Hoops Through Life

Elsebeth Birman

The Hoops Through Life Podcast discusses everything women's basketball player development and delivers recruiting tips DIRECTLY from college coaches. You won't want to miss out on tips from leading experts and the coaches that could be recruiting you! New episodes drop the first and third Wednesday of every month! If you're looking for 360 degree player development and individualized recruiting support lets have a conversation. Email me at hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com or head to www.hoopsthroughlife.com and schedule your complimentary 30-minute consultation with me today! The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

  1. 7 Oct

    Being intentional and proactive in the college process with Shellee Howard (College Ready)

    On today’s episode, we have Shellee Howard. Shellee is the founder of College Ready, a company built on a simple belief: every student deserves a plan, a champion, and a path to the right fit. With over 18 years of experience, she has supported over 2,700 students through the college process. On this episode, we discuss: How she sent all of her children to college with no debt and zero money out of her pocket!Shellee’s discover, plan, prepare, and achieve approach to the college processHow to go through the college process doing more than checking a boxHow to think about AI during the college processWhy it’s important to start the process earlyTwo common misconceptions about the college processAnd much more! Parents: Is your teen College Ready? Podcast Shellee's Books on Amazon Sign up for a clarity call with Shellee here If you have any questions for me or our future guests email hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com Check out Hoops Through Life on: Hoops Through Life Website X Instagram Facebook The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

    Being intentional and proactive in the college process with Shellee Howard (College Ready)

  2. 30 Sept

    BEST OF: Artina Trader (NC Wesleyan)

    On today’s BEST OF episode, we have our most-listened-to episode ever with Coach Artina Trader. Artina has experience as an assistant coach at Allegheny College and John Carroll University. She also served as head coach at Thiel College. She is currently heading into her 16th season as the head coach at North Carolina Wesleyan University. On this episode, we discuss: Athleticism, Basketball IQ, and potentialRecruiting TwinsConfidence while playingHow Coach Trader and her staff use the transfer portalHow student-athletes get on their radarTime management in collegeAnd much more! NC Wesleyan WBB X NC Wesleyan WBB Instagram NC Wesleyan WBB Recruiting Questionnaire If you have any questions for me or our future guests email hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com Check out Hoops Through Life on: Hoops Through Life Website X Instagram Facebook The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

    BEST OF: Artina Trader (NC Wesleyan)

  3. 22 Sept

    Energy and Communication with Torie Eggers (Shenandoah University)

    On today’s episode, we have Coach Torie Eggers. Torie was a 3-sport athlete at Nyack College (basketball, lacrosse, and track and field). She has experience in AAU and high school girls’ basketball and has coached since 2020. Torie started her college coaching career as an assistant at Rowan University, where she spent the past 3 seasons. In 2026-2027, she enters her first season as an assistant at Shenandoah University.  On this episode, we discuss: The one question Coach Torie asks when she's scouting a recruit, and why she's watching the bench tooWhat "pace" really means at the college levelWhat to do when you're sending emails and hearing nothing backHow coaches can spot a ChatGPT recruiting email right away, and what to write insteadWhat great communication looks like to a college coachAnd much more! Shenandoah University WBB Instagram Shenandoah University WBB Recruiting Questionnaire If you have any questions for me or our future guests email hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com Check out Hoops Through Life on: Hoops Through Life Website X Instagram Facebook The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

    Energy and Communication with Torie Eggers (Shenandoah University)

  4. 2 Sept

    Leadership, culture creation, and feedback systems with Camilla Hill (Clarity Point HQ)

    Send us Fan Mail On today’s episode, we have Camilla Hill. Camilla played field hockey at the College of William and Mary. She is the founder of Clarity Point HQ, where she supports teams and organizations in aligning their people practices with their values, driving meaningful results, and building workplaces and teams where people can grow and stay. Note: This episode leans more toward the coach side of sport. If you're building programs, supporting athletes, or thinking about how the ecosystem around a young athlete actually works, this one's for you. On this episode, we discuss: What happens on the college side when athletes arrive: the staff, systems, and support networks for student-athletesWhy identity development, mental health, and belonging matter during the college transitionBuilding team culture that supports every athlete on the rosterFeedback systems and why they matterHow athletes and families can spot programs where the staff is set up to see and support themAnd much more! Camilla Hill - Clarity Point HQ Website Clarity Point HQ Instagram If you have any questions for me or our future guests email hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com Check out Hoops Through Life on: Hoops Through Life Website X Instagram Facebook The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

    Leadership, culture creation, and feedback systems with Camilla Hill (Clarity Point HQ)

  5. 19 Aug

    Karl Barkley (D3 Direct)

    Send us Fan Mail On today’s episode, we have Karl Barkley. Karl played basketball for four years at Swarthmore College. He is the founder of D3 Direct, the go-to source for reliable information on NCAA Division III athletics recruiting & admissions, where they believe no recruit or family should have to start their college sports recruiting process from zero. On this episode, we discuss: How to think about what schools are right for youThe power of mentorship throughout the recruiting processThinking strategically and quality over quantity in the recruiting processDebunking the "D3 has no money" myth, and how families still make it affordableThe two biggest recruiting mistakes: starting too late and overloading your scheduleHow to actually build your college list (and lead with more than just coach interest)Standing out to coaches: professionalism and the power of a handwritten noteWhy persistence pays off, plus Karl's #1 rule for parents and for athletesAnd much more! D3 Direct Website The Student Athlete Sessions (D3 Direct Podcast) If you have any questions for me or our future guests email hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com Check out Hoops Through Life on: Hoops Through Life Website X Instagram Facebook The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

    Karl Barkley (D3 Direct)

  6. 5 Aug

    BEST OF: Transitioning to college with Olivia Weinel and Sierra St. Cyr

    Send us Fan Mail In honor of the school year about to start, we are re-releasing one of our student-athlete episodes. Good luck to everyone who has moved or is moving into college soon! On today’s Bonus Episode Part 2 we have Sierra St. Cyr and Olivia Weinel. Sierra and Olivia are recent graduates and former women's basketball players from Shenandoah University. On this episode we discuss: - The support they leaned on throughout the recruiting process - The importance of establishing relationships with coaches through the recruiting process - How they prepared physically and mentally for their first year of college - The adjustment from high school/AAU to college basketball - How they got through “mental blocks” during the basketball season - The process Sierra took to figure out her major - How they deal with life without basketball And much more! If you have any questions for me or our future guests email hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com Check out Hoops Through Life on: Hoops Through Life Website X Instagram Facebook The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

    BEST OF: Transitioning to college with Olivia Weinel and Sierra St. Cyr

  7. 29 Jul

    Stats, social media, and enjoying the process with Megan Yawman (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)

    Send us Fan Mail On today’s episode, we have Coach Megan Yawman. Megan started her college coaching career as an assistant at Carnegie Mellon University, where, during the 2024-2025 season, she helped lead the Tartans to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history.  This year, she was recognized as a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Thirty Under 30 Honoree. The distinction celebrates not only on-court excellence, but also a coach's commitment to mentorship, community service, and their overall impact on student-athletes.  Megan was recently named the head coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and will head into her first season as a head coach during the 2026-2027 year.  In this episode, we discuss: Stats and what they mean and what they missWhat she’s looking for in recruits right nowWhat she would have done differently in her recruiting processThe role of social mediaWhat to put in your social media profileFilm and the pressure to post constantlyWhat helps the transition to collegeBeing on the right AAU team for youAnd much more! RPI Women's Basketball Recruiting Form RPI Women's Basketball Instagram RPI Women's Basketball Elite Camp Information If you have any questions for me or our future guests email hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com Check out Hoops Through Life on: Hoops Through Life Website X Instagram Facebook The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

    Stats, social media, and enjoying the process with Megan Yawman (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)

  8. 15 Jul

    Communication and standing out in the recruiting process with Kate McCann (Bowdoin College)

    Send us Fan Mail On today’s episode, we have Coach Kate McCann. Coach Kate started her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Springfield College, where, over 2 years on staff, she helped the team notch 37 wins and one NCAA DIII tournament appearance. She just finished up her first year as an assistant at Bowdoin College, where the polar bears finished 25-3, advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, and finished the season ranked 11th in the final Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll. This year, Coach Kat earned a spot on the WBCA’s 30 under 30 team for the 25-26 season. The distinction celebrates not only on-court excellence, but also a coach's commitment to mentorship, community service, and their overall impact on student-athletes. On this episode, we discuss: What Coach McCann would do differently if she were going through the recruiting process todayHow to stand out in your communication with coachesThe timeline of communication with college coaches and what you can expect at each phaseHow current athletes at an institution are involved in the recruiting processHow the conference and the institution can impact the recruiting processHow to prepare for your first year of collegeAnd much more! Bowdoin Recruiting Questionnaire Bowdoin WBB Instagram Bowdoin Elite Camp Sign-Up If you have any questions for me or our future guests email hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com Check out Hoops Through Life on: Hoops Through Life Website X Instagram Facebook The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

    Communication and standing out in the recruiting process with Kate McCann (Bowdoin College)
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Trailer

About

The Hoops Through Life Podcast discusses everything women's basketball player development and delivers recruiting tips DIRECTLY from college coaches. You won't want to miss out on tips from leading experts and the coaches that could be recruiting you! New episodes drop the first and third Wednesday of every month! If you're looking for 360 degree player development and individualized recruiting support lets have a conversation. Email me at hoopsthroughlife@gmail.com or head to www.hoopsthroughlife.com and schedule your complimentary 30-minute consultation with me today! The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

Information

  • Creator
    Elsebeth Birman
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    68
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Elsebeth Birman
  • Show Website
    Hoops Through Life