Champions of Active Women

Interviews with individuals who have been successful within athletics and beyond to encourage and inspire girls and women to be active for a lifetime, to reach their goals, and to break new barriers in sport and life. This podcast is brought to you by the Active Girls Healthy Women in the Sports Medicine Research Institute at the University of Kentucky. Follow us on social media @ukaghw!

128 - Allie Riley, PhD, Chief Program Officer, Girls on the Run 09/17/2025

127 - Sarah Dwyer-Shick, Founder/Director, The Sports Bra Project 09/03/2025

126 - Brandi Mitchell, Founder, San Diego Soccer Women 08/20/2025

126 - Brandi Mitchell, Founder, San Diego Soccer Women Brandi Mitchell is the founder of San Diego Soccer Women, an organization that serves to increase opportunities for women to join, continue or return to soccer without the limits of age or gender. Positioned as an advocate for “Play at Every Age,” Brandi is connecting and expanding the global community of recreational female soccer players of every ability level. Growing up in Southern California, where Title IX legislation had already made girls’ sports widely available, Mitchell ran onto the soccer field at age 5 to play alongside her older sister and under the direction of her Coach-Dad. She competed year-round as an adolescent and teenager, stopped playing after high school, and then found a recreational women’s soccer league near her San Diego home at age 27. Her 4 year-old-daughter and 1 year-old-son first watched from the sidelines and are now adults cheering her on. Brandi completed a Bachelor of Arts degree and graduate coursework in International Policy Studies and French at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California. Since graduating in the late 1990s, her professional experience has been focused on partnering with small businesses and nonprofits with roles in accounting, human resources, marketing and brand development. Ms. Mitchell is a member of the board of directors for The Sports Bra Project and Street Soccer USA - San Diego. She has been recognized as an ambassador to the Global Goals World Cup, United Nations Association of San Diego and the Equal Playing Field 2019 World Record Event. Mitchell was featured on local public television in San Diego and national public radio for her promotion of gender equity through grassroots women’s football. The San Diego Soccer Women Norway Squad jersey was selected for an exhibit at the COPA90 Clubhouse in Paris during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019. Brandi’s recreational soccer resources for players, teams, leagues, tournaments, events, charitable giving and female-focused gear was launched after realizing how extensive the community is in the U.S. -- and could be globally. She coordinates trips for older women to one of the most unique football pitches in the world, in Lofoten Islands, Norway in 2018 and 2023, and was co-organizer of a women-led tournament in Southern Spain in June 2022. The San Diego Soccer Women website, social media profiles and printed shirts show the world that women can play soccer throughout their lives while challenging the societal view that women are defined by their role within a family, i.e. “soccer mom.” Her social media posts have been featured on the FIFA and FIFA Women’s World Cup social media channels. Next steps for Brandi include improving access for women through beginner sessions, walking soccer and goalkeeper training. Inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, she sees a future where everyone can experience the physical and social benefits of play. For more information about San Diego Soccer Women, visit: . If you enjoy this podcast, please click "subscribe" wherever you listen to episodes and we hope you'll consider leaving us a review. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , or LinkedIn . Sign up for the Active Girls Healthy Women newsletter here: or learn more about our Program here: . If you want to help us sustain the Champions of Active Women podcast, please consider donating to the University of Kentucky Active Girls Healthy Women Program at /episode/index/show/championsofactivewomen/id/37680960

125 - Nicoletta Nerangis, Founder and Executive Director Run4Fun 08/06/2025

124 - Shuntella Whitfield, Owner, Fabulously Fit Fitness 07/23/2025

124 - Shuntella Whitfield, Owner, Fabulously Fit Fitness In January 2013, following a transformative 72-pound weight loss, Shuntella Whitfield launched Fabulously Fit Fitness—a wellness movement rooted in her belief that fitness should feel empowering, not intimidating. Her journey inspired a mission to help others prioritize self-love and take control of their health, whether they’re focused on losing, gaining, or maintaining weight. By 2014, Shuntella became a Zumba instructor, energizing her community with joyful dance workouts for four years before unveiling her own signature class, Soca Mi Shirt, in November 2018. This vibrant, high-energy cardio and toning experience fuses Afro-Caribbean Soca rhythms with strength-building movements, encouraging participants to "soak their shirts"—and their doubts—in sweat and self-confidence. A year later, Shuntella added “author” to her title, self-publishing the Fabulously Fit Fitness Journal, a practical and motivating tool for anyone navigating a fitness or wellness journey. In 2020, she launched Thick & Fabulous, a dynamic talk radio show on RadioLex (WLXU 93.9FM), where she dives deep into topics affecting women’s holistic health—mentally, physically, spiritually, and financially. The show also streams as a podcast across all major platforms, reaching listeners wherever they are. At the heart of Fabulously Fit Fitness is Shuntella’s unwavering commitment to community. She has created a safe, affirming space for individuals to connect with instructors, nutritionists, and like-minded fitness family members who support one another and stay accountable. Her guiding philosophy? Love yourself first, heal from the inside out, and embrace the skin you’re in—because wellness is personal, and every journey is worth celebrating. For more information about Fabulously Fit Fitness, visit: If you enjoy this podcast, please click "subscribe" wherever you listen to episodes and we hope you'll consider leaving us a review. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , or LinkedIn . Sign up for the Active Girls Healthy Women newsletter here: or learn more about our Program here: . If you want to help us sustain the Champions of Active Women podcast, please consider donating to the University of Kentucky Active Girls Healthy Women Program at /episode/index/show/championsofactivewomen/id/37325860

123 - Jenni Morgan and Amy Barmore, Co-Directors, Lexington United Volleyball Club 07/09/2025

123 - Jenni Morgan and Amy Barmore, Co-Directors, Lexington United Volleyball Club Amy Barmore, Head Volleyball Coach, Transylvania University and Co-Director, Lexington United Volleyball Club Amy is from Louisville, KY and went to Georgetown College where she was a four-year volleyball player and graduated in 2010. After graduation, Amy coached at a few high schools in Lexington and Scott County. She began her collegiate coaching career at Georgetown College in 2012 and left Georgetown College in 2014 when she was hired as an assistant coach at Transylvania. After being the assistant for 4 years, she was named Head Coach at Transylvania and is going into her 8th year in that role. Her teams have won 5 straight conference tournaments and have been to the elite 8 and sweet sixteen. Amy also serves as the Senior Women’s Administrator. While coaching at collegiate level, Amy has also been a club director. She started coaching club volleyball in Lexington in 2008 and has not stopped. In 2020, I was the club director for Alpha performance for one year. After Chris Beerman passed away, she and Jenni Morgan merged Alpha Performance and Lexington United and she has been the co-club director of Lexington United since. Jenni Morgan, Head Volleyball Coach, Dunbar High School and Co-Director, Lexington United Volleyball Club Jenni Morgan is originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana. She attended Western Kentucky University, where she played college volleyball and earned a degree in Exceptional Education. She went on to obtain a Master’s in Elementary Education from Georgetown College and later achieved her Rank I certification in Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands. She has two children, Kennedy (16) and Clayont (13), and two step children, Alayana (21) and Griffin (15). Since graduating college, she has dedicated the past 25 years to teaching and coaching, with a focus on Special Education. At Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, she has served in multiple leadership roles, including Special Education Department Chair, member of the SBDM Committee, and Assistant Athletic Director. Her coaching journey began right out of college when she was a student assistant under current Head Coach Travis Hudson. Before moving to Lexington, she coached one year in Indiana and two years in Illinois. In 2004, she began coaching at Dunbar, and was honored to be named Head Coach in 2005. Over the years, the Dunbar volleyball program has secured 10 District Championships and 7 Regional Championships. In 2022, Dunbar became one of only three public schools to reach the state tournament finals. She has been recognized as Region 11 Coach of the Year six times and was named the 2023 Kentucky High School Volleyball Coach of the Year. In addition to her work at Dunbar, she has been actively involved in club volleyball, coaching in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. In 2020, following the passing of Club Director Chris Beerman, she and Amy Barmore merged Lexington United and Alpha to continue building and supporting the volleyball community. For more information about Lexington United Volleyball Club, visit the website: . If you enjoyed this podcast, please click "subscribe" wherever you listen to episodes and we hope you'll consider leaving us a review. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , or LinkedIn . Sign up for the Active Girls Healthy Women newsletter here: or learn more about our Program here: . If you want to help us sustain the Champions of Active Women podcast, please consider donating to the University of Kentucky Active Girls Healthy Women Program at /episode/index/show/championsofactivewomen/id/36960215

122 - Dr. Ferrin Peterson, DVM, CVA, Veterinarian and Professional Jockey 06/25/2025

121 - Dr. Ami Hampole, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation doctor and Executive Director of Chicago Youth Foundation 06/11/2025

121 - Dr. Ami Hampole, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation doctor and Executive Director of Chicago Youth Foundation Dr. Ami Hampole is a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor who practices Sports Medicine and Neuro-Musculoskeletal Medicine. She is also a US figure skating triple gold medalist, former 8x Indian senior national figure skating champion, a World figure skating competitor, and a coach. She currently spends her time as the executive director for Chicago Youth Foundation, a Women-lead organization that helps make the highly expensive and non-diverse ice sports more accessible to the community. She is also a mother of three. Dr. Ami grew up in a culture where a sedentary lifestyle was highly encouraged, especially for women. However, she ended up becoming one of scarce South Asians to get involved in competitive Figure Skating, and with a limited access to resources. She attributes her athletic background to her success in launching change in many communities on multiple levels. She also attributes her athletic background to her state of health and wellness. She was able to avoid falling prey to eating disorders, drugs, and abuse, which have been seen commonly in this and other sports. Her healthy eating habits and activity levels in her teenage years, are largely responsible for her health and wellness today, especially during her pregnancies and postpartum partum years, allowing her to continue to perform for ice shows, etc. But being a healthy woman has not always been glorifying. There have been many challenges, especially as she went into a career in medicine where "healthy" women are not always given the support to meet their full potentials, and also a career where women are not always seen as equal to men. Dr. Ami feels that these barriers oftentimes affect women's ability to give back 100% to their communities. However, she is hopeful that women can work together instead of against each other, alongside men, to create positive changes in this regard, in the near future. For more information about the Chicago Youth Foundation, visit: . If you enjoyed this podcast, please click "subscribe" wherever you listen to episodes and we hope you'll consider leaving us a review. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , or LinkedIn . Sign up for the Active Girls Healthy Women newsletter here: or learn more about our Program here: . If you want to help us sustain the Champions of Active Women podcast, please consider donating to the University of Kentucky Active Girls Healthy Women Program at /episode/index/show/championsofactivewomen/id/36960005

120 - Dr. Heather Adams-Blair and Kylie Fitzgerald, Eastern Kentucky University 05/28/2025

119 - Dr. Kimberly Clay and Nikki Martens, Play Like a Girl 05/14/2025

119 - Dr. Kimberly Clay and Nikki Martens, Play Like a Girl Dr. Kimberly Clay, PhD, MPH, MSW, Founder and CEO, Play Like a Girl Dr. Kimberly S. Clay is the Founder and CEO of Play Like a Girl, a Nashville-based non-profit organization working to level the playing field for girls by leveraging the skills gained from sport to propel young women into male-dominated careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Since its inception, Play Like a Girl has reached over 25,000 girls and young women across the United States and Canada, as well as in Africa and the Caribbean. Dr. Kim began her career as a public health analyst at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early in her career, she saw the gender gap in education and health firsthand while working in underserved communities across the South. This led her to establish Play Like a Girl during her doctoral studies in health education. In 2007, she returned to the classroom—this time, as a tenure-track professor—at the University of Georgia where she taught and conducted research exploring long-term cancer survivorship in women. Nikki Martens, MS, Program Manager, Play Like a Girl Nikki is a proud New Orleans native and former high school athlete with a deep passion for women’s sports. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and a Master’s in Health Education, bringing a strong foundation in health and wellness to her work. With over five years of experience in the nonprofit sector leading youth development programs, she is dedicated to empowering the next generation. As a committed feminist and advocate for gender equity, she is thrilled to be part of Play Like a Girl, helping young girls reach their full potential and leveling the playing field for girls and women everywhere. For more information about the Play Like a Girl, please visit: where you can find links to the newsletter and social media channels that were mentioned in this episode. If you enjoyed this podcast, please click "subscribe" wherever you listen to episodes and we hope you'll consider leaving us a review. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , or LinkedIn . Sign up for the Active Girls Healthy Women newsletter here: or learn more about our Program here: . If you want to help us sustain the Champions of Active Women podcast, please consider donating to the University of Kentucky Active Girls Healthy Women Program at /episode/index/show/championsofactivewomen/id/36561475

118 - Sarah Chew, Science Programs Manager, Society for Women’s Health Research 04/30/2025

117 - Dr. Tara Blackshear, Bling-Health Founder 04/16/2025

117 - Dr. Tara Blackshear, Bling-Health Founder Tara B. Blackshear is a distinguished equity scholar focusing on health, physical activity, and education. Currently an Associate Professor of Kinesiology and program coordinator for the Physical Education Teacher Education program at Towson University, she has dedicated her career to fostering inclusive and equitable educational policies and practices. Dr. Blackshear earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education from Florida A&M University and a doctorate in education in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. With 17 years of diverse P-12 teaching experience across public, private, charter, and international schools in the United States, Egypt, and Thailand, Dr. Blackshear brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Before her overseas experiences, she spent three years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she played a pivotal role in preventing type II diabetes among middle school students through the nation's most extensive school-based health and physical activity intervention – The Healthy Study. In addition to her professional achievements, Dr. Blackshear is the proud mother of Akinyemi and Afi Blackshear, who share her passion for equity. Together, they have collaborated as co-authors, contributing to the discourse on intersectional racial equity in schooling, reflecting a family commitment to advocacy and transformative change. Recently, you might have spotted her in a BLinG-Health t-shirt, proudly promoting her newly established nonprofit organization. This initiative empowers Black girls to lead group fitness activities, encourage physical activity, and explore careers in health and physical activity—where representation is critically lacking. As the Founder and CEO, she is committed to making a meaningful impact in these areas. Her research has gained national and international recognition, driving institutional change, policy reform, and best equity practices. Dr. Blackshear's advocacy work has influenced global media and led to collaborations with organizations striving to create culturally responsive, equitable environments. Through her candid and impactful approach, she has successfully transformed performative institutional gestures into tangible outcomes, ensuring accountability and meaningful progress in the pursuit of equity. For more information about BLinG-Health, please visit: . If you enjoy this podcast, please click "subscribe" wherever you listen to episodes and we hope you'll consider leaving us a review. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , or LinkedIn . Sign up for the Active Girls Healthy Women newsletter here: or learn more about our Program here: . If you want to help us sustain the Champions of Active Women podcast, please consider donating to the University of Kentucky Active Girls Healthy Women Program at /episode/index/show/championsofactivewomen/id/36098140

116 - Dr. Carrie Davidson, Owner Elemental Yoga & Wellness 04/02/2025

115 - Jenny Gaither, Movemeant Foundation Founder 03/19/2025

115 - Jenny Gaither, Movemeant Foundation Founder Jenny Gaither is the Founder and a Board Member of the Movemeant Foundation, where she leads efforts to empower global fitness communities through virtual coaching, body-positive curricula, athletic scholarships, and the largest body-positive charity fitness festival in the country, We Dare to Bare. With over 11 years as a Master SoulCycle instructor, she played a pivotal role in expanding the brand into key markets like San Francisco and New York City. Jenny was also one of just 25 founding instructors featured on the Equinox+ app and has collaborated with top brands such as Lululemon, Allbirds, and Reebok. A dynamic speaker, Jenny has shared her expertise on platforms like Fox Business News and Huffington Post, as well as at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University and Boston College. As a certified Confidence and Mindset Coach, she previously empowered Millennial women through her digital platform, Brave Babe, helping them build courage, confidence, and achieve their personal and professional goals. Currently, Jenny serves as an Advisor & Consultant at Amara Technologies, where she plays a key role in shaping the company's health and wellness programs for seniors. Amara focuses on helping older adults maintain physical vitality and mental clarity through tailored fitness and therapeutic programming in multifamily homes. By developing innovative solutions and supporting the onboarding and training of health professionals, Jenny ensures that Amara’s offerings empower individuals to live independently, stay active, and enhance their quality of life. Based in San Diego, CA, Jenny continues to be a passionate advocate for health, wellness, and empowerment, inspiring individuals to live with purpose and confidence at every stage of life. For more information about Movemeant, please visit: or . If you enjoy this podcast, please click "subscribe" wherever you listen to episodes and we hope you'll consider leaving us a review. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , or LinkedIn . Sign up for the Active Girls Healthy Women newsletter here: or learn more about our Program here: . If you want to help us sustain the Champions of Active Women podcast, please consider donating to the University of Kentucky Active Girls Healthy Women Program at /episode/index/show/championsofactivewomen/id/35767790