RECESS: Ted Lasso, Women's Sports, Private Equity in Youth Sports & Aesthetic Wellness

The latest discussions in the health and fitness space highlight a range of topics, including the evolving landscape of youth sports and the portrayal of women's athletics in popular media. The hosts reflect on their busy fall travel schedule, which includes speaking engagements at various health and fitness conferences, emphasizing their commitment to engaging with the community.

A significant focus is placed on the recent surge in interest surrounding women's sports, particularly in light of the new season of "Ted Lasso," which features a women's soccer team. The hosts discuss the cultural implications of this representation and the ongoing challenges faced by women's sports, such as underfunding and lack of visibility. They note the importance of normalizing women's sports and the potential impact of media portrayals on future generations.

In addition, the conversation shifts to the troubling trend of private equity's involvement in youth sports, as highlighted by recent articles in major publications. The hosts express concern over the rising costs associated with youth sports and the implications of a "pay-to-play" model, which they argue could alienate many families. They advocate for a balanced perspective on youth sports, recognizing both the benefits and the challenges, and encourage parents to support local recreational leagues to ensure accessibility for all children.

The episode also touches on the controversial topic of cosmetic procedures being branded as "aesthetic wellness," particularly among men in the biohacking community. The hosts critique this trend, questioning the implications of linking cosmetic surgery to wellness and the potential societal pressures it may create. Lastly, they discuss the emergence of niche dating platforms catering to individuals who opted out of the COVID-19 vaccine, reflecting on the broader cultural divides that such platforms represent.

View This Week's Show Notes

Juliet and I have been saying yes to everything this fall. We're calling it the Fall Travel Junket, and it's stacked with events from Phoenix to Vail to Antarctica. Follow our Instagram or subscribe to The Ambush for details. And spoiler: you can join us in ANTARCTICA! For real!

We've been watching the new season of Ted Lasso, which is putting women's sports on mainstream television in a way that's hard to ignore. We get into what that means culturally, including who we'd want to see make a cameo.

Private equity is moving into youth sports with the "stay-to-play" model and it's terrible for players and parents. We dig into that, the "pay-to-play" model, what's happening at the policy level, and what parents can actually do.

We close with two Instagram trends that gave us pause: men in the longevity space calling facelifts "aesthetic wellness," and a dating site for people who didn't get the COVID vaccine.

New episodes of The Ready State Podcast drop every Thursday. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss a thing!

What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy Ted Lasso's new season is putting women's sports inequities on mainstream display What the WNBA surge and Copa 71 reveal about the growing appetite for women's sports How private equity operates in youth sports through the stay-to-play model What New York Magazine and the Denver Post found when they investigated the pay-to-play childhood What parents can actually do right now, from supporting Senator Murphy's bill to keeping rec leagues alive Why calling facelifts "aesthetic wellness" is a branding problem worth naming What "Unjected" is, and what it says about the stranger corners of wellness culture

Key Highlights: (0:00) Welcome back + Goings on in Starrett Land: our empty nest and the Fall Travel Junket (02:10) PT Biz Mastermind and Brett Bartholomew's Non-Superficial Conference (02:46) The Assembly in Vail, Eudaimonia, and the Antarctica expedition (04:46) Ted Lasso's new season and the women's sports moment (06:15) WNBA, Copa 71, and cultural momentum toward the 2027 Women's World Cup (09:54) Ted Lasso cameo wishlist: Emma Hayes and Megan Rapinoe (12:45) Private equity in youth sports: NYMag and Denver Post investigations (13:56) The stay-to-play model and Senator Murphy's bill (17:24) Free play, skate culture, and why it matters (20:15) What parents can do: rec leagues, Positive Coaching Alliance, taking action (22:30) "Aesthetic wellness": men calling cosmetic procedures a health practice (27:48) Unjected: the dating site for the unvaccinated (29:52) Outro