Shows / The Fullout Cheer Podcast
The Fullout Cheer Podcast
The Fullout Cheer Podcast with Danielle Johnston is the ultimate resource for cheerleading gym owners, all star cheer coaches, and industry professionals who want to grow their gyms, lead successful teams, and thrive in the competitive cheer industry. Hosted by Danielle Johnston — now in her 14th season as a cheer gym owner, co-owner of Next Generation Gym Owners, and author of the must-read “The Cheer Gym Owners’ Handbook” — this podcast delivers proven strategies and real-world insights from…
Episodes
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Your Athletes Aren't Being Poached. They're Choosing to Leave.
Are other cheer gyms really poaching your athletes, or is something else happening? When an athlete leaves your all star cheer program for another gym, it's…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Living on a Prayer: Guessing Your Numbers
Do you know your gym’s numbers—or are you making your best guess and hoping the money is there? In this episode, Danielle breaks down three reasons cheer gym…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Waiting for Things to Slow Down? Listen to This.
“I’ll do it when things slow down.” Gym owners, that sentence can keep you stuck for years. Next month won’t magically give you more time to train your staff…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Throwback: Turn Around Your 'Meh' Start to the Season
Throwback episode! 🚨 Start-to-the-Season Check-In Time! Remember those goals we set in June? Yeah… we’re revisiting them in this follow-up to the fan-favorite…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
I Automated My Cheer Gym in One Day. Here’s What Changed.
AI is most useful when it takes a recurring task off your plate. In this episode of the Fullout Cheer Podcast, I share what I automated in my gym in about a…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
5 Things Event Producers Do That Drive Gym Owners Crazy—with Kim Schaub
Why are spectator fees so high? Why do events get canceled? And why does your team sometimes end up competing alone? Danielle sits down with MCDA owner Kim…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Working With Family Without Wrecking the Relationship
Working with family in your cheer gym can be one of the best parts of owning a business... and one of the hardest. After 15 years of owning a family-run gym…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
You Either Speak "Teenager" or You Don't
Coaching teenagers is different. They don't want to be treated like little kids, but they're also still learning how to be adults. And if you coach a senior…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Cheer Makes Absolutely No Sense... Until It Does: Jay Yoder
If you've ever tried to explain all star cheer to someone outside the industry, you already know how ridiculous it can sound. In this episode, Danielle sits…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Throwback: Hijack the Back-to-School Hype
Back-to-school season is here, which means families are getting back into routines, schedules are filling up, and everyone is competing for their attention. So…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Don't Take the Bait: How Great Leaders Stay Calm
Every gym owner will eventually deal with an angry parent, frustrated employee, or emotional customer. The question isn't whether it will happen. It's how…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Don't Send the Email! How to Deliver Difficult News Effectively
Every gym owner will eventually have to deliver bad news. Whether it's leveling down a team, changing payroll, losing a staff member, canceling an event, or…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
5 Things You Can Only Learn Inside Another Gym
You can spend months reviewing reports, coaching calls, and financials with another gym owner, but there are some things you'll never understand until you walk…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
The Hardest Parent Conversation I've Had in 15 Years
A parent walked into my office furious about classes, policies, and staff. Forty minutes later, we were both in tears. In this episode, I share one of the most…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
When a Key Employee Quits: 5 Lessons Every Gym Owner Needs to Know
One unexpected resignation can leave gym owners wondering how they're going to cover classes, support athletes, and keep the business moving forward. After…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Why Some Dads Never Support Cheer... and How to Change That
Cheer moms get most of the attention, but what about dads? In this episode, Danielle sits down with Alex Russell, co-host of The Cheer Dad Podcast, to talk…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Why Some Athletes Never Build Resilience with Jeff Benson
Every parent wants what's best for their child. But sometimes the very behaviors meant to protect athletes can actually hold them back. In Part 2 of my…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
How Good Coaches Cause Emotional Damage with Jeff Benson
Most coaches genuinely want what's best for their athletes. But what happens when pressure, expectations, and the desire to win begin influencing how we coach?…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
How Gym Owners Create Toxic Parents
Are your gym's communication, policies, and leadership are helping create toxic parents? In this episode, Danielle shares her perspective as a gym owner on how…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Toxic Parents: How They Start (And How to Stop Them)
Every gym owner has dealt with a toxic parent. The hard part is that most of them didn't start that way. In this episode, Danielle sits down with Kristen…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Your Gym Lost Its Edge
Most gym owners don't lose their edge overnight. They lose it slowly. The events become less personal. The experiences become less memorable. The things that…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
The Hard Truth About Accountability
Everybody says they want accountability. Parents want accountable coaches. Coaches want accountable athletes. But accountability feels very different when it's…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Parents Aren't Ruining Cheer. Your Systems Are.
Every coach and gym owner has thought it at some point: “Parents are ruining cheer.” But what if the real issue isn’t parents at all? In this episode, Danielle…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
When Coaches Cross the Line
A video of a cheer coach screaming at athletes went viral this week… and the reactions shocked us. Some people defended it. Some called it “normal.” Others…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Why Your Cheer Gym Isn't Actually Sellable
Most cheer gym owners think they have a sellable business. In reality… they have a job. In this episode, Danielle sits down with Matt Becker, an attorney who…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Losing Athletes This Season? This Is Why
If you’ve been losing athletes this season, it’s probably not for the reason you think. In this episode, Danielle breaks down the real reasons athletes are…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
How Smart Coaches Handle Emotional Cheer Parents
Most gym owners think emotional parents are the problem… they’re not. In this episode of the Full Out Cheer Podcast, Danielle sits down with Jason Larkins to…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
How to Build a Routine That Actually Scores Well
Most routines don’t lose because of talent… they lose because of bad strategy. In Part 2, Danielle Johnston and John Barajas break down how to choose the right…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Inside AccuScore: Why You Got That Deduction
Ever looked at your score sheet and thought… there’s no way that’s right? In this episode, Danielle Johnston sits down with judge and choreographer John…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Your Parents Aren’t Different. Your Standards Are.
Most gym owners are convinced their parents are “different.” More demanding. Less respectful. Impossible to manage. They’re not. In this episode, we break down…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Copy-Paste Coaching Is Killing Athlete Progress
Most athletes aren’t stuck because they lack talent—they’re stuck because of copy-paste coaching. Drill after drill of coaches searching social media to find…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
A Judge’s Advice for Coaches and Parents in All-Star Cheer
The conversation with all-star cheer judge Gabby Mauro continues in Part 2. Gabby answers more questions from coaches and parents while sharing practical…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Inside the Mind of a Cheer Judge | Q&A with Gabby Mauro
What are judges actually looking for on the score sheet? In this episode of the Fullout Cheer Podcast, Danielle Johnston sits down with all-star cheer judge…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Throwback: 3 Ways to Keep Great Coaches
Great coaches are one of the most valuable assets in your gym — but they’re also one of the hardest things to keep. In this episode, Danielle breaks down three…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Here 4 Cheer Episode
In this special crossover episode, Here 4 Cheer host Megan Gomarlo sits down with Full Out Cheer’s very own Danielle Johnston. Whether you are a veteran gym…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Open Lobby, Strong Culture: Why I'll Never Shut Parents Out: Part 2
If parent drama is inevitable, poor leadership is not. In Part 2, Danielle and Kelli from theory to action. They break down exactly how to reduce negativity…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Open Lobby, Strong Culture: Why I'll Never Shut Parents Out: Part 1
Parent drama. Lobby gossip. Closed practices. Open practices. Every gym owner has an opinion — and most of them are reactive. In Part 1, Danielle sits down…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
If They're Not Sick, They're Injured: Part 2
Part 2 dives into the fallout of illness and injury and adds the final challenge to the mix: Inclement weather. We talk about how to make smart decisions when…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
If They're Not Sick, They're Injured: Part 1
In this episode, we talk about the reality coaches and gym owners are facing right now: constant absences due to illness, injuries piling up, and practices…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Stop Blaming Athletes. Start Educating Parents.
Uncommitted athletes are one of the most common frustrations in all-star cheer. Missed practices. Inconsistent effort. Big potential with uneven results. But…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
5 Things Gym Owners Are (Already) Getting Wrong in 2026
If you’re running a gym in 2026 the same way you did a few years ago, this episode is probably going to make you uncomfortable...And we know it. In this…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Culture v. Morale: Why "Happy" Doesn't Always Mean "Healthy"
Culture doesn’t disappear overnight. It erodes quietly. One skipped conversation. One tolerated behavior. One season where standards slowly soften and no one…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
The Free Marketing You’re Not Using (But Should Be)
Most gym owners say they want more leads, more trust, and more visibility. Then they completely ignore the easiest marketing tool they already have. In this…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
4 Dumb Things I Used to Brag About (and Why I Don’t Anymore)
When I first opened my cheer gym, I wore a few things like badges of honor that I’d never brag about now. In this episode, I break down four things I used to…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Beyond Affordable: Building a Program That Fits Your Families
In this episode, Danielle responses to a recent post made by a business coach regarding parents drawn to “affordable programs.” She breaks the myths about…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Cheer is NOT Just Like Every Other Sport: Part 2
In part 2 of this series, Danielle tells listeners how cheer is a unicorn in the world of sports and athletes are not easily interchangeable! It's not as easy…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Cheer is Just Like Every Other Sport: Part 1
In this episode, Danielle replies to a listener email about how cheer is like other sports in that athletes have positions that are not easily interchangeable…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
The Attendance Dilemma: "We Never Miss, But..."
In this episode, we dive into the reality of attendance in all star cheer and why it’s one of the hardest—and most important—parts of coaching. We’ll talk…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Show the Love: How to Use the Love Languages to Show Your Customers Gratitude
In this episode, we dive into the power of gratitude and how it can transform the way we support and inspire gym parents. We’ll talk about the role…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Divorce: The Ultimate Division Split
In this episode, we dig into one of the tougher realities many athletes face—navigating gym life when parents are divorced. We explore practical strategies to…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Financing Your Dream Gym (Without a Nightmare): Part 2
In this two-part series of the Fullout Cheer Podcast, Danielle and Justin tackle one of the most avoided topics in the cheer industry: debt. From the early…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Financing Your Dream Gym (Without a Nightmare): Part 1
In this two-part series of the Fullout Cheer Podcast, Danielle and Justin tackle one of the most avoided topics in the cheer industry: debt. From the early…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
High School Cheer v. All Star: The Great Divide
Teens picking high school over all star, and all star coaches frustrated at the last-minute demands of high school cheer...Sound familiar? In this episode…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Hot Take: The Crazy Cheer Moms Have a Point: Part 2
🎧 Part 2 is here — and yes, we’re going deeper. Last week, we talked about what the Crazy Cheer Moms got right. This week? What they got very wrong. From…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Hot Take: The Crazy Cheer Moms Have a Point: Part 1
🚨 This week on the pod: I respond to that viral post from Crazy Cheer Moms. As a gym owner, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the emotionally-overcaffeinated…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Turn Around Your "Meh" Start to the Season
This is the check-in we promised we wouldn’t skip. In this follow-up to “Rebuilding After Dumpster Fire Season,” we revisit the goals we made in June to figure…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Stop Blaming Gen Z
Are your coaches tuning you out? Do your meetings feel pointless? Respect doesn’t come with your job title—it comes from how you lead. In this episode, I’m…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Make $2k in 3 Days: 10 Cheer Gym Revenue Hacks
Need fast cashflow for your cheer gym? In this episode of the Fullout Cheer Podcast, Danielle reveals 10 proven ways to make $2,000 in just 3 days. Whether…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
Why Athletes Leave Small Cheer Gyms for Big D1 Programs
Why do athletes leave small D2 cheer gyms for big D1 programs—and what can gym owners do to keep them? In this episode of the Full Out Cheer Podcast, Danielle…
- The Fullout Cheer Podcast
The Real Cost of Bartering
Trading free tuition for services might feel like a smart move, but it could actually cost your cheer gym thousands. In this episode of the Fullout Cheer…