Podcasts about Golden State Warriors

Mark Willard and Ephraim Salaam discuss their biggest takeaways from cutdown day in the NFL, the impact of Aaron Donald’s decision to unretire and return to play for the Los Angeles Rams, why it’s unlikely that Josh Jacobs ever plays again for the Green Bay Packers, whether the Golden State Warriors should offer Steph Curry a maximum contract extension this summer, a few of their favorite fantasy football picks during draft season, which NFL team is most likely to go from worst-to-first in 2026, and much more! Plus, the guys hit us with another award-winning edition of Three Things where the fellas share their thoughts on three of the biggest stories they didn’t quite have time to get to during the rest of the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Super Producer Rob G (Robert Guerra) is in for Rob, and he and Kelvin debate whether it makes sense to keep Shedeur Sanders on your roster as a backup quarterback, explain why the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves with LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga are primed for a big step back this season, and tell us why Steph Curry should absolutely finish his career with the Golden State Warriors even as they drift off into obscurity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Super Producer Rob G (Robert Guerra) is in for Rob, and he and Kelvin tell us why Steph Curry should absolutely finish his career with the Golden State Warriors even as they drift off into obscurity. Plus, MLBBro.com managing editor JR Gamble swings by to help address the biggest baseball headlines in this week's edition of Foul or Fair. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Georges Niang signs a contract with the Golden State Warriors for his 11th NBA season and Chris Babb retires, Jake Brend wonders where the time has gone. Presented by Fareway Meat & Grocery in the Northwest Bank Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Golden State Warriors signed Brandon Williams and Georges Niang in free agency. On this episode of "Dubs Talk," Bonta Hill, Monte Poole, and Dalton Johnson break down the Warriors' new additions as Golden State's roster rounds out to 15. Then, the trio looks around the NBA at other recent moves and how they impact the wild Western Conference, before answering some fan mailbag questions. (02:30) - The Warriors sign Brandon Williams and Georges Niang in free agency (03:30) - Brandon Williams went off against the Warriors last season (07:30) - What will Williams' role in Golden State look like? (10:00) - Can Williams bring something the Warriors don't have? (12:00) - How will Williams hold up on defense? (13:00) - What are the Warriors getting with Niang? (19:15) - Other recent NBA moves (19:30) - Klay Thompson is taking his talents (and boat) to South Beach after signing with the Miami Heat (24:00) - After LeBron James decided not to go home to Cleveland, the Cavaliers gave James Harden a big three-year extension and traded for Peyton Watson (26:30) - How the Denver Nuggets trading Watson to the Cavs and signing DeMar DeRozan impacts the Warriors and the Western Conference (31:00) - Is the Eastern Conference stronger than the West? (37:00) - Dubs Talk mailbag (37:15) - Where does Will Richard factor into this upcoming season? (41:30) - Bonta, Monte, and Dalton's thoughts on Williams and Niang's fit with the Warriors? (46:30) - Gui Santos and Brandin Podziemski making a leap this season also could be counted as an addition that is not being talked about Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with Erika Swilley, Executive Director of the NBPA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the National Basketball Players Association. Swilley explains how the foundation turns NBA player fines into matching grants. Her core message applies to any nonprofit leader: intent is not enough, and lasting impact comes from focus, not volume.About the guest. Erika Swilley has spent more than two decades in sports philanthropy, including senior community and social responsibility roles with the Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, and Chicago Sky. She now leads the NBPA Foundation, where she created the Fined and Philanthropic campaign and advises active and retired players on building genuine, durable community impact.Quick SummaryThe NBPA Foundation funds much of its work through pooled player fines, then matches player donations up to $25,000 a year for active players and $15,000 for many retired players.The Fined and Philanthropic campaign educates players, agents, and families on where fine money goes and how to tap the match.Swilley pushes players away from one-off events like turkey drives and toward year-round, focused giving that builds a legacy.Most young players are steered away from starting their own foundation and toward donor-advised funds, fiscal sponsors, or established nonprofits.Nonprofits can connect with the foundation through its website or LinkedIn to be considered for player partnerships.Inside the NBPA Foundation: how player fines fund community workThe NBPA Foundation is a nonprofit that channels NBA player fine money into community programming led by the players themselves. When players receive technical fouls or ejections, those fines are pooled and, at the end of the season, split between NBA Cares and the foundation.The foundation then reinvests those dollars through a matching grant program that has existed since 2015. Engagement has climbed sharply under Swilley, who describes the model as non-traditional because so much of the funding starts as penalties. In the 2025 offseason, the NBPA reported distributing roughly $1.6 million in matching grants from fine money.Player statusAnnual matching grant capActive players | Up to $25,000 per yearEligible retired players | Up to $15,000 per yearFined and Philanthropic: turning penalties into purposeFined and Philanthropic is the campaign Swilley created to show players exactly where their fine money goes and how to put it to work. Many players assumed their fines vanished into a black hole with no idea the money funded community programs they could tap.The campaign uses simple, memorable touches, including hats that tell players where their fine dollars land. The goal is awareness across the full circle around a player, meaning agents, family members, and team staff. Swilley spent 19 years on the team side without knowing these resources existed, so she built the campaign to close that exact gap.

In Hour 2, Willard and Dibs discuss Klay Thompson's new contract with the Miami Heat, and if the Golden State Warriors could've made that deal happen. Also, will Christian Kirk make the Week 1 roster for the San Francisco 49ers? It's up in the air. The guys also discuss why the San Francisco Giants season has created a boring atmosphere in the Bay Area, and why Willard hasn't felt truly excited to watch a sports game in a long time.

In Hour 1 of Willard & Dibs, Mark Willard and Dan Dibley discuss San Francisco 49ers rookie WR De'Zhaun Stribling's epic first two preseason games after another strong showing in last night's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Dibs isn't sold, and notices some hypocrisy. But Willard is ALL in. Later, they're joined by former NFL offensive lineman and analyst Geoff Schwartz to discuss his recent comments regarding the 49ers and his strong belief that they haven't drafted well. In Hour 2, Willard and Dibs discuss Klay Thompson's new contract with the Miami Heat, and if the Golden State Warriors could've made that deal happen. Also, will Christian Kirk make the Week 1 roster for the San Francisco 49ers? It's up in the air. The guys also discuss why the San Francisco Giants' season has created a boring atmosphere in the Bay Area, and why Willard hasn't felt truly excited to watch a sports game in a long time. In Hour 3, Willard and Dibs break down Kyle Shanahan's postgame press conference following their preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers. They also hear from Brock Purdy, who appeared on the Pat McAfee show where the 49ers' quarterback said he wanted to be "the machine." They also play a tough, well-fought game of higher or lower. In Hour 4, Willard and Dibs discuss how Ricky Pearsall's injury could speed up rookie WR De'Zhaun Stribling's season.

Damon Bruce and Ty Butler discuss the latest news out of NFL training camps, including Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles struggling against the New England Patriots, and how C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans will be impacted after losing Jayden Higgins. Then, Damon and Ty break down the biggest sports misconceptions surrounding the New York Knicks, the Golden State Warriors, and the San Francisco 49ers electrical substation. Later, Damon and Ty answer your questions. #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Hour 3, Willard and Dibs wonder why Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy receives criticism during his tenure. They also break down the recent receiver core the San Francisco 49ers have had, and whether this current group under head coach Kyle Shanahan is the best they've ever had -- especially with Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, De'Zhaun Stribling. 

In Hour 1 of Willard & Dibs, Mark Willard and Dan Dibley discuss the San Francisco 49ers' joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday morning. They banter about protecting players during training camp and joint practices. Later, they chat with football coaching legend Herm Edwards about the 49ers' wide receiver room with the addition of Mike Evans, why the team always deals with injuries, what happened with Brandon Aiyuk, the tough NFC West and more! In Hour 2, Willard and Dibs reflect on their interview with legendary NFL and college coach Herm Edwards, and point out a few of their favorite sports press conferences of all-time. Also, they react to Kevin Danna's EPIC call of Tip Hayes' buzzer-beating three during last night's Valkyries postseason-clinching victory. In Hour 3, Willard and Dibs wonder why Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy receives criticism during his tenure. They also break down the recent receiver core the San Francisco 49ers have had, and whether this current group under head coach Kyle Shanahan is the best they've ever had -- especially with Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, De'Zhaun Stribling. In Hour 4, Willard and Dibs continue discussing the San Francisco 49ers' current receiving room—featuring De'Zhaun Stribling, Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel—and whether they are the best WR core in the Kyle Shanahan-49ers era. They also listen to sound from Los Angeles Chargers head coach John Harbaugh about Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy.

Hour 4: This episode of the podcast is a hilarious and entertaining conversation between the host and a special guest, diving into a wide range of topics from sports to pop culture. The guest shares some funny stories about his childhood, including his experiences with paper routes and misheard song lyrics. The conversation also touches on the world of sports, with discussions about the Giants' struggles and the potential for the Golden State Warriors to make a comeback. The episode covers a variety of topics, including the guest's thoughts on the Giants' manager, Tony V, and the team's disappointing season. The guest also shares his opinions on the Golden State Warriors and their chances of making a comeback. Additionally, the conversation delves into the world of pop culture, with the guest discussing his favorite childhood memories and sharing some funny stories about his experiences with paper routes. One of the most entertaining parts of the episode is the discussion about misheard song lyrics, where the guest shares a hilarious story about thinking a song lyric was about Viagra instead of Niagara. The conversation also touches on the world of sports, with the guest discussing the Giants' struggles and the potential for the Golden State Warriors to make a comeback. If you're looking for a lighthearted and entertaining conversation that covers a wide range of topics, this episode is a must-listen. Join the host and his guest as they discuss everything from sports to pop culture, and don't miss out on the funny stories and memorable moments that make this episode a standout.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Willard and Dibs wonder why Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy receives criticism during his tenure.

Chris Mullin joins Bonta Hill, Monte Poole, and Dalton Johnson on "Dubs Talk" to give his thoughts on the Golden State Warriors' offseason thus far. The group dives into where the Warriors sit in the short- and long term after a fairly quiet offseason. Then, the guys look back at Don Nelson's career and legacy.       (02:30) - Chris Mullin joins the show and give his thoughts on the Golden State Warriors' offseason thus far (04:30) - How Yaxel Lendeborg has justified the Warriors picking him at 24 years old (06:00) - Will Yaxel be a Day 1 starter for Steve Kerr? How does he fit best? (09:00) - Longterm, are the Warriors sitting in a good spot with all their picks and salary cap getting cleared? (13:30) - Are the fans out of pocket for their reaction to the Warriors' lack of activity this offseason? (16:00) - Who does Mullin see outside of Steph Curry that can help Golden State get off to a good start without Jimmy Butler? (20:00) - Gui Santos has flown under the radar this offseason, can he make another jump this season and help the Warriors get off to a good start? (24:00) - Remembering Don Nelson: Mullin recalls his first time meeting Nelly (28:00) - Nelson's impact can be seen by the range of NBA names that spoke at his celebration of life, from Gregg Popovich, Steve Nash, Run TMC and more (35:30) - What was the process like for Mullin to bring Nelson back to the Warriors? (38:00) - How Nelly impacted Curry's career (44:30) - Nelson influenced a lot of coaches in the NBA, who influenced Nelly? (46:00) - Nelly was a very accomplished player, but rarely talked about it (49:30) - Nelly had an incredible basketball life, but also a tremendous life off the court (54:00) - Nelson was a genius on the basketball court, but was his brilliance bigger in practice or in the live games? (56:30) - Mullin's funniest Nelson memories Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

HOUR 1 In Hour 1 Spadoni & Shasky discuss the promising rookies on the roster, the runningback room as an area of concern, Stribling, Halton, Dugger and more! HOUR 2 In Hour 2 Spadoni & Shasky discuss the 49ers current roster needs and concerns, Shanahan preseason postgame presser, ability to draft talent and more! HOUR 3 In Hour 3 Spadoni & Shasky discuss 49ers preseason, Buster Posey and the Athletic article, Daniel Laurie joins to talk the MLB All Star Game and more! HOUR 4 In Hour 4 Spadoni & Shasky discuss the Warriors schedule release, the roster, their age and health, season prediction total and more!

In Hour 4 Spadoni & Shasky discuss the Warriors schedule release, the roster, their age and health, season prediction total and more!

Willard & Dibs join Steiny & Guru to discuss the Warriors, the front office, how every parent has a favorite child and more!

In Hour 3 Willard & Dibs discuss Joe Lacob and how he currently feels about the Warriors and their current approach for the season!

HOUR 1 - In Hour 1 Willard & Dibs discuss the start of the 49ers substation rumors, how Willard & Dibs possibly started it and more! HOUR 2 - In Hour 2 Willard & Dibs discuss the 49ers and are joined by Jennifer Lee Chan to talk 49ers, defense and more! HOUR 3 In Hour 3 Willard & Dibs discuss Joe Lacob and how he currently feels about the Warriors and their current approach for the season! HOUR 4 In Hour 4 Willard & Dibs discuss the 49ers upcoming pre season game, the offseason, the 49ers history of injuries and more!

Guru & Bonta get into the 49ers first preseason game, standout performances, Warriors public relations tactis, Curry's willingness to ask for a trade, the fans reaction to it, celebrity photos, lookalikes, and what an 'Unc' is. Tim Kawakami at 11a, Vic Tafur at 12p.

Guru & Bonta get into which big Bay Area rookie -- Lendeborg, Stribling, or Eldridge -- is going to pop before looking into the mirror to figure out which celebrities they most closely resemble.

Guru & Bonta chat with The San Francisco Standard's Tim Kawakami about the Warriors public messaging, lack of activity, and the 49ers first week of preseason. Plus, is Steph REALLY as frustrated as the fans?!

Guru & Bonta are curious about why Mike Dunleavy felt the need to speak on the inactivity of the summer and if he made things worse in the process.

Guru & Bonta are wondering why the Warriors front office feel compelled to talk during a down, inactive time before they chat with the San Francisco Standard's Tim Kawakami.

The Drive responded to the comparison that Kyle Brandt made about Bills QB Josh Allen, when he said he is like Steph Curry.

Miss any part of the show; catch up with the entire episode from today.

What does it take to perform at your highest level—not just once, but consistently, when the pressure is on? In this episode of the Super U Podcast, hosted by Erik Qualman, we sit down with Dr. Tom Mitchell, performance coach and former sports psychiatrist for the Golden State Warriors, to explore the mindset behind peak performance. Tom shares insights from his career working with elite athletes, coaches, and leaders, along with lessons from his book co-written with legendary quarterback Joe Montana. Tom also pulls back the curtain on his time working alongside Chris Mullin, his experiences as a college basketball coach and the unique lessons that coaching taught him about leadership, resilience, and bringing out the best in others. The conversation explores mentality, focus, and what it really takes to perform when the stakes are high. Tom shares practical strategies for staying present, maintaining confidence, handling pressure, and keeping your mind focused on what you can control.  Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, leader, or simply someone looking to perform at a higher level, this episode is packed with powerful stories and actionable lessons on developing the mindset to stay focused, overcome challenges, and become your best self. Five-time #1 Bestselling Author and Motivational Speaker Erik Qualman has performed in over 60 countries and reached over 60 million people this past decade. He was voted the 2nd Most Likable Author in the World behind the Harry Potter series. Have Erik speak at your conference: eq@equalman.com Motivational Speaker | Erik Qualman has inspired audiences at FedEx, Chase, ADP, Huawei, Starbucks, Godiva, FBI, Google, and many more on Focus and Digital Leadership.

Hour 4 - Mike Dunleavy and Joe Lacob did something no one asked them to do: they talked about the current state of the Warriors

The problem with a desire to trade Stephen Curry is there really is no deal out there that would satisfy the Warriors or their fans

In Hour 3, Willard and Dibs check in around the NFL and discuss the atmosphere around the Giants as they continue a horrendous 2026 season. They're greeted by Nick in San Francisco, who sounds awfully familiar, before reacting to the sound of Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg being impressed by Stephen Curry's shooting skills.

In Hour 1 of Willard & Dibs, Mark Willard and Dan Dibley break down Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy's comments about a possible Stephen Curry extension. They present the question of whether the Warriors would want Curry to want out in an effort to start a fresh slate. In Hour 2, Willard and Dibs are joined by NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell to break down the 49ers' defensive schemes and what missing Nick Bosa would mean for the defense's overall characteristics. Willard & Dibs also discuss how much they enjoy having Cosell on. In Hour 3, Willard and Dibs check in around the NFL and discuss the atmosphere around the Giants as they continue a horrendous 2026 season. They're greeted by Nick in San Francisco, who sounds awfully familiar, before reacting to the sound of Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg being impressed by Stephen Curry's shooting skills. In Hour 4, Willard and Dibs continue reacting to Mike Dunleavy's comments from yesterday's press conference, especially those regarding Stephen Curry's extension.

Looking at how Lacob describes his relationship with Kerr, his relationship with Dunleavy, Jaylen Brown trade and more!

Joe Lacob on the TK Podcast, he believes the Warriors are better than what people think, Joe Lacob on where he stands and more!

In Hour 1 of Willard & Dibs, Mark Willard and Dan Dibley break down Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy's comments about a possible Stephen Curry extension. They present the question of whether the Warriors would want Curry to want out in an effort to start a fresh slate.

  A weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. Hosts Miko Lee & Guest Host Mia Nakano celebrate Bayanihan in Ballhalla. Bayanihan is a core Filipino cultural value of community unity, and Balhalla is the home arena of the Golden State Valkyries. Apex Express was invited to join Filipino Heritage Night at the Valkyries game. We speak with the community behind this cultural celebration. That includes Al Perez, artists Venazir Martinez and Kristian Kabuay, and coach Carolyn Sideco about the history of Philippines and basketball. Links for more information: More information on our guests: Golden State Valkyries Al Perez, President of the Filipino American Arts Exposition Artist Venazir Martinez DJ P-LO Cultural Practitioner Kristian Kabuay Carolyn Sideco Coaching Kapwa Raquel Redondiez SOMA Pilpinas     Show Transcript: [00:00:00] Opening: Apex Express Asian Pacific expression. Community and cultural coverage, music and calendar, new visions and voices, coming to you with an Asian Pacific Islander point of view. It's time to get on board the Apex Express. [00:01:13] Miko Lee: Welcome to Apex Express. I'm your host, Miko Lee, and tonight is Bayanihan in Ballhalla. Bayanihan is a core Filipino cultural value of community unity, and Balhalla is the home arena of the Golden State Valkyries. Apex Express was invited to join Filipino Heritage Night at the Valkyries game. Tonight, please join me and my guest host, Mia Nakano, as we speak with the community behind this cultural celebration. That includes Al Perez, artists Venazir Martinez and Kristian Kabuay, and coach Carolyn Sideco about the history of Philippines and basketball. Join us. Today I have the honor of having my bestie with me who's gonna co-host Welcome to Apex, Mia Nakano.  [00:01:59] Mia Nakano: Hi, Miko. Thank you for having me.  [00:02:01] Miko Lee: I was invited to a Valkyries game, and I said, “Oh, my gosh, I need somebody with me that can speak basketball.” And so I thought of you.  [00:02:10] Mia Nakano: And here we are. And the Valkyries do put on a show. That's one of the things that makes them so great.  [00:02:15] Miko Lee: Yeah, it was super fun. It was Filipino Heritage Night, and so we got a chance to talk with the different artists that are there, what is the night about, what's the cultural celebration. What were some of the things that stood out to you?  [00:02:28] Mia Nakano: I think that it really got to the roots of, one, what a great sports city San Francisco and then just the broader Bay Area is, and two, the deep connections to the Filipino community that exists within the Bay Area. When you look at how historically the Warriors really came up and the fan shots from when they were at Oracle Arena, the huge fan base that was there initially was the Filipino community. To see that translate in a very different way as the Valkyries are coming up in the WNBA as this incredible team, second year, on their way to probably making the playoffs for the second year in a row, bringing that community back, particularly with all the connections of the artists, the activations, and even the food that they have in Chase Arena brings it full circle. [00:03:26] Miko Lee: Having Natalie Nakase as the coach there is so powerful and important representation for Asian Americans as well. The other thing that stood out to me was I did not know there was this history of basketball in the Philippines, and then to talk to the different guests on our show tonight about what that history represents, where it comes from, the connection to colonization, and then also how it's really developed into its own cultural phenomena in the Philippines. [00:03:55] Mia Nakano: I played basketball- All throughout junior high and high school and was very immersed in it in Southern California, but I had no idea that basketball was the national sport of the Philippines. After we came back from the game, I did a little a bit of a deep dive, and it was really wonderful to see that it actually started in the Philippines as a women's sport? And it was making sports more accessible to folks, and also very clearly connected to,, roots of colonization and religion. But to still have that anchor and connection there, and then this interesting juxtaposition where right now there has still never been a Filipina player in the WNBA. There are folks who people really thought were almost gonna make it. So there's still that one last phase that they need to break into this sport that is their national sport, but in the United States they're not quite there yet in terms of representation.  [00:04:55] Miko Lee: And talking with Coach Caroline, which people can hear later in the episode, about that history and how it was intended to be this women's sport in the Philippines because it was easier. They thought they'd give it to the women to play. But the men were watching going like, “Oh, this looks fun. This looks more fun than baseball. So it really just took off. I love that transition for that it went and across the country. A few of our guests talked about tenement basketball courts. It's just so wildly different from this country.  [00:05:25] Mia Nakano: I think that that is contextually just how sports are played in a lot of different countries in the world where they don't have access. When you think about people playing football, right, like soccer, in different areas where they are playing barefoot. They are playing in dirt or, like, fields that are not necessarily fields. I think that in the context of playing basketball differently in the Philippines versus the United States or even in European leagues, when the United States goes to play in the Olympics, even though you have the USA women's team, USA men's teams who are supposed to be the best of the best in the world, the way that the game is played at that particular level and arena is quite different. And so they all have to adjust to the physicality, to how calls are called just slightly differently. With smaller players in the WNBA what I find really incredible, and this is what Carolyn talks about a little bit, is like the layup packages? When you get close to the rim, you don't have a Filipino who just goes up and makes a regular layup. They do it with flair, right? There's a part of that maybe is a little bit of showmanship, but also it's a part of trying to sneak your way around bigger players so that you can get the basket. And anybody that you play against, even in a league that is familiar to you, you're gonna have to change your game up, and play to your strength, and also just know what you can't do in the game, and go to another person who has more of those strengths  [00:07:03] Miko Lee: One of the other things that stood out to me in talking with one of the artists, Christian, who was there in the outside, in the cultural area, and he was doing, pre-Filipino writing with folks, and we'll interview him later in the episode. He was saying how he does this activity at a lot of different games, but it was very different. That was the first time at the Valkyries, and he said the crowd was so different, that it felt like back in the day. It felt like community. There weren't tech bros. You feel like it, The audience was way more women, As someone that goes to Warriors' and Valkyries' games, do you notice a difference in the audience?    [00:07:41] Mia Nakano: The first Valkyries game that I had the opportunity to go to last year was their Pride Night, and that is the game that my wife and I always go to for the Warriors. It's a special feeling there. I noticed there was a whole parking lot area for strollers on different levels. There was such great energy, and people just talking about the game, people cheering or rooting for players on the other team. There was not a lot of negative energy going around. When Christian mentions, the tech bro energy, the people rolling around with Patagonia shirts, and sweatshirts, that is so true. You truly feel this family environment that's also very queer friendly. There's so many folks of color, and they're not just there because the team's winning, because last year we didn't know if the team was gonna win or not. They were just showing up. The Valkyries have really created such a strong culture that is team based. That's what you see with the Valkyries, but I also think that that's a testament to the coach, to the players, who really trust in one another, and to the community that we have in the Bay Area. I think even the players did not understand when they came here what they were stepping into, and they talk about talking to other players on opposing teams who are like, “Is it always like this? Is it every night?” They're like, “Every single night, this is how our fans are, and we love it.”  [00:09:14] Miko Lee: So it's in different WNBA hometowns it's not like that? [00:09:18] Mia Nakano: Absolutely not. The Valkyries have sold out every single game from day one. They are the first WNBA team, and I think the first women's professional sports team, to reach $100 billion in valuation. then you see other teams, like the Atlantic Dream, who are playing in arenas of 3,500, or the Dallas Wings, who are playing in much smaller arenas, even though they have all these franchise players like Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers and AZ Fudd. The Dallas Wings are actually moving to the same arena that the Mavericks are gonna play in next year. It's an interesting juxtaposition given where the context of our world is at, who's in office right now, the battles that we're having to fight to keep women's rights, queer rights, trans rights in the forefront and not have them stripped away. Yet on the other side of this, we have this huge, meteoric rise of women's sports, and it's not just basketball. It's baseball. It's hockey. It's all these different leagues that are starting to emerge and have huge fan bases where you can watch women's professional sports all year round. They're nationally televised games. [00:10:31] Miko Lee: Thank you for the history lesson and current events of women's sports. I love it. One of the other things that was really special for this Filipino heritage night was the halftime show where they had DJ P-Lo playing. And then they brought onto the court, the director of SOMA Pilipinas, Raquel Redondiez, and she runs San Francisco's Filipino Cultural Heritage District. She got her name on a Valkyries jersey, and was announced in the halftime moment as a big show. [00:11:05] Mia Nakano: I had a conversation with her said, ” the work that you are doing, particularly in this moment, bringing together the artists, the culture of Filipinos and Filipino history is so critical right now because so many of our communities, cultures, and stories are getting erased, that we are the culture bearers and culture keepers, and so thank you for doing that work.” [00:11:31] Miko Lee: SOMA Pilipinas, for those that don't know, was established as a Filipino cultural heritage district in 2016 and was one of the first in the state designated as an arts district by California Arts Council in 2017. So they do so much great work, they host great things from the, United States of Asian America Festival every year. Self-defense workshops for women. I've taken those in Kapwa Gardens that were amazing. They do mental health services for Filipino folks and provided groceries and COVID education and, Filipino language training, and then artists, as you were saying. They pulled together all these different folks, for this wonderful night to introduce a sense of heritage and a sense of pride that was really powerful. [00:12:19] Mia Nakano: , It's a really lovely connection back to the Filipinos banding together with Chinese American folks in Chinatown that really helped create the broader Asian American movement and what that word and power even means. [00:12:38] Miko Lee: From the I-Hotel to today [00:12:40] Mia Nakano: exactly, and all of that being really anchored and rooted in San Francisco, as well as everything that Larry Itliong did with union organizing that I think has just recently started to get recognized in the broader social justice movement.  [00:12:58] Miko Lee: I'll put links to past shows that we've done on the I-Hotel, on Larry Itliong, because folks, if they don't know about either of those movement le- leaders and huge moments in our Asian American history, they should. It's powerful part of our labor and housing rights history. Were there other things that stood out to you at this Valkyries game? [00:13:20] Mia Nakano: I know that this is probably not gonna be a surprise to you, but the fact that we honestly just got to go behind the scenes and see the inner workings of what the Valkyries, the tunnels and getting lost and trying to figure out where we're going. [00:13:34] Miko Lee: It was a maze down there, by the way. It was like, which direction? Go to this press room. No, this press room. This place. It was very much kind of, in theater-wise, it's like going backstage and seeing how the tech is done.  [00:13:46] Mia Nakano: The thing that was the most exciting about this unique experience was being able to see Natalie Nakase talk after the game, and the snippet in here is really incredible because it shed light into not just who she is as a coach and how she approached the game, but her investment in people, and the importance of seeing people for their full selves, and the importance of the whole WNBA as a league, as a business. They have a lot of money and power, so who are we gonna lift up? It's a always a very intentional choice of what is happening at Chase Arena, at the Valkyries nights, these heritage nights that really uplift so many wonderful communities that are doing incredible work.  [00:14:36] Miko Lee: We're gonna get a chance to do an interview with Coach Natalie in a different episode, so stay tuned for that. Is there anything else that you would like to share with our audience?  [00:14:45] Mia Nakano: Go see a Valkyries game. Go to Balhalla. It will change your life.  [00:14:50] Miko Lee: Experience Balhalla. Okay. Thank you for joining me, and hopefully you'll join me back when we do an interview with Coach Natalie too.  [00:14:59] Mia Nakano: Oh, absolutely.  [00:15:00] Miko Lee: To frame the conversation, we start with Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, the first Asian American woman to coach a WNBA team. Last year, she was named WNBA Coach of the Year, and at the post-game presser, a reporter asked her, “Tonight is Filipino National Heritage Night, so can you talk a little bit about what it means for fans to be seen around the league?” This is her response. [00:15:25] Natalie Nakase: Yeah. It's huge. I love the fact that we can celebrate and acknowledge different cultures. I'm really big on that. I think it gives people almost like a superpower or a confidence for, you know, the day to be recognized like that and to be celebrated for everything that their, their culture brings. it also, I think, educates people about different cultures. And so I love the fact that we're super intentional about that because I think we have to do that more than not. And, it's exciting. I think this world needs more celebration. I think this world needs more love, more care, especially when some people are not seen as much. [00:16:01] Miko Lee: In the very loud outdoor Chase Arena area, we spoke with several of the folks involved in Filipino Heritage Night at the Valkyries. Please note that the sound quality is due to the nature of being outside a really excited fan base at the game. First off, listen in as we hear from Al Perez, who helped to curate this community celebration. [00:16:23] Al Perez: Hello, my name is Al Perez. I am a community organizer. I'm serving as president of a nonprofit called the Filipino American Arts Exposition, and we partnered with the Valkyries to help curate their cultural activation for Filipino Heritage Night tonight. [00:16:41] Miko Lee: Since the Valkyries are named after women warriors, is there a Filipina version of a woman warrior? [00:16:48] Al Perez: Absolutely. We have one that's local. Her name is Victoria Manalo Draves. She was the first American woman to win two Olympic golds in the Olympics in nine- 1928. She happens to be Filipina-American. So yeah, she was born and raised here in, in San Francisco Bay Area, so we're very proud of her to be, to represent us and be the warrior and an inspiration for all of us.  [00:17:11] Miko Lee: Excellent. And since Valhalla or Valhalla is the space that we want to get to, what is the Filipino version of that place you want to see? [00:17:19] Al Perez: Wow. [00:17:20] Miko Lee: That perfect world you wanna get to. [00:17:21] Al Perez: I think for us, we have this tradition called bayanihan. That's when we help each other towards a common goal. Yes. No matter how Herculean that task is, it's just coming together to help each other. So it's not necessarily a destination. It's more like an attitude of, coming together as a community towards a common goal, towards a cultural pride and community empowerment. [00:17:46] Miko Lee: Great. And tell us what you're doing here today with all these groups. [00:17:47] Al Perez: So we have an outreach table here because we're part of the organizing committee to curate tonight's event. So we actually have an event next weekend called the Pistahan Parade and Festival. It's the largest Filipino cultural celebration in the country, happening August 8th and 9th at the Yerba Buena Gardens, so please come check us out. There's a big parade down Market Street on Saturday to kick off the festival weekend, and then the festival's at the Yerba Buena Gardens, 11 to 5. We're here to promote that event as well as all our other upcoming events in the fall. We're also curating the Filipino Heritage Night with the Golden State Warriors, with the Giants, San Jose Sharks, and San Jose Earthquakes. And then one more. October is Filipino American History Month in the country. So we also produce official celebration proclamation by the mayor at City Hall. So we have a reception, we have entertainment, and we light the City Hall building with Philippine flag colors.  [00:18:42] Miko Lee: And when folks are coming out to these Filipino nights, what should they expect? What's happening?  [00:18:47] Al Perez: Our goal is to be here to be in community, to help showcase our beautiful culture, our traditions. So when these events happen, we usually have, cultural performances, either a pre-game or a halftime. Tonight you're gonna see, P-Lo, a Filipino rapper and a hip hop singer. Here in the plaza we have some basketball hoops, because basketball is a big thing in the Philippines, our national sport. There's also, Sarap Shop is a concession inside. They have Filipino food there. Our goal is to get people a little taste of our Filipino culture, so hopefully they'll be inspired to, to learn more about our community and our culture. [00:19:29] Miko Lee: And what's your dream for the game tonight?  [00:19:31] Al Perez: Of course, to win, right? Number, yeah, number one, Valkyries to win. And also, I hope that people will come and learn about our culture, and to appreciate it more. Maybe it will inspire them to try some Filipino food, or even come to our Pistahan Festival next weekend. Also Señor Sisig is right here in the plaza. They also do fusion Filipino food. I'm hoping that, by being here, people can get to be a little bit more familiar and curious about Filipino culture and community. We have such a, vibrant and diverse culture, we love to be in community. Our food's delicious, and entertainment's fantastic. So come check us out wherever and whenever you can.  [00:20:14] Mia Nakano: I'm wondering if you could talk a little bit about the artists who are here and the community organizations that are here tonight.  [00:20:19] Al Perez: So there's several of us nonprofit organizations here. Our group's the Filipino American Arts Exposition, our mission is more about broadening awareness and deepening understanding of Filipino culture and traditions by doing these cultural events. There's another group here called Young Filipino Professionals Association, or YFPA. They're more about, , uplifting young entrepreneurs, young career-minded, individuals to help them on their path to being more successful. There's also SoMa Pilipinas Cultural District is here. That's a new, relatively new, neighborhood in San Francisco. You know, there's Chinatown, there's Japantown, there's North Beach, so now we also have a Filipino community. It's called SoMa Pilipinas, they're also celebrating their 10th anniversary this year as being, designated as a cultural district. There's also Venazir is a visual artist. She's doing live art mural here inspired by Filipino culture and the intersection of culture and basketball. So it's a great way for people to kind of learn about our fine arts, our visual arts, and our he- heritage. Kristian Cabuay is doing script writing of traditional pre-colonial Philippine script. You know, Chinese and Japanese have their own script writing. The Phi- Filipino community also did before we were colonized by Spain. It's kind of almost forgotten and almost wiped out, so there's a few people now that's trying to revive that, that old tradition of writing .. It's called Baybayin.    [00:21:42] Mia Nakano: Can you talk a little bit about the history or why basketball is the national sport of the Philippines?   [00:21:48] Al Perez: Yeah. It's interesting. Yeah, why is basketball the national sport? I'm not sure exactly, but I think it has to do when after the Philippines was colonized by Spain, and then it, the country became, a commonwealth of the United States, right? And during that time, a lot of Americans came to the Philippines, to establish educational institutions, and one of them is sports. It just got introduced to us, and somehow it clicked. Everybody loves basketball. No matter where you are in the Philippines, in every little barrio, every little town, there's always a game happening [00:22:21] Miko Lee: So are people playing in school, like they start in elementary school, or is it more community based?  [00:22:26] Al Perez: I think it's both. It's just kinda grow, ingrown when you're just a kid growing up in your community. There's always basketball around you, surrounded by basketball. And then of course in more, elementary, high school, it became more teams dynamic, and you got competitions , intramural games. Even between little neighborhoods and little towns, they also have competitions. It's really a big deal. In fact, they love NBA. All the American basketball players are so popular. Everybody knows who they are. [00:22:54] Miko Lee: Al mentioned artist Venazir Martinez, and we pulled her away from the beautiful mural she was creating to talk with us. Again, this is outside, so the sound is quite loud. Venazir is a muralist and a visual anthropreneur. She weaves a tapestry of narratives that explore the connections between human traditions and the ever-changing landscapes that shape them. Listen as she tells us about her work and how she utilizes a symbolic red thread [00:23:25] Venazir Martinez: I'm Venazir Martinez. I am a muralist and a visual entrepreneur, and I am invited to create a live painting for the Golden State Valkyries. [00:23:36] Miko Lee: What has inspired you to create this work of art? [00:23:39] Venazir Martinez: So first and foremost, of course, women empowerment, and we have a lot of very talented Filipino Americans who play basketball. In the Philippines, because I grew up in the Philippines, basketball is such a huge deal. Everywhere in the most promote areas in the Philippines, basketball is their way of enjoying themselves and just pretty much having a time of their life. Basketball tenements are everywhere in the most remote areas in the Philippines. There's this concept of Filipino resiliency that I wanted to incorporate in my work, there are basketball hoops that is made out of wood scraps and like discarded metals. I wanted to highlight that part of Philippine ingenuity. That's why I'm here is to just shed light on that beautiful concept of Filipino ingenuity that we have.  [00:24:40] Miko Lee: I love that. Thank you for sharing. Can you break down what a basketball tenement is?  [00:24:44] Venazir Martinez: Oh, basketball tenement. So tenement courts, these are,.. How do I say this? In America, there's basketball courts that is, like, roofed. Okay. With a roof, and-  [00:24:54] Miko Lee: Like in a gymnasium.  [00:24:56] Venazir Martinez: In a gymnasium, yes. But in the Philippines, anywhere can be a basketball tenement court. They'll just put up a basketball hoop in a pole, like an electricity pole, and they can already play basketball in that area. [00:25:12] Miko Lee: So their court's just made up anywhere. Yeah. Anywhere in the community.  [00:25:14] Venazir Martinez: Anywhere in the community, in the most remote areas in the Philippines, they do that all the time. I grew up in the Philippines, so, it's that really is an immersive experience of having to see basketball really change lives for young people in our community. [00:25:32] Miko Lee: So we're at a WNBA game, and I'm wondering if there was a woman basketball player that you looked up to when you were growing up.  [00:25:39] Venazir Martinez: Growing up, my dad plays basketball. That's the only experience I know that, remembering what basketball is like. ‘Cause I'm mostly in martial arts. But here I am trying to experience a different, like, more empowering way of sports. And it's when I came to America that I experienced this kind of really, it's kind of empowering.  [00:26:01] Miko Lee: And since the Valkyries are women warriors, is there a Filipina equivalent of the woman warrior? Is there a Filipina equivalent of a woman warrior? [00:26:01] Venazir Martinez: There's a lot. There's a lot of very empowering Filipina. First and foremost, it's the Filipina community leaders that I know of in the Bay Area. They are my women warriors. They helped me from the ground up. They created a home for me. They, you know, so they welcomed me. The filipina community in the Bay Area welcomed me. They're all women.  [00:26:31] Miko Lee: Who would you say are some of those folks, some of those women?  [00:26:34] Venazir Martinez: Sonia Villarin, she wears so many hats. She's president of Filipina Food Movement, founder of summer camp in the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in San Francisco. She was the, senior vice president for Bank of America Global Leasing, and she welcomed her home to me and, pretty much, helped me establish my life here as an artist. So those are my women warriors. [00:27:00] Miko Lee: And when people see your beautiful work, what do you want them to walk away with feeling? [00:27:05] Venazir Martinez: I want them to take a second look again in my work, because these, my work pretty much talks about Filipino immigrants, and immigration at large, and pretty much our contributions and the harvested hopes that we have contributed in this cultural landscape,  [00:27:28] Miko Lee: this show is a pop-up tonight, so where can folks find out more about your work or see your work in the community? [00:27:34] Venazir Martinez: I have a huge, huge mural, 2,500 square feet mural in 5th and Folsom in San Francisco, downtown San Francisco in SoMa. It's called Ani, meaning to harvest. There's one in downtown Santa Cruz. There is one in Yuba City. There are multiple murals in Michigan, in New York, mostly in Queens. It's pretty much everywhere, but if you follow the red thread, which is my signature, my artist signature, you'll know that it's my work.  [00:28:08] Miko Lee: Thank you so much. Thank you so very much. Appreciate you taking the time. Another artist presenting their work was Kristian Kabuay working on pre-Philippines calligraphy. His line was so long that we ended up interviewing him separately. Christian is an artist, entrepreneur, futurist who specializes in endangered writing systems and tattoos from the Philippines. Hello, and welcome to Apex Express. Can you tell me your name, your background and what you were doing at the Valkyries Filipino Heritage Night? [00:28:40] Kristian Kabuay: Yeah. My name is Kristian Kabuay. I'm a cultural practitioner specializing in our old, uh, pre-colonial, I say pre-Philippine, writing system and tattooing traditions. I was at the Valkyries, Filipino Heritage Night to interact with the community. I've done a lot of work with the Warriors, you know, going back to Oracle for these cultural nights, the Giants, as well. So most of the teams in the Bay Area, but it was my first time with the Valkyries, and it was quite different. [00:29:16] Miko Lee: How was it different?  [00:29:17] Kristian Kabuay: The vibe was, um… I'm telling everybody that it was my first Valkyries game, too. So the vibe was different. It reminds me of the old Oracle, it wasn't full of, like, tech money that are, you know, Patagonia vests watching the game. It felt very homegrown and it just brought me back to those days in old Oakland A's and when the Warriors were in Oracle. [00:29:42] Miko Lee: What does that evoke for you? What is that feeling like?  [00:29:46] Kristian Kabuay: It gives me a stronger sense of community and the audience is different. The demographics is different. There isn't that toxic male energy. I don't have to worry about someone being drunk and going off and, it was very homey and welcoming. It brings back, as a kid, when I used to watch A's games in the bleachers, watching at Oracle, the community, and not everyone was there to be seen. They were really there for the team.  [00:30:15] Miko Lee: Oh, I love that. I actually do feel like it is, it's such a we're together community vibe. [00:30:20] Kristian Kabuay: Yeah. They even had the wave. I know some snooty teams, they don't have the wave, so-  [00:30:26] Miko Lee: That wave went on for a long time, too.  [00:30:29] Kristian Kabuay: Exactly. I've been to a lot of games. They're, “Oh, I don't wanna look stupid,” or whatever? So that's a big part of my childhood.  [00:30:36] Miko Lee: So I was gonna try and talk with you at the game like I did the other artists, but you had a huge line waiting to see you and talk to you. Talk with me a little bit more about your art form and this pre-clo colonization form of writing.  [00:30:52] Kristian Kabuay: Yeah. Most civilizations had a writing system. It was prior to the land alphabet when the Spanish came and colonized the Philippines in the 1500s. We have this writing. There's only one ethnolinguistic group left in the Philippines that writes it. I come from a background of calligraphy, graffiti and abstract art. When I started to practice it, I incorporated those things. Later I found that I had to become an educator. Then starting to do the cultural festivals. Then you make your parents proud. It wasn't until I started to interact with the community that, there was this responsibility. I didn't come from a highly academic background, but I was being invited to Stanford and Berkeley to give talks about this. So, you know, that imposter syndrome kicked in. Because of the efforts that I've started in, 2010s, the idea of education around this specific writing system, my service isn't really needed. It's out there. Wikipedia, even AI can do it now, and there's a lot of influencers on TikTok that are, building on the stuff that I did 10 years ago. It goes in line with my idea of putting myself out of business. ‘Cause if it's a cultural practice, then you shouldn't be this gatekeeper, this apex of this this knowledge or this practice. It needs to be spread  [00:32:15] Miko Lee: What is the writing system called?  [00:32:17] Kristian Kabuay: A couple names. One of the popular names is Baybayin, and that literally means to spell. It's an adverb, but then it became a noun. So there's many different names depending on the languages in the Philippines.  [00:32:30] Miko Lee: And you said that there's a village of folks that still utilize it. Have you been there?  [00:32:34] Kristian Kabuay: Yeah, I was there in 2016 with a research trip. I stayed with them for a few days to learn, a bit about more about the culture and to donate some time and volunteer, 'cause there's the Mangyan Heritage Foundation. I did some technology work with them. But then also meet with the elders that were there. The village elder did an interview for a film project that I'm doing, but also met the heirs, the daughters in the family that ultimately inherited this practice. [00:33:02] Miko Lee: And so they know that you're teaching this cultural practice around the world, and what is their opinion of that? What do they think?  [00:33:09] Kristian Kabuay: They like it, because it's a different perspective, and a lot of questions. When I go home they go, “Oh, why are you interested in this?” It's a totally different perspective. ‘Cause out here, we have our identity, and the diaspora issues. But back home, because of circumstances, colonization, et cetera, then, the priority is to eat, to live, not to preserve these cultural practices. I've had some indigenous elders tell me that when People come over there, to do their dissertation and they need to figure out their paper to get their PhD. They ask them, “What are you doing to preserve this?” It's kind of extractive or, like, information gathering. Honestly, it really is you strip it down, it is, survival: food, clothing, and shelter.  [00:33:52] Miko Lee: When people were standing in line for you at the actual Valkyrie's game, what were they asking you to write? Were they asking you to write notes or their name, or what was the request?  [00:34:03] Kristian Kabuay: Yeah. Yeah, the line… I was telling people I've never had a line that long when I've done the Warriors. So- … you know, it's kind of different.  [00:34:10] Miko Lee: That's interesting. Just saying [00:34:11] Kristian Kabuay: Yes. I was writing mainly people's names- Mm um, and some words. Maybe a, a good third were non-Filipino, some were there just curious and asking and cultural sharing. Someone knows a Filipino and they go, “Oh, can you write mahal kita?” Like, I love you. And so, we pick up things, just here in the Bay Area. I have conversations with people wanna hear a family name that I never heard about. I say, “Whoa, where's your family from?” Kids learn the stories on how they combine names and some of the origins. It's always interesting when I do this with folks. [00:34:44] Miko Lee: I love that. And you're also a tattoo artist. Do you use some of this writing in your tattoo artistry?  [00:34:51] Kristian Kabuay: Yeah, I do. And that's where the separation between the art and the cultural practice is. Where the writing wasn't tattooed traditionally, but that's where I kind of balance the art. And I separate those two where art is my expression, my personal expression on paper or maybe even on a body, but a cultural practice is more about them and their lineage. So I have to be clear to make those two distinctions.  [00:35:20] Miko Lee: So a question I've asked all the different people that have been involved in this night is that the Valkyries are based on women warriors, and I wonder if there's a Filipina woman warrior that comes to mind to you? [00:35:32] Kristian Kabuay: Yeah, there is. There's one that, part of the lore. Where my dad's from, in his area called Pangasinan, the land of the salt. There's a princess warrior named Princess Urduja that was thought of as a great warrior. This specific Princess Urduja has that Valkyrie's spirit. All the artwork that you see and Academics will say, “Oh, it's you're romanticizing,” and things like that. But you know what? We need a little romance in our lives, right? And romance leads to action.  [00:36:03] Miko Lee: Ah, we certainly do. I'm wondering, with all those people, the long line that stood waiting for you, and you're having these conversations, what would you like them to walk away with after interacting with you?  [00:36:14] Kristian Kabuay: Yeah. That's why there was a sign, and I took a picture of it. It doesn't say, Philippine writing. So it says pre-Philippine calligraphy. I made that term up in 2007 as a way to jolt someone's idea of what pre-Hispanic, pre-colonial is. ‘Cause those things kinda just fly overhead. But if I said pre-Philippines, people, they take a step back and they, “What's that mean?” Or they try to have a smart comeback, “Well, what were we before then?” And my question's always then, “Well, I don't know. Let's talk about it.” That gray area, that being uncomfortable, leads to more curiosity, and ultimately, that's what I want folks to go ahead and, you know… oh, I have this banana leaf. I ran out of index cards. I brought 100 of them. I had these banana leaves that I just meant to decorate the table. I said, “You know what? Let me write on these banana leaves like how our ancestors did.” People are asking, “Oh, what, we wrote on banana leaves?” I'm all, “Yeah, we wrote on, organic materials.” So this thing is probably gonna wilt away in a few weeks or a month or so, but that's how it is. So it's a metaphor for our physical selves, but then also, the message. Maybe they can go ahead and learn how to write it themselves or until we reconnect again. [00:37:31] Miko Lee: Hmm. That's beautiful. And how can our audience find out more about you and your work?  [00:37:36] Kristian Kabuay: Yeah, you can just search for me online. My last name's K-A-B-U-A-Y. First name's Kristian, both with a K. All over the internets and the socials, pretty easy to find.  [00:37:46] Miko Lee: Thank you. And we'll put links to your website in our show notes, so thank you so much for chatting with me today. [00:37:52] Kristian Kabuay: Thanks, Miko [00:37:54] Miko Lee: I honestly didn't know that basketball was such a revered sport in the Philippines. So wanting to find out more, I reached out to a bunch of community folks, and multiple people said, “Reach out to Coach Carolyn Sudeco. She's the one. She's in the know.” So talking to me from her vacation spot halfway around the world is Coaching Kapwa's Carolyn Sudeco. Welcome, Carolyn Sideco, to Apex Express. I'm so happy to have you here.  [00:38:19] Carolyn Sideco: Thank you for having me.  [00:38:21] Miko Lee: Can you first start by telling me who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you? [00:38:27] Carolyn Sideco: Oh my gosh, my people are, collectively, folks who identify as, Philippinics, Filipina, Filipino, and American, and, migratory, and those who claim blood relation and those who I'm still looking for. I live in San Francisco, California, Ohlone land, and also in the land of Choctaw Bulbancha, which is New Orleans, Louisiana. Those are the two places I reside.  [00:39:04] Miko Lee: Can you share about your work with Coaching Kapwa?  [00:39:08] Carolyn Sideco: Coaching Kapwa is what I love to do, and my background professionally is as a certified athletic administrator. I'm a physical educator at the high school level by profession, by certification, by training. But really what I love to do, and so what I do in my consultancy, is I explore and I examine and I think about and learn about everything related to sports cultures and how the culture of sports in all its various ways affect our societies. Specifically, I geek out over learning about my own Filipino American histories and other peoples. Learning that through the concept or the constructs of culture and how sports really is, for me, the funnest way to investigate who I am and who we are to each other. I call myself a sports relationship coach. I am a sports cultures consultant. I also like to identify as a sports liberator. [00:40:16] Miko Lee: Ooh, can you break down what a sports liberator is? [00:40:20] Carolyn Sideco: Miko, I took that from a friend of mine, Danya Cabello, also from the East Bay. Played at Cal, played professionally, and when I first met her years ago, she identified as such, and I said, “That is exactly the kind of person that I wanna be, like, in sports.” I wanted sports to be a way that I could share with people who we are to one another. I wanted to teach young people that they can express themselves in a way that helps make them feel free. With my background in sports administration, I was feeling like the sports industrial complex was really the antithesis of that. And what a lot of people in my profession were striving for was this success that was not defined in the same way that I was defining what my liberation was, and what I felt through sports. So I adopted that. I asked Dania, “Can I call myself a sports liberator too?” And she said, “Girl, you call yourself whatever you want.” So that's what I go by.  [00:41:37] Miko Lee: Ooh, thank you for sharing. That's so interesting in the midst of our kind of capitalization of sports, how corporate it has become. Interesting. Thanks. I also wanted to thank you for sharing with me, Rafe Bartholomew's Hoop Nation and Cassidy Hubbard's, Hoop's Paradise. So those, along with your YouTubes, really gave me a grounding in the connection to between basketball and the Philippines. I'll put a link to those in the show notes for other people that like to do deep dives like me. But can you just give our audience a sense of why basketball is so popular in the Philippines?  [00:42:10] Carolyn Sideco: I learned about the history of basketball and Filipino culture in the Philippines through various people, Rafe Bartholomew one of them, and his book Pacific Rims. A friend of mine here in the San Francisco Bay Area, Kevin Santos, was doing his master's thesis on the history of basketball in the Philippines, and putting an ethnic studies frame on it, so he was the one who actually, practiced his thesis and presentation with me, and I learned a lot through him, and through other people as I was learning about this myself, and how basketball when it was initially, or as we, the modern game of basketball was invented, by Dr. Naismith in Massachusetts with the peach tree basket. Most of us are familiar with that history, but also that was around the time of the Philippine-American War, and US colonization was at its beginning. And so what did the United States export, was its culture, and a lot of that was through sports, mainly baseball, 'cause baseball was already the national pastime. Basketball was relatively new, and basketball was taught in the Philippines also, like in conjunction with the American education system by teachers, by the Thomasites, and by others who were using that form of colonization. They gave basketball to the women and the girls, because it was the lesser sport. It was the newer sport, so it was the lesser sport. They gave it to the women. The men were supposed to play baseball. The Philippines is a collective society- Baseball is a spread out sport, and people aren't close to one another. You're out on a field, it's hella hot, and it's boring. [00:44:17] Miko Lee: Agree. Totally agree …  [00:44:19] Carolyn Sideco: it's easy, to make this assumption that these people playing baseball were watching the girls and women play basketball, and it's faster. Close to one another. It's easy to make a space. So they started playing basketball.  [00:44:39] Miko Lee: Also, you don't need all the things. You need a ball. [00:44:41] Carolyn Sideco: Exactly. In the early days, you didn't even need shoes. Yeah. So it took off in that way because basketball already itself was an activity that Filipino people, kinda took hold of already, and they made it their own. Trained teams started forming and the Philippines had national teams that were already very successful in Asian context, so Asian tournaments they were dominating. In 1975, the Philippine Basketball Association became the first men's, basketball league in Asia, and the first after the NBA in America. So the Philippines has had a long history of relationship with the sport of basketball, but because it's been so long, the sport itself was formed in response to all the cultural aspects that were already existing, right? a lot of town squares had basketball courts 'cause it was so easy to put there. So the same plazas, meeting spaces where people would have their town gatherings, social places, were also courts  [00:45:56] Miko Lee: And why do you think or just surmise that basketball has taken off more than, football or American term soccer, which is developed so much in other countries, which is also a little bit more communal? [00:46:08] Carolyn Sideco: My opinion is that American colonization, in the United States dictated, much more the United States cannot dictate because football or soccer is a more global sport, and the US didn't have as much stake in guiding that as a colonization tool as they did basketball. [00:46:29] Miko Lee: Hmm. Interesting. Speaking of the colonization and politics, I'm wondering about the connection between basketball and politics. In, Cassidy's podcast, they were talking about a politician who released their own basketball shoe, which is wild to me. Yes. So I wonder if there's other connections between basketball or politics, and if that's generally somebody who's more on the colonizer's viewpoint or more conservative viewpoint. Hmm.  [00:46:58] Carolyn Sideco: Hmm. Interesting. I, hmm, I go back and forth with this a lot, Miko, the colonizing tool that is sports, especially the capitalistic sort of, extraction, of sports, right? Of its players, who I like to think of as workers. They're also workers, right? The professional, Philippine Basketball Association is not much different than even professional sports in America with the way they're set up, right? You have owning groups or companies, and so you have these ways that exploitation and that workers' rights are… how do I say it? Because it's at the professional level, these concepts are very much at play, excuse the pun. The Philippines also has a governmental arm related to sports. So sports in and of itself is recognized, right? It doesn't have as much of this sort of altruistic thing as, as we say in the United States, like the sports is like the good of mankind, like that sort of thing. Like, I think, you know-  [00:48:08] Miko Lee: The kind of Olympic idea of unity, it brings us all together. [00:48:11] Carolyn Sideco: Right, like that, those conceptual sorts of virtues.  [00:48:15] Miko Lee: Mm-hmm.  [00:48:15] Carolyn Sideco: Yeah. So in the Philippines, I think it's so much more practical because it's fun, and you could get in a game anywhere, and it's accessible. Mm-hmm. It's accessible to all strata, economic strata, right? You see basketball courts everywhere, in rural areas in cities. Everywhere you'll see basketball courts. The Philippines itself as a country- I think that relationship to sports is something different than the American relationship to professional sports, where dominance and, winning and, beating others and making as much money as possible in that is at the forefront. In the United States even with youth sports now. I do some consulting work, especially in youth sports spaces, and the privatization and the extraction of the youth sports space is, is… We could go on all day about that. I think, this is obviously from a Filipino American perspective. For sure. I've never lived in the Philippines. I was born in the Philippines, but my relationship to the Philippines is also, being mitigated by how I experience American sports, right? So when I think about how I've experienced basketball when I've gone to the Philippines, , and it's the same as any aspect of that culture, right? It's warm, it's welcoming, it's friendly, and those are the cultural aspects that kind of, , supersede the fact that basketball… Basketball has its place, but it's in service to the cultural needs, right? To the need to be social, to participate in a town gathering. It's so sociopolitical.- And because it is, it's still a colonizing tool, right? But it's still mitigated in a way that I think just like Filipino basketball players are so, like, quick. They're known for quickness, agility, and finesse, and, like, drama, right? I used to joke around, like, you can always tell where a Filipino basketball player is in the United States 'cause no Filipino who has Filipino blood in them can do a regular layup. Like they have to make it all fancy. I think that, those sorts of aspects that are not tangible, that bring to light, the way a culture of people affect the sport. it enables a culture to push out through the boundaries of that sport what was given to them. What was given to them is, “This is how you play. These are the rules,” and all that kinda stuff, and that's great, but Filipino history of basketball is always, like, how do you integrate all the really cool things about your culture? It's something that's very different, and it emerges as something that's not quite American. [00:51:36] Miko Lee: Thank you so much. I'm wondering how our audience can find out more about you and your work.  [00:51:43] Carolyn Sideco: They can, follow me on Instagram at coachingkapwa, K-A-P-W-A. Kapwa is the Filipino word for the concept of interrelationship, interconnectedness. And so everything I learned about being, being a person really is through being a good teammate, and sports is the funnest way, like I've said before to practice being a good teammate  [00:52:12] Miko Lee: Thank you so much, Coach, for sharing with me about Sports Liberation and your work, and I'll put links to all that in our show notes. And I thank you so much for joining us on Apex Express.  [00:52:23] Carolyn Sideco: Thank you, Miko [00:52:25] Miko Lee: Please check out our website, kpfa.org/program/apexexpress to find out more about our show and our guests tonight. We thank all of you listeners out there. Keep resisting, keep organizing, keep creating, and sharing your visions with the world because your voices are important. Apex Express is produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Cheryl Truong, Isabel Li, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Miata Tan, Preti Mangala-Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Tonight's show was produced by me Miko Lee, and edited by Ayame Keane-Lee. Have a great night.    The post APEX Express – 8.13.26 – Bayanihan in Ballhalla appeared first on KPFA.

Hour 4: This episode of the podcast is a must-listen for all sports fans, especially those invested in the world of the San Francisco 49ers and the Golden State Warriors. The conversation is a lively and engaging discussion that covers a wide range of topics, from the NFL to the NBA, and even delves into some pop culture. The episode kicks off with a discussion about the 49ers' wide receivers, specifically Dejon Stribling and Carnell Tate, and how they're shaping up for the upcoming season. The speaker shares some interesting insights and stats about these players, and it's clear that they're a key part of the team's offense. The conversation then shifts to the Warriors, where the topic of Steph Curry's future with the team comes up. The speaker shares some surprising quotes from Mike Dunleavy, the Warriors' executive, that have fans buzzing. If you're a sports fan or just looking for a fun and engaging conversation, this episode is definitely worth checking out. The speaker's enthusiasm and knowledge of the topics make for a compelling listen, and the discussion is full of interesting insights and anecdotes. So grab a snack, sit back, and get ready to dive into the world of sports and pop culture with this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 4: This episode of the podcast is a must-listen for all sports fans, especially those invested in the world of the San Francisco 49ers and the Golden State Warriors. The conversation is a lively and engaging discussion that covers a wide range of topics, from the NFL to the NBA, and even delves into some pop culture. The episode kicks off with a discussion about the 49ers' wide receivers, specifically Dejon Stribling and Carnell Tate, and how they're shaping up for the upcoming season. The speaker shares some interesting insights and stats about these players, and it's clear that they're a key part of the team's offense. The conversation then shifts to the Warriors, where the topic of Steph Curry's future with the team comes up. The speaker shares some surprising quotes from Mike Dunleavy, the Warriors' executive, that have fans buzzing. If you're a sports fan or just looking for a fun and engaging conversation, this episode is definitely worth checking out. The speaker's enthusiasm and knowledge of the topics make for a compelling listen, and the discussion is full of interesting insights and anecdotes. So grab a snack, sit back, and get ready to dive into the world of sports and pop culture with this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Marlins pick up a convincing win over the Pirates, but all eyes are on Paul Skenes and whether an “off year” could potentially lead to Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, the Dolphins kick off their first joint practice with the Commanders, and the early updates have Tobin and Brittney feeling less than optimistic. Tobin also goes all-in on the possibility of Steph Curry coming to Miami, breaking down potential trade packages while Leroy remains skeptical. We hear from Peter Fairbanks, put Dr. Tobin back in the therapist chair, and welcome Christos Tslaltas of the Greek Athletico to discuss international basketball, Giannis potentially coming to Miami, and the possibility of an overseas NBA league. The Dolphins joint practice continues to provide plenty of drama, while Rueben Bain keeps making plays in Tampa and the guys get into a quibble over James Harrison during “Rats Off a Ship.” Plus, the NBA Cup schedule is released, Tobin already has the Heat taking it all, and Leroy gets blamed for summoning a potential hurricane season after declaring there hasn't been much action lately!

Mike Dunleavy had some intriguing comments about Stephen Curry's extension talks. Willard and Dibs wonder if the Golden State Warriors want Curry to want out so they can continue forward with a fresh slate.

The Terry Rozier gambling case continues to develop as a co-defendant has had his bond revoked following alleged violations of his release conditions. In this episode, I break down the latest update, the witness tampering allegations, and what this could mean for the ongoing case.I also discuss Steph Curry's future with the Golden State Warriors. Curry has made it clear that he wants to finish his career in the Bay Area, but what does that mean for the Warriors as they look toward the next chapter? I break down Curry's legacy, his future with Golden State, and whether the Warriors can continue competing around their superstar.

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when two practitioners with decades of experience stop trying to provide answers and start exploring the questions?In this episode, I reconnect with longtime friend and performance therapist Gerry Ramogida for a wide-ranging conversation about performance therapy, Reconditioning, clinical reasoning, and what it really means to work with complex human beings.Gerry has spent nearly three decades working across the NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB, and Olympic sport, contributing to championship organizations including the Seattle Seahawks and Golden State Warriors. Today, he continues to work in professional hockey with the Vancouver Canucks while educating and mentoring practitioners around the world.We explore why diagnosis matters but can never tell the whole story, why understanding the demands of the person in front of you must precede intervention, and why practitioners need to continually observe, intervene, reassess, and remain willing to change direction. We talk about manual therapy as an input rather than an outcome, the importance of creating ownership after an intervention, and the danger of becoming so attached to our tools that everything begins to look like something we know how to treat.Perhaps most importantly, we talk about uncertainty.After almost thirty years of practice, Gerry makes the observation that certainty simply does not exist when working with complex human systems. Expertise may therefore be less about knowing exactly what will happen and more about developing the knowledge, curiosity and humility to explore what might.Our conversation eventually moves beyond performance and into something even more important: service, relationships and remembering the people who provide the foundation that allows us to do this work in the first place.This is a conversation between two old friends who have spent much of their lives trying to understand human performance and who remain fascinated by how much there is still to learn. EnjoyIf you liked this EP, please take the time to rate and comment, share with a friend, and connect with us on social channels IG @Kingopain, TW @BuiltbyScott, LI+FB Scott Livingston. You can find all things LYM at www.LYMLab.com, download your free Life Lab Starter Kit today and get busy living https://lymlab.com/free-lym-lab-starter/Please take the time to visit and connect with our sponsors, they are an essential part of our success:www.ReconditioningHQ.comwww.FreePainGuide.com 

(1) NBA opening night, Romo Future, Vikings QB, Prince Mongo passed away (2) Jessica Benson from Grind City talks about hosting J&J and Don Nelson (3) Don Nelson on 92.9 back in the day & John reminises about Memphis Hoops

Today's talk: Olivia wins it all with the 2017 Golden State Warriors and I watched Project Hail Mary. Patreon My Website.

Rob and Kelvin discuss the idea that Patrick Mahomes has been living off reputation in the eyes of most NFL executives and coaches, explain why it’s abundantly clear that Kevin Durant is trying to convince himself that his move to the Golden State Warriors in 2016 wasn’t soft, and debate whether the negativity directed towards Shedeur Sanders in The Athletic’s 2026 NFL Quarterback Tiers was more personal than performance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob and Kelvin explain why it’s abundantly clear that Kevin Durant is trying to convince himself that his move to the Golden State Warriors in 2016 wasn’t soft, and tell us why they believe Lamar Jackson is the most disrespected quarterback in the NFL. Plus, former NFL quarterback Kyle Sloter swings by to discuss a few of the most notable revelations from The Athletic’s 2026 NFL Quarterback Tiers. Finally, the Odd Couple Callers bring the heat in this week’s edition of Trash Talk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob and Kelvin tell us why Kevin Durant likening the 2017 Golden State Warriors to the 2026 Philadelphia 76ers is blatant copium, and discuss the narrative that other MLB owners secretly hoped the Los Angeles Dodgers would get Tarik Skubal so they could get closer to a salary cap. Plus, Dodger Blue executive editor Matthew Moreno swings by to discuss the fallout from the Tarik Skubal trade, the narrative that the Dodgers are the villains of baseball, what’s ailing Kyle Tucker, and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob and Kelvin tell us why Kevin Durant likening the 2017 Golden State Warriors to the 2026 Philadelphia 76ers is blatant copium, and explain why Chicago Cubs all-star Pete Crow-Armstrong might be the biggest conspiracy theorist in sports. Plus, Dodger Blue executive editor Matthew Moreno swings by to discuss the fallout from the Tarik Skubal trade, the narrative that the Dodgers are the villains of baseball, what’s ailing Kyle Tucker, and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Wright reacts to LeBron James signing with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency, including what the expectations are for the team, ring chasing allegations, and what it means for the GOAT's legacy. Then, Nick discusses how the 76ers will share the ball with a stacked roster of LeBron, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and VJ Edgecombe. Later, Nick breaks down what is next for the teams like the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors now that they missed out on LeBron. #Volume All lines provided by Hard Rock BetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I didn't know he was a doctor." Before dishing out his Weekend Observations, Amin weighs in on the possibility of the Golden State Warriors trading franchise icon Steph Curry. He then discusses the sensation The Odyssey has become and why he is in no rush to get to the theater and see it. To wrap things up, Tony has his Top 5 Things In History That Would Be Sick To Do With The Boys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bomani Jones is back with a loaded episode of The Right Time, starting with the biggest NBA news of the week: LeBron James' decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers. From there, Bo examines the Golden State Warriors' roster dynamics, reacting to owner Joe Lacob's public comments about preparing for the post-Steph Curry era. He breaks down whether it is truly worth it for aging superstars with multiple titles to leave their long-time franchises in search of final rings.1234He also tackles the biggest media story on the internet, reacting to Ryan Clark's departure from ESPN. Bo offers an insider perspective on corporate structures, the reality of network layoffs, and what it truly means to challenge the status quo. Later, he breaks down the speculation surrounding Jayson Tatum's Instagram story and how it fuels ongoing discussions about his relationship with teammate Jaylen Brown. Plus, he reacts to Mike Vrabel's press conference puppy, explains why Arizona State University's new "influencer major" is the ultimate modern scam, and closes the show by taking classic fan voicemails . . . Subscribe to Supercast for Ad-Free Episodes: https://righttime.supercast.com/ Buy 'The Right Time' merch: http://therighttimebomani.com/ Subscribe to The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for all the best moments from the show. Download Full Podcast Here: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6N7fDvgNz2EPDIOm49aj7M?si=FCb5EzTyTYuIy9-fWs4rQA&nd=1&utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-right-time-with-bomani-jones/id982639043?utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Follow The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Social Media: http://lnk.to/therighttime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices