With You: A Womxn’s Rugby Podcast

Welcome back for season 2's finale! Episode 15 is the second of two episodes featuring Angela Smarto, NCR D1 director, Penn State alum, & head coach of Robert Morris University. In the first, we looked at collegiate restructuring post 2020 in regards to the USA Rugby bankruptcy & the global pandemic. Today, Smarto shares her joy & calls us to action - to support our local clubs & alumni collegiate teams alike. For more about NCR, upcoming tournaments & to get in touch visit ncrugby.org WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co

Episode 14 is one of two episodes featuring Angela Smarto, NCR women's director, Penn State alum, & head coach of Robert Morris University. Not familiar with National Collegiate Rugby? You're about to be. Smarto talks reorganizing after the 2020 break & IG stalking teams to get them reconnected. Tune in next week for part 2 of this episode featuring joy & ways to support our collegiate teams. For more about NCR, upcoming competitions & more visit ncrugby.org WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co

Bri (she/they) brings the coaching perspective to episode 13 of season 2. Now settled outside Greenville NC, Bri shares how she came to coach for the Greer 76ers & how it's been getting back into coaching after the pandemic. If you in the upstate of North Carolina & looking for youth rugby (middle & high school), check out Greer Youth Rugby! https://www.cityofgreer.org/958/Youth-and-High-School-Rugby WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co

Episode 12 features Jess, former D1 captain & current starting WPL fullback for the Colorado Gray Wolves. We chat fall return to play & how she thought about giving up the sport, but what kept her coming back. Support the Wolves on their road to nationals & follow along on IG @cograywolves WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co

Episode 11 features Tink, winger and former co-captain of the Colorado Gray Wolves D1 side (FKA Glendale Merlins). We chat leadership & rebranding, as well as, Tink's path to rugby & how she's finding joy in rookies. Support the Wolves on their road to nationals & follow along on IG @cograywolves WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co

Episode 10 features Tamara, returning to play after raising a couple kids & excited to be part of a new social team practicing in Camp Pendleton, California. The Warriors were founded in January 2020 & even against the separation of covid, have built a social team & are back to the pitch. You can check out a Camp Pendleton Warriors game or boot up for practice by following along on IG @warriorswomensrugby_2020 WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co

Meg (they/them) captained the Denver Black Ice last fall & this spring. This episode serves as reflection into the past, as Meg & Sus talk fall RTP as Black Ice just finished up their spring season. Meg has so many great thoughts & reflections, I hope they prompt thought in you! Meg is a musician. You should give them a listen! You can find their work at unclemeg.com or on IG @unclemegmusic and listen along on Spotify under the artist name Uncle Meg If you're in Denver & looking for an awesome D1 team to play with, reach out at denverblackicerugby.com or follow along on IG @blackicewrfc WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co

Episode 8 highlights four guests from Season 1 of WITH YOU. The first three are clips about family members who had a big impact of their rugby lives. The last is a clip from Pinto the Bean, one of our rugby elders, and someone who's committed so much of her life to the game. Lina's rugby origin story & coming out is available in Season 1 Episode 17. Sarah's whole story can be heard in the back catalogue at Season 1 Episode 20 Katie Cross talks a lifetime of rugby on Season 1 Episode 13. And Pinto's full episode is available in Season 1 Episode 18. We'll be back next week with a full RTP episode. WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co

Christina joins us as rugby elder this week. She walks up through a stint with breast cancer & finding her home again in rugby, where she can't believe she ever left. If you're in the Columbia, Missouri area, reach out to the Black Sheep through their page https://m.facebook.com/MidMoRugby/ WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co

Aadra joins the show as the youngest of WITH YOU guests. She play varsity rugby as a freshman at Eagan High School outside Minneapolis, moonlights as the Amazons water girl, & is committing her life to rugby. If you're in the Twin Cities, check out a Eagan Rugby match & cheer Aadra on! https://www.eaasports.org/rugby WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co

This week Grace joins the podcast to talk return to play at Berkeley and about transgender rights, access, & boundaries. You can find her advocacy work on IG @rugbyforall.co If you're in the Bay Area, check out the Berkeley All Blues or watch a match! https://www.berkeleyallblues.com IG: @allbluesrugby WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co

Mudge returns to WITH YOU for a convo about joining the Berkeley All Blues & on return to play protocols. Sus & Mudge also chat about taking care of our bodies as we age in rugby. If you want to hear more from Mudge, check out Season 1, Episode 2 for her rugby origin story. If you're in the Bay Area, check out the Berkeley All Blues or watch a match! https://www.berkeleyallblues.com IG: @allbluesrugby WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co

Episode 3 is an homage to women's history month & in celebration of International Women's Day. It features throwback clips from episode 10 of season 1 & a teaser from a future episode- both centering around women's experiences in rugby as it's become a space for their growth and expression. To hear more from Leslie, check out Episode 4 of Season 1 in the main feed of WITH YOU. For more about Grace's experience, listen in for a future episode or check out her work for trans inclusion on IG @rugbyforall.co

Episode 2 features Jess Brown, scrum half at the Pittsburgh Forge & a professional fitness coach. With Sus, she reflects on return to play and the two examine how a healthy mindset & developing mindfulness skills can affect one's performance on the rugby pitch. If you're in the Pittsburgh area, and interested in a successful women's club, check out the Forge! https://pghrugby.com/womens-club IG @pittsburghrugby Follow along with Jess Brown & inquire about coaching services on IG @jessbrownfit // WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co

Episode 1 of Season 2 features Patsy's return to play with the Pittsburgh Forge from a break before the covid era. Patsy's found a new love in the Forge and has been examining and rebuilding her confidence on the rugby pitch. She was featured on episode 4 of Season 1, if you want to hear her rugby origin story. Cheers! If you're in the Pittsburgh area, and interested in a successful women's club, check out the Forge! https://pghrugby.com/womens-club IG @pittsburghrugby Follow along with Patsy on IG @eleanor_and_i // WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co

Buckle up for a second season of WITH YOU, where guests join Sus to reflect on return to play in 2021.

Alli is one of Sus's favorite humans on this planet. She helped get WITH YOU off the ground & now shares her story to finish off Season 1 of the show. This conversation is tender & vulnerable, as Al tells about her experiences of loss & decline of her mental health until injuries forced her to step away from the pitch. She shares on discovering this correlation & how she's taken steps more recently to prevent injury. Then, the two get into the curiosity that brought Alli back to the pitch & how she's found a new space of belonging & been able to fall back in love with the game. Along the way, the two explore the idea of “honoring your weird” as well as reflect on how women's rugby has grown so much in the US in the last decade. Don't miss a collective glory moment for the Hoosier women against Penn State & a lit afterparty. Enjoy! WITH YOU will be taking a break through the fall to envision & produce Season 2. If you have ideas or thoughts for the show, please reach out to Sus! For more information about how to be a guest on the show, or for questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out to Sus at the email address below. Check out our website for episode transcripts.

Lauren helped make this first season of WITH YOU possible by sharing with her rugby communities & this week y'all get the treat of hearing her rugby story. As a college student, she found a local D2 women club to join, fell in love with rugby, & stuck around 7 years before seeking more competitive play. A tour to Australia gave Lauren the itch to make herself uncomfortable, so she joined WPL team Chicago North Shore & played 7s with the Chicago Lions. Lauren shares with Sus how she found “type 2” fun at ARPTC, where she's spent the last 4 summers in residency. They finish out the convo with a discussion on starting an intercity rugby program for youth girls in Little Rock, how she's thought to provide a space for them to grow & also allow a proper support network by considering resources. They finish the convo with a wonderful memory from Barbados 7s & how Lauren proved she really is a “big bear.” Enjoy! For more information about how to be a guest on the show, or for questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out to Sus at the email address below. Check out our website for episode transcripts.

Shevi found herself on a rookie collegiate team that saved her from dropping out of school & allowed her to become familiar with her own identity. Shev shares with Sus what a life changing experience it was for her when she realized the rugby team could be her family away from home. She was introduced to cultures outside of the one she grew up in & formed important friendships along the way. She began to see exercise in a different light. Rugby was also her first introduction to the LGBTQIA+ community & was a safe space for her to own being gay. Don't miss the story of an ass out try for the closer! For more information about how to be a guest on the show, or for questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out to Sus at the email address below. Check out our website for episode transcripts.

Sarah has been playing rugby since middle school but she's been watching her older brothers play rugby since early elementary school. From the founding of a girls 7s team and moving into high school XVs, she found her best friend & an undying love for rugby. Plagued by injuries in college, she took some time away from the pitch, but didn't want to let go. This led her to an internship with USA Rugby, working closely with the 2016 Men's 7s National team on their road to the Rio Olympics. While in Chula Vista, she found her way back to the pitch, the. to Canada for high level play, and then to NYC as a coach with Play Rugby USA. Sus & Sarah chat coaching, reffing, & so much more. Don't miss Sarah's high school rugby glory moment all the way at the end! Oh & somewhere along the way there's a great story told about getting the nickname “Daddy.” https://playrugbyusa.org if you want to find more about what Play Rugby USA is currently doing in outreach & youth rugby! WITH YOU is looking for just one more guests to come on the show! If you've ever been part of a womxn's rugby program, I want to hear from you

Sully has spent the last decade of her life finding ways to stay involved in rugby. A collegiate ACL tear became a gateway into a Master's thesis researching rugby, an internship for Rugby Illinois, and then a job with USA Rugby. In Episode 19, Sus & Sully jump around exploring what she's learned along the way, her experiences coaching, changing teams, and then they dive into rugby in Australia. There's lots of pitch talk sprinkled throughout & so much detail into rugby culture Down Under. The end features a very special try for Sully against a stacked Wallaroos team. Listen to the end to hear about it! http://www.rahrahrugby.com for some opportunities to play abroad! WITH YOU is looking for just a couple more guests to come on the show! If you've ever been part of a womxn's rugby program, I want to hear from you

Pinto The Bean joins Sus on episode 18 to talk 25 years (!!!!!!!!!) of rugby. She “accidentally” wandered away from her debutante destiny and onto a rugby pitch in college & never looked back. She's a founding member of both the collegiate women's team at Northern Illinois University & the Fox Valley Vixens, and by design has never been a rookie. After a break from playing, Pinto was saved from a toxic relationship & pulled back to the pitch at an alumni game for NIU. From there, she funneled her energy into admin roles & has been playing ever since! There's so much here it's hard to describe, but topics of travel, tours, organizing reunions, coaching, & front row life are all touched on plus more. To finish out the episode, Pinto shares a sneaky “old girl” moment on manipulating a maul & gets Sus laughing over her prowess. Have fun y'all!! WITH YOU is looking for just a couple more guests to come on the show! If you've ever been part of a womxn's rugby program, I want to hear from you

Lina takes the stage on Episode 17, where she & Sus dive into her rugby career. Starting at UMBC, Lina transferred to University of Vermont her sophomore year, where she got the sweet nickname Hector, found a chosen family, & was able to fully embrace her queer identity. Sus & Lina chat details of playing all different positions on the field & how the confidence gained on the pitch reflects into real life. To close out the episode, Lina shares how grief prompted her coming out & how the rugby community was the perfect place to do it. Listen to the end for a memory from Lina's first rugby game witnessed by her entire family & how long it too her mother to come out to see another match. Enjoy! As always, WITH YOU is looking for more guests to come on the show! If you've ever been part of a womxn's rugby program, I want to hear from you

Episode 16 features Jordyn, who found rugby in college after choosing not to play in high school from the fear of injury. Sus & Jordyn look into her early athletic endeavors & how Jordyn built resilience through them (think being the only girl on a youth wrestling team) & then get into how she found herself at rugby practice sophomore year. Jordyn very bravely shares about her struggles with mental health & how rugby impacted her, as well as, how the rugby team became a safe place for her to embrace part of her sexuality which had previously been uncovered. They also talk the Kinsey Scale, tackling, switching from forwards to backs, & how hard it is to leave the game, before Jordyn gives Two Truths & A Lie a go. Find out if Sus gets it right this time by listening to the end! As always, WITH YOU is looking for more guests to come on the show! If you've ever been part of a womxn's rugby program, I want to hear from you

Episode 15 is a deep dive between two best friends. Fati comes on the show to chat with Sus & they get into Fati's rugby origin story, how she left soccer & found camaraderie in college rugby, & then left college & wandered onto the Glendale WPL team. The convo has a natural flow to it, exploring how Fati's nickname (La Gorda) affected her perception of herself growing up & how she turned parts of it around through sports. The two chat for awhile about the environment at Glendale WPL & how it further affected Fati's relationship to her body, & what the transition of leaving rugby was like. There's gold (aka wisdom) in Fati's reflections of how she's carrying rugby culture into her everyday life that you absolutely must not sleep on. And in true character, Fati conjures up a very punny joke to finish out the chat. Here's to hoping you laugh along with this one because there's a lot of laughing throughout! CW: just a few curse words, as usual it's very casual As always, WITH YOU is looking for more guests to come on the show! If you've ever been part of a womxn's rugby program, I want to hear from you

Episode 14 features Jaz, who shares how she found rugby, proving her athleticism by doing both cheer & rugby in high school. She was almost run off from rugby by the conditioning, but it may have been tackling that kept her coming back. She took a break in college, but found her way back to the pitch junior year & on to the Indy women's club after graduation & then WPL at Berkeley. Alongside her story, Jaz shares the ways she grew to accept & embrace her body, on moving cross country for WPL rugby at Berkeley & coming to embrace her bisexuality. To wrap up the convo, Jaz shares her current experience coaching her alma mater high school club, North Central in Indianapolis. The convo is sprinkled with lots of pitch talk throughout, but who couldn't guess that? Don't miss the end where Sus fails miserably at 2 Truths & A Lie! CW: just a few curse words, as usual it's very casual As always, WITH YOU is looking for more guests to come on the show! If you've ever been part of a womxn's rugby program, I want to hear from you

Katie Cross was born with rugby, likely in the womb first

Liz is a documentary filmmaker! Currently in post production, FURIOUS explores the legacy of the DC Furies Women's Rugby Club, speaking to founders & players & on what it means on the women who have dedicated their lives to the Furies club. The trailer for the film can be found at https://vimeo.com/547215559 & more about the project can be found at http://furiousthefilm.com/ Liz made a short documentary film in college exploring rugby & feminist which can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/lSGD_BBM5aU Sus & Liz also get into her rugby origin story. Her first love was soccer, but an overzealous vet planted a seed that grew unexpectedly. Earlier on in her life, Liz also discovered, through an injury at a middle school track met, that she has scoliosis. Sus asks questions & Liz explains with much grace the process of adjustment to living with scoliosis. They also timeline walk through a pair of ACL tears & the long recovery back to the pitch. You can read more about Liz's rugby life with scoliosis at https://www.dcfuries.com/blog/2020/4/6/player-perspective-the-athlete-i-want-to-be And as is fit, the last few minutes feature a fun memory involving kangaroo court & tape. Listen all the way through to find out how & why.

Episode 11 features Katie H- retired fullback, scientist en route to a PhD via studies on rugby & concussion, rugby referee, S&C coach for USA rugby. She worked as the scientist on the open letter to USA rugby in support of the rights of trans athletes & is a member of the USA rugby's T&D committee. She's doing a lot, to say the least

This one's for my UMBC alumni!! But also everyone who's played collegiate club rugby.... ok, it's for everyone else too

Kayla (she/her) is a High School athlete finishing her senior season, the first on the show so far! She gives Sus the rundown on how changing schools led her to rugby in the first place. Sus is totally impressed by the leadership skills she's already developed & captaining her HS team, & the two share on the struggles of finding healthy eating & exercise habits & relationship to body image. The convo dives into how Kayla's ARPTC residency marked a turning point in her life, finding her way out of a “dark place”, & how she was able to start to appreciate her abilities in a new way. They finish up with thoughts about rugby after HS graduation & how powerful it can be to find friendships with teammates who help you navigate life. How do Iowa HS selects & hand-me-down rugby shorts tie into Kayla's story? Listen all the way to the end to find out!

Fika (she/her) found rugby in chemistry class, whoda thunk? But She didn't find her happy place on the field until she volunteered to fill the fullback position a graduating senior left open and became aware of abilities she didn't know she had. What opened up the fullback game to her even more? A combo of having fun making up plays with the wings, being an “Easter egg” (as she puts it), & reluctantly enjoying summer 7s. Now working as an athletic trainer, she's carrying lessons of strength into her career. Find more details in audio

Judy (she/her) didn't like rugby for her first few years but a group of (badass) teammates kept pulling her back in. An experience at Vegas 7s & moving to the back line completely changed her perspective & now she's loving the game & imagining herself playing at higher & higher level. Along the way, Sus & Judy talk about how coaches can really make or break the game for individual players, letting her guard down over & over again, so much growth at ARPTC camp, & how she's planning for returning to play in the future. Hope y'all enjoy! CW: the littlest bit of gore As always, WITH YOU is looking for more guests to come on the show! If you've ever been part of a womxn's rugby program, I want to hear from you

Chef (she/her/boss) is a Baltimore rugger & has been leading Chesapeake Women RFC via president & forwards captain for a number of years now. Sus learns how rugby found Chef during Pridefest, they chat coach/player mentorship, & establishing a relationship with the Baltimore Flamingos, an International Gay Rugby (IGR) team. The convo turns real when the two get to talking about inclusivity & the responsibility we all have to continue to learn & becoming more accepting. Enjoy! CW: this episode includes explicit language. (It's casual though

Nick is a non-binary, gender fluid rugger who found womxn's rugby when they were looking for a competitive sport after high school. Sus & Nick chat expression of identity in different spaces before getting into traveling moments, what playing in the Netherlands is like, & how rugby has become a centering place through life's changes. Spoiler: rugby culture is rad everywhere!

Sus & Patsy, good friends, chat Patsy's rugby origin story. Then, finding a Varsity program & jumping on board, and finally playing internationally in New Zealand! This one has the funnest closer yet: 2 truths & a lie. Do you think Sus will guess correctly? Listen to the end to find out

Wow y'all. This one is PACKED with insights, laughs, and moments that stand still. Sus & Twiggs dive into her rugby origin story and how she fell in love with 7s. The pair digress into some proper positional shop talk here and there before coming around to a neck injury that left Twiggs bed bound and separate from her community. The realest nuance is how returning to play was a decision she had to make specifically for herself. Next, the biggest challenge of her rugby career yet- how motherhood has changed everything, and in ways not yet done developing. Listen to the end to find out how a muscular athlete got the nickname Twiggs! As always, WITH YOU is looking for more guests to come on the show! If you've ever been part of a womxn's rugby program, I want to hear from you

Sus chats with an old teammate from Chesapeake, Mudge. They walk through changing sport in college and then transitioning into city life and a womxn's team. Leadership, resilience, playing new positions, and team bonds come up, and the two end the chat with sports bra sprints to retrieve jerseys just minutes before kickoff. As always, WITH YOU is looking for more guests to come on the show! If you've ever been part of a womxn's rugby program, I want to hear from you

In the PREMIER episode, Sus catches up with a dear old friend from college, Maria. They reflect on their beginning years, how fear can hinder you even after an injury is healed, and how one's perspective changes in a community full of acceptance and overflowing with strength. TW/CW: discussion of body image and body shame. As always, WITH YOU is looking for more guests to come on the show! If you've ever been part of a womxn's rugby program, I want to hear from you

A call to action- meet me in the middle for a conversation about how womxn's rugby has changed your life and how you've grown along the way!