The Feist

The Science of Your Nervous System and How to Respond to Stress, Trauma, and the State of the World

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0800

In this special episode, your Feisty Women's Performance podcast host Dr. Erin Ayala brings together a group of experts on mental health to talk about the science and psychology of stress and collective trauma.

Along with being a sports psychologist & therapist in her own right, Erin also lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota — which has been at the center of the news over the last month since it became the target of the largest immigration enforcement action to date in the U.S. Thousands of federal agents have patrolled the streets and detained residents, and, over this past weekend, shot and killed a second bystander — leading to hundreds of thousands of people protesting in Minneapolis and around the country.

In this tense environment, how do we show up as athletes, as members of our community, as our best and healthiest selves?

Join Dr. Tess Kilwein, Dr. Quincy Guinadi, and Christine Bright as they discuss how these experiences shape mental health and performance, and how you can respond to stress and trauma — whether you're going through it right now with the news or you're dealing with your challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• What is collective trauma? Learn how collective trauma impacts communities and individuals, and why this understanding is crucial for athletes and coaches.

• Recognize that intentional rest in times of stress can be essential for long-term sustainability.

• Know that movement and sport can be powerful tools in community healing.

• Get tips on how to navigate the complexities of wanting to help without feeling performative or overwhelmed, and how to effectively engage in difficult conversations without shame or guilt.

Don't be perfect. Be brave.

Guest Introductions:

• Dr. Tess Kilwein: A board-certified clinical, health, and sport psychologist with expertise in mental performance and athlete wellness.

• Dr. Quincy Guinadi: A postdoctoral resident specializing in identity, mental health, and the experiences of marginalized communities.

• Christine Bright: Lead consultant at the Center for Healing and Justice through Sport, focusing on trauma-informed coaching and community support.

Resources Mentioned:

• Center for Healing and Justice through Sport

• Nothing Heals like Sport Playbook

• "What Happened to You" by Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah

• Beyond Ally by Dr. Maysa Akbar

• Find ways to help at standwithminnesota.com

The best women's sports moments of 2025

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0800

It's the last episode of the year! And Kelly and Sara are closing out the season with a full-on countdown of the best races, records, performances, and picks in women’s sports this year.

From #16 all the way down to our #1 women's sports moment of 2025!

What did we miss? What was your moment of the year? Send us a voice memo at podcasts@livefeisty.com and we'll be back in the new year.

Subscribe to The Feist, our Free Weekly Newsletter covering Women's Sports: https://feisty.co/feistnews/

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Your Complete List of Feisty Women's Sports Book & Movie Recs

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0800

To get you in the cozy holiday spirit, Kelly and Sara are throwing down some of their best women's sports book and movie recommendations.

But, first, this week's women's sports highlights:

55 women hit the Olympic Trials qualifying standard at CIM — even though the standard (2:37) is faster than ever! And a shoutout to Molly Born, who won the race in her first marathon, despite a fall in the final straightaway.
And you should be following SkiMo (ski mountaineering)! Where it all came down to the U.S. vs. Canada for the final Olympic spot. Enter Anna Gibson, world-class trail runner, who was recruited and secretly turned out to be amazing! (It's Kelly's dream.)
Bonus shoutout to Alysa Liu, who won the Grand Prix in figure skating in her comeback-to-the-Olympics tour.

…like we were saying — a few follow-ups:

The highest-paid women athletes in 2025. Why are 10 of the top 15 tennis players? Thank you, Billie Jean King.
The NWSL rejected Trinity Rodman’s contract deal, which is not a good look for the league.
And the WNBA is still hashing out CBA issues. What's the latest?

Then: Our full list of women's sports book & movie recs

Kelly and Sara are deep in movies-and-books season, which prompted us to pull together some of our Feisty favs. Some of the ones mentioned in the episode:

A League of Their Own
Love & Basketball
Bend It Like Beckham
Bring It On
The Cutting Edge
Personal Best
Challengers

Sara isn't much of a movie-watcher, but she does love books!

Good for a Girl, Lauren Fleshman
Better Faster Farther, Maggie Mertens
The Longest Race, Kara Goucher
Money, Power, Respect: How Women in Sports Are Shaping the Future of Feminism, Macaela MacKenzie
Tough Broad, Caroline Paul
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes, Joan Ryan
In These Girls Hope Is a Muscle, Madeleine Blais
We Loved to Run, Stephanie Reents
Carrie Soto Is Back, Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Favorites, Layne Fargo
As Good as Gold, Kathryn Bertine
Stand, Kathryn Bertine
Tough Broad, Caroline Paul
Up to Speed, Christine Yu
Endure, Alex Hutchinson
Shoe Dog, Phil Knight
For kids: Anything from Strong Girl Publishing, plus Molly Hurford's Shred Girls series

What are your recs? What did we miss? Send us a voice memo to podcasts@livefeisty.com

Plus, our Feisty Picks of the week!

Chapters:

01:10 - The women are getting fast and the depth is getting deep
6:50 - SkiMo!
18:55 - Let's follow-up on the money
37:00 - Our women's sports movie and book recs
52:45 - Feisty Picks of the Week

Subscribe to The Feist, our Free Weekly Newsletter covering Women's Sports: https://feisty.co/feistnews/

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Is San Francisco really the #1 women’s sports city?

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Kelly and Sara are asking two burning questions this week: Is San Francisco really the top women’s sports town in the world? (The New York Times says so and Kelly agrees.) And: Why in 2025 is Nordic Combined still the *only* sport women aren’t allowed to compete in at the Olympics?

But first, the women's sports highlights:

Mikaela Shiffrin just won her 104th World Cup race — her third in a row and her fifth of the last six. Why isn't this getting more hype!?
Is it because there's too many records? How that happened.
Speaking of: The PWHL set a record for the highest attendance at a women's hockey game in the U.S.

And then a few follow-ups. "Like we were saying..."

There is adult cross-country! And Ceili McCabe won the Canadian champs in the snow. But the Winter Olympics still don't want to add XC to their events.
Why the h*ll aren't women allowed to compete in Nordic Combined in the Olympics?!
And, in the Paralympics, there is no women's sled hockey. Technically, it's co-ed, but only three women have ever competed at the Games.
What are "whereabouts" violations in doping and why did Canada's most decorated female Olympian get one? Sara explains the logistics of how the system worked when she had to update her whereabouts everyday.
And yes, The Enhanced Games appears to actually be happening for real.

Then: What Makes a Great Women’s Sports City?

Is San Francisco really the #1 women’s sports city in the world? According to The New York Times (and Kelly), yes. We unpack what actually creates a powerhouse women’s sports environment — fan culture, investment, access, and visibility...

Disagree? Send us a voice memo to podcasts@livefeisty.com.

Episode Resources:

The stats behind Mikaela Shiffrin's record wins: https://www.fis-ski.com/alpine-skiing/news/2024-25/a-century-in-numbers-the-stats-behind-mikaela-shiffrin-s-100-world-cup-wins

The top women's sports cities ranked: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6807524/2025/11/18/womens-sports-cities-top-ranked-fans/

A Q&A with the founder of The Enhanced Games: https://feisty.co/p/q-and-a-the-founder-of-the-enhanced/

Episode timestamps

02:58 - Mikaela Shiffrin's record-breaking records

06:03 - Are there too many records?

11:28 - Put cross-country in the Winter Olympics!

16:37 - Why is there no women's Nordic Combined in the Olympics?

19:50 - And no women's sled hockey in the Paralympics...

28:30 - Understanding whereabouts violations in anti-doping

41:00 - WTF the Enhanced Games

46:42 - What is the best women's sports city?

52:02 - Our Feisty Picks of the Week

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Should the UCI stop athletes with eating disorders from racing? Sammie Maxwell answers

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0800

This week, we have a special guest: mountain bike world champion Samara Maxwell opens up about her struggles with an eating disorder and why she actually thinks it was good that her federation forced her to stop riding — or at least she can understand and agree with it now.

But first, the women’s sports highlights of the week:

PWHL opening weekend: Vancouver packed in 14,958 fans to watch them take down Seattle—the highest-attended home game in PWHL history.
NWSL Playoffs: Gotham FC’s Rose Lavelle delivered the lone winning goal. And Kelly confirms the hype in the Bay Area was real. Is it time for the NWSL to end neutral site championship games? Up the salary cap? Did Kelly regret not going to the fame?
NCAA cross-country championships: Don't let the debate over international recruiting practices mar an amazing race from Doris Lemngole.

Then, we talk with New Zealand’s Samara “Sammie” Maxwell, the first Kiwi to win the UCI cross-country World Cup overall title.

Sammie, who has been open about her struggles with an eating disorder, was told to stop cycling by her federation and then left off the Olympic team because they didn't think she had fully recovered — a decision she appealed. She explains why she appealed the decision, but also why she now believes Cycling New Zealand made the right call. And what can be done to address eating disorders in cycling?

Then, of course, our Feisty Picks of the Week.

Episode resources:

WADA considers banning Ozempic: https://velo.outsideonline.com/news/ozempic-weight-loss-drugs-ban-sports/
Climbing introduces policy to combat eating disorders: https://www.climbing.com/news/ifsc-policy-combat-eating-disorders/

Episode timestamps:

00:23 - Shoutout to the PWHL & the NWSL Finals
18:05 - Kelly explains cross-country to Sara
22:36 - What is happening with NCAA recruitment?!
32:01 - Samara Maxwell on how she's recovering from an eating disorder and what she wants people to know
57:27 - What responsibility do coaches have?
01:10:51 - The future of GLP-1s in sports

Subscribe to The Feist, our Free Weekly Newsletter covering Women's Sports: https://feisty.co/feistnews/

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Hockey and the woke mob group chat

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Our resident hockey expert joins us to explain hockey to Americans: all things PWHL, Canadian hockey culture, and is ringette a real sport... ?!

But first, the women's sports highlights of the week:

The NSL playoffs brought in massive economic return for Canada. Now, it's the NWSL's turn: Ranked #8 out of 8, is Gotham FC ruining everyone's brackets?
We're rooting for winter sports comebacks: Alysa Liu, who took her first Skate America win, and Mikaela Shiffrin, who just won her 102nd World Cup race and her ninth reindeer. Yes, reindeer.
Then, why the heck can't endurance sports get it together?! A cycling world record that no one bothered to record?

Then it's time to get in the weeds on hockey!

The PWHL is expanding to eight teams (hello, Vancouver and Seattle!) this season. How did we get here? And what's next for the league? Plus, can you build a non-toxic hockey culture?

Plus, our new segment: 'Like we were saying...' with updates on sex testing (yes, again). And our Feisty picks of the week.

Episode resources:

The Canada Hockey sexual assault case: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/29/canada-hockey-sexual-assault-case-analysis
History of women's hockey: https://thecolgatemaroonnews.com/47399/sports/the-pwhl-part-i-the-history-of-womens-pro-hockey/ and https://thecolgatemaroonnews.com/47893/sports/the-pwhl-part-ii-why-the-league-will-buck-the-trend/

Episode timestamps:

00:24 - Soccer playoff highlights

07:05 - Time for winter sports: Why we're rooting for Alysia Liu

09:22 - Mikaela Shiffrin's crash comeback & Lindsey Vonn's Olympic hops

16:43 - Why do triathlon and cycling keep messing up?

30:03 - PWHL expansion and a season preview

36:09 - The weird league ownership structure of the PWSL

39:40 - Hockey's toxic culture?

50:30 Ringette: A Canadian Sport(??)

01:05:19 - Like We Were Saying: Could trans athletes be banned from the Olympics?

01:08:04 Feisty Picks of the Week

Subscribe to The Feist, our Free Weekly Newsletter covering Women's Sports: https://feisty.co/feistnews/

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Can "good" billionaires exist in women's sports?

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0800

How do women’s sports make (lots and lots of) money — without losing their fans or...selling out? Or, screw it, should the make as much money as they can?

This week, Kelly and Sara dig into the money talk — from WNBA labor negotiations and shifting fan dynamics to what happens when women’s sports finally start cashing big checks. How much do female athletes *deserve* to be paid? And can they make more and more money without alienating their fans? How?

But first — what we loved in women’s sports this week:

The New York City Marathon: Hellen Obiri smashed the course record in 2:19:55 and a record 59,226 runners crossed the line, making it the biggest marathon in history. Are we in a running boom, or a chasing bucket lists boom?
And, India wins their first-ever Cricket World Cup! At home. Against undefeated Australia. After an ugly start to the tournament and a wave of online misogyny. This comeback win was massive, a long time coming, and will change the game forever.

And the epic record-breaking $13.8 million prize purse brings us to this week’s big question: How much do women deserve to be paid?

Sara starts by breaking down the WNBA’s ongoing contract negotiations — with players pushing for a guaranteed share of league revenue instead of just a higher salary cap. And then we dive into the weeds of women's sports finances: Right now, fans often identify more with players than teams — but will that stay true as female athletes earn more and more? At what point does a (historically) socially conscious fan base turn against a (fundamentally) capitalist enterprise? If a large portion of your fandom doesn't believe billionaires should exist, then is it even possible to create billionaire athletes and league owners off those fans? Can that new model be built?

Send us your answers in a voice memo to podcasts@livefeisty.com

And we close with our Feisty Picks of the Week.

Time Stamps

0:02 - The record-breaking New York Marathon

8:35 - Make it a movie: India wins their first-ever Cricket World Cup

14:45 - How much should women get paid?

26:00 - Balancing making bank and doing good

35:38 - Sponsors and women's sports fans

46:55 - Our predictions for the future of that women's sports growth curve

47:40 - Feisty Picks of the Week

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Kelly & Sara try to solve doping

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0800

This week on The Feist, the marathon world record holder gets slapped with a three-year ban. What's to be done about doping?

First, the women's sports highlights this week & what we're watching:

How did we not realize it was the Gymnastic World Championships? The U.S. had its least medal haul since 2006 and a lot of big names were missing — but a world championship is still a world championship.
Swimming world records dropped in Toronto, including Katie Ledecky's 800m record and the first woman ever under 50 seconds in the 100m free.
Four more years of the Tour de France Femmes! (Thanks, Zwift!) And the women finally get Mont Ventoux.
And why did Kelly have weird stress dreams about running the New York Marathon this weekend? When she's definitely not running the New York Marathon this weekend.

Then, we have a voicemail from our Feisty correspondent with all the details about the Northern Super League playoffs.

And an interview with Mithali Das, who regionally coordinates the women's programs for USA Cricket — and is here to answer all of our Cricket World Cup questions: Why are games eight hours? How is the women's sport growing now? Who will win the semis and finals this week — and take home the massive prize purse?

Then, before the Feisty Picks of the Week, it's time for our in-the-weeds debate: How do we solve doping?

Marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich is banned for three years after her positive test and some pretty incriminating texts.
Meanwhile, pro triathlete Imogene Simmonds was cleared of any fault or negligence for her positive test. Yes, her sexual contamination explanation actually makes sense. Is the system working the way it's supposed to?
And the New York Times article about the prevalence of doping and incentives in Kenya: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/world/africa/kenya-runners-doping.html

Timestamps

00:28 - The gymnastics world championships
10:26 - Swimming World Records and Four More Years of the Tour de France Femmes
25:45 - Feisty correspondent Maya breaks down the Northern Super League and why it's important for Canada
33:47 - The Rise of Women's Cricket: USA Cricket coordinator Mithali Das explains it to us
52:33 - The big doping news this week and what to do about the prevalence of performance-enhancing drugs?
1:16:58 - Picks of the week

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Victoria's Secret, MrBeast, Red Bull Rampage, and this week in women's sports

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0800

The great debate: Do female athletes need Victoria's Secret and MrBeast — or do they need female athletes?

But first, what happened in women’s sports this week:

A wild triathlon world championship in Wollongong — even if Sara didn't totally understand at first why it was so wild.
Watch the winning Red Bull Rampage run from Robin Goomes: https://www.tiktok.com/@redbullusa/video/7562279735808773398
Life Time Grand Prix is locked up and Track Cycling Worlds is starting
Plus, the new world record at the 24-Hour World Champs and the confusion leading into the race

Then we talk about the ongoing question female celebrities, and especially female athletes face: How much spectacle do they want to embrace? What spectacle is good spectacle? (We are pro spectacle here! But anti bad spectacle!)

World champ Melissa Jefferson-Wooden races 100 random men — and, yes, beats them — for $100K. WNBA star Angel Reese becomes the first athlete to walk the (revamped) Victoria's Secret fashion show. And Athlos shows us how hard it is for an average person to do what the Olympians do.

One of these things felt different than the others...

And, of course, there's the Feisty Picks of the Week!

Timestamps:

00:13 - The Intersection of Sports and Fashion
00:23 - Understanding the World Triathlon Championships
13:31 - Red Bull Rampage & Women's Freeriding
33:53 - The Return of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
48:36 - Picks of the Week!

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LIVE from the last all-women's Ironman World Championship

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0800

This week we’re coming at you from the last all-women’s Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Unfortunately, it’s the end of an Ironman era (for now!) — but we’re going out with a bang.

We’ve got all the race drama from the ground — including two frontrunners collapsing while leading the race, a rookie champ who took the world by surprise, podium interviews poolside, and one incredibly badass 80-year-old woman who made history.

But first — as always — what happened in women's sports this week:

Athlos NYC brought track to Times Square - The vibes? Rock star. Masai Russell, Brittany Brown (who doubled in the 100m and 200m with endometriosis, btw), Marileidy Paulino, Keely Hodgkinson, and Tara Davis-Woodhall all showed up and showed out. Oh, and Faith Kipyegon ran the fastest women’s mile ever on U.S. soil: 4:17.78.
The Chicago Marathon: Hawi Feysa from Ethiopia dropped a 2:14:56, the 5th fastest woman's time ever run.
UCI Gravel World Championships: Lorena Wiebes outsprinted Marianne Vos for a dramatic finish on this dirt championship that looks and feels a lot like road...
Weightlifting World Championships: Olympic gold medalist Olivia Reeves is still breaking all the records. She put up 122kg in the snatch and 154kg in the clean & jerk. That’s 339 pounds, people. How did she break world records and another broke her records? A shift in weight classes cut the number of categories from ten down to eight.
WNBA Finals: The Aces took it in four over the Phoenix Mercury. But the real talk is about negotiations over the players' collective bargaining agreement — with team valuations skyrocketing (yes, over $100 million in the last year), the stakes are high and the money’s moving.
COMING UP: Red Bull Rampage is this Thursday and Chelsea Kimball will be throwing down

THEN: All things KONA

Why this was the final all-women’s Ironman World Championship in Hawaii
The race: Absolute chaos and courage — Lucy Charles-Barclay and Taylor Knibb both collapsed, and Norwegian rookie Solveig Løvseth stayed steady and strong for the win
The podium: Hear from Solveig, Kat Matthews (who ran a marathon course record in the heat and humidity), Laura Philipp, and Hannah Berry
The real legend: Natalie Grabow, 80-year-old woman became the oldest woman to ever finish the Ironman World Championships. (If you're wondering: While Sister Madonna was 82 (!) when she finished Ironman Canada in 2012, no one has ever been able to make the cutoff times in Hawaii's brutal conditions. Until now)
The heat, the heartbreak, the heroics — all of it, straight from Kona

Feisty Picks of the Week

SARA: Yep, it's Solveig, our new Ironman World Champ

KELLY: And did you know J.Lo ran a 4:49 mile in high school??

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome to The Feist: Live from Hawaii

00:28 - Athlos NYC: Track Vibes in Times Square

04:24 - Endometriosis Doesn’t Slow Brittany Brown

05:57 - Fast Roads in Chicago

08:07 - Gravel Worlds = Chaos & Champions

12:21- Weightlifting World Records

15:47 - WNBA Finals and $$$ Talks

19:36 - Ironman Kona: The Final All-Women’s Edition

30:43 - Race Recap: Collapses, Comebacks, and Surprises

31:34 - Poolside with the Podium: Solveig, Kat, Laura & Hannah

53:20 - Natalie Grabow, Age 80, Finishes Kona

01:01:41 - Final Thoughts from Hawaii

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Proposals, Paydays and Ilona Maher barbie, plus year two of women at the Redbull Rampage

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0800

First up this week on the Feist:

Finish line proposals. Jeanne Lehair dominated Supertri Toulouse and then also accepted a marriage proposal on the podium. As you can imagine, we have feelings about this one!

Then, we dive into what’s been happening across the world of women’s sports — from Demi Vollering finally snagging her first major title of the year at the Euro Cycling Championships and Catherine Debrunner, who absolutely dominated the Para Athletics World Championships with five gold medals — yes, five — across distances from 100m to 5000m. Add in the Cricket World Cup’s $13.8 million prize purse!

Then we shift gears to the WNBA Finals, where Vegas is leading again, and Napheesa Collier goes full scorched earth on the WBNA leadership.

Plus, the Red Bull Rampage is back. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when mountain bikers throw themselves off cliffs for fun (and glory), this is the one. We sit down with athlete Chelsea Kimball, who shares the guts, grit, and glory behind one of the most extreme events in sport.

CORRECTION: We mistakenly mentioned that Rampage was *this* weekend, when it's actually *next* weekend. Watch on Oct. 16 on Red Bull TV.

Finally, we go deep on the true value of female sports fans — and spoiler alert: it’s massive. According to new data, women will control 75% of global discretionary spending by 2030, and 72% already identify as sports fans. Yet two-thirds say brands still don’t get them. We unpack what that means for the future of fandom, sponsorship, and who gets to shape the sports economy.

Deep dive: The value of female sports fans

Subscribe to The Feist, our Free Weekly Newsletter covering Women's Sports: https://feisty.co/feistnews/

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00:30 Finish Line Proposals: Love at the Finish Line

02:25 Euro Cycling Championships: Demi Vollering Takes the Win

04:50 Para Track and Field World Championships: Shoutout to Catherine Debrunner

06:14 Cricket World Cup: A Global Sport's Big Payday

09:53 WNBA Drama: Napheesa Collier's Scorched Earth Speech

12:13 Ironman World Championship: All Women's Kona

13:39 Athlos Track Meet: Culture Meets Sport

17:25 Red Bull Rampage: Women's Inclusion and Interview with Chelsea Kimball

28:29 The Future of Women's Sports: Opportunities and Challenges

36:16 Feisty Picks of the Week including Ilona Maher Barbie!

Oh, Canada! Rugby World Cup, historic cycling world title, and Canada's WNBA team with Tempo President Teresa Resch

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Canada may not always dominate global sports headlines—but this week, it’s all about The Great White North.

First, we kick off with Canada's plucky performance against England in the Rugby World Cup finals. While the trophy slipped through their fingers, the tournament was a triumph—smashing every record in ticket sales and viewership.
Then, from the pitch to the pedals: Magdeleine Vallieres won Canada's first ever world title at the cycling World Championships (man or woman). And in true Canadian style, her teammate Alison Jackson might’ve been even more thrilled than she was!
We also check in on more world championship action, from the World Trail and Mountain Running Championships to the muddy madness of the XTERRA World Championships.

But the real spotlight this week? The future of the WNBA in Canada. We sit down with the Toronto Tempo President Teresa Resch to talk about the WNBA’s newest expansion team, launching in Toronto in the spring. She shares what it takes to build a WNBA team from scratch—crafting identity, recruiting players, creating culture—and how fans can help build lasting momentum in pivotal moment in women's basketball.

Next week? We're on the ground in Kona for the final Women's-only IRONMAN World Championship on the Big Island. Stay tuned for interviews, predictions, and takeaways from this historic event.

Subscribe to The Feist, our Free Weekly Newsletter covering Women's Sports: https://feisty.co/feistnews/

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Episode resources:

Sign up for daily updates from our coverage of the women's Ironman World Championship in Kona: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/kona
The muddy chaos at XTERRA World Champs: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPGnCDzDOYh/?img_index=1
Video of Alison Jackson after the historic Canadian world championship medal: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPHLcT2gZ9H/

02:15 - Canada vs. England in the Rugby World Cup finals

03:14 - What's next for for women's rugby?

09:33 - The Cycling World Championship highlights

16:07 - An update on the UCI's new rules

19:27 - Next week's all-women's Ironman World Championships

21:03 - The World Trail and Mountain Running Championships

25:58 - Mud Madness at the XTERRA World Championships

29:41 - Interview with Toronto Tempo President, Teresa Resch

34:47 - Building the Toronto Tempo: From Bid to Team

35:31 - Creating an identity for "Canada's team"

40:38 - How fans get get involved with the newest WNBA team

1:06:09 - An update on the WNBA Playoffs and ongoing CBA negotiations

1:10:25 - Our Feisty Picks of the Week

Are there too many world championships?!

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0800

The epic Track & Field World Championships, the historic Cycling World Championships in Rwanda, the finals of the Rugby World Cup, the World Mountain Trail Running Championships, and ... the first-ever Everesting World Championships?! It's hard to even keep track of all the amazing women's sports, but that's why Kelly & Sara are here for you:

First, we're fired up about the Canada v. England final in the record-setting Rugby World Cup — powered by a crowdfunded campaign.
Then, we're sending sympathies to Kelly with her Valkyries out of the WNBA Playoffs — but, hey, what an inaugural season!
And to top off: We hear from Japanese running and triathlon editor, Mika Tokairin, about what it's like in the stadium and on the ground in Tokyo for the Track & Field World Championship. Plus, we pick our favorite moments.

Looking ahead, it's now all about the Road Cycling World Championships going on right now — the first ever held in Africa — and debate raging about the role of sportswashing in cycling.

Of course, because we can’t not talk about it, there's also a deep dive into the rumors coming out of track & field about the "need" for sex testing and the questions we still have.

Episode resources:

An essay from Australian Olympian about the sex testing process: https://goodsportmagazine.substack.com/p/witnessing-the-body
More on the debate over sportswashing in Rwanda: https://globalpeloton.substack.com/p/sportswashing-and-the-kigali-world
The report on U.S. high school participation numbers: https://nfhs.org/stories/participation-in-high-school-sports-hits-record-high-wit[…]xbQcwmGHOR3LgoAtCeOv_V4X1kAXtgzT8_g1eWmPbuPP0hcarcK8tgvYz.UMrVFv

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00:37 Rugby World Cup Finals: Team Canada is IN

04:33 WNBA Playoffs: Valkyries' Heartbreaking Exit

07:53 Tokyo World Championships: On the Ground Insights

16:44 Track Highlights: Record-Breaking Performances

26:34 Controversies in Athletics: Sex Testing and Testosterone Levels

31:36 UK Media's Conflation of Athlete Categories

32:44 Australian Olympian's Essay on Sex Testing

33:49 Personal Reflections on Gender Verification

34:56 World Championships and Privacy Concerns

35:45 CrossFit Challenge and Personal Achievements

36:50 Upcoming World Championships and Events

40:13 Rwanda's Controversial Hosting of Cycling World Championships

50:04 High School Sports Participation Trends

57:40 Feisty Picks of the week including Canadian rugby star, Sophie de Goede, and Everesting champ, Illi Gardner

From laser sailing to pro cyclist

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0800

This week's Feist starts with a recap of all the world championships:

The biggest stories from the Track & Field World Championships, including the heartwarming third-place finish from Uruguay's Julia Paternain and the emotional farewell to Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Plus, mountain biking and Samara Maxwell's battle with her New Zealand's federation over disordered eating.
And, the America's Cup in flag football, your WNBA Playoff update, and the semis of the Rugby World Cup

Then, we hear from Isabella Bertold, Canada’s most decorated laser sailor, who successfully transitioned from sailing into professional cycling. What is it like to compete at the top of not just one but two demanding sports? She talks about the physical training that goes into sailing, the mystery of how these mega-sailing events make money, and if both sports can become more sustainable.

Kelly & Sara then do a deep-dive on the recent Cyclists Alliance survey that polls professional female cyclists annually to measure pain points and progress. This year: While the top salaries are improving, the gap between the top and the bottom is widening.

Plus, Feisty Picks of the Week: Marathoner Julia Paternain and triathlete Beth Potter - both proving that you should never count someone out prematurely.

Episode resources:

Watch Julia Paternain's emotional finish: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOoR-UACfHL/
More on Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's legacy: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6615685/2025/09/13/shelly-ann-fraser-pryce-world-championship/
Your Rugby World Cup bracket: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2025/en/knockouts
The full Cyclists' Alliance survey: https://cyclistsalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/PUBLIC_TCASurvey2025_FINALsml-1.pdf

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Championship Season: Rugby World Cup, WNBA Playoffs, and Track & Field Worlds

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Apparently they have championship season in all sports! And it is here now.

The Track & Field World Championships kick off Saturday in Tokyo with the women’s marathon. We've got a mini-preview, an update on the challenges with the sex testing deadline (yep, still), and what the heck happened with Grand Slam Track?!

Also championship season:

Aryna Sabalenka made history as the first woman since Serena Williams (2014) to win back-to-back singles titles. Plus, there's talk of a modern-day “Battle of the Sexes” match between Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios. Do we really need to do this again?
The U.S. is officially out of the Rugby World Cup — and yeah, it's always a little unfortunate when a sport’s main character (looking at you, Ilona Maher) exits early.
The WNBA playoff picture is nearly set, so we look back at the Valkyries inaugural game and hear from the head coach
Kate Courtney takes the XCM World Championship
A listener voicemail sparks a breakdown of gravel vs. mountain biking — what’s the difference, and where should beginners start?
Plus: our Feisty Picks of the Week

Have thoughts about today's show or your own Feisty Pick of the Week? Send a voice memo to podcasts@livefeisty.com

Subscribe to The Feist, our Free Weekly Newsletter covering Women's Sports: https://feisty.co/feistnews/

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Episode resources:

Sabalenka's full range of emotions in one play: https://x.com/luxurytrash_/status/1961600809386295419

The POV video from the winning downhill world championship run: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOVQPddDLwg/?hl=en

WNBA Standings: https://www.wnba.com/standings

2025 World Track and Field Championships watch schedule: https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/how-to-watch-world-track-and-field-championships-2025-schedule

00:24 - U.S. Open highlights and mental health comebacks
03:27 - Do we need a Battle of the Sexes 2?!
09:10 - Who's in and who's out of the Rugby World Cup
14:50 - The WNBA and first expansion team to make playoffs
25:15 - Listener voicemail: What's the difference between gravel biking & mountain biking?
32:59 - A Track and Field World Championships Preview
38:28 - What happened to Grand Slam Track?
51:30 - An update on sex testing in track: Ugghhhhhhh
1:01:36 - Feisty Picks of the Week

Flag football, the Olympics, and should LA2028 be called off?

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0800

This week, Kelly & Sara go deep on the Olympics, the explosive growth of flag football, and what the h*ll is happening with the L.A. 2028 Games.

First, we're joined by American pro flag footballer Madison Fulford — who tells us how she was spotted by recruiters (giving Kelly hope!), why the sport is growing so fast and how it differs from tackle football (lots of ways!), and what exactly makes it just a lot of fun. Plus, after losing in the finals at the World Games to Mexico, Madison and the U.S. team are looking ahead to the America's Cup in two weeks, where they'll get their revenge.

And then it's time to get into the weeds on calls to cancel the L.A. Games. Why? Because we should have learned from the 1936 Olympics.

Before all of that, though, it was a busy week of women's sports:

Rain-turned-snow at the UTMB races in the Alps might be the worst possible conditions imaginable. And led to some wild finishes.
Injuries in the WNBA have been out of control. Why?
The U.S. Open is hot, trendy, and fashionable.
And, the Feisty Picks of the Week: 10-year-old power-lifter Sophie Bell and 92-year-old sprinter Emma Mazzenga

Have thoughts about today's show or your own Feisty pick of the week? Send a voice memo to podcasts@livefeisty.com

Episode resources:

Podcast episode with Althea Gibson's biographer: https://livefeisty.com/podcasts/60-ashley-brown-lessons-from-althea-gibson-serving-yourself-and-refusing-to-be-forgotten/

Get to know the 92-year-old sprinter, Emma Mazzenga: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2025/08/24/92-year-old-sprinter-emma-mazzenga/

And the case study done on her: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/392940114_How_does_she_run_so_fast_The_physiol[…]Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InByb2ZpbGUiLCJwYWdlIjoicHJvZmlsZSJ9fQ

00:00 – Intro + Hot Takes on the Worst Weather for Sports
01:25 – UTMB: Extreme Conditions and Athlete Grit
12:30 – The WNBA's Injury Epidemic
18:35 – Rugby World Cup: Hits, Highlights, and Who's Winning
24:55 – Honoring Black Women at the U.S. Open
33:00 – Madison Fulford Joins to talk All Things Flag Football
54:25 – L.A. 2028: A Bad Idea
1:04:30 – Feisty Picks of the Week

A week of acronyms: The rise of UTMB's ultrarunning — and the historic mountain bike world champs

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0800

This week, Kelly and Sara don't just watch sports; they do sports.

Kelly was at the massive 7,000-person Chicago Triathlon and Supertri pro event over the weekend — her first race postpartum — and she has a mini-rant about how we talk about women's health and sports. And, Sara tries to identify with the mountain bikers at the world championships, but fails.

Then, it's all about the two big championship events this week: First, UTMB week, and then a chat with U.S. national champion Hannah Otto ahead of the two-week-long Mountain Bike World Championships.

UTMB: Confused by the acronyms and qualification process? Kelly and Sara break it down. And who could win the 108-mile circumnavigation of Mont Blanc, with 32,000ft of elevation.
Then, Hannah Otto breaks down the acronyms in mountain biking and the different race formats — she's done them all. Plus, she'll be tackling the marathon mountain bike world championship race with its own 15,000ft of elevation!

Plus, a listener voicemail about her powerlifting coach’s take on the idea of a women’s decathlon. (Spoiler: Is it sexism?)

Resources:

How to watch the mountain bike world championships
Watch UTMB Live
Hannah's White Rim FKT movie

Have thoughts about today's show or your own Feisty pick of the week? Send a voice memo to podcasts@livefeisty.com

Highlights:

02:52 - Navigating postpartum racing and a mini-rant
19:04 - The ins-and-outs of UTMB and qualifying
29:10 - Female participation in trail running
40:09 - The many multiple mountain biking disciplines
55:10 - Exploring the FKT phenomenon in mountain biking

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It's time for Rugby World Cup hype!

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0800

This week on The Feist it's all about the women's Rugby World Cup — and we're joined by Canadian silver medalist and rugby sevens team captain, Liv Apps, who breaks down everything you need to know about rugby in the Olympics v. rugby in the World Cup.

Apps gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how rugby players prepare for the six-week World Cup and how the tournament is already breaking attendance records in England (and hype is building!). And, yes, Ilona Maher is playing.

Kelly O'Mara and Sara Gross also dive back into the weeds to check in on how sex testing in track & field is going. (Spoiler: not great.) And we get a nuanced and insightful voicemail from a former pro runner with a fresh perspective on the convoluted process.

Also in this episode:

Another course record shattered at the Leadville 100 (this time running!)
Sara goes courtside to the first-ever regular season WNBA game in Canada
And our Feisty Picks of the Week: Tara Dower, who just claimed the overall FKT on the Vermont Long Trail, and Brittney Griner's impressive athleticism, because — as people keep telling us — "women are amazing."

Episode resources and links:

Feisty's how to mountain bike: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
World Athletics FAQ on the new SRY gene testing process
Survey of elite and national female athletes on transgender participation
The Rugby World Cup schedule & how to watch
And listen to last year's Ironwomen episode with Tara Dower: https://livefeisty.com/podcasts/feistytriathlon/ironwomen-conquering-the-appalachian-trail-with-tara-dower-and-rascal/

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Is it sexism or just stupid? Women still can't do the decathlon — and other concerns

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0800

The theme for this week's episode: Is it sexism? Or, is it just plain stupid?

To that question, Kelly and Sara get in the weeds on women’s decathlon with Lauren Kuntz, who is organizing the 2nd ever Women's Decathlon World Championships — taking place this weekend and airing on the All-Women’s Sports Network (AWSN).

Lauren talks to us about the historical exclusion of women from the decathlon (the all-around competition for track and field), building more opportunities for women to compete, and her goal of a gradual transition to adding a women's decathlon into the Olympics.

But first, Kelly and Sarah kick things off with a recap of the week in women's sports. The highlight? The Leadville Trail 100 MTB, where Kate Courtney—just eight weeks post-surgery—smashed the course record.

Which leads to a spirited debate over the much-coveted ultra-racing belt buckles and the question: Should there be a different belt buckle standard for women?

They then dive into one of the more unexpected headlines of the week—green dildos being thrown at recent WNBA games—and what it says about how women’s sports are received and represented. Sexist or just plain stupid?

Also on today's episode:

Our first voicemail from a listener (i.e. Kelly’s Mom), who sets her daughter straight
Sports on tap this weekend: Do you know about the World Games?
And our Feisty picks of the week: Tennis phenom Victoria Mboko and 11-year old Molly Ehlers, who recently completed the 2,700-mile self-supported tour Divide bike race with her father.

Have thoughts about today's show or your own Feisty pick of the week? Send a voice memo to podcasts@livefeisty.com

Highlights:

00:43 - What We Watched: Kate Courtney's record-breaking performance at Leadville 100
04:31 - The Belt Buckle Debate: Only 9 women earned buckles in Leadville...
12:16 - Understanding the dildos being thrown at WNBA games
19:31 - A Listener Voicemail: Kelly's mom weighs in
23:24 - In the Weeds with Kelly & Sara: Why the Olympics don't have a Women's Decathlon?
30:03 - Advocating for a gradual Olympic transition to decathlon
31:28 - Building opportunities for women in decathlon
38:23 - Highlighting Top Female Decathletes
42:42 - Sexist or stupid?
51:32 - The World Games and other women's sports to watch this upcoming week
56:29 - Feisty Picks of the Week

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Why the h*** are we bringing back sex testing in sports?!

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0800

In today's episode, Sara and Kelly break down a packed week of women’s sports: iconic victories, historic performances, and—of course—a fair amount of controversy.

They kick things off with a recap of the CrossFit Games, celebrating Tia-Clair Toomey’s incredible eighth title and examining the broadcast coverage for this year's event.
Next, we head to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, where we hear from legendary photographer Dominique Powers about the crowds and vibes on the ground (and what goes into getting those poster-worthy photos). Attracting all those crowds? Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who made history as the first French cyclist (man or woman) to win the race since 1989.
And last, they go through the wild weekend at U.S. Track & Field National Championships and the criticism from past Olympic champs of Team USA's performance at the World Aquatic Championships. Did Michael Phelps not hear about the stomach flu that swept through the team? Thank goodness for Katie Ledecky and the medley relay team's world record on the last day.

The biggest news of the week, though: World Athletics’ decision to reinstate sex testing for female athletes. Why did they go back down this path?

Drawing on the history of sex testing in sports, scientific criticisms of how sex is established, and the voices of today’s athletes, Kelly & Sara go deep into the weeds to break down how we got back here — after the IOC got rid of sex testing in the 1990s — and why requiring athletes to verify their female-ness is just not going to be good for anyone.

03:06 – Tia-Clair Toomey: The CrossFit GOAT
12:56 – Tour de France Femmes highlights from the ground with Dominque Powers and the debate around weight in cycling
30:23 – Swimming World Championships drama and the stomach flu
35:50 – US Track & Field Nationals highlights — including Sha'Carri Richardson's airport arrest
38:16 – Celebrating Emily Infeld’s first national title
41:20 – Why the heck did World Athletics reinstate sex testing after 30 years without it? The history, science, and problems
01:06:20 – Feisty Picks of the Week

💬 Have thoughts about today's show or your own Feisty pick of the week? Send a voice memo to podcasts@livefeisty.com

Resources:

"World Athletics’ mandatory genetic test for women athletes is misguided. I should know – I discovered the relevant gene in 1990"

"The Humiliating Practice of Sex-Testing Female Athletes"

Special thanks to Dominique Powers for your coverage and commentary from the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift

Arielle Loewen takes us inside the CrossFit Games

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0800

This week, Sara and Kelly dig into the CrossFit Games — crowning "the fittest woman on Earth" this weekend, Aug. 1-3 — and the challenges CrossFit has been dealing with.

Plus, CrossFit Games podium finisher and entrepreneur, Arielle Loewen, joins The Feist to give us the inside scoop on:

Her path to becoming a top CrossFit competitor
A detailed look at her training and mindset
The state of CrossFit after a tragic death at last year's Games
Why she is favored for 2nd place (behind 7x winner, Tia-Clair Toomey)

But, as always, Sara and Kelly first share their favorite women's sports highlights and picks from the week, including a breakdown of the thrilling Euro Final between Spain and England, the chaotic stages and intense sprints at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, a U.S. Track & Field National Championships preview, and a look ahead to the much-anticipated showdown between Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh in the 800m free.

Highlights:

00:30 Kelly's WNBA Game Experience and Fan Reactions
03:45 Euros Soccer Recap
07:44 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Highlights
12:19 Ledecky and McIntosh go head to head
15:07 U.S. National Track and Field Championships
18:20 CrossFit Games Preview with Arielle Loewen
31:18 Balancing Career and Family
31:58 CrossFit Games 2023 v. 2024
37:24 Games Competitors and Predictions
38:15 CrossFit's Safety and Reputation Issues
42:42 The Evolution of CrossFit and Functional Fitness
50:39 Arielle's Training Regimen
54:25 Arielle's Entrepreneurial Ventures: Pretty Strong for a Mom
58:16 Body Image and Social Media
1:00:53 Closing Thoughts and Picks of the Week, including a 12-year-old swimmer at the world championships

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It's Tour de France Femmes time!

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0800

This week it's all about previewing the biggest women's race of the year: The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

Kate Veronneau, director of women's strategy at Zwift, joins us to give a peak behind the curtain into what goes into the massive event, the kind of growth they've seen at TDFF, and who she thinks could win.

But first, it's our women's sports highlights from the week, including drama from the Euros soccer championship, gossip from the WNBA All-Star Weekend, and a deep dive into the doping sanction that was handed out to the marathon world record holder (and why it hurts more than just a couple of athletes).

From what women's sports we watched to what we want to watch, it's just another week of your favorite sports with your Feistiest friends!

Highlights:

0:00 - Welcome and What We Watched
13:00 - "Pay Us What You Owe Us"
21:57 - WNBA Insights and Gossip
25:02 - The Doping Downfall of Marathon World Record Holder, Ruth Chepngetich
34:43 - The Impact of Doping on Athletic Careers
43:20 - Kate Veronneau previews the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift
01:11:10 - Our Feisty Picks of the Week, including American Ninja Warrior

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What does it mean to be a “professional” in women's sports?

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0800

This week on The Feist, Sara Gross and Kelly O’Mara dive into a jam-packed episode — starting with the major moments they watched in women’s sports from the past week:

The historic all-women’s boxing card at Madison Square Garden (which made Sara cry)
And why they couldn't find replay video of a controversy at the Giro d'Italia Women

Then, it's all about what women's sports to watch this upcoming week:

Euros! Who are we rooting for now that Wales is out?
The WNBA All-Star game and how voting went a little sideways this year + a quick primer on the economics of WNBA and how, yes, they are profitable
And the NFL Flag Championships open up a debate about whether we're pro or con flag football

Before Sara & Kelly make their picks of the week, they dive deep into the explosion of new women’s sports leagues: multiple soccer leagues, two off-season basketball leagues, three volleyball leagues, rugby, softball, hockey, baseball. Is more always better? What does it mean to be a “professional” athlete? How do we build real, lasting fan bases? And what can we do to help women’s sports thrive? (PS. Always buy the merch.)

Subscribe to The Feist, our Free Weekly Newsletter covering Women's Sports: https://feisty.co/feistnews/

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Boxing, Biking & Breaking Records: Another Week in Women’s Sports

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0800

On this episode of the Feist, Sara Gross and Kelly O’Mara settle into a few new popular segments: The women's sports they watched, the women's sports you definitely want to watch, and their female athlete picks of the week.

First, they catch you up on all their favorite women's sports from the week:

World records on the track: Can seeing your training partner do something make it seem possible?
Attendance records at the Euros tournament: If Europe's always cared more about soccer than the U.S., why did it take so long for them to back women's soccer?
And the surprisingly long history of the women's Giro d'Italia

Then, they look ahead to the can't miss event of the weekend: The first all-women's boxing card at Madison Square Garden. And Sara promises she's going to get into boxing just for this.

But before they both make their picks of the week, a special segment: In the Weeds with Kelly and Sara — where they go deep (deep!) on the new unequal qualification system for the Ironman World Championships.

Plus, it wouldn't be a Feisty podcast if we didn't mix some tough questions in with our sports and how we got here.

It's all packed in to another episode of The Feist!

Subscribe to The Feist, our Free Weekly Newsletter covering Women's Sports: https://feisty.co/feistnews/

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Western States: Why would anyone want to run 100 miles?

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0800

What happens when you mix scorching temps, dirt trails, wild river crossings, and a 100-mile adventure in the mountains?

In this run-focused episode, Kelly and Sara "run" head first into the world of ultramarathons, with on-the-ground in-the-dirt coverage from the legendary Western States Endurance Run.

They're basically ultrarunners now — risking heat and fatigue to answer important questions like: Why is Western States so famous? What is the deal with the wild lottery system where it takes athletes 10 years to earn a spot on the start line? How do researchers study these runners in the middle of racing? And does Western States live up to the hype?

This includes interviews with:

Ultra insider and Western States broadcast commentator, Corinne Malcolm, who breaks down the race’s history, grueling lottery system, and the spirit that makes Western States more than just a race.
This year's oldest female runner, Diane Grim—also a first-time 100-mile-racer.
Western States Medical Research Directors Dr. Megan Roche and Dr. Emily Kraus, who share the findings that come out of research conducted during the event: carbs, hydration, and GI distress.
And the race winner, Abby Hall, in the moments after her surprising (but not surprising) win.

But first, on the other end of the running spectrum, let's talk about Faith Kipyegon’s attempt to become the first woman to run a sub-4-minute mile — and whether, even in failure, she succeeded?

Today is all about running: the people, the science, the breadth and depth of what it means to go the distance.

What's Next for Women's Sports?

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Welcome to The Feist — your favorite sports, with your feistiest friends.

Hosted by Sara Gross and Kelly O’Mara, Feisty's newest podcast is here to celebrate the unstoppable rise of women’s sports. Every week they'll cover what you need to know in women's sports: from running to basketball to everything in between. The Feist will bring you the untold stories of female athletes, interviews with those athletes and behind-the-scenes experts, and the feisty analysis you need to be a fan.

This is the women's sports podcast that covers the sports that don't always get covered from voices that don't always get heard.

In a special live launch episode, they kick off with a panel on what's next and where women's sports go from here. Joining us for the live event are:

Scott Lake – Newly minted co-owner of the Toronto Tempo, Canada’s first WNBA team, co-founder of Shopify, and an investor in girls' and women's sports.
Hilary Stellingwerff – Two-time Canadian Olympian, multi-time national champion in the 1500m, and now head track & cross-country coach at the University of Victoria.
Krista Thompson – Former national team field hockey player and award-winning coach with 20+ years of experience at the provincial, regional, national and international level.

Together, they dive into:

The massive economic upside of investing in women’s sports
Why female role models and maternity support matter more than ever
The coaching and performance knowledge gaps rooted in outdated research
The lessons they wish they’d known earlier
And what’s exciting them most about the future

Whether you're a seasoned fan or want to know more, The Feist is your front-row seat to this women's sports revolution. Because women’s sports aren’t just having a moment—they’re building a movement. And they need fans like you.

Follow The Feist

Subscribe to weekly Feist newsletter

Welcome to The Feist - A Women's Sports Podcast with a Feisty Take!

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Welcome to The Feist, hosted by Feisty Media CEO, Sara Gross, and sports journalist Kelly O'Mara.

The Feist is a new women's sports podcast delivering the untold stories of female athletes with a feisty take. The sports YOU want to know about from the people YOU want to hear from: cycling, running, Crossfit, rugby, pickleball, and more.

The Feist drops weekly and includes interviews with athletes and behind-the-scenes experts, plus the latest news and fun from the world of women's sports.

It's like talking your favorite sports with your feistiest friends.