Voice In Sport

Latest Episodes:

Episode 39. SoccerGrlProbs - Entrepreneurship and Changing the Game Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

SoccerGrlProbs, a viral social media platform turned lifestyle brand, was founded by Fairfield University Division 1 Soccer Players Alanna Locast, Shannon Fay, and Carly Beyar. The founders share their story of the founding of SoccerGrlProbs: starting off as a comedic outlet for their college soccer team, their Twitter account and Youtube channel went viral practically overnight. In the months that followed, the founders explain how they capitalized off of these viral platforms by expanding to apparel, a podcast, a book and more, as well as the opportunities and the challenges they faced along the way. Alanna, Shannon, and Carly share how they continually transform the SoccerGrlProbs business to not only help empower the female athlete, but also make an impact on the greater sports community in the fight for equal pay and increasing sports media coverage for female athletics.
“You don't have to work a day in your life if you're that passionate about what you're doing.” -Shannon Fay

Episode 38. AJ Andrews - Dare to Dream: Love Yourself and Find Your Power. Feb 16, 2021

Show notes

AJ Andrews, Professional Softball Player for Athletes Unlimited, Broadcaster and Host, speaks out about the challenges she faces as a black woman in the predominantly white sport of softball. She takes us through how she overcame colorism in the Little League to become a Division 1 student athlete at Louisiana State University. AJ highlights the importance of loving yourself not in spite of the color of your skin, but because of it. AJ’s courage in breaking barriers, such as becoming the first woman to receive the prestigious Golden Glove award, inspires us all, and she reminds us that in order to change the game, each one of us must dare to dream big.
"You have the power always to write your own destiny and to write your own path. You are the creator of your life. You are the creator of your success.” - AJ Andrews

Episode 37. Elyse Kopecky 2 X NY Times Best Selling Author Experience & Food Philosophy Feb 09, 2021

Show notes

Elyse Kopecky, Author, Runner, and mom, spent her college cross country and track careers at UNC with Olympic marathoner Shalane Flanagan. This began their friendship and unanticipated journey toward co-authoring cookbooks; so far they’ve published “Run Fast. Eat Slow.” and “Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow,” and their third book “Rise and Run” is set to launch in October 2021. Elyse focuses on a proper diet, after not having a period for several years and having multiple bone injuries due to underfueling. After realizing the connection between diet and running health, Elyse enrolled in the Natural Gourmet Institute; she’s now an opponent of restrictive diets, supporting sustainable nourishment for runners. In this episode, Elyse shares her experience of not getting a natural period until age 30, going on birth control to force a period, getting many stress fractures in her running career and eventually changing her whole food philosophy. Now she’s sharing her knowledge about fueling with the rest of the world with her cookbooks.
“Don't stress about the small moments because they'll all add up to big moments.” - Elyse Kopecky

Episode 36. Sophie Cunningham - Bringing the Midwest Mindset to the WNBA. Know your why. Own your position. Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

Sophie Cunningham, WNBA player for the Phoenix Mercury and former Student Athlete from the University of Missouri, shares the power of hard work and a positive mindset in this week’s episode. We explore the difficult transitions from high school to college and from college to the WNBA and the mindset of embracing your role along the journey. Sophie shares the importance of having strong female role models in her family life, and how these empowering women helped her to look outside the box and push the limits for females in the Midwest. Finally, Sophie reminds us about the incredible power that we have as female athletes.
“For us females who have made it, it is our duty to give back to those people who don't have that background of having strong women in their lives.” - Sophie Cunningham

Episode 35. Michelle Tumolo - Be You. Your Unapologetic Self. Jan 26, 2021

Show notes

Michelle Tumolo, Member of the U.S. National Team, former Division 1 Lacrosse Player at Syracuse University and Coach at Wagner College discusses her journey with identity and finding her voice while rising to the top level of her sport. Michelle emphasizes the importance of representation for the LGBTQ+ community within the sports world, and she shares how coming out has impacted her life as a woman, an athlete, and as a coach. As she describes her transition into coaching, Michelle addresses the need for diverse representation in roles of power in sport and beyond, and she truly embodies what it means to be a powerful woman.
“My mission is to help everyone feel more comfortable with who YOU are. It doesn’t matter what you identify as, know that I will always be on your team.” - Michelle Tumolo

Episode 34. Lynn Williams - Be The Change Jan 19, 2021

Show notes

Lynn Williams, Professional Soccer Player for the North Carolina Courage of the NWSL, Member of the USWNT, 2016 NWSL Most Valuable Player, and former Division I Student-Athlete and Pepperdine University, speaks out about her experiences as a black female athlete in the predominantly white sport of soccer. She discusses the trials and tribulations that she faced at each level along the way, and she emphasizes the importance of diverse representation in the world of sports. We need to provide young girls with inspiring role models that look like them so that they know that their dreams are possible. In her own life, Lynn has been dedicated to driving change in the soccer world by using her voice and being part of the creation of the Black Women's Player collective.The time for change is NOW. Together, we can change more than just the game.
“At the end of the day, don’t let anybody take away your love from the game.” - Lynn Williams

Episode 33. Alice McKennis Duran - Injuries: The Uphill Battle of a Downhill Skier Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

Alice McKennis Duran, Olympian and World Cup Alpine Ski Racer, shares her inspiring journey overcoming four major injuries during her professional career. During her recovery, she learned the importance of listening to our bodies, surrounding ourselves with a strong support system, and building our mental strength. She also discusses the power of visualization and self-coaching in order to enhance our performance in any sport. This must-listen episode is packed with valuable advice for any female athlete in recovery mode and for anyone aiming to become the best version of themselves in sport and beyond.
“You have to listen to your body and your body is really the only expectation that you need to meet.” - Alice McKennis Duran

Episode 32. Carla Williams - Breaking Barriers from DI Athlete to Athletic Director Dec 22, 2020

Show notes

Carla Williams, the first black female Athletic Director in a Power 5 school. Currently the AD at the University of Virginia, she shares her career journey to the top level of athletic administration. Carla is a force, growing up in a small town and earning a position as the Athletic Director of a Power Five NCAA conference. She played Division I basketball at the University of Georgia, where she became an assistant coach and then became involved in sports administration, working her way up from the bottom. Carla shares with us today her journey through the world of sports, and how her belief in herself led to her success. She urges us to be our own champions, and that if we are willing to work for it, nothing can stop us. Carla also shares her perspective on how collegiate athletes can make what seems like a setback into an opportunity that we can take advantage of and use to better ourselves.
“If you don't believe in yourself, who else will? If I listened to people that said “You can't do that,” I wouldn't be here. And so, you really have to be a champion for yourself.” - Carla Williams

Episode 31. Tziarra King - Changing The Game Dec 15, 2020

Show notes

Tziara King, former Division 1 Athlete from NC State and Professional Soccer Player in the NWSL playing for Kansas City in 2021. At 22 years old, Tziarra not only made a name for herself as an outstanding soccer player in her rookie season, but more importantly as being an outstanding leader off the field. The 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee has been an active voice fighting for social justice and inclusion in America. King has joined several other incredible players to start the Black Women’s Player’s Collective which is a place where black women and girls can support each other and be heard. The consistent effort Tziarra has shown to use her voice to drive change is why today she is now a VIS League mentor on the Voice in Sport platform.
“It's rewarding in the end, in terms of knowing that your voice is being heard and knowing that you're standing up for something bigger than yourself.” - Tziarra King

Episode 30. Brittany Brown - Navigating the Transition from College to Pro. Dec 07, 2020

Show notes

DESCRIPTION

Brittany Brown, Team USA Track & Field athlete, professional Adidas sponsored sprinter and 2019 world champion medalist joins us on this week's episode to speak about the lessons she has learned throughout major transitions during her athletic journey. She emphasizes the power of creating a strong support system and the importance of physical and mental health. We dive into the very real feelings we all face about our bodies and the desire to feel validation from others both in and out of sport. During her Division I career Brittany achieved All American status 11 times but it wasn’t without heartbreak and challenges. She now heads into the professional world with a new perspective that we can all learn from regardless of what stage in our sport careers we are currently in today.
“Now I'm built, I'm more muscular, and that doesn't make me less feminine. That doesn't make me less of a woman, and that doesn't make me overbearing and too strong. It makes me "me." - Brittany Brown

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