparency dies, and the sport’s pipeline bends toward compliance instead of merit.<br/><br/>From historical power plays to present-day ultimatums, we connect patterns of governance that value optics over outcomes. We talk ethical lines—what you trade when you accept silence for access, and why “change from the inside” often fails when insiders get outvoted. Most importantly, we outline practical fixes: public MOUs that stick to logistics, transparent selection standards, conflict-of-interest rules, independent grievance channels, and speech protections for professionals who put athletes first.<br/><br/>If you care about integrity, athlete welfare, and competitive excellence, this conversation is for you. Listen, share with your team, and tell us where you stand. Subscribe, leave a review, and join the push for transparent, athlete-centered governance. Your voice can amplify the change our community needs.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A phone call shouldn’t decide who gets to coach, speak, or make a living—but that’s exactly what the leaked audio reveals. We lay out a clear, unvarnished look at how a new MOU between major amateur Taekwondo bodies can operate as a de facto gag order, pressuring coaches to abandon public criticism or lose opportunities. No rumors, no hedging—just a candid breakdown of the terms, the tactics, and the toll this kind of gatekeeping takes on athletes, parents, and the coaching community.<br/><br/>We start with the context: travel, events, and the growing chatter around AAU and USAT cooperation. Then we hit play on the call. You’ll hear how “leadership” becomes a bargaining chip, how affiliations get weaponized, and how blackballing is framed as “professional.” We examine why this matters beyond one podcast or one coach: when honest critique is punished, athlete development suffers, transparency dies, and the sport’s pipeline bends toward compliance instead of merit.<br/><br/>From historical power plays to present-day ultimatums, we connect patterns of governance that value optics over outcomes. We talk ethical lines—what you trade when you accept silence for access, and why “change from the inside” often fails when insiders get outvoted. Most importantly, we outline practical fixes: public MOUs that stick to logistics, transparent selection standards, conflict-of-interest rules, independent grievance channels, and speech protections for professionals who put athletes first.<br/><br/>If you care about integrity, athlete welfare, and competitive excellence, this conversation is for you. Listen, share with your team, and tell us where you stand. Subscribe, leave a review, and join the push for transparent, athlete-centered governance. Your voice can amplify the change our community needs.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/18616102-inside-the-collusion-aau-usat-and-a-gag-order-exposed.mp3" length="46281862" type="audio/mpeg" />
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Inside The Collusion: AAU, USAT, And A Gag Order Exposed" />
  <psc:chapter start="0:51" title="Hosts Return From The Road" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:32" title="Travel Recaps And Setup" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:42" title="Why This Conversation Matters" />
  <psc:chapter start="6:31" title="Playing The Controversial Audio" />
  <psc:chapter start="8:31" title="The Ultimatum: Podcast Or Positions" />
  <psc:chapter start="13:20" title="Decoding The MOU’s Real Purpose" />
  <psc:chapter start="18:04" title="Blackballing, Gatekeeping, And Money" />
  <psc:chapter start="24:05" title="Names, Power, And Petty Politics" />
  <psc:chapter start="29:57" title="Ethics, Speech, And Double Standards" />
  <psc:chapter start="35:02" title="History Of USAT Tactics" />
  <psc:chapter start="41:06" title="Collusion Claims And Fallout" />
  <psc:chapter start="47:10" title="Integrity Versus Access" />
  <psc:chapter start="52:30" title="Legal Notes And Next Steps" />
  <psc:chapter start="59:40" title="Final Word And Sign Off" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>3852</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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    <itunes:title>Inside The AAU–USAT Power Play And Its Fallout</itunes:title>
    <title>Inside The AAU–USAT Power Play And Its Fallout</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[The sparks fly early as we call out suspensions without hearings and pull back the curtain on the AAU–USAT MOU that’s chilling coach speech and athlete advocacy. We’re not interested in drama for clicks—we’re interested in standards. When leaders punish dissent instead of engaging critique, everybody hears the message: keep quiet or get sidelined. That’s how talent leaves, parents stop trusting, and the sport’s future gets smaller.  We trace the bigger problem to culture. The U.S. keeps produ...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>The sparks fly early as we call out suspensions without hearings and pull back the curtain on the AAU–USAT MOU that’s chilling coach speech and athlete advocacy. We’re not interested in drama for clicks—we’re interested in standards. When leaders punish dissent instead of engaging critique, everybody hears the message: keep quiet or get sidelined. That’s how talent leaves, parents stop trusting, and the sport’s future gets smaller.<br/><br/>We trace the bigger problem to culture. The U.S. keeps producing outliers, but outliers aren’t a system. Sustained competitive excellence comes from coherent methods, coach development, and a national rhythm that brings seniors and juniors together to train, learn, and compete. We talk openly about athlete welfare—unscientific weight protocols, punitive policies, and a mindset that treats kids like disposable products. The fix isn’t complicated: independent oversight with teeth, evidence-based weight management, and a duty-of-care standard that values long careers over short-term optics.<br/><br/>We also dig into how electronic scoring arrived as a bandage for ethical failures in officiating. Corruption and incompetence demanded action, but automation hollowed the art without restoring trust. We outline a better path: professionalize referees, publish evaluations, and enforce accountability. Then we get personal about team culture—why esprit de corps won matches in the past and why sending athletes home early is a costly mistake today. There’s a practical roadmap here: fund clubs where athletes live, resource what works, establish real coach pathways, and rebuild shared rituals that make performance contagious.<br/><br/>One listener question about Sanda’s Olympic journey ties it together. Unity and governance decide who gets to the big stage. The same is true for Taekwondo now. If leadership won’t protect due process, invest in clubs, and reward collaboration, communities can start the rebuild themselves—shared camps, data, mentorship, and parent education that demystifies selection and safety. Subscribe, share with a coach or parent who needs this, and leave a review with the one change you’d make first. We’ll bring your best ideas into the next round.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The sparks fly early as we call out suspensions without hearings and pull back the curtain on the AAU–USAT MOU that’s chilling coach speech and athlete advocacy. We’re not interested in drama for clicks—we’re interested in standards. When leaders punish dissent instead of engaging critique, everybody hears the message: keep quiet or get sidelined. That’s how talent leaves, parents stop trusting, and the sport’s future gets smaller.<br/><br/>We trace the bigger problem to culture. The U.S. keeps producing outliers, but outliers aren’t a system. Sustained competitive excellence comes from coherent methods, coach development, and a national rhythm that brings seniors and juniors together to train, learn, and compete. We talk openly about athlete welfare—unscientific weight protocols, punitive policies, and a mindset that treats kids like disposable products. The fix isn’t complicated: independent oversight with teeth, evidence-based weight management, and a duty-of-care standard that values long careers over short-term optics.<br/><br/>We also dig into how electronic scoring arrived as a bandage for ethical failures in officiating. Corruption and incompetence demanded action, but automation hollowed the art without restoring trust. We outline a better path: professionalize referees, publish evaluations, and enforce accountability. Then we get personal about team culture—why esprit de corps won matches in the past and why sending athletes home early is a costly mistake today. There’s a practical roadmap here: fund clubs where athletes live, resource what works, establish real coach pathways, and rebuild shared rituals that make performance contagious.<br/><br/>One listener question about Sanda’s Olympic journey ties it together. Unity and governance decide who gets to the big stage. The same is true for Taekwondo now. If leadership won’t protect due process, invest in clubs, and reward collaboration, communities can start the rebuild themselves—shared camps, data, mentorship, and parent education that demystifies selection and safety. Subscribe, share with a coach or parent who needs this, and leave a review with the one change you’d make first. We’ll bring your best ideas into the next round.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/18556998-inside-the-aau-usat-power-play-and-its-fallout.mp3" length="72673861" type="audio/mpeg" />
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Cold Open, Banter, Disclaimers" />
  <psc:chapter start="2:05" title="Intros And Credentials" />
  <psc:chapter start="6:05" title="Audience Support And Pushback" />
  <psc:chapter start="9:20" title="AAU Suspensions And Due Process" />
  <psc:chapter start="15:45" title="Why The MOU Matters" />
  <psc:chapter start="23:10" title="Fear, Retaliation, And Coach Hierarchies" />
  <psc:chapter start="30:05" title="Athlete Welfare And Weight-Cut Abuse Claims" />
  <psc:chapter start="38:40" title="Culture Clashes And Leadership Failures" />
  <psc:chapter start="47:05" title="Outliers Vs. Systems Of Excellence" />
  <psc:chapter start="55:20" title="How The Game Broke: Tech, Refs, And Trust" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:05:10" title="When Team Culture Died" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:15:30" title="Rebuilding Esprit De Corps" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:23:40" title="Brazil’s Model And Team Unity" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:30:55" title="Q&amp;A: Sanda’s Olympic Path" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:39:20" title="Closing Thanks And Rallying Message" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>6048</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>7</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>3</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>Sorry Not Sorry: We Brought Receipts And Kimchi</itunes:title>
    <title>Sorry Not Sorry: We Brought Receipts And Kimchi</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Rumors are loud. Results are louder. We open the door on taekwondo’s toughest questions—who controls the sport, who actually gets supported, and how a system built on optics quietly drains the people doing the work. No jargon, no corporate gloss, just coaches and athletes laying out what’s broken and how to fix it.  We start where many of you live right now: US Open planning. Vegas usually delivers, but the math is different this year—visa uncertainty, point resets, and creeping fees that pun...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Rumors are loud. Results are louder. We open the door on taekwondo’s toughest questions—who controls the sport, who actually gets supported, and how a system built on optics quietly drains the people doing the work. No jargon, no corporate gloss, just coaches and athletes laying out what’s broken and how to fix it.<br/><br/>We start where many of you live right now: US Open planning. Vegas usually delivers, but the math is different this year—visa uncertainty, point resets, and creeping fees that punish participation. We break down what clubs should watch for, how to weigh event value versus experience, and why price transparency matters if the goal is development. From “pick your division” add-ons to coaching passes, we call for a saner, athlete-first model that doesn’t mistake revenue for growth.<br/><br/>Then we get into the heart of high performance. Stipends that don’t cover rent, seminars that double as fundraising, and a “support package” that looks big on paper but leaves medalists short on cash. We lay out a clean solution: real residency support (housing, food, transport), tiered camps that separate world-level and development athletes, and an open seminar brokerage where every athlete can earn under clear terms. Nonprofits should prove it with numbers—publish how much reaches training, travel, coaching, and medical. If coaches make six figures and champions can’t pay bills, the model is upside down.<br/><br/>We also tackle governance and culture. Closed boards, recycled leadership, and decisions framed as “tradition” weaken performance and trust. Keep your best people by protecting athlete-coach relationships, listening when red flags pop up, and building pathways that survive personalities. Sport is supposed to be merit-based—like a second-division team knocking out a giant. Let structure amplify merit, not bury it under politics.<br/><br/>If you care about athletes getting what they need to win, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with your team, and tell us: what’s the first change you’d make to put athletes first?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Rumors are loud. Results are louder. We open the door on taekwondo’s toughest questions—who controls the sport, who actually gets supported, and how a system built on optics quietly drains the people doing the work. No jargon, no corporate gloss, just coaches and athletes laying out what’s broken and how to fix it.<br/><br/>We start where many of you live right now: US Open planning. Vegas usually delivers, but the math is different this year—visa uncertainty, point resets, and creeping fees that punish participation. We break down what clubs should watch for, how to weigh event value versus experience, and why price transparency matters if the goal is development. From “pick your division” add-ons to coaching passes, we call for a saner, athlete-first model that doesn’t mistake revenue for growth.<br/><br/>Then we get into the heart of high performance. Stipends that don’t cover rent, seminars that double as fundraising, and a “support package” that looks big on paper but leaves medalists short on cash. We lay out a clean solution: real residency support (housing, food, transport), tiered camps that separate world-level and development athletes, and an open seminar brokerage where every athlete can earn under clear terms. Nonprofits should prove it with numbers—publish how much reaches training, travel, coaching, and medical. If coaches make six figures and champions can’t pay bills, the model is upside down.<br/><br/>We also tackle governance and culture. Closed boards, recycled leadership, and decisions framed as “tradition” weaken performance and trust. Keep your best people by protecting athlete-coach relationships, listening when red flags pop up, and building pathways that survive personalities. Sport is supposed to be merit-based—like a second-division team knocking out a giant. Let structure amplify merit, not bury it under politics.<br/><br/>If you care about athletes getting what they need to win, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with your team, and tell us: what’s the first change you’d make to put athletes first?</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Cold Open, Banter, AI Bits" />
  <psc:chapter start="6:00" title="Sports Talk And Weekend Stories" />
  <psc:chapter start="10:30" title="Going Live And Building Community" />
  <psc:chapter start="12:40" title="The Rumor Mill And Clarifications" />
  <psc:chapter start="19:30" title="WT, Kukkiwon, And Governance Critique" />
  <psc:chapter start="28:30" title="US Open Outlook, Visas, And Costs" />
  <psc:chapter start="36:30" title="Athlete Pay, Seminars, And Stipends" />
  <psc:chapter start="46:00" title="Nonprofit Budgets And NGB Accountability" />
  <psc:chapter start="54:30" title="Note: Episode Length Ends At 00:54:31" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>3271</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>7</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Inside The “Sorry, Not Sorry” 2025 Awards: Wins, Woes, And What Must Change</itunes:title>
    <title>Inside The “Sorry, Not Sorry” 2025 Awards: Wins, Woes, And What Must Change</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[We host the unapologetic 2025 awards, celebrate the year’s most dominant athletes and coaches, and call out leadership choices that hold the sport back. A candid debate on speech, selection, and why adaptability beats excuses shapes a roadmap for real progress.  • AAU–USAT pressure on coaching roles and speech • Peak performers who win across gear and rule shifts • Technical mastermind coaching and room culture • The US medal mask and rank slide to 20th • Mexico’s urgent need for leadership c...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>We host the unapologetic 2025 awards, celebrate the year’s most dominant athletes and coaches, and call out leadership choices that hold the sport back. A candid debate on speech, selection, and why adaptability beats excuses shapes a roadmap for real progress.<br/><br/>• AAU–USAT pressure on coaching roles and speech<br/>• Peak performers who win across gear and rule shifts<br/>• Technical mastermind coaching and room culture<br/>• The US medal mask and rank slide to 20th<br/>• Mexico’s urgent need for leadership change<br/>• Wasted talent patterns and category mismanagement<br/>• Why adaptable tactics beat chest guard complaints<br/>• A playful look at fashion versus podium proof<br/><br/><br/></p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We host the unapologetic 2025 awards, celebrate the year’s most dominant athletes and coaches, and call out leadership choices that hold the sport back. A candid debate on speech, selection, and why adaptability beats excuses shapes a roadmap for real progress.<br/><br/>• AAU–USAT pressure on coaching roles and speech<br/>• Peak performers who win across gear and rule shifts<br/>• Technical mastermind coaching and room culture<br/>• The US medal mask and rank slide to 20th<br/>• Mexico’s urgent need for leadership change<br/>• Wasted talent patterns and category mismanagement<br/>• Why adaptable tactics beat chest guard complaints<br/>• A playful look at fashion versus podium proof<br/><br/><br/></p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/18481098-inside-the-sorry-not-sorry-2025-awards-wins-woes-and-what-must-change.mp3" length="47060211" type="audio/mpeg" />
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18481098/transcript" type="text/html" />
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Welcome To The 2025 Awards" />
  <psc:chapter start="3:20" title="Banter, Travel Plans, And Family Moments" />
  <psc:chapter start="6:45" title="Year In Review And Setting The Table" />
  <psc:chapter start="7:55" title="The AAU–USAT Ultimatum Explained" />
  <psc:chapter start="12:45" title="Free Speech, Conflicts, And Leadership Failures" />
  <psc:chapter start="19:20" title="Why US Performance Keeps Slipping" />
  <psc:chapter start="26:55" title="Kicking Off The Athlete Awards" />
  <psc:chapter start="31:40" title="Technical Mastermind: Coaching Excellence" />
  <psc:chapter start="36:20" title="Fashion Statement And Culture Clash" />
  <psc:chapter start="41:00" title="The “We Survived” Organization Award" />
  <psc:chapter start="45:05" title="Time To Make A Change: Mexico" />
  <psc:chapter start="49:20" title="Wasted Coaching Talent: Hard Truths" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:03:00" title="Closing Notes And Part Two Tease" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>3915</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>7</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>When Loyalty Becomes Subservience: What Are We Teaching Athletes?</itunes:title>
    <title>When Loyalty Becomes Subservience: What Are We Teaching Athletes?</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Start with the truth: predictable brackets and politicized access are draining the joy out of elite Taekwondo. We gather as coaches and former athletes to unpack why the Grand Prix Challenge felt like an expensive detour, why the World Championships and U21 Worlds lacked edge, and how rankings turned into the goal instead of the game. The throughline isn’t athlete effort; it’s incentives, rules, and leadership choices that reward safe structures over real competition.  We get specific. The fi...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Start with the truth: predictable brackets and politicized access are draining the joy out of elite Taekwondo. We gather as coaches and former athletes to unpack why the Grand Prix Challenge felt like an expensive detour, why the World Championships and U21 Worlds lacked edge, and how rankings turned into the goal instead of the game. The throughline isn’t athlete effort; it’s incentives, rules, and leadership choices that reward safe structures over real competition.<br/><br/>We get specific. The field needs uncertainty back, so we argue for a smarter bracket model—protect the top four or eight, then randomize the rest—to bring genuine tests from round one. We challenge the two-year Olympic point reset: shortening the cycle doesn’t level the field if you add more events and costs. And we drill into the funding gap at home, where academy athletes often receive support and similarly ranked independents don’t. If you qualify for a Grand Prix, you’re among the nation’s best—support should follow, regardless of training address.<br/><br/>Rules matter because identity matters. Forcing “action” with verbal commands and mutual deductions kills style diversity, the soul of fighting. Timing, distance, counterplay—these should be allowed to breathe. We welcome fewer head-touch protests and call for simpler scoring that reflects real impact: punch 1, body 2, head 3. Let fighters solve each other; stop choreographing the sport to appease a spectator who isn’t there.<br/><br/>We also talk culture. Cronyism and credential gatekeeping mute voices that could move Taekwondo forward. Collaboration between organizations should align calendars and raise standards, not police speech. That’s why we’re launching the SNS Awards—to celebrate athletes, coaches, programs, and administrators who push the sport in the right direction, while naming practices that hold it back.<br/><br/>If you care about fair pathways, honest scoring, and real development, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with your team, and tell us the one change you’d make first. Your take might shape the next SNS Award—and the season ahead.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Start with the truth: predictable brackets and politicized access are draining the joy out of elite Taekwondo. We gather as coaches and former athletes to unpack why the Grand Prix Challenge felt like an expensive detour, why the World Championships and U21 Worlds lacked edge, and how rankings turned into the goal instead of the game. The throughline isn’t athlete effort; it’s incentives, rules, and leadership choices that reward safe structures over real competition.<br/><br/>We get specific. The field needs uncertainty back, so we argue for a smarter bracket model—protect the top four or eight, then randomize the rest—to bring genuine tests from round one. We challenge the two-year Olympic point reset: shortening the cycle doesn’t level the field if you add more events and costs. And we drill into the funding gap at home, where academy athletes often receive support and similarly ranked independents don’t. If you qualify for a Grand Prix, you’re among the nation’s best—support should follow, regardless of training address.<br/><br/>Rules matter because identity matters. Forcing “action” with verbal commands and mutual deductions kills style diversity, the soul of fighting. Timing, distance, counterplay—these should be allowed to breathe. We welcome fewer head-touch protests and call for simpler scoring that reflects real impact: punch 1, body 2, head 3. Let fighters solve each other; stop choreographing the sport to appease a spectator who isn’t there.<br/><br/>We also talk culture. Cronyism and credential gatekeeping mute voices that could move Taekwondo forward. Collaboration between organizations should align calendars and raise standards, not police speech. That’s why we’re launching the SNS Awards—to celebrate athletes, coaches, programs, and administrators who push the sport in the right direction, while naming practices that hold it back.<br/><br/>If you care about fair pathways, honest scoring, and real development, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with your team, and tell us the one change you’d make first. Your take might shape the next SNS Award—and the season ahead.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/18434071-when-loyalty-becomes-subservience-what-are-we-teaching-athletes.mp3" length="50800845" type="audio/mpeg" />
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-18434071</guid>
    <pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/18434071/transcript" type="text/html" />
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="New Year Energy And Consistency" />
  <psc:chapter start="2:45" title="Mexico Trip And Spanish Immersion" />
  <psc:chapter start="4:10" title="Six Years Of Podcasting Elsewhere" />
  <psc:chapter start="6:40" title="Cronyism, Credentials, And Gatekeeping" />
  <psc:chapter start="10:05" title="Loyalty Versus Subservience In Sport" />
  <psc:chapter start="13:20" title="Announcing The SNS Awards" />
  <psc:chapter start="15:10" title="Grand Prix Challenge: Thumbs Down" />
  <psc:chapter start="20:30" title="Worlds And U21s Feel Watered Down" />
  <psc:chapter start="25:40" title="Rankings, Seeding, And Random Draw Debate" />
  <psc:chapter start="31:00" title="Two-Year Cycle And Point Reset" />
  <psc:chapter start="36:40" title="Funding Gaps And Grand Prix Access" />
  <psc:chapter start="42:30" title="Academy Support, Independence, And Results" />
  <psc:chapter start="48:50" title="Rule Changes And The Myth Of “Spectator Friendly”" />
  <psc:chapter start="55:30" title="Style Diversity And Letting Fights Breathe" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:01:20" title="Head Touch Protests And Scoring Inflation" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:05:30" title="USAT vs AAU Pathways And Procedures" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>4228</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>5</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>10</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>How Can Team USA Compete When The Deck Is Stacked Against Development?</itunes:title>
    <title>How Can Team USA Compete When The Deck Is Stacked Against Development?</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[A holiday show with zero sugarcoating: we dig into how Team USA slipped from 12th to 20th at senior worlds while rivals like Brazil blasted ahead, and why our selection rules often reward the already-secure instead of building the bench. With a data-savvy guest who tracks time-series results and qualification math, we pull apart the incentives that shape a season: points reset in June, early events that feel optional for stars, and trials where seeds can wait for one match while hungry challe...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>A holiday show with zero sugarcoating: we dig into how Team USA slipped from 12th to 20th at senior worlds while rivals like Brazil blasted ahead, and why our selection rules often reward the already-secure instead of building the bench. With a data-savvy guest who tracks time-series results and qualification math, we pull apart the incentives that shape a season: points reset in June, early events that feel optional for stars, and trials where seeds can wait for one match while hungry challengers fight through the gauntlet.<br/><br/>We talk about access as the real currency. If a centralized academy operates like a private club, funding international runs that lock in seeds, where does that leave the junior aging up who needs reps, not rhetoric? The fix isn’t complicated: send locked-in athletes to majors that matter, free national spots for young guns at Pan Ams, and make trials more open so the next wave can actually prove it. Put senior coaches with the under-21s where the future is decided. And if there’s truly a global search for another high performance coach, then publish the plan, the metrics, and the mission. No more foggy forms, no more 2017 strategies guiding 2025 decisions.<br/><br/>We also zoom out to the numbers: only about 2,500 black belt competitors nationwide, heavy concentration in California and Texas, and entire states with minimal presence. Spain can stage 4,000 black belts in one youth event; that’s what scale looks like. Depth is built through access and structure, not slogans. Our guest points to rising teens, potential breakout women, and the urgency to bring 15- to 17-year-olds into a bigger, safer, truly open centralized program. Dominance is a storyline; depth is a system. If we want the former, we need to fund and build the latter—now. Subscribe, share this with a coach who needs to hear it, and tell us: what’s the first change you’d make?</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A holiday show with zero sugarcoating: we dig into how Team USA slipped from 12th to 20th at senior worlds while rivals like Brazil blasted ahead, and why our selection rules often reward the already-secure instead of building the bench. With a data-savvy guest who tracks time-series results and qualification math, we pull apart the incentives that shape a season: points reset in June, early events that feel optional for stars, and trials where seeds can wait for one match while hungry challengers fight through the gauntlet.<br/><br/>We talk about access as the real currency. If a centralized academy operates like a private club, funding international runs that lock in seeds, where does that leave the junior aging up who needs reps, not rhetoric? The fix isn’t complicated: send locked-in athletes to majors that matter, free national spots for young guns at Pan Ams, and make trials more open so the next wave can actually prove it. Put senior coaches with the under-21s where the future is decided. And if there’s truly a global search for another high performance coach, then publish the plan, the metrics, and the mission. No more foggy forms, no more 2017 strategies guiding 2025 decisions.<br/><br/>We also zoom out to the numbers: only about 2,500 black belt competitors nationwide, heavy concentration in California and Texas, and entire states with minimal presence. Spain can stage 4,000 black belts in one youth event; that’s what scale looks like. Depth is built through access and structure, not slogans. Our guest points to rising teens, potential breakout women, and the urgency to bring 15- to 17-year-olds into a bigger, safer, truly open centralized program. Dominance is a storyline; depth is a system. If we want the former, we need to fund and build the latter—now. Subscribe, share this with a coach who needs to hear it, and tell us: what’s the first change you’d make?</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/18339969-how-can-team-usa-compete-when-the-deck-is-stacked-against-development.mp3" length="80249392" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-18339969</guid>
    <pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Holiday Welcome And Guest Intro" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:45" title="Early Season, Points, And Grand Prix Access" />
  <psc:chapter start="4:55" title="Who Travels And Who Sits Out" />
  <psc:chapter start="7:40" title="Closing Divisions And Wild Cards" />
  <psc:chapter start="10:45" title="Selection Fairness And Seed Advantages" />
  <psc:chapter start="13:52" title="What World Rankings Actually Mean" />
  <psc:chapter start="16:25" title="New High Performance Hire Rumors" />
  <psc:chapter start="19:15" title="Culture Clash: U.S. Coaches Vs Imports" />
  <psc:chapter start="22:30" title="Results Trend: From 12th To 20th" />
  <psc:chapter start="25:40" title="Brazil’s Leap And The Benchmark Problem" />
  <psc:chapter start="28:45" title="Centralization Vs Development Depth" />
  <psc:chapter start="32:10" title="Under-21 Gaps And Coaching Presence" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>6682</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>5</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>12</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>From Peru to Podcasting: Catching Up with Taekwondo&#39;s Finest</itunes:title>
    <title>From Peru to Podcasting: Catching Up with Taekwondo&#39;s Finest</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Just when you thought they might have disappeared into the Peruvian mountains forever, the Warehouse 15 crew has resurfaced with fresh perspectives and a wealth of insights from their global adventures.   After sampling pisco sours and exploring South American landscapes, the hosts dive deep into the recent President's Cup tournament, where Brazil's national team delivered a performance for the history books. With seven finalists and six gold medals in the men's divisions, they shattered...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Just when you thought they might have disappeared into the Peruvian mountains forever, the Warehouse 15 crew has resurfaced with fresh perspectives and a wealth of insights from their global adventures. <br/><br/>After sampling pisco sours and exploring South American landscapes, the hosts dive deep into the recent President&apos;s Cup tournament, where Brazil&apos;s national team delivered a performance for the history books. With seven finalists and six gold medals in the men&apos;s divisions, they shattered records previously held by the legendary 1987 American team. The hosts analyze what this shift in competitive dominance means for the Pan-American region and why Team USA failed to secure any gold medals despite bringing their top competitors.<br/><br/>The conversation takes a critical turn when examining the disconnect between national team coaches and their athletes at the competition. Why weren&apos;t coaches working with their national team members with the World Championships just around the corner? This puzzling situation raises questions about preparation strategies and team cohesion that could impact future performances on the international stage.<br/><br/>Referee inconsistencies remain a persistent challenge in taekwondo, with the hosts dissecting how different regions have developed distinct officiating styles. From the aggressive Pan-American approach to the more technical European style, these variations create an unpredictable competitive environment that rewards different techniques depending on where you compete. Is the sport being shaped by constantly changing rules rather than athletic excellence?<br/><br/>Beyond the mat, the discussion extends to the recent Canelo vs Crawford boxing match, with the hosts praising Crawford&apos;s masterful performance and Canelo&apos;s gracious acceptance of defeat. The episode concludes with a thought-provoking philosophical exchange about friendship loyalties and the importance of maintaining civil discourse despite our differences.<br/><br/>Whether you&apos;re a competitive athlete seeking insights or simply enjoy hearing authentic conversations about sports and life, this episode delivers sharp analysis wrapped in the hosts&apos; signature blend of expertise and unfiltered honesty. Subscribe now and join the conversation that&apos;s shaping the future of martial arts.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Just when you thought they might have disappeared into the Peruvian mountains forever, the Warehouse 15 crew has resurfaced with fresh perspectives and a wealth of insights from their global adventures. <br/><br/>After sampling pisco sours and exploring South American landscapes, the hosts dive deep into the recent President&apos;s Cup tournament, where Brazil&apos;s national team delivered a performance for the history books. With seven finalists and six gold medals in the men&apos;s divisions, they shattered records previously held by the legendary 1987 American team. The hosts analyze what this shift in competitive dominance means for the Pan-American region and why Team USA failed to secure any gold medals despite bringing their top competitors.<br/><br/>The conversation takes a critical turn when examining the disconnect between national team coaches and their athletes at the competition. Why weren&apos;t coaches working with their national team members with the World Championships just around the corner? This puzzling situation raises questions about preparation strategies and team cohesion that could impact future performances on the international stage.<br/><br/>Referee inconsistencies remain a persistent challenge in taekwondo, with the hosts dissecting how different regions have developed distinct officiating styles. From the aggressive Pan-American approach to the more technical European style, these variations create an unpredictable competitive environment that rewards different techniques depending on where you compete. Is the sport being shaped by constantly changing rules rather than athletic excellence?<br/><br/>Beyond the mat, the discussion extends to the recent Canelo vs Crawford boxing match, with the hosts praising Crawford&apos;s masterful performance and Canelo&apos;s gracious acceptance of defeat. The episode concludes with a thought-provoking philosophical exchange about friendship loyalties and the importance of maintaining civil discourse despite our differences.<br/><br/>Whether you&apos;re a competitive athlete seeking insights or simply enjoy hearing authentic conversations about sports and life, this episode delivers sharp analysis wrapped in the hosts&apos; signature blend of expertise and unfiltered honesty. Subscribe now and join the conversation that&apos;s shaping the future of martial arts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/17844450-from-peru-to-podcasting-catching-up-with-taekwondo-s-finest.mp3" length="46130848" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:image href="https://storage.buzzsprout.com/2qyttxky4l46fycntaja25gbk52o?.jpg" />
    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-17844450</guid>
    <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <podcast:transcript url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/17844450/transcript" type="text/html" />
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    <psc:chapters>
  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Welcome Back After Peru" />
  <psc:chapter start="2:35" title="President&#39;s Cup Tournament Review" />
  <psc:chapter start="9:10" title="Brazil&#39;s Unprecedented Dominance" />
  <psc:chapter start="17:20" title="USA National Team Coaching Questions" />
  <psc:chapter start="27:40" title="Referee Standards and Controversies" />
  <psc:chapter start="41:05" title="Canelo vs Crawford Analysis" />
  <psc:chapter start="52:35" title="Friendship Loyalties and Current Events" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:02:50" title="Closing Thoughts and Farewell" />
</psc:chapters>
    <itunes:duration>3839</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>4</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>6</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Grandmaster Leon Preston Makes the Call</itunes:title>
    <title>Grandmaster Leon Preston Makes the Call</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Olympic Referee and Educators answers the Call to educate the Modern Masters.  ]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Olympic Referee and Educators answers the Call to educate the Modern Masters. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Olympic Referee and Educators answers the Call to educate the Modern Masters. </p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2348616/episodes/14869468-grandmaster-leon-preston-makes-the-call.mp3" length="52006510" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-14869468</guid>
    <pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 03:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>4332</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>3</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Juan Moreno: The Mastery of Taekwondo Evolution and Excellence</itunes:title>
    <title>Juan Moreno: The Mastery of Taekwondo Evolution and Excellence</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Stepping onto the mat with Olympic coach and champion Juan Moreno, I, Herb Perez, Olympic gold medalist, bring to light the fascinating world of Taekwondo. In an inspiring conversation, Juan unravels his athletic saga, the kind that sparks fires in the hearts of up-and-coming fighters. We navigate through the rich tapestry of his journey, from being awestruck by martial arts legends to the adrenaline-filled arenas of the Olympics, offering a treasure trove of wisdom for athletes and coaches s...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Stepping onto the mat with Olympic coach and champion Juan Moreno, I, Herb Perez, Olympic gold medalist, bring to light the fascinating world of Taekwondo. In an inspiring conversation, Juan unravels his athletic saga, the kind that sparks fires in the hearts of up-and-coming fighters. We navigate through the rich tapestry of his journey, from being awestruck by martial arts legends to the adrenaline-filled arenas of the Olympics, offering a treasure trove of wisdom for athletes and coaches striving for greatness.<br/><br/>The art of perseverance and the strategic dance of Taekwondo take center stage as we dissect its evolution. We grapple with maintaining the sport&apos;s integrity amid technological advancements and the changing landscape of athlete development. With Juan&apos;s expertise, we illuminate the path for rising martial artists, examining the traits that carve out Olympic-level competitors and the significant roles played by organizations like the World Taekwondo Federation. It&apos;s a candid look into the balancing act between honoring tradition and embracing change, a must-hear for those vested in the discipline&apos;s future.<br/><br/>As the conversation culminates, we uncover exciting possibilities for Taekwondo&apos;s future and the shared vision driving the industry&apos;s top coaches and programs. Juan imparts timeless wisdom on how discipline can unlock true freedom in both sports and life. His thoughts echo the ancient strategists&apos; philosophies, blending seamlessly with modern narratives on overcoming challenges and relentless pursuit of excellence. Join us for an episode that transcends the mere exchange of experiences—a masterclass in dedication, evolution, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Stepping onto the mat with Olympic coach and champion Juan Moreno, I, Herb Perez, Olympic gold medalist, bring to light the fascinating world of Taekwondo. In an inspiring conversation, Juan unravels his athletic saga, the kind that sparks fires in the hearts of up-and-coming fighters. We navigate through the rich tapestry of his journey, from being awestruck by martial arts legends to the adrenaline-filled arenas of the Olympics, offering a treasure trove of wisdom for athletes and coaches striving for greatness.<br/><br/>The art of perseverance and the strategic dance of Taekwondo take center stage as we dissect its evolution. We grapple with maintaining the sport&apos;s integrity amid technological advancements and the changing landscape of athlete development. With Juan&apos;s expertise, we illuminate the path for rising martial artists, examining the traits that carve out Olympic-level competitors and the significant roles played by organizations like the World Taekwondo Federation. It&apos;s a candid look into the balancing act between honoring tradition and embracing change, a must-hear for those vested in the discipline&apos;s future.<br/><br/>As the conversation culminates, we uncover exciting possibilities for Taekwondo&apos;s future and the shared vision driving the industry&apos;s top coaches and programs. Juan imparts timeless wisdom on how discipline can unlock true freedom in both sports and life. His thoughts echo the ancient strategists&apos; philosophies, blending seamlessly with modern narratives on overcoming challenges and relentless pursuit of excellence. Join us for an episode that transcends the mere exchange of experiences—a masterclass in dedication, evolution, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 01:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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  <psc:chapter start="0:00" title="Olympic Champions Share Martial Arts Insights" />
  <psc:chapter start="7:59" title="Athletic Journey and Coaching Transition" />
  <psc:chapter start="17:06" title="Evolution of Coaching and Taekwondo" />
  <psc:chapter start="22:38" title="Evolution of Taekwondo in Sports" />
  <psc:chapter start="36:33" title="Overcoming a Korean Taekwondo Legend" />
  <psc:chapter start="40:57" title="Building Great Athletes" />
  <psc:chapter start="50:15" title="Maintaining Taekwondo Tradition and Identity" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:05:07" title="National Differences and Talent Development" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:10:55" title="Peak Performance Evolution and Future Vision" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:18:55" title="Finding Freedom Through Discipline and Wisdom" />
  <psc:chapter start="1:22:42" title="Olympic Vision and Future Collaboration" />
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    <itunes:duration>5051</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:title>Coach Juan Moreno</itunes:title>
    <title>Coach Juan Moreno</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Coach Moreno shares his thoughts on Sport and Life. ]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Coach Moreno shares his thoughts on Sport and Life.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Coach Moreno shares his thoughts on Sport and Life.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 22:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>5051</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:title>Master Antony Graf</itunes:title>
    <title>Master Antony Graf</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Master Atony Graf is the author of " Whispers of Wisdom". He is an inspirational and motivational force in our world. Listen to his journey! ]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Master Atony Graf is the author of &quot; Whispers of Wisdom&quot;. He is an inspirational and motivational force in our world. Listen to his journey!</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Master Atony Graf is the author of &quot; Whispers of Wisdom&quot;. He is an inspirational and motivational force in our world. Listen to his journey!</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>herb</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 17:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>2566</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode>
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