The Generation Youth Podcast with James McLamb

What Builds Self-Belief in Struggling Youth? With Kyle RobinsonIn this episode of The Generation Youth Podcast, host James McLamb sits down with Kyle Robinson, whose story reminds us that a young person’s past does not have to define their future. After years of struggle, low self-belief, and the weight of negative influences, Kyle found a new path through encouragement, ownership, and steady personal growth. 🌱 Together, they explore what helps young people build confidence, why one caring adult can shift the direction of a life, and how small choices can open the door to lasting change. This conversation is for anyone helping young people rise beyond labels, setbacks, and self-doubt. ⚡
 
Kyle V. Robinson is a licensed attorney, entrepreneur, speaker, and ultrarunner based in Lakewood, Ohio. 🧭 After a difficult academic path, including six years in high school and a 1.04 GPA, Kyle went on to earn his law degree and build a career rooted in resilience, purpose, and growth. Today, he uses his story to show young people that a non-linear path can still lead to a powerful future. 🚀Get in touch with Kyle Robinson: Website: https://kylevrobinson.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylevrobinson/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylevrobinson/ Episode highlights:(0:00) Intro(2:18) From troubled childhood to turning point
(6:37) Building confidence after years of negativity
(9:26) Small habits that shape growth
(11:49) Turning obstacles into opportunity
(15:47) Growth begins with a decision
(19:00) From 1.04 GPA to law school
(26:37) Parenting from love, not fear
(30:41) Helping youth find better options
(36:17) Outro

Is College Still Worth It? With Shellee HowardHost James McLamb welcomes Shellee Howard to help parents, educators, coaches, and youth leaders rethink the college path. 🎓 Shellee shares her experience as a mother, author, and college consultant to show why preparing students is about more than applications and acceptance letters. Together, they point families back to clarity, purpose, service, and helping young people step into adulthood with confidence. 🌱 Listen now, because their future needs more than a checklist. It needs direction.Shellee Howard is the founder and CEO of College Ready, a bestselling author, mother of four debt-free college graduates, and the 2026 Global Educational Consultant of the Year. She helps families navigate college admissions with less stress, more clarity, and a stronger plan for life after high school. ✨Reach out to Shellee:Website: https://collegereadyplan.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleehoward/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shellee.howard1 Free Resources:Complimentary 30-minute call: collegereadyplan.info College planning workbook: https://go.collegereadyplan.com/podcast-gift-workbook Episode highlights:(0:00) Intro(2:11) Shellee Howard and College Ready
(6:36) Why college feels so complicated
(12:17) Helping students find clarity beyond social pressure
(19:26) Asking if college is the right path
(22:30) How service builds student clarity
(29:34) Understanding college return on investment
(34:05) When parents chase the badge
(40:59) How families can connect with Shellee
(44:58) Outro

How Can Kids Own Their Life Before the World Does? With Brandon Lee WhiteWhere confidence begins, ownership starts to grow. 🧭 In this episode, James McLamb talks with Brandon Lee White about what it takes to help today’s young people build identity, courage, and real-world confidence in a culture full of distraction, pressure, and easy escape. Their conversation looks at the quiet forces shaping kids today, from screens 📱 and fear to family connection and the adults who help them believe they are capable of more.
 
Brandon Lee White is a Kansas City-based author, speaker, and youth leadership voice known online as Youth Mover. For 16 years, he has spoken across 48 states and reached more than one million students, staff, and leaders. Through school programs, conferences, workshops, and leadership experiences, Brandon helps people grow in character, connection, and purpose with a mix of humor, heart, and practical wisdom. ⚡Connect with Brandon:Website: https://brandonleewhite.com/ Email: brandon@brandonleewhite.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leadwithbrandon/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youthmover Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youthmover Episode highlights:(0:00) Intro(1:56) Ownership as authorship
(4:08) Why young people lack confidence
(6:01) Predictable devices Vs. Purposeful adventures
(8:49) Balancing people, progress, and play
(11:41) Why ownership matters early
(15:13) Role models who shape identity
(19:30) Practical ways parents can connect
(23:49) Love, authority, and household leadership
(26:44) How family meetings build ownership
(35:38) Outro

What Helps Young People Move from Hurt to Hope? With Roxie SmithIn today’s episode of The Generation Youth Podcast, host James McLamb sits down with Roxie Smith about the 8 to Great process and why it continues to connect with young people navigating real emotional and personal challenges. With wisdom shaped by decades in education and counseling, Roxie offers a practical and hopeful perspective on how adults can better guide kids toward confidence, growth, and purpose. 🌱⚡ This episode is for parents, educators, coaches, and youth leaders who want to lead the next generation with greater understanding and intention.Roxie Smith is a veteran educator, counselor, speaker, and Master Trainer for 8 to Great with more than 30 years of experience helping young people and the adults around them grow in resilience, responsibility, and hope. She now works with schools, educators, and communities to share practical tools that support emotional growth, better decision-making, and lasting impact. 💡🚀Learn more about Roxie Smith:Website: www.roxiesmith.comEmail: roxie@8togreat.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxie-smith-094a3161/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roxie.quicksmithTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@roxie8togreatInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/roxiequicksmith/Episode highlights:(0:00) Intro(2:08) Roxy’s path from teacher to counselor
(5:19) What 8 to Great really is
(8:44) The power pyramid and thought choice
(12:25) Dreams risk and full responsibility
(15:07) Feelings, communication, forgiveness, and gratitude
(19:32) Why hope matters for youth today
(25:16) Why do students respond to this process
(31:21) A story of healing and hope
(34:29) Outro

Are We Raising Kids Who Can Really Communicate? With Ja’son FortéWhat happens when a generation is always connected, but still struggles to truly communicate? 📲 In this episode, host James McLamb welcomes Ja’son Forté to explore what young people are facing in a screen-first world and why real connection still matters ✨. With a grounded voice and a heart for the next generation, Ja’son brings insight that will challenge, encourage, and equip parents, educators, coaches, and youth leaders alike. If you care about helping young people grow in confidence, communication, and character 🚀, this is a conversation worth staying for. Press play before the scroll writes the story 🎧Ja’son Forté is a speaker, coach, entrepreneur, and author who helps people grow in mindset, leadership, and purpose through his platform, This Is Your Forte. With a message rooted in self-discovery and practical growth, he brings a grounded, honest perspective to conversations that matter. 🔥Reach out to Ja’son:Website: https://jasonfortespeaks.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisyourforte1554/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisyourforte Email: jasonbforte@gmail.com Episode highlights:(0:00) Intro(2:01) Ja’son’s story and heart
(7:18) Why phones are changing communication
(12:12) Helping parents rebuild real connection
(15:56) Why dinner time still matters
(21:05) What teens need beyond screens
(28:16) Boredom reading and real growth
(34:20) How to connect with Ja’son Forté
(38:02) Outro

Why Do Female Athletes Feel Lost After Sports? With Tori BarkerWhere the game stops echoing. 🎙️ In today’s episode, James McLamb talks with Tori Barker about female athletes, identity after sports, career readiness, mental health, and the hard transition out of competition. 🏃‍♀️🧠 Together, they share why parents and coaches need to think beyond the next season and help young women prepare for life, work, and purpose after athletics.
 
Tori Barker is the founder and CEO of Beyond Her Game, where she helps female athletes build identity, confidence, and direction beyond sports. 💪 A former Division I softball player 🥎 and longtime marketing professional, she brings both personal experience and practical insight to her work, helping young women see that the skills they build in athletics can carry into leadership, career, and life after the game. ✨Social Handles:Website: https://beyondhergame.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toribarker/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondhergame.official/ Episode highlights:(0:00) Intro(1:48) Tori’s path to Beyond Her Game
(3:18) Identity loss after sports ends
(5:18) Why parents need open conversations?
(7:20) Turning sports skills into careers
(10:21) Seeing strengths beyond the sport
(17:16) Let the athlete own the dream
(23:05) Coaches need a support community
(25:42) Five pillars for athlete transition
(28:46) Why identity is the biggest issue
(34:00) Outro

How Do We Help Kids Believe They Are Enough? With Nick TokmanIn this episode of The Generation Youth Podcast, James sits down with speaker and former Deadliest Catch cast member Nick Tokman to talk about a struggle many young people are carrying right now. After working one of the toughest jobs in the world 🌊 and later speaking to students across the country 🎤, Nick brings a grounded perspective on courage, identity, failure, and self-worth. Together, they unpack why so many students wrestle with confidence, how outside pressure can shape the way they see themselves, and why learning to trust yourself matters so much in a noisy world 📱. For parents, educators, coaches, and youth leaders, this is a thoughtful conversation about helping young people build resilience, purpose, and the confidence to grow into who they are meant to be 💡Learn more about Nick Tokman:Website: https://nicktokman.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicktokman X: https://x.com/NickTokman Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicksunshinetokman/ Episode highlights:(0:00) Intro(1:57) Nick Tokman from Alaska, from fishing to speaking
(5:22) Why self-worth struggles affect youth
(7:17) Social media comparison and identity pressure
(10:52) Building a relationship with yourself
(14:46) Learning confidence through failure
(20:17) Advice for parents supporting struggling kids
(25:12) Courage to step outside comfort zones
(29:19) The coat story and embracing identity
(32:25) Outro

What Makes a School Worth Showing Up For? With Danny BauerWhat if the real issue in education is the kind of school experience we keep asking students to accept? 🎓In today’s episode, host James McLamb welcomes Danny Bauer for a sharp conversation on school culture, student engagement, education leadership, and the future of youth development. If you care about stronger schools, healthier environments, and better outcomes for young people, this episode will challenge the way you think. Listen now and reimagine what school can become. 🚀Danny Bauer is an educator, leadership coach, and founder of Better Leaders Better Schools. As the voice behind the Ruckus Maker movement, he helps school leaders lead with more courage, clarity, and creativity through his podcast, writing, coaching, and newsletter. 📚Reach out to Danny:Website: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/ 
Newsletter: https://ruckusmakers.news/subscribe & https://ruckusmakers.news/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heydannybauer/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heydannybauer/ Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDheS3bA5a1eUo2ylnR_rYyQ_ct2WeXWm Episode Resource:
A Beautiful Constraint - https://amzn.to/4rZc0BS Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader - https://amzn.to/41hQJsN 
Build Leadership Momentum: How to Create the Perfect Principal Entry Plan - https://amzn.to/4mAj3PK 
The Remarkable Vision Formula: A Guided School Leader Retreat - https://amzn.to/4mY02Xg 
Calm in the Chaos: Ancient Stoic Wisdom for Successful School Leadership - https://amzn.to/3Jqneie 
Episode highlights:(0:00) Intro(2:18) Danny's story
(9:09) The meaning of a ruckus maker
(13:26) Creating school worth showing up for
(15:52) What teachers can change first
(21:59) Building classrooms students want to enter
(25:20) What principals must rethink now
(31:16) How parents can shape school culture
(35:29) Resources for education ruckus makers
(39:40) Outro