And So She Goes

How do you know what you want to be when you grow up if no one before you has paved the way? Well, that did not stop Jennifer King from chasing her dreams of coaching professional football. After a successful playing career in football, she made stops coaching basketball at Johnson and Wales and Dartmouth. In this episode she explains how current Washington Head Coach Ron Rivera gave her a chance to prove herself as an intern with the Carolina Panthers, followed by a position in Washington. Jennifer is the first African-American woman to be hired as a full-time coach in the NFL. We talk about why it's taken so long for women to get opportunities like these, what makes someone a good coach, and how important it is that our generation is doing away with the "good ole boys club" in sports.

From playing soccer and acting as a kid in LA, to covering the Angels, the Kings, the U.S. Women's National Team, hosting American Ninja Warrior and so much more, Alex Curry has found success in many ways. It's the "how" she found all of these opportunities that will likely surprise you. Heck, they will surprise anybody. In this episode, we talk about the importance of persistence, where her sense of self-confidence comes from, and how there's always an opportunity to be better. No matter what.

After spending the past 11 months interviewing and highlighting other incredible women in the sports industry, Amanda Borges, Creator and Host of this show, decided it was time to let you in on her story. Amanda found her calling early on during a high school internship with a local TV station. She pursued journalism and sport management in college and then went on to host radio shows, report on all kinds of sports, travel with an NHL team, host fantasy football shows, and much more. She's made stops at Yahoo Sports, the New York Rangers, 1010XL Jacksonville Sports Radio, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Genesis Communications, and IMG College. This episode digs into her past, gives a glimpse of her uncertain present, and highlights the hope she has for the future of her career.

As the first female to lead one of the PGA Tour's six global tours, Alex Baldwin can educate anyone on how to lead a team and how to do with grace and respect. She started her career as a sports agent working for IMG, Fenway Sports Management, and CAA. After spending years representing professional athletes from all over, she committed to golf and dedicated herself to the practice of getting the best of the best on a big stage. In this episode, we talk about what it takes to be a good leader, she gives advice on entering into a management role without experience, focusing on relationships with people, and what she learned in 2020.

If you call her a dreamer, then you also have to call her a doer. Heather Pink is someone that most of us would put in the "she has it all" category. And she did. Until she didn't. She worked her way through the sports industry as a reporter, producer, director, social media manager and more. From small stations, all the way to the NFL Network. She's worked with NFL players and on-camera talent to have a hand in multiple shows you've seen on TV. Yet, there was a void. What if she went out on her own and started her own company? Well, that's what she is currently discovering.

What started as a delicious snack to get her and her former NFL player husband through their yearly body cleanse, has turned into a full time business. Erica Liu Williams created Gr8nola because she couldn't find granola that was healthy and also tasted good. And let me tell you, her granola is outrageously tasty. In this episode, we talk about her experience as 13-year-old swimming at the U.S. Olympic Trials and what that taught her about life as a whole. She gives advice on how to enjoy the process of whatever you do, and explains how to trust yourself when going after what you want.

Seven years ago, Tori moved from Florida to Detroit to start a journey that would bring her so many different things-- cold weather, an amazing community of people, a plethora of stories to tell, and opportunities she will always be thankful for. As the Team Reporter and Host for the Detroit Lions, Tori's job requires her to tell stories about the team in a variety of ways, especially during a pandemic. In this episode, we talk about what she's learned about herself this year, traits we all should have to be successful in anything we do, and how she's helped the sisterhood of women in sports stay strong.

Have you ever had a really good idea and then actually brought it to life? If you're like me, that answer is no. If you're Ellen Hyslop, the answer is...well, I'm sure you know where I'm going here. As a sports fan, Ellen and her friends realized there was a huge gap when it came to fans and how they consumed their sports news. So, the three of them co-founded The Gist. Their mission is to level the playing field when it comes to talking and learning about sports. They're creating an awesome community of people, called Gisters, who come from all walks of life. In this episode, we talk about starting a company from an idea to now having more than 40 employees, creating company culture, becoming a leader, and so much more.

If you look deep into the soul of an entrepreneur, you'll find a few things-- tenacity, grit, assertiveness, a little bit of luck, and a lot of risk taking. Sanja Komljenovic embodies all of those traits and more. She is fierce. She is intelligent, and she is not afraid of overflowing her cup. After spending time with the Los Angeles Clippers and Nike, she went out on her own to start ONA Creative, a female-lead a boutique brand marketing agency. Not to ruin the story for you, but she is awesome and her business is also awesome, with big plans to expand.

Ever wonder what it takes to plan sporting events, big and small? As the Chief Operating Officer of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl 55 Host Committee and the VP of Events for the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Claire Lessinger can give you a crash course. Using her playing and coaching career to her advantage, Claire has climbed to the top of the leader board as the queen of event planning for Tampa. Her biggest test is still to come, but she is enjoying every minute of planning The Big Game.

Renee Hanson grew up tall. After serving in the Army, she decided to start a clothing line for kids who need long in-seams, just like she did. Fast forward 10 years later, and she is now one (if not the only) female-owned brand with official on-field rights with the MLB for her products. Manufacturing in the USA, Renee makes non-stick athletic headbands, and as of recently, face masks and neck gaiters. In this episode, Renee tells an awesome story about Phillies player Bryce Harper, the importance of pivoting as an entrepreneur, and what she's learned along the way.

When Olivia Landis moved from her home state of Colorado to the Northeast to become the Team Reporter for the New York Jets four years ago, she didn't imagine she would get to use her platform in such an impactful way. Recently, as part of the team's in-house production crew, Olivia has launched a podcast about women in sports. She produces and hosts the show, talking with big-name women in the industry. She joined me to talk about her career so far, what her hope is for her podcast, and the importance of focusing on the here and now (something I know I needed to hear).

Kelly Brooks and Danijela Covic are Co-Founders of Quarter4, a startup that is the easiest-to-use, online predictive sports platform, incorporating AI and machine learning algorithms, as well as voice technology, to determine the probability of wins and losses and player vs player outcomes, in just minutes. My favorite part of their story (spoiler alert) is that it all happened on accident and now they are celebrating so much success.

Ashley Hart is the CEO and founder of a start-up called She Plays, the only daily fantasy sports platform dedicated exclusively to women’s sports. Their mission is to build the popularity of women’s sports through fantasy sports. According to Ashley’s model, fantasy sports have the power to bring engagement, TV viewership, and revenue to women’s leagues, and the fans have the power to make it happen. So, she started this company to do just that...she also has two podcasts that feature conversations with female athletes and influencers, and she is really making waves by creating this awesome community.

This past summer, Melanie Newman was hired as the first woman play-by-play broadcaster for the Baltimore Orioles, making her only one of four active women in that role in the MLB. In this episode, we talk about all the "no's" that led her to this very important "yes", what several years in this industry has taught her, and how thankful she is for the opportunity to have a job that allows her to do so many different things like sideline reporting and hosting.

As a collegiate swimmer, Ashley Brewer didn't look far past her daily laps in the pool until a random internship introduced her to TV. She was instantly hooked and has quickly made her way from local tv to the national level, recently signing on with ESPN to host a show for their new app, Quibi. She also hosts a new weekly radio show for the network on Sunday nights. Ashley will be making her SportsCenter debut soon, which we talk a lot about. In this episode, we discuss the stigma surrounding personal and work life balance, what her goals are for the end of the year, why supporting other women is so important, and how being yourself is the first step to achieving success.

Meghan has had an entreprenurial spirit for a long time. Having had experience in analytics and seeing a need for more of it in sports, she co-founded Stathletes. Her company now works with 22 hockey leagues around the world, providing data to help them win. Often the only woman in the room, Meghan is a force to be reckoned with. She does not have time for doubters, but she will make time to support other women and mentor young people who could one day follow in her footsteps. In this episode, we talk about how she started her company, what makes a great entrepreneur, why there aren't many women in sports tech, and what legacy she hopes to leave on this industry.

Growing up in LA, Jen Munoz has her parents to thank for driving her all over to chase a soccer ball. She knew from a young age that she wanted to play professionally one day, but she had no idea where that dream would take her. After years of perfecting her craft, she showed up to a random tryout. Well, that tryout was for a team called Club America Femenil in Mexico and they loved her so much they signed her. Today, she lives in Mexico, playing soccer for a living, learning Spanish and immersing herself in the soccer culture there. Her long-term goal is to create an organization that supports kids and introduces them to soccer, giving them resources to pursue it in college. Jen recognizes her own blessings and wants people to understand that athletes are more than just what they produce on a field.

Her dad is a football coach, her brother is a football player. Amanda Pflugrad grew up in a sports family and when she figured out that broadcasting was a career she could chase and be successful in, a whole new world opened up for her. She's covered a multitude of sports-- gymnastics, track and field, football, and basketball. Currently, she lives in Boston working as the Team Reporter and Host for the Boston Celtics. In this episode, we talk about what it's like to cover an NBA team in the bubble, while she's not. We cover the challenges of moving all over the place to make it in this industry and how important it is to make and keep female friends who understand the grind of sports.

Falling in love with NASCAR happened overnight for Kaitlyn Vincie. Well actually, all it took was one race and she was hooked. She wroted about the sport for her college newspaper, took internships, posted YouTube videos, doing everything she could to set herself up for a big job at Fox Sports, covering the sport she loves. Kaitlyn is now a mom of a 3-year-old, and currently carrying her second child. She thanks NASCAR for not only providing her an amazing career, but for also building her family. Yep, she met her husband through the sport, too. Kaitlyn is a pioneer for women everywhere, proving it is possible to create a life you love, covering a sport that not everyone is exposed to. And if you ask her to convince you to become a NASCAR fan, she will. Easily.

In college, Lauren Jbara had to make a tough decision--continue studying to become a doctor or switch to broadcasting. I'm sure you can figure out what she chose. Since graduation, she has covered the Detroit Lions. Detroit Pistons, high school sports, and now she works as the Colorado Avalanche Host and Reporter for Altitude TV. Lauren's passion and humility oozes as she reports on the team and interviews players. While the team excels in the playoffs, Lauren is in Denver reporting from outside the NHL bubble. We talk about the challenges that come with that, how much confidence she has in this Avs team, who she models her reporting style after, and so much more.

Her dream to be on a national stage came true, but it still didn't feel fulfilling. "When is enough, enough?" That's the question Niki Noto Palmer asked herself as she realized it was time to really look inward and decide on a shift. Growing up a boisterous child, she earned the "becoming a talk show host" superlative early on (in 4th grade to be exact). She took that and ran with it, covering everything from college basketball and football to hockey for ESPN, the ACC, the Atlanta Falcons, Fox Sports and more. She was living her dream of talking about sports on tv when she met her now-retired NFL player husband. When they started growing a family, Niki was faced with a decision she wasn't expecting. In this episode, we talk about whether being addicted to ambition is good or bad, and how you can still have a dream and choose to evolve.

Although her childhood was very unique, Caley Chelios didn't think it was all that different from anyone else's. She grew up at hockey rinks, watching her dad play in the NHL for many years. Looking back, it's the reason why she's dedicated her career to the sport. Caley was hired as an on-camera Reporter and Host for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2016 and has since expanded her role into the radio broadcast booth, providing color analysis for home and away games. Not sure if you've noticed but there aren't very many women doing color in the NHL. Caley spouts off a few of her favorites, the ones she looks up to and uses as motivation to press on in this male dominated space.

Growing up with 5 other siblings, being competitive is simply a way of life for Angel Gray. That mindset of always wanting to win has fueled her throughout her adulthood--as a collegiate basketball player at Florida State, and after college in her career as a sports broadcaster. In college, Angel competed at a high level on the court. After an injury sidelined her for some time, she knew she needed to find a way to keep sports in her life, even after the "ball stopped bouncing." That's where her broadcasting dream began to take shape.

It's not until you dig a little deeper into Amber Theoharis' career that you will learn that time and time again, someone else got the job she auditioned for. Luckily, she didn't let that stop her. It took Amber 9 years to make the jump from local TV to the national level. She's worked for Fox Sports, FS1, NFL Network, and Westwood One. She's covered Super Bowls, she's interviewed countless athletes, worked football sidelines, and hosted tons of live shows. She also produces documentaries, one that will be released on HBO very soon. She recently created a role for herself for a new gaming app, as the VP of Original Programming for WinQuik.

After moving to the west coast from Kentucky to try law school years ago, Savannah Foster decided to take a receptionist position at a full service agency representing professional athletes and coaches, called Athletes First. Year after year, she worked hard to prove she could do more. She grew into several roles in the company and now serves as the VP of Client Relations. She's also a certified NFL Agent who can hold her own in a negotiation room, even when visibly pregnant (yes, that actually happened).

Justine Siegal became the first woman to coach a professional men’s baseball team in 2009, the Brockton Rox of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. 2 years later, she became the first woman to throw batting practice for an MLB team during spring training. Since then, she has thrown BP to the Oakland A’s, the Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, and the New York Mets. In this episode, we talk about how she got those opportunities, spoiler alert, it took a lot of no’s before she got a yes...we also talk about what it was like being the only female on a coaching staff, her vision for the future of women in coaching pro sports, and her nonprofit to promote equality in baseball, called “Baseball for All". She also has a PhD in Sports Psychology.

After holding impressive roles as a reporter for ESPNW, a Social Media Producer for the MLB, and working as an Account Manager for VaynerMedia, she set out to carve her own path. Soon after making that leap, she booked her first client and created "Social Victories". Almost 3 years in, she's helped multiple professional athletes create a second career for themselves, and she's even written a book about her journey. 

Growing up and spending all of her career in the Northeast has provided Kathryn really incredible opportunities to cover a multitude of sports, teams, and players. She knew that she wanted to a sports broadcaster from an early age (middle school to be exact) and after playing college sports, she worked hard to get into the business. In this episode, Kathryn and I talk about the NHL's new plan to return to game action, what players and coaches are thinking during this time, and how NBC Sports is planning their broadcast coverage. We dive into the beginning of her career in local news, learning how to take criticism from people you trust, and knowing it's okay to reach the top and still be working on yourself.

In an effort to learn how to be a better ally to my black friends, neighbors, and colleagues, I had an open and honest dialogue with my friend Kimberley Martin. Kimberley and I worked together at Yahoo Sports. She recently made the jump to ESPN to cover and write about the NFL. She's a talented journalist, a generous spirit, and an honest human. I wanted to go to her to speak openly about race, social injustice, and how each of us play a part in all of it. The goal of this episode is to encourage you to have your own productive conversations with people you love and and maybe some folks you don't even know. Staying silent has proven to be ineffective and it's time we understand how to better serve and support the black community--our fellow human beings.

Last year, Rashida made history as the first African American woman to independently represent MLS and NFL athletes, at just 27 years old. How incredible is that? She has built relationships with many big name clients throughout the years like NFL Running Back Devonta Freeman, San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel, Patriots Wide Receiver N'Keal Harry, and a few MLS players. Although it hasn't been easy, her work ethic and determination to succeed has propelled her at a time when the world around her is uncertain. In this episode, we dive into the importance of genuine relationship building, pivoting when necessary, and knowing your value. We also discuss the need for more diversity in sports marketing.

Growing up with two older brothers who rarely let her play outside with them, Katie George learned early on what fueled her-- being told "no". Figuring out how to navigate that word would not prove to be an easy task, but one that would eventually lead to her landing her dream job. Katie is a homegrown, down to earth Kentucky girl who lives and breathes Louisville sports. She grew up there, played college volleyball there, and after a stint in Milwaukee, lives there today. You wouldn't know it watching her give live reports from the sidelines of college football games, but Katie didn't make it to ESPN overnight.

As a former athlete, Fielding Jamieson always knew she wanted to work in sports. When she landed an internship with NBC Sports out of college, she found she had a knack for innovation. Since then, she has dedicated her entire career to helping big corporations leverage new technologies to grow. Her client list includes Adidas, Dick's Sporting Goods, Fox Sports, MLB, MLS, UEFA and more, who all rely on collaboration and new ideas from startups to stay a step ahead of competition. In this episode, Fielding and Amanda talk about the importance of being a doer, and what it takes to succeed in the tech industry. She gives great insight into a side of sports that we all experience regularly, but rarely know how it comes to fruition. She sheds a light on women in leadership roles around her and how she hopes to grow the number of females in tech and innovation in the years to come.

After growing up in a basketball family and playing herself, Cayleigh made the decision in college to put the ball down and pick up a microphone instead. Since then, she's has had the privilege of working for 3 NBA teams, the San Antonio Spurs, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and now the Houston Rockets. We talk about what it’s like working for 3 powerhouse teams in the NBA, interviewing big names like Russell Westbrook, and James Harden, and Coach Popovich, and so many others. Cayleigh had an unfortunate setback early in her career that she talks about, and we also get into whether or not basketball will be played again this season. Cayleigh offers great insight into life as a reporter in the NBA, the camaraderie between other females around the league, and her relationship with her mentor, Doris Burke.

With a background in entertainment news, Marissa talks to Amanda about how being openminded led her to her current role with the Coyotes. They discuss how Marissa has had to adjust her social strategy for the team due to COVID-19 and how their perspective has changed. She talks about the growth of women leaders in the NHL, genuine ways to grow your personal brand, and how becoming a mom has made her more successful in her role with the Coyotes.

This episode is all about expectations and how to let them go. Kirsten is someone who changed expectations for herself in order to become successful. She grew up in Canada, dabbled in modeling and then fell into sports. After realizing that she loved football, she decided she wanted to work in the NFL. Knowing she wasn’t the only one with that dream, she figured out a way to separate herself from others in the job application process...she did make it into the league, and has since held very impressive jobs, even being one of the highest-ranking women on an NFL team at just 28-years-old... Kirsten is thoughtful, kind, super intelligent, hardworking, and dedicated. She’s worked as a scouting coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, the Director of Business Ops for the Mamba Academy before it was what it is today (RIP Kobe), she’s been the Manager of Football Administration for the Jaguars, and a Contract Research and Salary Cap Analyst. Currently, she is the Manager of Football Administration for the Atlanta Falcons.

If you watch Laura on tv, you already know she is poised and bubbly and so smart. In this interview, she really opened up about so many specific things like when she learned how to be herself on camera, how she overcame an obstacle during her first MNF broadcast, her struggle getting pregnant and then adjusting to becoming a mom once it happened, how she navigated her pregnancy with a public career, and so much more. Amanda and Laura also talk about how different the NFL Draft process is with COVID-19 and the shelter in place guidelines.

As a former professional athlete, Katie Sowers had to learn to teach when she decided to get into coaching. Her dream was to make it to the NFL, and her journey has not only led her there, but also to a Super Bowl appearance. Katie talks to Amanda about the attention she's received as the first female to coach in a Super Bowl and what the mindset of the team is since the loss. They also talk about how her players are staying motivated during COVID-19 quarantine and who she admires the most in her life. 

As a reporter for Fox Sports Florida, covering the Florida Panthers and Miami Marlins, Jessica joins Amanda to discuss what the cancellation of sports means for her, how she got her start in sports, and what she's learned along the way. She also talks about how sports talk radio has made her better for tv, and the importance of having confidence in yourself, even when it's hard. 

ESPN's SportsCenter Anchor Sage Steele joins Amanda to talk about her recent experience hosting a live show from a volcano...they also dive into their first meeting at an airport, which leads to why we should all be kind to strangers. Sage details a time in her life when she had to choose between having a family and chasing her dream job--spoiler alert, she now has both. Sage has been working in sports broadcasting for many years and shares some of her favorites to cover over the years.

In this episode, Jamie Hersch talks to Amanda about the all-female show on NHL Network on International Women's Day, how she started in news and transitioned to sports, and what it's been like juggling a demanding career with a new baby. We recorded this interview before sports were cancelled due to the spread of Coronavirus.

While covering the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament in Nashville this past week, SEC Network Studio Host and Reporter Alyssa Lang gets the dreaded news that sports are cancelled. She talks about the current uncertainty in all sports because of Coronavirus, and we talk about her start in the sports industry. She also sheds light on how she balances personal life with a demanding career.

As a TV host, reporter and radio personality, Amanda has networked with and formed friendships with so many awesome women in the sports industry. After coming up with the idea to create this podcast years ago, it wasn't until she recently got laid off from her job that she decided to go for it. Episode 0 explains the why behind the creation of this show.