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 someone who’s built a thriving cheer program from the ground up.
In every episode, Danielle shares cheer gym business tips, marketing strategies for cheerleading gyms, leadership advice for working with teenage athletes, and behind-the-scenes looks at what it really takes to run a profitable, well-respected cheer program. From managing staff and parents to improving athlete retention and preparing winning routines, she covers every aspect of cheer gym ownership and coaching with honesty and expertise.
Whether you’re launching your first cheer program or looking to take your established gym to the next level, the Fullout Cheer Podcast gives you the tools, ideas, and inspiration you need to succeed. Subscribe now and start running your gym with confidence, clarity, and full-out passion.
Episodes

Thursday Feb 05, 2026
Thursday Feb 05, 2026
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 that never look the way they were planned. Attendance is unpredictable, routines are constantly being reworked, and keeping momentum feels harder than ever. If you’ve felt frustrated, exhausted, or like you’re constantly playing catch-up this season, this episode will make you feel seen and give you practical ways to move forward anyway.

Thursday Jan 29, 2026
Thursday Jan 29, 2026
Uncommitted athletes are one of the most common frustrations in all-star cheer. Missed practices. Inconsistent effort. Big potential with uneven results.But what if the issue isn’t the athlete at all?In this episode, we break down why commitment starts long before an athlete steps on the mat and how parent education plays a critical role in developing driven, resilient, and accountable athletes. We talk about what happens when parents understand the process, support the standards, and reinforce expectations at home and why that alignment changes everything.If you’re tired of chasing effort, managing excuses, or wondering why talented athletes aren’t progressing, this conversation reframes the problem and offers a practical, proven solution.Because fixing “uncommitted athletes” doesn’t start with the kids. It starts with educating the adults.

Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Thursday Jan 22, 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 episode, I break down five mistakes I’m already seeing gym owners make that quietly cap growth, drain profit, and create burnout at the top. These aren’t beginner errors. They’re decisions smart, experienced owners make because they feel normal, responsible, or “good enough.”We talk about why some strategies that look scrappy or safe are actually holding your business hostage, how certain “practical” choices slowly erode margins, culture, and capacity, and why adding more without fixing the foundation almost always backfires.If you’re aiming for a healthier business, more profit, and a gym that doesn’t depend on you holding it together with duct tape and adrenaline, this episode will give you a much-needed gut check.Listen before these mistakes become expensive habits you have to unwind later.

Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Culture doesn’t disappear overnight. It erodes quietly. One skipped conversation. One tolerated behavior. One season where standards slowly soften and no one calls it out.In this episode of the Fullout Cheer Podcast, Danielle breaks down how culture is actually built over time, how it’s lost more quickly, and why so many gym owners confuse culture with morale. We talk about why good vibes don’t equal strong culture, how short-term morale spikes can mask long-term problems, and what leaders must consistently protect if they want a gym that lasts.This episode is a reality check for owners and coaches who want real buy-in, accountability, and longevity, not just a temporarily happy room.

Thursday Jan 08, 2026
Thursday Jan 08, 2026
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 episode, I talk about the free marketing most gym owners avoid: their personal social media. Not influencers. Not ads. Not perfectly curated content. Just showing up as a real owner, in real life, doing real work.I break down why posting feels uncomfortable, why “I don’t want to be salesy” is usually a fear problem not a strategy problem, and how personal visibility grows your gym and retains your athletes faster than any gym social media ever could.

Thursday Jan 01, 2026
Thursday Jan 01, 2026
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 proudly flex as a new gym owner that I now realize were more about ego than smart leadership. Things like refusing to spend money on marketing, collecting certifications like trophies, and treating “firing” angry parents to fix a culture I never actually set in place.With hindsight, better data, and a lot of wisdom, I see why those bragging rights didn’t actually build a stronger gym, a healthier culture, or a more profitable business. This episode is for gym owners who are early in their journey, or those who can look back at their own journey and have a good laugh now. No fluff. No pretending I had it all figured out. Just real lessons I wish I’d learned sooner.

Thursday Dec 25, 2025
Thursday Dec 25, 2025
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 parent expectations and takes ownership of the choices we make in our businesses and the impact they have on the types of clients attracted to our brands. Join us as we challenge the narrative around this verbiage and its impact on your business success. If you’ve ever felt trapped by your previous pricing mistakes, this conversation is for you.

Thursday Dec 18, 2025
Thursday Dec 18, 2025
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 as subbing in the next best player! Tune in to learn why parent education is so important and why your athletes need to be at practices!

Thursday Dec 11, 2025
Thursday Dec 11, 2025
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. In part 1 of this series, we talk about the universal truths of all sports and in what ways you can expect cheer to be similar to other sports.

Thursday Dec 04, 2025
Thursday Dec 04, 2025
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 about how missing athletes affect stunt progressions, timing, tumbling development, and team morale, plus why families often don’t see the full impact of an absence.If you’re working to improve consistency, build stronger routines, and create a more accountable team culture, this conversation will give you practical insight you can start using right away.



