The First: Recent Episodes
Tamara Pridgett
The First is a platform where athletes can be authentic, raw, and candid as they share their journey, experiences, and everything we don't get to see beyond the stat sheet.
Baseball is a male-dominated sport, but women like Kim Ng, Jean Afterman, Raquel Ferreira, and Rachel Balkovec are changing the landscape. In this episode of The First, Rachel discusses her trajectory as an athlete, her experiences as a strength and conditioning coach, her new position with the Yankees, developing Latinx players, and more.
Connect with us:
Rachel's Instagram: @rachel.balkovec
Tamara's Instagram: @tamsgoinham
The First: @thefirstpod
There aren't many women who hold leadership positions in professional sports but Kelsey Martinez, the first woman to be an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Oakland Raiders, is changing that. In this episode of The First, Kelsey and I discuss her background as a softball player, pursuing a career in strength training, her experience with the Raiders franchise, and she's even sharing tips on how to create a workout routine you'll actually enjoy and stick to.
Connect with us:
Kelsey's Instagram: @kelsey_martinez_
Tamara's Instagram: @tamsgoinham
The First: @thefirstpod
On this episode of The First, I sat down with Roderick Sewell Jackson, the first bilateral above-knee blade runner to complete the Ironman World Championship. We discussed his mother's decision to amputate his legs at 18 months old, homelessness, his introduction to the Challenged Athletes Foundation, conquering Kona, and his mission to be a dual-sport athlete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Connect with us:
Roderick's Instagram: @rsewell92
Tamara's Instagram: @tamsgoinham
The First: @thefirstpod
Challenged Athletes Foundation: https://www.challengedathletes.org/
Rodericks website: https://www.rodericksewell.com/
In this episode of The First, I spoke with Hannah Huesman, MS, CMPC, the Mental Performance Coach for the Philadelphia Phillies about mental health in sport, how to develop mental strategies to succeed in all aspects of life, and how to be more aware and present in your day to day, athlete or not.
Connect With Us:
Hannah’s Instagram: @hannahhuesman
Tamara’s Instagram: @tamsgoinham
The First: @thefirstpod
On this episode of The First, I caught up with Blake Bolden, the first African-American player to compete in the National Women’s Hockey League.
We discussed how she got introduced to hockey, her experience playing on an all-boys team growing up, being black in a predominately white sport, protective hairstyles, her mentorship program, the best players boycotting competing in North America, and the formation of the Professional Women’s Hockey Player Association (PWHPA).
Connect with us:
Blake's Instagram: @sportsblake
Tamara's Instagram: @tamsgoinham
The First: @thefirstpod
Blake’s website: https://www.blakebolden.com/about-me
PWHPA website: http://pwhpa.com/dream-gap-tour-announcement/
On this episode of The First, I caught up with my friend and Olympic fencer Nzingha Prescod, the first American woman to win a gold medal in foil at the Grand Prix, in 2013, and the first African-American woman to ever win an individual medal at the Senior World Championships in 2015.
We discussed her experience as a Black fencer in a predominately white sport; injuries, setbacks, and fearless comebacks; the importance of training the mind as an athlete; and her plans for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Connect with us:
Nzingha's Instagram: @nzinghap
Tamara's Instagram: @tamsgoinham
The First Instagram: @thefirstpod
On this episode of The First, Will and I talk about growing up as track and field athletes, playing collegiate sports, mental health, overcoming injuries, faith, turning pro and negotiating contracts, his infamous 2016 Rio Olympics proposal, his music career (listen to his EP here), and prepping for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Connect with us:
Will's Instagram: @willclaye
Tamara's Instagram: @tamsgoinham
The First Instagram: @thefirstpod
The First is a platform where athletes can be authentic, raw, and candid as they share their journey, experiences, and everything else we don't get to see beyond the stat sheet. Get ready to hear from the most talented athletes who are transcending sports and changing the world.
Thank you Priscilla Brinshot for bringing my graphics vision to life, DJ ESudd for the beats, and Listening Party for providing me with a place to record when I need it.