KC's Conversations: Recent Episodes
kaitlyncunningham
This podcast is designed to provide a platform for female strength and conditioning coaches to share their experiences and knowledge.
Marisa 'Coach V' Davis is the Sports Performance Coach at the Georgetown University. She is responsible for all aspects of women’s soccer and lightweight crew.
Top 3 Points of Value:
- Get after it mentality.
- Ask the hard questions.
- Build and utilize your support systems.
Email: marisa.davis@georgetown.edu
IG: @coachmviola
Sponsor: TeamBuildr
Coach Hong is the Director of Sports Performance at the University of Cincinnati. She is responsible for all aspects of women’s basketball and men’s golf.
Top 3 Points of Value:
- Allow others to guide us & gratitude for the tough times.
- Extend our hand to others and be the light.
- Good vibes only life.
Email: hong.tran@uc.edu
IG: @fuerzahongtran
Sponsor: TeamBuildr
Coach Kaitlyn Cunningham, Assistant Sports Performance Coach at Kent State University, sits down with 8 of the current Kent State football student-athletes she has the honor of coaching.
Top 3 Points of Value:
- Their experiences being coached/led by women.
- Importance of being authentic as a coach.
- Trust is earned.
Sponsor: TeamBuildr
Are you a female strength & conditioning coach and looking to get certified or earn CEUs? Apply through this Google Form to enter your name into the drawing for a scholarship to assist in getting certified or earning CEUs!
Coach Fingers is the Director of Strength and Conditioning at Bethune-Cookman University. In her role, she is at the helm of the 17-sport Division I program and leads her staff to serve all their student-athletes.
Top 3 Points of Value:
- Be the example.
- Importance of your support system or board of directors.
- Prove yourself with your work.
Email: fingersc@cookman.edu
Sponsor: TeamBuildr
Are you a female strength & conditioning coach and looking to get certified or earn CEUs? Apply through this Google Form to enter your name into the drawing for a scholarship to assist in getting certified or earning CEUs!
Coach Clare Ingersoll is the Assistant Olympic Sports Strength & Conditioning Coach at Virginia Tech. She adds value wherever is need within their Olympic sport strength and conditioning program.
Top 3 Points of Value:
- Listen to those that have done it.
- Add value.
- Importance of uncovering your true self.
Instagram: @clare_ingersoll
Sponsor: TeamBuildr
Are you a female strength & conditioning coach and looking to get certified or earn CEUs? Apply through this Google Form to enter your name into the drawing for a scholarship to assist in getting certified or earning CEUs!
Coach Azita Nejaddehghan is the Performance Rehab Specialist with the St. Louis Cardinals. She is responsible for long term rehabs for athletes within the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Top 3 Points of Value:
- Importance of networking.
- Highlighting your unique selling point.
- Have healthy tough conversations with professionals.
Twitter & Instagram: @azitanej & @azitanej_dptstrength
Sponsor: TeamBuildr
Are you a female strength & conditioning coach and looking to get certified or earn CEUs? Apply through this Google Form to enter your name into the drawing for a scholarship to assist in getting certified or earning CEUs!
Coach Sam Contorno is the Coordinator of Sports Science at the University of Maryland. She is responsible for all aspects of sports science with the Maryland Football program.
Top 3 Points of Value:
- Fail and take a chance to learn new skills.
- Be authentic.
- It is okay to be wrong – lean into it.
Twitter & Instagram: @sam_contorno & @samcontorno
Sponsor: TeamBuildr
Are you a female strength & conditioning coach and looking to get certified or earn CEUs? Apply through this Google Form to enter your name into the drawing for a scholarship to assist in getting certified or earning CEUs!
Coach Molly Binetti is the Women’s Basketball Sports Performance Coach at the University of South Carolina. She is directly responsible for all aspects of the women’s basketball sports performance program.
Top 3 Points of Value:
- How and why she creates her weight room environment.
- Importance of relationships.
- Being authentic.
Email: mbinetti@mailbox.sc.edu
Twitter & Instagram: @MollyBinetti & @mbinetti22
Coach Hope Nepstad is the Assistant Director of Strength and Speed at Colorado State University. She works with all aspects of the football strength and conditioning program.
Top 3 Points of Value:
- The example of hard work.
- Betting on yourself.
- Find what your heart beats for.
Email: hope.nepstad@colostate.edu
Twitter & Instagram: @hope_nepstad
Sponsor: TeamBuildr
Are you a female strength & conditioning coach or aspiring to be one? Are you looking to get certified or earn CEUs? Apply through this Google Form to enter your name into the drawing for a $500 scholarship to assist in getting certified or earning CEUs!
Coach Liane Blyn is the Director of Sports Performance – Olympic Sports at Arizona State University. She oversees her staff of Olympic Sport Performance Coaches and works directly with Men’s Ice Hockey program in all aspects of sports performance.
Top 3 Points of Value:
- The BIG time is where you make it.
- Find what works for you.
- The importance of building connection & trust.
Email: liane.blyn@asu.cedu
Twitter & Instagram: @lianeblyn
Sponsor: TeamBuildr
Are you a female strength & conditioning coach and looking to get certified or earn CEUs? Apply through this Google Form to enter your name into the drawing for a scholarship to assist in getting certified or earning CEUs!
Coach Lauren Kelly is the Assistant Director of Sports Performance at Wake Forest University. She is directly responsible for all aspects of the women’s soccer and track and field/cross country programs. Top 3 Points of Value:
Do more with less. The impact of your smile. Your treasure may be less than you thought!
Email: kelly@wfu.edu Twitter & Instagram: @coach_lauren_
Coach Brie Johnson is the Athletic Performance Coach at Lindenwood University. She is directly responsible for all aspects of the rugby, women’s volleyball and track programs.
Top 3 Points of Value:
- Have people in your life that tell you the truth.
- Importance of self-identity.
- Be open minded & not afraid to be the first.
Email: brie.gj24@gmail.com
Twitter & Instagram: @coachbreezyj
Coach Kristin Zdanczewicz is the Assistant Director of Athletic Performance at the University of Minnesota. She is directly responsible for all aspects of the women’s basketball and men’s golf programs.
Top 3 Points of Value:
- The impact you have on those that want to be you.
- Importance of relationships.
- Lessons from playing rugby that she applies with her athletes.
Email: kzdancze@umn.edu
Instagram: @hammertimeum
Host Kaitlyn Cunningham, current Assistant Sports Performance Coach, recaps Season 1 and her current situation leading into a new season of the podcast.
Top 3 Points of Value:
- Thank you!
- Lessons learned from Season 1.
- Importance of connections and how her connection got her to this point in her career.
Check out Kaitlyn Cunningham at kacunningham.com
Twitter: @k_cunningham32
Instagram: @k_cunningham32
Sponsors: PLAE
On episode 30 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Kelly Dormandy. She is the Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Performance at Loyola Marymount University. She is directly responsible for the baseball, softball, indoor volleyball, beach volleyball and golf programs.
Topics of Discussion
- Control the controllables
- Setting the expectations
- Building strong connections
And much more!
Contact her via email: kelly.dormandy@lmu.edu
Contact her via Instagram: @kdormandy
On episode 29 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Arianna Luther. She is the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Miami. She is directly responsible for the rowing, soccer, swimming and diving programs.
Topics of Discussion
- Fighting the good fight
- Being durable
- Setting the tone for your day
And much more!
Contact her via email: aluther@miami.edu
Contact her via Instagram: @ariannaluther
Contact her via Twitter: @Arianna_Luther
On episode 28 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Jordan Conner. She is an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of North Carolina. She is directly responsible for all aspects of training the softball, women’s golf, gymnastics, women’s tennis and cross country programs.
Topics of Discussion
- Trust yourself
- Lessons from strong women in her life
- Choose your battles
And much more!
Contact her via email: jsconner@email.unc.edu
Contact her via Instagram: @conner_jordan
Contact her via Twitter: @j_conner5
Book: For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn
On episode 27 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Katie Klapprodt. She is the Assistant Strength Coach at the University of Nebraska. She primarily works with the women’s soccer team and spirit squad, while assisting with the track and field team.
Topics of Discussion
- Showing up and competing
- Leading through your actions
- Finding unique ways to connect with student-athletes
And much more!
Contact her via Instagram: @katie_klappdrodt
Contact her via Facebook: Katie Klapprodt
Contact her via Twitter: @KatieKlapp
Contact her via email: kklapprodt@huskers.com
Book: The Golden Age of Strength and Conditioning
Instagram: @katie_klappdrodt
Facebook: Katie Klapprodt
Twitter: @KatieKlapp
Email: kklapprodt@huskers.com
On episode 26 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Lysette Rivera-Cortes. She is the Assistant Strength Coach at Bucknell University. She just joined the Bucknell strength staff in November after a stint at Georgia Southern University as an assistant strength and conditioning coach, while working toward a second master’s degree.
Topics of Discussion
- Building connection
- Challenge your student-athletes
- Build trust
And much more!
Contact her via Instagram: @coach_rc_
Contact her via email: coachrc96@gmail.com
On episode 25 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Autumn Lockwood. She is the Assistant Director of Basketball Sports Performance at East Tennessee State University. She primarily works with the basketball programs.
Topics of Discussion
- Be your authentic self
- Be a lifelong learner
- How she builds connections amongst her staff and athletic department
And much more!
Contact her via Instagram: @autumnlockwood
Contact her via Twitter: @AMLockwood_
Contact her via email: lockwooda@mail.etsu.edu
Book: Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
Instagram: @autumnlockwood
Twitter: @AMLockwood_
Email: lockwooda@mail.etsu.edu
On episode 24 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Kaiti Jones. She is the Senior Sports Performance Coach at the University of Louisville. Coach Jones overseas programming and services for the women’s basketball and lacrosse teams.
Topics of Discussion
- You are always being interviewed, even when you don’t know it
- The many moments of courage throughout her life and career
- How she is building her legacy And much more!
Book: Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins Contact her via Instagram: @kaitijones Contact her via Twitter: @kaitijones Contact her via email: kaitlynn@gocards.com Learn more about Louisville Sports Performance: www.cardinalsperformance.com Louisville Sports Performance Instagram: @UofLperformance Louisville Sports Performance Twitter: @UofLperformance
On episode 23 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Emily Zaler. She is the Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Denver Broncos. Coach Zaler is living out her dream and worked hard to get there!
Topics of Discussion
- The importance of persistence and self-discipline
- Clarity around what she needed to accomplish her dream
- Her connection with athletes at the highest level
- If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no And much more!
Contact her via Instagram: @ezaler Contact her via Twitter: @ezaler
On episode 22 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Kathy Wagner. She is the Assistant AD for Sports Performance at the University of Texas Arlington. She oversees the entire strength and conditioning department/staff and educates coaches and student-athletes within the realms of nutrition, health, wellness, sleep and recovery.
Topics of Discussion
- The importance of networking
- Trust and alignment with sport coaches & athletic training staff
- The power of connection
- Answer can’t always be “yes”
And much more!
Contact her via twitter: @CoachWagsUTA
Contact her via email: kwagner@uta.edu
On episode 21 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Lindsey Kirschman. She is the Strength and Conditioning Coach for Poudre High School.
Topics of Discussion
- How important self Identity is
- Getting rid of the chip on your shoulder
And much more!
Contact her via instagram: @impalastrong
Contact her via email: lcascari@psdschools.org
On episode 20 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Bri Brown. She is the Director of Women's Basketball and WSOC Sports Performance for the University of Houston. She is directly responsible for Women's basketball and soccer.
Topics of Discussion
- The importance of a uniform language
- Being an example to your student athletes
- The power of working hard
And much more!
Contact her via instagram: @coachbribrown
Contact her via twitter: @briannebrown10
On episode 19 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Ashley Muschiatti. She is the Assistant Strength Coach and Nutrition Coordinator at Delaware State University. Ashley is directly responsible for the cross country and bowling programs.
Topics of Discussion
- Influence of women role models in S&C field
- Balance school and work so her student-athletes experience her as the leader that they need her to be
- Tools she is adding to her toolbox that are her unique selling points
Book: The Obstacle is The Way by Ryan Holiday
Contact her via email: amuschiatti25@yahoo.com
Contact her via instagram: @amuschiatti
Contact her via twitter: @Coach_AshleyM
Website: https://www.ashleymuschiatti.com
On episode 18 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Yolanda Berryhill. She is the Player Development Coach at Georgia Tech. Coach Yo is directly responsible for the women's basketball program.
Topics of Discussion
- Learning to lead up the chain of command
- Her experience of finding her coaching voice
- Being the example by letting your actions speak louder than your mouth!
Book: The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Contact her via email: yberryhill@athletics.gatech.edu
Contact her via instagram: @yoberry32
Contact her via twitter: @StrengthCoachYO
On episode 17 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Sam Moore. She is the Applied Sport Scientist and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at NC State University.
Topics of Discussion on This Episode:
- Don't miss an opportunity because you don't work hard!
- The power of connection and the environment you create
- Her pioneer-ship in the S&C field and to no surprise it is how she adds tremendous value to their program
Book: Everybody Always by Bob Goff
Contact her via email: srmoore8@nscu.edu
Contact her via instagram & twitter: @sammoorestrong
On episode 16 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Sesely Omli. She is the Sports Performance Special Assistant at the University of Kansas.
Topics of Discussion on This Episode:
- The power of connection
- Empowerment
- Finding your coaching identity
- How she adds value throughout the entire athletic department
Book: The Four Agreements
Contact her via email: seselyomli@ku.edu
Contact her via instagram: @seselyomli
On episode 15 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Ashleigh Beaver. She is the Head Sports Performance Coach for Duke Women's Basketball.
Topics of Discussion on This Episode:
- Gaining experience with many sports
- How she adds value to the women's basketball program at Duke
- A shocking encounter and her courageous response
- Getting rid of the ego and networking
Contact her via email: ashleigh.beaver@duke.edu
Contact her via instagram: @ashleighb6
On episode 14 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Christi Lane. She is the Sports Performance Coordinator with Major League Soccer team Orlando City.
Topics of Discussion on This Episode
- Attention to detail
- Her self identity discovery as a coach and compared to her natural self identity away from work
- How she plans to add value with her future interns
Book
Reach for the Summit by Pat Summit
Contact
Email: clane@orlandocitysc.com
On episode 13 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Coach Whitney Rodden. She is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at MidAmerica Nazarene University.
Topics of Discussion on This Episode
- Creating buy-in with athletes and how she did/does with football
- How she built her S&C program to be its own
- Growing up on a farm and its life lessons
- Tragedy and how it has changed her
Visit kacunningham.com to obtain more information about this episode!
On episode 12 of KC's Conversations I am honored to be joined by Coach Candice Walls. She is the Assistant Director of Athletics for Athletic Performance with the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.
Topics Discussed on This Episode
- The essence of hard work instilled at a young age
- Importance of self-care
- Her practice of dealing with nerves and how to utilize it with her student-athletes
- TRUTH about being a female in strength and conditioning
Book
The Carpenter by Jon Gordon
Contact
Instagram: @wallsstrength
On episode 11 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Tracy Fober. Tracy is a physical therapist, S&C coach, & the owner of Iron Maven Performance Health.
Topics Discussed on This Episode
- Her use of vitamin G & vitamin I - the power of movement
- Opening doors to coaching for young women and men
- Are you prepared to present? Find out through Tracy's experience at the NSCA
Visit kacunningham.com to obtain more information about this episode!
On episode 10 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Emily Pappas. Emily is the founder of Relentless Athletics.
Topics Discussed on This Episode
- Myths female athletes are up against
- That her trust to solely target female athletes would allow her to have a gym and company that would become successful
Visit kacunningham.com to obtain more information about this episode!
On episode 9 of KC's Conversations I am honored to be joined by Cat Wade. Cat is the Founder of Blue Chip Performance.
Topics Discussed on This Episode
- Discovery of her passion for S&C
- The good, hard, scary, & amazing of leaving her collegiate position
Visit kacunningham.com to obtain more information about this episode!
On episode 8 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Courtney Taybron. She is the Assistant Sports Performance Coach at Longwood University.
Topics Discussed on This Episode
- Leadership development carried into her coaching
- Advice to coaches heading into first full-time position
- Her discovery into who she is as a coach
Visit kacunningham.com to obtain more information about this episode!
On episode 7 of KC's Conversations I am humbled to be joined by Caitlin Quinn. She is the Director of Performance for Toyota Racing Development.
Topics Discussed on This Episode
- Coach Quinn's path to Toyota Racing Development
- Differences coaching college student-athletes and teenage boy drivers
- Advice to younger self
Visit kacunningham.com to obtain more information about this episode!
On Episode 6 of KC's Conversations I am honored to be joined by Andrea Hayden. She is a strength and conditioning coach for the Minnesota Twins.
Topics Covered On This Episode
- Coach Hayden's path to the Twins
- Stories of her mentors impact on her
- Most recent humbling experience
Visit kacunningham.com to obtain more information about this episode!
On episode 5 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Nicole Brown. She is the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. You don't want to miss this episode because she is FIRE!
Topic Covered:
- Military background and how it has impacted her as a coach
- Be a soldier in the classroom, weight room and relationships
- Her mentors and all the other bombs she drops!
On Episode 4 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Stephanie Mock. She is the Director of Olympic Sports Strength and Conditioning at Mississippi State University. Enjoy our conversation!
Topics Covered On This Episode
- Stephanie's path, video conferencing, and her internship grind to success
On Episode 3 of KC's Conversations I am joined by Jena Ready. Jena is the Director of Sports Performance for Women's Basketball at Wake Forest University. I know you will enjoy hearing her stories and all of her experiences.
Topics Covered On This Episode
- Jena's path
- NFL & NBA Forum Experiences
- Story working with a male athletic team
- Her high, low & cheer!
On Episode 2 of KC’s Conversations I am honored to be joined by Ali Kershner.
Ali is the Associate Olympic Sports Performance Coach at Stanford. Listen in to hear the great stories Ali has to offer.
Topics Covered On This Episode
- Ali’s path
- Female coaches that have impacted her
- Feedback from failures
- Her thesis being published
- How to better ask questions
On Episode 1 of KC's Conversations I am humbled to be joined by Andrea Hudy. She is the Assistant Athletics Director of Sports Performance at the University of Kansas. Listen in to hear the pearls of wisdom she offers and much more.
Topics Covered
- Hudy's background
- Her book
- How she has become good at failing and good at overcoming
- Don't just sit in your office. Don't just lift weights. Sell your program and do other things!